Open Letters are going to comprise of me "penning" a letter to some sports figure for one reason or another. It may be a petition to do something; it may be pure unadultered rage. You never know how I'm feeling. Today, I write to a particular underachieving Yankees pitcher...
Dear Mr. Vazquez,
I’ve always wanted to complain about a guy who makes 10 million dollars a year. You’re awful. You’re overrated. Why the hell did the Yankees trade for you, giving up my favorite player (Melky Cabrera) in the process?
You had a 2.87 ERA last year in Atlanta. EVERYONE knows the AL shits on the NL. That 2.87 ERA is like a 4.50 ERA in the American League (a bit of an exaggeration, but there’s a BIG difference). It’s funny because your ERA right now is 9.00. My goodness, that’s DOUBLE 4.50! Your best start this year (you know, the one start that got you a win) had you throwing 107 pitches to get 16 guys out. Yep, 5 and 1/3 innings pitched while giving up 3 runs. Thank God you have the best lineup in baseball.
It seems to be a common theme to me; in your only other year here (2004) you had your worst statistical season in your career up to that point, notching an ERA of 4.91, 11 hit batsmen, 12 wild pitches, your second highest WHIP in your career (1.288), and second lowest strikeout ratio in your career (6.8 K/9 IP). How you managed to 14 games that year defies all logic in nature.
Do you remember something else about that year, Javy? Specifically, coming in to Game 7 of the ALCS against the Red Sox who were still cursed at that time? Do you recall giving up a grand slam to Johnny Damon, the FIRST batter you faced? Great times. Just when you couldn’t be any lower in Yankees fans’ hearts, you gave up yet ANOTHER home run to Damon 2 innings later.
And after thriving in an inferior league, you somehow persuaded the Yankees to bring you back. Look how far it’s gotten you! All you’ve received is your paycheck and one undeserved win. Holy shit, you have no idea how angry you make me. Pull your head out of your ass. You’re 34 years old. You know how to pitch well. DO IT, you asshole. You’re such a waste of money. Justify your price tag or something of that nature. You know, other guys come to New York and succeed, if not, elevate their games and do better. Why can’t you?
Sincerely,
Michael Moschetto
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Dream Team: Allies vs Axis
So whenever I get bored, I like to conjure up “dream teams”: imaginary teams of sports players.
I wanted to recreate the historic battle between the Allies and Axis powers of World War II through a soccer/football match. The Allies will be represented by players from the United States, France, and England, and the Axis powers will be comprised of German, Italian, and Russian players.
Allies (playing a 4-4-1-1 formation)
GK: Tim Howard (United States, Everton)
LB: Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea)
CB: Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United)
CB: John Terry (England, Chelsea)
RB: Glen Johnson (England, Liverpool)
LM: Franck Ribery (France, Bayern Munich)
CM: Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea)
CM: Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool)
RM: Aaron Lennon (England, Tottenham)
CF: Landon Donovan (United States, Everton/LA Galaxy)
ST: Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United)
Bench:
G- Hugo Lloris (France, Lyon)
D-Patrice Evra (England, Manchester United), Oguchi Onyewu (United States, AC Milan)
M- Yoann Gourcuff (France, Bordeaux)
F- Jozy Altidore (United States, Hull City), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Thierry Henry (France, Barcelona)
Axis (playing a 4-3-1-2 formation)
GK: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus)
LB: Yuri Zhirkov (Russia, Chelsea)
CB: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy, Juventus)
CB: Giorgi Chiellini (Italy, Juventus)
RB: Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich)
CM: Daniele De Rossi (Italy, Roma)
CM: Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan)
CM: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich)
CF: Alessandro Del Piero (Italy, Juventus)
ST: Lukas Podolski (Germany, FC Koln)
ST: Alberto Gilardino (Italy, Fiorentina)
Bench:
G- Igor Akinfeev (Russia, CSKA Moscow)
D-Per Mertesacker (Germany, Werder Bremen), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy, AC Milan)
M- Michael Ballack (Germany, Chelsea), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Russia, Everton)
F- Francesco Totti (Italy, Roma), Giuseppe Rossi (Italy, Villarreal)
So who would you take, the Allies or the Axis?
I wanted to recreate the historic battle between the Allies and Axis powers of World War II through a soccer/football match. The Allies will be represented by players from the United States, France, and England, and the Axis powers will be comprised of German, Italian, and Russian players.
Allies (playing a 4-4-1-1 formation)
GK: Tim Howard (United States, Everton)
LB: Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea)
CB: Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United)
CB: John Terry (England, Chelsea)
RB: Glen Johnson (England, Liverpool)
LM: Franck Ribery (France, Bayern Munich)
CM: Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea)
CM: Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool)
RM: Aaron Lennon (England, Tottenham)
CF: Landon Donovan (United States, Everton/LA Galaxy)
ST: Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United)
Bench:
G- Hugo Lloris (France, Lyon)
D-Patrice Evra (England, Manchester United), Oguchi Onyewu (United States, AC Milan)
M- Yoann Gourcuff (France, Bordeaux)
F- Jozy Altidore (United States, Hull City), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Thierry Henry (France, Barcelona)
Axis (playing a 4-3-1-2 formation)
GK: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus)
LB: Yuri Zhirkov (Russia, Chelsea)
CB: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy, Juventus)
CB: Giorgi Chiellini (Italy, Juventus)
RB: Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich)
CM: Daniele De Rossi (Italy, Roma)
CM: Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan)
CM: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich)
CF: Alessandro Del Piero (Italy, Juventus)
ST: Lukas Podolski (Germany, FC Koln)
ST: Alberto Gilardino (Italy, Fiorentina)
Bench:
G- Igor Akinfeev (Russia, CSKA Moscow)
D-Per Mertesacker (Germany, Werder Bremen), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy, AC Milan)
M- Michael Ballack (Germany, Chelsea), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Russia, Everton)
F- Francesco Totti (Italy, Roma), Giuseppe Rossi (Italy, Villarreal)
So who would you take, the Allies or the Axis?
Why the Mets Organization Is the Most Futile in MLB
Yes, I’m about to go there. Any Mets fan is reading this and smacking their forehead loudly. It’s almost inevitable. Last year, Sportscenter had a Not Top 10 of purely Mets-related plays and events… in August. The season wasn’t even over yet. But allow me to eloquently explain the Mets’ suckitude. Keep in mind I’m explaining why the organization is merely futile; the Mets aren’t the worst team in the league. They’ve been to the playoffs during our generation. They’ve had good players, and they currently have good players. It’s merely HOW the team is RUN. It transcends their performance (or lack thereof) on the field; the front office is equally as inept.
