Too much from the NFL Draft this year. Way too much.
I get it. The NFL is king. I know, I say it. I love the NFL, but I don't love the draft. Too many question marks, too many mock drafts, too much use of the word "value."
I don't need to see it in prime-time, either. I was interested in about four picks. The top three and Tebow. That's all I needed to see and I could have gotten that on the Bottomline with all the other picks.
The Tebow selection was clearly the big story. I figured someone would take a shot on him sooner than later. You know he's going to work and do whatever it takes to improve. He played at an extremely high level in college. He deserves as much of a shot as anybody to play QB.
Am I sold that he will be a great NFL quarterback? Hell no, but I'm not sold on Sam Bradford, either. It's about one thing in the NFL - production. "Put it on film" as they say. Let me see you do it on Sunday. Until then, everyone is in the same category.
Jimmy Clausen sure didn't impress anybody, did he? Except for Mel Kiper, that is. But it doesn't matter where you're drafted. If you can play, you'll get a shot somewhere, at some time. Use it as motivation or whatever you need to do. Dez Bryant should have been taken higher than 24th to Dallas.
I'm more interested in the free-agents and trades teams make in the off-season and during the draft. You know what you're getting with those guys. The Boldin and Marshall deals. Holmes to the Jets, and Leon Washington and LenDale to Seattle. McNabb to DC. Those deals have more of an impact on this year than the draft. And with the NFL, the only thing that matters is this year.
Twitter Overkill: Don't even get me started on Twitter during the draft. I had to unfollow numerous people I respect this weekend due to overload. I avoided Twitter for the most part since Thursday night because of it. I don't need 35 tweets a minute about all the possible scenarios and everybody's opinion on a fourth-round pick for Cincinnati. I'm looking at you, @Adam_Schefter and @ProFootballTalk. Too much. I'll check back with you guys closer to the season.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Jazz Working Over Dantley, Nuggets
With George Karl undergoing treatment for neck and throat cancer, Denver has been in disarray for the last couple of months. Adrian Dantley has looked overwhelmed since stepping into the interim head coaching position. The Nuggets are 11-10 (including playoffs) since he has taken the helm with an incredibly talented team. Jerry Sloan, and his 196 playoff games coached, has worked over Dantley and the Nuggets in the last three games.
I thought Denver could win a close, intense series in 7 without Karl. I didn't think Utah would have the manpower to advance without home-court advantage. Kirilenko was out for the series and then Okur went down in Game 1. Denver should have smelled blood in the water and taken advantage of the situation.
Instead, Utah's motivation increased, and Denver's leadership set sail. Dantley is not ready for this stage, and certainly not with this group of players. The personalities in the Denver locker room must be managed. Dantley just doesn't have the experience.
Utah deserves a lot of credit for this series, it's not just because Dantley doesn't know what he's doing. Deron Williams is the best point guard in the league. I'll take him over a healthy Chris Paul anytime. The Jazz are going to fight you as hard as any team in the league, credit goes to Sloan and the players he picks up. The next-man-up philosophy is in full effect in Utah.
The series is not over, but it really looks like it right now. If Denver looks good in Game 5 and gets a win, they set themselves up to get one in Utah, which sets up an anything-goes Game 7. But that's a long way off. A long way. I doubt Denver can even see it under the amount of crap it's buried under right now.
Bad Play by ESPN: Why the hell did ESPN need to send Rick Reilly over to Karl's house and grill him about how many pills he has to take and film him getting shots in the stomach? Karl's been dealing with chemo for months and ESPN busts in to shove a camera in his face, while he watches his team lose. Just leave him alone, Reilly. And get off the air. Stick to writing, please.
Friday, April 16, 2010
First Round Predictions
NBA Playoffs are here. My favorite time of year. This is better than the NFL Playoffs because this is an every night grind. The first two weeks consist of multiple games each night. All the NBA action you can possibly handle.
Some quick predictions for the highly-anticipated first round. I don't see any upsets this round:
West
Lakers vs. Thunder: Lakers 4-1. Experience is the big factor here. Durant will be hard to stop. I love where this OKC team is going. It's just not in the cards this year drawing the Lakers in the first round. Bynum needs to get back out there and start contributing.
Mavericks vs. Spurs: Mavs 4-2. I want to go Mavs in five but will give the Spurs the benefit of the doubt. This is a repeat of last year's first round, except last year's was a 3-6 match-up, with the Spurs having the 3-seed. The Mavs have upgraded much better this year than the Spurs. The Mavs handled them last year in five, and they will handle them again.
