It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

I’m thoroughly enjoying the playoffs this year.  Everything that’s going on has been thoroughly enjoyable.  Admittedly, I’ve been following the NHL playoffs only through SportsCenter.  And I’ve been watching predominately the late NBA games.  However, getting home late has afforded me the opportunity to watch Inside the NBA on TNT nightly.  No homo, I love having EJ, the Jet, C-Webb and Charles in my life on a nightly basis.  I really like how Webber clams up right around 1:55 every night, never fails…

Hockey has been entertaining.  I love when things go wrong and the number 1 seeded San Jose Sharks going down to the 8^th seeded Anaheim Ducks has been the best.  My ‘Guins beat down the collie molesting Philadelphia Flyers.  (And I don’t mean to imply that I actually follow the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Just a little bit of local pride – I enjoy the run and love when anything Pittsburgh is doing well.  Except Terrelle Pryor.  But that’s only because I hate Ohio.  Almost as much as I hate West Virginia.  I’m happy Pittsnogle is fat and teaches special education now…)

Furthermore I’m oddly content that Barry Melrose got fired earlier this year by the Ning.  I just don’t believe anyone else telling me anything about hockey.  I’m glad the Rangers and Devils both shit the bed.  However, that means that the Washington Capitals are still in the playoffs.  I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t like Ovechkin.  He’s like a Russian Border Collie molester or something.  Maybe I’m spoiled by my workman-like hockey Gods.  But I think LeMeiux is the best hockey player of all-time NOT named Gordie Howe.  And I think Crosby has the chance to be the best hockey player of this generation.  He just has to rise to this occasion now and outplay that lil Capital Cunt.  Oh, and I hope things are particularly sour between Ovechkin and Gene Malkin.

As far as the NBA playoffs go, I’m happy to see Davey letting the men play the game.  This tournament seems chippier than those in recent memory.  Maybe it’s just the Orl-Phi series and Dwight ‘I don’t care who you are, my elbows will kill you’ Howard.  What are the odds that he took a cut at Lee just to show that he wasn’t aiming for Dalembert, his elbows flail as though separate from the rest of him.  Talk about your all time backfires.

Then you have the coaches coming up big as well.  Did you see the guy from the Rangers?  Dude had a stick and was ready to climb over the glass to get to a fan.  Look, I’m not an advocate of charging the stands and fighting the patrons.  But if it’s escalated to the point where an implement of blunt death need be summoned, I think some deeper issues need be reconciled.  Doc Rivers had my favorite line after game 4 of his series with Chi-Town.  ‘Maybe we like the pizza. It’s frickin’ good.’  If this were the NFL, Doc Rivers would have been drawn and quartered.  And his children raped.  (Though the last part would probably just be a regular Saturday night for Pacman…fuckin’ West Virginia) 

Phil Jackson said if he were building a franchise he’d start with Dwight Howard and everyone was up in arms that A) he didn’t pick LeBron and B) was that a back handed slap at Kobe?  Look, Phil and Kobe are natural enemies along the lines of me and white women – some things just aren’t meant to be…And for the first accusation.  Yea, maybe it’s a little dig at Bronnie.  Maybe he’s tryna rent space in that Global Icon head of the King’s.  Or maybe still, the Zen Master realizes the one caveat of basketball that I was told when I was 11 (I think it was meant as a deterrent for me).  You can’t teach size, but you can coach it, unless it’s attached to Shawn Bradley.

My favorite coaching quote though came from Ron Jeremy, I mean Stan Van Gundy.  After D-IDCWYAMEWKY-Ho was called for a normal foul and not ejected, Philly’s coach DiLeo made light of the situation to the press and said he would request the league look into it.  As soon as SVG sat down he asked if he should talk about the game or cry about the officiating.  He didn’t know what he was there to do.  I loved it.  Even the coaches are getting’ chippy.  Remember, his big brother hung onto Alonzo Mourning’s leg for a quarter-length of the court back in the 90s, I think the Van Gundy’s know how to scrap.

