This weekend’s NFL Draft featured a number of similarities when compared to drafts of the past. As always, there were a boatload of trades and a plethora of surprise picks.

For me, there were a number of teams who came through with solid drafts. In particular, I’m handing out gold stars to the five teams listed below, in my NFL Draft edition of “Gold Stars”.

Gold Stars – Volume II – NFL Draft 2008
Please note: All picks state the round first, then the overall spot which the player was taken.



Kansas City Chiefs

Many of the critics are giving the Chiefs high marks for their draft. I’m joining in on that fun, and there are plenty of reasons why. Here’s the list of the new Chiefs:


1 (005) – Glenn Dorsey – DT – LSU
1 (015) – Branden Albert – OG – Virginia
2 (035) – Brandon Flowers – CB – Virginia Tech
3 (073) – Jamaal Charles – RB – Texas
3 (076) – Brad Cottam – TE – Tennessee
3 (082) – DaJuan Morgan – S – North Carolina State
4 (105) – William Franklin – WR – Missouri
5 (140) – Brandon Carr – CB – Grand Valley State
6 (170) – Barry Richardson – OT – Clemson
6 (182) – Kevin Robinson – WR – Utah State
7 (210) – Brian Johnston – DE – Gardner Webb
7 (239) – Mike Merritt – TE – Central Florida

When you’re a team with major holes to fill, the wise choice would be to start in the trenches. That’s exactly what the Chiefs did, and they did so in grand fashion by taking two of the most talented in the draft, LSU’s Glenn Dorsey and OG Branden Albert from Virginia. The Chiefs also managed to snag the talented Brandon Flowers for their secondary, as well as former Texas Longhorn Jamaal Charles to help out the running game. Still, the gem here is Dorsey, the former LSU star who despite being double teamed all season, managed seven sacks and 12 ½ tackles for a loss throughout LSU’s national championship run.



Washington Redskins

Wasn’t it a little strange seeing Washington’s name pop up so many times on the draft board? I think so. Either way, the ‘Skins took advantage of the opportunities they had, with a number of solid additions. Here’s the list:


2 (034) – Devin Thomas – WR – Michigan State
2 (048) – Fred Davis – TE – USC
2 (051) – Malcolm Kelly – WR – Oklahoma
3 (096) – Chad Rinehart – OG – Northern Iowa
4 (124) – Justin Tryon – CB – Arizona State
6 (168) – Durant Brooks – P – Georgia Tech
6 (180) – Kareem Moore – S – Nicholls State
6 (186) – Colt Brennan – QB – Hawaii
7 (242) – Rob Jackson – DE – Kansas State
7 (249) – Christopher Horton – S – UCLA

The Redskins had a great draft for a number of reasons. OK, so they seemed to ignore the D-line need again, but the big targets at WR were added. It was a need after falling short in trading for Cincinnati’s Chad Johnson. In recent weeks, the talk on the Washington Post website was the ‘Skins looking at Malcolm Kelly with the 21st pick, stating that Devin Thomas would not fall to them. Not only did Washington manage to select both receivers, but the Redskins also were able to trade out of the 21st slot for additional picks, and still get both players. That alone points to a successful draft. In addition to that accomplishment, Washington had a few other intriguing picks, including arguably the best punter in college last year (Durant Brooks), as well as Colt Brennan. Sure, Brennan got beaten up by Georgia on the national stage. He also wasn’t impressive in the Senior Bowl. He also has said to have iffy form. All that aside, he has the character, a ton of records, and has worked with a former NFL coach in June Jones. All in all, it makes him an intriguing late round pick by the ‘Skins.



Baltimore Ravens

Another draft, another Ravens team searching for an impact QB. OK, so maybe it doesn’t happen every year, but it sure seems like it. I was impressed with Baltimore’s draft for a number of reasons. Here’s the list:


1 (018) – Joe Flacco – QB – Delaware
2 (055) – Ray Rice – RB – Rutgers
3 (071) – Tavares Gooden – ILB – Miami (FLA)
3 (086) – Tom Zbikowski – S – Notre Dame
3 (099) – Oniel Cousins – OG – UTEP
4 (106) – Marcus Smith – WR – New Mexico
4 (133) – David Hale – OT – Weber State
6 (206) – Haruki Nakamura – S – Cincinnati
7 (215) – Justin Harper – WR – Virginia Tech
7 (240) – Allen Patrick – RB – Oklahoma

With Steve McNair retiring, the Ravens desperately were seeking a top QB. If not Matt Ryan, then it was going to be Delaware’s Joe Flacco, featuring a towering 6’6” frame and powerful arm. While I think the Ravens may have traded up a little high (in a panic) to get Flacco, I still think this could pan out to be a solid “un-Boller-like” selection. Next, there’s RB Ray Rice from Rutgers. I loved watching this kid play in college. Sure, scouts say he may not have the size, but man he runs hard. Like a bull, and I think he’ll be a fine addition as well. Finally, I can’t help but admit that Tom Zbikowski, the former Notre Dame safety, also sticks out in my mind. He can play special teams, he has speed, he hits hard, and he’s smart. He should be a great fit with the Ravens. All in all, a solid draft for the men in purple.



Carolina Panthers

I think the Panthers addressed some needs for sure, and got some solid value in a number of their slots. In a year where John Fox will be under a microscope more than ever, here’s their list of new additions:


1 (013) – Jonathan Stewart – RB – Oregon
1 (019) – Jeff Otah – OT – Pittsburgh
3 (067) – Charles Godfrey – CB – Iowa
3 (074) – Dan Connor – ILB – Penn State
5 (141) – Gary Barnidge – TE – Louisville
6 (181) – Nick Hayden – DT – Wisconsin
7 (221) – Hilee Taylor – OLB – North Carolina
7 (241) – Geoff Schwartz – OT – Oregon
7 (250) – Mackenzy Bernadeau – OG – Bentley

I admit when trading up, I thought the Panthers may have given up too much. Still, they were aggressive and filled needs, and you can’t fault them for that. Jeff Otah was listed as one of the better linemen in the draft, and should eventually help Carolina with their running game. As for former Oregon Duck RB Jonathan Stewart, call me crazy, but I think he could have a better career than Darren McFadden. Finally, I want to mention former Penn State LB Dan Connor, who was originally projected as a late first round pick. Instead, he fell to the third round, where Carolina gets great value, and a guy with great instincts. I think Connor will go on to excel in the NFL, just like former teammate Paul Posluszny began to do before a freak arm injury last season.



