As I mentioned in a previous article, the exposure of Sports Media could drive us to the point of tuning out. As much as I would love to get away from that topic, I won't be satisfied until I drive one more point home.
As ESPNU's marathon broadcast of National Signing Day, the coverage of the NFL/MLB Draft, the premature scholarship offers and the debut of NASCAR phenom Joey Logano has proven to the sports mass that youth is in. While this is now real shock to anyone considering the fact that if you are in an NFL RB that is 28 years old you are "aging", it's getting more extreme by year.
It wasn't so long ago, that the only real hype would come towards a young rookie as being "the next big thing". However thanks to recent website creations (YouTube, MySpace) and the internet itself, the real "future" is now in the Collegiate and High School ranks (with the occasional middle school star getting some publicity). So much money is being invested in these young athletes, that they do not get the proper time to adapt to facing much older opponents or even maintaining a healthy social life.
The MLB Draft proves to everyone that a high school athlete has to make an important decision. While we usual guffaw at those who "threaten" their potential bosses by saying "If you don't sign me for X amount of dollars, I'll GO TO COLLEGE!", they do have every right to say that. It's known that for the most part, the MLB Draft is the biggest crapshoot of them all. If you are getting drafted out of high school, you have nothing but a diploma to your name. Due to the rigors of a professional season (whether that be in the Minor Leagues or Majors), you won't be able to go back to College until your playing days come to an end. Sometimes the end comes earlier for others and with the rising costs of college tuitions, they end up COMPLETELY flaming out. By going for the best possible dollar amount, you are guaranting yourself a safe amount of money just in case something goes wrong.
Of course it's easy for us, as diehard fans, to hold grudges against some of these young athletes as we want to see them play immediately. Or if we are from an opposing team, we just say "just go to college and try again in 4 years". But sometimes, skills can erode if injury happens or just some who can't make the transition to facing older players. Let's face it, a 18-year old prospect is much more exciting than a 22-year old prospect who's drafted in Round 16. Then, if aforementioned prospect doesn't pan out, we saw "at least he has a college education in his hand". But look at some of these sports schedules. Whether its the offseason or season, these students probably focus fully on baseball than their schoolwork. You can't blame them either. Unfortunately, most schools don't give a lick if you have a low GPA or even minor discipline problems; as long as you can give them positive exposure on the field. Some athletes are in school for one reason; sports. If you put in a major chunk of your school days into sports, your academics can easily suffer. Plus with the sports world the way it's scrutinized today, you need to even have very high social skills in order to thrive off the field. If you can't get along with others do to the pressures of working out all the time, how are you going to talk to a reporter who's criticizing you after going 0-3, with 2 Ks and one error in the field?
With the drama surrounding "prima donnas" such as Chad Johnson or even Kyle Busch, some wonder why these guys have the snobbish attitude. Busch was annointed as being the "next big NASCAR star" when he was just 16 years old. I'm at that same age and if someone was telling me that I'd be the next big star, I would sure as hell have all the confidence in the world. The drama that surrounded Terrelle Pryor's college choice was so severe, I wondered how he could possibly go to sleep soundly without worrying about a PSU fan beating down his door. Pryor seems to have a great head on his shoulders, thankfully, but with all the attention focused on other athletes like him; it's no surprise to see them get frustrated when they are out of the spotlight. In the NASCAR world, you can even get signed to a driver development deal BEFORE you are in the 6th grade as Matt Martin found out. When will this end?
It's not a secret anymore that we are in a society and world that sure loves its sports. Whether it involves touchdowns, home runs, goals, wrecks or poker chips; there is a sport out there for everyone. Also there is a great possibility that your sport will be on TV in some shape or form and your favorite website will have its own section dedicated towards it. You may also be able to take control of your favorite players, athletes, drivers, etc and put them all on the same team!
But will there ever be a day when we all say "Enough is Enough!"? With the influx of blogs, fantasy leagues, negative publicity and more sports entertainment TV packages; it's quite easy to get daily updates on your favorite athlete. High-sophisticated methods of cheating, undercover drug embassies and even animal cruelty violations have been thrown at our eyes on even Local TV. As every draft year (if your sport indeed, has a draft) you learn about more and more character issues or prima donna type attitude traits. Athletes hold out to gain an extra million or more!
Yet, while we may discuss this negatively towards our friends, family, co-workers or strangers; we always are the first ones to get the Text Message Alert on our cellphone to tell others the most recent update. Onto the gyst of the article, can sports theoretically burn us out? Can the fans ever enjoy an offseason from our favorite sport? I take pride in being at least more than "just a fan" when it comes to the NFL, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, College Football, IRL and even the X-Games and will always watch March Madness or even a good tennis match. I'll even watch Fox Sports Soccer Net to catch an MLS or Premiership League if I'm bored. But will there ever be a time and place where we'd ever turn off the TV? I think not, but there could be a time where we just "X" out of any website as we won't care if Plaxico Burress doesn't practice or if Tony Romo tries out for the US Open..in May.
I personally believe there are four factors that could easily eat away at our sports cravings.
1)-Cheating
Throughout the past calendar year, more and more cheating allegations and stories have been taking place. Whether it be the Formula One spy scandal that rocked the European racing world, Spygate (Thankfully it probably is nearing its end) and the Mitchell Report (plus the battle between Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee), there have certainly been enough stories that have sickened us. Cheating has tarnished some of the sports world's biggest figures (Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Fernando Alonso) and in some eyes have even downgraded an NFL Dynasty (Patriots) with the "*" label. While cycling, sans Lance Armstrong, had little known athletes; it's legacy for the next few years at the least has been destroyed by doping allegations. After about 5 years of steroid investigations, baseball's steroid cloud is finally starting to ebb away. But will there be another SpyGate and what will that do to the NFL's image? What about a NASCAR scandal similar to the Formula 1 spying scandal? Will America finally start to tune away for different options?
2)-Over Exposure
This is more directed to the game of football. The Sports Society has long-adapted to baseball, hockey, basketball, etc. being played multiple times per week. But football has usually been known as a two-day pony (Sundays and Monday Night) or in the instance of the collegiate part one-day a week (Saturdays). But now we have Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and the occasional mid-week NCAA game. We aren't too far away from having a football game on every day of the week in the middle of the regular season! If injuries continue to pile up, will the nation start to become "Football'd Out"?
3)-Fantasy Leagues
While I've calmed down a bit regarding the subject, I am still a part of plenty of fantasy leagues in different sports. However, there are now shows dedicated to the fantasy world as well as bottom line tickers that give you fruitless updates (Peyton Manning, 1/3 for 8 yards). You can even buy up-to-the minute sports updates that give you live scores for your FANTASY LEAGUE! Soon TV ratings will slowly start to slow down as America is checking their fantasy stat trackers. Fantasy Updates track the player's status at each practice and those dreaded game-day decisions have people rising early in the morning to make sure they sit down Dallas Clark now even though he practiced all week. There will be a time where we learn that a certain player's child cried all through the night making their Saturday walkthrough practice "sluggish" and thus calling into question their performance the next day.
4)-Off the Field Actions
The past two weeks alone have notably seen the following occur. A future NFL Hall of Famer in the middle o####un investigation. A relatively well-known running back allegedly boating under the influence OR being beat up for no reason. A former NFL player throwing a dry cleaning bag over their two year old son's face. While all of those problems have been limited to the NFL, most sports have had the "thug" disease for quite sometime; eventually it will be hard to root for a former convict again. Also it's quite possible to see some great players (or potential ones) being shuffled out of their respective leagues.
In conclusion, I doubt sports will ever get tiring for any fan. But one day, it is possible for us to slowly start tuning out. But no matter what sports does, we will always be back.
