The National Football League Draft, April 26-27, was difficult enough to watch without the added political, heart-tugging efforts by ESPN and NFL Network.

I can only take so much of Mel Kiper Jr., the long drawn out moments in between draft picks that the so-called experts feel they need fill with their prognostications, and the formulaic interviews with the draftees.

“You were just drafted in the first round by the worst team in the league, how do you feel?”

“I feel great. It is a dream come true.”

“Did you have any idea you were going to be drafted before they called your name?”

“I had conversations with lots of teams, but had no idea they would take me when they did.” This is code for; “We had a deal worked out a few days ago; we just kept it quiet until the draft.”

“How do you think you will fit in with your new team?”

“I am going to work hard, learn the system and hope to make an impact and do good things.”

This nauseating, predictable banter demoted the draft to commercial-filler during the NASCAR race at Talladega Sunday.

And during one of those breaks, I caught a teaser from ESPN talking about the “life or death” circumstances surrounding one prospect, as a young man in the uniform of the United State Military Academy at West Point stood in front of the camera. Curious, I stayed tuned.

What followed was both embarrassing and confusing.

ESPN host Trey Wingo interviewed Army football player Caleb Campbell about the prospect of being drafted by an NFL team and the ramifications involved.

Simply, if Campbell is drafted by an NFL team, he is reassigned to recruiting duty for up to two years with the future option to buy out the remainder of his contract. If he is not drafted or immediately signed to a free agent contract, then he will be sent off into the regular Army where he could possibly be deployed to Iraq.

It was embarrassing to watch a major media outlet like ESPN solicit for this young man, labeling it a “life or death” situation; putting pressure on NFL teams to draft the young man in order to save his life.

First, he voluntarily joined the Army during a time of war. He knew what he was getting into. Second, this program was not instituted until 2005 – after the start of Campbell’s sophomore season – so he did not join under the au####es of this program. Lastly, going to Iraq is not an absolute, and even less is the chance of him being killed in Iraq if he was sent. It was hardly a “life or death” situation. One option was definitely easier and more desirable than the other, but not quite that dramatic.

This led to the confusing aspect of the story. According to Campbell, he wanted to attend West Point to become an officer and leader of soldiers. He volunteered for this at a time when the Army and Marine Corps are waist-deep in operations in the fight against terrorism. But during the interview he definitely seemed anxious about the issue, pushing the possibility of being a voice for the Army and a good public relations story for any NFL team that drafted him.

I guess it was confusing because, after spending so much time around Marines, it seemed strange that an officer (or soon to be officer) in the United States Armed Forces would actively campaign to avoid combat duty.

Lieutenant Dan Taylor would be disappointed.

But my personal opinion on the matter was tempered after remembering the time I spent with Billy Mills, a former Marine who is the only American to win the 10,000-meter race in the 1964 Olympics.

Mills spent much of his time as an officer in the Marine Corps traveling the country as part of military promotional tours similar to the bond drive tour the “heroes of Iwo Jima” took part in during World War II. These tours were common during times of war taking “celebrity service members” around the country to promote the military’s efforts.

If the Army can parlay Campbell’s career into increased recruiting efforts, may the force be with them. But I can not see how much impact an average collegiate safety, who was drafted in the 7th round (pick 218 out of 252) by the Detroit Lions and is only 18 months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL,  can make on Army recruiting when he will have a hard enough time even making the 53-man roster.

And the catch to the Army deal is that if he is not on an active NFL roster for the next two years, he will have to go back into the fold with the active Army.

 Hopefully he can take full advantage of this opportunity the Army has granted him, because the Air Force and Naval academies require a two-year commitment before being released to the play in the NFL or NBA (just ask David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs); but if he doesn’t make it in the NFL, I’m confident West Point has set him up for success as an Army officer.

Is there any good reason why the commissioners of the BCS conferences shot down the propsal to transform the BCS into a 4-team playoff?

It is what (most of) the fans want and have been begging for for years.

Apparently, only the ACC and SEC wanted to consider the playoff system further. IF the SEC (with BCS contenders LSU, Georgia, Florida, and even Arkansas and Alabama) and ACC (Miami and FSU) are willing to consider a playoff system, why can't the others?

The SEC is the consensus top Conference in college football and they are willing to put their seedings on the line to consider a playoff system but the other conferences back away?

This just proves that the SEC is the top conference and they know it. They are willing to put their title hopes on the line against TWO opponents while the PAC 10, Big 10(11) and Big 12 are content to take their chances on the seeding process.

How weak.

