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BALWIN SHINES FOR CHIEFS BUT EASE UP ON THE BREES TALK, CRAIG JAMES GETS HIS & DOES ANYONE CARE THAT THEY "SAVED" THE PRO BOWL?
Chiefs wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin was quite a disappointment last year. Broke his hand during a training camp fist fight with running back Thomas Jones & missed the entire preseason. He made just 21 catches in 2012 & one touchdown. With Dwayne Bowe sitting out the OTA's as Kansas City's franchise player, Baldwin has become a major part of the Chiefs' passing game. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has been putting the 6' 4" 230-pound Baldwin in the slot to run hooks & crossing patterns. Baldwin has shown both the ability to get off the jam & screen defenders off the ball. Everyone associated with the Chiefs offense is raving about Baldwin's transformation this spring. When Bowe & Moeaki return, if Baldwin can sustain this effort & production, the success of Kansas City's passing game will fall directly on the shoulders of quarterback Matt Cassel.
My pal Sam, from up Council Bluffs' way, asked me about ten days ago if there was any chance the internet rumors about Drew Brees being traded to Kansas City could hold any water. He wasn't alone, I received 5 other emails asking essentially the same thing plus our friends in Kansas City we saw Saturday quizzed me about those same rumors. Just like the potential of Peyton Manning signing with the Chiefs, which made a helluva lot of sense, I'm afraid you're going to be very disappointed if you get your hopes up this will happen. Yes, just like the arguments for Manning signing with the Chiefs, there are a number of positives that could make such a rumor palatable. The Chiefs have enough cap space to sign him, they are pretty well set on their depth chart, so trading a couple of #1's for such a franchise QB would make a lot of sense & finally, Brees would be going to a team that's pretty stacked at every position except on the defensive line & at quarterback. Would I trade 2-#1's & possibly another 2nd or 3rd for a 33-year old franchise quarterback? Absolutely, Brees has 3-4 years to play at a very high level, NFL teams have at best a 3-4 year window of opportunity to get to the Super Bowl. I love the idea, but it's not going to happen.
If you don't recall the name Brian Banks, you're excused. Banks was a highly recruited linebacker who was set to attend USC until he was arrested, tried & convicted in 2003 for kidnapping & rape. Banks spent eight-plus years in prison until he was released late last week, the woman who accused him, completely recanted her testimony. She was "mad at him." Now as a 28-year old, Banks wants a shot at making an NFL team & there are some takers for a tryout. That includes the Chiefs, Seahawks, Redskins & Chargers. To say Banks is a long shot would be a major understatement, he never played a down of college football. But you have to root for the guy considering what's been taken from him.
Donald Driver Tweeted last night he was going to be with the Packers for the 14th season. He was scheduled to make a $1.5 million roster bonus as well as $2.6 in salary but it's thought Driver agreed to a lot less just to stay in Green Bay.
Jessica Dorrell's old job at the University of Arkansas is open if you're interested. The position is not going to pay what Bobby Petrino paid his former mistress. The On-campus recruiting coordinator was paid $55K, but not anymore. I'm guessing the football program will interview more than 3 applicants this time.
I told you about Jacksonville Jags' cornerback Aaron Ross, who was going to take a few days away from training camp to go to London to watch his sprinter wife compete in the Olympics. Jets All-Pro center Nick Mangold was also given the green light to make the same trip to support his sisters Holly, a weightlifter. Holly was an offensive guard on the same high school team her brother played for in Ohio. She will compete in the heavyweight division at the Olympics. Brother Nick is 6' 3" 305, Holly is 5' 9" 350. If she can start on an offensive line in high school, her competitive spirit can't be questioned. It will be interesting to watch her this summer. Mangold won't be attending the Olympics tho, he said he'd feel guilty leaving his teammates working in summer heat while he would be at the Olympics. Sorry Nick, if one of my sisters were in the Olympics, I'd find a way to be there, sans guilt.
Holly as a starting guard Holly at the Olympic trials
My boy Craig James came crashing back to earth Tuesday night after the Texas GOP Primary results became final. James took a leave of absence from his job as the worst college football analyst for ESPN so he could run for the vacant U.S. Senate seat in the Lone Star State. After 1.3 million votes were cast, James received 3.6% of the vote, less than 47,000 votes. I believe the people of Texas have spoken Craig. Wish ESPN had a referendum so we could vote his lame ass off the network.
The Big-12 meetings in Kansas City didn't provide much news, especially about expansion. Outgoing conference president Chuck Neinas said conference members were very happy with 10 members. Then I heard K-State coach Bill Snyder say in a radio interview the majority of Big-12 schools don't support a conference championship game. That tells me the 9-game conference schedule will remain in place in the meantime.
The University of Missouri proudly showcased their new football field on Tuesday. Here's a before & after.
Cam Newton admitted Wednesday he was a bad teammate last season. He often pouted on the sidelines when things didn't go well for the Panthers & more than once, I saw him brush off teammates who tried to get him to het his head back in the game. Newton acknowledged his immaturity & said if he is truly to become the leader of this team, he needs to grow up. That alone shows improved maturity, good for Cam.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Asher Allen told coach Leslie Frazier he intends to retire. Not all that shocking you say? Allen has never missed an NFL game because of injury & he's only 24-years old. So why would a player entering his 4th NFL season want to retire? We're going to find out very soon, Allen told Frazier he'd make the reason for his decision public very soon. Strange.
The NFL & NFLPA issued a joint announcement late Wednesday the Pro Bowl would go on.....big whoop. The game will be played the week before the Super Bowl, the game returning to Honolulu Hawaii, the only positive about this "game." Union president Dominique Foxworth said he had some ideas for making the game more watchable. Looking forward to his thoughts. I don't miss many football games, but I haven't watched 5-minutes of a Pro Bowl in over a decade, the Pro Bowl absolutely blows.
My pal Sam, from up Council Bluffs' way, asked me about ten days ago if there was any chance the internet rumors about Drew Brees being traded to Kansas City could hold any water. He wasn't alone, I received 5 other emails asking essentially the same thing plus our friends in Kansas City we saw Saturday quizzed me about those same rumors. Just like the potential of Peyton Manning signing with the Chiefs, which made a helluva lot of sense, I'm afraid you're going to be very disappointed if you get your hopes up this will happen. Yes, just like the arguments for Manning signing with the Chiefs, there are a number of positives that could make such a rumor palatable. The Chiefs have enough cap space to sign him, they are pretty well set on their depth chart, so trading a couple of #1's for such a franchise QB would make a lot of sense & finally, Brees would be going to a team that's pretty stacked at every position except on the defensive line & at quarterback. Would I trade 2-#1's & possibly another 2nd or 3rd for a 33-year old franchise quarterback? Absolutely, Brees has 3-4 years to play at a very high level, NFL teams have at best a 3-4 year window of opportunity to get to the Super Bowl. I love the idea, but it's not going to happen.
If you don't recall the name Brian Banks, you're excused. Banks was a highly recruited linebacker who was set to attend USC until he was arrested, tried & convicted in 2003 for kidnapping & rape. Banks spent eight-plus years in prison until he was released late last week, the woman who accused him, completely recanted her testimony. She was "mad at him." Now as a 28-year old, Banks wants a shot at making an NFL team & there are some takers for a tryout. That includes the Chiefs, Seahawks, Redskins & Chargers. To say Banks is a long shot would be a major understatement, he never played a down of college football. But you have to root for the guy considering what's been taken from him.
Donald Driver Tweeted last night he was going to be with the Packers for the 14th season. He was scheduled to make a $1.5 million roster bonus as well as $2.6 in salary but it's thought Driver agreed to a lot less just to stay in Green Bay.
Jessica Dorrell's old job at the University of Arkansas is open if you're interested. The position is not going to pay what Bobby Petrino paid his former mistress. The On-campus recruiting coordinator was paid $55K, but not anymore. I'm guessing the football program will interview more than 3 applicants this time.
I told you about Jacksonville Jags' cornerback Aaron Ross, who was going to take a few days away from training camp to go to London to watch his sprinter wife compete in the Olympics. Jets All-Pro center Nick Mangold was also given the green light to make the same trip to support his sisters Holly, a weightlifter. Holly was an offensive guard on the same high school team her brother played for in Ohio. She will compete in the heavyweight division at the Olympics. Brother Nick is 6' 3" 305, Holly is 5' 9" 350. If she can start on an offensive line in high school, her competitive spirit can't be questioned. It will be interesting to watch her this summer. Mangold won't be attending the Olympics tho, he said he'd feel guilty leaving his teammates working in summer heat while he would be at the Olympics. Sorry Nick, if one of my sisters were in the Olympics, I'd find a way to be there, sans guilt.
Holly as a starting guard Holly at the Olympic trials
My boy Craig James came crashing back to earth Tuesday night after the Texas GOP Primary results became final. James took a leave of absence from his job as the worst college football analyst for ESPN so he could run for the vacant U.S. Senate seat in the Lone Star State. After 1.3 million votes were cast, James received 3.6% of the vote, less than 47,000 votes. I believe the people of Texas have spoken Craig. Wish ESPN had a referendum so we could vote his lame ass off the network.
The Big-12 meetings in Kansas City didn't provide much news, especially about expansion. Outgoing conference president Chuck Neinas said conference members were very happy with 10 members. Then I heard K-State coach Bill Snyder say in a radio interview the majority of Big-12 schools don't support a conference championship game. That tells me the 9-game conference schedule will remain in place in the meantime.
The University of Missouri proudly showcased their new football field on Tuesday. Here's a before & after.
Cam Newton admitted Wednesday he was a bad teammate last season. He often pouted on the sidelines when things didn't go well for the Panthers & more than once, I saw him brush off teammates who tried to get him to het his head back in the game. Newton acknowledged his immaturity & said if he is truly to become the leader of this team, he needs to grow up. That alone shows improved maturity, good for Cam.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Asher Allen told coach Leslie Frazier he intends to retire. Not all that shocking you say? Allen has never missed an NFL game because of injury & he's only 24-years old. So why would a player entering his 4th NFL season want to retire? We're going to find out very soon, Allen told Frazier he'd make the reason for his decision public very soon. Strange.
The NFL & NFLPA issued a joint announcement late Wednesday the Pro Bowl would go on.....big whoop. The game will be played the week before the Super Bowl, the game returning to Honolulu Hawaii, the only positive about this "game." Union president Dominique Foxworth said he had some ideas for making the game more watchable. Looking forward to his thoughts. I don't miss many football games, but I haven't watched 5-minutes of a Pro Bowl in over a decade, the Pro Bowl absolutely blows.
WARRICK DUNN IS A TRUE HERO, MOSS LOOKS LIKE...WELL RANDY MOSS, HARD KNOCKS TEAM SET & THE LIONS HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES
I took the weekend off, went to Kansas City on Saturday to visit Linda's family & dear friends, the Layden-Nagel-Durham clan. They have to be the #1 Chiefs' lovin' family in the state. Always enjoy spending time with them. Linda, Bear & I had a good time. My knee is going south once again, have to wait until the 13th to get shot up again, gonna be a tough two weeks.
