Should Clowney Play Next Season?

So you saw it right? That hit that Jadeveon Clowney put on that poor Michigan running back? Clowney took that poor kids pride. For the rest of his life, he will be that guy that got hit by Clowney. "Clowneyed" if you will.  That hit is what every defensive player dreams of. Clowney is by far the best defensive prospect in college football and surely would be the very first selection in the upcoming NFL draft.

I say would be because Clowney is not yet eligible for the draft. While I am not one to argue about the rule that forbids players not three years removed from high school from entering the NFL draft, in this instance, the rule seems misplaced.  However, the NFL and NFL Players Association agree that this should be the rule so that's all I really care about. In the end, what's bad for Clowney, is great for the League. All I really care about is a quality NFL product. It sucks for players that are clearly ready - as is definitely the case in this instance - but in reality this rule effects only two to three players a decade.

What is really interesting to me is should Clowney play next year? He has produced enough in college. He has answered any questions as to whether he would live up to his billing as the number one prospect out of high school.  If I were him, I would seriously consider sitting out next season.  It would be controversial but it would probably be the most prudent thing to do.  Clowney has absolutely nothing to gain from another year of college football and an enormous amount to lose.  All established agents would front him all the cash he wanted.  Banks would him a million bucks on his signature alone. He could easily spend the next year working out at any number of agent run training facilities and remain in top condition.  So really, why should Clowney play? Why risk a devastating knee injury like his teammate and friend Marcus Lattimore suffered? If I were Clowney, I would have played my last game as a Gamecock.

In case you missed the Clowney massacre, see below.....

So Long Ray

By now, I am sure everyone has heard that Ray Lewis is retiring. Yes, Ray Lewis will no longer play football. It is hard to imagine a league without Ray.  There has never been a better team leader in the NFL. EVER! Not Singletary, Not McNair, Not Manning, Not Irvin. Ray Lewis is among the greatest leaders in team sports history.  He is right there with Bill Russell, Derick Jeter & Mark Messier.  The true testament to Lewis's leadership abilities is that under Brian Billick, the Ravens let players sleep at home during training camp. The players were allowed this luxury on the condition that no one be late to team meetings or practices each day. If anyone was late, then the team would spend the rest of camp in dorm rooms. Billick's reasoning was if anyone was late, they had to face Lewis.  No one was ever late! That's leadership.

Watching a Ravens game will not be the same anymore. I will miss the shear passion Lewis brought to every single game - to each and every play. Good luck in retirement Mr. Lewis. You had a helluva run....

Return of the Junkie

Return of the Junkie

The Bad Guy makes the news again

So Ndamukong Suh is again in trouble for rage related issues. By now its clear that Suh has anger management issues. He may need a bit of help (yes that's sarcasm). What's interesting to me is that when interviewed, Suh is the most soft spoken and sincere sounding player in the league. He reminds me a lot of Bill Romanoski. He was also soft spoken, intelligent and always sounded like a good guy but always played and lived on the edge. If you listen to Courtland Finnegan, he also has the same characteristics. So how can three intelligent soft spoken guys be considered some of the dirtiest players ever? My theory is that the game is so violent that if you are generally nice, you have to psyche yourself up and get in a different mental state just to compete. I think Suh is taking the kill or be killed mentality off the field and this is what is causing these problems. Either way, he needs to gain better control over his emotions both on and off the field. But of course, I do love a great bad guy so I will still cheer for the crazy kid!

Week 6 NFL Power Rankings

Week 4 Rankings

1. Houston Texans - The Texans are an example of what happens when and organization is patient and sticks to a plan. The stayed true to their plan and have developed a complete team. They have depth at WR and RB and star players at every level of the defense. Brian Cushing's injury will hurt, but this team is built to survive it. The key concern will be keeping Matt Schabb healthy.
2. Baltimore Ravens - I have really been impressed with Joe Flacco's progress.  Their defense is no longer the 3 and stalwart its been for so long. The are more of a bend but don't break unit without T-Sizzle (Terrell Suggs) rushing the passer. He is expected back soon and that will change everything for this defense.