This is not that drastic of a proposal. You can take two of the BCS games and turn them into the Semi-Finals games, and leave the Championship game set where it is. It would require adding one additional Bowl into the BCS system and would require the Championship teams to play one extra game. This means more money for the Bowl game that gets adopted into the BCS format and more money for the two teams that make it to the championship game.

Oh no. We're asking kids; who have had a month off, who want to play 16 to 19 games per year in the NFL, and have dreams of playing for the National Championship, to play one extra game.

It is not like they proposed revamping the entire bowl system to make it a playoff like the basketball tournament.

I guess if your team or conference isn't willing to put their guys on the line for one extra game to prove they deserve the championship, then they don't deserve to be there. Plus, this gives teams and conferences (and their fans) an excuse to blame the BCS through 2014. Every year there always seems to be at least one team left out in the cold when the final rankings are made for the BCS championship.

Sports is all about "put up or shut up". I guess after this latest vote, conferences like the Pac 10, Big 10(11) and Big 12 proved they just need to shut up when it comes to the "unfairness" of the BCS format. And remember, I'm a Big 10(11) guy.

- Mr Pressbox

Randy Moss, one of the NFLs top talents and controversial personalities, has said he plans to throw his helmet into the mix by starting up a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team for the 2009 season.

Moss Motorsports is in the preliminary stages of making his team a reality, but the ripples will soon be felt all over NASCAR. Just as Chrissy Wallace's CTS venture has sparked a lot of debate over women racing in NASCAR, Moss' involvement very well may kick the door wide open for minorities in the sport of racing.

Moss is active in local dirt track racing in his home state of West Virginia and with the Urban Youth Racing School in Philadelphia - an organization aimed at giving minority youths an opportunity to break into racing (a sport few inner city kids have access to).

Putting a name like Moss' on a racing team, and most likely a minority driver in the seat, will open the flood gates for a whole new fan and marketing base.

- Mr Pressbox

[ I will avoid the easy jokes and comments about Moss creating a racing team at this point. I'll leave that to the professionals, like theSportsComedian]

I totally understand the desire to want to go for it all, put it all on the line and go for the win. I also fully understand that sometimes that desire can blow up in your face.

Jeff Gordon said before the Talladega race that he didn't want to be leading the race when the white flag came out .. rather he wanted to be in 2nd. The theory is, he wanted to be the guy to make the move to win the race on the last lap, not be the chump who loses the race on the last lap. And things were shaping up just a Jeff wanted as the laps clicked away.

However, Jeff made his move one lap too early. With roughly two laps to go, Jeff jumped out from behind Kyle Busch trying to make his move on the outside. Unfortunately, he had little to no help. Then JP Montoya closed the door before Jeff could get back into line. Then he got freight trained back into the pack where was caught up in the white-flag-lap wreck, finishing 19th.

Maybe if he would have stuck to his plan, he would have pulled off the win. But when you look at "Big Picture" racing, which is the new catch phrase in NASCAR, Gordon would have been better served to stay in line and finish second.

Now he's dropped to 14th, 11 points out of 12th place, and the clock is ticking. We're nearing the midway mark of the regular race season and dropping much further could prove fatal for the #24 crew.

- Mr Pressbox

Despite what the Marvin Lewis says, what the Bengals say, and what we all really want; Chad Johnson will get his wish (and be traded).

Why? The NFL Players Union has castrated the NFL franchises, preventing them from backing up their threats and ultimatums.

Chad Johnson has a signed contract through 2011. Period. That's it. He belongs to the Bengals until 2011.

Why do these players think they are above the TEAM and above the league to demand a trade when they aren't happy with the playing time or money they are getting?

The Bengals are a breath away from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They have the offense, and with a few defenseive fixes can be a solid AFC contender.

Johnson needs to sit. The Bengals need to send him home. And the NFL needs to support the decision in order to send the message that the players a part of the league - they don't run the league.

They want teams to pay them big money when it comes time to renegotiate their contracts. They say it is a matter of RESPECT. And they complain about not getting guaranteed contracts, which allow the NFL franchises to cut them whenever they chose with minimal impact on their salary cap. They say that is unfair.

Yet, when it comes time for them to show the NFL franchises who gave them their start in the league the RESPECT they deserve, or to honor the contract they have set in place, they suddenly have a different opinion.

Unfortunately, the NFL Players Union will pressure the league to force the Bengals to trade Johnson (somehow).  Proving again that the teams have no control and the Union has all the control - and again the fans will suffer.

See you next year Chad! I'll make sure to take you off my fantasy draft board.

