The NFL Draft is over...256 picks, 28 draft day trades, 15 television hours worth of coverage and 1 last blog to read. Mine.
I’m I the only one who liked the last years format of the NFL draft. I liked that the way Draft Days were split, rounds 1-3 on day one and 4-7 on day two. This years draft had the first two rounds on Saturday, and I was left wanting more draft. Was that just me?
With agents clearly fashion policing their clients and hiring personal stylists will we ever see a Jalen Rose-ian performance again? The closest we came to it this year was Aaron Curry and even that wasn’t all that bad. I want to see bold, bright colors, gentlemen. Wear a suit that I could never pull off in a million years. And a hat. With a feather.
Did anyone from the Lions even try to negotiate with Matt Stafford’s agent? I mean 41.7 million dollars guaranteed! That’ll buy a lot of donuts at the Franklin Cider Mill. There is no simpler pleasure than cider and donuts...
The NFL has to fix the rookie salary structure and soon. No longer does your team receiving a top ten pick come with the same hope it once did. As a fan your main hope isn’t that your teams top pick can turn around your favorite franchise, but that he doesn’t become a bust that analysts will talk about for years later. Furthermore, It’ll allow teams more flexibility to move those top picks, which is always exciting from a draft standpoint.
Speaking of flexibility to move picks, is there anyone who is more upset with the Seahawks, GM Tim Ruskell than Chiefs, GM Scott Pioli. Just to fill you in, Ruskell days before the draft came out and said publicly that they had no intentions of drafting Mark Sanchez. That left the Chief’s Pioli leverage-less, in their only way to move out of the third pick, which they desperately wanted to do. Had the price tag not been so steep, Pioli might have been able to deal the pick and still get Tyson Jackson later in the draft. But the Chiefs couldn’t and decided to take him third, giving him a bust potential sized contract.
While we’re on the Chiefs, I watched the draft with a bunch of rabid Chief’s fans. Some fans were on the Aaron Curry bandwagon, some felt like it could go another direction, others were just hoping Scott Pioli would bring some of that Patriot magic and pull off some amazing deal. So when the Chiefs stayed at three and took Jackson, one Chief fan, will call him “Warrior” was so upset that I thought we were going to have to ask for his belt and shoelaces. It took the anger level of the day from zero to McEnroe.
I really can’t believe the Oakland Raiders. I know Roger Goodell can’t take the keys away from Al Davis, but couldn’t Goodell and the other owners have an intervention? The man is addicted to speed, not meth, but 40. Davis used to be a functional speed addict, he got guys like Cliff Branch and Tim Brown, but now Davis’ addiction had gotten out of control. He’s lying (the Lane Kiffin ordeal) and stealing (from the season ticket holders) to maintain his speed fix. It’s really sad. Could we get him to take part in a documentary about franchise owners, but it’s really an episode of Intervention. Who would be in the intervention room? Jack Lambert, Art Shell... John Madden! Would Madden telestrate his speech to Al? Errr, here’s you. Here’s me. Here’s a heart for cuz (Pow!) I love ya... Ahhh, you’re an addict. (Boom!) And what you’ve got to do here is (Bam!) Get some help. Today.
I’d actually pay to see that...
The Eagles have just dominated the draft... The got two starters, Jason Peter and Ellis Hobbs, for draft picks. They get great value in Maclin at 19. LeSean McCoy is a Pennsylvania kid, who played college ball at Pittsburgh, now he gets to learn from Brian Westbrook in a system that is perfect for him. Despite his ACL injury that kept him out his senior season, Cornelius Ingram should be ready to play and he may end up being one of the steals of the draft. Also, Victor “Macho” Harris is on The Sports Pad all-nickname team. And did I mention that the Eagles also added a 3rd, 5th and 6th round picks in next years draft?
I don’t understand what’s going on with the Cincinnati Bengals. They continue to pick low character guys and then Marvin Lewis wonders why they lead the league in arrests. Andre Smith has all-world talent and an all-world appetite. The main thing you look for in an offensive lineman is motivation. Are they willing to do the work in the weight room? Andre Smith’s Pro Day at Alabama was all I needed to see. Rey Maualuga is like dating a bipolar supermodel, yeah sure the physical stuff is amazing but you are never quite sure when that crazy switch is going to be flipped. But the best pick of them all is Bernard Scott who has been kicked off two teams (one high school, one college) and the last one was for punching his coach. Marvin Lewis you might get Carlesimo’d!
I’m really excited for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They add Torry Holt in the offseason and then grab two of my favorite late round WRs, Mike Thomas and Jarett Dillard. Two high character guys who get an unbelievable chance to learn from one of the games best. They also add Eugene Monroe who can come in and start yesterday for the Jags. I would, however, liked to have seen them add more defensive personnel.
With all the pomp and circumstance of the Mr. Irrelevant pick, is it really irrelevant anymore. They get a parade, gifts, a BBQ, golf outings. That’s pretty relevant. If you think about it, the second to last pick of the draft is the most irrelevant pick. So I nominate Dan Gronkowski as the real Mr. Irrelevant. Who’s with me?? I know it’s a stretch, but I’d just like to see the Lions win something...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Is anyone have more fun than the Cavs?
Seriously, is anyone have more fun than the LeBron and the Cavs right now...
A fan or not you've got to love the team camaraderie. What other team do you see getting together on their free time to shoot a spoof Heineken commercial for the upcoming playoffs?
A better quality (but much longer version) here.
A fan or not you've got to love the team camaraderie. What other team do you see getting together on their free time to shoot a spoof Heineken commercial for the upcoming playoffs?
A better quality (but much longer version) here.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Under the Radar Movie Review
For most of us, the NFL draft is something we get to watch, debate and ultimately, find out how our favorite teams are attempting to improve. Yet to 1400 men the NFL draft is the agonizing finale to one of the worlds most stressful job interviews. Two Days in April is a documentary that follows four young men, Clint Ingram, DonTrell Moore, Derek Hagan and Travis Wilson, and their days up to the 2006 NFL draft.
In Two Days in April we watch the tales of the First Rounder, the Choir Boy, the Moody one and the Country Boy all make their way through the strenuous three-and-a-half month long draft process. Our journey begins by joining all four players at the IMG Academies, which represents all four players, where they begin their prep work for the draft. The physical prep is, obviously, intense. From practicing the combine drills, position training, sprint coaching from Michael Johnson (yes, 19.32 - Michael Johnson. Sorry for the Swedish Chef audio) and weight lifting, nothing is left without scrutiny and correction. The mental and media coaching was equally as intense. Emphasized during this segment was the need for players to be as mentally tough, especially during the draft process, as they are physically. This is never more prevalent then when Derek Hagan was told that he had fallen several spots in the draft rankings and he hadn’t done a thing. How would that weigh on your psyche? Fresh out of college, a prospective employer suddenly doesn’t think your as good of a candidate as they once did. Ultimately costing you a ton in salary, and you hadn’t done a thing since graduation. Was it your typing? Copy making? It would make you question your ability, wouldn’t it.
