John David Booty: A Surprise Still Sitting on the Vikings’ Bench?

Not many Vikings fans know, or even care about the oft-mentioned third string quarterback.

What they do know is usually limited to John David Booty’s funny last name, and that he was a USC quarterback. A school that has brought us good quarterbacks like Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel. As well as forgettable ones such as Matt Leinart and Rodney Peete.

But with all Vikings fans up in arms over the current QB situation in Minnesota, I am surprised Booty’s name is not brought up.

Personally I ask, why not?

He has spent a year under the Vikings current system, so he at the very least has a grasp on what the Vikings expect.

Is Booty an NFL quarterback?

Well, he is extremely accurate, and is a graduate of a pro-style offense at USC. However, he does not have the rocket arm like many quarterbacks have. But is that really necessary?

Booty could easily be a Chad Pennington type player, who does not have to rely on the long ball to thrive. At the same time, Pennington has struggled more than he has flourished in the NFL.

So would a pseudo-Pennington really help the Vikings?

Many pundits crowned Booty as the most pro-ready quarterback in the lower end of the draft. Like I mentioned, sitting on the bench for a year could have done nothing but good for him.

I am not saying Booty will be the next Tom Brady, or will be the Vikings’ savior. But after the Vikings went 8-3 with Gus Frerotte, a game manager at best, under center.

Would they benefit even more from an accurate pocket passer?

All these are very pressing questions, but I think most importantly, the Vikings should at least keep Booty as an option.

Fans see a bleak quarterback picture when they look at this on paper. Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson, or John David Booty? We have all seen what Rosenfels and Jackson can do, but Booty has yet to see any action thus far in the NFL.

Who knows? We could very well see the starting quarterback be none other than John David Booty under center on week one.

Training camp is likely where all these questions will finally be answered. The beauty of this league is the never ending surprises.

The Cruel Reality of the NFL: There is No Loyalty When it Comes to Players

 

The NFL is all about one thing: winning football games.

 

A team that wins consistently generates more income and has a larger fan base than a team that doesn’t win on a consistent basis.

 

NFL head coaches are paid millions of dollars per year to win immediately, placing an extraordinary amount of pressure on them. With this in mind, it’s no wonder the cruel reality of the NFL is there is simply no loyalty when it comes to players.

 

If it increases the chances of winning, a head coach is just as willing to rid the team of the face of the franchise as he is a little-used backup tight end. To quote Sean Crowe in his recent Matt Cassel article, Bill Belichick would “trade his own son if he thought it would help the Patriots win a football game.”

 

While this speaks directly of three-time Super Bowl champ Belichick in particular, this fits the description of virtually every coach and team president in the NFL.

 

The ’09 offseason has seen quite a few teams say goodbye to players who had been with that one team for their whole career. To name a few: Derrick Brooks (14 years), Brian Dawkins and Marvin Harrison (13 years), Orlando Pace (12 years), and Torry Holt and Chris McAlister (10 years).

 

Guys like Ray Lewis (13 years) and LaDainian Tomlinson (eight years) came close to joining new teams. Julius Peppers (seven years) very well still could leave the Panthers, the only team he’s ever known.

 

In a perfect world, these players would retire after a long and successful career, having worn the same uniform their whole life – Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins, Lawrence Taylor with the New York Giants, and Walter Payton with the Chicago Bears.

 

Not in football.

 

All of the players who left their teams this past offseason are on the decline of their career but still felt they have something left to offer.

 

Harrison was a second or third receiver by the end of his tenure with Indianapolis. Dawkins had lost a step and the Eagles were frequently implementing three-safety sets to keep him fresh down the stretch and in the playoffs. McAlister was coming off a season-ending injury. Pace had played just 11 games in the past three seasons and had become a fixture on the injured reserve list.

 

Part of me wonders why these players couldn’t have still been brought back. They’re icons in their respective city.

 

I think their teams should be able to offer them a two-year deal or so, almost as a player coach, before the player retired and started garnering attention for the Hall of Fame.

 

Leadership and experience alone should be enough to keep these guys around. Right?

 

Not really.

 

The NFL is business. Strictly business.

 

Look at the Eagles for example. Dawkins signed with the Denver Broncos, with hardly a counteroffer from the Eagles. At 35 years old, he was coming off his seventh Pro Bowl season, in which he helped the Eagles’ secondary rank third in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed per game, while taking the team to within a game of the Super Bowl. What more does management want from their franchise player?