So we’ll start with the management involved. Simply put, the Mets need a new owner. The Wilpons are doing everything they can to run the team into the ground since 2006, the Mets’ closest chance to significant success since, well, 20 years beforehand in the magical, cocaine-filled season of 1986. (Actually, the entire decade of the 1980’s was cocaine-filled in sports and society, but that be a topic for later.) Handing out big contracts to guys like Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo really doesn’t help. The fact that management has stubborn decided to keep these players every year does no good for the team.
Jerry Manuel is arguably the least efficient manager in the league. My God, he’s not even the best manager in the NL East with the last name of Manuel. Granted, Charlie Manuel is doing an incredible job in Philly, but that’s not the point. I haven’t seen a coach or manager criticized this often by the media since Isiah Thomas got ran out of town from the Knicks; he could have saved a baby out of a burning building and Knicks fans would still have booed him mercilessly.
Anyway, Manuel’s partner/butt buddy Omar Minaya at GM has assembled a team of Hispanics and David Wright that went 70-92 last year, fourth place in the NL East. An NL East with the rebuilding Braves, the Marlins with a payroll of literally, 30 million dollars, and the Nationals. Meanwhile, the Mets have been in the top 5 in team payroll practically every year this decade and have exactly ONE playoff berth (the pseudo-miracle run of 2006) to show for it. *cough* Yadier Molina *cough*
How about that new stadium? I mean, it’s aesthetically pleasing, but for actual Mets fans, have you actually SEEN the stadium? There’s more shit about Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers in there than anything! After talking to several Mets fans, it’s obvious to me that this hasn’t really struck a fine chord with the majority of supporters. Keep in mind the Dodgers haven’t played in Brooklyn since, uh, 1958. That’s 52 years. The Mets don’t even play in Brooklyn. Moving on.
I don’t get the Mets. Their organization really seems to have no desire to build a championship team. How can a team in the sports world’s biggest market have all that payroll and perennially underachieve? I don’t even root for them and it bothers me a LOT. Jason Bay was a nice addition, but the guy already peaked statistically; AND now he’s in the uber-pitcher’s park known as CitiField (or ShittiField, if you’re not a fan). Johan Santana may not even be the best pitcher from Venezuela at this point in his career (Felix Hernandez may have him beat) and gets minimal run support. I’m actually really happy that Ike Davis has been beasting so far and Jose Reyes is healthy again (he’s one of my favorite players to watch, period), but anything above third place this year will be a surprise to me. You can only hope that David Wright will make more Vitamin Water advertisements. Just saying.
So we’ll start with the management involved. Simply put, the Mets need a new owner. The Wilpons are doing everything they can to run the team into the ground since 2006, the Mets’ closest chance to significant success since, well, 20 years beforehand in the magical, cocaine-filled season of 1986. (Actually, the entire decade of the 1980’s was cocaine-filled in sports and society, but that be a topic for later.) Handing out big contracts to guys like Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo really doesn’t help. The fact that management has stubborn decided to keep these players every year does no good for the team.
Jerry Manuel is arguably the least efficient manager in the league. My God, he’s not even the best manager in the NL East with the last name of Manuel. Granted, Charlie Manuel is doing an incredible job in Philly, but that’s not the point. I haven’t seen a coach or manager criticized this often by the media since Isiah Thomas got ran out of town from the Knicks; he could have saved a baby out of a burning building and Knicks fans would still have booed him mercilessly.
Anyway, Manuel’s partner/butt buddy Omar Minaya at GM has assembled a team of Hispanics and David Wright that went 70-92 last year, fourth place in the NL East. An NL East with the rebuilding Braves, the Marlins with a payroll of literally, 30 million dollars, and the Nationals. Meanwhile, the Mets have been in the top 5 in team payroll practically every year this decade and have exactly ONE playoff berth (the pseudo-miracle run of 2006) to show for it. *cough* Yadier Molina *cough*
How about that new stadium? I mean, it’s aesthetically pleasing, but for actual Mets fans, have you actually SEEN the stadium? There’s more shit about Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers in there than anything! After talking to several Mets fans, it’s obvious to me that this hasn’t really struck a fine chord with the majority of supporters. Keep in mind the Dodgers haven’t played in Brooklyn since, uh, 1958. That’s 52 years. The Mets don’t even play in Brooklyn. Moving on.
I don’t get the Mets. Their organization really seems to have no desire to build a championship team. How can a team in the sports world’s biggest market have all that payroll and perennially underachieve? I don’t even root for them and it bothers me a LOT. Jason Bay was a nice addition, but the guy already peaked statistically; AND now he’s in the uber-pitcher’s park known as CitiField (or ShittiField, if you’re not a fan). Johan Santana may not even be the best pitcher from Venezuela at this point in his career (Felix Hernandez may have him beat) and gets minimal run support. I’m actually really happy that Ike Davis has been beasting so far and Jose Reyes is healthy again (he’s one of my favorite players to watch, period), but anything above third place this year will be a surprise to me. You can only hope that David Wright will make more Vitamin Water advertisements. Just saying.