Next we follow (some of) the guys to the Senior Bowl. The Senior Bowl is fun for fans, but for these kids it’s a week worth of game intense practice against three quarters worth of the NFL draftees. Everyday someone wins and everyday someone loses. Draft stock, money, playing time and confidence are all up for grabs against college’s best senior players. The microscope looms large over these kids, because sitting in the stands are NFL scouts, GMs and head coaches. The pressure to perform can cause some guys to crack (and you’ll see it). Finally, it’s time to play the game. With minutes cut, the chance to make plays are significantly reduced. A 12-yard comeback route isn’t going to get you noticed. A solid tackle isn’t going to get you noticed. To get noticed you need to make plays...big plays. When the game is over none of our players have any better of an idea where they stand. Up next for our players is the much anticipated NFL Combine.
The combine is one part football and one part cattle drive. Our guys are poked, prodded, measured, weighed, timed and questioned. We even get to sit in, briefly, on a Derek Hagan interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This point of the movie is a bit too glazed over for me, I’d like to see more of the questioning from coaches and GMs. I’d like to see what it’s like to take the Wonderlic test. I’d just like to see more, maybe that’s just me. This is definitely one of the weaker points of the movie, which transitions to our prospects Pro Days.
Pro Days are University run event that simulate the combine and give players who weren’t invited to the combine an opportunity to show their talents or players who did attend the combine a chance to improve on their performance. It also is an opportunity for our foursome to get a better idea of which team is interested in them. For DonTrell Moore, who attended University of New Mexico, the day isn’t as glitzy as you might expect. Moore comes from a “small” football school and even though he is one of six FBS players to rush for four consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, he, seemingly, doesn’t feel like he belongs in the NFL. For guys like Derek Hagan, who attended Arizona State, and Clint Ingram and Travis Wilson, who both went to Oklahoma University, Pro Day is much more of a professional event. They expect to have scouts show up because they go to schools where becoming an NFLer is expected.
At this point all that’s left is D-day, Draft Day. It is an agonizing period for these guys and for us too. Waiting to hear their names called, we watch as these guy’s dreams unfold in front of us. We see tears, ranging from joy to frustration. We see odd moments, like when Moore’s family pastor engages in a prayer for DonTrell’s future and starts to speak in tongues. We see tender family moments, like the one between Ingram and his aging grandmother, who didn’t think she’d live to see this day. Most all of all we see relief that the process is finally over.
Two Days in April is a 90 minute look into 22 year journey. Sure, I’d like to have seen some things done differently in this movie. I’d love to see them get access with a lottery pick. The difference between “if I’m going to get picked,” and “when I’m going to get picked,” would be really interesting. I’d love to see some prospects for other regions than the Southwest and West, just to see how kids from other regional backgrounds deal with the process. Finally, I’d like to see more players from different schools. Other than that I really enjoyed the inside access that didn’t come from the NFL Network or ESPN filters. You can find this movie, like I did, through Netflix. If you want to watch it right away and before the draft it’s also available through Netflix’s Instant Play (which I love).
Saturday, April 18, 2009
NBA Playoff Preview
The East
(1) Cleveland vs. (8) Detroit
This has all the makings of a four game sweep for the Cavs. LeBron and Co., want to come out and set the tone for their potential championship run. Coming out and dominating a struggling Pistons teams would be just the message they want to send.
For the Pistons, well, they don’t have much hope in this series. This team has limped into the playoffs, with a losing record (first time since 2001). Gone is their regular season dominance. Gone is the playoff swagger they’ve had in the past. Gone is the clutch play of Chauncey Billups. If Pistons pull out a game in this series, it’ll be game four with their backs against the wall. But I doubt it.
Prediction: Cavs in 4
(2) Boston vs. (7) Chicago
This first round match-up has all the Hollywood drama surrounding it. The up-and-coming Bulls, led by rookie point guard and rookie Head Coach, take on last years champions, who have, possibly, lost their best player for the playoffs and their GM just suffered a heart attack.
Now I’m not sure what happens in a playoff series when you have two teams can claim the “Us against the World” tag, but it should make for a theatrical first round match-up. I’m sticking with the champs on this one as Pierce and Allen carry the Celtics and Rondo locks up Rose.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
(3) Orlando vs. (6) Philadelphia
On paper this match-up looks way more intriguing than it should actually play out. Orlando is a jump shooting team, who, when hot, can outscore anyone, plus they have one of the leagues best big men in Dwight Howard clogging up the middle. The 76ers are an athletic team who can get up the floor with Thaddeus Young, Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala.
Here’s, what should be, the deciding factor of the series the Magic are an excellent defensive team and very good at getting back on defense and limiting their opponents transition points, which what the 76ers need in order to get them going.
Prediction: Magic in 5
(4) Atlanta vs. (5) Miami
This match-up will be the most exciting series for The Sports Pad. I love Dwyane Wade, he is one of the five most exciting players to watch either in person or on TV. Also, the Hawks were one of the best sub-plots of last years playoffs. Joe Johnson is one of the leagues most underrated players and he has the ability to carry his team through to the second round.
The X-factor for the Heat will be how the two rookies handle the playoff pressure. Beasley needs to continue his to match the defensive intensity needed to play playoff basketball, while contributing the necessary second scoring option to help Wade. The other rookie Mario Chalmers, is well versed at playing playoff style basketball from his years at Kansas. His game has always risen when it mattered most, and I suspect it will again.
Prediction: Heat in 6
The West
(1) LA Lakers vs. (8) Utah
Like the Eastern Conference’s 1 vs. 8 match-up, this should series should be over fairly quick. The Jazz have limped into the playoffs, as Jerry Sloan has been frustrated with his teams play. However the Lakers have had life pumped back into their team as Andrew Bynum returned injury, playing well averaging 17 ppg and 5.5 reb since his return.
Kobe and the Lakers win this series easily; only dropping one game to Utah, in Utah.
Prediction: Lakers in 5
(2) Denver vs. (7) New Orleans
This will be a classic clash of styles, the Nuggets look to run at every opportunity they can and get open transition 3s. While the Hornets play a slow methodical pace, focusing on getting pick ‘n’ roll opportunities for Chris Paul. So the obvious key for either team is imposing their style on the flow of the game, which will be controlled the point guards.
The Hornets, Paul in particular, will need to deny and slow up the outlet passes if they will ever have a shot of slowing down the Nuggets. The Hornets just can’t to cover all of the Nuggets wing players.
Denver wins all their home games and drop two in New Orleans.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6
(3) San Antonio vs. (6) Dallas
This series could have the most “upset” potential based on the seedings. San Antonio is just too banged up, to go to battle with a team in a seven game series. Ginobili’s out for the playoffs. Duncan’s knee is wonky. The starting trio of Roger Mason, Matt Bonner and Michael Finley, aren’t scaring anyone. That leaves Mr. Longoria, Tony Parker to shoulder the load.
Meanwhile, Dallas have turned around their early season lows and started to play their best ball coming down the seasons stretch. They can get buckets whenever they want and are at their best when they’re in transition. Defensively, it’ll be all about shutting down Parker (who averages 31 ppg against the Mavs), which they can do by running Barea or Terry or even Wright on occasion.