Warrick Dunn will always be my favorite Florida State alum. He gained fame in the NFL rushing for over 10,000 yards for the Buccaneers & Falcons, he was also the recipient of numerous "Man of the Year" awards for his non-stop work with charities. The one closest to him is named after him, the Warrick Dunn Foundation. He started this charity as soon as he was selected in the 1997 draft. Two days after his 18th birthday, Dunn's mother, a Baton Rouge policewoman, was killed by armed robbers. Dunn was left to raise his brother & sister. He learned a lot of valuable lessons from his mom, a woman raising three children alone, working a second job in personal security to feed her family. Her example led her oldest son to help other single parents as they too work night & day to make enough to buy a home. Last Friday, the Warrick Dunn Foundation provided enough down payment to put another single parent & children into a new home. The down payment allows for an affordable monthly mortgage payment. The Foundation also works with local retailers to provide window coverings, appliances & furniture for the home. This marked the 115th family placed into a new home they can afford. One of his criteria is that the person receiving the home has a good work record, no welfare families. Think about the great things Warrick Dunn has accomplished as you read the next story.
Home Depot Man of the Year Walter Payton MOY As a Florida State Seminole
Heisman Trust Humanitarian of the Year Bart Starr Humanitarian of the Year Award
One of 115 families Bagram AFB Afghanistan
Former Ravens & Browns running back Jamaal Lewis filed for bankruptcy on Friday. He claims over $14 million in assets & $10 million in debts. His Chapter 11 filing lists 5 homes, a whole fleet of luxury & performance cars plus half of an Ohio water park. Even though Lewis owes less than he's worth, he claims he can't pay his bills on the $35,000-a-month($700K-a-year) he receives from the water park. Lewis was also convicted of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilos of cocaine in 2004. Like Warrick Dunn, Lewis gained over 10,000 yards as an NFL back, but the similarities end there.
One of five Rolls & Bentleys owned by Lewis
Randy Moss has been a hit so far during the Forty-Niners' OTA's. He's run every pattern as hard as he can go & according to everyone who watched the practices, Moss has lost little of his blazing speed. He's worked with the other wideouts, helping on their techniques, setting a good example. Deep speed was something that limited the Niners' offense last year, if Moss stays on track, that weakness could be erased.
Charlie Sheen appeared on The Dan Patrick Show Friday & told the host he did not purchase Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl ring, auctioned off by Taylor's son. Sheen has been one of the most astute buyers of high end sports memorabilia for a decade. Seriously, Charlie Sheen. But he did not buy LT's championship ring.
After 26 requests & 26 "No thanks," HBO finally connected with an NFL franchise willing to appear on this summer's edition of "Hard Knocks." I don't see this as a positive for the Dolphins, not with a new coach, new coordinators, many new players. Just seems like it will be too disruptive for a team that's desperately seeking focus. But owner Stephen Ross is desperate in his own way, desperate to create both local & national buzz around his franchise.
The way Brian Daboll & Romeo Crennel are shifting Dexter McCluster around, I think it gives more credence to my belief that McCluster is on his last leg with the Chiefs. His time to go big or go home is now, this training camp. McCluster's facing tougher competition for touches at running back, wide receiver as well as returning punts. He needs a big camp or he'll find himself looking for employment elsewhere.
The Detroit Lions need to come to grips with the number of disciplinary problems they have on their roster. Four of the five players drafted in 2011 have been a problem. Three on pot arrests & one for sucker-punching a teammate during their first OTA this year. When you include the mess Ndamukong Suh made last season, this is a team that is having far too many issues of this type. It just got a lot worse Sunday morning. Last season's #1 draft pick, DT Nick Fairley, already facing pot charges from two months ago, was arrested in his home state of Alabama early Sunday. He was clocked at over 100MPH, then tried to outrun a State Trooper. When he finally stopped, Fairley was in a lot of trouble, speeding, eluding police, reckless driving, DUI, no proof of insurance & an open alcoholic beverage. Fairley had off-field issues while he was at Auburn & despite having only one year of productive football, was drafted in the 1st round. With two arrests already in 2012, I have to believe he's facing some suspension time. Both Fairley & WR Titus Young, the sucker-puncher, returned to OTA practice today but were escorted on & off the field by security so members of the media couldn't question them. Head Coach Jim Schwartz needs to get a grip on his team before the inmates start running the asylum.
Warrick Dunn will always be my favorite Florida State alum. He gained fame in the NFL rushing for over 10,000 yards for the Buccaneers & Falcons, he was also the recipient of numerous "Man of the Year" awards for his non-stop work with charities. The one closest to him is named after him, the Warrick Dunn Foundation. He started this charity as soon as he was selected in the 1997 draft. Two days after his 18th birthday, Dunn's mother, a Baton Rouge policewoman, was killed by armed robbers. Dunn was left to raise his brother & sister. He learned a lot of valuable lessons from his mom, a woman raising three children alone, working a second job in personal security to feed her family. Her example led her oldest son to help other single parents as they too work night & day to make enough to buy a home. Last Friday, the Warrick Dunn Foundation provided enough down payment to put another single parent & children into a new home. The down payment allows for an affordable monthly mortgage payment. The Foundation also works with local retailers to provide window coverings, appliances & furniture for the home. This marked the 115th family placed into a new home they can afford. One of his criteria is that the person receiving the home has a good work record, no welfare families. Think about the great things Warrick Dunn has accomplished as you read the next story.
Home Depot Man of the Year Walter Payton MOY As a Florida State Seminole
Heisman Trust Humanitarian of the Year Bart Starr Humanitarian of the Year Award
One of 115 families Bagram AFB Afghanistan
Former Ravens & Browns running back Jamaal Lewis filed for bankruptcy on Friday. He claims over $14 million in assets & $10 million in debts. His Chapter 11 filing lists 5 homes, a whole fleet of luxury & performance cars plus half of an Ohio water park. Even though Lewis owes less than he's worth, he claims he can't pay his bills on the $35,000-a-month($700K-a-year) he receives from the water park. Lewis was also convicted of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilos of cocaine in 2004. Like Warrick Dunn, Lewis gained over 10,000 yards as an NFL back, but the similarities end there.
One of five Rolls & Bentleys owned by Lewis
Randy Moss has been a hit so far during the Forty-Niners' OTA's. He's run every pattern as hard as he can go & according to everyone who watched the practices, Moss has lost little of his blazing speed. He's worked with the other wideouts, helping on their techniques, setting a good example. Deep speed was something that limited the Niners' offense last year, if Moss stays on track, that weakness could be erased.
Charlie Sheen appeared on The Dan Patrick Show Friday & told the host he did not purchase Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl ring, auctioned off by Taylor's son. Sheen has been one of the most astute buyers of high end sports memorabilia for a decade. Seriously, Charlie Sheen. But he did not buy LT's championship ring.
After 26 requests & 26 "No thanks," HBO finally connected with an NFL franchise willing to appear on this summer's edition of "Hard Knocks." I don't see this as a positive for the Dolphins, not with a new coach, new coordinators, many new players. Just seems like it will be too disruptive for a team that's desperately seeking focus. But owner Stephen Ross is desperate in his own way, desperate to create both local & national buzz around his franchise.
The way Brian Daboll & Romeo Crennel are shifting Dexter McCluster around, I think it gives more credence to my belief that McCluster is on his last leg with the Chiefs. His time to go big or go home is now, this training camp. McCluster's facing tougher competition for touches at running back, wide receiver as well as returning punts. He needs a big camp or he'll find himself looking for employment elsewhere.
The Detroit Lions need to come to grips with the number of disciplinary problems they have on their roster. Four of the five players drafted in 2011 have been a problem. Three on pot arrests & one for sucker-punching a teammate during their first OTA this year. When you include the mess Ndamukong Suh made last season, this is a team that is having far too many issues of this type. It just got a lot worse Sunday morning. Last season's #1 draft pick, DT Nick Fairley, already facing pot charges from two months ago, was arrested in his home state of Alabama early Sunday. He was clocked at over 100MPH, then tried to outrun a State Trooper. When he finally stopped, Fairley was in a lot of trouble, speeding, eluding police, reckless driving, DUI, no proof of insurance & an open alcoholic beverage. Fairley had off-field issues while he was at Auburn & despite having only one year of productive football, was drafted in the 1st round. With two arrests already in 2012, I have to believe he's facing some suspension time. Both Fairley & WR Titus Young, the sucker-puncher, returned to OTA practice today but were escorted on & off the field by security so members of the media couldn't question them. Head Coach Jim Schwartz needs to get a grip on his team before the inmates start running the asylum.
MAJOR INJURY STRIKES NYG, EVEN MORE LITIGATION & SPARE ME THE NO PADS BRAVADO
The defending Super Bowl champs are off to a rocky start in their first two OTA sessions. Yesterday, they lost cornerback Brian Weatherspoon to a torn ACL for the second consecutive off-season. Today, wide receiver Hakeem Nicks suffered a broken bone in his right foot that will require surgery. Nicks will miss approximately 12-weeks, his return could be near the end of the preseason. This is quite a blow, especially since the Giants lost #3 receiver Mario Manningham in free agency. Nicks caught 76 passes last season for 1,192-yards & 7 TD's.
Brian Waters informed the New England Patriots he would play this season, his 14th in the NFL.
I neglected to tell you on Tuesday NFL owners approved the last two rule changes on their agenda. First, they changed the trade deadline from week 6 to week 8. Secondly, they voted to allow one player per team to be placed on injured reserve & then be allowed to play again in the same season. All other players will be under the old rule, once you go on I.R. you're out for the remainder of the season. The one player designation has a couple of stipulations, he must miss at least 8 regular season games & at least 6 weeks of practice.
Former Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer offered an explanation of why the Buccaneers traded Kellen Winslow Jr. to Seattle for only a 7th round draft pick. "Eli Manning blossomed as a starting quarterback after we(the Giants) traded Jeremy Shockey, his constant begging for the ball in every huddle got old, especially for Eli. I see Josh Freeman's season the same way. Everybody knows Winslow's the same" Toomer said. I think there's something to his explanation.
Packer wide receiver Donald Driver became the third NFL player to win Dancing With the Stars. He joined Hines Ward & Emmitt Smith as the grand champion on the highly rated ABC show. NFL players have fared very well on this program, Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor & Jerry Rice all finished second during their particular season & Kurt Warner was a third place winner in his. Why do they do so well, I'm glad you asked as I have a number of theories. One, they're incredibly competitive. Two, they understand their bodies, are extremely coordinated. Three, football players in many positions depend on footwork as a big part of their game. Four, football players are very disciplined, a major requirement in dancing. Five, because of the NFL's popularity, they get votes from every corner of the nation, especially in NFL cities. Linda voted for Driver multiple times all season.
Driver & partner Peta Murgatroyd
First it was 2,000 former players suing over concussion issues, then two weeks ago, suspended Saints' linebacker Jonathan Vilma sued the commissioner & this week it's the NFLPA suing the league for collusion. The union believes the uncapped season in 2010 was a phoney, they believe only the Cowboys & Redskins actually took the "no cap" concept seriously. They allege many of the teams colluded to keep the cap around the $120 million mark. Good luck with that, how'd you like to have the NFL's legal bills over the next five years?
I told you the other day Lawrence Taylor's second Super Bowl ring sold for $230,401 during an online auction by his son. Word around the auction world is the ring was won by bad-boy actor Charlie Sheen. He's won or purchased numerous pieces of high dollar sports memorabilia over the past decade. The ball that went thru Bill Buckner's legs in game 6 of the '86 World Series, the bill of sale that sent Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees are a couple of the items he's owned over the last few years. It should be pointed out Sheen made a major profits on each of the pieces he bought & sold over the years.
**UPDATE 11AM CDT
Sheen appeared briefly on The Dan Patrick Show to clear up the mystery surrounding LT's ring. He said he did not purchase the ring. So the question remains, who has $230,401 laying around to buy a Super Bowl ring?