Lost in everything is the surprising outcomes from Texas.  I don’t know that I wrote it (and I’m too lazy to review) but I thought that Dallas was way overrated, worse than Detroit.  Then they came out and put it on the Dy-Nasty.  I know you’re going to talk about a hobbled a TD and a missing Argentinian.  I don’t care.  Dallas went in there and pillaged the Alamo.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Dirk got blitzed off Heffeweisen and pissed off the Riverwalk for an added fuck you.

Even better is how Houston is handling Portland.  Game 4 was a fucking clinic.  Houston had no business being in the game with how they were shooting.  Portland had no business being in that game with how they were working.  In the end, the horses won.  Houston simply held court at home and can close out tomorrow night in the House the Chinaman built.

And I won't even mention N'Awlins total no-show this post season.  I know they're without Tyson Chandler.  But how do you lose by 58?  In the playoffs no less.  This definitely has to hurt Chris Paul's MVP status.  Do you think there's any chance in hell that Bron or Kobe go out like that in the playoffs?  Even Dirk Diggler's MVP year a few years back wasn't so unceremoniously.  And I hear you that he's hurt, but 58?  Fifty-fucking-eight?!?!  It makes me sick to my stomach.  I have to move on...

This Celtics-Bulls series has been the best in show thus far.  Everyone and their mother’s tomato plant, wrote off the defending champs soon as it was announced that KG would be out for the entirety of April, May and June.  (Though I still maintain that the Big Ticket would return for game 7 in Cle if it meant numbers18 and 2.  Again stop reading if you don’t get that.)  I was going so far as to declare the C’s to be my dark horse finals favorite, along with Portland.  Then they both went out and lost game 1’s at home.  This is why I stopped wagering on sporting events. 

I don’t think that either of these teams make it out of the next round because they will have exerted so much energy in this series.  But Orlando can’t put Philly away and D-IDCWYAMEWKY-Ho was suspended for game 6.  This Bos-Chi series reminds me of the Big East tournament.  Just heavyweights throwing haymakers.  That’s all they know how to do.  And it’s great but it ultimately won’t win you the ‘chip this year.  I do thank God every night, however, that the NBA expanded the first round to seven-game series a few years back.

And by the way, I think that Rondo foul was way worse than D-IDCWYAMEWKY-Ho's.  Howard was definitely chippy but Rondo took an open shot at an opponents head.  After the game, Doc praised Rajon for his heart, saying that you don't give up easy layups, especially in the playoffs.  I agree with the sentiment whole heartedly.  I don't agree with Rondo's methods.  It wasn't a smart foul.  He was nowhere near the ball.  Brad Miller should have had a hoop and a harm, but I fear he had a Nam-like flash back to the Diesel swringing past his ear.  It just seemed the dumber of the two.  Howard's was meant to be incindiary and he probably should have been ejected, but not suspended for this next game.  Whereas I think Rondo should have been whistled for the L-2 and sent packing for game 6.  (Sorry, no of that frickin good pizza pie for you Rajon!)

I know I’m looking forward to the main course.  LeBron vs Kobe.  23 vs 24.  King James vs Jack Bauer.  Everything else is just gravy right now.  The NBA is so much better than everything else out there.  The league finally grew into itself.  The younger teams are right there poised to make a run one of these years.  The old guard sunk early this year, but San Antone will be back.  I wrote earlier what I think of Detroit.  This is the best part of 40 games in 40 nights.  First one to 16 wins…

Both Teams Played Hard

Is it me or has anyone been rendered more irrelevant in a shorter amount of time than Tracy McGrady?  I’ve been watching this Houston franchise the last few years in the playoffs just roll over and die.  And every year it’s the same pre-season spiel.  Maybe this is the year that the Rockets put it together.  Well this year it finally was.  But it’s thanks to the selfless play of guys like RonRon and Battier, as well as a young roster who was ready to do into battle and fight with honor.