Prediction: Mavs in 7
(4) Portland vs. (5) Houston
The young Trailblazers have been one of the leagues most enjoyable teams. GM Kevin Pritchard has turned this team from Jailblazers back to Rip City. Brandon Roy leads this team and their wholesome image to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. This team is loaded with depth, but absolutely zero playoff experience. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll be able to handle the pressure of playoff basketball.
Is it me or do the Rockets just play better without Tracy McGrady? The T-Macless Rockets will need to run the offense through Yao and let him kickout to the jump shooters. Defensively, the Rockets can throw both Battier and Artest at Roy to shut down the Blazers main offensive threat.
This series will be closely followed by the Lakers, who have lost their last seven games at Portland.
Prediction: Houston in 6
(1) Cleveland vs. (8) Detroit
This has all the makings of a four game sweep for the Cavs. LeBron and Co., want to come out and set the tone for their potential championship run. Coming out and dominating a struggling Pistons teams would be just the message they want to send.
For the Pistons, well, they don’t have much hope in this series. This team has limped into the playoffs, with a losing record (first time since 2001). Gone is their regular season dominance. Gone is the playoff swagger they’ve had in the past. Gone is the clutch play of Chauncey Billups. If Pistons pull out a game in this series, it’ll be game four with their backs against the wall. But I doubt it.
Prediction: Cavs in 4
(2) Boston vs. (7) Chicago
This first round match-up has all the Hollywood drama surrounding it. The up-and-coming Bulls, led by rookie point guard and rookie Head Coach, take on last years champions, who have, possibly, lost their best player for the playoffs and their GM just suffered a heart attack.
Now I’m not sure what happens in a playoff series when you have two teams can claim the “Us against the World” tag, but it should make for a theatrical first round match-up. I’m sticking with the champs on this one as Pierce and Allen carry the Celtics and Rondo locks up Rose.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
(3) Orlando vs. (6) Philadelphia
On paper this match-up looks way more intriguing than it should actually play out. Orlando is a jump shooting team, who, when hot, can outscore anyone, plus they have one of the leagues best big men in Dwight Howard clogging up the middle. The 76ers are an athletic team who can get up the floor with Thaddeus Young, Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala.
Here’s, what should be, the deciding factor of the series the Magic are an excellent defensive team and very good at getting back on defense and limiting their opponents transition points, which what the 76ers need in order to get them going.
Prediction: Magic in 5
(4) Atlanta vs. (5) Miami
This match-up will be the most exciting series for The Sports Pad. I love Dwyane Wade, he is one of the five most exciting players to watch either in person or on TV. Also, the Hawks were one of the best sub-plots of last years playoffs. Joe Johnson is one of the leagues most underrated players and he has the ability to carry his team through to the second round.
The X-factor for the Heat will be how the two rookies handle the playoff pressure. Beasley needs to continue his to match the defensive intensity needed to play playoff basketball, while contributing the necessary second scoring option to help Wade. The other rookie Mario Chalmers, is well versed at playing playoff style basketball from his years at Kansas. His game has always risen when it mattered most, and I suspect it will again.
Prediction: Heat in 6
The West
(1) LA Lakers vs. (8) Utah
Like the Eastern Conference’s 1 vs. 8 match-up, this should series should be over fairly quick. The Jazz have limped into the playoffs, as Jerry Sloan has been frustrated with his teams play. However the Lakers have had life pumped back into their team as Andrew Bynum returned injury, playing well averaging 17 ppg and 5.5 reb since his return.
Kobe and the Lakers win this series easily; only dropping one game to Utah, in Utah.
Prediction: Lakers in 5
(2) Denver vs. (7) New Orleans
This will be a classic clash of styles, the Nuggets look to run at every opportunity they can and get open transition 3s. While the Hornets play a slow methodical pace, focusing on getting pick ‘n’ roll opportunities for Chris Paul. So the obvious key for either team is imposing their style on the flow of the game, which will be controlled the point guards.
The Hornets, Paul in particular, will need to deny and slow up the outlet passes if they will ever have a shot of slowing down the Nuggets. The Hornets just can’t to cover all of the Nuggets wing players.
Denver wins all their home games and drop two in New Orleans.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6
(3) San Antonio vs. (6) Dallas
This series could have the most “upset” potential based on the seedings. San Antonio is just too banged up, to go to battle with a team in a seven game series. Ginobili’s out for the playoffs. Duncan’s knee is wonky. The starting trio of Roger Mason, Matt Bonner and Michael Finley, aren’t scaring anyone. That leaves Mr. Longoria, Tony Parker to shoulder the load.
Meanwhile, Dallas have turned around their early season lows and started to play their best ball coming down the seasons stretch. They can get buckets whenever they want and are at their best when they’re in transition. Defensively, it’ll be all about shutting down Parker (who averages 31 ppg against the Mavs), which they can do by running Barea or Terry or even Wright on occasion.
Prediction: Mavs in 7
(4) Portland vs. (5) Houston
The young Trailblazers have been one of the leagues most enjoyable teams. GM Kevin Pritchard has turned this team from Jailblazers back to Rip City. Brandon Roy leads this team and their wholesome image to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. This team is loaded with depth, but absolutely zero playoff experience. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll be able to handle the pressure of playoff basketball.
Is it me or do the Rockets just play better without Tracy McGrady? The T-Macless Rockets will need to run the offense through Yao and let him kickout to the jump shooters. Defensively, the Rockets can throw both Battier and Artest at Roy to shut down the Blazers main offensive threat.
This series will be closely followed by the Lakers, who have lost their last seven games at Portland.
Prediction: Houston in 6
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I've been slacking...
I know Sports Pad followers, I've been slacking a wee bit. Between taxes (I've been trying to figure out if being totally awesome is tax deductible; no luck... yet.) and traveling, I haven't been able to free up any time to get some quality writing done.
So here's my thoughts about this week in sports:
Isiah Thom(pson)as is the new Head Coach at Florida International. Zeke coaching college makes me so excited I can't stand it. It's great for FIU, it gives them instant notoriety and a way to stand out recruiting wise and for Thomas he gets a chance to resurrect his career. However if this goes astray we could go from zero to Larry Eustachy in about a month. Also, I have a few questions that I just can't get past.
I'm not buying the "I'm giving back my first year salary to the school" bit. Has anyone looked into the terms of his Knicks deal? Because, I'm willing to bet, that in the terms of deal he can't be paid or moonlight for any other company, while the Knicks are paying him the rest of the 12 million owe him. Just a hunch.
He's going to be in charge of molding boys into men; what kind of conversations will they be?
Men, there is a time and a place to call a woman a bitch.
If you overdose on sleeping pills, throw one of your family members under the bus, that's what family is for.
At Award Banquets never mention the word Sunt in your speech. (Careful on this link NSFW language.)
How is he going to overpay with scholarships? Are we going to hear that Thomas signed the Star Wars Kid?
I really cannot wait for college basketball to start again...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Madden retires. No more telestrated penises.