Former Chiefs quarterback Brody Croyle retired from professional football Tuesday. The injury-prone Alabama alum was 0-10 as an NFL starter. That speaks volumes as to why he was out of work last season & a major factor in his retirement at age 29. Very nice guy, just not an NFL quarterback. All is not lost for Croyle, he has a beauty queen wife & parlayed his NFL money into several very successful real estate investments.
Kansas City rookie guard Jeff Allen has missed a pair of OTA workouts due to an ankle sprain. Sixth round selection, Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray, missed the same practice sessions with a sore hamstring. Former Cowboy safety Abram Elam visited with the Chiefs staff on Wednesday. Elam is excellent versus the run but he gets beat deep way too often. If the Chiefs do sign a veteran safety, my personal choice is O.J. Atogwe.
I told you the other day the league approved a rule change that will require all players to wear knee & thigh pads next year. Some are for the rule while others are being predictably macho in their reactions. Chargers' corner Quentin Jammer said he was going to start saving his money for the fines he'll receive for not wearing the pads as mandated. Teammate Jarrett Johnson said the rule change is simply a P.R. move. We get it, you guys are tough, probably want to play without a helmet. Remember when several Chiefs players wore the long red socks during a Monday Night game? They received stout fines & that was the end of that. I expect this pad issue to be the same. The fines will start around the $5,000 mark, escalating to $10K, then $25K & for those with a fat enough wallet to challenge the league further, I think the next step will be the game referee walking over to the bench to inform the coach his "padless" players aren't going to be allowed to participate in that day's game. This will bring the whining to an end.
Brian Waters informed the New England Patriots he would play this season, his 14th in the NFL.
I neglected to tell you on Tuesday NFL owners approved the last two rule changes on their agenda. First, they changed the trade deadline from week 6 to week 8. Secondly, they voted to allow one player per team to be placed on injured reserve & then be allowed to play again in the same season. All other players will be under the old rule, once you go on I.R. you're out for the remainder of the season. The one player designation has a couple of stipulations, he must miss at least 8 regular season games & at least 6 weeks of practice.
Former Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer offered an explanation of why the Buccaneers traded Kellen Winslow Jr. to Seattle for only a 7th round draft pick. "Eli Manning blossomed as a starting quarterback after we(the Giants) traded Jeremy Shockey, his constant begging for the ball in every huddle got old, especially for Eli. I see Josh Freeman's season the same way. Everybody knows Winslow's the same" Toomer said. I think there's something to his explanation.
Packer wide receiver Donald Driver became the third NFL player to win Dancing With the Stars. He joined Hines Ward & Emmitt Smith as the grand champion on the highly rated ABC show. NFL players have fared very well on this program, Warren Sapp, Jason Taylor & Jerry Rice all finished second during their particular season & Kurt Warner was a third place winner in his. Why do they do so well, I'm glad you asked as I have a number of theories. One, they're incredibly competitive. Two, they understand their bodies, are extremely coordinated. Three, football players in many positions depend on footwork as a big part of their game. Four, football players are very disciplined, a major requirement in dancing. Five, because of the NFL's popularity, they get votes from every corner of the nation, especially in NFL cities. Linda voted for Driver multiple times all season.
Driver & partner Peta Murgatroyd
First it was 2,000 former players suing over concussion issues, then two weeks ago, suspended Saints' linebacker Jonathan Vilma sued the commissioner & this week it's the NFLPA suing the league for collusion. The union believes the uncapped season in 2010 was a phoney, they believe only the Cowboys & Redskins actually took the "no cap" concept seriously. They allege many of the teams colluded to keep the cap around the $120 million mark. Good luck with that, how'd you like to have the NFL's legal bills over the next five years?
I told you the other day Lawrence Taylor's second Super Bowl ring sold for $230,401 during an online auction by his son. Word around the auction world is the ring was won by bad-boy actor Charlie Sheen. He's won or purchased numerous pieces of high dollar sports memorabilia over the past decade. The ball that went thru Bill Buckner's legs in game 6 of the '86 World Series, the bill of sale that sent Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees are a couple of the items he's owned over the last few years. It should be pointed out Sheen made a major profits on each of the pieces he bought & sold over the years.
**UPDATE 11AM CDT
Sheen appeared briefly on The Dan Patrick Show to clear up the mystery surrounding LT's ring. He said he did not purchase the ring. So the question remains, who has $230,401 laying around to buy a Super Bowl ring?
Former Chiefs quarterback Brody Croyle retired from professional football Tuesday. The injury-prone Alabama alum was 0-10 as an NFL starter. That speaks volumes as to why he was out of work last season & a major factor in his retirement at age 29. Very nice guy, just not an NFL quarterback. All is not lost for Croyle, he has a beauty queen wife & parlayed his NFL money into several very successful real estate investments.
Kansas City rookie guard Jeff Allen has missed a pair of OTA workouts due to an ankle sprain. Sixth round selection, Texas A&M running back Cyrus Gray, missed the same practice sessions with a sore hamstring. Former Cowboy safety Abram Elam visited with the Chiefs staff on Wednesday. Elam is excellent versus the run but he gets beat deep way too often. If the Chiefs do sign a veteran safety, my personal choice is O.J. Atogwe.
I told you the other day the league approved a rule change that will require all players to wear knee & thigh pads next year. Some are for the rule while others are being predictably macho in their reactions. Chargers' corner Quentin Jammer said he was going to start saving his money for the fines he'll receive for not wearing the pads as mandated. Teammate Jarrett Johnson said the rule change is simply a P.R. move. We get it, you guys are tough, probably want to play without a helmet. Remember when several Chiefs players wore the long red socks during a Monday Night game? They received stout fines & that was the end of that. I expect this pad issue to be the same. The fines will start around the $5,000 mark, escalating to $10K, then $25K & for those with a fat enough wallet to challenge the league further, I think the next step will be the game referee walking over to the bench to inform the coach his "padless" players aren't going to be allowed to participate in that day's game. This will bring the whining to an end.
RULE CHANGES-ONE VOTED IN, TWO STILL ALIVE, WINSLOW TRADE RECAP & CHIEFS SIGN ANOTHER WR
The vote on mandatory use of hip, thigh & knee pads was modified before NFL owners voted this morning. Hip pads were dropped, mainly due to staunch opposition by the NFLPA, but the motion on thigh & knee pads passed. It will become law for the 2013 season, all players will be required to use them. The union still has reservations because they want the thinnest, smallest & lightest pads if their members are going to wear them. They hear a lot of griping about the pads slowing players down, but if everybody is wearing them, the pads should slow everyone down somewhat. Whatever, the union needs to get on board, we're going to see the league move towards a safer game regardless of how fast it is. This is just the beginning.
Two other votes should come up as early as tomorrow. The league wants to move the trading deadline from week 6 to week 8. They also want to change the injured reserve rule to allow a player injured before the regular season to come back after missing at least 6 weeks of practice & 8 regular season games. I expect both rules to pass because ultimately, they make sense & make roster planning easier.
The Buccaneers announced this morning they received a conditional 7th round draft pick for tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. They could receive a 6th round pick if Winslow meets or exceeds certain stats. New Tampa coach Greg Schiano refused to discuss the reasons behind Winslow's trade to Seattle last night. The Bucs also signed veteran tight end Dallas Clark last night. he had visited several NFL teams, including the Chiefs, but his injury history is extensive & he doesn't play special teams.
The Chiefs signed undrafted free agent wide receiver Aaron Weaver. He played three seasons for Hofstra but when they decided to discontinue their football program, Weaver transferred to Syracuse for his senior season. Two games into the season, Weaver suffered torn knee ligaments, costing him the remainder of the season. He wasn't able to participate in the combine or the Syracuse pro day in the spring of2011, so he was allowed to be a part of their Pro Day last March, but went undrafted. While at Hofstra, he caught 135 passes for over 1,400-yards. The 6' 2" 220-pound receiver caught 6 passes in two games at Syracuse. After watching 9-minutes of Weaver running practice routes for the 'Cuse, I can tell you he looks & plays larger than he's listed. I watched him abuse numerous teammates in practice. He is very physical when the catch is contested by a DB. He shows excellent hands & decent route running. He does not show much burst & these practice videos were shot before he suffered the knee injury, so separation might be an issue at the NFL level. I'll tell you his tape is far more impressive than 3-4 other wideouts currently vying for a spot on the Chiefs' roster or practice squad. Looks big doesn't he?
Two other votes should come up as early as tomorrow. The league wants to move the trading deadline from week 6 to week 8. They also want to change the injured reserve rule to allow a player injured before the regular season to come back after missing at least 6 weeks of practice & 8 regular season games. I expect both rules to pass because ultimately, they make sense & make roster planning easier.
The Buccaneers announced this morning they received a conditional 7th round draft pick for tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. They could receive a 6th round pick if Winslow meets or exceeds certain stats. New Tampa coach Greg Schiano refused to discuss the reasons behind Winslow's trade to Seattle last night. The Bucs also signed veteran tight end Dallas Clark last night. he had visited several NFL teams, including the Chiefs, but his injury history is extensive & he doesn't play special teams.
The Chiefs signed undrafted free agent wide receiver Aaron Weaver. He played three seasons for Hofstra but when they decided to discontinue their football program, Weaver transferred to Syracuse for his senior season. Two games into the season, Weaver suffered torn knee ligaments, costing him the remainder of the season. He wasn't able to participate in the combine or the Syracuse pro day in the spring of2011, so he was allowed to be a part of their Pro Day last March, but went undrafted. While at Hofstra, he caught 135 passes for over 1,400-yards. The 6' 2" 220-pound receiver caught 6 passes in two games at Syracuse. After watching 9-minutes of Weaver running practice routes for the 'Cuse, I can tell you he looks & plays larger than he's listed. I watched him abuse numerous teammates in practice. He is very physical when the catch is contested by a DB. He shows excellent hands & decent route running. He does not show much burst & these practice videos were shot before he suffered the knee injury, so separation might be an issue at the NFL level. I'll tell you his tape is far more impressive than 3-4 other wideouts currently vying for a spot on the Chiefs' roster or practice squad. Looks big doesn't he?
NFLPA PICKING THE WRONG FIGHT, WINSLOW TRADED, MORE DETROIT UGLINESS & WHO ACTUALLY "HAS THE BEST HANDS I'VE EVER SEEN?"
One of the topics that could very well be voted upon at the NFL owners' meetings in Atlanta this week is already drawing flak from the NFLPA. The union plans to file a grievance if the owners approve a measure making thigh, knee & hip pads mandatory for all players in 2013. The union is picking the wrong fight here, at a time nearly 2,000 former players are suing the league for long term injury issues, mostly concussions, turning their back on safety issues is a really bad idea. I understand they might have wanted something in return for the pad rule but anything that can reduce injuries cannot be discounted. The major complaints about wearing the additional pads is they slow players down, especially corners, receivers & running backs & they don't look cool. I doubt wearing all three pads will keep a player safe from a season-ending injury, but they could certainly reduce the nagging type injuries that sideline players every year for a game or two. These pads should have been mandatory for years in any practices that allow contact. If this rule change stands, mandatory use of mouthpieces for all players will be next & fighting this one will garner the union worse PR than fighting the current proposal because it has been proven the use of mouthpieces can prevent concussions. I think the league is smart in moving slowly with the safety changes, but the league needs to keep pushing safety issues every year & the union should be a part of these discussions not a combatant.
