By The Grazianimal-
La-Reeey!
Is the number two pick in your fantasy football draft. Herm and all.
Adrian Peterson (Minny)- So upright, just what the league needs. No question why he gets hurt though.
I am so stupid to take Peyton in the middle of the first, but not Reggie.
I am biased due to my allegiance to the Steelers, but the kid could win another one as the 19th best quarterback in football.
I hope Eli kicks [butt] this season. That hangdog bull[crap] can walk right the hell out of town. Big Blue is a bunch of suckers though.
Jeremy Shockey isn’t as good as Kellen Winslow. “The U” [stinks] in New York.
Mangini needs to open up a little. He ain't that funny.
Joey Galloway is not done.
Miami is done.
Watch Big Bill run it all day. Brady hits Moss in week 5.
To T.O.,
Drop fewer passes! Romo is going to need it.
That was a love letter.
And I am a ‘Skins fan. Take it off baby! I watched three ‘Skins plays this pre-season and the third had me contemplating a Mark Brunell reunion.
I am going take my jinx to Dallas.
Does anybody like reading these bull-honkey streams of consciousness?
grazianimal@columnist.com
I met RoboCop and now he is a TV star. Turning gold to bronze since 1947 baby.
Draft so well in your league that you can take Vick in the second to last just to show what a forgiving champion you can be.
I am sorry for abusing the theory of a paragraph for so long.
Are you thinking about Daunte' as your #2?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
THE GRID VOL. III
By Bryan Palmese, NFL Draft Bible
Why are some teams mired in mediocrity? Better yet, why are there those few cellar dwellers that seem to end up in last place, drafting in the top ton every year? Some teams have figured out the formula and are able to get out of the rut within a few years of solid off-season moves. Let’s be honest, eventually every team has that horrid 5-11 season, loses some key player or players to free agency and doesn’t even come close to the playoffs for a couple of years.
I thought the whole theory behind the draft was to allow the teams with the worst records to snag the top collegiate players the following year, thus improving their talent base. Combine good drafting with some veteran free agents to fill out your problem areas and you should be on your way to a bright future in the league. Of course, this is easier said than done. Just ask fans in Arizona, Cleveland, or Detroit.
I’m not picking on those teams, but they are the three teams that come to mind when I think about organizational frustration. The Cardinals remind me of the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. So many early draft picks, yet they always end up right back in that position the following year, and the next…..and the next year. I think the problem in Detroit has a flattop and name rhymes with Fat Chillin’. And then there’s Cleveland. There is no scientific evidence that supports curses, but in sports, there are curses (*cough* Red Sox *cough*). I’m beginning to think there is a curse hanging over the new Browns since the original franchise bolted for Baltimore in the late ‘90’s.
The Cardinals have been the team du jour in the NFC for the past few seasons and for good reason. In recent years they’ve had a solid defense and a talented offense, with an arsenal of weapons at wide receiver capable of taking it to the house on any given play. At one time they had Jake Plummer at the helm, which was solid enough. The backfield was terrible pre-Edgerrin James and the offensive line has been less than stellar. Jake the Snake is gone and the new signal caller Matt Leinart, is one of the future quarterback stars in this league. They lost former top five draft pick Leonard Davis this past off-season, and used their 2007 number five overall selection on Levi Brown. Brown was slated to go top ten but there are question marks about whether or not he is a true franchise left tackle.
Edge is still carrying the ball and if the offensive line will open some holes, he can still be a top five rusher in the league. Plus, it would alleviate some of the pressure on the young gun Leinart if that line would hold up in the trenches. For the first time in awhile I do believe the Cardinals will challenge for a playoff spot. The NFC West will be an exciting division to watch with all of these young hungry teams battling for supremacy. They have a great young core with the ex-Trojan at quarterback, along with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald at wide out. I think the rookie coach will be a breath of fresh air in the desert this season- and for many more to come.
It’s too easy to kick off the Detroit Lions conversation by making fun of their wide receiver selections the past few seasons. Ahh, who are we kidding. Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams and Calvin Johnson should’ve made the ‘Skins “posse” from the ‘80’s look like a JV team. Matt Millen is so ahead of his time it’s scary. Perhaps his logic was for the Lions to play ironman football. No need to draft other positions of need, just line up Charles Rogers at wide receiver and cornerback. You need a linebacker? Roy Williams, you’re now lining up as the Wheel linebacker. I heard that during the 2005 combine, Mike Williams held his own in the trenches as a guard.
Ok, I beat that dead horse a little too much, but you get the point. This year was a no-brainer in drafting arguably the best player in the draft, Calvin Johnson. To their credit, the Lion defense is getting better and with a couple of pieces added to the puzzle, should be a stout corps for years to come. Kitna was underrated in Cincinnati and should be a solid leader in addition to a mentor for this years second round draft pick Drew Stanton.
Long gone are the days when fans from the Motor City got to cheer Barry Sanders, Mel Gray, and Herman Moore, while Wayne Fontes roamed the Silverdome sidelines. I’d love to see this franchise turn it around and return to the playoffs.
The Cleveland Browns were a storied franchise and their fans are some of the most diehard in the history of this great game. However, those Browns that were a staple in the annals of the AFL and the NFL are no longer in Cleveland. They packed their bags and moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens. The “new” Browns haven’t shared any of the success of the “original” Browns. Their drafting has been horrid and is primarily the reason for their downfall.
How horrid of a start to a franchise can one get? How about Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerrard Warren, and Willie Green as your first picks from ’99 – ’02. The jury is out on “The Soldier”, Kellen Winslow II, as well. They say one bad top ten pick will set your franchise back a few years. Umm, you do the math on three bad first round picks (Willie Green was a second rounder) selected. Cursed? How about Kellen Winslow missing two straight seasons with injuries and their key free agent pick up in ’06 having a season ending injury?