New York Jets

After a major drop off from a solid 2006 season, the Jets needed to improve in a big way. And on paper, it certainly looks like they may have done that. We’ll see how this crop does, but here’s New York’s solid list:


1 (006) – Vernon Gholston – DE – Ohio State
1 (030) – Dustin Keller – TE – Purdue
4 (113) – Dwight Lowery – CB – San Jose State
5 (162) – Erik Ainge – QB – Tennessee
6 (171) – Marcus Henry – WR – Kansas
7 (211) – Nate Garner – OT – Arkansas

Sure, the Jets didn’t have as many picks as the other teams mentioned above, but they picked quite well with what they had available to them. The pick most intriguing to me is Dustin Keller, former TE from Purdue. Scouts say he lacks in size and blocking ability, but I think this guy is underrated. He has 4.5 speed for a tight end, coupled with great hands. With that alone, he could cause some nightmares and tough matchups for opponents. He should be a solid weapon for the Jets passing game. In addition to Keller, I think Vernon Gholston could end up being a very talented defensive end in the NFL. I think both he and Dorsey could have solid careers. Finally, the Erik Ainge pick intrigues me. He is a solid QB for a fifth round pick, and he certainly has the size at 6’5”. Who knows, maybe he could climb the depth charts. The Jets certainly need a QB to step to the forefront. Hey, Tom Brady did it.


There you have it, five teams that personally jumped out at me during this year’s NFL Draft. Certainly, I liked some other picks in the draft such as the Steelers stealing Mendenhall late and the Cowboys adding speedster back Felix Jones, among others. Still, the five above teams in particular had unique moves, situations, or multiple picks that I felt could pan out or add some value. Feel free to pitch in your thoughts on the draft, and who you personally would give a gold star too.

This has been “Gold Stars”, and that’s a wrap for another NFL Draft. When is kickoff?

Every now and then, I will host an “Open Mic” on my blog, in which I give one or multiple topics that are frequently being talked about in the world of sports.  It gives me an opportunity to see the opinions of the many bloggers out there, as well as the random readers that stop by the Fox Sports world looking for a break from the crazy world that they live in.

Enough of the ####-chat, here is the topic for today.  The floor is yours. 

Open Mic Topic: December 11, 2007

> Yesterday, Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for dogfighting charges.  What is your opinion on the sentence and do you think Michael Vick will ever return to the NFL? 

Host’s Opening Thoughts:

As many of you already know, it was announced yesterday that former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison, due to his involvement and running a local dogfighting ring.  That’s 23 months in prison, which also equates to almost 13 ½ dog years.

All in all, this is one of the hottest topics in sports this year.  Months ago, it was discussed ad nauseum, to the point where bloggers would instead rather read a novel on the 2007 Miami Dolphins that reaches “War and Peace” length.  With all that being said, I still feel it is important enough to discuss the Vick sentence, and I want to know what the community thinks of the sentence, as well as what the future holds for Michael Vick 

On a side note, I did find it curious (and downright surprising) as to how many Vick jerseys popped up on camera during last night’s Monday Night Football broadcast.  Sure, Vick had the top selling jersey in Atlanta for years.  Even so, I also know that many people in the world today consider their pets as much as a part of their families as their children, and I therefore was surprised to see so many jerseys and support for Vick.  Perhaps these people wanted to use any shameless way to get themselves plastered on national television, even if it took wearing a jersey of someone who murdered animals.  That, my friends, is another debate in its own right.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Vick, if he can remain on good behavior in prison, and if he does, what will result from that, regarding time away, and a possible return to the NFL.

Additional Tidbits for Debate:
 
I stumbled upon the following articles to help spark debate regarding Vick’s sentence.  Most are various sentences placed upon other offenders for dogfighting.

• Man receives four month sentence for dogfighting, discussed here.
  

• Per the Humane Society of the United States website, this article discusses various sentences for dogfighting, including a 30 year jail term, a 40 year term, and a 102 year jail sentence.
  

• This article discusses a dogfighting “kingpin” (with ties to Bad Newz Kennels) who may end up avoiding jail time entirely.
  

• Cohorts of Vick to receive 18 and 21 months in prison, as discussed in this NY Daily News article.
  

• Kevin Hench of Fox Sports writes about the rise, fall, and possible redemption of Michael Vick

On the Soap Box: Lisa Horne

“While Michael Vick has shown he is a poor role model and devoid of a single moral fiber in his body, I feel has been made a scapegoat. If Michael Vick were an employee at Burger King, he would have probably got a slap on the wrist and a community service sentence.

But this is Vick. And this came up while the NFL was experiencing a huge rise in off-the-field arrests and embarrassment after embarrassment for Roger Goodell. Couple this with Hollywood's love affair with PETA, Global Warming and Environmental Awareness, and suddenly, a celeb, wait, make that a black celeb, is cause to finally say, "hey, let's make him our model for our rage," while we show up in stretch limos, private jets and our $3,000 Python clutch purses and $20,000 Fendi fur coats.

Consider this; former State Representative Jefferson Davis pleaded guilty to one count of risk of injury to a minor. Davis admitted to committing a sex act with his former foster child, yet because of the plea bargain, received only a 10 year suspended sentence, 10 years probation, and no jail time.

A dog killer gets 23 months, and a State Rep, someone who is in charge with getting laws on the books, gets squat. One could argue that the Rep got lucky, and Vick still got what he deserved, and that two wrongs don't make a right. However, when justice is handed out unequally, then we all lose. And yes, a dog killer should get less time than someone who commits crimes against children.

No ifs, ands or buts about it. And for the record, I am a dog lover.”
 
Final Thoughts:

I honestly expected the sentence on Vick to be a little steeper, more so in the three to four year range.  Since his cohorts received a sentence nearing two years, and he was the ring leader, I expected a little more punishment for Vick.  Then again, with the pedestal that sports stars appear to be placed on today, I shouldn’t be shocked that Vick’s time in prison won’t come close to reaching some of the other aforementioned jail sentences.  Or am I off base for thinking such a thing?
 