European Football Leagues Heating Up
International soccer (or football, depending on where you’re from) is really heating up this time of year, especially with that whole World Cup event-thing taking place in June. Most specifically, the top 4 European domestic leagues all have extremely close title races, something that doesn’t usually happen often, with the big money-making teams all staking their claim for first place from the first game of the season and never letting go. This year is obviously a bit different. Let’s go first to the English Premier League, where the race for first place is down to two teams:
Chelsea: 36 games played, 25-5-6 record, +61 goal difference, 80 points
Manchester United: 36 games played, 25-4-7 record, +53 goal difference, 79 points
Clearly, Chelsea has a monster advantage in goal difference and a slim margin of one point right now. Their last two games are on the road at Liverpool, and a home match against Wigan, who infamously thumped Chelsea 3-1 earlier this season. The Blues really can’t afford to drop either of these games, especially Liverpool, who despite an uncharacteristic 10-loss season is still a tough team to beat. To make things a bit more concerning for Chelsea, Man U’s last two games are at Sunderland and against Stoke City at Old Trafford in Manchester. Two easier opponents for the Red Devils will make this an incredible finish to the Premier League season. Onto the Spanish Primera Liga, where again, it’s a two horse race:
Barcelona: 34 games played, 27-6-1 record, +63 goal difference, 87 points
Real Madrid: 34 games played, 28-2-4 record, +59 goal difference, 86 points
Another one-point difference between the two clubs, but I’ll definitely bet on Barca to win La Liga. With one loss the entire season, Barca is looking for the double of domestic and European championships, even though they were shell shocked by Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions’ League semifinals. With the world’s best player (Lionel Messi) and best passer (Xavi Hernandez, my man-crush), the Catalans provide a stiff challenge to Real Madrid, who despite metrosexual fiend Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka’s efforts have managed to drop 4 games this year, including two against (you guessed it) Barcelona. Now moving to Italy for Serie A action:
Inter Milan: 35 games played, 21-10-4 record, +37 goal difference, 73 points
AS Roma: 35 games played, 21-8-6 record, +23 goal difference, 71 points
Relatively close race, until you realize that Inter is playing the best football in the world right now and appear to be the new favorites for Champions League glory this year. With a couple of ugly draws this season, Jose Mourinho’s guys will hit the last 3 games of the season with a killer instinct. Even though their goal difference isn’t as high as the other league leaders in this article, Inter plays significantly better and more efficiently than Roma, who just dropped a crucial match to Sampdoria. Can stars Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi carry Roma to the title? We’ll have to see. Finally, our last league for today is the Bundesliga of Germany:
Bayern Munich: 32 games played, 18-10-4 record, +37 goal difference, 64 points
Schalke 04: 32 games played, 19-7-6 record, +24 goal difference, 64 points
A dead heat with the exception of Bayern completely defecating on defenses this year (hence better goal difference). However, with 6 games left for each club, anything can happen; with Munich kicking ass in the Champions League right now (behind Arjen Robben’s incredible left foot), they may not be at 100% full focus for the domestic league games. In addition, Schalke has quietly had a great season behind their striking duo of Kevin Kuranyi and Jefferson Farfan (who’s incredible in FIFA 10, if you’ve ever played.) I’d like to see Schalke pull off the upset and win the title; Bayern can have the European championship, which they may just win.
Chelsea: 36 games played, 25-5-6 record, +61 goal difference, 80 points
Manchester United: 36 games played, 25-4-7 record, +53 goal difference, 79 points
Clearly, Chelsea has a monster advantage in goal difference and a slim margin of one point right now. Their last two games are on the road at Liverpool, and a home match against Wigan, who infamously thumped Chelsea 3-1 earlier this season. The Blues really can’t afford to drop either of these games, especially Liverpool, who despite an uncharacteristic 10-loss season is still a tough team to beat. To make things a bit more concerning for Chelsea, Man U’s last two games are at Sunderland and against Stoke City at Old Trafford in Manchester. Two easier opponents for the Red Devils will make this an incredible finish to the Premier League season. Onto the Spanish Primera Liga, where again, it’s a two horse race:
Barcelona: 34 games played, 27-6-1 record, +63 goal difference, 87 points
Real Madrid: 34 games played, 28-2-4 record, +59 goal difference, 86 points
Another one-point difference between the two clubs, but I’ll definitely bet on Barca to win La Liga. With one loss the entire season, Barca is looking for the double of domestic and European championships, even though they were shell shocked by Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions’ League semifinals. With the world’s best player (Lionel Messi) and best passer (Xavi Hernandez, my man-crush), the Catalans provide a stiff challenge to Real Madrid, who despite metrosexual fiend Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka’s efforts have managed to drop 4 games this year, including two against (you guessed it) Barcelona. Now moving to Italy for Serie A action:
Inter Milan: 35 games played, 21-10-4 record, +37 goal difference, 73 points
AS Roma: 35 games played, 21-8-6 record, +23 goal difference, 71 points
Relatively close race, until you realize that Inter is playing the best football in the world right now and appear to be the new favorites for Champions League glory this year. With a couple of ugly draws this season, Jose Mourinho’s guys will hit the last 3 games of the season with a killer instinct. Even though their goal difference isn’t as high as the other league leaders in this article, Inter plays significantly better and more efficiently than Roma, who just dropped a crucial match to Sampdoria. Can stars Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi carry Roma to the title? We’ll have to see. Finally, our last league for today is the Bundesliga of Germany:
Bayern Munich: 32 games played, 18-10-4 record, +37 goal difference, 64 points
Schalke 04: 32 games played, 19-7-6 record, +24 goal difference, 64 points
A dead heat with the exception of Bayern completely defecating on defenses this year (hence better goal difference). However, with 6 games left for each club, anything can happen; with Munich kicking ass in the Champions League right now (behind Arjen Robben’s incredible left foot), they may not be at 100% full focus for the domestic league games. In addition, Schalke has quietly had a great season behind their striking duo of Kevin Kuranyi and Jefferson Farfan (who’s incredible in FIFA 10, if you’ve ever played.) I’d like to see Schalke pull off the upset and win the title; Bayern can have the European championship, which they may just win.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Top 10 Players in the NHL
I’m not going to lie, I haven’t followed hockey in about 2 years. However, with the great NHL playoffs we’ve been experiencing so far, I really have no choice but to write about the sport.
I’m relatively unfamiliar with a lot of the new faces in the league, but I’m going to try to slap together a respectable list so that casual, non-casual, and non-fans alike can all appreciate the superstars of the league. Agree to disagree, of course. Additionally, a preview of the conference semifinals will probably follow this, for all the hockey fans out there.
10. Steve Stamkos, Lightning- He has two years under his belt, but I need to put this guy on the list. The first overall pick in the 2008 draft, Stamkos immediately burst onto the scene. He tied for the league lead with 51 goals this year. You’re wondering how old he is? Twenty. He was born on February 7, 1990; he’s three days younger than I am. I feel significantly less accomplished in my life. He has an incredible future ahead of him.
9. Zdeno Chara, Senators- The 6’9’’ giant has been a cornerstone at defenseman for the Sens. Picked up the Norris Trophy last year for being the league’s best defender. He also had a slap shot clocked at 105.4 miles per hour at last year’s All-Star Skills Competition. Why the hell did the Islanders trade this guy? Oh right, because we wanted Alexei Yashin. And transactions like that are why the Islanders aren’t going to be on Long Island for too much longer. Good times.
8. Mike Green, Capitals- This guy seems pretty badass. The 24-year old is extremely prolific as a defenseman (76 points this season, 73 the year before) and reportedly ruptured one of Philadelphia Flyer Patrick Thoresen’s testicles due to a nasty slap shot. Moreover, he also hold the record for most consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman with eight. Also rocks a mean faux hawk.