At least this season things look to be better. They added Eric Steinbach and Jamal Lewis on offense. In the draft, they added Joe Thomas to help anchor the offensive line along with trading back into the middle of the draft and stealing golden boy quarterback Brady Quinn. A healthy Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards should make this team better than last year. The fans in Cleveland deserve better than what has been given to them in the last decade.
Houston Texans, pay attention. You are heading down the path of the previously mentioned teams. Though you are given a free ride for a number of years because you are an expansion team, that ride is coming to an end pretty soon. Your defense is shaping up nicely. However, David Carr is a better quarterback than what we saw during his stint in Houston. Matt Schaub is a good young signal caller as well and has the potential to light up the scoreboard. Do something with that offensive line or Schaub, like Carr, will not be able to show the talent that he possesses. Ahman Green is a band-aid on a severe cut and Andre Johnson needs some more help at wide receiver. You passed on Reggie Bush and Vince Young last year. Taking one step forward and two steps back will put you behind the eight ball every year. Be careful Texans brass, this next off-season is a major crossroads for your team.
Never one to shy away from delivering the hammer, Flying Bryan Palmese lays the smackdown on the top NFL stories from around the league, exclusively at NFL Draft Bible.
Email: bryan@nfldraftbible.com
Why are some teams mired in mediocrity? Better yet, why are there those few cellar dwellers that seem to end up in last place, drafting in the top ton every year? Some teams have figured out the formula and are able to get out of the rut within a few years of solid off-season moves. Let’s be honest, eventually every team has that horrid 5-11 season, loses some key player or players to free agency and doesn’t even come close to the playoffs for a couple of years.
I thought the whole theory behind the draft was to allow the teams with the worst records to snag the top collegiate players the following year, thus improving their talent base. Combine good drafting with some veteran free agents to fill out your problem areas and you should be on your way to a bright future in the league. Of course, this is easier said than done. Just ask fans in Arizona, Cleveland, or Detroit.
I’m not picking on those teams, but they are the three teams that come to mind when I think about organizational frustration. The Cardinals remind me of the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. So many early draft picks, yet they always end up right back in that position the following year, and the next…..and the next year. I think the problem in Detroit has a flattop and name rhymes with Fat Chillin’. And then there’s Cleveland. There is no scientific evidence that supports curses, but in sports, there are curses (*cough* Red Sox *cough*). I’m beginning to think there is a curse hanging over the new Browns since the original franchise bolted for Baltimore in the late ‘90’s.
The Cardinals have been the team du jour in the NFC for the past few seasons and for good reason. In recent years they’ve had a solid defense and a talented offense, with an arsenal of weapons at wide receiver capable of taking it to the house on any given play. At one time they had Jake Plummer at the helm, which was solid enough. The backfield was terrible pre-Edgerrin James and the offensive line has been less than stellar. Jake the Snake is gone and the new signal caller Matt Leinart, is one of the future quarterback stars in this league. They lost former top five draft pick Leonard Davis this past off-season, and used their 2007 number five overall selection on Levi Brown. Brown was slated to go top ten but there are question marks about whether or not he is a true franchise left tackle.
Edge is still carrying the ball and if the offensive line will open some holes, he can still be a top five rusher in the league. Plus, it would alleviate some of the pressure on the young gun Leinart if that line would hold up in the trenches. For the first time in awhile I do believe the Cardinals will challenge for a playoff spot. The NFC West will be an exciting division to watch with all of these young hungry teams battling for supremacy. They have a great young core with the ex-Trojan at quarterback, along with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald at wide out. I think the rookie coach will be a breath of fresh air in the desert this season- and for many more to come.
It’s too easy to kick off the Detroit Lions conversation by making fun of their wide receiver selections the past few seasons. Ahh, who are we kidding. Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams and Calvin Johnson should’ve made the ‘Skins “posse” from the ‘80’s look like a JV team. Matt Millen is so ahead of his time it’s scary. Perhaps his logic was for the Lions to play ironman football. No need to draft other positions of need, just line up Charles Rogers at wide receiver and cornerback. You need a linebacker? Roy Williams, you’re now lining up as the Wheel linebacker. I heard that during the 2005 combine, Mike Williams held his own in the trenches as a guard.
Ok, I beat that dead horse a little too much, but you get the point. This year was a no-brainer in drafting arguably the best player in the draft, Calvin Johnson. To their credit, the Lion defense is getting better and with a couple of pieces added to the puzzle, should be a stout corps for years to come. Kitna was underrated in Cincinnati and should be a solid leader in addition to a mentor for this years second round draft pick Drew Stanton.
Long gone are the days when fans from the Motor City got to cheer Barry Sanders, Mel Gray, and Herman Moore, while Wayne Fontes roamed the Silverdome sidelines. I’d love to see this franchise turn it around and return to the playoffs.
The Cleveland Browns were a storied franchise and their fans are some of the most diehard in the history of this great game. However, those Browns that were a staple in the annals of the AFL and the NFL are no longer in Cleveland. They packed their bags and moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens. The “new” Browns haven’t shared any of the success of the “original” Browns. Their drafting has been horrid and is primarily the reason for their downfall.
How horrid of a start to a franchise can one get? How about Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerrard Warren, and Willie Green as your first picks from ’99 – ’02. The jury is out on “The Soldier”, Kellen Winslow II, as well. They say one bad top ten pick will set your franchise back a few years. Umm, you do the math on three bad first round picks (Willie Green was a second rounder) selected. Cursed? How about Kellen Winslow missing two straight seasons with injuries and their key free agent pick up in ’06 having a season ending injury?
At least this season things look to be better. They added Eric Steinbach and Jamal Lewis on offense. In the draft, they added Joe Thomas to help anchor the offensive line along with trading back into the middle of the draft and stealing golden boy quarterback Brady Quinn. A healthy Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards should make this team better than last year. The fans in Cleveland deserve better than what has been given to them in the last decade.