I'll miss him. A lot of people won't and I'm not sure why? The job of the announcers are this: The play-by-play guy sets the tone and feel of the event and properly describes the right emotions of the game. He has the heavy lifting part of the gig. The Color guy has to be, just that, colorful. He has to bring you insights into the game and most importantly he has to love the game.
Madden did all those things. Sure his points were a little on the nose and he described things like a seven-year-old, but he knew the game and what he was talking about. Plus, he was always balanced out by Summerall. They had great chemistry (most of the time). To me, when Madden was on, it was like watching a game with a buzzed uncle... who liked turkey legs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duke basketball player, Greg Paulus has been offered a scholarship and a chance to compete for the starting QB job at the University of Michigan.
So let me get this straight a kid who hasn't played football in four years, who wasn't allowed to compete for Duke's QB position (they said he could tryout WR), is now going to be given a chance at starting for a major Big Ten program.
The QB position at U of M is awful apparently. Nick Sheridan broke his leg, Steven Threat transferred (again), they moved Justin Feagin to WR. That leaves freshman Tate Forcier and career backup David Cone.
I can't imagine Paulus will be ready to play by the start of the season, but if he can survive strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis' training regiment then, at least, he'll be close to playing shape. (Scroll over to Barwis, click on his wiki page and read his "Reputation" section. The Sports Pad has a man-crush on Barwis, not because he's full of Tuff Juice, but because I'm scared of him.)
Which means he's there to be a backup to Tate Forcier and again Michigan will start the season with an inexperienced QB. If Michigan's QB play is terrible again (the achilles heel of last years team), can Rich Rodriguez survive another losing season???
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll get to NBA playoffs and a whole lot more this weekend.
And as always tell your friends.
So here's my thoughts about this week in sports:
Isiah Thom(pson)as is the new Head Coach at Florida International. Zeke coaching college makes me so excited I can't stand it. It's great for FIU, it gives them instant notoriety and a way to stand out recruiting wise and for Thomas he gets a chance to resurrect his career. However if this goes astray we could go from zero to Larry Eustachy in about a month. Also, I have a few questions that I just can't get past.
I'm not buying the "I'm giving back my first year salary to the school" bit. Has anyone looked into the terms of his Knicks deal? Because, I'm willing to bet, that in the terms of deal he can't be paid or moonlight for any other company, while the Knicks are paying him the rest of the 12 million owe him. Just a hunch.
He's going to be in charge of molding boys into men; what kind of conversations will they be?
Men, there is a time and a place to call a woman a bitch.
If you overdose on sleeping pills, throw one of your family members under the bus, that's what family is for.
At Award Banquets never mention the word Sunt in your speech. (Careful on this link NSFW language.)
How is he going to overpay with scholarships? Are we going to hear that Thomas signed the Star Wars Kid?
I really cannot wait for college basketball to start again...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Madden retires. No more telestrated penises.
I'll miss him. A lot of people won't and I'm not sure why? The job of the announcers are this: The play-by-play guy sets the tone and feel of the event and properly describes the right emotions of the game. He has the heavy lifting part of the gig. The Color guy has to be, just that, colorful. He has to bring you insights into the game and most importantly he has to love the game.
Madden did all those things. Sure his points were a little on the nose and he described things like a seven-year-old, but he knew the game and what he was talking about. Plus, he was always balanced out by Summerall. They had great chemistry (most of the time). To me, when Madden was on, it was like watching a game with a buzzed uncle... who liked turkey legs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duke basketball player, Greg Paulus has been offered a scholarship and a chance to compete for the starting QB job at the University of Michigan.
So let me get this straight a kid who hasn't played football in four years, who wasn't allowed to compete for Duke's QB position (they said he could tryout WR), is now going to be given a chance at starting for a major Big Ten program.
The QB position at U of M is awful apparently. Nick Sheridan broke his leg, Steven Threat transferred (again), they moved Justin Feagin to WR. That leaves freshman Tate Forcier and career backup David Cone.
I can't imagine Paulus will be ready to play by the start of the season, but if he can survive strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis' training regiment then, at least, he'll be close to playing shape. (Scroll over to Barwis, click on his wiki page and read his "Reputation" section. The Sports Pad has a man-crush on Barwis, not because he's full of Tuff Juice, but because I'm scared of him.)
Which means he's there to be a backup to Tate Forcier and again Michigan will start the season with an inexperienced QB. If Michigan's QB play is terrible again (the achilles heel of last years team), can Rich Rodriguez survive another losing season???
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll get to NBA playoffs and a whole lot more this weekend.
And as always tell your friends.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Quick Hits
I heard an interesting stat recently, Tiger Woods has won 27% of his PGA starts. To put it in perspective, Jack Nicklaus, widely considered the best golfer of all time, won 12.5% of his starts. Phil Mickelson 9%. Is there even a relative stat to this in other sports???
Someone averaging 45 PPG in the hoops...batting .500 in baseball... Chowing on 200 hotdogs in competitive eating? How is it that I am just hearing about this stat? Unbelievable.
Some things to watch over the weekend:
Lakers at Trailblazers (Friday) - The Lakers have dropped their last seven games at the Rose Garden and the bad blood is back, now that the Trailblazers have shed the Jailblazers rap.
Hornets at Mavs (Friday) and Mavs at Hornets (Sun., ABC) - This will be a home-and-home battle for playoff position. Currently, the Hornets hold the sixth spot and the Mavs hold the eighth, but they are only separated by a game.
Celtics at Cavs (Sun., ABC) - Even though the Cavs are a ridiculous 38-1 at home, this still should be an entertaining matchup and a potential preview of the eastern conference finals. Boston needs this game in a big way, not only to hold off the Magic (they’re one game up on them in the standings), but to regain a little of that playoff swagger that they had built up from last year.
Red Wings at Blackhawks (Sat., Sun. NBC) - When these two teams get together there is usually some fisticuffs, but more recently there have been some exciting games. Two of the four games played have been decided by a shootout.
And don’t forget about the Masters. Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry are our leaders thru Friday afternoon. Tiger is still in the hunt at 2 under, so that always leaves the door open for a dramatic final round on Sunday.
One final thing... if you don’t watch anything else make sure you watch this. I’m sure that this ginger kid is The Sports Pad long lost brotha from anotha motha. Damn, he can dance!
Have a great Easter or Passover weekend... and as always tell your friends.
Someone averaging 45 PPG in the hoops...batting .500 in baseball... Chowing on 200 hotdogs in competitive eating? How is it that I am just hearing about this stat? Unbelievable.
Some things to watch over the weekend:
Lakers at Trailblazers (Friday) - The Lakers have dropped their last seven games at the Rose Garden and the bad blood is back, now that the Trailblazers have shed the Jailblazers rap.
Hornets at Mavs (Friday) and Mavs at Hornets (Sun., ABC) - This will be a home-and-home battle for playoff position. Currently, the Hornets hold the sixth spot and the Mavs hold the eighth, but they are only separated by a game.
Celtics at Cavs (Sun., ABC) - Even though the Cavs are a ridiculous 38-1 at home, this still should be an entertaining matchup and a potential preview of the eastern conference finals. Boston needs this game in a big way, not only to hold off the Magic (they’re one game up on them in the standings), but to regain a little of that playoff swagger that they had built up from last year.