That’s all I have for now… have at it people!

We interrupt this blog to bring you our regular scheduled programming, already in progress…

“… and that’s the good, the bad, and the ugly regarding Vinny Testaverde and his career as a football player…”

Roastmaster: “Thanks Coach Parcells. ‘The Roast of Vinny Testaverde’ will return after a word from our sponsors.”

We’re back with the “The Roast of Vinny Testaverde”… **

Now up on the podium is KP, a blogger on the Fox Sports website… take it away KP!!

Thank you gentlemen. Wow, there certainly have been some though acts to follow today, from Bill Parcells, to Mark Carrier, Keyshawn Johnson, Curtis Martin, and so on. Thankfully, the commercial break allowed for a perfect segue. It was certainly the lead-in that I needed.

Before I get into a real roasting, I want to first touch upon a few pretty incredible things about Vinny’s career. Testaverde, the 1986 Heisman Trophy winner as the quarterback of the Miami Hurricanes, was also the number one overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft. Vinny has seen some unbelievable ups and downs throughout his career, from the abysmal 1988 campaign where he had 13 touchdown passes and 35 interceptions, to his two pro bowl seasons, in 1996 with the Baltimore Ravens (4,000 yards plus passing, 33 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions) and 1998 with the New York Jets (29 touchdowns and 7 interceptions).

Over a career that has spanned across three decades, Testaverde has thrown for over 45,000 yards, while throwing 271 touchdown passes. Most recently, Vinny was able to break some new football records. After signing on with the Carolina Panthers just days ago, Testaverde came on board to help add depth at the quarterback position, after Carolina lost starter Jake Delhomme to injury. In four days, he went from an add-on to the starter, due to an injured David Carr. Vinny took advantage, looking like he had been the quarterback in the Carolina system for years, going 20 for 33, with 207 yards passing and one touchdown. Most importantly, the Panthers earned a 25-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, improving their record to 4-2 on the season. Along with the victory came Vinny’s name in the NFL record books. Vinny became the third oldest quarterback to ever start an NFL game, and more importantly, the 43-year old became the oldest quarterback to ever win an NFL game. He also broke his own NFL record of the most consecutive seasons with a touchdown pass, now extended to 21. Therefore, one could say that Testaverde’s most recent victory was truly “one for the ages”. And with age, that’s where the roasting comes into play. Enough of the Mr. Nice Guy routine… I’m not only here to celebrate

Vinny’s career achievements (recent and past), but also to roast him… and roast him good.

Roasting Vinny T.

Vinny has a beautiful family, all who are very supportive. His wife Mitzi was also a Bucs cheerleader during his early days. Well, at least we knew there was some scoring going on in Tampa Bay when he was the quarterback there.

Seriously though, I imagine after all those errant passes and throwaways, he got quite familiar with her on the sidelines. Hopefully, she does a better job of dressing him than the Bucs did.

I informed Vinny that while the Panthers are happy that he’s here, he wasn’t their first choice. Warren Moon respectfully declined.

So did Doug Flutie.

When he showed up at his locker, there was a sign hung up to help avoid any accidents from occurring (see left).

He walks around the locker room listening to Classic Rock and Oldies, constantly saying “This was a good song when I was your age”.

I got a hold of Vinny’s first ever game helmet and presented it to him in honor of his career accomplishments (see right).

Before Sunday’s kickoff, there was a gift basket waiting for Vinny, including items such as Ben ####, ice packs, Metamucil, Just For Men, and Centrum Silver.

Upon arriving at the game, I heard that in order to get there, Vinny traveled uphill both ways, in the snow…until he finally showed up.

Seriously though, I heard he was given a front row parking space outside the stadium, but that was mainly to provide less chance that he would pull a hammy on the way in.

During drills the other day, the Carolina cheerleading squad was also on the field practicing. Vinny was the only guy to blurt out “Wow, that cheerleader is young enough to be my daughter.”

While others are taking out their mouth guards during the game, Vinny takes out his false teeth.

Loud crowds are not a big deal because he can’t really hear them anyway.

During possessions when the defense was on the field, the Carolina running backs were on exercise bikes staying loose. Next to them, a rocking chair was present for Vinny.

Every play call is presented in 50 font size for Vinny – therefore, Bill Belichick is just itchin’ to take on the Panthers. They won’t need cameras.

Vinny hates the 4 o’clock games, because dinner time arrives prior to the half, and bedtime arrives before the time the final seconds tick off the clock.

When asked if Vinny could earn a “C” on his jersey if his stellar play continues, my thought was “Where would the AARP patch go then?”

When asked if it was just as fun to get out on the football field, Vinny responds by saying that believe it or not, it even beat out last week’s games of Cribbage, Pachisi, and Canasta.

After the game, some of the media was looking for Vinny and they just tracked down the guy that was driving in the left lane slowly with his turn signal stuck in the “ON” position.

We went out to celebrate after the game and Vinny’s kids came out with him. They didn’t get carded.

Vinny’s so old that when in the bar the other night, Paris Hilton didn’t even hit on him. If Anna Nicole Smith were still alive, she likely would have.

I was about to ask Vinny why he still had his hand warmers on after the game, when I realized it was a fanny pack instead.

During the postgame, Vinny taught me about the concept of the Early Bird Special.

Vinny took a group of us out for a movie one night. He was given the senior discount without even asking for it.

Later, our group invited him out to go see ‘The Heartbreak Kid’, but he declined saying that he saw the original in the theaters.

Soon, Vinny will be turning 44. I heard the players are going to celebrate by giving him a birthday cake with candles and a fire extinguisher.

And the moral of the story…

If the love for something is still there, never give up. Play your heart out as long as your body holds up and you can still reach a level of excellence. Just expect to catch some #### for it on the side.

As for Vinny Testaverde, perhaps a few extra bones cracked when he got out of bed on Sunday morning. Afterward, maybe a few muscles were sore when they once weren’t. Yet the spirit was willing, the mind was sharp, and the performance was one for the ages…

literally.