Houston Texans, pay attention. You are heading down the path of the previously mentioned teams. Though you are given a free ride for a number of years because you are an expansion team, that ride is coming to an end pretty soon. Your defense is shaping up nicely. However, David Carr is a better quarterback than what we saw during his stint in Houston. Matt Schaub is a good young signal caller as well and has the potential to light up the scoreboard. Do something with that offensive line or Schaub, like Carr, will not be able to show the talent that he possesses. Ahman Green is a band-aid on a severe cut and Andre Johnson needs some more help at wide receiver. You passed on Reggie Bush and Vince Young last year. Taking one step forward and two steps back will put you behind the eight ball every year. Be careful Texans brass, this next off-season is a major crossroads for your team.
Never one to shy away from delivering the hammer, Flying Bryan Palmese lays the smackdown on the top NFL stories from around the league, exclusively at NFL Draft Bible.
Email: bryan@nfldraftbible.com
GRIDIRON GRUMBLINGS: VOL IV
TO START A ROOKIE QB OR NOT
By Marc Jimenez, NFL Draft Bible
After Brady Quinn’s relatively good performance on Saturday during a
23-20 loss to Detroit, it was easy to figure out that many people would be expecting him to leapfrog over Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson to become the Cleveland Browns starter.
Quinn, who entered in the final 9:20, was 13-of-20 for 155 yards and
two touchdowns. In his brief time on the field, he provided what neither Frye (5-of-10 for 42 yards) nor Anderson (6-of-8 for 68 yards and one interception) could: hope. Hope for a team that has averaged five victories per season since being reinstated in 1999.
Despite the fact that Quinn, who missed sixteen practices due to s contract holdout, played against a soft Lions defense in a preseason game. What was telling about his performance was that he didn’t seem nervous or make any mistakes. Which raises the question: Can he be the Browns quarterback in week one?
Whether or not to start a rookie quarterback in the first game of the season is something all teams must consider at one point or another. The notion becomes even greater for a team that isn’t expected to do well and has a rookie quarterback that might be better than the current throwers. In spite of this, it’s hard to imagine it would ever be a good idea to start a rookie to start the season. Ideally, a young quarterback should feel comfortable running a team’s entire offense before he steps onto the field. After all, the numbers don’t lie.
•Peyton Manning, the No. 1 pick in 1998 and arguably today’s best quarterback, started as a rookie and achieved moderate success by his standards. He threw for 3,739 yards (56.7 pct.) with 26 touchdowns and 28 interceptions for a dismal Colts squad that went 3-13.
•Tom Brady, who was drafted in the sixth round in 2000, completed just one pass for six yards in a 34-9 loss against Detroit in Week 13 his first year. But after an injury to Drew Bledsoe the following season,
Brady started Week two against the Jets and never looked back. The
Golden Boy went on to throw for 2,843 yards (63.9 pct.) with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for an 11-5 Patriot team that went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI.
•David Carr, the No. 1 pick in 2002, took every snap in his rookie season with Houston and as a result he was sacked an NFL record 76 times. He threw for 2,592 yards (52.5 pct.) with 9 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and 19 fumbles for a 4-12 Texans squad. He now serves as Jake Delhomme’s backup in Carolina.
•Carson Palmer, sat on the bench his first season, despite being the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. In 2004, the USC product threw for 2,897 yards (60.9 pct.) with 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in thirteen games for a Cincinnati Bengals team that finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. But one could tell that Palmer was an emerging star.
Clearly, quarterbacks are better off sitting out a year before they take over. Even though they all need experience, throwing them into the fire in week one of their rookie seasons to fend for themselves isn’t the right way to go. A young quarterback can learn a lot by watching; especially when he studies game tapes and learns the speed of the game without risking injury. In essence, a quarterback should have a clear understanding of his team’s objective before he ever takes a snap in a game that matters.
Although it’s unlikely Quinn will be named the Browns opening day starter, public sentiment will make it difficult for Romeo Crennel not to consider it. Frye is expected to start against Denver in Cleveland's third preseason game, followed by Anderson. But if neither player is able to resemble an NFL quarterback, Quinn might be thrust into the most difficult job in sports come September 9.
So let’s hope that neither Frye nor Anderson stinks up the joint too much during Cincinnati’s final two preseason games. It would be a shame to see Quinn rushed into a role that he isn’t ready for, take a beating, and risk hurting his confidence or marketable good looks.
If you’re a regular visitor to 4th & Goal then you already know about the witty Marc Jimenez. If this is your first time, now you know.!
Email: marc@nfldraftbible.com
By Marc Jimenez, NFL Draft Bible
After Brady Quinn’s relatively good performance on Saturday during a
23-20 loss to Detroit, it was easy to figure out that many people would be expecting him to leapfrog over Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson to become the Cleveland Browns starter.
Quinn, who entered in the final 9:20, was 13-of-20 for 155 yards and
two touchdowns. In his brief time on the field, he provided what neither Frye (5-of-10 for 42 yards) nor Anderson (6-of-8 for 68 yards and one interception) could: hope. Hope for a team that has averaged five victories per season since being reinstated in 1999.
Despite the fact that Quinn, who missed sixteen practices due to s contract holdout, played against a soft Lions defense in a preseason game. What was telling about his performance was that he didn’t seem nervous or make any mistakes. Which raises the question: Can he be the Browns quarterback in week one?
Whether or not to start a rookie quarterback in the first game of the season is something all teams must consider at one point or another. The notion becomes even greater for a team that isn’t expected to do well and has a rookie quarterback that might be better than the current throwers. In spite of this, it’s hard to imagine it would ever be a good idea to start a rookie to start the season. Ideally, a young quarterback should feel comfortable running a team’s entire offense before he steps onto the field. After all, the numbers don’t lie.