7. Martin Brodeur, Devils- The guy’s track record is unmatched. He’s the all-time leader in wins and shutouts, in addition to being the only goaltender with eight 40-win seasons. He has 602 wins, to be exact. A hero in New Jersey (not like they have many of them there), he’s the most accomplished goalie in history and still tearing it up at the age of 37. Yeah, he’s pretty good.
6. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks- The 21-year old American is ferocious on the wing in Chicago. With 88 points in 82 games, Kane is capable of taking over a game and carrying the Blackhawks. The first overall pick in the 200 draft, Kane hasn’t disappointed anyone in his short career in the league. Earns bonus points for punching out a cab driver. So maybe his parents aren’t too happy with him, but it’s all good.
5. Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings- One of the most versatile forwards in the league, the Swedish Zetterberg can do it all. A two-time Stanley Cup winner, he may not have mind-boggling numbers but is a proven commodity the league and improves his teammates’ play just by being on the ice. Like a Steve Nash of some sort.
4. Joe Thornton, Sharks- Arguably one of the most dynamic centers in the league. Thornton is the only guy to ever win league MVP and lead the league in points while switching teams in one season. A great asset for San Jose, the 6’4’’, 235-pound monster does nothing but score points; you also may have seen him make an appearance for the evil Canadians in this year’s Olympics.
3. Ryan Miller, Sabres- Easily the best goalie in the league right now. Came up monsterously in the Olympics and in the NHL season this year as well (41 wins, 2.22 GAA, .929 SV%). America’s goalie for years to come, Miller is a huge reason for Buffalo’s success the last few years; like a quarterback, this goalie is the cornerstone of the team and will keep stopping shots in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
2. Sidney Crosby, Penguins- If you’re from Canada or a Penguins fan, you love him. If you’re a female, you think he’s the cutest player in the league. If you’re none of the above, you hate Sidney Crosby. You may describe him as a “frail, pretty-boy, smug little bitch.” You may hate him because of his gold medal-winning goal in this year’s Olympics against the United States. Personally, I’m not a fan of his, but you have to recall the lockout for the 2004-2005 season. Crosby was the first pick of the draft following the stoppage, and had a HUGE responsibility of helping make the NHL relevant again. It’s still a bit of a journey, but with 506 career points in 370 games, Crosby is on his way to being one of the best ever. But he’s still not the best player in the league…
1. Alexander Ovechkin, Captials- This guy dominates the league like LeBron dominates the NBA. I’m hard-pressed to find a single thing Ovie can’t do. He’s big, fast, strong, and an extremely good stick-handler. There’s also that thing he does when he puts the puck in the net. It’s not just that he scores a lot of goals, it’s HOW he scores them; I’m too lazy to find a Youtube video on here and post it. So you may have to look yourself. In summary, Ovechkin is the best, most exciting, and most electrifying player in the world right now.
I’m relatively unfamiliar with a lot of the new faces in the league, but I’m going to try to slap together a respectable list so that casual, non-casual, and non-fans alike can all appreciate the superstars of the league. Agree to disagree, of course. Additionally, a preview of the conference semifinals will probably follow this, for all the hockey fans out there.
10. Steve Stamkos, Lightning- He has two years under his belt, but I need to put this guy on the list. The first overall pick in the 2008 draft, Stamkos immediately burst onto the scene. He tied for the league lead with 51 goals this year. You’re wondering how old he is? Twenty. He was born on February 7, 1990; he’s three days younger than I am. I feel significantly less accomplished in my life. He has an incredible future ahead of him.
9. Zdeno Chara, Senators- The 6’9’’ giant has been a cornerstone at defenseman for the Sens. Picked up the Norris Trophy last year for being the league’s best defender. He also had a slap shot clocked at 105.4 miles per hour at last year’s All-Star Skills Competition. Why the hell did the Islanders trade this guy? Oh right, because we wanted Alexei Yashin. And transactions like that are why the Islanders aren’t going to be on Long Island for too much longer. Good times.
8. Mike Green, Capitals- This guy seems pretty badass. The 24-year old is extremely prolific as a defenseman (76 points this season, 73 the year before) and reportedly ruptured one of Philadelphia Flyer Patrick Thoresen’s testicles due to a nasty slap shot. Moreover, he also hold the record for most consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman with eight. Also rocks a mean faux hawk.
7. Martin Brodeur, Devils- The guy’s track record is unmatched. He’s the all-time leader in wins and shutouts, in addition to being the only goaltender with eight 40-win seasons. He has 602 wins, to be exact. A hero in New Jersey (not like they have many of them there), he’s the most accomplished goalie in history and still tearing it up at the age of 37. Yeah, he’s pretty good.
6. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks- The 21-year old American is ferocious on the wing in Chicago. With 88 points in 82 games, Kane is capable of taking over a game and carrying the Blackhawks. The first overall pick in the 200 draft, Kane hasn’t disappointed anyone in his short career in the league. Earns bonus points for punching out a cab driver. So maybe his parents aren’t too happy with him, but it’s all good.
5. Henrik Zetterberg, Red Wings- One of the most versatile forwards in the league, the Swedish Zetterberg can do it all. A two-time Stanley Cup winner, he may not have mind-boggling numbers but is a proven commodity the league and improves his teammates’ play just by being on the ice. Like a Steve Nash of some sort.
4. Joe Thornton, Sharks- Arguably one of the most dynamic centers in the league. Thornton is the only guy to ever win league MVP and lead the league in points while switching teams in one season. A great asset for San Jose, the 6’4’’, 235-pound monster does nothing but score points; you also may have seen him make an appearance for the evil Canadians in this year’s Olympics.