Red Wings at Blackhawks (Sat., Sun. NBC) - When these two teams get together there is usually some fisticuffs, but more recently there have been some exciting games. Two of the four games played have been decided by a shootout.
And don’t forget about the Masters. Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry are our leaders thru Friday afternoon. Tiger is still in the hunt at 2 under, so that always leaves the door open for a dramatic final round on Sunday.
One final thing... if you don’t watch anything else make sure you watch this. I’m sure that this ginger kid is The Sports Pad long lost brotha from anotha motha. Damn, he can dance!
Have a great Easter or Passover weekend... and as always tell your friends.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Old Ballgame...
It’s spring and that means the start of baseball season. Sigh...
I’m sorry if I can’t get more excited about baseball season; you see for me (at least for the last 15 years) the start of baseball season means the start of a large gap between my favorite sports, basketball and football. A time where I have little to look forward to other than the NBA playoffs, NFL draft and the occasional Tiger fist-pump. It’s this way because like most of you I’m a castoff of the strike. Like a child of divorce I was caught in the middle of someone else’s quarrel. I didn’t care who won my custody, I didn’t like either of them.
For the record, prior to 1994, I was a HUGE baseball fan. The ’84 and ’87 Tigers were teams that introduced me to baseball, but my fandom truly blossomed in 1989 with the Oakland A’s. It was my first season playing Little League and I was on the A’s. We won our Little League World Series (not the Little League World Series, just our age group where I grew up.), going undefeated and the Oakland A’s won the World Series. They had the Bash Brothers, Dave Stewart, Dennis Eckersley and Ricky Henderson. Ricky Henderson. Oh did I love Ricky Henderson! Let me tell you for a small little kid, who couldn’t hit, but could run like the dickens AND had abnormally large thighs for his age, Ricky was the man. I even wanted to talk like Ricky as a Little Leaguer. The Sports Pad played well today. The Sports Pad stole a couple bases, picked some flowers in the outfield. The Sports Pad really enjoyed the pretzels and orange slices after the game.
I had hundreds and hundreds of baseball cards all organized in those cardboard sleeves with little homemade dividers so I could separate them by team. American league in one sleeve, National in the other. I even had the idea of fantasy baseball as a kid. I’d make up fake teams, to play in real cities with real stadiums (thanks to mom who bought all those sports almanacs), and I’d have a draft of my baseball cards, assigning them to their “new” teams. To say my Mom was a little concerned when I started designing each teams uniforms, is an understatement. What isn’t an understatement is how much I loved baseball. Loved.
Then 1994 came around and ruined all of my baseball goodwill. Lost were 930+ games, the 1994 postseason and for the first time since 1904 the World Series. Now I know you can say “But what about the NBA stoppage?” Well, it was four years later and I had a better understanding of how the sports world works. It also didn’t help that my hometown team, the Tigers, headed into a spiral of suckage the likes of which the franchise had never seen, a decade of sub .500 baseball. Who could rebound from that?
I mean it wasn’t all bad. The McGwire-Sosa home run race, the Red Sox remarkable comeback, Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive played games streak, and the World Baseball Classic. Those are the few things that I remember from my self-imposed baseball strike and I hate it.
I hate that I’ve been scorned by the 1994 strike and have missed out on tons of baseball highlights.
I hate that Major League Baseball’s front office isn’t as well run as the NFLs.
I hate that Major League Baseball has the salary cap issues that the NBA doesn’t.
I hate that in baseball the teams that generate the most revenue are always the most competitive. (Yankees, Red Sox, Mets)
I hate that Red Sox have become exactly what they always despised about the Yankees.
I hate that the “Steroids Era” has once again sullied the reputation of America’s game.
I don’t hate the players or the game for that. I hate the rules of steroids testing, that were noticeably absent during the “Steroids Era,” while all other major league organizations have more prevalent testing.
I hate that so many front office and MLB officials turned a blind-eye, while players got bigger and stronger. But hey chicks dig the long ball.
I hate that the season is so long and the salaries so high, that the competition forces athletes to do “whatever it takes”.
I hate that Bud Selig can’t come up with a better solution for an All-Star game than a tie.
I hate that I’m not surprised.
I hate that instead of fixing our nations problems, Senators condemn baseball players so they can put a feather in their cap.
I hate that Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell and Harry Caray are still the best baseball broadcasters and one is retired and another is dead.
I hate that we as fans, feel so self important that we need to, literally, brand the game and it’s history with an asterisk. (And, yes. I understand the hypocrisy of me writing this statement in my blog.)
I hate that players can hijack a team and people just chalk it up to them being themselves.
And, most of all, I hate that I’m not able to call myself a baseball fan.
Baseball fans a pure sports fans. It takes pure devotion to follow a 162 game season, minor league call-ups and all the intricate stats (which baseball does better than any other league) for seven long months. To follow baseball, it’s like a second job. It’ll be hard and it might not always be fun, but the payoff is worth it. The payoff is really worth it. The no-hitters, the grand slams, the beauty of a double play, the ice cream cone catch, a bare hand snag, a can of corn, an inside the park home run, diving into the stands for a foul ball, the suicide squeeze, and the characters.
So this is my way of announcing to baseball... I’mmm baccckkk. It’s going to take some time but I’m going to get back into it. I’m not always going to be correct in my outlooks, so I’ll need some help. But I’m ready and excited for baseball season. Finally.
I’m sorry if I can’t get more excited about baseball season; you see for me (at least for the last 15 years) the start of baseball season means the start of a large gap between my favorite sports, basketball and football. A time where I have little to look forward to other than the NBA playoffs, NFL draft and the occasional Tiger fist-pump. It’s this way because like most of you I’m a castoff of the strike. Like a child of divorce I was caught in the middle of someone else’s quarrel. I didn’t care who won my custody, I didn’t like either of them.
For the record, prior to 1994, I was a HUGE baseball fan. The ’84 and ’87 Tigers were teams that introduced me to baseball, but my fandom truly blossomed in 1989 with the Oakland A’s. It was my first season playing Little League and I was on the A’s. We won our Little League World Series (not the Little League World Series, just our age group where I grew up.), going undefeated and the Oakland A’s won the World Series. They had the Bash Brothers, Dave Stewart, Dennis Eckersley and Ricky Henderson. Ricky Henderson. Oh did I love Ricky Henderson! Let me tell you for a small little kid, who couldn’t hit, but could run like the dickens AND had abnormally large thighs for his age, Ricky was the man. I even wanted to talk like Ricky as a Little Leaguer. The Sports Pad played well today. The Sports Pad stole a couple bases, picked some flowers in the outfield. The Sports Pad really enjoyed the pretzels and orange slices after the game.
I had hundreds and hundreds of baseball cards all organized in those cardboard sleeves with little homemade dividers so I could separate them by team. American league in one sleeve, National in the other. I even had the idea of fantasy baseball as a kid. I’d make up fake teams, to play in real cities with real stadiums (thanks to mom who bought all those sports almanacs), and I’d have a draft of my baseball cards, assigning them to their “new” teams. To say my Mom was a little concerned when I started designing each teams uniforms, is an understatement. What isn’t an understatement is how much I loved baseball. Loved.