•Peyton Manning, the No. 1 pick in 1998 and arguably today’s best quarterback, started as a rookie and achieved moderate success by his standards. He threw for 3,739 yards (56.7 pct.) with 26 touchdowns and 28 interceptions for a dismal Colts squad that went 3-13.
•Tom Brady, who was drafted in the sixth round in 2000, completed just one pass for six yards in a 34-9 loss against Detroit in Week 13 his first year. But after an injury to Drew Bledsoe the following season,
Brady started Week two against the Jets and never looked back. The
Golden Boy went on to throw for 2,843 yards (63.9 pct.) with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for an 11-5 Patriot team that went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI.
•David Carr, the No. 1 pick in 2002, took every snap in his rookie season with Houston and as a result he was sacked an NFL record 76 times. He threw for 2,592 yards (52.5 pct.) with 9 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and 19 fumbles for a 4-12 Texans squad. He now serves as Jake Delhomme’s backup in Carolina.
•Carson Palmer, sat on the bench his first season, despite being the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. In 2004, the USC product threw for 2,897 yards (60.9 pct.) with 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in thirteen games for a Cincinnati Bengals team that finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. But one could tell that Palmer was an emerging star.
Clearly, quarterbacks are better off sitting out a year before they take over. Even though they all need experience, throwing them into the fire in week one of their rookie seasons to fend for themselves isn’t the right way to go. A young quarterback can learn a lot by watching; especially when he studies game tapes and learns the speed of the game without risking injury. In essence, a quarterback should have a clear understanding of his team’s objective before he ever takes a snap in a game that matters.
Although it’s unlikely Quinn will be named the Browns opening day starter, public sentiment will make it difficult for Romeo Crennel not to consider it. Frye is expected to start against Denver in Cleveland's third preseason game, followed by Anderson. But if neither player is able to resemble an NFL quarterback, Quinn might be thrust into the most difficult job in sports come September 9.
So let’s hope that neither Frye nor Anderson stinks up the joint too much during Cincinnati’s final two preseason games. It would be a shame to see Quinn rushed into a role that he isn’t ready for, take a beating, and risk hurting his confidence or marketable good looks.
If you’re a regular visitor to 4th & Goal then you already know about the witty Marc Jimenez. If this is your first time, now you know.!
Email: marc@nfldraftbible.com
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
VIEW FROM THE COUCH VOL. IV
By D'Arcy Maine, NFL Draft Bible
As a struggling graduate student, I often daydream about what my life would be like if I were a professional athlete with a multi-million dollar contract, various endorsements and a fame that could get me essentially anything I wanted. It’s an enticing thought that has probably crossed the mind of every sports fan. I’d like to think that, in addition to my “Cribs”-worthy mansion in South Beach and a slew of sports cars, I would use my wealth and fame to do some good for society. And, many athletes today do just that, founding charities and foundations to benefit their community.
And then there are athletes like Michael Vick.
I didn’t want to write about him. There is such a media onslaught surrounding his case that I didn’t want to add to it. But I’m angry and in disbelief. I can’t believe a man with so much potential for greatness, on and off the field, could throw it all away for dog fighting.
Just the idea of dog fighting conjures up barbaric images. It is hard to believe a normal, sane person would want anything to do with such a practice. But, then the discovery that Vick himself participated in the execution of “underachieving” dogs in such heinous methods marks him as a very troubled young man.
If you asked me this time last year about Michael Vick, I would have been singing his praises. His well-documented childhood story is inspiring and hopeful. Vick managed to make it from an impoverished boyhood in a housing project to gain a full scholarship at Virginia Tech where he led the Hokies to two highly successful seasons, then opted to leave school after his redshirt-sophomore year to financially support his family.
As the number one draft pick in 2001, Vick quickly became a star in the league. By his second season he was the starting quarterback for the Falcons and was named to the Pro Bowl. Vick became the face of the Atlanta franchise and landed lucrative contracts with Nike, EA Sports, Coca-Cola and several others. In 2004, he became the then-highest paid athlete of all time in any sport with a deal topping 130 million dollars.
It is hard to imagine growing up in poverty and then suddenly being one of the richest people in America by the age of 25. But for Michael Vick and his family this seemingly-impossible dream had come true.
Vick seemed committed to using his celebrity to help at risk youth in Atlanta and in his hometown establishing “The Vick Foundation”. His success on the field also served as an inspiration to the African-American community as he became one of the most talented African-Americans to ever play the position. Vick became a role model in Atlanta and across the country.
In 2005, his younger brother Marcus was thrown off the Virginia Tech football team for legal issues and the story of a highly troubled young man emerged in the press. All the while, the elder Vick brother maintained his role model image. I remember being amazed at the extreme dichotomy of the Vick brothers- one the superstar athlete and the other a cocky thug who believed himself to be above the law. When the accusations of dog fighting first began in April, most quickly jumped to the quarterback’s defense and blamed Vick’s family who were mooching off of his money and behaving illegally behind his back.
But now we see a different picture of the superstar brother that ultimately isn’t all that different than Marcus. And now, after blatantly lying about his innocence, the $130-million-dollar man will plead guilty next week to dog fighting.
It is not just his career that will suffer- he has let down Falcons fans and, more importantly, the millions of young kids who idolized him and used his story as an inspiration to better their own lives. Whether he chose to be or not, Vick is (or perhaps, was) a role model and a pioneer in the once- segregated quarterback position. Everything he does has been watched and scrutinized by the media and the public. Consequently, Michael Vick had a responsibility bigger than just to himself. And he let everyone down.
D'Arcy Maine delivers the NFL scoop every week at 4th & Goal. Make sure you stay in the know all season long with her exclusive "View From The Couch".