Last week Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor was quizzed about his Super Bowl ring being on a prominent auction website that specializes in high-end sports memorabilia. He said he wasn't aware of one of his two rings being sold, he has possession of one & his son had the other. After a quick phone call, L.T. said the ring being auctioned was indeed the one he had given his son years ago. He had no problem with his son selling the ring, it was his to do with as he wanted. The auction ended on Saturday, how much do you think a Super Bowl ring awarded to a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame sold for? The answer below.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers told their starting tight end, Kellen Winslow Jr. to stay home from OTA's, they were attempting to trade him. If Winslow were to be injured, the Bucs would owe him his entire 2013 salary. Didn't take them long to move him, Seattle acquired the problematic Winslow for an undisclosed draft choice. Winslow has been somewhat of a disappointment after being the 7th overall selection of the 2004 NFL Draft. A motorcycle wreck & multiple knee & shoulder injuries have sidelined him from practices for years. New Bucs coach Greg Schiano wasn't impressed with his work record & decided to make a change. Just 23 TD's out of 437 receptions isn't very good production for the 7th overall pick. Winslow also had a penchant for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, often offending fans from coast to coast.
The Detroit Lions had a few too many incidents in the past year involving players getting busted for drugs, breaking the rules & causing mayhem during games, can you say Ndamakong Suh? On Monday, head coach Jim Schwartz told second year wide receiver Titus Young to stay away from OTA's until further notice. Last Friday during an on field drill, Young & safety Louis Delmas fought for a pass & after the ball fell incomplete, Young sucker-punched Delmas. The two had to be separated leading to Young temporary suspensions from OTA's. He had similar problems during his sophomore season at Boise State, could it be those issues have resurfaced?
The Chiefs OTA's began on Monday & there were a couple of interesting developments. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll moved Dexter McCluster back to wide receiver. One wonders how realistic his impact will be as a slot receiver? He didn't do well in that role in 2010 when the Chiefs' offense was hitting on all cylinders. Competing with Steve Breaston & rookie speedster Devon Wylie for snap at the slot position will be tough. But with the return of Jamaal Charles & newly acquired Peyton Hillis splitting the carries, McCluster wouldn't be getting too many touches as a running back. It's very possible he won't make this team's final roster.
Of the 87 players currently on the Chiefs' roster, 46 of them have 2-years or less NFL experience.
Former Chiefs' offensive coordinator & current head coach at the University of Kansas, Charlie Weis, spent the entire morning watching Kansas City's workout.
Six players did not participate because of injuries or injury rehab. RB Jamaal Charles, TE Tony Moeaki, LB Brandon Siler & safeties Eric Berry, Kendrick Lewis & DeQuan Menzie all sat out portions of the practice.
After an OTA on Friday, Forty-Niners' coach Jim Harbaugh commented "Michael Crabtree has the best hands I've ever seen." When I read this quote, I thought Harbaugh was attempting to pump up one of his players who has been a career underachiever, much like he did before last season with quarterback Alex Smith. It worked for Smith as he had his best season by far, leading the Niners to a 13-3 record & a berth in the NFC Championship game. But I digress, let's go back to the original quote about the best hands he's ever seen. According to the stats guys at ESPN, the league leader in catches-to-drops was Larry Fitzgerald at 80 to 1. Surprised? I'm not, Fitzgerald is a remarkable talent who seems to find a way to improve every season. How much better is he than say, the second place finisher? Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez's ratio was 40 to 1 in catches-to-drops. So where did Crabtree finish? How about 28th, at a 12.2 ratio & Dwayne Bowe? Thirty-second at 11.6 catches-to-drops. Not exactly sparkling 'eh? In case you were curious, my picks for "best hands ever" would go to Cris Carter or former Chief Otis Taylor. If you doubt Taylor belongs in such lofty company, consider this, 12-time all-pro safety & Pro Football HOFer Ken Houston said just a couple of years ago that Taylor had "the best hands he ever saw."
Cris Carter Otis Taylor
Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl ring went for $230,401, this is it.
Last week Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor was quizzed about his Super Bowl ring being on a prominent auction website that specializes in high-end sports memorabilia. He said he wasn't aware of one of his two rings being sold, he has possession of one & his son had the other. After a quick phone call, L.T. said the ring being auctioned was indeed the one he had given his son years ago. He had no problem with his son selling the ring, it was his to do with as he wanted. The auction ended on Saturday, how much do you think a Super Bowl ring awarded to a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame sold for? The answer below.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers told their starting tight end, Kellen Winslow Jr. to stay home from OTA's, they were attempting to trade him. If Winslow were to be injured, the Bucs would owe him his entire 2013 salary. Didn't take them long to move him, Seattle acquired the problematic Winslow for an undisclosed draft choice. Winslow has been somewhat of a disappointment after being the 7th overall selection of the 2004 NFL Draft. A motorcycle wreck & multiple knee & shoulder injuries have sidelined him from practices for years. New Bucs coach Greg Schiano wasn't impressed with his work record & decided to make a change. Just 23 TD's out of 437 receptions isn't very good production for the 7th overall pick. Winslow also had a penchant for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, often offending fans from coast to coast.
The Detroit Lions had a few too many incidents in the past year involving players getting busted for drugs, breaking the rules & causing mayhem during games, can you say Ndamakong Suh? On Monday, head coach Jim Schwartz told second year wide receiver Titus Young to stay away from OTA's until further notice. Last Friday during an on field drill, Young & safety Louis Delmas fought for a pass & after the ball fell incomplete, Young sucker-punched Delmas. The two had to be separated leading to Young temporary suspensions from OTA's. He had similar problems during his sophomore season at Boise State, could it be those issues have resurfaced?
The Chiefs OTA's began on Monday & there were a couple of interesting developments. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll moved Dexter McCluster back to wide receiver. One wonders how realistic his impact will be as a slot receiver? He didn't do well in that role in 2010 when the Chiefs' offense was hitting on all cylinders. Competing with Steve Breaston & rookie speedster Devon Wylie for snap at the slot position will be tough. But with the return of Jamaal Charles & newly acquired Peyton Hillis splitting the carries, McCluster wouldn't be getting too many touches as a running back. It's very possible he won't make this team's final roster.
Of the 87 players currently on the Chiefs' roster, 46 of them have 2-years or less NFL experience.
Former Chiefs' offensive coordinator & current head coach at the University of Kansas, Charlie Weis, spent the entire morning watching Kansas City's workout.
Six players did not participate because of injuries or injury rehab. RB Jamaal Charles, TE Tony Moeaki, LB Brandon Siler & safeties Eric Berry, Kendrick Lewis & DeQuan Menzie all sat out portions of the practice.
After an OTA on Friday, Forty-Niners' coach Jim Harbaugh commented "Michael Crabtree has the best hands I've ever seen." When I read this quote, I thought Harbaugh was attempting to pump up one of his players who has been a career underachiever, much like he did before last season with quarterback Alex Smith. It worked for Smith as he had his best season by far, leading the Niners to a 13-3 record & a berth in the NFC Championship game. But I digress, let's go back to the original quote about the best hands he's ever seen. According to the stats guys at ESPN, the league leader in catches-to-drops was Larry Fitzgerald at 80 to 1. Surprised? I'm not, Fitzgerald is a remarkable talent who seems to find a way to improve every season. How much better is he than say, the second place finisher? Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez's ratio was 40 to 1 in catches-to-drops. So where did Crabtree finish? How about 28th, at a 12.2 ratio & Dwayne Bowe? Thirty-second at 11.6 catches-to-drops. Not exactly sparkling 'eh? In case you were curious, my picks for "best hands ever" would go to Cris Carter or former Chief Otis Taylor. If you doubt Taylor belongs in such lofty company, consider this, 12-time all-pro safety & Pro Football HOFer Ken Houston said just a couple of years ago that Taylor had "the best hands he ever saw."
Cris Carter Otis Taylor
Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl ring went for $230,401, this is it.
ROLANDO MIGHT BE "GOING AWAY," MEGATRON GOES DEEP, DENVER'S CLADY NO LONGER DOMINANT & BIG-12/SEC SIGN BOWL DEAL
Oakland middle linebacker Rolando McClain could be looking at an extended stay in an Alabama jail. The former #1 draft pick, Oakland's 2nd leading tackler in 2011, McClain was arrested for an incident in his Bama hometown last December. He was charged with battery & discharging a firearm among other things. He is accused of knocking a man to the ground, brandishing a handgun, pointing it at the man's head while screaming threats & then firing the gun next to the man's head. McClain was tried before a judge last week & that magistrate found him guilty & sentenced him to 45-days for each charge, a total of 180-days of incarceration. McClain's attorney filed an appeal, requesting a jury trial. He said the entire thing was about squeezing McClain for money. Trouble with that argument is McClain's best friend testified against him along with several witness & the victim. If his high-dollar lawyer wants to win his client's acquittal, maybe he should present some witnesses that will not testify against his client. Just because you say it's one way, doesn't make it so, judges, as well as jury's, depend on evidence to decide innocence or guilt, giving them something to think about is probably a good strategy counselor.
Tampa Bay defensive tackle Brian Price missed his team's first week of OTA's. He was hospitalized for exhaustion. Price's sister was killed in an automobile accident two weeks ago. It was Price's third sibling to die, he previously lost two older brothers in a drive-by shooting in Compton California. Price's sister had two small children, Brian & his new wife intend to adopt them ASAP. Their actions are to be respected, let's hope & pray the new family has a good start.
Baltimore all-pro safety Ed Reed, sidelined with a hip injury, is warning Raven fans he might not be ready to go opening day. Reed is in the final year of his contract & made it clear if he plays beyond this season, he wants to stay with Baltimore.
Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson, a.k.a. "Megatron" was invited to take batting practice Friday with the Tigers at Comerica Park. Johnson was a prospect coming out of high school, but chose football at Georgia Tech instead. I watched every swing he took, trust me he might be playing in the Major Leagues had he decided to go that way. Johnson hit line drive after line drive before powdering a belt-high pitch into the back of the left field bullpen. He later threw out the first pitch. Impressive indeed.
Megatron talks with Tigers' manager Jim Leland before taking BP
The New York Jets, desperate to upgrade their right tackle position, have moved former guard Vladimir Ducasse into the starting spot. He has been somewhat of a disappointment after being drafted in the 2nd round out of UMass in 2011. Having seen him at the Senior Bowl practices, I just didn't see footwork that would allow him to play on the edge. But the Jets want to replace Wayne Hunter, who pass protected like a turnstile last year & since they didn't draft a prospect who might fill the spot, Ducasse is their only choice.
Speaking of tackles, Denver's Ryan Clady was considered by most to be one of the very best young left tackles in the game. He was drafted by the Broncos #8 overall in the 2008 draft, gave up just half-a-sack his rookie season & made first team all-pro as a rookie. But things aren't so great for Clady since. ESPN AFC West blogger, Bill Williamson, wrote today that last year, playing in an offense that threw the ball less than any other NFL team, he surrendered 9 sacks & committed 12 penalties. In fact, after such an awesome start as a rookie, Clady has surrendered 24.5 sacks in three seasons & committed 23 penalties, hardly all-pro numbers. Now he'll be protecting the blindside of Peyton Manning & Denver will almost surely throw the ball 100-150 more times than the Tebow-led Broncos did last season.
Another concern for Denver is starting guard Chris Kuper. He suffered a horrible dislocated ankle injury in the final regular season game versus Kansas City. He just started walking on the foot last week & it will be sometime before he's allowed to run. After his first operation to repair the damage last January, it was thought he'd be ready for training camp, now it's questionable.
Eagles left tackle Jason Peters & Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, both suffered torn Achilles tendons during this off-season. Both claimed they were injured doing conditioning in preparation for OTA's. But it didn't take long to determine both suffered these debilitating injuries playing basketball, forbidden in both player's contracts. Will Philadelphia & Baltimore withhold all or a portion of their 2012 salaries? I don't see it happening regardless of what you might read or hear elsewhere.