I have been on hiatus for quite sometime on here. I would love to tell you that I was doing something dramatic like saving Mark Prior's career BUT unfortunately, I just had NOTHING. I had plenty of spare time as my summer vacation is winding down but I couldn't think of anything! Michael Vick, Tim Donaghy, the struggling NL Central, Barry Bonds, CA$HCAR, 'Roids were all interesting ideas BUT it would be beating a dead horse. So I decided to do an article like this. Don't know if I'll keep this up, but just testing something out. In light of all of those topics, I'm using an asterisk.
*You know irks me? In June, I wrote the first article in quite some time documenting Rick Ankiel's best impression of Roy Hobbs. Got one comment. If I could only have used my crystal ball and delayed that article by just two months, I'd be sitting pretty right now. But really, it is still an amazing journey. Even if Ankiel goes 0-for his next-9999, he still made it back. He wasn't irrelevant in MLB circles anymore. He wasn't that 20-year old kid who literally crashed and burned. He was Rick Ankiel again. Major props to him.
*Oh man, Danica Patrick is at it again. I've already wasted my time in two articles saying why I think she's not close to an elite driver but when do the excuses stop? Her first year was her rookie year and she was adapting. Her second year she was in inferior equipment. Now she's "getting used" to a new team. Next year, it's highly possible to see Sam Hornish and Dario Franchitti make the jump to NASCAR. That is her make or break year. Does she have to win in my eyes? No. I'd be more impressed by her finishing 3rd in the points.
*A common misconception here. Michael Vick isn't going to jail for dogfighting. He's going to jail for running an ILLEGAL gambling operation. It's highly similar to Rick Tocchett's "Operation Power Play" scenario and look at the differences. However, I am completely disgusted at what he did. It'll be hard for me to get the image of two dogs fighting out of my head when Outside the Lines showed that special.
*NASCAR's coverage is embarassing. It always has been, but here's a story that no one has talked about. Carl Long, a favorite of mine and an Underdog in the sport, may have secured a Busch Series ride with little-known team C2M Motorsports. Well he was working in the shop, alone, when he actually cut off a piece of his finger (nothing big, 1/8 of a finger) and drove himself to the hospital. He was back in shop the next day and drove in the Hooters Cup Series race at Bristol last weekend. Support Carl at http://www.carl-long.com
*If there is one QB I'm high on this year it is definitely JP Losman of the Bills. Losman dramatically improved his footwork, accuracy and mechanics last season. Pre-Draft, I told myself that he would be the best QB out of the 2004 class. Still may be hard to find out, but I can really see it happening. However if he has any chance of succeeding, he needs to have a #2 WR. Anyone! Roscoe Parrish has to step up his game.
*Tiki Barber always epitomized class to me when I would see him conduct himself. Now, I may be wavering on that opinion. He is part of the media so it's highly recommended he showcases his opinions but check out what Dan Benton, of AOL Sports heard on the the radio.
It was a constant barrage for almost two hours with Ronde making comments about Eli's "testes finally dropping" and Tiki adding that "Kerry Collins was a true leader," claiming the Giants "shouldn't have let him go." They also added that Eli's return-fire was "laughable" and that Tiki is part of the media now and it's his job to be controversial.
Do I see Eli as a special QB right now? Nah. But I feel rather bad for the man right now, though I don't see how Kerry Collins is borderline relevant considering he played in 2000. Like Benton said later on in the article, people forget that Barber was the marked man in Gotham with his fumbling woes.
*Jayson Werth is 9 for his last 9. I find it funny how sometimes it's not the Albert Pujols or the Johan Santanas that chase the records. Good for Werth.
*Clay Buchholz and Sean Masterson make Boston a permanent contender in the future. With Beckett, Dice-K and the knuckleball that is Tim Wakefield; this is a rotation that can literally keep you off balance. Let's add to the Rivalry as those Yankees have Ian Kennedy, Joba the Great and Phil Hughes; wow this is going to be great for years.
As the season crosses its halfway point, there has been plenty of action in which to call this year special. We have seen Craig Biggio collect 3,000+ hits with the same team, Sammy Sosa eclipse 600 HRs, Frank Thomas eclipse 500 HRs and we are seeing Barry Bonds close in on the all-time HR record.
But also, this is the year that we are peering into the future. This year is special, because we are seeing the future of pitching right before our very own eyes. Some of these guys look like they could be in my high school for crying out loud! Maybe this is part of baseball's saving grace. Maybe this is a pipe dream. But, let's profile the youth movement on the mound.
Philip Hughes - New York Yankees
Before the season began, there were some rumblings out of Yankeeland that their developing farm system's main puzzle piece is looking an awful lot like....Roger Clemens. Yes, Philip Hughes was quickly becoming one of the most talked about prospects in the country. With a fastball that can hit the mid-90s, a 12-6 curveball, a dangerous slider and a changeup that looked better by the start; Yankees fans were ready to see if Hughes was indeed; the Real Deal.
In his first start on April 26, 2007 against the Toronto Blue Jays; Hughes struggled in his MLB debut. He recorded his first career loss, but to be honest; pitching in Yankee Stadium for your debut most be taxing for the too-young-to-drink pitcher. In his 2nd start, Hughes looked absolutely dominant. With a no-hitter through 6 1/3, Hughes came up lame following a pitch that would later go foul, off the bat of Mark Teixeria. The diagnosis? A mild hamstring strain that would keep Hughes out for about a month. Unfortunately, his rehab took a turn for the worse as he suffered a severe ankle sprain that will likely keep him out of commission until August. Judging by the Yankees current performance, it's possible that they ease their budding star but Hughes did show that he could be a dominant pitcher and soon.
Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants
This article's amazing stat? In 32 innings pitched in AAA-Fresno, Tim Lincecum gave up 1 run. Yes, just one measly run. With that in mind, it was only a matter of time before Lincecum entered the Major Leagues for good.
When San Francisco Giants starter, Russ Ortiz suffered an injury; Tim Lincecum was up on a nationally broadcasted game against the Philadelphia Phillies and Cole Hamels (who ironically had a similar statline to Lincecum in AAA-Scranton last year). Lincecum showed more shades of dominance than Hughes did in his first start but still struggled enough through 4 1/3 to earn a No Decision in the Phillies win.
Lincecum's turning point came in his 3rd start against the Houston Astros against Roy Oswalt. Due to his size (or lack of), Lincecum has actually been compared to the Astros ace and perennial Cy Young candidate. In coming off his first ML win against the Rockies, Lincecum flashed his power curveball as he struck out 10 and was clocked as high as 98 mph on his fastball.
Since then however, it's been a mixed bag for Lincecum. His ERA is at a lofty 4.64 and his control has been off but in today's outing against Arizona; Lincecum had a career-high 12 Ks (allowing only 3 hits) in 7 innings for his 3rd career win. Giants fans, this kid is legit.
Kevin Slowey - Minnesota Twins
Compared to Hughes, Kevin Slowey was a bit under - the - radar in terms of top prospects. Baseball America, in fact, had him rated as the 71st best prospect entering the season.
However, Slowey's excellent control brought him through the ranks of the Minnesota Twins farm system and actually looked the best amongst the other prospects in this list in his ML debut. In his debut, Slowey pitched 6 innings against the Oakland Athletics and only gave up one run and six hits. The following start, following a precedent it appears, Slowey registered his first win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, albeit a bit shakier then his debut; Slowey pitched 5 innings allowing 4 earned runs.
The comparision of Slowery? The main one that's been recorded is of former Twin, Brad Radke. Slowey doesn't have as much velocity as say a Tim Lincecum or Philip Hughes; but he has been a tad shaky in his first 6 career starts. He sports a high ERA of 5.13 and opposing batters are hitting .310 off of him.