3. Ryan Miller, Sabres- Easily the best goalie in the league right now. Came up monsterously in the Olympics and in the NHL season this year as well (41 wins, 2.22 GAA, .929 SV%). America’s goalie for years to come, Miller is a huge reason for Buffalo’s success the last few years; like a quarterback, this goalie is the cornerstone of the team and will keep stopping shots in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
2. Sidney Crosby, Penguins- If you’re from Canada or a Penguins fan, you love him. If you’re a female, you think he’s the cutest player in the league. If you’re none of the above, you hate Sidney Crosby. You may describe him as a “frail, pretty-boy, smug little bitch.” You may hate him because of his gold medal-winning goal in this year’s Olympics against the United States. Personally, I’m not a fan of his, but you have to recall the lockout for the 2004-2005 season. Crosby was the first pick of the draft following the stoppage, and had a HUGE responsibility of helping make the NHL relevant again. It’s still a bit of a journey, but with 506 career points in 370 games, Crosby is on his way to being one of the best ever. But he’s still not the best player in the league…
1. Alexander Ovechkin, Captials- This guy dominates the league like LeBron dominates the NBA. I’m hard-pressed to find a single thing Ovie can’t do. He’s big, fast, strong, and an extremely good stick-handler. There’s also that thing he does when he puts the puck in the net. It’s not just that he scores a lot of goals, it’s HOW he scores them; I’m too lazy to find a Youtube video on here and post it. So you may have to look yourself. In summary, Ovechkin is the best, most exciting, and most electrifying player in the world right now.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Winners and Losers of the NFL Draft
So now the draft is over; there probably won't be another football post for a while. Unless a two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback gets accused of rape for a second time or something of that nature. You mean that happened already? Good, let's move on.
Winners
Rams: You would expect the holders of the first overall pick to have a successful draft. But the Rams got four potential cornerstones of the franchise in Sam Bradford, stud tackle Rodger Saffold, cornerback Jerome Murphy, and wideout Mardy Gilyard. This draft definitely will push St. Louis to a 4 or 5 win season, a great improvement from last season’s debacle.
Patriots: To be honest, when do they NOT win in the draft? The Pats addressed practically all of their needs this weekend, picking up a first round CB in Devin McCourty, two tough linebackers from Florida (Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes), two tight ends (Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, my favorite TE this year), and the draft’s best punter. (Zoltan Mesko of Michigan!) Just the Pats doing work in April as usual.
Panthers: With John Fox perhaps in his last year as head coach, Carolina did work this weekend. They may have committed the robbery of the draft getting Jimmy Clausen at pick number 48, which supplies a stable replacement at QB as well. Also drafted by the Panthers were wide receivers Brandon LaFell (who excelled playing in the tough SEC) and Appalachian State hero Armanti Edwards. I’m still upset over that whole Michigan debacle… Anyway, Carolina also drafted Eric Norwood (OLB) and Greg Hardy (DE) in the sixth round; BOTH of these guys have been ranked in the top 60 of many people’s drafts boards but slipped for whatever reason. So it was a good draft for my team.
Texans: CB Kareem Jackson will immediately help out in replacing Dunta Robinson. Running back Ben Tate and tight ends Tony Moeaki and Dorin Dickinson (a seventh-round steal) are new faces on offense to supplement the immortal Andre Johnson. Earl Mitchell is a great choice for defensive tackle, and Trindon Holliday was a rather beastly return man for LSU standing at 5’6’’. Solid draft for Houston.
Cowboys: No one really likes the Cowboys, but you have to admit they had a hell of a draft this year. Dez Bryant was arguably the best wideout in this year’s class and will definitely make a splash in place of the ever-awful Roy Williams. LB Sean Lee of Penn State will fill in holes in the middle for Dallas, which desparately needed punch after being dominated by the Vikings last year in the playoffs. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is an amazing pick, coming from Division II college Indiana of Pennsylvania; at 6 feet tall and 210 pounds, he is an impressive DB prospect who will make an immediate impact in the secondary. Sixth-round pick Sam Young had a stellar college career at Notre Dame and will provide depth along the offensive line.
Losers
Jets: The law of averages came into play here; despite their particularly successful offseason, the Jets fell short this weekend. They only had 4 picks this draft and used their first-round pick to take defensive back Kyle Wilson of Boise State. Why? Linebackers like Sergio Kindle and Jerry Hughes were still available, and the Jets desperately need to replace mega-bust Vernon Gholston. Although second-rounder Vladimir Ducasse was a good fit, I was a bit surprised with Joe McKnight, an extreme underachiever at USC, being picked up in the 4th round. The Jets’ fourth pick was a fullback named John Conner, though. The name may compensate for his skill, but not really.
Browns: Granted, the Browns have nowhere to go but up, but I expected more out of their draft. Drafting Joe Haden (the “best” of a weak crop of cornerbacks) was a bit of a reach at pick #7; I don’t know why they passed up on Jimmy Clausen, but they really could’ve had a chance at a better impact player that high in the draft. Other than Colt McCoy, the players Cleveland picked were slightly above average at the collegiate level; to expect them to succeed in the NFL will take a lot of praying… and player development.
Jaguars: Probably the worst draft in the league this year. I don’t get it. Jacksonville needs a new franchise face; Maurice Jones Drew can’t carry the team on his tiny-but-extremely-jacked shoulders. So naturally, the Jags draft Tyson Alualu, a DT with a SECOND-ROUND grade, at the 10th overall pick. Following that? Another DT named D’Anthony, and guys from Central Arkansas, Murray State, Southern Illinois, and James Madison. When the Jacksonville Jaguars get relocated within 3 years, you’ll know who called it. Disgusting draft. EW.
Giants: Maybe I just don’t like either of the New York teams. But after Jason Pierre-Paul, the G-Men passed up on guys like Taylor Mays and Terrance Cody to draft Chad Jones and Linval Joseph. Additionally, barely anything was done to address the lack of depth on the aging offensive line (a fifth rounder is simply not enough).
Vikings: Granted, they didn’t have a first-round pick, but Minnesota didn’t do much to improve their team. Their first pick, CB Chris Cook, is the typical victim of a weak position class; he may have 7 interceptions next year and make me look bad, but the Vikings still need more depth in the secondary. Other than Toby Gerhart (who I do like, but won’t get more than 100 touches this year), there isn’t much to speak of here. In addition, Minnesota failed to pick up a quarterback despite the ambiguous future of Brett Favre.
Winners
Rams: You would expect the holders of the first overall pick to have a successful draft. But the Rams got four potential cornerstones of the franchise in Sam Bradford, stud tackle Rodger Saffold, cornerback Jerome Murphy, and wideout Mardy Gilyard. This draft definitely will push St. Louis to a 4 or 5 win season, a great improvement from last season’s debacle.
Patriots: To be honest, when do they NOT win in the draft? The Pats addressed practically all of their needs this weekend, picking up a first round CB in Devin McCourty, two tough linebackers from Florida (Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes), two tight ends (Ron Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, my favorite TE this year), and the draft’s best punter. (Zoltan Mesko of Michigan!) Just the Pats doing work in April as usual.