Safety Yeremiah Bell has signed with the Jets. Undrafted free agent quarterback David LeGree has signed with Indianapolis. Both were in Kansas City in the past week but left without contracts. The Chiefs did sign 3rd round draft pick Donald Stephenson. The offensive tackle from Oklahoma enters training camp as one of three OT's vying for a roster spot behind Brandon Albert & Eric Winston.
I said immediately after the season closed, I thought Chiefs' OLB Justin Houston would become a force as soon as the 2012 season. He would benefit from all the off-season practices & conditioning, things he wasn't a part of last year because of the lockout. I'm not alone in my confidence regarding Houston's potential. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. wrote a piece this week on players he believed were headed for a breakout season beginning this fall. Houston was on Kiper's list for the same reasons I outlined before, he has a huge upside & with the success he experienced late in the season last year, I believe Houston has the potential to be as productive as Tamba Hali in a very short time. Anything less than 10 sacks from Houston will be a disappointment this season.
The SEC & Big-12 have signed an agreement to stage a whole new bowl game between their conference champs to be played on New Year's Day night. The game is to be between the conference champs...unless one or both of the teams are playing in the BCS title game......or if one or both are to play in the proposed 4-team playoff system that will replace the BCS. Even if the conference champs aren't able to play each other, it should still make for a terrific matchup. Look for the game to be played in Jerry Jones' football palace. This was a very smart move by the conferences, it gives them leverage against other pacts like the one between the PAC-12 & BIG TEN for a Rose Bowl matchup. It also gives them leverage in acquiring additional teams. If a run on competitive football programs begins, the PAC-12, BIG TEN, SEC & Big-12 will be where these teams will look to go, no one wants to step down. You've heard all the talk about Florida State going to the Big-12 as well as other rumors about Notre Dame, Boise State, Pitt, Miami & a few others. I doubt we'll see any significant realignment until the BCS is gone & we know the criteria for the 4-team playoff. The talk of "super conferences" that will dominate the national conversation for the next couple of years will be just that, conversation. Nothing concrete will happen for at least one more off-season.
Tampa Bay defensive tackle Brian Price missed his team's first week of OTA's. He was hospitalized for exhaustion. Price's sister was killed in an automobile accident two weeks ago. It was Price's third sibling to die, he previously lost two older brothers in a drive-by shooting in Compton California. Price's sister had two small children, Brian & his new wife intend to adopt them ASAP. Their actions are to be respected, let's hope & pray the new family has a good start.
Baltimore all-pro safety Ed Reed, sidelined with a hip injury, is warning Raven fans he might not be ready to go opening day. Reed is in the final year of his contract & made it clear if he plays beyond this season, he wants to stay with Baltimore.
Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson, a.k.a. "Megatron" was invited to take batting practice Friday with the Tigers at Comerica Park. Johnson was a prospect coming out of high school, but chose football at Georgia Tech instead. I watched every swing he took, trust me he might be playing in the Major Leagues had he decided to go that way. Johnson hit line drive after line drive before powdering a belt-high pitch into the back of the left field bullpen. He later threw out the first pitch. Impressive indeed.
Megatron talks with Tigers' manager Jim Leland before taking BP
The New York Jets, desperate to upgrade their right tackle position, have moved former guard Vladimir Ducasse into the starting spot. He has been somewhat of a disappointment after being drafted in the 2nd round out of UMass in 2011. Having seen him at the Senior Bowl practices, I just didn't see footwork that would allow him to play on the edge. But the Jets want to replace Wayne Hunter, who pass protected like a turnstile last year & since they didn't draft a prospect who might fill the spot, Ducasse is their only choice.
Speaking of tackles, Denver's Ryan Clady was considered by most to be one of the very best young left tackles in the game. He was drafted by the Broncos #8 overall in the 2008 draft, gave up just half-a-sack his rookie season & made first team all-pro as a rookie. But things aren't so great for Clady since. ESPN AFC West blogger, Bill Williamson, wrote today that last year, playing in an offense that threw the ball less than any other NFL team, he surrendered 9 sacks & committed 12 penalties. In fact, after such an awesome start as a rookie, Clady has surrendered 24.5 sacks in three seasons & committed 23 penalties, hardly all-pro numbers. Now he'll be protecting the blindside of Peyton Manning & Denver will almost surely throw the ball 100-150 more times than the Tebow-led Broncos did last season.
Another concern for Denver is starting guard Chris Kuper. He suffered a horrible dislocated ankle injury in the final regular season game versus Kansas City. He just started walking on the foot last week & it will be sometime before he's allowed to run. After his first operation to repair the damage last January, it was thought he'd be ready for training camp, now it's questionable.
Eagles left tackle Jason Peters & Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, both suffered torn Achilles tendons during this off-season. Both claimed they were injured doing conditioning in preparation for OTA's. But it didn't take long to determine both suffered these debilitating injuries playing basketball, forbidden in both player's contracts. Will Philadelphia & Baltimore withhold all or a portion of their 2012 salaries? I don't see it happening regardless of what you might read or hear elsewhere.
Safety Yeremiah Bell has signed with the Jets. Undrafted free agent quarterback David LeGree has signed with Indianapolis. Both were in Kansas City in the past week but left without contracts. The Chiefs did sign 3rd round draft pick Donald Stephenson. The offensive tackle from Oklahoma enters training camp as one of three OT's vying for a roster spot behind Brandon Albert & Eric Winston.
I said immediately after the season closed, I thought Chiefs' OLB Justin Houston would become a force as soon as the 2012 season. He would benefit from all the off-season practices & conditioning, things he wasn't a part of last year because of the lockout. I'm not alone in my confidence regarding Houston's potential. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. wrote a piece this week on players he believed were headed for a breakout season beginning this fall. Houston was on Kiper's list for the same reasons I outlined before, he has a huge upside & with the success he experienced late in the season last year, I believe Houston has the potential to be as productive as Tamba Hali in a very short time. Anything less than 10 sacks from Houston will be a disappointment this season.
The SEC & Big-12 have signed an agreement to stage a whole new bowl game between their conference champs to be played on New Year's Day night. The game is to be between the conference champs...unless one or both of the teams are playing in the BCS title game......or if one or both are to play in the proposed 4-team playoff system that will replace the BCS. Even if the conference champs aren't able to play each other, it should still make for a terrific matchup. Look for the game to be played in Jerry Jones' football palace. This was a very smart move by the conferences, it gives them leverage against other pacts like the one between the PAC-12 & BIG TEN for a Rose Bowl matchup. It also gives them leverage in acquiring additional teams. If a run on competitive football programs begins, the PAC-12, BIG TEN, SEC & Big-12 will be where these teams will look to go, no one wants to step down. You've heard all the talk about Florida State going to the Big-12 as well as other rumors about Notre Dame, Boise State, Pitt, Miami & a few others. I doubt we'll see any significant realignment until the BCS is gone & we know the criteria for the 4-team playoff. The talk of "super conferences" that will dominate the national conversation for the next couple of years will be just that, conversation. Nothing concrete will happen for at least one more off-season.
DREW BREES IS "FRUSTRATED" & MORE CHIEFS' SIGNINGS
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees is beginning to lose his patience with Saints management over a new contract. The team put the franchise tag on Brees with the promise of working out a new deal. Brees claims he or his agent hasn't heard from the team in over a month. He has refused to sign the tender offer which would pay him the average of what the top-5 paid quarterbacks earn, but it's just for one year. The team said all along they want to sign Brees to a long term deal, which is exactly what Brees is expecting. I know the Saints have a lot of turmoil since the end of last season, but signing Brees would bring some stability, leadership & optimism to a franchise in need of all three. So when the OTA's began Monday, Chase Daniel became the number one quarterback, by default. Hey, I'm a Mizzou guy, but in no way does Chase compare to Brees, except in height. The Saints need to make this right ASAP.
The NFL heard the appeals of former Saints Scott Fujita & Anthony Hargrove. They are appealing their suspensions from the bounty program investigation. Fujita was suspended for 3 games, Hargrove for 8. What the NFLPA attempted to do with these appeals is to remove NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell from the punishment phase, they want former players Art Shell or Ted Cottrell, to administer the sanctions. They believe they'll have a more fair chance at reduced suspensions with either Shell or Cottrell, they might be right, but getting the change will be an uphill struggle.
The Super Bowl champs got their rings on Wednesday. No real story, just wanted to show you what they look like.
The family trust of the late Junior Seau have closed his restaurant for good. Seau's The Restaurant, opened 16-years ago & was San Diego's biggest & most famous sports bar. It was performing poorly the past three years so the trust & his heirs decided to pull the plug.
Two updates on some of the police blotter stories I told you about the other day. Mizzou backup quarterback Corbin Berkstresser, arrested & charged with leaving the scene of an accident, was suspended indefinitely from the Tiger football program. Since no one was injured & the collision was fairly minor, I expect he'll be reinstated before camp starts in August. Oakland wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey, arrested & charged with DUI over the weekend, issued an apology for his actions. At least it was his version of an apology. "I just kind of regret bringing bad attention to the team for the most part" DHB said on Wednesday. "Kind of regret, for the most part," really, that's your apology? Wow.
Say what you want about Tim Tebow & his place with the New York Jets, but the most important player on the Jets' defense is completely sold on the new backup QB. All-pro cornerback Darrelle Revis lavished compliment after compliment on Tebow after just three days of OTA's. Revis lauded Tebow's dedication, leadership, work ethic & just how humble he is. I'm sure starter Mark Sanchez was thrilled to hear Revis' comments.
The Chiefs signed 2nd round draft pick Jeff Allen & 5th round selection, defensive back DeQuan Menzie. Only 3rd rounder Donald Stephenson & top pick Dontari Poe remain unsigned. The team also announced 4 free agent signings. Tight end Martin Rucker, which I told you about last night, LB Leon Williams, safety Dominique Ellis & guard Rich Ranglin, who was offensive lineman of the year from the Arena Football League. He is also an alum of Central Connecticut State, Scott Pioli's alma mater. These signings bring to 87 the number of players on the roster. That leaves 3 spots open, Poe & Stephenson will fill two of those spots. I expect either Yeremiah Bell or O.J. Otogwe, both free agent safeties, to take the final camp roster spot. One other Chiefs' note, 4th round draft pick WR Devon Wylie had voiced his displeasure with the #83 assigned to him by the Chiefs. It's the same number worn by Wes Welker, a player he's been compared to constantly. His new number is 19.
Rich Ranglin
The NFL heard the appeals of former Saints Scott Fujita & Anthony Hargrove. They are appealing their suspensions from the bounty program investigation. Fujita was suspended for 3 games, Hargrove for 8. What the NFLPA attempted to do with these appeals is to remove NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell from the punishment phase, they want former players Art Shell or Ted Cottrell, to administer the sanctions. They believe they'll have a more fair chance at reduced suspensions with either Shell or Cottrell, they might be right, but getting the change will be an uphill struggle.
The Super Bowl champs got their rings on Wednesday. No real story, just wanted to show you what they look like.
The family trust of the late Junior Seau have closed his restaurant for good. Seau's The Restaurant, opened 16-years ago & was San Diego's biggest & most famous sports bar. It was performing poorly the past three years so the trust & his heirs decided to pull the plug.