Email: darcy@nfldraftbible.com
As a struggling graduate student, I often daydream about what my life would be like if I were a professional athlete with a multi-million dollar contract, various endorsements and a fame that could get me essentially anything I wanted. It’s an enticing thought that has probably crossed the mind of every sports fan. I’d like to think that, in addition to my “Cribs”-worthy mansion in South Beach and a slew of sports cars, I would use my wealth and fame to do some good for society. And, many athletes today do just that, founding charities and foundations to benefit their community.
And then there are athletes like Michael Vick.
I didn’t want to write about him. There is such a media onslaught surrounding his case that I didn’t want to add to it. But I’m angry and in disbelief. I can’t believe a man with so much potential for greatness, on and off the field, could throw it all away for dog fighting.
Just the idea of dog fighting conjures up barbaric images. It is hard to believe a normal, sane person would want anything to do with such a practice. But, then the discovery that Vick himself participated in the execution of “underachieving” dogs in such heinous methods marks him as a very troubled young man.
If you asked me this time last year about Michael Vick, I would have been singing his praises. His well-documented childhood story is inspiring and hopeful. Vick managed to make it from an impoverished boyhood in a housing project to gain a full scholarship at Virginia Tech where he led the Hokies to two highly successful seasons, then opted to leave school after his redshirt-sophomore year to financially support his family.
As the number one draft pick in 2001, Vick quickly became a star in the league. By his second season he was the starting quarterback for the Falcons and was named to the Pro Bowl. Vick became the face of the Atlanta franchise and landed lucrative contracts with Nike, EA Sports, Coca-Cola and several others. In 2004, he became the then-highest paid athlete of all time in any sport with a deal topping 130 million dollars.
It is hard to imagine growing up in poverty and then suddenly being one of the richest people in America by the age of 25. But for Michael Vick and his family this seemingly-impossible dream had come true.
Vick seemed committed to using his celebrity to help at risk youth in Atlanta and in his hometown establishing “The Vick Foundation”. His success on the field also served as an inspiration to the African-American community as he became one of the most talented African-Americans to ever play the position. Vick became a role model in Atlanta and across the country.
In 2005, his younger brother Marcus was thrown off the Virginia Tech football team for legal issues and the story of a highly troubled young man emerged in the press. All the while, the elder Vick brother maintained his role model image. I remember being amazed at the extreme dichotomy of the Vick brothers- one the superstar athlete and the other a cocky thug who believed himself to be above the law. When the accusations of dog fighting first began in April, most quickly jumped to the quarterback’s defense and blamed Vick’s family who were mooching off of his money and behaving illegally behind his back.
But now we see a different picture of the superstar brother that ultimately isn’t all that different than Marcus. And now, after blatantly lying about his innocence, the $130-million-dollar man will plead guilty next week to dog fighting.
It is not just his career that will suffer- he has let down Falcons fans and, more importantly, the millions of young kids who idolized him and used his story as an inspiration to better their own lives. Whether he chose to be or not, Vick is (or perhaps, was) a role model and a pioneer in the once- segregated quarterback position. Everything he does has been watched and scrutinized by the media and the public. Consequently, Michael Vick had a responsibility bigger than just to himself. And he let everyone down.
D'Arcy Maine delivers the NFL scoop every week at 4th & Goal. Make sure you stay in the know all season long with her exclusive "View From The Couch".
Email: darcy@nfldraftbible.com
Monday, August 20, 2007
ROSS RESPONDS: PLAYER CELEBRATIONS
“Serve The Public Trust, Protect The Innocent, Uphold The Law.”
That could be the mantra of the NFL…but isn’t. It’s a quote from the character of RoboCop, the robotic crime fighter of the late 1980s. It’s easy to understand how a robot’s quote could be mistaken for an NFL quote. After all, the people who run the NFL and many of its stodgy, jealous, ultra-conservative, Haterade drinking fans want its players to BE robots. “Chad Johnson is a clown!” “Joe Horn should be ashamed of himself for pulling out the cell phone!” “TO’s Sharpie incident ruins the game!” All of those statements have been said at some point.
My question to those who constantly complain about these celebrations is this: Why and how? Why does TO’s Sharpie disrespect the game? How does Chad Johnson’s creativity embarrass the league? The inevitable answer is: “It disrespects the game because it puts the focus on the individual, not the team, and that’s not football!” Please. How’s the weather up in your ivory tower?
What is so wrong with saying, “Look at me?” Why can’t an individual celebrate an accomplishment? Doesn’t that touchdown help the Holiness that is the team? Here’s a newsflash—playing in the NFL is a grueling, extremely dangerous job. It’s also a gig that only a few people are good enough to do. And those few people recognize that their playing career is a short one, one that’s very likely to leave them with a permanent injury.
So when they reach the end zone and score, why shouldn’t they be happy? Why shouldn’t they be able to celebrate? It’s not easy to get there and people are emotional. “Act like you’ve been there before?” Why, because YOU say so? Nah. Or perhaps because the league is terrified that through individuality, players (read: young, black men) will somehow gain control their (read: old, white men) league? And what exactly is excessive?
Jumping into the crowd in Green Bay isn’t excessive, but using the ball as a prop is. Why? Because someone thought of celebrating before the game and said, “If I score, I’m doing something cool to celebrate?” Because it’s pre-planned, it’s a penalty? Why? I want a guy on my team to score, and if the visualization of doing something when he gets into the end zone somehow motivates him a little more, that’s fine with me. And just who determines whether or not a touchdown celebration is “excessive?” People who are scared of a youth culture they don’t connect with, that’s who.
The same people who tell teenagers that their music is too loud. The same people who condemn younger generations for being too dependent on technology. Sadly, these are people who run things in the NFL. They are disconnected from entire generations of fans and they don’t think before they condemn. They don’t think that people are individuals, even if they play a team sport. The NFL can’t turn players into robotic player-machines, no matter how hard they try. So some people think celebrations are self-serving acts that are indicative of the decline of Western civilization. Well, some of us think that if it’s too loud, you’re too old. Some of us think that Chad Johnson is one of the best things IN the NFL right now and we look forward to his next act of creativity. So why are those who show disdain for Johnson and his fellow revelers in the right? Why must everyone adhere to THEIR mindset?