Panthers: With John Fox perhaps in his last year as head coach, Carolina did work this weekend. They may have committed the robbery of the draft getting Jimmy Clausen at pick number 48, which supplies a stable replacement at QB as well. Also drafted by the Panthers were wide receivers Brandon LaFell (who excelled playing in the tough SEC) and Appalachian State hero Armanti Edwards. I’m still upset over that whole Michigan debacle… Anyway, Carolina also drafted Eric Norwood (OLB) and Greg Hardy (DE) in the sixth round; BOTH of these guys have been ranked in the top 60 of many people’s drafts boards but slipped for whatever reason. So it was a good draft for my team.
Texans: CB Kareem Jackson will immediately help out in replacing Dunta Robinson. Running back Ben Tate and tight ends Tony Moeaki and Dorin Dickinson (a seventh-round steal) are new faces on offense to supplement the immortal Andre Johnson. Earl Mitchell is a great choice for defensive tackle, and Trindon Holliday was a rather beastly return man for LSU standing at 5’6’’. Solid draft for Houston.
Cowboys: No one really likes the Cowboys, but you have to admit they had a hell of a draft this year. Dez Bryant was arguably the best wideout in this year’s class and will definitely make a splash in place of the ever-awful Roy Williams. LB Sean Lee of Penn State will fill in holes in the middle for Dallas, which desparately needed punch after being dominated by the Vikings last year in the playoffs. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is an amazing pick, coming from Division II college Indiana of Pennsylvania; at 6 feet tall and 210 pounds, he is an impressive DB prospect who will make an immediate impact in the secondary. Sixth-round pick Sam Young had a stellar college career at Notre Dame and will provide depth along the offensive line.
Losers
Jets: The law of averages came into play here; despite their particularly successful offseason, the Jets fell short this weekend. They only had 4 picks this draft and used their first-round pick to take defensive back Kyle Wilson of Boise State. Why? Linebackers like Sergio Kindle and Jerry Hughes were still available, and the Jets desperately need to replace mega-bust Vernon Gholston. Although second-rounder Vladimir Ducasse was a good fit, I was a bit surprised with Joe McKnight, an extreme underachiever at USC, being picked up in the 4th round. The Jets’ fourth pick was a fullback named John Conner, though. The name may compensate for his skill, but not really.
Browns: Granted, the Browns have nowhere to go but up, but I expected more out of their draft. Drafting Joe Haden (the “best” of a weak crop of cornerbacks) was a bit of a reach at pick #7; I don’t know why they passed up on Jimmy Clausen, but they really could’ve had a chance at a better impact player that high in the draft. Other than Colt McCoy, the players Cleveland picked were slightly above average at the collegiate level; to expect them to succeed in the NFL will take a lot of praying… and player development.
Jaguars: Probably the worst draft in the league this year. I don’t get it. Jacksonville needs a new franchise face; Maurice Jones Drew can’t carry the team on his tiny-but-extremely-jacked shoulders. So naturally, the Jags draft Tyson Alualu, a DT with a SECOND-ROUND grade, at the 10th overall pick. Following that? Another DT named D’Anthony, and guys from Central Arkansas, Murray State, Southern Illinois, and James Madison. When the Jacksonville Jaguars get relocated within 3 years, you’ll know who called it. Disgusting draft. EW.
Giants: Maybe I just don’t like either of the New York teams. But after Jason Pierre-Paul, the G-Men passed up on guys like Taylor Mays and Terrance Cody to draft Chad Jones and Linval Joseph. Additionally, barely anything was done to address the lack of depth on the aging offensive line (a fifth rounder is simply not enough).
Vikings: Granted, they didn’t have a first-round pick, but Minnesota didn’t do much to improve their team. Their first pick, CB Chris Cook, is the typical victim of a weak position class; he may have 7 interceptions next year and make me look bad, but the Vikings still need more depth in the secondary. Other than Toby Gerhart (who I do like, but won’t get more than 100 touches this year), there isn’t much to speak of here. In addition, Minnesota failed to pick up a quarterback despite the ambiguous future of Brett Favre.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Apples to Oranges: Tim Lincecum vs. Roy Halladay
So as you may know, Tim Lincecum has won the last two National League Cy Young Awards. He’s pretty good. In fact, you may call him the best pitcher in the National League. That makes sense. However…
This pitcher named Roy Halladay got traded to the Phillies, who are conveniently located in the National League as well. Halladay is pretty filthy himself with a Cy Young of his own; this poses a threat to Lincecum’s title. So who would YOU take? Let’s break it down.
Name:
Lincecum- Timothy Leroy Lincecum (25 years old)
Halladay- Harry Leroy Halladay III (32 years old)
Nickname:
Lincecum- The Freak or The Franchise
Halladay- Doc
Size:
Lincecum- 5’11’’, 175 pounds
Halladay- 6’6’’, 230 pounds
Draft Status:
Lincecum- 1st round, 10th pick
Halladay- 1st round, 17th pick
Pitches:
Lincecum-fastball clocked at 98 MPH, absurdly disgusting curve, cutter, changeup
Halladay- everything except an eephus (2 and 4 seam FB, curve, cutter, changeup in particular)
Key Career Stats:
Lincecum- 2.84 career ERA, .717 winning %, 1.140 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 ratio, 3.18 K/BB ratio
Halladay- 3.39 career ERA, .667 winning %, 1.193 WHIP, 6.6 K/9 ratio, 3.33 K/BB ratio
Decorations:
Lincecum- 2 All-Star games, 2 Cy Youngs (2008, 2009)
Halladay- 6 All-Star games, 1 Cy Young (2003)
Statistic that best defines his skill:
Lincecum- Strikeouts (led league last 2 years)
Halladay- Complete games/Shutouts (51 CGs and 16 SHOs in career most among all active players)
One sentence description:
Lincecum- An undersized but overwhelming power pitcher that looks like he’s 15 years old.
Halladay- A master of control and going the distance, both of which are dying traits these days.
Bonus points for:
Lincecum- Being so nasty despite being really small and having an extremely unusual windup.
Halladay- Having a moderately attractive wife. And for being really old-school.
So there you have it. Despite the fact that neither of these guys have ever pitched in the playoffs, who would you rather have start for Game 7?
This pitcher named Roy Halladay got traded to the Phillies, who are conveniently located in the National League as well. Halladay is pretty filthy himself with a Cy Young of his own; this poses a threat to Lincecum’s title. So who would YOU take? Let’s break it down.