Two updates on some of the police blotter stories I told you about the other day. Mizzou backup quarterback Corbin Berkstresser, arrested & charged with leaving the scene of an accident, was suspended indefinitely from the Tiger football program. Since no one was injured & the collision was fairly minor, I expect he'll be reinstated before camp starts in August. Oakland wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey, arrested & charged with DUI over the weekend, issued an apology for his actions. At least it was his version of an apology. "I just kind of regret bringing bad attention to the team for the most part" DHB said on Wednesday. "Kind of regret, for the most part," really, that's your apology? Wow.
Say what you want about Tim Tebow & his place with the New York Jets, but the most important player on the Jets' defense is completely sold on the new backup QB. All-pro cornerback Darrelle Revis lavished compliment after compliment on Tebow after just three days of OTA's. Revis lauded Tebow's dedication, leadership, work ethic & just how humble he is. I'm sure starter Mark Sanchez was thrilled to hear Revis' comments.
The Chiefs signed 2nd round draft pick Jeff Allen & 5th round selection, defensive back DeQuan Menzie. Only 3rd rounder Donald Stephenson & top pick Dontari Poe remain unsigned. The team also announced 4 free agent signings. Tight end Martin Rucker, which I told you about last night, LB Leon Williams, safety Dominique Ellis & guard Rich Ranglin, who was offensive lineman of the year from the Arena Football League. He is also an alum of Central Connecticut State, Scott Pioli's alma mater. These signings bring to 87 the number of players on the roster. That leaves 3 spots open, Poe & Stephenson will fill two of those spots. I expect either Yeremiah Bell or O.J. Otogwe, both free agent safeties, to take the final camp roster spot. One other Chiefs' note, 4th round draft pick WR Devon Wylie had voiced his displeasure with the #83 assigned to him by the Chiefs. It's the same number worn by Wes Welker, a player he's been compared to constantly. His new number is 19.
Rich Ranglin
THREE SIGNINGS TO TALK ABOUT & PURE EVIL
Former Mizzou tight end Martin Rucker is claiming on his Twitter account he has signed a deal with the Chiefs. That would most likely preclude Dallas Clark becoming a Chief.
Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker said on Monday he had "9.5 million reasons to sign his tender offer" as New England's franchise player. Late Tuesday Welker signed & he will earn $9.5 million this season. The Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe is scheduled to earn the same money if & when he signs his tender offer.
Another signing that should concern Rams' fans, offensive tackle Barry Richardson signed a free agent contract with St. Louis. He makes a better turnstile than an NFL tackle.
Someone, I'm talking pure evil, burglarized Junior Seau's home last week. There's a scumbag I'd love to see caught. In San Diego, we might see an angry mob like in an old western movie, "Somebody get a rope!"
Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker said on Monday he had "9.5 million reasons to sign his tender offer" as New England's franchise player. Late Tuesday Welker signed & he will earn $9.5 million this season. The Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe is scheduled to earn the same money if & when he signs his tender offer.
Another signing that should concern Rams' fans, offensive tackle Barry Richardson signed a free agent contract with St. Louis. He makes a better turnstile than an NFL tackle.
Someone, I'm talking pure evil, burglarized Junior Seau's home last week. There's a scumbag I'd love to see caught. In San Diego, we might see an angry mob like in an old western movie, "Somebody get a rope!"
VIKINGS & RAMS GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS ON STADIUM ISSUES, 5 MORE ON THE POLICE BLOTTER & WHAT CAN FOOTBALL LEARN FROM AUTO RACING?
After much hand wringing & political posturing, the State of Minnesota, the NFL & the Vikings franchise settled their differences & a new downtown stadium will be built. It will take about 2-years, so the Vikings will have to play two seasons at TCF Bank Stadium, opened two years ago for the University of Minnesota. The Wilf family, owners of the Vikings said they will add some amenities to the Gophers stadium in order to ease the pain of their fans dealing with a less than top tier facility. The final count of dollars committed to the new stadium is Vikings/NFL $502 million minimum & the State of Minnesota, $498 million, all-in.
The word from the Gateway City in regards to the upgrading of the Edward Jones Dome isn't so optimistic. The St. Louis Convention/Visitors Bureau is required by the lease held with the Rams, to upgrade the stadium to a "Top-Tier" facility as defined by the NFL. Top tier, means the building will have to be as good as the top-8 stadiums in the NFL. The Rams want increased capacity so they can attract a Super Bowl. They want a retractable roof panel to give the facility better natural light plus they want added luxury suites & a general upgrade to all the public areas inside the dome. The city has released a statement this morning estimating the cost of renovations, as required by the Rams, at $500-700 million. Pretty steep money in a tough economy, especially to a facility that is only 17-years old. The other stumbling block & it's a big one, is the facility would have to be taken off-line for the better part of two years & the Dome is used for a lot of conventions, concerts, March Madness, religious conferences & college football. The city estimated the hit to the local economy would be nearly $500 million in lost commerce & taxes. The city is in a really difficult position, finding a way to pay for everything is tough enough, but there's another factor that has to be considered. The City of St. Louis has already lost one NFL franchise, the Cardinals moved to Arizona in 1988. If they were to lose a second team, they might not ever get another. The Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, won the Super Bowl in 1999 & returned to the big game in 2001. It would be a shame to see them move back to L.A. but I'd make this franchise the favorite to be in a new stadium built in LaLa Land. Stadium issues were what drove the team out of California & halfway across the country to a new domed stadium. The negotiations between the city & the Rams bear watching, especially by stadium developers in Los Angeles.
The news regarding Eagles left tackle Jason Peters went from bad to worse. The 5-time Pro Bowl performer suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon on March 27th that required surgery. There was hope he could return by mid-season if his rehab went well. No more hope, he fell in his kitchen over the weekend & tore the same tendon all over again. He underwent surgery to repair it yesterday & will be lost for the entire season.
I keep hearing people say Florida State is going to move to the Big-12. I've read blog accounts stating the case for the Seminoles moving out of the ACC. I'm putting in my two-cents on the subject right now. It's not going to happen. Yes, the Noles are tired of being in what is first & foremost, a basketball conference dominated by three teams in North Carolina. Yes, a share of the Big-12's proposed new TV deal would pay each conference team nearly $3 million more than they're currently getting in the ACC. But the downside for the Noles greatly outweighs the upside. The travel expenses for all their sports' teams would completely eat up most of the $3 million increase in TV revenues plus FSU has a hard time selling out games in every sport consistently & that's accounting for fans of opposing teams that can easily travel to Tallahassee. The school would see a dramatic drop off in ticket sales if they were to depend on Big-12 fans traveling all the way to North Florida. The other consideration Florida State officials are quite candid about is equal revenues. In the ACC, all the money is spread amongst conference members equally, not so in the Big-12. They see similarities between the two leagues in that the ACC is driven by North Carolina, Duke & N.C. State & Texas & OU rule the roost in the Big-12. The difference is revenue sharing, something the "haves" in the Big-12 aren't likely to surrender anytime soon.
The College Football Hall of Fame will announce their class for 2012 later today. But to get a little buzz going before the release of it's 12-member class, they announced Ty Detmer would be in this class. The 1990 Heisman Trophy winner set 59 NCAA records before graduating from BYU. He finished third in Heisman voting the following season but won the Davey O'Brien(2 yrs in a row) & the Sammy Baugh Award. He kicked around the NFL with about half a dozen teams, mostly as a backup quarterback, before retiring. Just like his father, Ty is now a high school football coach. Just before Christmas in 1991, I was a supervisor in a downtown Las Vegas dice pit. One of our woman dealers, a Texan with a big drawl, told me her nephew was stopping by to get her house keys so he could stay with her before he went on to the coast. About an hour later this skinny kid walks up to the rope & asks for her. As I looked at him, I thought this kid looks like Ty Detmer, but he's too skinny. It was Detmer, I talked to him for nearly an hour & a nicer young man you'd never find. He was driving from his folks home in Texas to San Diego to play in the Holiday Bowl versus Iowa before heading back to school in Utah. He was already a Heisman Trophy winner when I met him but you'd never know it from his totally humble demeanor. Good to see him recognized as one of the all-time college football greats.
Former BYU great Ty Detmer
Oakland wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey was arrested for DUI over the weekend. He was pulled over on the Oakland Bay Bridge after CHP officers observed his weaving from lane to lane. His blood-alcohol level hasn't been released, but surprise, he's says he's completely innocent.
Another player with auto-related issues is Missouri Tigers' backup quarterback Corbin Berkstresser who was arrested early this morning by Columbia Police. He was arrested & charged with leaving the scene of an accident after running into another motorist & allegedly fleeing the scene of the accident. Berkstresser admitted to the arresting officers it was him who was driving. Fortunately, no one was injured, but another bad decision that could have serious ramifications.
That brings the police blotter to Fayetteville Arkansas, a town that has had way too many entries in the past three months. Wide receivers Marquell Wade & Maudrecus Humphrey along with tight end Andrew Peterson, were arrested & charged with all sorts of burglary-related crimes. Breaking & entering, burglary, possession of stolen property, distribution of stolen property etc. Humphrey & Peterson are charged with 9 counts stemming from numerous break-ins on the University of Arkansas campus. Wade has been charged with just one count so far. The trio broke into dorm rooms, allegedly stealing laptop computers, video game consoles, dvd's, cash & textbooks. They repeatedly sold used textbooks to the campus book store. Real masterminds huh? The trio has been suspended indefinitely & they are expected to be dismissed from the football program. The total tab for the crime spree is way over the $4,800 threshold for a felony. More brilliant decision making.
If you were wondering if Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was thinking about retirement, think again. In a Sunday interview, Brady said his wife, super model Gisele Bundchen, mentioned the other day "When I met you in 2006, you said you planned to play another 10-years, why is it after 6-years, that number hasn't gone down?" Brady laughed & told the interviewer "I'm going to play until they tell me they don't want me anymore. I love it that much."
I read a piece by Ryan McGee, a motorsports writer for ESPN.com over the weekend. He had been assigned to cover the induction of three new members of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame the Thursday before the NASCAR Talladega race. At a reception before the formal ceremonies, he spoke with a number of NASCAR folks & the main topic of discussion that evening was the suicide of Junior Seau, which had happened the day before, march 2nd. He spoke with HOFers Richard Petty, Donnie Allison & new inductee, drag racer John Force & they all made the same point, "don't do like we did & ignore safety issues, address it now before more people die." Allison talked about the HANS(head and neck support) Device that was introduced in the late 80's but went almost totally unused by race drivers of every sanctioning body. That was until Dale Earnhardt was killed at Daytona in 2001. Drivers had resisted the device that keep the head from violent movement in any direction for various reasons. Some thought it was uncomfortable, restricted their ability to look left & right, or worst of all, it just didn't look very cool. Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr, didn't wear one after his father fatal crash until Allison took him aside & told him he was being very foolish & it had been proven his dad would still be alive if he had been wearing the device. Jr. put a HANS Device on that weekend & joined his NASCAR brothers in never taking it off again. Force, a former JUCO quarterback, talked about the 10 people who died after Earnhardt, "It didn't need to happen, if we as a sport had ignored our vanity & macho tendencies, most or all of those 10 drivers would still be alive." Eric Medlin, a driver for Force's team, died after a testing accident that literally shook his brain loose from it's stem. Force began the "Eric Medlin Project" immediately after he was laid to rest. He put over a million dollars of his own money into driver safety & tho many of his lesser-funded competitors complained loudly, the safety improvements were to become mandatory in drag racing. Many of them, like carbon fiber drivers seats, were to become the norm in NASCAR. Two years after Medlin's death, Force survived one of the most horrific crashes I ever witnessed. Without the safety improvements in his car, his HOF induction would have been posthumous. Richard Petty, a former high school all-state guard in North Carolina & a lifelong fan of the Washington Redskins made an impassioned statement to McGee.