** Please note that this roast is entirely fictional, yet one should celebrate Vinny Testaverde in a roasting format, as he’s had a career filled with various accomplishments and unique longevity. I applaud Vinny for his recent comeback in Carolina and wish him the best as the season progresses.

This post is part of Mike Greenspire’s Blogger Contest, featuring articles related to the NFL. I would like to encourage all of you to read the posts of all the other participants. Best wishes, and as always, thanks for reading… - KP

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who participated in my first ever Stupid Pill Survey.  To review the post that includes the actual survey in its entirety, please click here.  As promised, I am now going to post your results, as well as add some final thoughts from my end.  Overall, the numbers are only a small sampling of the Fox Sports Blog community, and therefore likely do not provide a very accurate depiction of the overall opinion of everyone that views this website on a regular basis.  Either way, the results that I did receive were quite interesting, including some results that I expected, and others that I did not.  There was also some interesting feedback from some of you, and I appreciated hearing your additional thoughts.  For those of you that provided what I thought were the best comments, I have included a link to your page, and encourage the readers of this post to also check out their work as well. 

Now without further ado, here is a recap of the questions, as well as the final tallies…

Stupid Pill Survey Results

Question ONE: 2006 NFL MVP (Adjusted Scenario)

The Briefing: As most of you know, LaDainian Tomlinson broke the NFL touchdown record this year, which was formerly held by Seattle’s Shaun Alexander.  Let’s slightly adjust the scenario by saying that Tomlinson had 27 touchdowns on the season (four less than his total of 31), leaving him one behind Alexander for the NFL record.  While 27 total touchdowns and over 2,300 total yards is still an incredible season, would falling short of the record affect the voting drastically, therefore opening the door for a candidate such as QB Drew Brees of the Saints, who had over 4,400 passing yards and led his team to a first round bye (after a 3-13 season)?  On the other hand, perhaps another player would have been more valuable to his team this year?

With this adjusted scenario, who is your NFL MVP of 2006?

The Options:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson (RB - San Diego Chargers)  
2. Drew Brees (QB - New Orleans Saints)
3. Larry Johnson (RB – Kansas City Chiefs)
4. Tiki Barber (RB – New York Giants)
5. Someone Else (Write-in Candidate)

The Results: Overall, the voters chose Drew Brees as the winner, but only by a narrow margin.  All votes were for either Drew Brees or LaDainian Tomlinson, and here are the final percentages:

Top Comments: Many of you had interesting comments for this one, but overall, these three stuck out in my mind, and here they are:

burger21: “LT/Drew Brees (I know it’s ridiculous and I hate award ties, but it’s been done before – Manning/McNair – and I couldn’t go against either.  I think it should have been that way even without your adjusted scenario)”

sayerec: “Brees, because LT could have been replaced by Turner without missing a beat.  Who on the Saints could have replaced Brees??? Most valuable player!!!

ShooterB: “Drew Brees, because I feel he made the bigger impact for his team.  Tough to argue against LT, but he played behind a good line… a great fullback, and with an established team.  Brees didn’t have that luxury.

KP’s Take: Overall, I presented a scenario that simply asked if LaDainian Tomlinson would still have won the NFL Most Valuable Player award if he had an incredible year, but had not broken the record for the total number of touchdowns in a season.  Without that extra record in place, would Tomlinson still have still beaten players such as Drew Brees for the award?  This is a real tough one, as it is hard to argue against Tomlinson, considering the numbers he put up.  Honestly, when I thought of this question, I thought of a few different situations coming into play, and my fellow bloggers (mentioned above) discussed all of them.  I considered this vote turning out to be a tie like back in 2003, when both Peyton Manning and Steve McNair shared the award.  I also wondered about what kind of season Michael Turner would have had if LT were not around.  Turner likely would not have put up such gaudy numbers, but they likely still would have been pro bowl type statistics.  Therefore, because of Turner playing well during the season, and the Chargers being an established powerhouse team, I wanted to consider Drew Brees as my MVP vote.  The NFL touchdown record is the only thing that got in the way, which is why I came up with this scenario.  Overall, my vote would be for Brees, or for a tie, as “burger21” mentioned.

Question TWO: 2006 NFL Coach of the Year (Adjusted Scenario)

The Briefing: Sean Payton definitely is deserving of the Coach of the Year award in the NFL, as the Saints had an incredible turnaround this season.  However, let’s discuss a slightly different scenario.  The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina certainly is still being felt around New Orleans, and overall, this was a horrible tragedy that many people wish had never happened.  Speaking of which, what if it didn’t happen, and the Saints were not the overwhelming sentimental favorite of the NFL this year (for obvious reasons)?  Would that have opened the door for Eric Mangini of the New York Jets, who had an equally incredible season?  What about someone else?

With this adjusted scenario, who is your NFL Coach of the Year for 2006?

The Options:

1. Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints)
2. Eric Mangini (New York Jets)
3. Marty Schottenheimer (San Diego Chargers)
4. Jeff Fisher (Tennessee Titans) 
5. Someone Else (Write-in Candidate)

The Results: The final numbers of this question were not even close, with Sean Payton winning in a landslide.  Here are the final totals:

Top Comments:

ian2813: “Eric Mangini would probably get it because he coaches in New York.  The media wouldn’t have given the Saints as much coverage without Katrina, though I’m sure Sean Payton would still have been considered a strong candidate for the award.”

jgrace_12: “I’d say Payton still wins coach of the year.  The Jets have been somewhat competitive recently, under Herm Edwards.  The Saints pretty much came out of nowhere."

KP’s Take: My adjusted scenario was basically asking if the unfortunate incidents in New Orleans (regarding Hurricane Katrina) never occurred, would the overall results of the Coach of the Year award changed?   New Orleans got more press this year due to these unfortunate incidents.  Overall, the Saints became “The New America’s Team”.  How drastic would the voting changes have been if Katrina did not happen during this time?  I honestly thought this vote might turn out to be a little closer.  As I mentioned in my original posting, Sean Payton is a worthy winner of this reward.  However, I also have to say that Eric Mangini is an equally worthy candidate.  Both were first year coaches in the NFL. While the Jets had some more success under Herm Edwards in recent years (as mentioned by jgrace_12), New York was still 4-12 last season (and lost significant talent coming into 2006).  The Saints finished last season with a 3-13 record.  At the end of this season, both teams finished 10-6, with New Orleans earning a first round bye due to the fact that they were playing in a weaker NFC conference.  I was also happy to see “ian2813” bring up the point of the New York media outlets, as this was the other thought in my head.  Without Katrina, I see more votes going to the Jets and Eric Mangini.  The difference in record is only one game.  Overall, I see this as a tough call, and wonder if perhaps this could have also ended in a tie, like the 2003 MVP award did.  No argument should be made against Sean Payton, and the job that he did with the Saints, and their many young players.

