Leach To Raiders? Talk About a Match Made in Heav…Somewhere Else

The news of the rumor caught me by surprise at first. By at first I mean maybe three seconds tops.

If there has ever been two people made for each other, besides Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer, it’s Al Davis and Mike Leach.

They’re two peas in a pod. Compadres. Amigo’s. Kindred Spirits. Brotha’s from anotha motha.

How so, you ask?

Take the single-most eccentric NFL personality of the last 30 years (the approximate time Davis started going crazy) add in the craziest cat to roam the sidelines in college ever and you have a perfect match.

Davis’s kiss-my-ring-if-you-dont-like-my-way attitude and Leach’s never-say-sorry-for-sticking-a-kid-in-dark-shed-for-three-hours style should mesh perfectly.

Some would say it’s a match made in heaven. I say the origins of this one are more likely a little to the south of there.

You’ve heard of the unholy trinity? If Leach is hired and turns to former Raider Bill Romanowski as his defensive coordinator, Satan might decide to call Davis and Leach up for pointers.

Really though, I think Leach to Oakland would be a great fit. Lord knows Davis hasn’t been happy with anyone else who has tried to run his organization in the last few years.

I don’t know how well Leach would work with QB JaMarcus Russell, but I’m sure that’s  nothing a few hours locked in a dark room couldn’t fix.

The sad thing is Davis could have virtually solidified this match last April when he had a chance to draft Michael Crabtree, arguably Leach’s best player ever, but decided to take Darrius Heyward-Bey and his “upside” over the best WR college football had to offer.

Either way I think this deal gets done. There’s just too much riding on the story for it not to happen.

And we all know if there’s two guys that cherish the story it’s these jokers.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The College Football Sideline Report: July Edition

That’s Mr. Heisman to You

Among the numerous reasons for Ohio State fans to be happy going into the 2009 season, Terrelle Pryor has to top the list.

The sophomore phenom is ready to build on the foundation that he laid for the Buckeyes in ’08.

Not since Reggie Bush and Vince Young have we seen an athlete of Pryor’s caliber in college football. Sure, Tim Tebow has won two titles and a Heisman since those two dominated the competition, but even Tebow is not on the level of pure athleticism that Terrelle Pryor enjoys.

Behind an experienced offensive line in ’08, Pryor was 100 of 165 passing for 1,311 yards with twelve TD’s and four INT’s. He also rushed for 631 yards on 139 carries with six TD’s.

What makes those stats really special is that he was a true freshman in ’08.

Now a year older, smarter, and competition tested, Pryor just might have quite a treat in store for the Buckeye-faithful. Sure you lost WR’s Robiskie and Hartline, but Ohio State almost always reloads with top-notch, skill position talent.

Pryor is a once-per-decade talent. Combine the quickness and speed of Vince Young, with the elusiveness of Reggie Bush, and the arm of Tom Brady and the result will be something close to Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor is a hybrid player. The kid is just an all-out athlete. 

Maybe you call this player-worship. Maybe you’ll say I am crazy. Hey, maybe I am, but I know an elite player when I see one. I am not even remotely a Buckeye fan. I just love good college football, and this guy is the very epitome of what is good about the game.

I expect big things from the Buckeyes in ’09. Terrelle Pryor winning the Heisman may just be one of those big things.

 

Next week I will continue my Heisman preview with Tim Tebow.

Top NCAA FB Stories (My opinion on the latest in the college football world)

Alabama decides to appeal the NCAA ruling that cost them 21 wins–

Well, technically the NCAA ruling didn’t cost the Tide the wins. The fact that 200 plus student-athletes were illegally obtaining books for friends is the real culprit. Hey Bama, you have a great program, try keeping your nose clean for more than five years at a time.

Cincinnati adds one year to coach Brian Kelly’s contract–

Brian Kelly is a tremendous coach. He was my choice for the Tennessee job until the Lane Train rolled through Knoxville and took us all by storm. Cincy may struggle a bit this season, but Kelly will have the Bearcats back in the BCS before too long. He will now make roughly $1.5 million per year through 2013. Congrats coach!

BCS Rejects Mountain West’s Playoff Poposal–

Wow,I don’t know about you, but personally, I am shocked. The truth is that college football’s championship participants will continue to be determined by an Intel Pentium processor for years to come.