Then 1994 came around and ruined all of my baseball goodwill. Lost were 930+ games, the 1994 postseason and for the first time since 1904 the World Series. Now I know you can say “But what about the NBA stoppage?” Well, it was four years later and I had a better understanding of how the sports world works. It also didn’t help that my hometown team, the Tigers, headed into a spiral of suckage the likes of which the franchise had never seen, a decade of sub .500 baseball. Who could rebound from that?
I mean it wasn’t all bad. The McGwire-Sosa home run race, the Red Sox remarkable comeback, Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive played games streak, and the World Baseball Classic. Those are the few things that I remember from my self-imposed baseball strike and I hate it.
I hate that I’ve been scorned by the 1994 strike and have missed out on tons of baseball highlights.
I hate that Major League Baseball’s front office isn’t as well run as the NFLs.
I hate that Major League Baseball has the salary cap issues that the NBA doesn’t.
I hate that in baseball the teams that generate the most revenue are always the most competitive. (Yankees, Red Sox, Mets)
I hate that Red Sox have become exactly what they always despised about the Yankees.
I hate that the “Steroids Era” has once again sullied the reputation of America’s game.
I don’t hate the players or the game for that. I hate the rules of steroids testing, that were noticeably absent during the “Steroids Era,” while all other major league organizations have more prevalent testing.
I hate that so many front office and MLB officials turned a blind-eye, while players got bigger and stronger. But hey chicks dig the long ball.
I hate that the season is so long and the salaries so high, that the competition forces athletes to do “whatever it takes”.
I hate that Bud Selig can’t come up with a better solution for an All-Star game than a tie.
I hate that I’m not surprised.
I hate that instead of fixing our nations problems, Senators condemn baseball players so they can put a feather in their cap.
I hate that Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell and Harry Caray are still the best baseball broadcasters and one is retired and another is dead.
I hate that we as fans, feel so self important that we need to, literally, brand the game and it’s history with an asterisk. (And, yes. I understand the hypocrisy of me writing this statement in my blog.)
I hate that players can hijack a team and people just chalk it up to them being themselves.
And, most of all, I hate that I’m not able to call myself a baseball fan.
Baseball fans a pure sports fans. It takes pure devotion to follow a 162 game season, minor league call-ups and all the intricate stats (which baseball does better than any other league) for seven long months. To follow baseball, it’s like a second job. It’ll be hard and it might not always be fun, but the payoff is worth it. The payoff is really worth it. The no-hitters, the grand slams, the beauty of a double play, the ice cream cone catch, a bare hand snag, a can of corn, an inside the park home run, diving into the stands for a foul ball, the suicide squeeze, and the characters.
So this is my way of announcing to baseball... I’mmm baccckkk. It’s going to take some time but I’m going to get back into it. I’m not always going to be correct in my outlooks, so I’ll need some help. But I’m ready and excited for baseball season. Finally.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Spotlight on Detroit
Here is a video, narrated by Mike Tirico (one of The Sports Pad's favorite broadcasters), that encapsulates everything that you need to know about Detroit and sports.
Michigan State takes on North Carolina tonight at 9:21 EST, for the National Championship.
Go Spartans!
Michigan State takes on North Carolina tonight at 9:21 EST, for the National Championship.
Go Spartans!
Friday, April 3, 2009
And the winner is...
Well, I guess it doesn’t make too much sense. Wednesday, I came close to pegging the Cutler trade, writing that Orton and either the 18th pick or Tommy Harris would make too much sense and therefore destined not to happen. (I wrote the article before the Broncos “informed all interested teams that they want at least two first-round picks for Cutler and getting a quarterback in exchange is not a necessity.”)
Apparently, Pat Bowlen and Co. are readers of the The Sports Pad and decided to trade Cutler and a 2009 5th-round pick for Orton, a 2009 1st-round pick, a 2009 3rd-round pick and a 2010 1st-round pick.
So who is the big winner? Well, in order to pick a winner you first have to see where each team is at.
Denver Broncos
Josh McDaniels welcome to the hot seat, how does it feel? You’ve essentially erased any and all goodwill, by participating in a public feud with your teams most loved player, forcing him out and in return you get a bunch of draft picks and a part time QB.
Here’s the upside, though, you have eleven picks in the ’09 draft to do exactly what you have wanted to do since begin hired: bring in your type of players.
Offensively, you have a young, solid OL, talented skill players in Marshall (if he can stay out of trouble), Royal and Scheffler, and a carousel of RBs for any situation a la the Patriots. Orton can fill in (he isn’t the long term replacement), run the offense, make safe plays and try to limit turnovers, all things that he has done before. Now on defensive, that’s a whole different ball game.
Defensively, switching to a 3-4 is going to pose a lot of problems for McDaniels. The front seven is weak and doesn’t have the personnel to make the switch. Dumervil is going to have to switch from DE to OLB because of his size (he's listed at 5’11”). DE's Moss, McBean and Crowder fit the dimensions of a 3-4 DE, but they might not have the strength to hold up at the point of attack. Marcus Thomas and Ronnie Fields are the keys to the DL’s success. The LB’s are in trouble too. D.J. Williams may have to move inside, because he doesn’t have the size to play outside in a 3-4, which poses another problem because he’ll have to work in space and shed OGs. Andra Davis was brought in to play the other ILB, which will help the transition. OLB Bailey simply does not have the size to play the position.
With picks at 12, 18, 48, 79 and 84 (all in the first 3 rounds) McDaniels has a chance to bring in a lot of talented players, who can all vie for a starting spot. They should address DE, DT and ILB early within those five picks. I don’t see them moving up to get one of the top defensive players; I see them hanging back and grabbing whoever falls to them at 12 and then picking accordingly from there on out. One of the BJ Raji (DT), Aaron Maybin (DE/OLB), Everette Brown (DE/OLB) trio will fall to Denver, but it’ll be interesting to see if QB Mark Sanchez is available at 12, McDaniels might be tempted to pick him. At 18, I like the possibilities of Jarron Gilbert (DE/DT) and Rey Maualuga (ILB). If Denver can get 2 of those 5 standout defensive players it’ll go a long way in easing the pain of losing Cutler.
Chicago Bears
The Bears gave up a ton in order to get Cutler, but they got a lot in return. QB is the hardest position in football to evaluate and one of the hardest positions to fill. One could argue that the Bears have already wasted two first round picks, in the last 10 years, on QBs (McNown and Grossman) and that to get a QB, that could start for the next 10 years, would be worth the picks.
The situation won’t be easy for Cutler though. He is going to have to rebuild his image, in a town that does not accept crybabies or prima donnas. Not to mention, the Bears offense has as many holes as the Broncos defense.
The Bears OL is porous. The Pace signing is a stopgap measure, but still an upgrade when he is healthy. This also means Chris Williams is likely moving to RT. The interior line is OK, Garza and Kreutz are solid but they’re getting up there in years and they desperately need to fill the LG spot.