Suns vs. Blazers: Suns 4-3. I would have taken the Blazers if Roy hadn't been injured. I'm still not real confident in the Suns. Never have been. Don't trust Gentry, but really like Nash and Amare. Should be a competitive series, but the one I'll probably watch the least of in the Western Conference.
Nuggets vs. Jazz: Nuggets 4-3. George Karl missing this series is going to play a factor. I'd like to take the Jazz, but all of the sudden they caught the injury bug. Kirilenko is out for two weeks and Boozer is a game-time decision for Game 1. The Nuggets have Kenyon Martin back. This should be a good battle, but Denver gets out alive.
East
Cavs vs. Bulls: Cavs 4-0. It's a wrap. Things I'm interested in for this series: How Shaq is used and if Vinny Del Negro tries to fight anymore front office executives.
Magic vs. Bobcats: Magic 4-2. Skip Bayless will have you believe the Bobcats have a legitimate shot. I think they'll put up a fight, but Orlando has its eye on the Finals again. They won't slip up against the Bobcats.
Hawks vs. Bucks: Hawks 4-1. Atlanta will make quick work of the Bucks, who are happy to be here, but are now missing a major piece (Bogut.)
Celtics vs. Heat: Boston 4-3. The Celtics will be able to squeak by somehow. I'm not sure how, but they have so many vets and so much experience that will fight there way into the second round, where they will get killed by the Cavs. Boston is 3-0 against Miami during the regular season.
There you have it. Out on a limb with all the favorites. The best chances for "upsets" are the Heat, Blazers and Jazz. However, in a 7-game series, and this is another reason I love the NBA, the best team almost always wins.
That's why this year's playoffs are so compelling. There are so many great match-ups, it's hard to tell if it would be an upset or not. A 7-game series will tell us who is the better team.
Some quick predictions for the highly-anticipated first round. I don't see any upsets this round:
West
Lakers vs. Thunder: Lakers 4-1. Experience is the big factor here. Durant will be hard to stop. I love where this OKC team is going. It's just not in the cards this year drawing the Lakers in the first round. Bynum needs to get back out there and start contributing.
Mavericks vs. Spurs: Mavs 4-2. I want to go Mavs in five but will give the Spurs the benefit of the doubt. This is a repeat of last year's first round, except last year's was a 3-6 match-up, with the Spurs having the 3-seed. The Mavs have upgraded much better this year than the Spurs. The Mavs handled them last year in five, and they will handle them again.
Suns vs. Blazers: Suns 4-3. I would have taken the Blazers if Roy hadn't been injured. I'm still not real confident in the Suns. Never have been. Don't trust Gentry, but really like Nash and Amare. Should be a competitive series, but the one I'll probably watch the least of in the Western Conference.
Nuggets vs. Jazz: Nuggets 4-3. George Karl missing this series is going to play a factor. I'd like to take the Jazz, but all of the sudden they caught the injury bug. Kirilenko is out for two weeks and Boozer is a game-time decision for Game 1. The Nuggets have Kenyon Martin back. This should be a good battle, but Denver gets out alive.
East
Cavs vs. Bulls: Cavs 4-0. It's a wrap. Things I'm interested in for this series: How Shaq is used and if Vinny Del Negro tries to fight anymore front office executives.
Magic vs. Bobcats: Magic 4-2. Skip Bayless will have you believe the Bobcats have a legitimate shot. I think they'll put up a fight, but Orlando has its eye on the Finals again. They won't slip up against the Bobcats.
Hawks vs. Bucks: Hawks 4-1. Atlanta will make quick work of the Bucks, who are happy to be here, but are now missing a major piece (Bogut.)
Celtics vs. Heat: Boston 4-3. The Celtics will be able to squeak by somehow. I'm not sure how, but they have so many vets and so much experience that will fight there way into the second round, where they will get killed by the Cavs. Boston is 3-0 against Miami during the regular season.
There you have it. Out on a limb with all the favorites. The best chances for "upsets" are the Heat, Blazers and Jazz. However, in a 7-game series, and this is another reason I love the NBA, the best team almost always wins.
That's why this year's playoffs are so compelling. There are so many great match-ups, it's hard to tell if it would be an upset or not. A 7-game series will tell us who is the better team.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Change of Scenery For Holmes, Marshall
First it was Santonio Holmes, now it's Brandon Marshall.