Homer Bailey - Cincinnati Reds
Whether it was that he was actually ready for the Show or that Cincy was trying to draw fans in, Homer Bailey made his debut on June 8th for the Cincinnati Reds against the Cleveland Indians. Though he did struggle at times, Bailey showed excellent poise and recorded his first win of his promising career although only pitching 5 innings.
His first sign of dominance came against the Oakland Athletics in his 3rd start. In 7 innings, Bailey allowed just 2 hits and 1 earned run on only 93 pitches. This game alone has given the Reds a glimpse of hope in the future as Bailey could soon form an excellent starting trio along with Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo.
However, Bailey has struggled in his two starts after his gem. He only lasted 1 2/3 innings to the Phillies and 3 2/3 against the St. Louis Cardinals. There is reason for optimism but with an ERA of 8.10; Bailey is one bad start away from possibly being sent down to Louisville. Don't fret though, Cincy, Bailey has shown that he can be an elite pitcher as his curveball, while a plus pitch; has been hung a few times.
Yovani Gallardo - Milwaukee Brewers
The last of our prospects is Yovani Gallardo of the Milwaukee Brewers. Gallardo looked like a men amongst boys at times in the Minors and was probably ML - ready for about a month prior to his June 14th callup to replace the injuried Chris Capuano.
In his ML debut, Gallardo struggled early on but dazzled later as he recorded his first win against Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants. Gallardo has been as advertised as he has collected 19 Ks in 19.1 innings pitched for Milwaukee for a 2.79 ERA. In only 3 starts, Gallardo could be argued to have looked the best amongst all of his peers on this list.
Now there's a interesting dillema in Milwaukee. Capuano is due to come off the DL soon and manager Ned Yost has said that Gallardo will most likely be put in long-relief. As a Phillies fan, I still remember Gavin Floyd's awful attempt in long-relief that could've ruined his career. Hopefully Gallardo doesn't dwell on that same path but he has the makings of a legend.
Now that concludes our list.....for the time being. While we have seen 5 fantastic prospects come through the ranks, there is still a lot of great pitching in the Minors. Clay Buchholz of the Portland Sea Dogs (AA-Boston) has been absolutely spectacular as has Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angelos Dodgers. Hell, if it wasn't for Jon Lester being right in front of him; Buchholz could be called up to the Majors relatively soon. Carlos Carrasco (AA-Phillies), has also looked great and if someone were to go down in the rotation; he could be called up very soon as well.
Comments Appreciated.
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*The following story will most likely be a "centerpiece" on Sportscenter or Outside the Lines; so I'll say it first. Enjoy!
Rick Ankiel took the mound for Game 1 of the 2000 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. At the tender age of 20, was making the biggest start of his young career that already proved that he could potentially be a Hall of Fame starter. The 1999 Minor League Player of the Year complied a 11-7 season with a 3.50 ERA and a blistering 194 strikeouts in 30 starts for the St. Louis Cardinals. With Darryl Kile, it appeared that the Cards had their 1-2 punch in the rotation to carry them through the playoffs.
Ankiel, blessed with an outstanding 12-6 curveball, appeared to have some minor nerves in his first playoff game. Afterall, he did give up 2 hits and 2 BBs in only 2 innings pitched but it was to be expected of a young starter in his first playoff game.
WARNING: The following may be considered graphic for young children, pregnant women and Cardinals fans.
Ankiel's first batter was Atlanta pitcher Greg Maddux. Result? Walk. Then after getting an out, Ankiel threw back-to-back wild pitches to Andruw Jones which lead to another walk. Then another wild pitch (Maddux scores) and a strikeout of Chipper Jones. Then another walk followed by another wild pitch. Then two singles that eventually lead to Ankiel being pulled in the 3rd inning.
The Beginning of the (Painful) End
Ankiel's wildness appeared on/off for the next season until he was sent all the way down to rookie ball in 2001. There he showcased his true pitching and batting potential that appeared to have finally cured his mental ailments. Wrong. Wildness, walks, injuries (including Tommy John Surgery) all ruined Ankiel's attempt at relocating the strike zone. After one last try at the mound, Ankiel announced that he would be moving into the outfield as he was a great athlete who displayed a good bat.
At Single-A and Double-A, it appeared that Ankiel may just have a future in the "Show" again and at the age of 25, it was still there. Ankiel showcased his power (.514 and .515 slugging percentage at both respective levels) and his arm (5 assists in 50+) games and a call-up to AAA appeared to be in his future.
It appeared Ankiel had too much luck as he would go on to miss all of 2006 with a knee injury that required surgery. It appeared that it was the end for Ankiel's rocky Cardinals career. But one last chance has been given.
Pride, Resilience and Determination
After a successful 2007 Spring Training, the 27-year old Ankiel was sent down to AAA Memphis with one more step to go to come back to his "home" in St. Louis. Ankiel started the season off slow as he just couldn't get into a rhythm and most balls he hit were caught.
Then it appeared a switch went off in his mechanics. Ankiel started to hit the ball well. In May, Ankiel batted a robust .312 with 5 HR (making a season tally of 12) and 14 RBIs. Ankiel missed the last portion of May with a minor Achilles tendon injury but came back in June with the same amount of success. After a 3-HR game on June 16th, Ankiel seems poised to make it back to where his career hit a crossroads; St. Louis. Though to be frank, the Pacific Coast League isn't exactly playing on fields such as PETCO park; Ankiel is showing power in the AAA, leading the league in HRs.
Ankiel appears to be destined to the Majors though there is one problem. Ankiel cannot be sent down to the Minors again unless he clears waivers. With a demand for power batting (especially raw), Ankiel will most likely be on a different team instead of going back to Memphis. Make sure to keep tabs on him as you will most likely be seeing a centerpiece on everything that went in his young, exasperating career on your TV very soon.
Most recently, the "feisty" Danica Patrick and former IRL champion Dan Wheldon got into a minor altercation off the track during post-race activities at Milwaukee. I know what you're thinking, Milwaukee has a race track?
All across sports radio and message boards; the minor shove given off by Danica to Dan was a staple in most auto racing - themed message board. Really it's an interesting scenario once you think about it. Patrick and Wheldon are two of the only recognizable (with respect to Sam Hornish Jr. and Marco Andretti) drivers in the IRL.
On one side you have Danica Patrick. Danica is the "beautiful, delicate, feisty" driver who most women and younger males watch while Dan is a "good-looking, young, conservative" driver who most males and younger femals watch the sport for. Danica was in that provocative FHM photo shoot and Wheldon has graced the cover of GQ. You would think that both of them would be too scared to get into a confrontation.
Think again.
The real accident occured early in the race when Danica was in the right place at the right time in terms of moving through the field. She was battling for fourth when she stayed where she was and Wheldon (who was up high on the track) came down into the turn. They touched and Patrick goes off course. That is a frustrating incident, but it was a racing incident. Wheldon could've stayed up but due to the lack of tire rubber on the high lane, he could've easily wrecked into the wall. Patrick, could've moved down the track" but then would've risked losing momentum. It was a Catch-22. NO ONE was at fault.
After some "threats" directed to Wheldon over the radio, Patrick coasted into 8th and Wheldon secured another top-5.
The real drama came later.
While doing post-race interviews, Wheldon was grabbed by Patrick and given a slight push after she essentially said "YOUR MOM!" and stormed away complaining to high heavens. Wheldon, in probably one of the most comedic interviews, essentially called Danica a mediocre talent.