That wasn’t the point to this article though.  I was looking moreso to talk about the Eastern Conference playoffs.  Earlier Sunday afternoon, John Saunders said last rites over the Detroit Pistons 2008-2009 season.  For those of you who don’t know, Cleveland ended the Pistons season in a particularly unspectacular sweeping motion.  When I heard Saunnie proclaim the death of the Pistons today I thought he got it wrong.

The Pistons were dead the day they traded C-Bill for AI.  C-Bill, as it turns out, was the heart and soul of this mini-dynasty they had kicking in MoTown.  He took the big shots, he ran the show and he made sure all the egos enmeshed and worked properly.  AI needed the rock more than made Rip an efficient player.  Then he took Rip’s spot and it just seemed to put the team down.

That pretty much sucks, because you’re looking at a squad in transition.  Tay still has a bit of fight left in him.  At least enough to play the KG-ish role on another championship caliber team.  Stuckey might be able to be the guy to lead a team in the right direction, so long as he doesn’t have to deal with Mr. WeTalkinBoutPractice and Mr. CTC. 

I’m not bashing AI and ‘Sheed to make them look like the villains of the Western world.  They’re two of my favorites and I think they can bring a lot to the table in the right situation.  I think that situation exists for Rasheed.  Off the top of my head, I don’t know where it is.  I think he’d be a fine fit for somewhere that has a strong alpha male.  I think Phoenix could be intriguing for ‘Sheed.  They’ve got enough of the good guys to keep him in line.  And he could be hella useful in a modified SSOL-system.  (I had started to write that he COULD return to Portland, but there isn't enough of an Alpha yet up there to keep him in check.)

AI is a tougher sell at this point.  Where can he go?  A team like OKC isn’t even an option because he needs the ball too much and they have too many impressionable youths that he could outright ruin.  I don’t think he’s willing to play second fiddle to anyone.  And that’s the main problem for him.  Charlotte might could work for him, but that’s assuming Jordan has anything to do with the Bobcats and would be around to impart some wisdom for Alley Eye.  Memphis maybe would work because they’re just a side show at this point, same as Iverson.

Granted, upon further review, the Billups trade makes sense from a financial standpoint.  Those last two come off the books this year to the tune of some $30M.  I don’t have the exact numbers in front of me nor do I know what Chauncey’s deal is worth.  There is one thing that I’m willing to bank on though – Joe D’s knowledge of what he’s doing with his squadron.  I’d go out on a limb to wager that he’s ready to hand the reigns over to Rodney, get a couple more good years out of Rip and Tay, watch Maxiell, Will Bynum and Afflalo grow, see if this Kwame Brown experiment pays dividends and let McDyess step into the big brother role.  Then move on a big name this summer, coupled with a solid draft.  Or hell even use the cash considerations to buy a lottery pick from a cash strapped team and develop the hell out of someone. 

That thought process might not fit into the life plan of Richard Hamilton.  But I think there is enough of a market for Rip that you can even move him despite his one year price tag of $11M+.  He could be that guy who pushes a team thisclose over the edge.  Imagine him on a one year rental in Houston, Portland or NO.  I’m not going to consider anyone from the East because I don’t think Joe D wants to knowingly give a guy like Rip to a potential foe.  Imagine Rip in Miami – I think Dwyane Wade would like that muy mucho.

What the hell was I saying?  Oh yea, I was lamenting that the demise of the Pistons extended back to the original Billups trade.  Today was merely the lowering of the casket and the last few months were an extended wake, allowing the rest of the L to see the corpse of the team that has contended for the Eastern Conference title the last 6 year running.  Today we said goodbye to a friend that we really lost a while back when the cancer (Iverson) took over and became inoperable (taking Rip's spot).  It was also so fitting that ‘Sheed just walked out after the game.  No memorable quotes or nothing.  He just walked out of the locker room, headphones at his temples.  Good bye Rasheed, here’s to seeing you in the desert next fall…

General Random Debauchery

I was fortunate to take part in a great sociological experiment yesterday.  I am a huge fan of these.  They’re so much more fun when you have people there with a camera.  And I’m good at them because I have the ability to not break character – at least that’s what the legend in his own mind thinks…

Any rate, it was our last day on the set of Zombie Chronicles (www.whataretheinfected.com, peep it) and we the shot list was a little erratic.  We had to shoot the zombies big scene, a hallway chase then the action that follows, with the zombies camped out at the front door.  (I think I’m not giving much away in anything I’ve said.  Apologies if you think I am…)  After that, there were some interiors between the humanoids for which the zombies were not needed.  then we would finish off the night with an interior for which the zombies WERE needed. 