Two premiere, yet often troubled, receivers in the prime of their careers are moving on. Holmes to the Jets, Marshall to the Dolphins. If I'm either of those teams, I'm thinking "Jackpot!"
Sure, both have had their problems in the past. Holmes is in trouble right now, about to face a four-game suspension due to his refusal to give up blowing tree. But that looming suspension is what caused his price to go lower than expired beans at Save-A-Lot.
Picking up a 26-year-old Super Bowl MVP for a 5th-round pick is Christmas morning in Jets camp. Will he fail another drug test and face a year suspension? Possible but not probable. Did he need a change of scenery out of Pittsburgh? Most definitely.
Now the Steelers will have you believe that they were "sending a message." That they were taking a stand against this type of behavior, which included another alleged assault to his record. To a certain extent, maybe.
If they weren't already dealing with Big Ben's second alleged sexual assault they would have just dealt with Holmes' situation. They know they're a worse team without Holmes. But they can't get rid of Big Ben. Quarterbacks are more valuable than a receiver, that's just the way it is. Two incidents at the same time were too much for the Rooney's. They had to choose and they went with the receiver who was set to become a free agent at the end of the year.
Maybe Holmes was a cancer in the locker room, I don't know. If that's the case, a new locker room may be just what the doctor ordered.
I wonder about how many teams were interested in Holmes. If it was only the Jets, shame on the other 30 teams. I have a hard time believing nobody was willing to give up something better than 5th-round pick. I'd eat the four-game suspension and have him ready to go Week 5.
MARSHALL TO MIAMI
It must be give-away week in the NFL. Miami coming away with Brandon Marshall for two second-round picks confirms Tony Sparano is running things like Tony Soprano.
Not only do they get Marshall out of Denver, something he's wanted for years now, they hook him up with the fattest contract a receiver has ever received.
Marshall's had his share of run-ins with the law and team management in the past. The domestic abuse charges are always worrisome and cause for concern. One would hope those issues are a thing of the past, but after three different incidents, you wonder.
The riffs with management always seemed to be about money. Well, that's no longer an issue. The next question there becomes, "Is he still motivated?" Only time will tell.
Parcells has pulled out the checkbook this off-season to get the Dolphins in the playoffs. Karlos Dansby and Marshall are big, high-priced pieces in place. Sparano will have to keep everything and everyone in line.
The AFC East is going to be featured more than ever. (Minus the Bills.)
Two premiere, yet often troubled, receivers in the prime of their careers are moving on. Holmes to the Jets, Marshall to the Dolphins. If I'm either of those teams, I'm thinking "Jackpot!"
Sure, both have had their problems in the past. Holmes is in trouble right now, about to face a four-game suspension due to his refusal to give up blowing tree. But that looming suspension is what caused his price to go lower than expired beans at Save-A-Lot.
Picking up a 26-year-old Super Bowl MVP for a 5th-round pick is Christmas morning in Jets camp. Will he fail another drug test and face a year suspension? Possible but not probable. Did he need a change of scenery out of Pittsburgh? Most definitely.
Now the Steelers will have you believe that they were "sending a message." That they were taking a stand against this type of behavior, which included another alleged assault to his record. To a certain extent, maybe.
If they weren't already dealing with Big Ben's second alleged sexual assault they would have just dealt with Holmes' situation. They know they're a worse team without Holmes. But they can't get rid of Big Ben. Quarterbacks are more valuable than a receiver, that's just the way it is. Two incidents at the same time were too much for the Rooney's. They had to choose and they went with the receiver who was set to become a free agent at the end of the year.
Maybe Holmes was a cancer in the locker room, I don't know. If that's the case, a new locker room may be just what the doctor ordered.
I wonder about how many teams were interested in Holmes. If it was only the Jets, shame on the other 30 teams. I have a hard time believing nobody was willing to give up something better than 5th-round pick. I'd eat the four-game suspension and have him ready to go Week 5.
MARSHALL TO MIAMI
It must be give-away week in the NFL. Miami coming away with Brandon Marshall for two second-round picks confirms Tony Sparano is running things like Tony Soprano.
Not only do they get Marshall out of Denver, something he's wanted for years now, they hook him up with the fattest contract a receiver has ever received.
Marshall's had his share of run-ins with the law and team management in the past. The domestic abuse charges are always worrisome and cause for concern. One would hope those issues are a thing of the past, but after three different incidents, you wonder.
The riffs with management always seemed to be about money. Well, that's no longer an issue. The next question there becomes, "Is he still motivated?" Only time will tell.