I can definitely agree with that statement. Please excuse me if I go off-course, but Danica is an average race car driver. She's not the special one that will bust down barriers and in fact, is more of a whiner than a winner. We've seen her push Jacques Lazier, stomp her feet and throwing a hissy fit like a 5-year old who didn't get the last Oreo and now this. When Rahal - Letterman was at its peak in her rookie season (keep in mind that teammate Buddy Rice nearly won the championship the year before), Danica essentially was an average driver who finished in the bottom half of the standings (in terms of full-time drivers). But after a mediocre season for a "savior", she moved on to arguably the top team in the Indy Racing League; Andretti-Green Racing. She was expected to compete immediately, but has been her regular self as of late still. Marco Andretti has already been to victory lane in his career while Patrick has not. Due to pit strategy, she nearly had a shot at leading the Indy 500 but went on to finish 8th. Again, average driver.
Back to the story, Patrick would then complain about how Wheldon deserves punishment for a racing incident. I can understand the frustration but c'mon! Stop complaining! You both were not at fault, like the saying goes "--it Happens".
Wheldon should not have said what he said, either. He really should've just kept his mouth shout or just said the second part of his statement "She picked the wrong person to be feisty, too" and that would've been fine. Now if Danny Patrick were to hit him, that would be an immediate fine on the spot.
After the subsquent interview saga, sports radio and message boards were flooded with this topic. Most took the side of Danica by saying one-liners such as "IT'S BECAUSE SHE'S A WOMAN THAT WHELDON IS MEAN!!!" and "DAN WHELDON IS A PANSY!". I even heard one radio host say that it was gender-based that Wheldon felt the need to come down on her. Why would Wheldon risk his car like that? Hell, why would Wheldon (a champion and Indy 500 champion) even need to prove anything!
Now this is where the title comes in. I'm 100% certain that most fans are just trying to be politically correct when it comes to this. Danica is "feisty" but Dan is a "pansy". Danica continues to take advantage of her gender by skirting away with no fines or even a meaningless probation. She hasn't won a race in the "Minor Leagues of the IRL" in the Toyota Atlantic so now she's pushing 5-6 seasons without a win. All of her wins? They were in go-karts.
Also, please understand this. I'm not a sexist. In fact, Sarah Fisher is probably one of the most talented IRL Drivers in the sport. She's marketable, pretty and has enjoyed success (she finished 2nd once---Danica's best? 4th) in the IRL. Milka Duno may be a threat if she gets some IRL experience. But keep an eye out on Katherine Legge. She's a winner (I BELIEVE) on the Champ Car Series and I sense an eventual move to the IRL in her future. Legge will win a race and I'll be the first one to cheer for her once it happens. Danica races hard, you have to like that, but she also has to realize there is 18-19 more drivers who race just as hard (or harder) than her.
DISCLAIMER: You have just opened my latest blog entry with perhaps the most corniest title known to man. Yes, I just dipped from ESPN SportsCenter to the end of Titanic (starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) and seriously lost half of my testicle sac. I apologize to all offended parties for this "botched joke". I am not implying anything of you. . . . .
Is there a proper way to begin a story? Or an improper way? Well whatever the answer to that solution is, I'll begin by saying that I am sick of the consistent Yanks Vs. Sox rivalry talk. I absolutely despise the constant chatter of it that hits the airwaves from "Pardon the Interruption" to "The Barry Gibb Show" (SNL Reference). I hate the storylines and as far back as I can remember, this series has just dominated the headlines for about 4 days (sans that Boston Massacre last year).
Sometimes I feel like they grasp at straws to make storylines. Sometimes I feel that Joe Torre purposely doesn't call up Philip Hughes to make the storyline that much interesting. Heck, sometimes I feel that the Yankees went after Damon just for the hell of it much like the Sox going after Daisuke Matsuzaka and his "gyro"ball. I have so much disdain for this rivalry chatter that I have contemplated turning OFF my TV because I get to the point of pure, utter disguist of the overhyped "headlines" of this rivalry.
But I love it.
WHATTT? You are telling me that I read a story for 2 whole minutes just for you to do a complete 180 and say you love it? Yup, that is true.
Let me ask you something. I know that you are in my situation in terms of hearing the constant talk surronding this. I can't blame you for that, as even I, used to feel some sorrow for the Sox. I hated seeing the Yankees just dominate year in and year out but as the payroll increases; the gap closes.
Now why do I love this rivalry?
1)-Caliber
For starters, just look at the caliber of both its teams. The Yankees and the Red Sox are historically, two of the better teams in MLB history. Both teams are rich in Hall of Famers with guys like Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth (for both), Ted Williams, Carl Yaztremski, etc. Hell, just look at the past few seasons. You see the "elite" players in our generation with guys like David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Pedro Martinez and now Bobby Abreu, Daisuke Matsuzaka and the soon-to-be Philip Hughes and Clay Buchholz. You just can't deny that these are usually the top tier teams come late summer. The turnout usually stays different.
2)-Plot
Yes, I did just say that I hated the headlines but you have to admit that some of these stories are just interesting. The Curse of the Bambino is dead, and while I do miss the constant reminders, it appears that a few more plot twists are in the future. The Curse of the Geico Caveman with Johnny Damon? Just look at this year's main storyline, there ALWAYS is one by the way, with the Yankees inexperienced rotation. These guys are sending the likes of Chase Wright out there! No offense to Wright, but I wouldn't consider you to be Roger Clemens thank you very much. The story cultimates with Matsuzaka in his first "rivalry" game against the dreaded Evil Empire. This is just intriguing.
3)-Emotion
Yes, the story comes full circle. This is why I wrote this article in the first place to be honest. I love the emotion of this game and I love seeing the fans throughout the game. They really, really do HATE each other and I love it. It's something that we tend to lack in with society to be political. Yeah, we won't be seeing Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton (get it? Massachusetts - New York? HAHA, politics!) having dinner with each other but hatred of someone's guts over a petty thing such as baseball? How great is this! Just listen to the crowd, there is almost a World Series atmosphere surronding it and I do think that the teams secretly hate each other as well. No matter what Terry Francona or Joe Torre say, they would love nothing more than to beat the other team in the AL Championship Series as the story wouldn't be good if one were to beat the Blue Jays.
To be honest, this rivalry is overblown. No doubt about that. But the hatred of everything just draws me near to this series. It's just enjoying to me, I even catch snippets if there is a blowout in the game. Thus, this is a great rivarly....though I HATE IT!
1) Oakland Raiders - JaMarcus Russell - QB I hate this pick still, but really I can't see CJ (who I want to go here too) as going #1 barring a trade of Randy Moss. With two WRs (and a capable one in Curry) that should be starting, I just can't see CJ going. If Moss gets traded, this changes.
2) Detroit Lions - Brady Quinn - QB I expect Josh McCown to be dealt before the Draft and I do think they would use this pick for Quinn. Yes, Gaines Adams would be good for Detroit but I think the QB of the Future tag is needed as Kitna ages.
3) Cleveland Browns - Adrian Peterson - RB Jamal Lewis is strictly a one year bet (could I guess increase) but having a star RB would definitely take pressure off throwing to Winslow and Edwards. This could help Charlie Frye at least a small amount, and I think this is one step to being a contender.
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Calvin Johnson - WR This pick probably isn't as likely as it has been before but I do think that Calvin Johnson is the best athlete in this year's draft. He's an amazing talent, and I would not be shocked if OAK or DET gets CJ but if they don't; TB fans (etk, the Aussies, Canadians, etc.) should be crying tears of joy.
5) Arizona Cardinals - Joe Thomas - LT I for one, do not think that Thomas is going to be the best LT in the game. But I do think that he should be a top-tier one for years to come. There is only one more piece to the puzzle needed for ARZ to contend and that's the OL. The drafting of Lutui last year and the signing of Grimm this year is one step but having a premier OT is a quantum leap (just wanted an excuse to say that word, love it).