ACC Title Game is Back in Prime time–

Rightfully so. We had a few laughs at the ACC’s expense last season when it seemed the conference was one of the nation’s worst. In ’09 the ACC will be one of the nation’s best. Ga. Tech, FSU, UNC, Va. Tech, Clemson, NC State, and even Miami have quality teams and great talent. That prime time game will definitely be one to watch!

NCAA Quotes of the Week:

“They’re (recruits) so excited about everything but they say ‘Coach, who’s going to throw us the ball?’ – UT Coach Lane Kiffin on not finding a QB for the 2010 signing class so far.

“It quickens the pace of everything we are doing.” – Former Alabama head coach, and current Georgia State head coach, Bill Curry, talking about his decision to schedule ‘Bama for the upstart program’s 2010 inaugural season.

“The league is going to get some unbelievable exposure.” – Florida AD, Jeremy Foley on the SEC’s 15 year media deal with ESPN and CBS.

My Preseason Top 35:

After much discussion, reading, and internal turmoil I have finally completed my 2009 Preseason Top 35, and will publish the Top 30 in my August edition of the College Football Sideline Report. Here are numbers 35-31 just to whet your appetite.

35. Texas Tech – The Red Raiders lost a lot of talent after last season, but with this prolific system in place Tech usually doesn’t miss a beat. This season, however, they may struggle. I still expect the Raiders to get to a bowl game, but you can forget a top 10 appearance in ’09.

34. Miami – The young talent at Miami is stout. They are ready to put the program back on the map. Too bad they’ll have to wait until next year. How’s this for an opening month; @ Florida State, vs. Georgia Tech, @ Virginia Tech, vs. Oklahoma. The ‘Canes will make some progress, but expect a breakout in 2010.

33. Arkansas– This Razorbacks team is a year away as well. While they return 9 starters on defense, and 8 on offense they have to compete with a loaded SEC West. Not to mention those nine defensive starters started on the 72nd ranked defense in the nation last season. Ryan Mallett will put up grand numbers in ’09, but it wont be nearly enough.

32. Cincinnati – I love what Brian Kelly has done with this program. But only one returning starter on defense will prove to be this team’s downfall in ’09. That’s mainly because of the competition it will face. South Florida, Rutgers, and West Virginia will all be better in ’09.

31. East Carolina– Skip Holtz has a large task. Becoming the hunted rather than the hunter usually brings with it some bumps and bruises. While East Carolina brings back a ton of talent, including QB Pinkney, it will struggle some in ’09. Still, Holtz could parlay 08’s partial success and any success he may gain in ’09 into a big time coaching position elsewhere. My guess: South Carolina, after Spurrier steps down at the end of ’09.

Next month’s edition will feature my top thirty, bowl predictions, conference predictions, preseason All-American teams, and many more exciting features.

Stay tuned.

As of 8:58 on Saturday, June 27, 2009 there are sixty nine days, or 1671 hours, or 100,262 minutes, or 6,015,707 seconds until college football kicks off the 2009 season…I can’t wait.

 

 

 

My Dad, Myself, and Sports

I was introduced to sports at a very early age. I can remember my first exposure to baseball being through baseball cards, and the putrid 1988 Atlanta Braves. My first exposure to my beloved UT Vols was right around the same time. They happened to be awful in 1988 as well.

I can remember cheering for Michael Jordan in 1989 with the Chicago Bulls. I was a big time fan of the 49ers and Joe Montana as well. Dale Murphy was the man on the diamond, and it was all about Chuck Webb for the Vols.

Sure, there was a time of being a frontrunner, or a fairweather fan, but I was six-years-old, so it was allowed. And I figure with the Braves being so awful back then I deserved to pull for a real winner.

Of all those names and teams one thing will always stick out in my mind about my introduction to the world of sports—my dad.

My dad grew up a Tennessee football fan. I did not know I was supposed to hate Alabama or anything Crimson red until he told me Alabama was our biggest rival.

I’ll never forget the time he entered a contest at JC Penney to guess the score of the Tennessee vs. Alabama game in 1993. The closest to the actual score would win a Tennessee or Alabama shirt of their choosing.

Tennessee had not defeated Alabama since 1985 at the time. My dad wrote down 17-15, Tennessee. And that was the score until David Palmer scored the two-point conversion at the end of an 83 yard, 83 second TD drive with only 21-seconds left in the game. The final was 17-17 because there was no such thing as overtime in college football in those days. We were crushed. But dad still won the shirt.

Of course that game was officially forfeited to the Vols a few years later when Alabama faced their first in a decade-plus of probation for cheating. But I digress.