Parcells has pulled out the checkbook this off-season to get the Dolphins in the playoffs. Karlos Dansby and Marshall are big, high-priced pieces in place. Sparano will have to keep everything and everyone in line.
The AFC East is going to be featured more than ever. (Minus the Bills.)
Friday, April 9, 2010
This Tiger Guy Is Good
What was going on with Tiger Woods again? I briefly remember his name mentioned in the news over the past few months, but it must not have been too big of deal.
Tiger got out of the gate very quickly yesterday on day one of the Master's. To the tune of his best first round score at Augusta ever (68.) That is focus.
I thought he could compete this weekend, but took the field. He had ever reason not to be on the leaderboard after the five-month fiasco that still won't quit. News that he allegedly banged his neighbor's 22-year old daughter just surfaced.
If anyone can pull this off it's Woods. As Earl told him, "You'll never meet someone as mentally tough as you. And he hasn't, and he never will." When it comes to golf, I might agree. When it comes to resisting sexual urges, he's no more mentally tough than Charlie Sheen trolling for hookers in Vegas. Maybe he is now, after months of "therapy," but I digress.
I like Woods even more than I did before the scandal. Sure, he is/was a degenerate, but that just makes him more relatable. I like my superstar athletes to overcome adversity. I'm still waiting for a shoe to drop with LeBron. Nobody stays perfect forever.
I'll be pulling for Tiger this weekend, and every weekend, just like I was before.
NEW NIKE COMMERCIAL
Everybody is up-in-arms about the new Nike commercial featuring Tiger's dad. "Shameless" and "despicable" were used to describe it. "How could he use his dead father like that?!" I don't see what the big deal is. Tiger knows what his dad would be okay with.
The reason Tiger is the way he is, in every sense of his life, is because of Earl Woods. Earl told him there was no reason for him to get married. Earl had his own infidelity issues. He made Tiger into the best golfer ever, because that's what Earl wanted. It's common knowledge how close the two were. Tiger said he was his "greatest role model." He's Earl's son.
Now Tiger deserves a lot of the blame and credit as well, don't misunderstand. But why not incorporate Earl into an ad which subtlety addresses these issues? Earl would have had his back during this scandal. He would have understood what temptations Tiger had readily available. I assume he might object to the discretion used and quantity involved, but those temptations (or perks, depending on how you look at it) come with the territory of being the best in world. And Earl knew that.
It seems like a well-thought out sound bite that is effective. Allow me to narrate a conversation between Earl and Tiger, based on the questions asked in the Nike ad.
Earl: "What were you thinking?'
Tiger: "Well, Dad, I could have sex with any and every woman I came into contact with. After a few years of that, it gets pretty hard to resist. It wasn't really affecting my performance, so what's the big deal?"
Earl: "Good point, Tiger. But what are your feelings?"
Tiger: "My feeling is why get to the status of greatest ever if you can't bang every chick you meet?"
Earl: "Another good point. Have you learned anything?"
Tiger: "Yes, don't let it get out of control and be more careful. I'll need to take my privacy to another level. I'll probably get divorced in a couple years, also."
Earl: "Good work, son. Now go win a golf tournament."
Tiger got out of the gate very quickly yesterday on day one of the Master's. To the tune of his best first round score at Augusta ever (68.) That is focus.
I thought he could compete this weekend, but took the field. He had ever reason not to be on the leaderboard after the five-month fiasco that still won't quit. News that he allegedly banged his neighbor's 22-year old daughter just surfaced.
If anyone can pull this off it's Woods. As Earl told him, "You'll never meet someone as mentally tough as you. And he hasn't, and he never will." When it comes to golf, I might agree. When it comes to resisting sexual urges, he's no more mentally tough than Charlie Sheen trolling for hookers in Vegas. Maybe he is now, after months of "therapy," but I digress.
I like Woods even more than I did before the scandal. Sure, he is/was a degenerate, but that just makes him more relatable. I like my superstar athletes to overcome adversity. I'm still waiting for a shoe to drop with LeBron. Nobody stays perfect forever.
I'll be pulling for Tiger this weekend, and every weekend, just like I was before.
NEW NIKE COMMERCIAL
Everybody is up-in-arms about the new Nike commercial featuring Tiger's dad. "Shameless" and "despicable" were used to describe it. "How could he use his dead father like that?!" I don't see what the big deal is. Tiger knows what his dad would be okay with.