6) Washington Redskins - Gaines Adams - DE This is a great pick for Washington. They get a premier talent to go alongside of Andre Carter and having someone like Adams fall to #6 would be excellent for the 'Skins. They could use a DT like Alan Branch or possibly Carriker but if Adams falls; you can't pass him up.
7) Minnesota Vikings - Amobi Okoye - DT I do hate this pick, but I can't see them wanting Jamaal Anderson as he really isn't a natural pass rusher and I find him myself to be overrated. I do know that Kevin Williams is a premier DT but Pat Williams isn't getting any younger and having the heir being Okoye could help. Stumped on this one.
8) Atlanta Falcons - LaRon Landry - S This is consensus, Crocker is a backup and there is no one next to Milloy blah blah.
9) Miami Dolphins - Alan Branch - DT I was stumped on this pick for quite some time. I decided that Branch would be the best pick here but nothing would shock me with this pick.
10) Houston Texans - Joe Staley - OT Is this possible? Probably not. But I do want to mix things up here instead of the same generic Mocks over and over again. Staley's athleticism has everyone raving and I could actually see Kubiak drooling over the athletic OT for the ZBS. Staley is on the raw side but hey it's just a Mock. . . . .
11) San Francisco 49ers - Adam Carriker - DE Perfect 3-4 DE.
12) Buffalo Bills - Patrick Willis - LB 13) St. Louis Rams - Jamaal Anderson - DE 14) Carolina Panthers - Greg Olsen - TE 15) Pittsburgh Steelers - Chris Houston - CB 16) Green Bay Packers - Marshawn #### - RB 17) Jacksonville Jaguars - Reggie Nelson - S 18) Cincinnati Bengals - Leon Hall - CB 19) Tennessee Titans - Robert Meachem - WR 20) New York Giants - Levi Brown - OT 21) Denver Broncos - Jarvis Moss - DE 22) Dallas Cowboys - Brandon Meriweather - S 23) Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Jarrett - WR 24) New England Patriots - Michael Griffin - S 25) New York Jets - Darrelle Revis - CB 26) Philadelphia Eagles - Aaron Ross - CB 27) New Orleans Saints - Justin Harrell - DT 28) New England Patriots - Brian Leonard - RB 29) Baltimore Ravens - Justin Blalock - RG 30) San Diego Chargers - Ted Ginn Jr. - WR 31) Chicago Bears - Justin Durant - LB Going for shock value here. 32) Indianapolis Colts - Jon Beason - LB
33) Oakland Raiders - Ryan Kalil - C 34) Detroit Lions - Paul Posluszny - LB 35) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Anthony Spencer - DE 36) Cleveland Browns - Ben Grubbs - OG 37) Chicago Bears - Arron Sears - OT 38) Arizona Cardinals - Victor Abiamiri - DE 39) Atlanta Falcons - Charles Johnson - DE 40) Miami Dolphins - Trent Edwards - QB 41) Minnesota Vikings - Dwayne Bowe - WR 42) San Francisco 49ers - Sidney Rice - WR 43) Buffalo Bills - Kenny Irons - RB 44) Atlanta Falcons - Tony Hunt - RB 45) Carolina Panthers - Lawrence Timmons - LB 46) Pittsburgh Steelers - James Marten - OT 47) Green Bay Packers - Zach Miller - TE 48) Jacksonville Jaguars - Tim Crowder - DE 49) Cincinnati Bengals - DeMarcus Tyler - DT 50) Tennessee Titans - Eric Wright - CB 51) New York Giants - Josh Wilson - CB 52) St. Louis Rams - Ray McDonald - DE / DT 53) Dallas Cowboys - Marshal Yanda - OG 54) Kansas City Chiefs - Tony Ugoh - OT 55) Seattle Seahawks - Ben Patrick - TE 56) Denver Broncos - Eric Weddle - S 57) Philadelphia Eagles - Sabby Piscitelli - S 58) New Orleans Saints - Steve Smith - WR 59) New York Jets - David Harris - LB 60) Miami Dolphins - Daymeion Hughes - CB 61) Baltimore Ravens - Drew Stanton - QB 62) San Diego Chargers - LaMarr Woodley - DE 63) New York Jets - Dan Bazuin - DE 64) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Josh Gattis - S -------------------------------------------------- --
Now in this mock, I tested some things out. Lawrence Timmons and Dwayne Bowe probably won't fall that far on draft day. I do think with the stacked class this year at WR, that one of those guys will fall. Same with LB, but don't think Durant goes that high.
I will have my finished product on April 25th hopefully. Also, I should be working back into the "regular article" days with a few more Draft happenings.
If you do not like the way your team's draft ended up, please reply here and I will get back to you immediately.
This is perhaps the most important week of the year until the beginning of NFL Training Camps. No, not the Quarterback Challenge, this is the annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The Combine essentially brings all the top prospects from all over (sans West Virginia WR Brandon Myles), puts them in shorts and run them through a variety of drills, interviews, press conferences and measurements. It is the most important week for a rookie trying to break through into the NFL and could determine where you go and cost/make you millions of dollars richer.
Now, is it worth it? There are some aspects such as the bench press for OL and the famous 40-yard dash for the skill positions that are held in higher regard than others. I personally feel that some aspects of the combine, such as the IQ test the Wonderlic, are unimportant as it doesn't determine anything. It doesn't boost the measureables, show off the character or shows any personality. You sit down with a Scantron piece of paper in front of you and you answer beneficial questions such as "What is the 10th month of the year?". All that hoopla regarding Vince Young was unwarranted and while he didn't do well, he most likely just overlooked it and went on with his day. It's an IQ test, it doesn't measure intelligence; it's more of a common sense type thing.
Most anti-Combine writers feel that you can't measure a player in shorts and Under Armour. You can definitely make a case for that, but you need to know some of the players attributes if you want him. If he runs a 4.3 40, you can see that you have a player that has the most important gift of all, speed, and you can develop anyone with that and make a great impact player. Agility drills for DL, LB, OL are important as you HAVE to know someone's side-to-side speed. If they can run that in shorts and then run it in pads, then you may have well found your diamond in the rough. If someone has the height and decent speed for that height, you learn that this player (Colston?) is worth a late-round flier and see what happens next.
In conclusion, I feel that the Combine is important for scouts, general managers, coaches, broadcasters and of course, the rookies. You have to know where you stand amongst the other prospects and considering underclassmen can't play in the Senior Bowl; then you get a taste of these guys on a neutral surface.
Comments Appreciated.
On a side note, on my message boards we are running a FANTASY offseason. I have about 16 teams available (including the 4th pick in the draft, the Buccaneers) and we REALLY could use more people on there. Here's a link:
As the NFL season concludes with the "Pro" Bowl, the next big thing to await is the NFL Scouting Combine and the upcoming free agency period. Hopefully I'll have a Combine article next week, but free agency is the big hot topic as of now. So without further adu, here's a look at the top free agents.
QB-Jeff Garcia-Philadelphia Eagles
No one in the NFL has seen their stock skyrocket as much as Jeff Garcia has after leading the Philadelphia Eagles into the NFC Divisional Championship game. But with Eagles QB Donovan McNabb coming back from an ACL tear, the 37-year old Garcia will be relegated to a backup role again. Garcia, due to age, isn't a franchise QB but he can be a very good transitional guy for a team with a young QB waiting in the wings. Garcia's mobility and accuracy is exclusive to the West Coast Offense so that dwindles it down. With Brad Johnson on his last legs, and while the raw Tavaris Jackson did get his feet wet, I'd assume the Vikings would rather have him wait another year. Vikings HC Brad Childress also runs the WCO, meaning my prediction for Garcia is to go to the Vikings.