"I don't care if newer, safer helmets make football players look like aliens, the game needs to address safety issues, especially head trauma. Someone like Ray Lewis, near the end of his career, could lead the way, be the 1st player to wear a safer helmet, regardless of what it looks like. People who are quick to criticize & say they're wrecking the game of football don't have any skins in the game. I lost my grandson Adam to a racing accident, a basilar skull fracture, exactly what killed Dale Earnhardt. Forget what safer equipment looks like if you want to prevent future head injuries that can result in tragedies like we seen with Junior Seau yesterday."
Motorsports has learned a lot from their delays in mandating safety equipment, too many deaths were attributable to head trauma that could have been prevented by impact-absorbing walls, better drivers' cages including stronger seats & HANS Devices. They built cars that had crumple zones, absorbing the energy of an impact before it enters the drivers' compartment. They went to full face helmets with visors instead of sunglasses. Motorsports, despite the death last fall of Dan Wheldon, is much safer than it was ten years ago because collectively they finally said "No more!"
Old helmets compared to the safer, newer models
The NFL is now facing a mountain of legal bills to defend themselves against some 1,800(and counting) former players who are suing over concussions. But by the same token, the league can't be the only driving force behind a safer NFL. The players, their representatives & union must be on board as well. The players have to stop resisting safer playing conditions. Most of all fans have to knock off the whining about changing the game. Show me any game that hasn't evolved over time, remember when no one wore helmets in hockey? Putting facemasks on football helmets was considered revolutionary, even boxing no longer sanctions a fight longer than 12 rounds. All in the name of safety. If fans want to watch football twenty years from now, they better get with the program & urge all sides with an investment in football to make the game safer for the participants. It's that or watch the talent pool start drying up from Pop Warner Football on up the line, as injuries mount, alarmists shout "ban football" & parents forbid their sons to play this game we all love. I don't want to see that, so I hope some of what those hall of fame race car drivers had to say resonates with everyone connected to the game of football.
The word from the Gateway City in regards to the upgrading of the Edward Jones Dome isn't so optimistic. The St. Louis Convention/Visitors Bureau is required by the lease held with the Rams, to upgrade the stadium to a "Top-Tier" facility as defined by the NFL. Top tier, means the building will have to be as good as the top-8 stadiums in the NFL. The Rams want increased capacity so they can attract a Super Bowl. They want a retractable roof panel to give the facility better natural light plus they want added luxury suites & a general upgrade to all the public areas inside the dome. The city has released a statement this morning estimating the cost of renovations, as required by the Rams, at $500-700 million. Pretty steep money in a tough economy, especially to a facility that is only 17-years old. The other stumbling block & it's a big one, is the facility would have to be taken off-line for the better part of two years & the Dome is used for a lot of conventions, concerts, March Madness, religious conferences & college football. The city estimated the hit to the local economy would be nearly $500 million in lost commerce & taxes. The city is in a really difficult position, finding a way to pay for everything is tough enough, but there's another factor that has to be considered. The City of St. Louis has already lost one NFL franchise, the Cardinals moved to Arizona in 1988. If they were to lose a second team, they might not ever get another. The Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, won the Super Bowl in 1999 & returned to the big game in 2001. It would be a shame to see them move back to L.A. but I'd make this franchise the favorite to be in a new stadium built in LaLa Land. Stadium issues were what drove the team out of California & halfway across the country to a new domed stadium. The negotiations between the city & the Rams bear watching, especially by stadium developers in Los Angeles.
The news regarding Eagles left tackle Jason Peters went from bad to worse. The 5-time Pro Bowl performer suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon on March 27th that required surgery. There was hope he could return by mid-season if his rehab went well. No more hope, he fell in his kitchen over the weekend & tore the same tendon all over again. He underwent surgery to repair it yesterday & will be lost for the entire season.
I keep hearing people say Florida State is going to move to the Big-12. I've read blog accounts stating the case for the Seminoles moving out of the ACC. I'm putting in my two-cents on the subject right now. It's not going to happen. Yes, the Noles are tired of being in what is first & foremost, a basketball conference dominated by three teams in North Carolina. Yes, a share of the Big-12's proposed new TV deal would pay each conference team nearly $3 million more than they're currently getting in the ACC. But the downside for the Noles greatly outweighs the upside. The travel expenses for all their sports' teams would completely eat up most of the $3 million increase in TV revenues plus FSU has a hard time selling out games in every sport consistently & that's accounting for fans of opposing teams that can easily travel to Tallahassee. The school would see a dramatic drop off in ticket sales if they were to depend on Big-12 fans traveling all the way to North Florida. The other consideration Florida State officials are quite candid about is equal revenues. In the ACC, all the money is spread amongst conference members equally, not so in the Big-12. They see similarities between the two leagues in that the ACC is driven by North Carolina, Duke & N.C. State & Texas & OU rule the roost in the Big-12. The difference is revenue sharing, something the "haves" in the Big-12 aren't likely to surrender anytime soon.
The College Football Hall of Fame will announce their class for 2012 later today. But to get a little buzz going before the release of it's 12-member class, they announced Ty Detmer would be in this class. The 1990 Heisman Trophy winner set 59 NCAA records before graduating from BYU. He finished third in Heisman voting the following season but won the Davey O'Brien(2 yrs in a row) & the Sammy Baugh Award. He kicked around the NFL with about half a dozen teams, mostly as a backup quarterback, before retiring. Just like his father, Ty is now a high school football coach. Just before Christmas in 1991, I was a supervisor in a downtown Las Vegas dice pit. One of our woman dealers, a Texan with a big drawl, told me her nephew was stopping by to get her house keys so he could stay with her before he went on to the coast. About an hour later this skinny kid walks up to the rope & asks for her. As I looked at him, I thought this kid looks like Ty Detmer, but he's too skinny. It was Detmer, I talked to him for nearly an hour & a nicer young man you'd never find. He was driving from his folks home in Texas to San Diego to play in the Holiday Bowl versus Iowa before heading back to school in Utah. He was already a Heisman Trophy winner when I met him but you'd never know it from his totally humble demeanor. Good to see him recognized as one of the all-time college football greats.
Former BYU great Ty Detmer
Oakland wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey was arrested for DUI over the weekend. He was pulled over on the Oakland Bay Bridge after CHP officers observed his weaving from lane to lane. His blood-alcohol level hasn't been released, but surprise, he's says he's completely innocent.
Another player with auto-related issues is Missouri Tigers' backup quarterback Corbin Berkstresser who was arrested early this morning by Columbia Police. He was arrested & charged with leaving the scene of an accident after running into another motorist & allegedly fleeing the scene of the accident. Berkstresser admitted to the arresting officers it was him who was driving. Fortunately, no one was injured, but another bad decision that could have serious ramifications.
That brings the police blotter to Fayetteville Arkansas, a town that has had way too many entries in the past three months. Wide receivers Marquell Wade & Maudrecus Humphrey along with tight end Andrew Peterson, were arrested & charged with all sorts of burglary-related crimes. Breaking & entering, burglary, possession of stolen property, distribution of stolen property etc. Humphrey & Peterson are charged with 9 counts stemming from numerous break-ins on the University of Arkansas campus. Wade has been charged with just one count so far. The trio broke into dorm rooms, allegedly stealing laptop computers, video game consoles, dvd's, cash & textbooks. They repeatedly sold used textbooks to the campus book store. Real masterminds huh? The trio has been suspended indefinitely & they are expected to be dismissed from the football program. The total tab for the crime spree is way over the $4,800 threshold for a felony. More brilliant decision making.
If you were wondering if Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was thinking about retirement, think again. In a Sunday interview, Brady said his wife, super model Gisele Bundchen, mentioned the other day "When I met you in 2006, you said you planned to play another 10-years, why is it after 6-years, that number hasn't gone down?" Brady laughed & told the interviewer "I'm going to play until they tell me they don't want me anymore. I love it that much."
I read a piece by Ryan McGee, a motorsports writer for ESPN.com over the weekend. He had been assigned to cover the induction of three new members of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame the Thursday before the NASCAR Talladega race. At a reception before the formal ceremonies, he spoke with a number of NASCAR folks & the main topic of discussion that evening was the suicide of Junior Seau, which had happened the day before, march 2nd. He spoke with HOFers Richard Petty, Donnie Allison & new inductee, drag racer John Force & they all made the same point, "don't do like we did & ignore safety issues, address it now before more people die." Allison talked about the HANS(head and neck support) Device that was introduced in the late 80's but went almost totally unused by race drivers of every sanctioning body. That was until Dale Earnhardt was killed at Daytona in 2001. Drivers had resisted the device that keep the head from violent movement in any direction for various reasons. Some thought it was uncomfortable, restricted their ability to look left & right, or worst of all, it just didn't look very cool. Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr, didn't wear one after his father fatal crash until Allison took him aside & told him he was being very foolish & it had been proven his dad would still be alive if he had been wearing the device. Jr. put a HANS Device on that weekend & joined his NASCAR brothers in never taking it off again. Force, a former JUCO quarterback, talked about the 10 people who died after Earnhardt, "It didn't need to happen, if we as a sport had ignored our vanity & macho tendencies, most or all of those 10 drivers would still be alive." Eric Medlin, a driver for Force's team, died after a testing accident that literally shook his brain loose from it's stem. Force began the "Eric Medlin Project" immediately after he was laid to rest. He put over a million dollars of his own money into driver safety & tho many of his lesser-funded competitors complained loudly, the safety improvements were to become mandatory in drag racing. Many of them, like carbon fiber drivers seats, were to become the norm in NASCAR. Two years after Medlin's death, Force survived one of the most horrific crashes I ever witnessed. Without the safety improvements in his car, his HOF induction would have been posthumous. Richard Petty, a former high school all-state guard in North Carolina & a lifelong fan of the Washington Redskins made an impassioned statement to McGee.
"I don't care if newer, safer helmets make football players look like aliens, the game needs to address safety issues, especially head trauma. Someone like Ray Lewis, near the end of his career, could lead the way, be the 1st player to wear a safer helmet, regardless of what it looks like. People who are quick to criticize & say they're wrecking the game of football don't have any skins in the game. I lost my grandson Adam to a racing accident, a basilar skull fracture, exactly what killed Dale Earnhardt. Forget what safer equipment looks like if you want to prevent future head injuries that can result in tragedies like we seen with Junior Seau yesterday."
Motorsports has learned a lot from their delays in mandating safety equipment, too many deaths were attributable to head trauma that could have been prevented by impact-absorbing walls, better drivers' cages including stronger seats & HANS Devices. They built cars that had crumple zones, absorbing the energy of an impact before it enters the drivers' compartment. They went to full face helmets with visors instead of sunglasses. Motorsports, despite the death last fall of Dan Wheldon, is much safer than it was ten years ago because collectively they finally said "No more!"
Old helmets compared to the safer, newer models
The NFL is now facing a mountain of legal bills to defend themselves against some 1,800(and counting) former players who are suing over concussions. But by the same token, the league can't be the only driving force behind a safer NFL. The players, their representatives & union must be on board as well. The players have to stop resisting safer playing conditions. Most of all fans have to knock off the whining about changing the game. Show me any game that hasn't evolved over time, remember when no one wore helmets in hockey? Putting facemasks on football helmets was considered revolutionary, even boxing no longer sanctions a fight longer than 12 rounds. All in the name of safety. If fans want to watch football twenty years from now, they better get with the program & urge all sides with an investment in football to make the game safer for the participants. It's that or watch the talent pool start drying up from Pop Warner Football on up the line, as injuries mount, alarmists shout "ban football" & parents forbid their sons to play this game we all love. I don't want to see that, so I hope some of what those hall of fame race car drivers had to say resonates with everyone connected to the game of football.