The reason Tiger is the way he is, in every sense of his life, is because of Earl Woods. Earl told him there was no reason for him to get married. Earl had his own infidelity issues. He made Tiger into the best golfer ever, because that's what Earl wanted. It's common knowledge how close the two were. Tiger said he was his "greatest role model." He's Earl's son.
Now Tiger deserves a lot of the blame and credit as well, don't misunderstand. But why not incorporate Earl into an ad which subtlety addresses these issues? Earl would have had his back during this scandal. He would have understood what temptations Tiger had readily available. I assume he might object to the discretion used and quantity involved, but those temptations (or perks, depending on how you look at it) come with the territory of being the best in world. And Earl knew that.
It seems like a well-thought out sound bite that is effective. Allow me to narrate a conversation between Earl and Tiger, based on the questions asked in the Nike ad.
Earl: "What were you thinking?'
Tiger: "Well, Dad, I could have sex with any and every woman I came into contact with. After a few years of that, it gets pretty hard to resist. It wasn't really affecting my performance, so what's the big deal?"
Earl: "Good point, Tiger. But what are your feelings?"
Tiger: "My feeling is why get to the status of greatest ever if you can't bang every chick you meet?"
Earl: "Another good point. Have you learned anything?"
Tiger: "Yes, don't let it get out of control and be more careful. I'll need to take my privacy to another level. I'll probably get divorced in a couple years, also."
Earl: "Good work, son. Now go win a golf tournament."
McNabb Goes To Washington
So Donovan's a Redskin. The Eagles had too many quarterbacks on their team.
When you draft a QB in the first or second round, you want to use them eventually. Prime example: Packers. This is the Favre/Rodgers thing all over again. Slight differences, but the same.
The team is tired of dealing with the aging legend. The execs want their drafted guy to take over and boost their egos. The "old" guy isn't supposed to performing at this level at this age. McNabb said in his press conference "I guess I'm too old" to play in Philly.
The Eagles knew Kolb would be starting by now since he was drafted in 2007. Get him ready while they give McNabb a few more shots, while McNabb begins to fade.
That hasn't happened for the most part. McNabb's antics grow tiresome, but he's still performing at a decent level. But that's not good enough for Philly fan. They've seen too many big game losses. (And I don't begrudge them a bit. McNabb's had plenty of chances. I'd have seen enough, too.)
I'm looking at it as non Philly fan, though. I'll take McNabb over all the other QBs in the division now. The motivation will return. He'll have a new coach. I like Reid, but those two were tied at the hip so tight they were mistaken for Siamese.
The Eagles obviously like what they see in Kolb. I wonder if he will be able to throw the deep ball as effectively as McNabb. DeSean Jackson must have the same concerns.
If Shanahan can get some lineman in place and motivate Haynesworth, the Skins should stay competitive in the NFC East and the NFC in general. However, they need the combination of Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to produce what one healthy/young/not-past-their-prime back could produce.
And if Kolb doesn't work out, get Vick in the game. Philly fan will be shouting for that sooner than later.
When you draft a QB in the first or second round, you want to use them eventually. Prime example: Packers. This is the Favre/Rodgers thing all over again. Slight differences, but the same.
The team is tired of dealing with the aging legend. The execs want their drafted guy to take over and boost their egos. The "old" guy isn't supposed to performing at this level at this age. McNabb said in his press conference "I guess I'm too old" to play in Philly.
The Eagles knew Kolb would be starting by now since he was drafted in 2007. Get him ready while they give McNabb a few more shots, while McNabb begins to fade.
That hasn't happened for the most part. McNabb's antics grow tiresome, but he's still performing at a decent level. But that's not good enough for Philly fan. They've seen too many big game losses. (And I don't begrudge them a bit. McNabb's had plenty of chances. I'd have seen enough, too.)
I'm looking at it as non Philly fan, though. I'll take McNabb over all the other QBs in the division now. The motivation will return. He'll have a new coach. I like Reid, but those two were tied at the hip so tight they were mistaken for Siamese.
The Eagles obviously like what they see in Kolb. I wonder if he will be able to throw the deep ball as effectively as McNabb. DeSean Jackson must have the same concerns.
If Shanahan can get some lineman in place and motivate Haynesworth, the Skins should stay competitive in the NFC East and the NFC in general. However, they need the combination of Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to produce what one healthy/young/not-past-their-prime back could produce.
And if Kolb doesn't work out, get Vick in the game. Philly fan will be shouting for that sooner than later.
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