QB-Matt Schaub-Atlanta Falcons
With the highly publicized struggles of Michael Vick, Matt Schaub is in an interesting situation. He'll only be 26 once the season starts and if Vick struggles; don't be shocked if new HC Bobby Petrino benches Vick in favor of Schaub. Schaub has the prototype size, strength and poise but his arm strength isn't the best out there. His performance has been exaggerated a bit, but I think he can turn into a solid QB in the future. But with the QB market dwindled to the draft, Schaub will probably stay with the Falcons.
RB-Ahman Green-Green Bay Packers
This is an interesting scenario for both sides in this case. Green, 30, is probably out of his prime but had a decent season last year that helped the Packers season. But at the other side of the stick, the Packers could use a youthful RB who can take the full load in the future (Marshawn ####). Green could go to a team that's struggling to find a feature back and join a platoon to extend his career. That team will probably be the original team, the Packers.
RB-Michael Turner-San Diego Chargers
Two seasons ago it was LaMont Jordan, last year it was Chester Taylor and this year's hot backup is Michael Turner of the Chargers. When you are behind a guy the quality of LaDanian Tomlinson, you aren't going to get many carries and this is Turner's chance to break out of LT's shadow. Turner can be a feature back in the NFL and teams that's struggling to find a RB are the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets. The Lions have Kevin Jones who is adequate but injury-prone and the Jets have a plethora of backs in Leon Washington, Kevan Barlow and Cedric Houston. I think the Lions need trumps the Jets need.
WR-Donte Stallworth-Philadelphia Eagles
A key ingredient to the success of the Philadelphia Eagles is WR Donte Stallworth. Stallworth, 26, has the skillset to be a #1 WR but has not been able to put that together due to injuries, poor QBs and work ethic; had a great season in his initial Philly season and I expect that to continue. The Eagles may not want to offer him a huge signing bonus, which can hurt the contract, but I can't see him leaving.
DE-Dwight Freeney-Indianapolis Colts
The "star" of the Super Bowl Champion Colts is DE Dwight Freeney. While Freeney had a down year with only 5.5 sacks in the regular season but that could be attributed to teams running all over Indy and an arch/shoulder injury early in the season. Freeney is not going to leave according to Bill Polian and I expect the franchise tag to be given to him. Freeney is one of the top pass-rushing DEs in the league and to lose him would put Indy in an interesting situation as Mathis is on the opposite end. He stays with the Colts.
DE-Jared Allen-Kansas City Chiefs
Jared Allen is perhaps one of the most underrated players in the NFL. He is a constant force in the backfield and had an outstanding 2006 campaign. While he is Restricted, I would definitely expect teams to offer him high-tender deals and then signing him long-term. KC would be ill-advised to drop Allen and I would be highly shocked if the Chiefs do not keep him. He stays with Kansas City.
LB-Lance Briggs-Chicago Bears
This year's top defensive FA is Lance Briggs of the NFC Champion Chicago Bears. Briggs is another one of the many great Bears Linebackers and he will most definitely be signed long-term instead of being franchised. While being on that stingy defense can make most players look great, Briggs has been a steady force for some time. A team could outbid the Bears but again, it would be ill-advised to let him go and look for a replacement. He may stay with Chicago.
LB-Adalius Thomas-Baltimore Ravens
In the past two seasons, Adalius Thomas has made some noise in the NFL as one of the better LB'ers in the league. Thomas is a ballhawk, versatile (has lined up at CB) and while 30, he still has a future ahead of him. My prediction is that the New England Patriots will take him with the possible retirement of Tedy Bruschi and the age of Junior Seau and Mike Vrabel making Thomas part of the Patriots franchise.
CB-Asante Samuel-New England Patriots
Before this season, Samuel was considered a growing player who can be so much better in the future. Well, 2006 definitely showcased his true talent while intercepting 10 passes in the league, tied with Champ Bailey. Samuel is a top-tier CB and I wouldn't be shocked to see him wind up in Dallas but I expect the Patriots to retain him long-term.
CB-Nate Clements-Buffalo Bills
After being franchised last season, I expect Nate Clements to pursue a long-term deal this offseason. Clements has been one of the better CBs in the NFL and I can't see the Bills keeping him given the payday that Clements is going to want. But who will be the team that steps up? I am going to go with the Dallas Cowboys as I feel that next to Terrance Newman, that the Cowboys will have one of the top CB units in the NFL.
It's going to be an interesting offseason, that's for sure and if I forgot someone; feel free to leave a comment below.
I would like to start off my piece by congratulating the Chicago Bears on a fantastic Super Bowl run. They did not play to their full capability but I think all of the Bears, including Rex Grossman, deserves praise on a job well done this season. I am certain that they can make more runs to the Super Bowl especially if Grossman can mentally be fine.
I really do not know how to start this off. I gave you guys the full story a couple weeks ago about why I am a Colts fan. I told you all about the "close but no cigar" moments. The joy in the regular season that quickly turned to demise in the playoffs. This game will not be a recap, it will mention some key aspects, but this will be from a homer. Basically, this is just a "victory lap" so to speak. You probably won't enjoy it and look back thinking, "why the hell did I just read that?" but it's part of the euphoria.
:15 remain on the game clock. Justin Snow (long-snapper) casually strolls out to the line of scrimmage, Hunter Smith assumes the holding position and Adam Vinateiri lines up. It is drizzling, nothing too insane, but Jim Nantz does mention the fact. NFL fans worldwide hold their breath. It's hard to believe after 59 minutes that it's going to come down to a 25-yard field goal. Snow snaps it to Smith who cleanly puts the laces out and Vinateiri kicks it.......WIDE RIGHT! I stand their delusionally as I see Tom Brady and Bill Belichick win another Super Bowl.
Then I wake up.
That was the dream I had the night/morning before the Super Bowl 41 matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. I had to convince myself for about 10 minutes that Brady/Belichick are home right now, the Bears are in the playoffs and Jim Nantz won't be announcing (though that came true).
The day was pretty boring as I think I just spent time to burn it. My nephew came over but that's nothing of significance. Why did I bring that up anyway?
When Devin Hester returned the kick for a TD, I seriously didn't move. I did think that it was at the beginning of the game and Manning would be on the field right away so there was the positive. It starts to drizzle. I look for Brady to make sure. As Manning threw a pick to Chris Harris of all people, I called doomsday. Fast-forward.
I'm jumping a lot here but after that, the day just changed for me. The Colts weren't in the rythm that we are used to but it was almost like it was planned. Addai in the flat, Harrison across the middle, Clark on a curl, Wayne on the deep-ball, Utecht existing. I saw Jim Sorgi on the sideline by the way, he was like a kid in a candy store, hands in his pocket smiling and laughing; he's a bonafide beast.
After watching Prince covering the Foo Fighters (c'mon now) and then the boredom of FG drives. I look up and Kelvin Hayden, a 2nd-round pick in the 2005 draft from the Illini shows his former WR skills and takes a Pick 6 to the house. I nearly cried, in fact, I think a lonely tear did come down; I'm not sure. Bob Sanders picks it off, Jones rushes it, everything just became a blur after that.
This article was not good at all. It was rushed, inaccurate at times and not well-written. It was much like the season of 24 thus far. But the feeling of euphoria will never leave me. I just think that as a Colts fan, to see Jim Irsay, Dungy, Tarik Glenn, and Peyton Manning; holding up that trophy, I will never witness anything that special again. Cliche? Yes. But this team wasn't the best but certainly will be remembered forever.