People, despite what these palookas want, ARE individuals and individuals display their emotions in different ways. Everyone knows people who are outgoing, and everyone knows people who are quiet or shy. Everyone knows someone who likes to be the life of the party and everyone knows someone who hangs back, taking it all in. That’s what makes society so enjoyable—the differences which make us all individuals. Those who want to remove that are not to be applauded, they are to be exposed as the arrogant, “think like me or you’re wrong,” out of touch people that they are.
And those who make the argument that these celebrations are insulting to the other team, I have this to say to you—1) It’s a game, lighten up. 2) If the other team doesn’t like it, they should try a bit harder to stop the “offensive” player from scoring. 3) If they don’t like the celebration, then take it out on the player. Hit him extra hard next time. Players in all sports used to do a pretty good job at policing themselves…but now even that has been removed, put into the hands of those who don’t play but somehow know better.
Keep this in mind as you’re reading this pro-celebration column with outrage: Chad Johnson’s next touchdown celebration will receive the same penalty as the next concussion-causing late hit on a quarterback. Does that seem right? Is curtailing celebration THAT important? For the love of Billy White Shoes, it’s like Footloose these days!
This “offensive” behavior is a celebration of both the individual’s accomplishment AND a celebration of the team’s effort to get him there. While these joyful antics may irk the so-called football purists, I believe that some end zone merriment is necessary at this point. It’s necessary to take our minds off of all of the stories which cause actual harm to the league—Vick, PacMan, steroids, bad officiating, etc. But even in the face of these real problems—problems grounded in violence and drug use…problems which transcend sport and permeate our society as a whole—some people don’t want to go there.
Those who choose to stick their heads in the sand are reduced to pointing the finger away from the real problem and pointing it at something innocuous. They’ll have us all think that Chad Johnson using a pylon as a putter is the problem. Well, it isn’t, at least not for me. I love the anticipation of a Chad touchdown…I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next. I only hope the celebration police don’t arrest him for it.
Agree? Disagree? Drop Ross a line: ross@nfldraftbible.com
That could be the mantra of the NFL…but isn’t. It’s a quote from the character of RoboCop, the robotic crime fighter of the late 1980s. It’s easy to understand how a robot’s quote could be mistaken for an NFL quote. After all, the people who run the NFL and many of its stodgy, jealous, ultra-conservative, Haterade drinking fans want its players to BE robots. “Chad Johnson is a clown!” “Joe Horn should be ashamed of himself for pulling out the cell phone!” “TO’s Sharpie incident ruins the game!” All of those statements have been said at some point.
My question to those who constantly complain about these celebrations is this: Why and how? Why does TO’s Sharpie disrespect the game? How does Chad Johnson’s creativity embarrass the league? The inevitable answer is: “It disrespects the game because it puts the focus on the individual, not the team, and that’s not football!” Please. How’s the weather up in your ivory tower?
What is so wrong with saying, “Look at me?” Why can’t an individual celebrate an accomplishment? Doesn’t that touchdown help the Holiness that is the team? Here’s a newsflash—playing in the NFL is a grueling, extremely dangerous job. It’s also a gig that only a few people are good enough to do. And those few people recognize that their playing career is a short one, one that’s very likely to leave them with a permanent injury.
So when they reach the end zone and score, why shouldn’t they be happy? Why shouldn’t they be able to celebrate? It’s not easy to get there and people are emotional. “Act like you’ve been there before?” Why, because YOU say so? Nah. Or perhaps because the league is terrified that through individuality, players (read: young, black men) will somehow gain control their (read: old, white men) league? And what exactly is excessive?
Jumping into the crowd in Green Bay isn’t excessive, but using the ball as a prop is. Why? Because someone thought of celebrating before the game and said, “If I score, I’m doing something cool to celebrate?” Because it’s pre-planned, it’s a penalty? Why? I want a guy on my team to score, and if the visualization of doing something when he gets into the end zone somehow motivates him a little more, that’s fine with me. And just who determines whether or not a touchdown celebration is “excessive?” People who are scared of a youth culture they don’t connect with, that’s who.
The same people who tell teenagers that their music is too loud. The same people who condemn younger generations for being too dependent on technology. Sadly, these are people who run things in the NFL. They are disconnected from entire generations of fans and they don’t think before they condemn. They don’t think that people are individuals, even if they play a team sport. The NFL can’t turn players into robotic player-machines, no matter how hard they try. So some people think celebrations are self-serving acts that are indicative of the decline of Western civilization. Well, some of us think that if it’s too loud, you’re too old. Some of us think that Chad Johnson is one of the best things IN the NFL right now and we look forward to his next act of creativity. So why are those who show disdain for Johnson and his fellow revelers in the right? Why must everyone adhere to THEIR mindset?
People, despite what these palookas want, ARE individuals and individuals display their emotions in different ways. Everyone knows people who are outgoing, and everyone knows people who are quiet or shy. Everyone knows someone who likes to be the life of the party and everyone knows someone who hangs back, taking it all in. That’s what makes society so enjoyable—the differences which make us all individuals. Those who want to remove that are not to be applauded, they are to be exposed as the arrogant, “think like me or you’re wrong,” out of touch people that they are.
And those who make the argument that these celebrations are insulting to the other team, I have this to say to you—1) It’s a game, lighten up. 2) If the other team doesn’t like it, they should try a bit harder to stop the “offensive” player from scoring. 3) If they don’t like the celebration, then take it out on the player. Hit him extra hard next time. Players in all sports used to do a pretty good job at policing themselves…but now even that has been removed, put into the hands of those who don’t play but somehow know better.