Name:
Lincecum- Timothy Leroy Lincecum (25 years old)
Halladay- Harry Leroy Halladay III (32 years old)
Nickname:
Lincecum- The Freak or The Franchise
Halladay- Doc
Size:
Lincecum- 5’11’’, 175 pounds
Halladay- 6’6’’, 230 pounds
Draft Status:
Lincecum- 1st round, 10th pick
Halladay- 1st round, 17th pick
Pitches:
Lincecum-fastball clocked at 98 MPH, absurdly disgusting curve, cutter, changeup
Halladay- everything except an eephus (2 and 4 seam FB, curve, cutter, changeup in particular)
Key Career Stats:
Lincecum- 2.84 career ERA, .717 winning %, 1.140 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 ratio, 3.18 K/BB ratio
Halladay- 3.39 career ERA, .667 winning %, 1.193 WHIP, 6.6 K/9 ratio, 3.33 K/BB ratio
Decorations:
Lincecum- 2 All-Star games, 2 Cy Youngs (2008, 2009)
Halladay- 6 All-Star games, 1 Cy Young (2003)
Statistic that best defines his skill:
Lincecum- Strikeouts (led league last 2 years)
Halladay- Complete games/Shutouts (51 CGs and 16 SHOs in career most among all active players)
One sentence description:
Lincecum- An undersized but overwhelming power pitcher that looks like he’s 15 years old.
Halladay- A master of control and going the distance, both of which are dying traits these days.
Bonus points for:
Lincecum- Being so nasty despite being really small and having an extremely unusual windup.
Halladay- Having a moderately attractive wife. And for being really old-school.
So there you have it. Despite the fact that neither of these guys have ever pitched in the playoffs, who would you rather have start for Game 7?
10 Young Pitchers You Need to Know
I consider myself to be an old-school baseball fan. I actually consider myself to be an old-school fan of almost all sports, but really, none moreso than the national pastime. I love great pitchers, cerebral catchers, and great run manufacturing. If a baseball game featuring a great pitcher is on TV, I will always watch the man do work. As guys like Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Roger Clemens have all hung up their cleats, we need a new generation of great pitchers to fill the void. I decided to pick 10 guys who will certainly make an impact in the league (and my TV watching) for years to come. I’m going to leave off Tim Lincecum because he has 2 Cy Youngs already; let's put some guys looking for some hardware on the list.
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals- If you don’t know who this guy is, you may need to emerge from your rock. Strasberg is surely the most hyped pitcher coming out of college since Mark Prior, with a fastball occasionally clocked at 102 miles per hour. To be honest, I don’t know what 102 miles per hour looks like in a batter’s box; I’m a bit scared. The 21-year old complements that absurd heat with a big build (6’4’’, 220 pounds) and a good curveball clocked around 80 mph. Everyone in the baseball world wants this guy playing in the majors as soon as possible; it’s easy to see why.
Felix Hernandez, Mariners- King Felix is quite the specimen. Coming onto the scene as a 19-year old teenage in 2005, Hernandez had an ERA of 2.67. Now 24, Felix had his most impressive season yet in 2009, going 19-5 with an ERA of 2.49 and coming second in Cy Young voting. Trying to take the crown of best Venezuelan pitcher from Johan Santana, the King hit a grand slam off Santana in 2008; he’s on his way to doing so.
Yovani Gallardo, Brewers- Already the best Mexican pitcher in the league (I dig it, even though there’s not a lot of Mexicans pitching nowadays), Gallardo is a beast on the pound and at the plate, with a .227 average and 4 career homers already at the age of 24. Yovani (the name seems unisex) has already established himself as an efficient power pitcher, striking out 204 batters in 185 innings in 2009. He recently signed a $30 million extension over the next 5 years; good for the financially strapped Brew Crew for locking him up.
Jair Jurrjens, Braves- The 24-year old Jurrjens has the coolest name on this list, along with three solid pitches: a fastball in the low 90s, a great changeup, and a slider to boot. Jurrjens led the league with 34 games started and also had an ERA of 2.60. He and Tommy Hanson will make a great 1-2 punch in Atlanta for the next decade, perhaps for longer.
Rick Porcello, Tigers- Fredrick Alfred Porcello III was drafted right out of high school by Detroit, receiving a total contract worth $11.1 million. He went 14-9 with an ERA of 3.96 in 2009, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. The only drawback about Porcello is that he’s from New Jersey. (Just kidding.) But the 21-year old who stands 6’5’’ will be an intimidating force in the American League for a long time.
Neftali Feliz, Rangers- Feliz is filthy. At 21 years old, he has a fastball that hovers near 100 miles an hour along with a delicious curveball. Because of his lack of a third pitch, he may be forced to “stay” as a reliever for his career. But I’m sure the Rangers wouldn’t mind having a closer who posted 39 strikeouts in 31 innings last year with a WHIP of .677 and ERA of 1.74.
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers- The 6’3’’ lefty is the great-nephew of Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer credited with discovering Pluto; it’s no surprise Dodgers fans have other-worldly expectations of this guy. The 22-year old Kershaw has a great mid 90s fastball, a looping curve, and a developing circle changeup. He led the major leagues last season with a .200 opposing batting average. Good luck hitting this guy.
Brad Bergesen, Orioles- A guy who hasn’t received as much hype as the other guys on this list, Bergesen is a great finesse pitcher built in a Maddux-type mold. The 24-year old utilizes a good sinker and slider despite his fastball maxing out around 89 to 90 mph. Beresen had a 50.1% ground ball rate last season in 2009 to complement a 3.43 ERA; you can expect him to improve exponentially in Baltimore.
Tommy Hanson, Braves- The Braves continue to churn out lofty pitching prospects, keeping their tradition along. Hanson, 23, had an excellent rookie campaign in 2009, going 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA. Standing 6’6’’ tall, Hanson possess a mid 90s fastball, a solid slider, and a curveball evaluated as “narsty.” Yes, narsty. (Actually, that’s my word. But you’ve gotta see it).
David Price, Rays- The 24-year old lefty from Vanderbilt has great potential, to say the least. One of a couple good young arms down in Tampa, Price stands 6’6’’ and has a low 90s fastball and changeup. However, his best pitch is his slider, which is known to break very late and sharp. Straight dirty. The first overall draft pick in 2007, Price went 10-7 last season and will grow considerably as he continues to pitch against the stiff competition in the AL East.