Those were the words that echoed through my mind when I heard the news. Barbaro's euthanization brought a country (well most of it) together as it usually appeared to be a positive glimmer of hope in a world that's been devastated by tragic news. Most of us saw the ill-fated Preakness Stakes in which "America's Hero" limped with his ankle in a grotesque position.
We all heard that his prognosis was "grim" and that they would essentially have to use a gluestick to make his leg function somewhat properly. Then we saw a day-by-day timeline in which it appeared that not all hope was lost and that hopefully, Barbaro may have a future as a stud. Dr. Dean Richardson started looking less gaunt but was still aware that the fatal disease, laminitis, could strike and severly hurt Barbaro's chance at survival. Sure enough, he was right. In July, nearly two months after initally breaking his leg, Barbaro had his first significant setback. Laminits had stricken.
Hope was pretty much lost. The sympathy cards were pouring in from all over the country and it appeared imminent that Barbaro would be euthanized. But not-so-fast there. Barbaro slowly trekked on, through the summer into the fall. At this time, hearing a news story about Barbaro was rare which is always good news.
Then around Christmas time, another update was given. Richardson said that Barbaro could be released in the near-future. The cast was replaced on his ill-fated right leg and his laminitis-stricken hoof was slowly growing back. The feel-good story, may just have a feel-good ending to it. We got an update that there was some small discomfort in the hoof but nothing that would be considered significant. Then the worse came.
Richardson put Barbaro through a "risky" surgery to try and save him. The next day, he had a small glimmer of hope as he looked "bright-eyed" but his condition deteriorated and he was put down. It was a hit to the stomach. The Barbaro-loving nation recoiled. The story ended with a sorrow ending. All of those surgeries and time put in was for naught.
But why did we care?
This is a country that eagerly waited on YouTube to view the hanging of Saddam Hussein. A country that turns sadistic as they search for the Joe Theismann, Napoleon McCallum, Clint Malarchuk and Moises Alou injury. Hell, we even watch movies that depict people getting beheaded, burned to death and drowning. But why did we recoil when we saw him limp? What made us care about an animal so much?
I'm not a sensitive person, I'll be the first to admit. Besides funerals at a young age, the only time I nearly cried was listening to the Rudy theme song after he made the sack. For some reason, that nearly puts a tear to my eye. But when I heard about Barbaro's euthanization it saddened me. Perhaps it's because we don't think animals know any better and are helpless. Barbaro didn't know he was a superstar but he probably didn't know that if he kept bearing weight on the other hooves, he would get a fatal illness. Maybe it's just the human in some of this that sense. Obviously, others are not profoundly impact in the least but that's their own choice.
I am going to do my Senior Bowl game review today, hopefully. Besides that, this is my first real mock draft of the year and I think it's more of an exploratory thing.
1)-Oakland Raiders-JaMarcus Russell-QB I personally think that Calvin Johnson is a strong possibility but at the #1 pick, I am giving the Raiders Russell. He's a big-armed, semi-mobile QB who can take his lumps early and improve himself in the future. I wouldn't count out a trade-down but I suck at making trades.
2)-Detroit Lions-Brady Quinn-QB I am seriously considering giving them Thomas as I believe Backus can be transitioned to the RT position. But I just can't stray away from Quinn, I know picking a QB early is cliche', but you know the whole sit for a year theory.
3)-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Calvin Johnson-WR I see a lot of mocks with the Bucs behind the Browns so I'll mix things up here. Joey Galloway is a good WR at his age but unfortunately, he's bound to lose a step in the future. Michael Clayton has been an enigma thus far and who knows how he'll turn out, two years removed from an 82-reception season.
4)-Cleveland Browns-Alan Branch-DT I want to make this draft somewhat realistic and this is a slightly surprising move. But Ted Washington is aging heavily and a future NT needs to be found for the 3-4 defense to be run successfully. The LB'ers, especially Andra Davis and Kamerion Wimbley, have done a darn good job as has the secondary at times. I wouldn't dismiss Peterson or Thomas but I think this could be an excellent pick for Cleveland.
5)-Arizona Cardinals-Joe Thomas-OT ####-hum, the Cards running offense has been as weak as it is due to the ineffectiveness of the OL. Duece Lutui in the interior and Joe Thomas on the outside gives Russ Grimm plenty to work with in improving the offensive line.
6)-Washington Redskins-Jamaal Anderson-DE This is quickly becoming a consensus pick for the 'Skins. Andre Carter is effective but I doubt Phillip Daniels is the answer at RE for much longer. Anderson has all the skills you want at DE and it's plausible to think that the Redskins can be in a very good situation on defense.
7)-Minnesota Vikings-Gaines Adams-DE I hate following up positions like this but Adams is the most likely fit for the Vikings. There receivers have been putrid but this is a deep class and I would think picking Jarrett here would be a minute reach and I was considering Bowe. Udeze has been a disappointment and I found out (via Team Needs section) that he did not record a single-sack this season. In order to get pressure off of the aerial attack; they need a DE to put pressure on the QB--hence the pick.
8-Houston Texans-Adrian Peterson-RB I believe Samkon Gado will be out of Houston by the end of training camp and I have trouble finding Ron Dayne to be the long-term answer. While Domanick Williams (will have to get used to that) is still in the mix, can he become more than a backup as of now? Wali Lundy has been adequate at times but Peterson is a talent you can't pass on. Sure there are other needs but this is the most likely pick.
9)-Miami Dolphins-Adam Carriker-DE I am stumped beyond belief here and this pick is pending on if Jason Taylor retires or not. I don't think any LB is worth this pick in this area but I need some help here.
10)-Atlanta Falcons-Reggie Nelson-FS I think that Landry is the only other positional player who can go here as of now. The Falcons are incredibly weak at FS as Crocker has been a disappointment and may be a backup soon. They need someone nex to Milloy.
11)-San Francisco 49ers-Leon Hall-CB Shawntae Spencer showed promise this season as a strong CB in the NFL and Walt Harris had a Pro Bowl season. But Harris is aging and behind them there really isn't anything at all so youth is needed. In Hall they got a good coverage CB who can line up next to Spencer in the near-future. I wouldn't discount Landry or Bowe.
12)-Buffalo Bills-Dwayne Bowe-WR I was this close to picking Timmons or Willis here but decided that they would both be considered reaches. I still think Bowe can rise even more if he has a stellar combine. Lee Evans has been great in Buffalo and broke out in the second-half of the season but Peerless Price is simply not an adequate #2. In fact Bowe can be a #1 for this team as JP Losman continues to grow into a solid QB. If they address their OL, this is my sleeper pick for next season.
13)-St. Louis Rams-Amobi Okoye-DT This is an interesting scenario for the Rams. They could address their porous secondary and grab Landry or their LB situation and grab Timmons/Willis. But this is the best pick for them right here. There run-defense is horrible and if it wasn't for the Colts, they would be the worst in the league. Okoye won't simply solve that problem but he's a major piece into that. If he can find himself around 295 around the season, then they should be good.
14)-Carolina Panthers-LaRon Landry-S Mike Minter will be 32 years old when the next season begins and I think Landry would be a major upgrade over Shaun Williams. In Landry they get a youthful presence in the secondary with a high level of physicality.
15)-Pittsburgh Steelers-Levi Brown-OT Max Starks, a free agent this offseason, was not the answer at RT. While Okobi may be the one who takes over for Hartings at C, there needs to be a rightside tackle to keep Roethlisberger on his feet as opposed to his back. Brown appears to be that guy for now.
16)-Green Bay Packers-Marshawn ####-RB Michael Griffin would be a logical selection here as Marquand Manuel shouldn't be starting in the NFL anymore but #### is the clear-cut choice. While Green did have a decent season this year, he's on the wrongside of 30 and I'll be shocked if he's brought back in 2008. Vernand Morency is a good change-of-pace back and Herron has some potential but not enough to become a starter in the NFL.