Keep this in mind as you’re reading this pro-celebration column with outrage: Chad Johnson’s next touchdown celebration will receive the same penalty as the next concussion-causing late hit on a quarterback. Does that seem right? Is curtailing celebration THAT important? For the love of Billy White Shoes, it’s like Footloose these days!
This “offensive” behavior is a celebration of both the individual’s accomplishment AND a celebration of the team’s effort to get him there. While these joyful antics may irk the so-called football purists, I believe that some end zone merriment is necessary at this point. It’s necessary to take our minds off of all of the stories which cause actual harm to the league—Vick, PacMan, steroids, bad officiating, etc. But even in the face of these real problems—problems grounded in violence and drug use…problems which transcend sport and permeate our society as a whole—some people don’t want to go there.
Those who choose to stick their heads in the sand are reduced to pointing the finger away from the real problem and pointing it at something innocuous. They’ll have us all think that Chad Johnson using a pylon as a putter is the problem. Well, it isn’t, at least not for me. I love the anticipation of a Chad touchdown…I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next. I only hope the celebration police don’t arrest him for it.
Agree? Disagree? Drop Ross a line: ross@nfldraftbible.com
Sunday, August 19, 2007
VIEW FROM THE COUCH VOL. III
By D'Arcy Maine, NFL Draft Bible
While I'm thankful for teams and players who are positive role models for the legions of their young fans, the NFL wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for the screw-ups. These are the players with the cocky swagger whom we love to hate. We love to tear them apart, yet we can't take our eyes off of them. And no one embodies this persona more than Philadelphia's s most hated, the one-and-only Terrell Owens.
A full season stands between T.O. and his disastrous stint with the Eagles. A once promising alliance between the wide receiver and the franchise ended in hatred, disgust and, most importantly for the Philly faithful, no Super Bowl ring
While Michael Vick, Adam "Pacman" Jones, and Terry "Tank" Johnson dominate the bad boy headlines this off-season, Terrell Owens has quietly worked to re-gain his successful career (both on and off the field) and is providing an almost reformed bad boy example for his fallen counterparts.
Owens (unlike the aforementioned athletes) has been a law-abiding citizen but to the average American, Owens symbolizes what is wrong with professional sports thus he has, perhaps unfairly, been cast into a similar category as those who have done far worse.
"Quiet" and "T.O." are not exactly synonymous but when the controversy subsides and Owens is focused, he is one of the most capable and talented receivers in the league. Along with the legendary Jerry Rice, Owens is the only receiver with five seasons of 13-plus touchdowns and has seven seasons with over 1,000 yards. However, his career has been marked mainly by controversy and scandal.
The man who once proclaimed he had never read his own auto-biography got off to a rocky start in Dallas overdosing (in a rumored suicide attempt) on medication and staging a memorable press conference shortly after. It looked like his stint with the Cowboys wouldn't be much different than his in Philly. But then something changed.
T.O. shut up.
That's not to say that season was not without further controversy. He did spit on DeAngelo Hall of the Falcons but unlike his prior situations, Owens apologized and admitted his actions to be stupid.
On the field, despite a lingering finger injury, Owens led the league in touchdown catches with 13 and worked well with mid-season replacement starting quarterback, Tony Romo. And in perhaps the most unselfish move of his career, T.O. opted to wait untill after the season to get necessary surgery for his finger, risking irreversible damage.
Owens has surprised many this pre-season by his seemingly team-first attitude. He attended mini-camp and has had nothing but praise and good things to say regarding the Cowboys' new coach, Wade Phillips. He has been suffering from severe back pain but a recent MRI came back negative and he is working with a chiropractor to aid his recovery. Owens played in the victorious pre-season opener against the Colts and had one catch in his brief on-field appearance.
Owens is at this point best known for his off-field antics but this will be the year where he rejects his controversial celebrity and is known as the top wide receiver on a playoff-bound squad. At the end of the day, the elusive Super Bowl title is the chief motivator for many-that-don an NFL uniform and Owens has yet to attain that title. At 33, he has ticks left in his clock.
D'Arcy Maine delivers the NFL scoop every week at 4th & Goal. Make sure you stay in the know all season long with her exclusive "View From The Couch".
Email: darcy@nfldraftbible.com
While I'm thankful for teams and players who are positive role models for the legions of their young fans, the NFL wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for the screw-ups. These are the players with the cocky swagger whom we love to hate. We love to tear them apart, yet we can't take our eyes off of them. And no one embodies this persona more than Philadelphia's s most hated, the one-and-only Terrell Owens.
A full season stands between T.O. and his disastrous stint with the Eagles. A once promising alliance between the wide receiver and the franchise ended in hatred, disgust and, most importantly for the Philly faithful, no Super Bowl ring
While Michael Vick, Adam "Pacman" Jones, and Terry "Tank" Johnson dominate the bad boy headlines this off-season, Terrell Owens has quietly worked to re-gain his successful career (both on and off the field) and is providing an almost reformed bad boy example for his fallen counterparts.
Owens (unlike the aforementioned athletes) has been a law-abiding citizen but to the average American, Owens symbolizes what is wrong with professional sports thus he has, perhaps unfairly, been cast into a similar category as those who have done far worse.
"Quiet" and "T.O." are not exactly synonymous but when the controversy subsides and Owens is focused, he is one of the most capable and talented receivers in the league. Along with the legendary Jerry Rice, Owens is the only receiver with five seasons of 13-plus touchdowns and has seven seasons with over 1,000 yards. However, his career has been marked mainly by controversy and scandal.
The man who once proclaimed he had never read his own auto-biography got off to a rocky start in Dallas overdosing (in a rumored suicide attempt) on medication and staging a memorable press conference shortly after. It looked like his stint with the Cowboys wouldn't be much different than his in Philly. But then something changed.