- Mr Pressbox

Jared Allen (recently traded from the Kansas Chiefs to the Minnesota Vikings) is a good defensive end, but we will never confuse him for a good businessman.

Here is what Jared Allen thinks are good ideas:

1. Wearing #69 (for the exact inuendo reasons your dirty mind is drawn to)

2. Racking up two DUIs (which resulted in a suspension for two games last season)

3. Building an expensive sports bar and grill in Kansas City during his contract year (2007) Follow the train of thought: I have two DUIs, so let's go open a BAR!! [as the Guiness brothers say: Brilliant!]

4. 15.5 sacks, 64 tackles in 14 games (what, he couldn't manage 5 more tackles?)

5. After his typical contract year performance (most players have their best year in the last year of thier contract - hmm), he cops an attitude demanding a ridiculously large guaranteed contract (basically because he really wanted out of Kansas City)

6. He shows up at an awards banquet for 10 mins only to pick up his award dressed in boots, jeans and a tuxedo t-shirt.

7. Makes it OBVIOUS he wants out of Kansas City up until his trade is finalized

I keep hearing the old Seasame Street song "One of These Things is Not Like the Other" in my head. Other than the solid stats, his actions have not been all that bright.

Jared Allen is NOT Junior Seau. Anyone who thinks you can compare the two either a desperate Vikings fan or an uneducated football novice.

Seau opened up a great restaurant in San Diego which still thrives today. Why? Because Seau was a pillar in the San Diego community for many years. Allen has been in Kansas City for 4 years - and not a stellar citizen during most of that time.

Seau left San Diego after more than a dozen years of faithful service and was simply a cap move. He wanted to continue to try to get a Super Bowl ring (which is the only thing he has not accomplished in his career) and the people of San Diego still love him.

Allen's departure is only considered a loss to the Kansas CIty are simply because of his on-field talent. Otherwise, it is not a big loss. And having two first round picks Saturday makes the wound a lot easier to take.

Unless Allen decides to have all of his waitresses skimp down to nothing but a string bikini, his bar venture will soon circle the drain, as will his Vikings who desperately needed that first-round pick (and the two third rounders they gave up) to rebuild their franchise. And Allen's career won't be far behind.

Now his agent is a genius! But that's a different piece altogether.

I apologize for everyone who predicted a Jeff Gordon Texas victrory. Not only was th jinx not broken, it grew wings and an extra set of razor sharp teeth.

Gordon finished DEAD LAST for only the second time in his career (both at Texas). How does that happen? How does the greatest driver on the track finish dead last?

After suffering through a painful beginning to the race, the car was loose and pit stop adjustments did little to fix the problem, Gordon's car finally threw up the white flag and quit on lap 110 (exact one-third of the way into the 334-lap race), spinning itself out and slamming into the wall.

Gordon looked like a rookie or worse out there Sunday. It is obviously not his fault - a four-time Cup Champion with 81 wins - so whose fault is it? Steve Letarte (you don't know how hard it is for me not to call him Steve LeTard), the builders at the shop? Maybe it is Gordon's fault for not staying on his crew prior to Texas' race.

Complacency has killed the 24 team, and apparently most of the Hendrick Motorsports family. The feel of "the best team in racing" has seeped into the psyche of the team, leading to a winless start after the first seven races.

After finally breaking the top 12 - Chase eligible - Gordon dropped five spots, currently 14th and 91 points behind the 12th spot.

It is clearly unacceptable for a professional team of Gordon's reputation to fail so miserably in setting up its race car. For that, someone needs to pay the price. I understand racing is a family sport where the whole crew is like one big family, but sometimes you even have to fire a family member if they are hurting your business. And that is exactly what is happening here. Gordon was embarrased by someone's incompetence, and someone needs to be the sacrificial lamb. This sacrifice could be just what the #24 team to turn the season around.

I don't care if it is the catch-can holder or the guy who glues the lugnuts on the tires or the shop manager - someone needs to go at least for a symbolic gesture.

I find it hard to believe other great racers in history would be so pasive after such an embarrassing performance.

C'mon, David Ragan is gaining ground and threatening to pass Jeff Gordon in the season standings, and the unsponsored car of David Gilliland looked more like a championship team than the #24 crew.

Guess it just goes to show that it takes a lot more than just a top driver for a top team with TONS of money to win races and championships. You need people who actually know what they're doing, and the #24 crew is currently questionable in that department. This team looked so bad, it may occupy all five NOT slots in Southern Cindi's HOT or NOT list.

As they say "There's always next week."

- Mr Pressbox

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.

- Mr Pressbox

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.

Someone please help!!

-Mr Pressbox

Martinsville, VA

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!