 

Start to break it down, however, and you will see the reasons.

 

Dawkins is 35 years old, in a league where most players have been retired and living like kings for several years already. He’s lost a step or two. His tackling has regressed slightly and he’s become almost a liability in pass coverage. Why else was Quintin Demps covering All-World receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the NFC Championship Game?

 

Enter Sean Jones, the free agent acquisition the Eagles picked up from the Cleveland Browns.

 

Jones probably won’t be able to motivate his teammates quite like Dawkins (no one can, other than maybe Ray Lewis for the Ravens), and he most likely won’t come out of the tunnel doing a crawl or some sort of crazy dance, and I doubt he’ll become arguably the most popular athlete in Philadelphia sports history. However, Jones has finished third among safeties in interceptions over the last three years and his presence provides an instant upgrade to the secondary.

 

Every one of these teams has their reasons.

 

For the Colts, Harrison has slowed down to the point where teams wonder if he can still even be a No. 2 receiver in this league. Plus, Indianapolis has former first-round pick Anthony Gonzalez waiting for his opportunity to prove he can fill the void left by Harrison, and he looks pretty good by what we’ve seen in his first two seasons. The third year is traditionally the breakout season for wide receivers, and Gonzalez seems poised to be a star in this league.

 

Pace wasn’t worth the money he deserved, and his release helped to store up some money under the salary cap for the Rams. So on and so forth with the rest of the players, who were released because of injury, salary cap issues, a decline in performance, or to give a younger player a chance to start.

 

Even so, it’s tough to watch a hometown hero leave for another team. I have yet to see a Dawkins jersey for the Broncos, and I know it will hurt more than I can imagine when I see my first one.

 

I can’t even imagine what it was like for Cowboys fans to watch Emmitt Smith leave for the Arizona Cardinals or 49ers fans watching Jerry Rice in Silver & Black.

 

It’s rough for us as fans and it’s not always a pleasant experience, but there’s nothing we can do about it. The NFL will always be a win-first, loyalty-second league.

USC Linebackers Continue Great Tradition: Check Out the Trojans Fanastic Four

There may not be pro football in Los Angeles per se, but the USC Trojans are a pro football factory. There aren’t too many programs that can compete with the lineage of linebackers to come out of USC. 

Miami, Penn St., and Ohio St. all have strong cases to make in this argument, but at least for this past season, the Trojans were the head of the class.

In this years upcoming NFL draft, USC produced four linebackers who will play on Sundays. Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews Jr., and Kaluka Maiava, together formed arguably the best linebacker unit in college football history.

The hard hitting Maualuga is the most well known of the quartet. Big play Rey could be a fitting nickname with his penchant for highlight reel tackles and running back interceptions for TD’s. 

Maualuga capped off his great career being named to the 2008 All American team by the Associated Press, and by winning the 2008 Bednarik Award. He injured himself at the combines, but is considered the top middle linebacker prospect in the country and should be one of the top 15 picks in the first round of the draft.

Though Maualuga received more awards and headlines, Brian Cushing was the captain of the defense, and was equally as dominant.

Nicknamed “the Bulldog of Bergen”, Cushing is a New Jersey guy known for his toughness, work ethic, and great strength. His motor doesn’t stop, he has a great nose for the ball and he makes big plays, registering 73 tackles and three sacks in 2008. 

Cushing was named second team All American by the Associated Press, and he should be drafted in the middle of the first round.

Clay Matthew Jr. still had to “walk on” to the USC football team, despite having USC legends and all-time NFL greats in the family with dad Clay Matthews Sr. and uncle Bruce Matthews.

He turned out to be worth it and then some, playing both linebacker and defensive end for the Trojans. Matthews was undersized as a freshman, but worked hard in the weight room and each year came back better. 

His work ethic paid off, as he was one of the surprises at the NFL Combine. He out lifted and out performed his higher profile teammates. Matthews could go late first round or second round in the draft.

After a great high school career in Hawaii, the heavily recruited Kaluka Maiava chose to attend USC. It took a while for him to get noticed playing behind Keith Rivers, so he made his mark leading the special teams unit. 

After Rivers departed, Maiava finally got his opportunity to shine his senior year at USC, capping off a very productive season winning MVP honors in the Rose Bowl. 

Maiava is projected to be selected in the third round.

These four linebackers look to follow in the tradition of past USC linebacker greats.  Names like Junior Seau, Clay Matthews Sr., Rod Martin, Chip Banks, Willie McGinest, Jack Del Rio, Duane Bickett, and Lofa Tatupu to name a few. 