The wide receiver corp starts a return man (Hester) posing as a wideout and that is pretty much it. There are some players at TE (Olsen and Clark), but the teams best offensive player is Matt Forte. Forte led the team in rushing yards (1,238) and receptions (63); he’ll be the key to Cutler’s success in Chicago. If the offense can continue to lean on Forte and keep the team in “second ‘n’ mediums” and “third ‘n’ shorts” Cutler will play well and most importantly they’ll win.
Now the loss of three picks will hurt, the Bears really need to address the WR, DE and CB positions. They only have two first day picks (49 and 99) so grabbing an instant starter will be tough. With their first pick, look for the Bears to go after either WRs Kenny Britt (Rutgers), Brian Robiskie (Ohio St.) or DEs Paul Kruger (Utah), Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond). However whomever, they get with that pick he needs to be a contributer immediately.
And the winner is...
The Chicago Bears! Anytime, you can get a franchise QB, you have to make a play for him. Bottom line! The Bears took a big risk, but they’ve solidified a position with a Pro-Bowl caliber player for potentially the next decade. The Bears have been plagued by the QB position and Cutler becomes the best Bears QB since Jim McMahon (I could argue Sid Luckman but I’ll spare you).
The Bears were 9-7 last season and with the combo of Cutler, Forte and Olsen the Bears could go 10-6, maybe 11-5, but clinching the NFC North (they go 5-1 or 6-0, the North is that bad) and make the playoffs.
Denver doesn’t make the playoffs next year, they just don't. The AFC West is much improved and McDaniels HAS to have a .500 record otherwise the Denver fans will be calling for his head. So, that leaves the Bears as the winner.
Apparently, Pat Bowlen and Co. are readers of the The Sports Pad and decided to trade Cutler and a 2009 5th-round pick for Orton, a 2009 1st-round pick, a 2009 3rd-round pick and a 2010 1st-round pick.
So who is the big winner? Well, in order to pick a winner you first have to see where each team is at.
Denver Broncos
Josh McDaniels welcome to the hot seat, how does it feel? You’ve essentially erased any and all goodwill, by participating in a public feud with your teams most loved player, forcing him out and in return you get a bunch of draft picks and a part time QB.
Here’s the upside, though, you have eleven picks in the ’09 draft to do exactly what you have wanted to do since begin hired: bring in your type of players.
Offensively, you have a young, solid OL, talented skill players in Marshall (if he can stay out of trouble), Royal and Scheffler, and a carousel of RBs for any situation a la the Patriots. Orton can fill in (he isn’t the long term replacement), run the offense, make safe plays and try to limit turnovers, all things that he has done before. Now on defensive, that’s a whole different ball game.
Defensively, switching to a 3-4 is going to pose a lot of problems for McDaniels. The front seven is weak and doesn’t have the personnel to make the switch. Dumervil is going to have to switch from DE to OLB because of his size (he's listed at 5’11”). DE's Moss, McBean and Crowder fit the dimensions of a 3-4 DE, but they might not have the strength to hold up at the point of attack. Marcus Thomas and Ronnie Fields are the keys to the DL’s success. The LB’s are in trouble too. D.J. Williams may have to move inside, because he doesn’t have the size to play outside in a 3-4, which poses another problem because he’ll have to work in space and shed OGs. Andra Davis was brought in to play the other ILB, which will help the transition. OLB Bailey simply does not have the size to play the position.
With picks at 12, 18, 48, 79 and 84 (all in the first 3 rounds) McDaniels has a chance to bring in a lot of talented players, who can all vie for a starting spot. They should address DE, DT and ILB early within those five picks. I don’t see them moving up to get one of the top defensive players; I see them hanging back and grabbing whoever falls to them at 12 and then picking accordingly from there on out. One of the BJ Raji (DT), Aaron Maybin (DE/OLB), Everette Brown (DE/OLB) trio will fall to Denver, but it’ll be interesting to see if QB Mark Sanchez is available at 12, McDaniels might be tempted to pick him. At 18, I like the possibilities of Jarron Gilbert (DE/DT) and Rey Maualuga (ILB). If Denver can get 2 of those 5 standout defensive players it’ll go a long way in easing the pain of losing Cutler.
Chicago Bears
The Bears gave up a ton in order to get Cutler, but they got a lot in return. QB is the hardest position in football to evaluate and one of the hardest positions to fill. One could argue that the Bears have already wasted two first round picks, in the last 10 years, on QBs (McNown and Grossman) and that to get a QB, that could start for the next 10 years, would be worth the picks.
The situation won’t be easy for Cutler though. He is going to have to rebuild his image, in a town that does not accept crybabies or prima donnas. Not to mention, the Bears offense has as many holes as the Broncos defense.
The Bears OL is porous. The Pace signing is a stopgap measure, but still an upgrade when he is healthy. This also means Chris Williams is likely moving to RT. The interior line is OK, Garza and Kreutz are solid but they’re getting up there in years and they desperately need to fill the LG spot.
The wide receiver corp starts a return man (Hester) posing as a wideout and that is pretty much it. There are some players at TE (Olsen and Clark), but the teams best offensive player is Matt Forte. Forte led the team in rushing yards (1,238) and receptions (63); he’ll be the key to Cutler’s success in Chicago. If the offense can continue to lean on Forte and keep the team in “second ‘n’ mediums” and “third ‘n’ shorts” Cutler will play well and most importantly they’ll win.
Now the loss of three picks will hurt, the Bears really need to address the WR, DE and CB positions. They only have two first day picks (49 and 99) so grabbing an instant starter will be tough. With their first pick, look for the Bears to go after either WRs Kenny Britt (Rutgers), Brian Robiskie (Ohio St.) or DEs Paul Kruger (Utah), Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond). However whomever, they get with that pick he needs to be a contributer immediately.
And the winner is...
The Chicago Bears! Anytime, you can get a franchise QB, you have to make a play for him. Bottom line! The Bears took a big risk, but they’ve solidified a position with a Pro-Bowl caliber player for potentially the next decade. The Bears have been plagued by the QB position and Cutler becomes the best Bears QB since Jim McMahon (I could argue Sid Luckman but I’ll spare you).
The Bears were 9-7 last season and with the combo of Cutler, Forte and Olsen the Bears could go 10-6, maybe 11-5, but clinching the NFC North (they go 5-1 or 6-0, the North is that bad) and make the playoffs.
Denver doesn’t make the playoffs next year, they just don't. The AFC West is much improved and McDaniels HAS to have a .500 record otherwise the Denver fans will be calling for his head. So, that leaves the Bears as the winner.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
McDaniels/Cutler, the Chris Brown/Rihanna of the NFL
It’s true, the NFL has its own celebrity relationship that has spun out of control. No one quite knows exactly where things broke down, but the way they’ve been spreading rumors about each other The Sports Pad wouldn’t be surprised to hear that a salacious text message from Matt Cassel to Josh McDaniels in the presence of Cutler was what ignited this contentious liaison.
