According to several reports, the Iowa Hawkeyes will be without top running (which is a stretch to say considering they lost their entire running game with the loss of Albert Young and Damien Sims) with the questionable situation regarding Jevon Pugh.
Despite still being listed on the Hawkeyes roster, Pugh does not seem to be a current student at the University.
This comes at a time when the actions of top receiver Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman struck a blow to the Hawkeyes' 2007 season, opening the door for lots of young receivers to get plenty of playing time. And then, one of the young bright stars to emerge out of that young group of receivers, James Cleveland, is dismissed from the team for drug issues - along with top backup QB Arvell Nelson.
The struggling offense will receive a small boost with the return of TE monster Tony Moeaki and the return of Shonn Greene who was temporarily dismissed from the team. But losing Pugh leaves the Hawkeyes with freshman running backs looking to get a lot of carries.
Are they trying to pin the future of the Iowa program on the (inadequate) arm of Jake Christensen? I think it is time to usher in the Ricky Stanzi era, or atleast remove the crown from Christensen's head and force him to earn the starting QB job.
Can someone please explain this to me .. seriously, because I can not wrap my head around this ... I could make many insensitive comments but I will refrain. BUT what the Phantom Menace are guys like Chris Henry and Pacman Jones thinking when the wake up in the morning, put on their bling, walk out the door, and roll in their Escalades in search of the next dose of trouble?
Chris Henry is/was a phenominal talent. The tri-fecta of OchoCinco, Whosyourmama, and the newest addition to the Longest Yard football team, had the potential to turn Tim Hasselbeck, Josh McCown, Shaun Hill, and even Ryan Leaf into All-Pro QBs. The Bengals receiving corp was SICK - in a good way.
How do you even come close to putting yourself in a compromising position after losing 10 games to suspension over the last two seasons? HOW? Someone please explain this to me ... I'm begging you!!!
Commissioner Roger Goddell needs to step up his stance on cracking down on "thugs" in the league. Here are two ways to work it in to the fold:
1. MUCH stiffer punishments. One offense, fine - slap on the wrist. Repeat offense - lose minimum half the season and increase the penalties for continued behavior. Plus, add incentives for teams to take harsh action, and do not punish teams for having suspended players.
2. This "Rookie Indoc" into league conduct is not working. It needs to be a month-long isolation/immersion taking them out of their "entourages" with no outside influences as they are inundated with the league's conduct and substance abuse policies. You're telling me that after a month in isolation that the NFL wouldn't find out who has drug issues? Just look for the guys fidgeting in the corner. These young players need to get the point.
The NFL also needs to put more emphasis on encouraging NFL teams to draft character players. Otherwise, the NFL will find its way wandering down the same path the NBA is - with PR issues being known as a "thug" league.
Holy HANS devices, it was cold. Not the fun get out the snow gear kind of day, but a bone-chilling,damp cold. The South is not supposed to be this cold - and we are technically in the South, right?
Well, I managed to catch Chrissy's qualifying, but opted to spend most of the day in cousin Mike's motocoach playing NASCAR 08. I hooked up the steering wheel and spent a good chunk of the day trading paint in the Busch Series (they haven't changed it to Nationwide yet, and the drivers are still with their old teams from last year). Lauren Wallace is 2nd place, behind stupid Carl Edwards, in the series and just bought his first Truck Series team in Career Mode. He also recently turned down an offer to drive in the Nextel Series, because it was for some team with a number like 185 or something like that. I told my agent to tell them to come back when they get a real offer.
And when Lauren Wallace plays his NASCAR video games, he doesn't baby it up by playing races at 8% distance, with unlimited tires, fuel and no damage on. He plays at 50% distance, with normal tire and fuel usage as well as full damage with yellow flags. Lauren Wallace keeps it real on the race track, even if it is just a video game.
After that no-goodnic Kevin Harvick spun me out on the final lap to win at the Milwaukee Mile - Lauren Wallace finished 11th. I had to step out and grab a couple Martinsville dogs before taking my spot on the pit box. It was actually kind of nice because cousin Mike was freezing his spark plugs off up with the spotters while he was spotting the race for Chrissy.
Chrissy did great for her first time out there. She started 35th (out of 36 trucks) and finished 18th. It was pretty conservative, but she got into a few scraps, as any good Martinsville racer will, and managed to assert herself as a respectable Truck Series driver.