RATING THE RANKINGS
I told you the other day I was going to closely examine a piece in The Sporting News where they ranked all 124 Division I football coaches from first to worst. My thanks to Rance Burger for alerting me of this very thought provoking article. I agreed with much of it but there were a few rankings that had me shaking my head. Let's start with their top-10.
1. Nick Saban--Alabama 50-12 SEC record with 3 BCS Championships. Absolutely no argument here.
2. Chris Petersen--Boise State 73-6 record A completely bold ranking by TSN. I couldn't agree more, Petersen has never signed a 4 or 5-star recruit since he began running the program in 2006. Boise State had the second most players selected in the recent NFL Draft, only Bama had more. Shows you the ability of Petersen's staff to "coach up" their recruits. Please take note of how many wins Petersen has vs. coaches on this list.
Chris Petersen
3. Urban Meyer--Ohio State 104-23 Won big at Bowling Green, Utah & added two BCS Championships at Florida. Awesome recruiter, I have one complaint about Meyer, way too many arrests in the Gator program while he was in charge. No problem with the ranking.
4. Les Miles--LSU 103-39 The "Madhatter" is one strange guy who is liable to do about anything. Clock management, down & distance be damned. But another SEC coach with a BCS Championship. This is 4-5 spots high IMO.
Les Miles
5. Bob Stoops--Oklahoma 139-34 "Big Game Bob" hasn't won a big game in sometime now. Had two cracks at additional BCS titles after winning the 2000 Championship. Maybe 5-6 years ago I'd rank Bob this high, but now, probably not. Lost to Boise.
6. Chip Kelly--Oregon 34-6 Too high IMO. Don't like some of the recruiting he's done & like Meyer, Kelly's had too many arrests in his program. One bowl win in three attempts. He's not even in the top-10 on my list. Two of Kelly's 6 losses are to Boise State.
7. Gary Patterson--TCU 109-30 Brilliant defensive mind who dominated in the Mountain West. Moving to the Big-12 is huge, I like Patterson, but he's moved into the high rent district now, let's see what his record is in the next three seasons. Lost to Boise, but also handed Peterson one of his 6 losses.
8. Steve Spurrier--South Carolina 197-75-2 The "Old Ball Coach" has been at it so long he has ties on his record. Spurrier won an ACC Championship at Duke, a perenial loser before & after he coached the Blue Devils. His Gator teams won 6 SEC titles in 10-years & the national championship in '96, before there was a BCS. Spurrier's been at South Carolina since '05 & he might be playing for the Nat'l title this year, the Gamecocks are loaded. Definitely a top-10 coach.
9. Frank Beamer--Virginia Tech 251-121-4 Probably the best special teams coach ever. Winningest active coach in Div. I, Beamer's Hokies have won 7 conference titles. Not a top-10 recruiter, but he gets the most out of the ones who sign at Tech. Definitely a place in the top-10 for Beamer. Lost to Boise in Washington D.C.
10. Mike Gundy--Oklahoma State 59-30 Goofy tirades aside, Gundy is one of the best offensive minds in college football. His Cowboys won the Big-12 Championship last season & finished the season ranked 3rd with a 12-1 record. An alum, Gundy can coach at OSU as long as he wants.
Other comments:
11. Bill Snyder--Kansas State 159-83-1 Another coach who does it with 2 & 3-star recruits. Brilliant game planner who brings a disciplined team every Saturday. Runs a squeaky clean program. If he was a better recruiter, he'd be firmly in the top-10 IMO.
Bill Snyder
14. Mark Richt--Georgia 106-38 Too high IMO. Yes, he has a pair of SEC championships, but Richt's Bulldogs have too many bad actors in the program, far too many arrests & dismissals. Great recruiter but 3 of their 4 losses last season were on a neutral field, the fourth was at home. That's been a problem. One of those losses was to Boise in Atlanta.
16. Mack Brown--Texas 221-108-1(141-39 at Texas) Should have been a top-10 ranked coach. One BCS title & played for a second & yet he's ranked behind guys who've never been to the game. One of the very best recruiters in the business. Brown is a true gentleman, respected coast to coast.
17. Mike Leach--Washington State 84-43 Another brilliant offensive mind who took the Red Raiders to 9 bowl games in 9 full seasons with Texas Tech. Watch & see what a PITA he becomes to opponents in the PAC-12, just give him a couple of years.
Mike Leach
18. Brian Kelly--Notre Dame 69-32(16-10 at N.D.) Like the team he coaches....overrated.
22. June Jones--SMU 100-69 All of his wins are in the WAC & Conference-USA, that rates a top-25 ranking? Really? I like Jones, but 22nd is waaaay too high. Even his out of conference schedules have been pretty soft. Lost to Boise State 4 times in 5 tries.
24. Brady Hoke--Michigan 58-52 An 11-2 record last season boosted his lifetime record over .500, not top-25 material....right now anyway. Lost to Boise.
25. James Franklin--Vanderbilt 6-7 Yes, that's his record as a head coach. Once again, I like the guy, but not a top-25 coach....right now anyway.
26. Gary Pinkel--Missouri 158-91-3 The Tigers coach is about 5 spots too low on this list. Very good recruiter & getting better. Makes some bizarre in-game calls tho.
35. Ken Niumatalolo--Navy 32-21 Anyone who can be 11 games over .500 playing Navy's schedule ought to be ranked higher.
50. Tommy Tuberville--Texas Tech 123-72 Lowest ranked Big-12 coach, is 13-12 at Tech. That should help you understand just how good Mike Leach really was.
99. Derek Dooley--Tennessee 28-34 Be careful what you wish for(firing Phil Fulmer) because you just might get Lane Kiffin & Derek Dooley. Oh wait, that's exactly what they got. Lowest ranked SEC coach.
124. Charley Molnar--UMass 0-0 I know zero about this guy, but I knew you'd want to know who finished last.
1. Nick Saban--Alabama 50-12 SEC record with 3 BCS Championships. Absolutely no argument here.
2. Chris Petersen--Boise State 73-6 record A completely bold ranking by TSN. I couldn't agree more, Petersen has never signed a 4 or 5-star recruit since he began running the program in 2006. Boise State had the second most players selected in the recent NFL Draft, only Bama had more. Shows you the ability of Petersen's staff to "coach up" their recruits. Please take note of how many wins Petersen has vs. coaches on this list.
Chris Petersen
3. Urban Meyer--Ohio State 104-23 Won big at Bowling Green, Utah & added two BCS Championships at Florida. Awesome recruiter, I have one complaint about Meyer, way too many arrests in the Gator program while he was in charge. No problem with the ranking.
4. Les Miles--LSU 103-39 The "Madhatter" is one strange guy who is liable to do about anything. Clock management, down & distance be damned. But another SEC coach with a BCS Championship. This is 4-5 spots high IMO.
Les Miles
5. Bob Stoops--Oklahoma 139-34 "Big Game Bob" hasn't won a big game in sometime now. Had two cracks at additional BCS titles after winning the 2000 Championship. Maybe 5-6 years ago I'd rank Bob this high, but now, probably not. Lost to Boise.
6. Chip Kelly--Oregon 34-6 Too high IMO. Don't like some of the recruiting he's done & like Meyer, Kelly's had too many arrests in his program. One bowl win in three attempts. He's not even in the top-10 on my list. Two of Kelly's 6 losses are to Boise State.
7. Gary Patterson--TCU 109-30 Brilliant defensive mind who dominated in the Mountain West. Moving to the Big-12 is huge, I like Patterson, but he's moved into the high rent district now, let's see what his record is in the next three seasons. Lost to Boise, but also handed Peterson one of his 6 losses.
8. Steve Spurrier--South Carolina 197-75-2 The "Old Ball Coach" has been at it so long he has ties on his record. Spurrier won an ACC Championship at Duke, a perenial loser before & after he coached the Blue Devils. His Gator teams won 6 SEC titles in 10-years & the national championship in '96, before there was a BCS. Spurrier's been at South Carolina since '05 & he might be playing for the Nat'l title this year, the Gamecocks are loaded. Definitely a top-10 coach.
9. Frank Beamer--Virginia Tech 251-121-4 Probably the best special teams coach ever. Winningest active coach in Div. I, Beamer's Hokies have won 7 conference titles. Not a top-10 recruiter, but he gets the most out of the ones who sign at Tech. Definitely a place in the top-10 for Beamer. Lost to Boise in Washington D.C.
10. Mike Gundy--Oklahoma State 59-30 Goofy tirades aside, Gundy is one of the best offensive minds in college football. His Cowboys won the Big-12 Championship last season & finished the season ranked 3rd with a 12-1 record. An alum, Gundy can coach at OSU as long as he wants.
Other comments:
11. Bill Snyder--Kansas State 159-83-1 Another coach who does it with 2 & 3-star recruits. Brilliant game planner who brings a disciplined team every Saturday. Runs a squeaky clean program. If he was a better recruiter, he'd be firmly in the top-10 IMO.
Bill Snyder
14. Mark Richt--Georgia 106-38 Too high IMO. Yes, he has a pair of SEC championships, but Richt's Bulldogs have too many bad actors in the program, far too many arrests & dismissals. Great recruiter but 3 of their 4 losses last season were on a neutral field, the fourth was at home. That's been a problem. One of those losses was to Boise in Atlanta.
16. Mack Brown--Texas 221-108-1(141-39 at Texas) Should have been a top-10 ranked coach. One BCS title & played for a second & yet he's ranked behind guys who've never been to the game. One of the very best recruiters in the business. Brown is a true gentleman, respected coast to coast.
17. Mike Leach--Washington State 84-43 Another brilliant offensive mind who took the Red Raiders to 9 bowl games in 9 full seasons with Texas Tech. Watch & see what a PITA he becomes to opponents in the PAC-12, just give him a couple of years.
Mike Leach
18. Brian Kelly--Notre Dame 69-32(16-10 at N.D.) Like the team he coaches....overrated.
22. June Jones--SMU 100-69 All of his wins are in the WAC & Conference-USA, that rates a top-25 ranking? Really? I like Jones, but 22nd is waaaay too high. Even his out of conference schedules have been pretty soft. Lost to Boise State 4 times in 5 tries.
24. Brady Hoke--Michigan 58-52 An 11-2 record last season boosted his lifetime record over .500, not top-25 material....right now anyway. Lost to Boise.
25. James Franklin--Vanderbilt 6-7 Yes, that's his record as a head coach. Once again, I like the guy, but not a top-25 coach....right now anyway.
26. Gary Pinkel--Missouri 158-91-3 The Tigers coach is about 5 spots too low on this list. Very good recruiter & getting better. Makes some bizarre in-game calls tho.
35. Ken Niumatalolo--Navy 32-21 Anyone who can be 11 games over .500 playing Navy's schedule ought to be ranked higher.
50. Tommy Tuberville--Texas Tech 123-72 Lowest ranked Big-12 coach, is 13-12 at Tech. That should help you understand just how good Mike Leach really was.
99. Derek Dooley--Tennessee 28-34 Be careful what you wish for(firing Phil Fulmer) because you just might get Lane Kiffin & Derek Dooley. Oh wait, that's exactly what they got. Lowest ranked SEC coach.
124. Charley Molnar--UMass 0-0 I know zero about this guy, but I knew you'd want to know who finished last.