Question THREE: 2006 NFL Rookie of the Year (Adjusted Scenario)

The Briefing: After starting the season 0-5, the Titans were already hearing talk of who they would take with the first pick in the NFL draft.  However, Vince Young helped spark Tennessee to a late playoff run and an 8-8 record for the year (almost making NFL history).  Let’s once again tweak the season scenario slightly.  What if Marques Colston had not suffered a minor injury late in the season with New Orleans?  Colston’s numbers were still quite impressive during the year (1,038 yards receiving and 8 TD’s), but the injury almost immediately dropped him off the Rookie of the Year radar.  Would an injury free season by Colston have changed the voting at all?  Was one of the other rookies in the NFL this year more deserving?

With this adjusted scenario, who is your NFL Rookie of the Year for 2006?

The Options:

1. Vince Young (QB - Tennessee Titans)
2. Devin Hester (DB/KR/PR - Chicago Bears)
3. Marques Colston (WR - New Orleans Saints)
4. Maurice Jones-Drew (RB - Jacksonville Jaguars)
5. Someone Else (Write-in Candidate)

The Results: Again, this vote was also another landslide, and here are the results: 

Top Comments:

cajunsmiles101: “QB is the toughest position to make an impact as a Rookie.  No way do the experts admit their mistake by choosing Marques Colston."

lisa4usc: “Young deserves it BUT Reggie Bush gave the Saints that much needed spark to compliment Brees… Young gets the nod.”

KP’s Take: Honestly, the Rookie of the Year voting in the NFL this season reminded me a lot of how the most recent Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year awards turned out.  There were so many deserving candidates, but unfortunately only one player could win the award (but at least one from each league received it in baseball).  In my case, I have to agree with the voters here, even if Colston had not gotten injured late in the season.  As “cajunsmiles101” mentioned, QB is a tough position as a rookie.  Many rookies in recent years don’t even see the field for a few years.  Not only did Vince Young see the field as a rookie, but also led the team on a number of comebacks.  As a result, Tennessee finished 8-8, and just missed the playoffs.  No team had ever earned a playoff berth after starting the season 0-5, but Young and the Titans just missed out on breaking this record.  That alone is why Vince Young deserves to still win the Rookie of the Year award.

Question FOUR: Who least deserves to be employed in the NFL at this time?

The Briefing: After difficult and/or somewhat disappointing ends to the NFL season, all of these men are reportedly returning to each of their respective positions.  Which individual most deserves to have already been fired?

The Options:

1. Tom Coughlin (Head Coach – New York Giants)
2. Marty Schottenheimer (Head Coach – San Diego Chargers
3. Gregg Williams (Def. Coordinator – Washington Redskins)
4. Matt Millen (President and CEO – Detroit Lions 
5. Someone Else (Write-in Candidate)

The Results: As you will see below, many of you felt that Matt Millen should no longer be working in the NFL.  It will be interesting to see how many more chances he will get to “right the ship” in Detroit.  There were also some clever write-in responses, and here are the overall results:

Top Comment:

vikequeen (Actually doesn’t have a blog page, but gave me a lot of great feedback on every question): “How do you choose between inept management and inept coaching?  Millen doesn’t seem to know what he’s looking for so he ends up with junk.  Tom Coughlin takes quality and manages to turn it into junk.  It’s a shame that Tiki had to go out this way…”

KP’s Take:  For this question, I’m just going to run down each person on my original list, one by one.  Tom Coughlin is lucky to still have a job in my mind, as the Giants do have a great deal of talent.  I think the main reason he is still around is due to the fact that there were a number of player injuries that crippled the team’s chances.  If another disaster happens next year for the Giants, Coughlin is likely gone.  Next, there is Marty Schottenheimer, who deserves to stay.  “Martyball” will continue to catch criticism until he can win in the playoffs, but a 14-2 record does not deserve a termination of employment.  Marty deserves more time.  Next, there is Gregg Williams, who is the defensive coordinator of the Redskins.  There have been rumors of Williams clashing with his defensive players, but I’m not sure how true those rumors are.  The defense was horrible this year in Washington, but Gibbs has stated that Williams will stay.  I think he gets one more chance, and that’s it.  Matt Millen is the final man on the list, and he also deserves to be unemployed at the time.  However, there is loyalty in Detroit, and maybe the Lions front office has a better explanation as to why he is staying.  They only know the answer to that mystery though, as it seems pretty clear that many fans out there feel he should be long gone.

Question FIVE: Who will be the MVP of Super Bowl XLI?

The Briefing: There are certainly a number of different players listed as early favorites for this award, and this one is certainly anyone’s guess at this point.  Therefore, I will toss out two random players from each of the Super Bowl representatives, and expect a great deal of write-in votes to come my way.

The Options:

1. Peyton Manning (QB – Indianapolis Colts)
2. Thomas Jones (RB – Chicago Bears)
3. Marvin Harrison (WR – Indianapolis Colts)
4. Brian Urlacher (MLB – Chicago Bears)
5. Someone Else (Write-In Candidate)

The Results: As expected, I did receive a good number of write-in votes for this question.  Obviously, there are a number of quality players on each team, and it is tough to predict who will step it up in the clutch.  Here are the results of the votes that I did receive:

Top Comment:

TheFormer88Fan: “I think the play of Bob Sanders will have an impact on Grossman.  Whether it’s on a corner blitz, which I almost guarantee we’ll see at some point, or an errant pass…”