3. San Fransico 49ers - Despite the hic-up against, this is still the toughest, most physical team in the league. They will most likely lose more games this year because their division is improved. Alex Smith's hand injury is a concern.
4. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan has played great but their team still doesn't impress me. The Panthers should have beat them but as Bill Parcells famously stated, "you are what your record says you are." The Falcons are undefeated and that's all that really matters.

5. New England - Even though this team has two losses, the are still a Super Bowl favorite from the AFC. Stevan Ridley has really balanced the offense. They are score at will.

Call It Maybe (NFL Replacement Officials Parody) - KFAN FM 100.3

Star Driven Day in Sports

Some sports day we had yesterday. It was a day of comebacks so its only fitting that I "comeback" to blogging. First Tiger Woods has a tremendous day and wins an event to tie The Golden Bear for second place on the al1-time wins list. To do it in Jack's on tournament is special. To accomplish this a full 10 years younger is elite. Tiger has that unquantifiable "it" factor that makes people "stars".  I don't watch golf but I pay attention when Tiger is in the hunt. No other golfer has that factor.

This second comeback did not quite make it. The Heat had a ferocious 2nd half to make it interesting down the stretch. They just couldn't seal the deal. I am rooting for the Heat to make the finals and face OKC. Why? The same reason I watch Tiger play golf. I want to see stars in the finals. While the Spurs and Celtics both have all-time great players, they don't have stars in my opinion. The Spurs do not have a single player that I have to watch. For all the great play that Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have produced their careers, you can take your eyes off them. True star players grab your attention and force you to watch them regardless if you like the player or not. The closest thing to a star on Celtics is Rando. If he can fix that broken jumper of his he may become a superstar. Let's pray for a Heat vs Thunder Finals so the true stars can shine.

Say Hello to the Bad Guy.....

Thank You Ndamukong Suh. Pro football was in dire need of a dominant bad guy. The NFL has become too sanitized. Too clean. Gone are all the players who push the envelope. No more Andre Waters. No Bill Romanoskis. No Kevin Gogans. I grew up watching the Philadelphia Eagles place bounties on players heads. Now you can't breathe on quarterbacks and wide receivers can safely go across the middle. The league also had rogue coaches like Buddy Ryan and Jerry Glanville. Now pretty much everyone toes the company line. There are few characters. So I salute you Mr. Suh. Dare to be different. Be aggressive. Be a dirty player. The game is just more fun to watch when you have a healthy hatred for players on the opposing team. And I for one, love a good bad guy.

Players like Suh are good for the league. Fans love to see athletes they dislike lose. Think about the last NBA finals. The story wasn't that the Mavericks won, it was that the Heat lost. Likewise its not just Floyd Mayweather's immense talents that drives his Pay Per View sales, its also that people want to see him get his ass kicked. Hatred equals ratings. Ndamukon Suh's dominant play and off-kilter demeanor have made the Detroit Lions relevant for the first time since Barry Sanders retired. That's good for the league. Now if we can only get a couple of more players like Suh and really make this league exciting.


Note: Even I can admit Suh's stomp was dirty and significantly hurt his teams chances of winning. However, players such as Suh, make the game more interesting.

Should you cheer for your team to lose?

So what makes a true sports fan? I ask this because I work with people who have been actively rooting for their beloved sports team to lose. Yes, you read that correctly. These so-called die hard fans actively want their favorite team to lose. That team, Ole Miss, has lost at such a level that their head coach has been fired after four seasons. These "fans" believe that the massive losing was worthwhile since it served the purpose of getting Houston Nutt and Athletic Director Pete Boone out of town.

Personally, I have a hard time following this line of thinking. I can't stand losing. I could never actively hope my favorite teams lose just to get rid of a coach. I truly can not fathom hating an individual coach enough to WANT my team to lose.  Maybe I played and coached to long and I'm totally off base. I want to win every time my team lines up. It appears many would disagree with me.  So tell me. If you are a true fan, is it every ok to root for your team to lose?

NFL Power Rankings - Week 2

Week 2 Rankings

One thing is for certain, Team Defense got lost in the lock-out. There is a whole lot of scoring going on. With the last two Super Bowl winners being explosive offensive teams and the NFL being a copycat league, high scoring is everywhere.

1. Green Bay - Another week, another shoot-out. What happened to their D? They have All-Pro personnel at each level so the defense should be better than this.