How they will perform as professionals remains to be seen, but to have four senior linebackers this good on one team was a rare treat. 

Kudos to Pete Carroll and Ken Norton Jr. who did a great job recruiting and coaching these young men as they continue the great tradition of linebackers at USC.

 

Come On Seven! Sure Thing For The Oakland Raiders?

We are standing at the 2009 NFL Draft table in Radio City Music Hall. The dice have been passed to Al Davis for the seventh roll in this annual crapshoot. The table stakes are high, $19+ million in guaranteed money and a five-year, $49+ million contract.

 

Once the dice are thrown, Mr. Davis and the Raider Nation hope to walk away with the ultimate prize; a perennial all pro player who will significantly improve the franchise.

 

Since this is the seventh overall selection, the odds of getting that superstar must be pretty good, correct?

 

Sadly, drafting marquis players in the NFL is not an exact science, and recent history shows that the odds of landing a true superstar with this pick are not that good.

 

Consider the performance of players selected seventh overall the last 10 years.

 

Two of these players can be classified as marquis Pro Bowl players. From day one, Champ Bailey (1999 Draft) has been a shut down CB for the Redskins and Broncos, and Adrian Peterson (2007) has been a game changing RB for the Vikings. 

 

During this 10-year period, the seventh pick also yielded five solid players. Thomas Jones (2000), the much-traveled journeyman RB, and Roy Williams (2004), a solid WR on the struggling Lions both performed well, and each eventually appeared once in the Pro Bowl. 

 

Bryant McKennie (2002), the Vikings OT with an impressive consecutive game streak, and Andre Carter (2001), who has averaged 6.5 sacks per year with the 49ers and the Redskins are solid players, but with no Pro Bowl appearances. 

 

Byron Leftwich (2003), initially looked promising, but ankle injuries limited him to three 10+ game seasons, a career 80.3 QB rating, and no Pro Bowl appearances. The jury is still out on DT Sedrick Ellis (2008), who posted 30 tackles and four sacks in his first year with the Saints.

 

Finally, two players selected with the seventh pick failed to meet expectations, including Troy Williamson (2005), a WR with the Vikings and Jaguars with a penchant for dropping passes, and Michael Huff (2006), who has never played to expectations with the Raiders, and was benched as a starter last year.

 

In summary, over the last 10 years, there was a 20 percent chance of landing an under achiever (bust) with the seventh pick, and a 20 percent chance of landing a perennial all pro caliber player.

 

What kind of performer will the Raiders get in the upcoming draft? We won’t know until long after the dice are thrown. 

Plaxico Burress: Conflict of Interest

When it was reported that Plaxico Burress was shot, waves of shock lingered in my body throughout the course of that brisk late-November Saturday. Then details emerged that he was the one most responsible for his own fate, accidentally firing a pistol that he was carrying in his sweats.

 

Then the Giants convincingly beat the Washington Redskins in miserable weather. For the second-straight game Eli Manning played extremely well, and Domenik Hixon was emerging into a reliable target for Manning. The next day talk began to fire up that the weapon Burress was carrying was unlicensed, a recurring problem in urban areas, especially New York City.

 

Plaxico was now facing major charges. If convicted, he could face up to fifteen years in jail. Mayor Bloomberg puffed out his chest in the midst of this controversy, demanding that Burress be prosecuted, as any other citizen would be.

 

“I don’t think that anybody should be exempt from that,” Bloomberg said. “It would be an outrage if we don’t prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

 

At the time, I agreed with the Mayor. Although Plax was the most inspiring character on a 2007 Giants squad, which managed to defy all the odds, Burress dug his own grave and should be sent to prison for an extended period of time. The Giants looked fine without him, so he wouldn’t be that big a loss.

 

But after watching my Giants, the same team that stormed to an 11-1 start, flounder in December and fail to score a touchdown with the first unit in four of the last five games, my mindset regarding Burress suddenly shifted to, “Well, it’s not as if he hurt anyone, right?”c

 

It’s hypocritical. And it’s unethical. But it’s a result of the spell that pro sports cast upon me, and millions of other fans.

 

In reality, Burress should be put away. Excusing him for his actions would continue the standard that celebrities are excluded from punishment to the fullest extent of the law.