Well, Marvin was kind enough to give us a 2+ hour break.  Some of the zombies elected to take off their make up and get redone.  (Shouts to Arielle for doing a great job filling in on short notice.)  I, along with my boy Leon elected NOT to remove the make up.  the extended ‘lunch’ went well enough at first with us just going outside the building and chilling on the benches.  But that was far from enough.  We decided to hoof it down to the South St. Seaport.  (The location was right near the Manhattan Bridge, so not too far a jaunt.)

We took the bike path along the East River passing families with kids who were slightly horrified.  We past a few couples on dates and their conversations just stopped dead.  There were the guys finishing who just stopped and stared.  On the way back there was one drunk who asked me if I was Michael Jackson, then proceeded to belt out a drunken rendition of Thriller.

The best part was when we did get to the Seaport though.  It was just your normal average beautiful spring Saturday for many of the families, couples and groups of friends – until they saw a yolked black zombie with a gaping head wound and a big white zombie bleeding from his ear.  (Such a great wound, I have to pat myself on the back for the idea…)  So we rolled up on a group standing and watching the dancers/acrobats.  I was hoping to get in behind a group of people and have one of them turn around and have the black family at the movies reaction.  No such luck however.

We continued to the inside because the fat kid had to make pee-pee’s.  the stares were just great.  There was a little kid who came in the bathroom and ended up going next to me.  Then he looked up and I think he won’t go again for a couple weeks.  That’s how fast he stopped midstream and ran off.  I felt bad for that one because I was doing my best to not make extended eye contact with anyone.  I didn’t want anyone to think I was staring them down. 

I liked it better just walking through looking dead ahead with unblinking eyes.  I would change up my facial expressions too.  At first I was going with the cold dead ahead blank Terminator stare.  Then I started to mix in the pained look like I had just caught an ass whooping.  (I did have a badly bloody ear as it were.  Oh and a white T with dripping blood.) 

Victor was great too because he took some video which I hope he posts to facebook of people stopping and staring on our walk.  There was one guy who was taking pictures of Brooklyn, then stepped in front of us and I walked very close by him.  He turned to see who was invading his personal space and looked right into my bloody ear.  Then Leon was right behind me with the gaping head wound.  Priceless.

It was overall just so much fun.  Kids were scared.  Adults were shocked.  Short Asian people were horrified.  Then we had to go back to work.  And it just lacked a lil of the panache.  Until I started dancing to the one song, ‘I can’t take it any longer … I hate this part right here…’  I was gettin down, son!  Much love to my zombie peoples and please peep the site – www.whataretheninfected.com  There are so many people’s hard work that have gone into the project.  It is still my understanding that this project is just one in a series.  Thank you guys for a great experience.  Good times had by many…mostly those who weren’t at the South St. Seaport yesterday around 6:30 PM…

Draft Notes

I wish I could say I had a true horse in the race tomorrow for the Steelers draft.  Sadly I don’t.  I think I’m cool with them going after the best available.  The most sensical rumors I’ve heard thus far came from Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  (I’m nice like that son!)

Eddie B said that they’re looking at a defensive lineman.  They have a very good D-Line right now, but everyone there is over age 30.  I’m cool with that.  The boys always gotta reload and they know the right way to do it.

I also wouldn’t be mad if they got a DB or someone for the OL.  I’m interested to see if they move that pick though.  If memory serves, they’ve moved up the last couple years to get the guys they wanted.  I wouldn’t be mad if they moved down if there’s no one high enough on their board.  Though with a pick that late, it’s kinda like drafting in the second round anyways. 