Dad and I were planted in front of the TV as John Smoltz and Greg Olson celebrated the Atlanta Braves worst-to-first Division clincher in 1991. Then we cried as we watched Kirby Puckett and Jack Morris celebrate the Twins World Series Game Seven win over our beloved Braves.

In 1992, we were on pins and needles as Atlanta’s third-string catcher, Francisco Cabrera, came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded, down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth in Game Seven of the NLCS against the Pirates. We went crazy as Cabrera hit the ball past Jay Bell at SS. We went even crazier when the slowest player in the game, Sid Bream, slid safely into home plate with the game winning run that sent the Braves to their second consecutive World Series.

We watched with sheer joy in 1995 as Marquis Grissom squeezed the final out of the ’95 World Series to finally bring the Braves a world championship. And of course, we watched a year later as Mark Wohlers grooved a hanging curveball to Jim Leyritz in Game Four of the World Series. Atlanta was up 6-0 in a game that would have sent them to a commanding 3-1 series lead, but that Leyritz three-run HR tied it and the Yankees won it in extra innings. A few days later the Yankees would send us home crying again.

On Jan. 4, 1999 a house full of people, dad, and I watched as our beloved UT Vols defeated Florida State to give Tennessee its first national title since 1951, two years before my dad was born.

Dad was with me for every high school basketball game at Tennessee Temple High School. Dad actually drove me 80 miles to little Clarke Range, Tennessee to watch my school advance to the state championship tournament.

He then drove us 70 miles one-way to watch the Mighty Crusaders in the ’98 State Tournament. There we saw Temple get utterly shafted in the championship game against Ezell-Harding.

As a matter of fact, we still go to games at my alma mater together. Of course now I have two kids of my own that we take with us.

We were in Knoxville for the Tennessee-Florida game in 2000 when Florida WR Jabar Gaffney dropped a TD pass for the game winning score with mere seconds left.

We were at the 2001 Tennessee-Georgia game in Knoxville when QB David Greene led the Bulldogs to a last-second game winning TD to send us home in utter disappointment.

Throughout my life, my dad has always been there. Whether it was sports, church, or school, he has always been my hero.

You see, my dad did all of these things with me despite working third shift for the majority of my childhood. When that came to an end, he became the pastor of a church, which he has been with for close to 20 years.

No matter what, he always found time to spend with his only child.

He taught me how to play baseball, how to throw a football, and how to shoot a basketball.

He was my coach, my mentor, and my spiritual adviser. He taught me about Jesus, the Bible, and how to pray. He taught how to treat a lady, how to drive, and how to respect authority. He taught me about life.

Sure, there are times even these days where I don’t understand some things about life. Who is the first one there to help me in those times? My dad.

He’s the first one to call and check on me, my wife, and boys everyday. Whenever I need help with my car, lawnmower, or house—he’s there.

I’ll always be thankful for this great man that only God could have arranged to be my father. Sports is only a small portion of what this man has done for me.

My hope and prayer is that my boys can one day say the same about their dad.

Happy Father’s Day!

NFL Draft Review and Various Musings

Saturday’s NFL draft was watched by a ton of people. A ton of people that weren’t watching the NBA or NHL Playoffs. A ton of people that weren’t watching the Yankees and Red Sox annual grudge match. The NFL is far and away the most successful and popular professional sports league in America.

Here’s the most notable picks and draft classes of the weekend.

Great

NY Jets – The Jets only picked three players, yet they had by far the best draft of any team. Mark Sanchez will be this year’s Matt Ryan. Ryan came into a system that already had the pieces in place, but needed a decent-enough QB to not mess it up. The Jets are in the same position.

Then to get Shonn Greene with the first pick of the third round was an ingenious move. Greene only fell from the first round because of his 40-time.  

Greene could have easily been the fourth best RB in this draft. The teams that passed on him because of a few-hundredth’s of a second will be kicking themselves in three years or less.

Philadelphia Eagles– Having Jeremy Maclin fall into their laps was a stroke of luck. But when you throw in LeSean McCoy at 56 it should be considered a coup. The Eagles strengthened that offense and should be considered a threat this year in the NFC East.

 

Other teams that made out like a villain:

Cleveland Browns

Seattle Seahawks

Green Bay Packers

 

Good

Atlanta Falcons– I cannot separate the pre-draft trade that Atlanta pulled off to get Tony Gonzalez. This was a remarkable deal for the Falcons.  