2. New England - The Pats look like they will break all the scoring records this year. The problem will be  their defense could give up even more points that they score. Can the team score 35 every week to keep winning?

3. Jets - This team actually tries to play defense. They also try to run the ball. The teams ahead of them hardly pretend to do either. They will probably have to open up the offense too though since their running game is sputtering. LaDainian Tomlinson is ready for the nursing home and Shon Greene is underachieving.

4. Lions - You could see this coming. After finally getting rid of Matt Millen, the Lions have drafted very well. They have playmakers everywhere. Matt Stafford looks like the real deal. If he stays healthy, this team could do some serious damage.

5. Buffalo Bills - I don't really think the Bills are the 5th best team in the NFL but they are 2-0, have scored a ton points and are a good story. I probably should put the Texans here but they get off to fast starts every year and then fade into oblivion. If the Texans beat the Saints this weekend, then I'll rank em.

All Time Team - The Receivers

If you've been following my selection of my all-time NFL team, you'll notice I have an affinity for players with "certain" reputations. I'm sorry, but football is a mean and nasty game and to a certain extent, you need players with surly dispositions. My receiving corp is filled with these kinds of individuals. After, defensive line (my former stomping grounds), I think receiver is my favorite position. I love watching the athleticism on display from high level receivers. I'd argue that there is nothing more beautiful that a perfectly executed bomb in all of sports. Nothing!

I love three receiver sets. As such, my line-up will start three. I only need a full back for short yardage and goal-line so the fullback on the squad will be a back-up/ specialist. Here are my starting three.

Randy Moss

Moss may not only be my favorite wideout, he might be my favorite player overall. I know he got criticized for not giving 100% on every play. To that I counter that no one else in history has had to run more go routes than Moss. Moss has world class speed.  You ever watch Olympic sprinters after the race? They can't talk, they can barely stand and they surely couldn't run another sprint 30 seconds there after. I admit I'm turning a blind eye to Moss and his many faults but the Dallas game his rookie year is branded in my brain. Three catches, 3 touchdowns. All spectacular. So I'm a Moss apologist to the end. If I were to revisit this list 20 years from now, I'm certain that three positions will remain exactly the same. Deion Sanders will still be one corner, Randy Moss will still be one wide out and Bruce Smith will be rushing off the right corner.

Andre Rison

If its true that Randy Moss has retired, he ends his career second in nearly every category to Jerry Rice. My second receiver is also very controversial. An also like Moss, you got the feeling that Andre Rison

could have gotten more out of his career. From his tumultuous relationship with Lisa Lopes to his fight with Prime Time to Left Eye burning his mansion down, there were always things going on with Bad Moon Rison. He was a big time play-maker and was a Super Bowl winner with Green Bay. I loved watching him play.

Year after year, one player consistently makes the list for most dirty player. That player is Hines Ward. The fact that he plays receiver in amazing. The other players on the list are always defensive players with an occasional offensive lineman. Ward plays a position know for diva activity with a reckless abandon. He plays so recklessly that the league has changed rules because of him. He also is remarkably consistent. Being that my other receivers are tempermental, I need at least one who maintains a consistent level of play and can always be counted on. Ward is just that guy. Be it a run play or a pass play, you will get 100% out of him. Plus he will occasionally lay a defensive player out. He also can save a roster spot by being the emergency QB. All in all, this is a great group. I've got speed, hands and attitude. Hell this may be the most surly position on the team. Wonder who I'd have to get to coach them? 

NFL Rankings - 1st Week

First Week Rankings

Ahhhh, its that time of year again. Fall is in the air and football season has began. Here are my power rankings for the first week.

1. Green Bay - Their offense is in mid season form. They look unstoppable

2. Baltimore - The team totally crushed the defending conference champion Steelers. Flacco looked much improved

3. New England - Tom Brady looked nearly unstoppable. But the Pats D looked like it couldn't stop anyone either.  Lots of shoot-out this year.

4. Jets - Got lucky in Dallas but good teams seem to always find a way to win.

4. Bears - Team took the Falcons behind the woodshed. Tough defense and always excellent on special teams. Will there be enough offense?

So Long Bubba.....