I think there’s a much larger problem at hand though for these franchises and drafting.  Matthew Stafford juist signed a contract with the Lions to become the number one pick in this year’s draft.  The deal is worth $78M with some $41M guaranteed.  Really?  Reall?!?  A guy who’s never played a snap.  A guy who has a 40% chance of failing (the statistic for underclassmen quarterbacks in the draft).  That guy is worth so much fucking money?

They keep talking about how this is going to be a deal point of the next CBA.  We’re heading for the uncapped year next year if they don’t get the deal done.  The talking heads on the tube have mentioned the inanity of the top picks who get so much money.  About how the guys who are established in the league should be the ones getting so much money.

It’s a topic worth the discussion.  I’d love to see some of the guys walking off over this issue.  It’s the one time I’d side with the millionaires.  If you’re one of the first 5-8 picks in the draft you never have to prove yourself to get that life changing money.  Then you have the guys who play their way into that role and if they’re lucky enough to not get hurt, they’ll get that life changing money in their second contract.

I remember hearing one time that the average NFL career was 3 years.  You’re eligible for a pension after 4 years.  These guys put themselves (knowingly) on the line week in and week out.  They should definitely be rewarded.  But only after they’ve proven it time and again.  cap the contract to a 3-year maximum length and bring down the dough.  Yea, there will be guys who outperform that initial contract.  But a guy like Ryan Leaf won’t fuck up a franchise for half a decade.

Trade Demands

In light of the rumors that Daniel Snyder is looking to draft a QB tomorrow, Jason Campbell has said he will request a trade from the team.  I understand that as a franchise QB you want to feel you have the support of the franchise.  But Campbell needs to play like a franchise QB before it’s imperative he’s treated like one. 

I think Pat Bowlen has set a dangerous precedent in his handling of the Jay Cutler situation.  Of course the two scenarios are wildly different.  Cutler is a kind of proven starter and I think the most telling stat for the young man is his 13-1 record in games where the defense gave up less than 21 points.  When you have to throw that caveat on a quarterback’s record, your team has some deep seeded issues.

Now Jason Campbell is not a terrible quarterback.  I’m a huge fan of his, dating back to his time at Auburn – I’m a big fan of SEC football, I think it’s the best in the country week in and week out.  I’d love to see him succeed in Washington.  I got no beef with the Skins – I even own a Doug Williams jersey.  (Why?  C’mon a black quarterback Super Bowl MVP – why would I NOT own his jersey?)

I gotta tell JC to sit down and shut up on this one though.  If you’ve never won a Super Bowl, been to a Super Bowl, played in a conference championship game or even WON a playoff game, you are not irreplaceable.  The point is for the team to get better.  And has he not noticed that his owner will sign any and everyone to his team?  Dude, my fat ass got called to play line backer last week after they heard how mean I looked as a zombie in some of the dailies.  (You like the subtle hint?  Go to www.whataretheinfected.com)

Beyond that there is a striking trend now to forcing your way out of town and into another ‘better’ situation.  This has long been a trend in the NBA.  Give a guy franchise money, then you don’t have enough left over to get a good second banana, so the team never goes beyond the first round of the playoffs.  So said guy bitches about how the franchise isn’t committed to winning and the fans buy into it because it’s true, they aren’t winning.  But if the guy didn’t sign for max money and instead leave a lil cap room for someone else to come into a good situation, you could win.  PS – KG willed that one Wolves team to the conference finals.  And he never complained.  He’s the one guy who I’m cool with getting traded to a ‘contender’.  The Big Ticket has always been a class act in my eyes.  No homo.

I’m glad to see Paul Brown not giving in to Chad Ochocinco.  I love how guys over estimate their market value.  Then they get out into the open waters and there are limited takers – at least in the price range they were hoping for.  So they go back with their tail between their legs.  That happened with Manny Ramirez this year.

This is far from a football only problem.  This Campbell thing is just the latest incidence of it.  You can look through all of sports for guys tryna force their way out and generally getting their way.  Because the owner doesn’t want a locker room cancer.  I think my favorite manner of handling these situations was the Knicks this year with Starbury.  I wish they wouldn’t have bought him out.  They shoud have left him sit.  What’s the point of paying him $1M less and letting him go to another team (the C’s) when he can sit around and collect the full nut? 