First-rounder Peria Jerry will turn out to be great pick for these guys. His game translates well to the pros. The Falcons definitely strengthened the defense with plenty of young talent in this draft. No one knows how prospects will eventually turn out, but strengthening defensive depth with young, talented potential is always a good thing.

 

Indianapolis Colts – The Colts surprised everyone with its first round pick of RB Donald Brown from UConn. It was a needed move considering Addai’s injuries and inconsistency. The fact that Fili Moala was available at No. 56 overall is beyond me. Thankfully the Colts snatched him up and also added DT Terrance Taylor from Michigan later in the draft.

 

Fourth rounder—Austin Collie is a perfect fit at WR for the Colts. He’ll remind a lot of people of Brandon Stokley. He will line up in the slot and will become one of Peyton’s premier go-to guys underneath.  

I still wonder why the Colts did not take an LB in this draft.

 

Other teams that did well:

NY Giants

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

  

Acceptable

Pittsburgh Steelers – The defending Super Bowl champs took the best available player with their first round pick. Ziggy Hood is a premier defensive player and should have a great pro career.

 

All the “experts” were shocked when the Steelers didn’t take C Max Unger with that first pick. They did address that aging O-Line with third round pick of G Kraig Urbik and seventh round pick of C A.Q. Shipley. It was an overall a decent draft for Mike Tomlin and crew.

 

Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford will not earn his No. 1 pick status in 2009. However, 2010 and beyond will be bright in Detroit. I do not buy for one minute all the talk that Stafford is overrated and that the Lions made a mistake in taking him.

Mark Sanchez has stepped into an ideal opportunity. Matthew Stafford has not. Sanchez will be better in year one. But Stafford has the brightest future of the two as being a top NFL QB. Once Detroit puts more pieces in place the sky is the limit for the former Bulldog.  

Later in the first round Detroit took TE Brandon Pettigrew making their first round a great one. The third round pick of WR Derrick Williams should further help this offense. Too bad they needed more on defense than they picked.   

Other teams that didn’t wow anyone, but did just enough:  

Houston Texans

Denver Broncos

Miami Dolphins

Dallas Cowboys

  

Bad

K.C. Chiefs – How do you pass on LB Aaron Curry? He was as close to a “sure thing” in this draft as anyone. While Tyson Jackson is no slouch, the Chiefs should have taken the Linebacker with the third overall pick, and should have gone after one of the many quality D-Linemen available with its third-round pick.

 

A Whole New Level of Bad

Oakland Raiders – Heyward-Bey would have been available in the second round. This guy caught five TD passes last season. He was selected because of speed and speed only. Al Davis is a fool and is going to pay this guy at least five-million per season more than he had too.  

Unfortunately for Raiders fan the madness did not stop there. The Raiders took S Michael Mitchell from Ohio with its second round pick. Michael Mitchell wasn’t even invited to the combine in March! Mitchell was a seventh-round pick and the Raiders wasted a top-fifteen second round pick on him!

The Raiders will continue to pick in the top 10 as long as Al Davis is running the show.

 

Other useless information from the draft…and various Colts notes:

• How do you measure the success and popularity of the NFL? When you consider that the NFL Draft drew more viewers than the NBA Playoffs, the NHL Playoffs, and the rivalry series between the Red Sox and Yankees…combined!

• Is it just me or did Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Don Banks, and Peter King all miss badly on their mock drafts? Quit predicting and just tell us who the best prospects are guys. Seriously.

• I am proud of myself for picking Austin Collie to go to the Colts in the fourth round. Of course he was picked with their second pick of the fourth instead of the first, which I thought, but I deserve some credit don’t I? Collie is a Colt. He looks like a Colt and has all the characteristics of a Colts WR. Perfect fit.

• Word has it Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt created new cuss words to express his displeasure over the Colts beating him to RB Donald Brown. Arizona had apparently coveted Brown for weeks. Bill Polian is still the master.

• I understand needing a third-string QB behind Peyton, and Jim Sorgi. But did the Colts really have to draft Purdue QB Curtis Painter in the sixth round? I don’t think so. I’d rather see LSU, LB, Darry Beckwith selected there. Then again Beckwith was not picked by anyone. So maybe the Colts know something I do not.

• As I stated above, Fili Moala, is a heckuva pick-up late in the second half. When Polian and Co. realized he was still available they traded up five slots to take him.

  This is why the Colts were able to go with a RB in the first round rather than taking Ziggy Hood. Hood is a tad quicker than Moala. But Moala is bigger, and that’s what Indy needed.

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