I don’t care if you’re on the side of Cutler or McDaniels, the fact of the matter is McDaniels has failed the Broncos organization. As a rookie head coach the most important factor to a successful team is a clear, defined identity; the one position that helps clearly define that identity is your quarterback. McDaniels has allowed this rift to widen because he continually played the “tough coach” card through the media, instead of silently working it out with his teams best player. Even if he didn’t feel like Cutler was the right QB for his system, McDaniels didn’t need to publicly shop Cutler and engage in this we-said/they-said debate. McDaniels has now become a trivia answer for the question “What NFL coach had the most inauspicious start to his coaching career?”
McDaniels is now backed into a corner, forced to trade the teams biggest asset at below market value. Why below value, you may ask? Because the NFL is an aquarium filled with sharks and when one of them gets bloodied the others circle around for a feeding frenzy. McDaniels and the Broncos have tipped their hand and everyone knows what they’re playing with.
If you’re Cutler you sit back and let your agent, Bus Cook, field the right offers. What do I mean the by the “right” offers? A strong offer from a team where Cutler can step right in, be a quality clubhouse guy and win. This debacle has tarnished his image, painted him as a prima donna and as a guy who can’t win.
If your Broncos GM Brian Xanders, you’ve been getting offers like Ari Gold was getting after Vince filmed Medellin, so you need to drum up a bidding war, which will be tough because you’ll get no help from Cutler or Cook. Xanders needs to find a team with an available QB, capable of starting (which isn’t in great supply) and a player to balance out the deal. Or a team with a draft pick, that puts them in position to get USC QB Mark Sanchez and another quality starter. Sanchez is a better fit, than Matt Stafford, especially for what McDaniels wants to do offensively. Sanchez is better at reading defenses, has better mobility in the pocket and slightly better accuracy. He doesn’t have the laser rocket arm like Stafford or as much experience.
So where does Cutler go? Let’s break it down...
Detroit Lions - There has been a lot of talk about Cutler going to the Lions for the #1 pick, but I just don’t see it happening. As much as it pains me and my Lions fan-hood, the #1 pick is toxic, due to the exorbitant salary and high risk and I can’t see McDaniels stepping away from the “Patriot way” and spending like that.
Cleveland Browns - They have the player (Quinn) and the picks (3 in the top 50) to get this deal done. However, Cutler may not want anything to do with the Browns and the Broncos certainly don’t want to deal him to another AFC team.
Chicago Bears - Kyle Orton and Tommy Harris or the 18th pick almost makes too much sense, that it is destined not to happen.
New York Jets - A team who doesn’t have the QB or the picks to entice the Broncos, but they have been desperately trying to get Cutler since the fallout. They would need a third team in order to make some package work.
Tennessee Titans - The only thing they have going for them is that Cutler is a fan of the Nashville area. They lack the tools to get this deal done, but it would be an ideal fit for Cutler.
Here are the teams I most like the most to sneak into Cutler Sweepstakes:
Carolina Panthers - They have a player that wants to play in a 3-4, in Julius Peppers and he’s a big enough name that the Denver fans won’t feel like they got cheated. Plus, Peppers addresses an area (DE) that the Broncos are desperate to fill. However they don’t have the draft picks (Zero 1st round picks) or the QB (Delhomme) to get the deal done. They will need to include a third team to get Cutler.
Washington Redskins - They have a QB in Campbell and the pick at thirteen to get this deal done. Daniel Synder has never shied away from making waves in the NFL or his organization. Cutler is an upgrade at the position that would be a step toward winning the NFC East.
Wherever Cutler ends up, it’ll be exciting to see where he goes and will drastically shift the NFL landscape.
I don’t care if you’re on the side of Cutler or McDaniels, the fact of the matter is McDaniels has failed the Broncos organization. As a rookie head coach the most important factor to a successful team is a clear, defined identity; the one position that helps clearly define that identity is your quarterback. McDaniels has allowed this rift to widen because he continually played the “tough coach” card through the media, instead of silently working it out with his teams best player. Even if he didn’t feel like Cutler was the right QB for his system, McDaniels didn’t need to publicly shop Cutler and engage in this we-said/they-said debate. McDaniels has now become a trivia answer for the question “What NFL coach had the most inauspicious start to his coaching career?”
McDaniels is now backed into a corner, forced to trade the teams biggest asset at below market value. Why below value, you may ask? Because the NFL is an aquarium filled with sharks and when one of them gets bloodied the others circle around for a feeding frenzy. McDaniels and the Broncos have tipped their hand and everyone knows what they’re playing with.
If you’re Cutler you sit back and let your agent, Bus Cook, field the right offers. What do I mean the by the “right” offers? A strong offer from a team where Cutler can step right in, be a quality clubhouse guy and win. This debacle has tarnished his image, painted him as a prima donna and as a guy who can’t win.
If your Broncos GM Brian Xanders, you’ve been getting offers like Ari Gold was getting after Vince filmed Medellin, so you need to drum up a bidding war, which will be tough because you’ll get no help from Cutler or Cook. Xanders needs to find a team with an available QB, capable of starting (which isn’t in great supply) and a player to balance out the deal. Or a team with a draft pick, that puts them in position to get USC QB Mark Sanchez and another quality starter. Sanchez is a better fit, than Matt Stafford, especially for what McDaniels wants to do offensively. Sanchez is better at reading defenses, has better mobility in the pocket and slightly better accuracy. He doesn’t have the laser rocket arm like Stafford or as much experience.
So where does Cutler go? Let’s break it down...
Detroit Lions - There has been a lot of talk about Cutler going to the Lions for the #1 pick, but I just don’t see it happening. As much as it pains me and my Lions fan-hood, the #1 pick is toxic, due to the exorbitant salary and high risk and I can’t see McDaniels stepping away from the “Patriot way” and spending like that.
Cleveland Browns - They have the player (Quinn) and the picks (3 in the top 50) to get this deal done. However, Cutler may not want anything to do with the Browns and the Broncos certainly don’t want to deal him to another AFC team.
Chicago Bears - Kyle Orton and Tommy Harris or the 18th pick almost makes too much sense, that it is destined not to happen.
New York Jets - A team who doesn’t have the QB or the picks to entice the Broncos, but they have been desperately trying to get Cutler since the fallout. They would need a third team in order to make some package work.
Tennessee Titans - The only thing they have going for them is that Cutler is a fan of the Nashville area. They lack the tools to get this deal done, but it would be an ideal fit for Cutler.
Here are the teams I most like the most to sneak into Cutler Sweepstakes:
Carolina Panthers - They have a player that wants to play in a 3-4, in Julius Peppers and he’s a big enough name that the Denver fans won’t feel like they got cheated. Plus, Peppers addresses an area (DE) that the Broncos are desperate to fill. However they don’t have the draft picks (Zero 1st round picks) or the QB (Delhomme) to get the deal done. They will need to include a third team to get Cutler.
Washington Redskins - They have a QB in Campbell and the pick at thirteen to get this deal done. Daniel Synder has never shied away from making waves in the NFL or his organization. Cutler is an upgrade at the position that would be a step toward winning the NFC East.
Wherever Cutler ends up, it’ll be exciting to see where he goes and will drastically shift the NFL landscape.
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