KP’s Take: The results of this vote make a lot of sense to me.  Throughout the year, the Colts have had a tough time stopping the run.  Therefore, it would make sense to have the most votes for a Chicago player go to a running back, in this case being Thomas Jones.  On the other side, it makes sense for the most overall votes to go to a player like Peyton Manning, who is a two time MVP winner, and one of the best players in the NFL.  Manning also no doubt will be the player targeted by the Super Bowl MVP voters, as long as the Colts win, and Peyton has a decent enough game.  I think that if Indy wins, the voters will do anything possible to get the award into Peyton’s hands.  However, my overall vote is going to go to someone else, and that player is Dallas Clark, the tight end for the Colts.  The Chicago defense is solid, and I can see them forcing Manning to throw a few interceptions.  Chicago also will likely focus on trying to eliminate Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne from the game, which will open the door for Dallas Clark to have a huge performance.  I think it is overall tough for a defensive player to earn the award, as they usually have to either make an abundance of big plays, or end up with at least one defensive touchdown. This is why I am sticking with an offensive player.  On the Chicago side, if the Bears were to win, I see that happening only if they can control the clock and run the ball effectively, therefore giving my MVP award to Thomas Jones, who should end up with better numbers than his fellow teammate Cedric Benson.  In summary, I vote Dallas Clark if the Colts win, and Thomas Jones if the Bears win. 

And last but certainly not least…

Question SIX: Who will WIN Super Bowl XLI?

The Options:

1. Chicago Bears 
2. Indianapolis Colts

The Results: Many of you are picking the Colts to win Super Bowl XLI, and here are the final percentages:

KP’s Take: Honestly, this game could easily go either way, but I obviously have to suck it up and pick someone.  Therefore, after switching back and forth a few times in recent days, I have finally settled on picking the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl.  The Colts defense is still playing well, and Peyton Manning and the offense is clicking after that huge comeback victory against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.  While the Bears and Rex Grossman also have stepped it up in the playoffs, I still see the Colts outlasting Chicago, especially in the second half of the game.  The first half will remain close, but I predict a final score of 27-16 in favor of the Colts.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think the 2006 NFL Season has been quite unique, and definitely one to remember.  There were a great deal of interesting races for this year’s awards, in which I feel that some were possibly affected by non-football related situations, while others may have been different if a unique record had not been broken.  In my mind, I am starting to think that perhaps little things out of our control (and other random situations) really do have a greater effect on the voting process than people realize.  It also appears that some of you may agree with me regarding that very thought.

Aside of the NFL awards for this season, I further wanted to get a take on what people thought about the upcoming Super Bowl.  Will it be a good game?  Who will win?  Who will be the Most Valuable Player, and who will raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy?  In order to get the real answers to all of those questions, we will just have to wait and see.  But for now, you are aware of what some of your peers think, and hopefully that will help you get by until the big game on Sunday.

Thanks again to everyone that participated in the first ever Stupid Pill Survey!  - KP

 

While traveling on the commuter train the other day, my mind started to brainstorm a number of different things that I would like to see between now and the end of the upcoming Super Bowl.  Later that night, I decided that it would be more entertaining to list out the things that I would likely NOT see, and here is a sampling of some of the thoughts that popped into my head…

 

Things you will NOT see between now and the end of Super Bowl XLI

You will NOT see T.O. and “The Tuna” having a nice romantic dinner together.

You will NOT see any wardrobe malfunctions.  At least, I hope not considering the fact that Prince will be on stage this time around.

You will NOT see Michael Vick drinking out of any water bottles… and you will especially not see him drinking out of any Coke bottles. 

You will NOT see Jim Mora giving one of his trademark speeches for the Colts, but you would want to!

>>  Can Jim Mora sub in just for the speeches?

“You will NOT see Robert Parrish walking through that door!  You will not see Larry Bird walking through that door! You will not see Kevin McHale walking through that door!”  Wait, wrong sport…  

You will NOT see anyone thanking the theory of Evolution for the team’s victory.

You will NOT see any player taunting Brian Urlacher.  Nice work Reggie!

You will NOT see Bill Belichick wearing a suit and tie. 

You will NOT see any “HeadOn” commercials during the big game.  “HeadOn, apply directly to the forehead.  HeadOn apply directly to the forehead.  HeadOn…”

You will NOT see Peyton Manning giving a “thumbs up” sign, but that doesn’t mean that his injured digit will not be ok for the Super Bowl.

You will NOT see a stellar performance from Rex Grossman… or maybe you will… or maybe you will not… or maybe you will….

You will NOT see Britney Spears in a Super Bowl commercial.  Whether or not you will see Britney’s underpants (or lack thereof) is still open for debate. 

You will NOT see a group of cows drop in on Dolphins Stadium featuring signs that say “Eat More Chikin”.

You will NOT see a member of the Cincinnati Bengals get arrested.  Who am I kidding?  You probably will see that!

You will NOT see Dennis Green during the game screaming, “The Bears are what we thought they were!”

You will NOT see a list of what each of the 23 flavors in Dr. Pepper actually are.

You will NOT see Tom Brady in pre-game warm-ups, but you WILL see Peyton Manning.  Wait a second… really?!

You will NOT see any pre-game trash talking between the two head coaches, even in a game where the Vince Lombardi Trophy is at stake.

  Great friends Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy face each other in Super Bowl XLI

 

And finally…

YOU WILL SEE the Colts and Bears duke it out in what will hopefully turn out to be a great Super Bowl filled with memorable moments and quality commercials.

 

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on things that you will and will not see between now and the end of the Super Bowl XLI.

 

By the way, for those of you that saw my “Stupid Pill Survey”, in case you care, I will be posting results in a few days.  If you haven’t already voted, please do!  -KP

 

Toss out the records.  Throw away the seeds.  Ignore the home field advantage.  It’s the Pats and the Colts in the playoffs… again.  This time, I’m not fooled… and I see a matchup truly reminiscent of “David vs. Goliath”.  Yes, I am comparing Peyton Manning to “David”, and the New England Patriots to “Goliath”.  And yes, I do realize that the Indianapolis defense is clicking and the Patriots have shown that they are more vulnerable compared to recent years. 

When it comes to Peyton vs. the Pats, the matchup should be compared to David vs. Goliath

Enter David… 

In college at the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning set a number of SEC records, including most career passing yards (11,201), highest completion percentage (62.49%), lowest career interception percentage (2.39%), and the most career 300+ yard passing games (18).