So yea, I hope Paul Brown stays steadfast in his ways.  Chad has a Heisman winner chuckin him the ball.  He could end up with another first rounder lining up across from him.  I wanna see Campbell honor the rest of his contract with the Skins.  He should be pushed at work.  We all are, why should an unproven athlete be different? 

And I’ll not defend Cutler’s means of handling his situation.  But how could a new coach come in and try to anoint a one hit wonder who’s not taken snaps on a consistent basis since he was in high school?  Especially when you have a kid with a laser rocket arm, who might be a very good young QB.  I’ll be rooting for Chicago now, even though Cutler doesn’t have a great nickname like the Sex Cannon.

NBA Playoffs Preview

As I tossed and turned early Saturday morning, I was thinking in my head (where else would I think?) about writing a lil NBA playoffs preview. Make some predictions. Hand out some hardware. I figured it could be a great idea.
I even went so far as to text Barnes and Miggy with my big upset. My dark horse NBA Finals match up was Boston-Portland. That was a stretch before they both gave away home court. Now I feel like a real heel. I know the C’s were a huge reach without KG, but I just could see him pulling a Willis Reed if they made it to a game 7 vs. Cleveland. He’d sacrifice his career to get numbers 2 and 18. (If you don’t know what I mean, stop reading now…)
I’m (or maybe, was) really sold on this Portland team. I had seen very little, okay none, of them this season. I’d been reading, watching some highlights and I caught their season closer the other night on TNT. The Rose Garden always brings their A-Game – they did dating back to the Jail Blazer days. It just seems like a great crowd to play in front of. B-Roy’s performance has been scrumtrulescent this season.
I think of the two teams in my dark horse match up, Portland had/has the best shot at making it to play for the O’Brien Trophy. It would take a tremendous effort to get through Los Angeles, but I think the Blazers are the team most prepared to walk into the Staples Center and come away with some W’s.
Beyond that, I have to agree with the notion that this is the Lakers/Kobe’s year to get their chip. The Cavs and the Heat are only going to get better, as long as their stars stay put. Portland and NO are on the rise out West. NO, with their playoff experience last year might seem to be the team better equipped to make the leap this year, but I think they have too many injuries and question marks (read: changes to last year’s lineup) to properly apply last year’s experience. After all, why did they fall to the 7-seed this year?
In the end, I’m fairly confident we’re heading for a Cle-LAL finals. Those two have just been too good all year long. After them, every other team seems to have that major/tragic flaw. Believe me, I’d love to have Kobe choke his chicken and not make it to 12 wins. I just can’t imagine it happening.
Having said that, the MVP race still seems to be a source of controversy. In hindsight, last year the award should have gone to the Big Ticket. Look at the difference in the C’s without Garnett. They struggled on the road last year, not at home. (Then again, last year Pooh was in Memphis feasting on Gummi Bears and Co-eds by the handsful.) That would make this year’s award the property of one Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant. And I’d have no problem with that. I think LeBron’s transformation into…the Evolution?...puts him head and shoulders above the other candidates. Yet, Dwyane Wade’s season was simply sublime. That roster is so half assed and they landed a 5-seed. Thank you, Mr. 2005 NBA Finals MVP.
So we’re right back to where we started, there is no clear cut MVP. It sucks when it rains and pours. As opposed to when the league is depleted, I’m looking at your Mr. Nash. These cats are all worthy winners and I’d even go so far as to accept arguments for Paul, Chris; Roy, Brandon and O’Neal, Shaquille. I know they didn’t make the tourney for the O’Brien trophy, but the Diesel had a renaissance season for big man ‘that age’. I will not however accept Dwight Howard’s application due to subpar performances against the quality bigs.
In conclusion, they playoffs will not surprise to anyone. They will play out like the NCAA Tournament. The Big East will be splendtacular but not make it to the Finals. I’ll see you guys for Game 7 for the O’Brien trophy from Cleveland in a month and a half. Here’s to Kobe crying like a little bitch when Bronnie gets his first Chip.