17)-Jacksonville Jaguars-Michael Griffin-S Donovin Darius has been injury-plagued the past two seasons and Deon Grant isn't a long-term option at FS. In Griffin the Jaguars get a physical and solid all-around safety who can help vastly improve the secondary. I wouldn't count out Revis, Moss, or a trade-down here.
18-Cincinnati Bengals-Jarvis Moss-DE/OLB With Justin Smith likely on the outs and the future of David Pollack in doubt, this appears to be a logical pick for Cincy here. In Moss, the Bengals get a 'tweener who can make a huge presence against the pass for the Bengals and take pressure off of the secondary.
19)-Tennessee Titans-Dwayne Jarrett-WR Drew Bennett is a free agent and the rest of the group is not too promising for the future. Jarrett may not be that fast but VY could use all the weapons he could get at his disposal and Jarrett is the best choice.
20)-New York Giants-Lawrence Timmons-LB While Pierce is a solid LB'er, Aarington has injury concerns and Emmons is not a long-term answer. While Gerris Wilkinson may have a future starting, I see Timmons as a much better prospect who may end up going higher.
21)-Denver Broncos-Charles Johnson-DE While he's not the tallest DE out there, Charles Johnson can quickly become an upgrade over Courtney Brown in Denver. Johnson has good agility which should help him out on the next level.
22)-Dallas Cowboys-DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler-DT While their DL isn't anywhere close to being one of the worst in the NFL, DeMarcus Tyler provides a huge upgrade. With so much being depended on the Linebackers, the addition of Tyler essentially gives the Cowboys a big player to stuff up the middle in run downs.
23)-Kansas City Chiefs-Ted Ginn Jr.-WR While he does lack the ability to run routes and his hands are in question, Ted Ginn is still an interesting prospect. With his great speed, Ginn Jr. can essentially become a decoy this year much like Reggie Bush, and then work his way into the NFL on a starting role. The offense does not have much youth and the addition of Ginn can change that.
24)-New England Patriots (f/SEA)-Robert Meachem-WR As evident by the major drop from Reche' Caldwell in the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots could use a #1 WR. In Meachem, the Patriots get a fast yet rangy WR that can become an elite player at the next level with Tom Brady at the helm. Meachem instantly gives the Patriots a great WR tandem in the future with Chad Jackson in the fray as well.
25)-New York Jets-Darrelle Revis-CB This could be an interesting steal for the New York Jets. Revis is a solid coverage CB and while Andre Dyson isn't too bad, Justin Miller should probably stick to fielding kickoffs and being a nickleback. They could consider Spencer and Moses here.
26)-Philadelphia Eagles-Eric Weddle-FS While Brian Dawkins is still playing at a Pro-Bowl level, I think it's safe to assume that Sean Considine is nothing more than a situational player. In Weddle, the Eagles get a good safety who should excel due to his athleticism.
27)-New Orleans Saints-Jon Beason-LB Jon Beason will probably continue the Miami Hurricane draft tradition of always having a first-round pick but the Saints need this. CB is a great need, yes, but while the LB'ers did fine, they could use an upgrade with Beason.
28-New England Patriots-Patrick Willis-LB With the grumblings of a possible retirement in the future by Tedy Bruschi, the Patriots get his heir apparent in Patrick Willis from Ole Miss. Willis' stock has been on a roller-coaster ride all season long and don't expect that to stop right now. Willis has the range and physicality to be a special LB in the league.
29)-Baltimore Ravens-Tony Ugoh-OT Once Ogden retires, they have found a solid backup in Terry. With Ugoh, he can instantly jump in and replace either Ogden or Pashos should his production slip. Ugoh seems to be the logical pick here.
30)-San Diego Chargers-Sidney Rice-WR While Keenan McCardell finally starts to see Father Time catch him ever so slowly, Eric Parker is just adequate and nothing less or more, and Vincent Jackson has a solid future; they need more depth and talent at the WR position. In Sidney Rice they get a good WR who has decent speed but solid hands and athleticism. Could be a minor steal here.
31)-Chicago Bears-Arron Sears-OT While Tait has been solid, Miller is aging and the fact is that youth and talent should be brought in to help keep up the Bears level of dominance in the NFC. Sears is a punishing tackle who has the ability to play guard inside as well.
32)-Indianapolis Colts-Paul Posluszny-LB I personally doubt that Posluszny could fit in the Cover-Two as a SAM, but really who else would fit here is the pressing question. Posluszny is a hard-working, blue-collar LB who like Rob Morris; is good against the run but is also not too shabby in coverage. Did you expect me to have the Bears at 32?
33)-Oakland Raiders-Justin Blalock-OT/OG 34)-Detroit Lions-Victor Abiamiri-DE 35)-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Chris Houston-CB 36)-Cleveland Browns-Marcus McCauley-CB 37)-Arizona Cardinals-Anthony Spencer-LB 38-New York Jets-Brian Leonard-RB/FB 39)-Minnesota Vikings-Josh Beekman-OG 40)-Houston Texans-Aaron Rouse-S 41)-Miami Dolphins-Daymeion Hughes-CB 42)-Atlanta Falcons-Quentin Moses-LB (this pick will probably change but I'm doing this Mock fast). 43)-San Francisco 49ers-Craig Davis-WR 44)-Buffalo Bills-Rufus Alexander-LB 45)-St. Louis Rams-Aaron Ross-CB 46)-Carolina Panthers-Zach Miller-TE 47)-Pittsburgh Steelers-Paul Williams-WR 48-Green Bay Packers-Brandon Meriweather-S 49)-Jacksonville Jaguars-Stewart Bradley-LB 50)-Cincinnati Bengals-David Irons-CB 51)-Tennessee Titans-LaMar Woodley-LB 52)-New York Giants-Joe Staley-OT 53)-Denver Broncos-Josh Wilson-CB 54)-Dallas Cowboys-Michael Johnson-S 55)-Kansas City Chiefs-Earl Everett-LB 56)-Seattle Seahawks-Ryan Kalil-OC
They move Spencer to OG and thus draft Kalil 57)-New York Jets-Ben Grubbs-OG 58-Philadelphia Eagles-Fred Bennett-CB 59)-New Orleans Saints-Quinn Pitcock-DT (another pick that will probably be changed in the future) 60)-New England Patriots-John Wendling-S 61)-Baltimore Ravens-Buster Davis-LB 62)-San Diego Chargers-Tony Taylor-LB 63)-Chicago Bears-Marshal Yanda-OG 64)-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Justin Durant-LB
When it comes to being late on the uptake, I would say that this blog entry would most likely take the cake. But as a Colts fan, I've finally sobered up from the dramatic AFC Championship game between the Colts and arch-rival New England Patriots. This is pretty much a documentation, in chronological order, the emotions that went through me from pre-game kickoff to postgame party!
I'm a Colts fan. Those four words strung together to form a sentence have plagued me for quite some time. I have lived in NJ my whole life, that is correct, but in my eyes; I'm a proud, blue Colts fan. My great-Uncle (mother's side) lived in Richmond, Indiana and was pretty much on his deathbed due to complications from leukemia. This was my mother's last opportunity to see him alive and she was 8.75 months pregnant. She had to see him one last time and took the long trek from South Jersey to Richmond and did in fact see my great-Uncle right before his tragic death. But right before he died (about two days before), I decided to stretch my legs and sparing you from the details that we all learned in 7th grade, I was born in Indiana.
That's a good story and all, but while I consider the Colts my team, I still have lived in Eagles country