Manning’s impressive career did not slow down once reaching the NFL, and playing for the Indianapolis Colts.  Among the milestones of his career thus far with the Colts include the 2003 co-MVP award, the 2004 MVP award, most touchdowns in a season (49), most touchdown passes in a rookie season (26), most consecutive games with a touchdown as a rookie (13), best passer rating in a season (121.1), 7 pro bowl appearances (including 2007), and an overall QB rating of 94.4 (which is 2nd all-time).

It may be difficult to imagine a two time MVP who arguably already has a pathway paved into the NFL Hall of Fame labeled as “David” in a David vs. Goliath comparison, but in my mind, that is basically what Peyton Manning is at this point. 

Sure, while Peyton’s college and professional statistics are impressive, I still have to come and out say… Who cares?  I also realize that the Colts have managed to defeat the Patriots two straight times during the regular season.  Let’s keep in mind that this was during the regular season though people!  Instead, more importantly, it should be noted that Peyton Manning has yet to win the “big game”.  To further prove this point, let’s take a brief look back at some of the biggest games of Peyton Manning’s football career thus far…

College Football (Tennessee Volunteers)*

September 16, 1995

#8 Tennessee Volunteers at #4 Florida Gators – Gators win 62-37

Wow, 62 points!  That result obviously can’t be blamed entirely on Manning and the Tennessee offense, but either way, it still equals a loss to Steve Spurrier and the Gators.

September 21, 1996

#4 Florida Gators at #2 Tennessee Volunteers – Gators win 35-29

Manning and the Volunteers were #2 in the AP poll and playing at home, but still could not manage to come back and win the close game.  This result would later land Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl, where they would defeat Northwestern 48-28.  However, the early season loss to Florida (combined with a late season blunder against Memphis) would eliminate any National title hopes for Tennessee. 

September 20, 1997

#4 Tennessee Volunteers at #2 Florida Gators – Gators win 33-20

With his final chance to defeat the Gators, Peyton Manning fell short once again.  This time, it wouldn’t hurt the team’s standing as much as in previous years.  Manning and the Volunteers would win out and earn a spot in the SEC Championship game.

December 6, 1997 (SEC Championship Game)

#11 Auburn Tigers vs. #3 Tennessee Volunteers – Volunteers win 30-29

Tennessee did manage to squeak out a one point win against the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship game, which would land Manning and Tennessee in a major bowl game, and a possible outside chance to win a national title. 

January 2, 1998 (Orange Bowl)

#3 Tennessee Volunteers vs. #2 Nebraska Cornhuskers – 'Huskers win 42-17

With an outside shot to compete for a National title, Manning and Tennessee would get crushed by the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  All in all, it was a disappointing finale to a solid collegiate career for Peyton Manning.

National Football League (Indianapolis Colts)

January 18, 2004 (AFC Championship Game)

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots – Patriots win 24-14

Two playoff wins against Denver and Kansas City would earn both Peyton and the Colts a spot in the AFC Championship game.  In his first playoff matchup against the Patriots, Manning and the Colts were manhandled in New England.  While the score appears to be close, the game really wasn’t.  New England scored seven times, including five Vinatieri field goals, a safety, and a touchdown from Tom Brady to David Givens.  The Pats led the game 15-0 at halftime, and took a 21-7 lead into the fourth quarter.  New England’s inability to score touchdowns allowed the Colts to remain in the game, especially after Indianapolis added a touchdown in the fourth quarter (to narrow the lead to seven points).  However, an Adam Vinatieri field goal shortly thereafter would ice the victory for New England.  Peyton Manning’s first big game playoff opportunity was one to forget, as he was intercepted four times (including three by the pesky Ty Law, who also happened to intercept Peyton twice in this year’s playoff game against the Chiefs). 

January 16, 2005 (AFC Divisional Playoff Game)

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots – Patriots win 20-3

Peyton Manning and the Colts started off with another playoff victory over the Denver Broncos, but a much bigger challenge was ahead a week later.  Once again, Manning had to face Tom Brady and the Patriots, but this time, Indianapolis came in sporting the highest scoring offense in the NFL.  Even so, the Colts still had to travel to Gillette Stadium, where it was bitter cold and snowing during portions of the game.  The high octane Colts offense would once again be grounded by Belichick, as Indianapolis was held to a measly three points.  As for Manning, in this game he would throw for 238 yards, while having zero touchdowns and one interception. 

January 15, 2006 (AFC Divisional Playoff Game)

Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts – Steelers win 21-18

Last season, the Colts came in with the number one seed in their conference, and guaranteed to play in the comforts of the RCA Dome throughout the AFC playoffs.  Once again it didn’t matter, as Bill Cowher and the Steelers blitzed their way to an upset win, despite a late comeback by Indianapolis.  Overall, this was one of Peyton Manning’s better playoff performances, as he had 290 yards passing and a touchdown.  However, at times, Manning looked rattled and confused by an aggressive Steelers defense, which often never even allowed Manning to throw the ball away.  The Steelers led the game 21-3 after three quarters, all while playing at Indianapolis.  Late blunders by the Steelers allowed Manning and the Colts to stay in the game.  Jerome Bettis had a critical fumble near the Indianapolis goal line, which was recovered by the Colts.  Instead of being returned for a touchdown by Indy, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger made a critical tackle that saved the game for Pittsburgh.  The game was then put into Manning’s hands, who managed to get the Colts into somewhat respectable field goal range.  Later, Indianapolis kicker Mike Vanderjagt would miss the 46 yard field goal (and this one wasn’t even close to going in), which would have tied the game.  The result was another devastating loss for the Colts, and a number one seed in the AFC had been squandered.       

“Big Game” Synopsis

During Manning’s college career, Tennessee and Florida were considered not only among the elite SEC football teams, but also among the best in the country during the mid to late 1990’s.  During his time at Tennessee, Peyton Manning was unable to defeat Steve Spurrier and the Florida Gators. 

In the NFL, Peyton Manning has had an extremely successful career thus far from a statistical standpoint.  However, during the playoffs, Manning and the Colts have sputtered.  Overall, Peyton Manning has a career playoff record of 5-6 (which includes this year’s wins over Kansas City and Baltimore), including zero Super Bowl appearances and a 0-2 record against the New England Patriots.   