I'd like to send a melancholy shot-out to Bubba Smith. Smith was an All-American defensive end at Michigan State and a multiple Pro-Bowl NFL player. You probably remember him as Hightower from the Police Academy movies. He was a great football player and a guy who made me laugh a million times over. So three cheers to a life well lived. Here's a clip from Police Academy 1.

No, thank you Mr. Smith, for a great career.

Worst Owner in Sports

So I just read an article on The Shutdown Corner  on Yahoo sports that said the Redskins offered the Bengals two first round draft picks for Chad Ochocinco a few years ago only to have Mike Brown turn them down. Since that offer, Ocho's play has regressed and he was recently traded for two late round picks. I can't believe the Bengals didn't make that deal. But with Carson Palmer sitting at home rather than at some team's training camp, what did I expect? This is also the NFL team that doesn't have an indoor practice facility. If you don't have an indoor practice facility and your team resides in a cold weather state, are you really trying? A local high school team that is down the street from Bengal's headquarters has one but the Bengal's don't. All this makes me wonder is Mike Brown the worst owner in professional sports?

Who would be the other contenders for this title? Al Davis? Donald Sterling? Peter Angelos?  Frank McCourt? James Dolan? Micheal Jordan surely deserves a mention. As does Dan Snyder.

I know many will say Al Davis but in his defense, Al's way worked for a long time. The Raiders have historically been good and have only recently become a laughing stock. Also, if the owner spends money but just spends its foolishly, I'll give them a pass. So Angelos and Snyder are out. I'll give Jordan a pass too since he hasn't been a owner for a long period of  time so he has time to grow into the role.  That leaves us with McCourt, Sterling, Dolan and Brown.

Dolan spends a ton of money so he almost got a pass. I would rather my owner tried as opposed to never doing anything (see Pittsburgh Pirates). However, I just can't overlook all the crazy things that have occurred during his watch. Plus his infatuation with Isaiah Thomas is unnerving. Lawsuits plus constant GM and coach turn-over equals bad ownership.

Next we have Frank McCourt. If you can't make payroll, you suck as an owner. That's really all you need to know.

Mike Brown - team regularly sucks. The organization is ran on the cheap. The owner hurts the team rather than helps them win.

And finally there is Donald Sterling. Sterling runs the show on the cheap. He has been sued for discrimination.  He's been known to heckle and demean his players. His team never wins. Ever.

I think we have a winner. Sterling by a nose hair over Mike Brown. But at least LA basketball fans can cheer for the Lakers. Alas, poor Cincinnati football fans are stuck with only the Bengals. Who do you think deserves the title of worst owner? 

All-Time Team - Tight End

All-Time Tight-end - Mike Ditka



This position was perhaps the most difficult to pick. Its not that I have too many favorite tight-ends. Its just the opposite. I really don't watch the position like I do others. Plus its a hybrid spot. You got to block and you have to catch and I have never decided which aspect I think is most important. The tight-ends that I should use all have some quality that I dislike. For example, Shannon Sharpe looks like a horse. Sea Biscuit can not make my squad. Antonio Gates is as bad built as I've ever seen a pro athlete. I don't need him waddling down the seams for my team. Tony Gonzalez is too much of a pretty boy for me. No prancing around on my squad either. In case you haven't noticed, I like football players with mean streaks; guys with notorious dispositions. Therefore, Mike Ditka is the perfect guy to be my tight-end. While I never seen him play, he is in the Hall of Fame. His demonstrative demeanor as a coach leads me to conclude that he has the right temperament for this squad. I can still see him berating Jim Harbaugh for throwing that pick six against the Vikings. It was child abuse on national TV except Harbaugh was an adult. No matter how successful Harbaugh is as a coach, I still feel bad for him for that day.

Having Ditka on the squad provides many benefits. He can serve as Head Coach in pinch. He did win over 100 games in the league. He can get catering from his steakhouse. In fact, Ditka would be over all food and beverage. Brats and beer for everyone. Plus he'll have a stash of Levitra for the older players. Only thing he would not have a hand in is personnel decisions. We saw how that turned out for the Saints.

Jimmy Graham



I figure I should at least have a player I watched on the squad so I present to you Jimmy Graham. This kid has star written all over him. I know he is still unproven and raw, but I just love the enthusiasm that he brings to the game. With his work ethic, their is no doubt he will fulfill his potential. Plus I like the fact that he overcame racism (from his relatives on both sides of his family for being mixed) homelessness and poverty just to get to college. So he no doubt has character which is always a good thing to have on one's team. 