But Lauren Wallace wouldn't have taken it so easily. A few times, Chrissy let up even though she probably had position. Lauren Wallace would have drove the nose in and kept his position, and if the other guy tried to slam the door, then Lauren Wallace would have put him into the wall - because that is what he does.
After the race, I was walking back to the motorcoach and saw Kevin and Delana Harvick walking back from their garage area to the motorcoaches as well. As they passed me, I told Kevin "The first chance I get, I'm putting you straight into the wall, Happy. And you know you got it comin'!" He just looked at me real confused like he had no idea what I was talking about.
Well, I gotta find some hot chocolate or something. It is too dang cold around here. Chrissy's next race isn't for another month in Kansas City, but the big boys are in Texas next week; where the moon at night, is big and bright [clap clap clap clap] Deep in the heart of Texas!
The following e-mail was released by an anonymous source (most likely Lauren himself) following the news that Chrissy Wallace, 19-year-old daughter of Mike Wallace, plans to race in Martinsville March 29 with the Truck Series.
Chrissy
Well, we've done all we can together. I've shown you everything I can and we've put some serious laps down. I'll be there in the pits (if your dad can hook me up with a pass) next Saturday cheering you on. This is so sweet!
The Wallace name rests on your shoulders, now. You need to hold the mantle of "the best Wallace in racing" until I'm old enough to trade paint with you. Remember, Lauren Wallace is, has been, and always will be the best Wallace in racing. I just give the rest of you the spotlight every once in a while. Nah, j/k. But don't tell your dad I said that, otherwise he won't let me take laps around the track in his car anymore.
Keep working and I'll see you at the 'Paperclip' next Saturday. We'll be getting into town Friday. Tell your dad, him and I have a date with the go-karts Friday night, and I won't take his typical "But I gotta race tomorrow" excuse anymore.
Later. Your CUZ,
Lauren
** Lauren Wallace is a fictional cousin of Mike, Rusty, and Steve Wallace. All accounts are ficticious and solely for entertainment purposes. **
Say what you will, but it is a little too coincidental that Brett Favre retired today (allegedly, Press Conference is scheduled for 1pm ET). Let's look at the timeline:
ONE YEAR AGO: Much press was devoted to FAVRE's desire to land Randy MOSS in Green Bay. A tremendous potential tandem of FAVRE/MOSS could have made the Packers a pre-season NFC favorite.
LAST APRIL: MOSS is traded for a 4th round pick to the Patriots (the steal of the Century). More press is dedicated to FAVRE's obvious discontent with the fact that the Packers did not make the move to land MOSS, or any other big name, big talent WR to bolster the young, inexperienced group of WRs he was going to have to endure the season with.
LAST MAY: The Packers and FAVRE play the Public Relations Machine of downplaying the whole situation. Green Bay says FAVRE is happy, FAVRE says he is happy to be in Green Bay and with his current crew of players. Welcome to Spin City North.
SEPTEMBER-JANUARY: FAVRE dislays one of the greatest seasons of his career, while setting numerous records (wiping Dan Marino rightfully off the record books). He makes the WR corps - which would make a devastating college WR unit - look like All-Pros. He finished the season on the doorstep of ending his career with a Super Bowl appearance.
MARCH 3: Randy Moss re-signs with the New England Patriots for 3 years, $27 million.
MARCH 4: Brett FAVRE announces his retirement, saying although he could physically still compete, he was mentally tired. And the only reason he would return would be to WIN (and only win) a Super Bowl, but that task is too daunting to make a return to Lambeau Field one more time.
Sounds to me like a repeat of last season. FAVRE saw MOSS was on the market - essentially the missing link to the Packers Super Bowl hopes - and when Green Bay did not make a move to grab him and he re-signed with New England, the prospect of have to carry the Packers on his back for one more season was too much to handle. I don't blame him one bit.
Brett Favre will go down in history as one of the best QBs ever, and possibly the best football player ever. But the Packers have missed the boat recently in the draft and free agency, leaving Favre flapping alone in the wind. The man is in his 40s and can not be expected to carry a team, city, and franchise alone anymore.
Give him his Hall of Fame bust and jacket next year - he MORE than deserves an early exemption, and let the Aaron RODGERS era begin.
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