Enter Goliath…

The “Goliath” of this story is the New England Patriots, the most dominant NFL franchise of the new millennium.  Plain and simple, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the Pats know how to get it done, especially when it comes to crunch time in the playoffs.  After all, the Patriots already have three Super Bowl rings to prove this fact, and still remain alive in this year’s playoff chase.  With the New England steamroller still trudging along, if another team such as the Colts do not step in and stop the madness, Belichick, Brady, and the gang may soon run out of fingers for all of their rings.  OK… so that may be exaggerating slightly, but you get the idea. 

The most recent example of New England’s postseason mastery is a comeback victory against this year’s best regular season team, the San Diego Chargers.  The Chargers led the game 14-3 late in the first half, and 21-13 late in the fourth quarter, but costly turnovers, mental errors, stupid penalties, and poor late game clock management eventually did in the NFC West Champion San Diego squad.  Inside two minutes, Patriots rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski did his best Vinatieri impression by launching a go ahead field goal straight through the middle of the uprights.  Shortly thereafter, a last gasp 54 yard field goal attempt by San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding was a hair short (and right) of tying the game.  The result sealed yet another postseason victory for the Pats, and as a result set up another epic battle with their AFC rival, the Indianapolis Colts. 

The victory over San Diego is an example of one of many impressive playoff performances by the New England Patriots in recent years.  To drive the point home, here are just a few critical statistics to prove that the Patriots are the “Goliath” in this story.

>> Since 2001, the New England Patriots have won three Super Bowls

>> Under Belichick, the Patriots are 12-1 in the playoffs (dating back to the year 2001)

>> One stat during the San Diego game this past weekend mentioned that during the playoffs, Belichick (as the Patriots coach) has not allowed a single point to any opponent on their opening drive

>> Tom Brady has 19 TD’s and 8 INT’s in the playoffs compared to Manning’s 16 TD’s and 13 INT’s

>> Tom Brady has two Super Bowl MVP awards along with a career 12-1 record in the playoffs (including ten in a row, which is a current NFL record)

Combine the story of New England’s recent incredible playoff stretch along with the fact that Peyton Manning has not proven to any of his critics that he can win the big game yet, and the perfect David vs. Goliath scenario is set into place. 

“David vs. Goliath” Part III

With the Patriots in the way, Peyton Manning and the Colts still have quite the uphill battle ahead of them if they want to reach their ultimate goal, that being a Super Bowl title and hoisting up the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

With the Patriots in the way, Peyton Manning still has quite the uphill battle ahead of him. 

This is Peyton’s best opportunity to date, as the Colts have again made the AFC Championship game, but this time, the Pats have to come to their house.  Here are a few key points to the AFC Championship this weekend.

>>New England is more vulnerable compared to recent years, and Tom Brady’s game has been flawed at times this season.  However, Brady proved against San Diego that he can still step it up when the game is on the line.    

>>Playing on the home turf of the RCA Dome should help an already red hot Colts defense, especially speedy playmakers such as Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders.  The dome turf will also help Indy’s offensive weapons, mainly receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. 

>>The raucous Indianapolis crowd likely will be a factor in the game… that is of course, unless Tom Brady and the Patriots can manage to quiet them down in the early going. 

>>The New England running game and clock management will be an important key to the game, along with Peyton Manning’s ability to adjust to Bill Belichick’s game plan.

>>Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are not the only difference makers on the field.  The winner of this game will advance due to an overall team effort.

Stemming off of my final point, I do in fact realize that I have put most of the focus on Peyton Manning, and not the Colts as a franchise.  While it is also very clear to me that football is a team game, critics will always still try to find someone to blame.  The blame game of the NFL almost always falls into the hands of the head coach and/or the quarterback, which is why my focus has been mainly on Manning and his inability to lift his team to a crucial “big game” victory.  While the Colts defense was the main issue during the regular season, the Indy defensive unit has righted the ship and performed nearly flawlessly thus far in the playoffs.  As a result, the game could fall back onto Peyton Manning, who likely will be the deciding factor of the AFC Championship this year.      

Now the question looms… should you root for “David” to slay “Goliath”?

Why you should root for David

In my mind, the average NFL fan should be cheering on Peyton Manning and the Colts in this year’s AFC Championship game.  When I say average fan, I mean those fans that do not have a vested interest in this game.  Therefore, fans whose favorite team is no longer in the playoffs (so calm down New England, cheer all you want for your beloved Patriots).  The obvious exceptions to the rule are fans of the Baltimore Ravens.  As most of you know, Baltimore fans had their hearts ripped out by the Colts years back when the team left them (for Indianapolis) overnight.  Salt was recently poured into the wounds of Baltimore football fans when the Colts defeated the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff game.  Toss in there the occasional non-Gator SEC fan who is still bitter at Manning, the fantasy football manager who lost in the playoffs due to Manning’s statistical performance, or even maybe the occasional Saints or Bears fan who feels that his/her respective team will fare better against this year’s New England Patriots team in the Super Bowl. 

Why else should you root for Peyton Manning and the Colts?  Well, certainly everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I just see Manning as a poster boy for the game today, and I overall have a great deal of respect for him.  Not only does he show up on TV with a number of likeable commercials, but Peyton is a supreme example of an individual working hard to attain a goal.  Every time the cameras pan over to Manning on the sideline, he is looking at film printouts, and researching ways in which he can get better.  I don’t think you see enough of that in the game today.  Why not root for one of the poster boys of the NFL today, and a model citizen who gives money to charities, works hard, is a good role model, etc?  If all the hard work by Manning doesn’t eventually translate into a championship, Peyton will likely be called the greatest player to never win a major title (even ahead of former Miami QB Dan Marino).  That is a story for another time though.

In Conclusion

From my standpoint, I do understand that in the historical story, David eventually defeats Goliath, and he does so by using a sling to launch a stone at Goliath’s head.  Overall, in my mind, the story is an improbable one about a man of small stature armed with only sticks and stones, but who manages to defeat the giant Goliath, when many thought it was not possible.  Peyton Manning is by no means a small man, and is also a very likeable person actually… well… that is… “if you like 6’ 5” 230 pound quarterback