Who are your favorite tight ends? I bet I get some interesting picks on this one.

Way to go A.J.

I'd like to give a shout out to A.J. Jefferson for becoming the first Dandy Dozen football player from North Pike High School (my Alma Mater). The Dandy Dozen is a preseason listing of the 12 best high school football players in Mississippi. Congratulations A.J. and good luck this season!  http://bit.ly/oiYBrB

P.S. Damn AJ is already grown man big. High schoolers are huge these days.

All time team - Offensive Line

Welcome back to my series on my all-time favorite players at each position. I remind you that these are not the players I think are the greatest at each position. These are my personal favorites. Today I discuss the backbone of any team - the HOGS in the trenches.

Left Tackle - Willie Roaf



Big Willie anchored the Saints offensive line for nearly a decade and then opened holes for one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history in Kansas City. To call him a great player would be an understatement. Roaf made the All-Decade Team for both the 1990s and 2000s. The soon to be Hall of Famer is also as classy as they come. He is a perfect choice to anchor the blind side.

Left Guard - Larry Allen



Larry Allen may be the strongest player to ever play in the NFL. His weight room feats are legendary. This strength allowed him to absolutely punish defenders. Now I am by no means a Cowboys fan but I always liked Cowboy linemen. Allen cemented his status as an all-time great in Super Bowl 30 when he leveled Greg Lloyd. Lloyd was one of the meanest and nastiest Linebackers ever and was in his prime at the time. Allen pulled and crushed Lloyd on a sweep. Crushed him in a way you rarely see in a NFL game. But that was Allen. A guy who physically stood out against his opponents.

Center - Dermonti Dawson



Dawson was a 6 time All-Pro and 7 time Pro-Bowler and was elected to the All-Decade team of the 90s. I know it may seem contrary to popular thought, but the Steelers may be Team Center. The team is know for their running backs, have a couple of Hall of Fame QBs and a slew of All-Pro linebackers. But actually, center is the team position of excellence. The team has Mike Webster at center in the Hall of Fame. Dawson is a HOF finalist. Jeff Hartings was an All-Pro and their current center Markice Pouncey seems bound for an excellent career after a very solid rookie year. I like Dawson the most of this bunch. He's an excellent athlete who had a great career.

Right Guard - Bruce Matthews



At right guard we have yet another member of the All-Decade team of the 90s. Matthews makes my team for his versatility and his longevity. Matthews was a 14 time Pro-Bowl selection and a 9 time All-Pro. He played Tackle, Guard & Center for the Oilers/Titans makinkg the Pro-Bowl as a guard and center. By having Matthews on this team, he can provide a back-up at all line positions. Also, as an added perk, I can have his family fill out the rest of the roster. His brother Clay Jr played 19 hard hitting years for the Browns (Bruce played 20 seasons). His nephew Clay III is now a hard hitting stud backer for the Packers. Did I mention Clay I had a 4 year OL run with the 49ers? Clay III's little brother Casey was drafted by the Eagles. Bruce's son Kevin is on the Titans roster to be coached by his dad next season. Then there's Jake who was a high school All-American that plays for Texas A&M. Yeah, I'd say football runs in their blood.


Right Tackle - Erick Williams



Damn! I can't believe I have two Cowboys on my All-time team.* That is such a disappointment. However, the 90s Cowboys line may have been the best ever so I have to give them their due respect. Williams crushed opponents just as thoroughly as Allen did. I firmly believe that the Cowboys success was based on the dominating offensive lineman they had. While everyone else on my line is or will be a Hall of Famer, Williams will not be. However, during his peak years, there were none better than him.

*Deion Sanders Cowboy years have been erased from my memory

So there you have it. Let the debates begin.

Three Cheers for the Yankee Captain

I have never liked the Yankees. Their obnoxious fans and loudmouth owner forever turned me off. Plus during my formative years, they just weren't any good. Throughout the 80s, they were a team in constant turmoil. George Steinbrenner feuded with his players, constantly fired his managers and even got exiled from Major League Baseball. But all this changed in the 90s when the Yanks called up a slew of stud young players.  These players would lead the Yankees back to prominence and end up dominating the 90s. Most prominent among those players was Derek Sanderson Jeter.