 

Additionally, it appears to be blatantly obvious he was guilty of a felony on the evening of Nov. 29. If he gets off with no charges, then his trial will be referenced in thousands of other similar trials, thus permitting felons to continue to roam the streets with illegal weapons.

 

But it’s tough to see it that way, when I see a Giants squad that is capable of putting together one of the best runs the franchise has ever seen, and its success is pending on the decisions of the court.

 

Osi Umenyiora’s “inside source,” who is involved with the law, states that Burress will most likely receive no jail time, as he is a first time offender, and will likely get probation up to five years. A victory for Burress, his family, the 52 other players on the Giants roster, and the fans.

 

But is it really a victory?

 

NFL Adopts New Rules: Quarterbacks To Wear Dresses

On Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting, league owners passed several new rules to go into effect at the start of the 2009 season. 

Here are some of the rules that were passed:

Every Quarterback Must Wear a Dress on Game Day

The dresses must be ankle-length to prevent any cuts, scrapes, and all other abrasions to the knees, shins, and ankles.

Dresses must be in team colors. White may only be worn in the preseason games because the regular season and postseason are both after Labor Day.

Defenders May Not Tackle an Offensive Player Anywhere Above the Shoulders

As a matter of fact, defenders may not tackle a player anywhere below the belly button, either.

Any player who commits an infraction must kiss the player’s boo-boo and give him a chocolate chip cookie. 

Pass Rushers Must Use a Five-Mississippi Count Before Rushing In

Defensive linemen and blitzing linebackers are simply getting to the quarterback too quickly. 

Before the five-Mississippi count, players can only rush the quarterback once he has crossed the line of scrimmage. However, the defense will be allowed one free rush every four downs. 

The “personal space” clause will go into effect after the two-minute warning. No defender is allowed to be within three feet of the quarterback and violate his personal bubble.

Rule breakers will be forced to attend three months of counseling sessions with a licensed therapist.

The Cowbell Rule

Simply put, any skill player who intends to throw a block on an unsuspecting defender must wear a cowbell around his neck as a warning. 

Failure to comply will result in a loss of down, and the offending player being publicly branded as a reminder.

The Space Walk Rule

All fields, whether natural grass or artificial field turf, must be immediately be replaced and be turned into giant space walks. 

The NFL feels that the uniforms are getting too dirty. One unnamed source who is familiar with the process of cleaning the uniforms said the jerseys today are “icky.”

Now that these rules are in effect, the game will become more enjoyable for everyone.  No one watches the NFL for the big hits and ferocious forced fumbles. 

The only downside for the league is that NFL Films will stop making profits off of highlight reels featuring the hard hits that it preaches against.

Eagles To Aim High On Draft Day?

According to Eagles general manager Tom Heckert, in the upcoming NFL draft, the Eagles could do “anything they want” on draft day, including packaging the 21st and 28th overall picks to move high into the first round.

With 12 draft picks at their disposal, the Eagles are in prime position to part with any number of picks to get where they want to be on the draft board. 

But, is it the wisest of strategies for this team?

Left tackle is the one of the more prominent areas of concern with the departure of veteran Tra Thomas. Current left guard Todd Herremans figures to be the most likely in-house solution to fill Thomas’ shoes. 

However, if the opportunity presented itself, it would not be a shock to see the Eagles trade up the draft board to try and steal either Virginia’s Eugene Monroe or Baylor’s Jason Smith, both of which seem to be sure top-10, if not top-five picks.

As for running back, drafting a back does not seem to be a big concern for Heckert. 
“Over time it has been proven that you can find backs later on,” Heckert said.  Running back Brian Westbrook was drafted in the third round in 2002.

Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno, Ohio State’s Beanie Wells, and Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy all figure to be available where the Eagles currently sit in the first round. All three have been referred to by Heckert as good fits. 

The question remains, do the Eagles move up or stand pat? Quality talent can be found late in the first round, but Andy Reid could probably not resist the chance to trade up for an offensive lineman. 

Given the choice, the preferred option would be to stay put and take a gamble on striking it rich with two first round quality players that have the capability to make an impact as weapons. Trading up would be the best option if it would ensure that a stud offensive lineman can be had.

The clock is still ticking and will continue for the next month. The ebb and flow of the run up to the draft will continue until commissioner Roger Goodell finally steps to the podium.

New “Player Safety” Rules Could Cause Unintended Headache for the NFL

The picture above is that of a wedge block.

Well, a pre-2009 wedge block.

In the coming season, such a block will now be illegal as voted by the NFL higher-ups.