T.O. shut up.
That's not to say that season was not without further controversy. He did spit on DeAngelo Hall of the Falcons but unlike his prior situations, Owens apologized and admitted his actions to be stupid.
On the field, despite a lingering finger injury, Owens led the league in touchdown catches with 13 and worked well with mid-season replacement starting quarterback, Tony Romo. And in perhaps the most unselfish move of his career, T.O. opted to wait untill after the season to get necessary surgery for his finger, risking irreversible damage.
Owens has surprised many this pre-season by his seemingly team-first attitude. He attended mini-camp and has had nothing but praise and good things to say regarding the Cowboys' new coach, Wade Phillips. He has been suffering from severe back pain but a recent MRI came back negative and he is working with a chiropractor to aid his recovery. Owens played in the victorious pre-season opener against the Colts and had one catch in his brief on-field appearance.
Owens is at this point best known for his off-field antics but this will be the year where he rejects his controversial celebrity and is known as the top wide receiver on a playoff-bound squad. At the end of the day, the elusive Super Bowl title is the chief motivator for many-that-don an NFL uniform and Owens has yet to attain that title. At 33, he has ticks left in his clock.
D'Arcy Maine delivers the NFL scoop every week at 4th & Goal. Make sure you stay in the know all season long with her exclusive "View From The Couch".
Email: darcy@nfldraftbible.com
REMEMBERING CURTIS MARTIN
David Narushev, NFL Draft Bible
He never had the breakaway speed of Gale Sayers or the blunt force impact of Earl Campbell. He could never cut and move in ways that defied physics like Barry Sanders. His runs never made the highlight reels, and his low key personality ensured that lesser backs would get more of the spotlight. Curtis Martin quietly stepped away from football without the fanfare that one would expect from the NFL’s 4th all time leading rusher.
Martin is perhaps the only legendary who wasn’t born with any obvious god given talents for the position. He is entirely self-made; his is a Hall of Fame career built on the pillars of persistence, hard work, and sacrifice. As cliché as that may sound, it’s not common to see somebody dominate for so long at such a grueling profession while maintaining such a consistent level of excellence.
Martin was a textbook runner, shoulders square and straight ahead at all times. There was nothing fancy about his approach, he would hit the holes with no apprehension and willingly absorb punishment that sent countless, lesser backs to the sidelines doubled over in pain.
It’s a testament to his conditioning that he was able to last so long as an overworked feature back, and it’s damn near insane that he still had his heart set on returning to the NFL with a degenerative, bone on bone knee condition that must feel like a permanent root canal going on inside your body.
The NFL isn’t fair, and for every grizzled veteran that has their shining moment in the sun on Super Bowl Sunday, there are countless others who quietly limp away from the game, never having reached that ultimate goal. It saddens me to think that he’ll be one of them, but luck doesn’t seem to find those who don a Jets uniform.
He was footballs equivalent to a closer, Martin would bleed the clock and chew up critical yards during the most pivotal moments of a tight game. All those seemingly fruitless two and three yard runs into the line early on would begin to pay dividends late in a contest. It was literally Curtis vs. the defense in a battle of who would wear down first, and Martin always won at this game.
He demoralized opposing teams and ended games with such perfect efficiency that it must’ve been infuriating to watch for the opposition. It would always be a death of a thousand cuts with him running the ball, as Martin would slowly move the chains and beat the defense into submission.
A true throwback, he played the game the way it was supposed to be played, uncompromisingly tough with no regard for his body, never complaining, and only caring about one thing; winning.
True fans of the sport will miss his kind; as there are not many competitors like Curtis Martin remaining in a league that far too often resemble a circus rather than a sport.
He never had the breakaway speed of Gale Sayers or the blunt force impact of Earl Campbell. He could never cut and move in ways that defied physics like Barry Sanders. His runs never made the highlight reels, and his low key personality ensured that lesser backs would get more of the spotlight. Curtis Martin quietly stepped away from football without the fanfare that one would expect from the NFL’s 4th all time leading rusher.
Martin is perhaps the only legendary who wasn’t born with any obvious god given talents for the position. He is entirely self-made; his is a Hall of Fame career built on the pillars of persistence, hard work, and sacrifice. As cliché as that may sound, it’s not common to see somebody dominate for so long at such a grueling profession while maintaining such a consistent level of excellence.
Martin was a textbook runner, shoulders square and straight ahead at all times. There was nothing fancy about his approach, he would hit the holes with no apprehension and willingly absorb punishment that sent countless, lesser backs to the sidelines doubled over in pain.
It’s a testament to his conditioning that he was able to last so long as an overworked feature back, and it’s damn near insane that he still had his heart set on returning to the NFL with a degenerative, bone on bone knee condition that must feel like a permanent root canal going on inside your body.
The NFL isn’t fair, and for every grizzled veteran that has their shining moment in the sun on Super Bowl Sunday, there are countless others who quietly limp away from the game, never having reached that ultimate goal. It saddens me to think that he’ll be one of them, but luck doesn’t seem to find those who don a Jets uniform.
He was footballs equivalent to a closer, Martin would bleed the clock and chew up critical yards during the most pivotal moments of a tight game. All those seemingly fruitless two and three yard runs into the line early on would begin to pay dividends late in a contest. It was literally Curtis vs. the defense in a battle of who would wear down first, and Martin always won at this game.
He demoralized opposing teams and ended games with such perfect efficiency that it must’ve been infuriating to watch for the opposition. It would always be a death of a thousand cuts with him running the ball, as Martin would slowly move the chains and beat the defense into submission.
A true throwback, he played the game the way it was supposed to be played, uncompromisingly tough with no regard for his body, never complaining, and only caring about one thing; winning.
True fans of the sport will miss his kind; as there are not many competitors like Curtis Martin remaining in a league that far too often resemble a circus rather than a sport.
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