Over the weekend, Jeter became the first Yankee to ever get 3000 hits. He did it with same class and flair for the dramatic that he has always exhibited throughout his career. Jeter should be commended for always playing the game hard and being a consummate pro. So while I still can't stand the Yankees and still think most of their fans are completely obnoxious, I'll give Jeter a tip of the cap for a career that has redefined what it means to be great. Congratulations Derek.

Overcoming Adversity

Throughout my many years of playing and then coaching football, one theme remained constant. Coaches would always talk about the ability to "overcome adversity." Just writing those words brings back memories of countless speeches I heard and later gave.  I bring this up to share with you the story of this kid from a rural Colorado town. This high schooler sat at his mothers side as she died and then a couple of days later led his team to the league title by pitching a no-hitter AND hitting four home-runs.  Damn good way to respond to adversity.  This is why I love sports so......

Post 100 - Random Musings

Yeah, I know. Its really been awhile since I last posted. I gave myself blogger's block. I noticed that my next post would be my 100th so I wanted it to be special and really good. Bad idea on my part. Instead of just continuing as normal, I ended up not posting anything at all. All the drafts I had ready to go have long since become moot. So I'll restart my blog with some things I think I know.

I think the NCAA has just said "Fuck It" regarding legitimately trying to enforce its by-laws. Look at the recent evidence. A whole firestorm of allegations surrounded Cam Newton and he was allowed to play and win the National Title. Ohio State players were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl when they by rule should have been ineligible. The UConn Huskies won the basketball National Title while their coach was found to have broken the rules and he like the Ohio State players and coach will be suspended NEXT season. The NCAA has said the hell with this and said let's just make all the money we can now. The organization can not be taken seriously anymore. I think the recession changed the NCAA's thought process. Member schools lost a ton of revenue during the recession. Many big donors stopped giving as their assets plummeted. Athletics however still brought in the dollars. I think the NCAA is loathe to mess with the golden goose during these tough economic times.

I think it's a bit sad that we are witnessing greatness fade away in these NBA playoffs. For the first time in my life, I understand what the old sports writers were talking about when they said it pained them to see Willie Mays stumble out of the batters box his last season. The writers would also say that they couldn't bare to watch Muhammad Ali's last few fights. These were always the two primary examples of what happens when athletes hang on too long. Well we are witnessing the fade of greatness in these playoffs. I turned on these playoffs only to discover that Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have all crossed over from veteran to just plain old. Just last year these players were fighting for the title and looked like they had at least 2 or 3 more seasons of greatness. Now the end of their careers are clearly in sight. Oh they will still be in the league, but their collective ability to dominate exists no longer. Its stunning to watch but as they say, Father Time is undefeated.

The Los Angeles Dodgers can not meet payroll! How the hell does that happen? I know Frank McCourt's divorce attorneys have told him that he will not be able to keep the Dodgers and fulfill the requirements of any divorce settlement. Yet he still maintains that this is his team and he will maintain in ownership. Dude, sell the team, take the 2 to 3 hundred million that you will have left of your estate and walk away.

Bad things happen when young people tweet. Just this week, a star Seatlle high school basketball player got his Athletic Director fired because he tweeted about having a Spanish class with only 2 other students. What's the problem you ask? Well that school district has had strict budget cuts and there is no way there should be a class with only 3 students. So this tweet brought investigators to campus and nothing good has ever nor will ever come out when investigators start looking into the grades and curriculum of student athletes. Apparently the kid also benefitted from favorable "grading" & scheduling all along.

Another example is Rashard Mendenhall. Apparently he is a 9/11 conspiracy theorist and tweeted such last week after Bin Ladin's death. He wondered how planes could take down a skyscrapper. He also said we only heard one side of the story. Hmmmmm ok. Regardless of what I think of his statements, my first thought was this dude is about to get fired by someone. Sure enough his main sponsor, Champion, fired him two days later. I'm all for freedom of speech. I also realize that there are consequences for said speech. And now Rashard has learned that too.

Well there you have it. Post 100. Thank you to my followers. Its a great feeling to have my voice heard and I appreciate you guys reading my drivel!