NFL Ramblings...

Alright, there’s enough going on here now in the NFL that I can’t really do an entire article on it but I think I can patch together some of my ideas for a coherent rambling. At least I hope it’s coherent. I don’t think much of anything I do could/would be described as coherent. Yet, I digress…
First and foremost are my boys with their resigning of James Harrison. I have to admit I thought they’d offer him a short term deal that he’d have better odds of finishing out. And honestly I feel like he’s a stopgap kinda player. The Steelers go through linebackers like they’ve been drafting them well since the 70s. (Oh, wait…) You’ve got the kids Timmons and Woodley right there nipping at their heels and this is definitely a corps in transition. You’ve got some of the vets who are doing it off muscle memory, albeit still performing at a high level. I guess they think Harrison is worth the deal. And I don’t hate it, though he is going to be 31 as of kickoff this season. Remember, this dude was on practice squads and getting cut for years before he caught on with the Steelers. That’s a few years of wear and tear he saved on his body by not taking the punishment at a young age. To be honest, this jury member is hung (that’s what she said) on this subject. I hope it ends well, but in the long run I don’t know...
I think the Mark Sanchez saga is going to have a bizarre twist come draft day. He was invited as they’ve expanded the field of invites. I don’t know if they did this to cut down on the Brady Quinn factor or heighten it. Kiper and McShay oscillate between his placement in and out of the top ten picks. And the latest has him going to Frisco with the 10th pick. It was odd to me at the time how off put Pete Carroll was when Sanchez declared for the draft. That seems like something that could be a sign to the pro guys about his preparation for this. From a business stand point it’s a good idea though because next year’s draft should feature all the Big 12 guys coming out. So I get his notion to strike while the iron’s hot, but I hope it’s not the Niners that take him. Who knows what size his hands are…
Greg Paulus was the epitome of a quarterback when he was in high school, the second coming of Johnny Unitas, Steve Young and Kyle Boller, if you listen to the sports broadcasters. Yet the Duke football coach said he won’t accept Paulus into his system. I guess it’s the years of national prominence that allow him to make such sweeping declarations. I get his point, it’s a pro-style offense that took Peyton and Eli years to learn. Though I wonder how fast either of them could pick up Su Doku, aw gee shucks, ma’am, I just wanna th’ow a foo’ball. (Sorry I tend not to trust things south of the Manson-Nixon line.) But that has made for some interesting drama. First reports indicate he worked out for the Green Bay Packers. I’m glad they’re putting forth a good show of faith with Aaron Rogers. Next came word that Rich Rodriguez had him into Ann Arbor. I suppose he’s hoping the sideshow of having a cast asunder point guard will make everyone forget that his team had 3 wins last year. All’s well that ends well I guess…
Now there are two wide receivers who are allegedly on the market. Anquan Boldin and his contract issues with the Cardinals and Braylon Edwards and his catching issues with the football appear to be on the move. I get that AZ can afford to let Boldin go because they have Larry Fitz, but it’ll definitely hurt Fitzy’s production. Wait, what am I saying – I have no clue if it will hurt him. He’s a machine and he might be able to do better with three guys on him than two. But what is Cleveland doing in parting with Brady Quinn’s only potential weapon. I say potential because I wonder how many takes they needed to get that 5-hour energy boost commercial. And now the New York Football Giants are interested in Braylon for his Plaxico-ness. Big guy, go-getter, free up the underneath. I’d agree that he’d be good for Steve Smith, Mario Manninham and Sinorice Moss, IF he could actually strike fear in the heart of defenses. I’d hope to see the NYG go after ‘Quan but with what happened last time he was in New York, I wouldn’t blame him for not wanting to play in Giants Stadium…
I’m sure there’s something I missed in there that I was thnking about earlier but I can’t remember what it was. So it’s with God now. Good luck deciphering my rambling. I hope it was quasi-coherent...