This comes as a package of four rule changes that will take place for 2009 involving “player safety.”

Other rule changes taking place will be the elimination of the blind-side helmet-to-helmet block, initial contact to the head of a defenseless receiver will result in a 15-yard penalty (call this the “Anquan Boldin” rule), and no more than five players from the kicking team will be allowed to bunch together to retrieve an onside kick.

The helmet-to-helmet rule makes sense to a certain degree. Being hit in the head is always risky, especially when you don’t see it coming. Actually, we can call this the “Hines Ward” rule, considering this is the only way he knows how to block.

The “Anquan Boldin” rule is something that’s always been in place, really. It’s just on the books now.

The ones that get me are the rule changes involving the kickoff.

No more than five players to retrieve an onside kick? These kicks were only recovered about 35 percent of the time anyway, that will drop to somewhere around 15-20 percent in 2009 and beyond.

They’ve effectively made the onside kick useless.

Then there’s the rule for the kickoff team. No more than two players are allowed to form a wedge? That destroys the entire point of a wedge, and drastically reshapes special teams.

The wedge is the first thing any kickoff-return team learns. It’s the fundamental building block of the entire return team.

Gone.

Read the rest of this article and more at 2 Minutes to Midnight Green!

The Giants Gain More Leverage with an Additional Third-Round Pick

Plaxico Could Walk, Too, Giving the Team Even More Options

The NFL announced yesterday that the 12-4 New York Football Giants have been awarded an additional third-round selection (No. 100 overall) as compensation for the significant roster losses incurred after the 2007 season.

The extra pick gives the Giants 10 selections (five in the first 100) in April’s draft, making it more and more likely that they will be in a trading mood.

There is a growing sentiment that they will still try to swing a deal for a wide receiver, even if Plaxico Burress is given a pass on prison time for his gun charges.

It was reported recently that the club was talking to the Cleveland Browns regarding a deal for WR Braylon Edwards, but the Browns asked for WR Steve Smith in addition to an all-draft-pick package. The Giants balked at that, but now with this extra third rounder, they might try to restructure the deal.

Some think Burress’s situation with the law has changed due to the unusual amount of time between his arrest and arraignment. But New York has other things to worry about, like the economy, and it is very likely that he will walk with probation.

This has also worked in the team’s favor. If Plaxico can play this fall, the urgency for a No. 1 wideout becomes diminished.  But, knowing Jerry Reese he’s still not satisfied. He’s a man who deals in definitives.

Wide receiver and linebacker are high on his list, whether it be through the draft or through a trade of some of those picks. There has been talk that the team will try to acquire Edwards again or go after Kansas City’s Tony Gonzalez, who they consider a player that can spread the middle of a defense.  

The Anquan Boldin-to-the-Giants hot stove has begun to heat up as well. These new developments could re-interest the Cardinals in a possible trade.

The Giants have also worked out several of the top receivers in the draft, most notably Florida’s Percy Harvin, but are said to be also fond of several others. Linebackers Clay Mathews of USC and Aaron Maybin of Penn State were also worked out by the team.

Don’t forget the Giants are still high on Mario Manningham, who they took in last year’s draft and still have Dominik Hixon, Smith, and Sinorice Moss. They also have an interesting player on their roster by the name of Micah Rucker, a 6’6″ target in the mold of Burress, but very raw.

The plan right now is to wait for the Plaxico thing to flesh out next week and move from there. If he can play, they have a ton leverage in a trade, either on draft day or sometime before. The bottom line is, the Giants are holding some high cards right now.

NFL’s New Tackling Rule: How Do You Tackle a Quarterback?

According to the new “Brady Rule,” hitting a quarterback is no longer allowed below the knees without drawing a penalty.  This is just one of many restrictions given to pass rushers as they run full speed on the football field just trying to make a play.

I would say that I was not a tough kid growing up, so when it came to football I was scared to play because I thought I would get hurt.  Now I think, if only I could have learned to throw a football.  If you can throw a football and you make it to the NFL, you never have to get your jersey dirty again.

Other positions on the football field take hit after hit in all different forms.  Players regularly take bone jarring hits that knock off helmets and dislocate limbs with no penalty.  However, if a defensive lineman falls into a quarterback’s leg after he has let the ball go, he is issued a 15-yard personal foul penalty. 

It just does not make sense to me.  We might as well have the quarterbacks wear the different colored jerseys they wear for spring practice and just stand in the pocket.

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