Stephen Strasburg, Nationals- If you don’t know who this guy is, you may need to emerge from your rock. Strasberg is surely the most hyped pitcher coming out of college since Mark Prior, with a fastball occasionally clocked at 102 miles per hour. To be honest, I don’t know what 102 miles per hour looks like in a batter’s box; I’m a bit scared. The 21-year old complements that absurd heat with a big build (6’4’’, 220 pounds) and a good curveball clocked around 80 mph. Everyone in the baseball world wants this guy playing in the majors as soon as possible; it’s easy to see why.
Felix Hernandez, Mariners- King Felix is quite the specimen. Coming onto the scene as a 19-year old teenage in 2005, Hernandez had an ERA of 2.67. Now 24, Felix had his most impressive season yet in 2009, going 19-5 with an ERA of 2.49 and coming second in Cy Young voting. Trying to take the crown of best Venezuelan pitcher from Johan Santana, the King hit a grand slam off Santana in 2008; he’s on his way to doing so.
Yovani Gallardo, Brewers- Already the best Mexican pitcher in the league (I dig it, even though there’s not a lot of Mexicans pitching nowadays), Gallardo is a beast on the pound and at the plate, with a .227 average and 4 career homers already at the age of 24. Yovani (the name seems unisex) has already established himself as an efficient power pitcher, striking out 204 batters in 185 innings in 2009. He recently signed a $30 million extension over the next 5 years; good for the financially strapped Brew Crew for locking him up.
Jair Jurrjens, Braves- The 24-year old Jurrjens has the coolest name on this list, along with three solid pitches: a fastball in the low 90s, a great changeup, and a slider to boot. Jurrjens led the league with 34 games started and also had an ERA of 2.60. He and Tommy Hanson will make a great 1-2 punch in Atlanta for the next decade, perhaps for longer.
Rick Porcello, Tigers- Fredrick Alfred Porcello III was drafted right out of high school by Detroit, receiving a total contract worth $11.1 million. He went 14-9 with an ERA of 3.96 in 2009, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. The only drawback about Porcello is that he’s from New Jersey. (Just kidding.) But the 21-year old who stands 6’5’’ will be an intimidating force in the American League for a long time.
Neftali Feliz, Rangers- Feliz is filthy. At 21 years old, he has a fastball that hovers near 100 miles an hour along with a delicious curveball. Because of his lack of a third pitch, he may be forced to “stay” as a reliever for his career. But I’m sure the Rangers wouldn’t mind having a closer who posted 39 strikeouts in 31 innings last year with a WHIP of .677 and ERA of 1.74.
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers- The 6’3’’ lefty is the great-nephew of Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer credited with discovering Pluto; it’s no surprise Dodgers fans have other-worldly expectations of this guy. The 22-year old Kershaw has a great mid 90s fastball, a looping curve, and a developing circle changeup. He led the major leagues last season with a .200 opposing batting average. Good luck hitting this guy.
Brad Bergesen, Orioles- A guy who hasn’t received as much hype as the other guys on this list, Bergesen is a great finesse pitcher built in a Maddux-type mold. The 24-year old utilizes a good sinker and slider despite his fastball maxing out around 89 to 90 mph. Beresen had a 50.1% ground ball rate last season in 2009 to complement a 3.43 ERA; you can expect him to improve exponentially in Baltimore.
Tommy Hanson, Braves- The Braves continue to churn out lofty pitching prospects, keeping their tradition along. Hanson, 23, had an excellent rookie campaign in 2009, going 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA. Standing 6’6’’ tall, Hanson possess a mid 90s fastball, a solid slider, and a curveball evaluated as “narsty.” Yes, narsty. (Actually, that’s my word. But you’ve gotta see it).
David Price, Rays- The 24-year old lefty from Vanderbilt has great potential, to say the least. One of a couple good young arms down in Tampa, Price stands 6’6’’ and has a low 90s fastball and changeup. However, his best pitch is his slider, which is known to break very late and sharp. Straight dirty. The first overall draft pick in 2007, Price went 10-7 last season and will grow considerably as he continues to pitch against the stiff competition in the AL East.
Why Tim Tebow Will Be Successful in the NFL
So Tim Tebow is finally on an NFL team: the Denver Broncos. Not the most ideal fit. Not the worst fit, either. It’ll be interesting to see how much playing time he’ll get, but we’ll get to that when the season gets underway.
What I’m going to address, though, is the probable influx of Tebow haters. Not to say the contingency of those who don’t like Timmy T (or the second coming of Christ, depending on your beliefs) isn’t big already. But there are still many people who don’t follow college football as passionately as the NFL. When they hear about this new Christian guy with questionable quarterbacking skills enter the league, “Tebow sucks” is all they can say.
First of all, Tebow has the potential to be one of the most marketable players in the league, regardless of how good he is or how much he plays. You have to understand how big of an impact he had in the state of Florida, a football hotbed greatly divided by allegiances to 6 teams (Jaguars, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Florida, Florida State, Miami). After his SOPHOMORE year of college (with two more years to go), Tebow had a Heisman trophy and the love and adulation of football fans in his home state and country. By the end of his collegiate career, arguably one of the most decorated in the history of the game, he became a national hero for his great faith and Super Bowl commercial, which wasn’t as controversial as people made it out to be.
Secondly, one has to assess the actual value of the pick that Tebow was taken with. He wasn’t the first overall pick. He wasn’t drafted in the Top 10 to replace an immediate need. He was taken in the end of the first round, a reasonable juncture of the draft to choose someone who may need development upon reaching the professional level. He’s not going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s not going to throw for 30 touchdowns in any season he plays. He’s going to be a contributor to the Broncos.
Which brings me to the team that’s rolling the dice with Tebow: Denver. This isn’t a team in search of a new identity like Buffalo and Jacksonville, two of the teams most closely associated with drafting Tebow Christ. Tebow doesn’t have to assume the role of team captain or spokesman or city hero. Head coach Josh McDaniels was an offensive genius in New England and definitely led the Broncos to surpass expectations for the 2009 season (with the exception of that mini-collapse at the end of the campaign). McDaniels trusts Tebow to come in to the organization and learn the team’s offense willingly; given Tebow’s intelligence and passion for the game, it’s easy to see he can do that. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in several packages like a Wildcat of some sort; who the hell wants a 6’3’’, 225 guy running straight at you?
Tim Tebow will most likely not be the starting quarterback come Opening Day. Unless his mechanics emulate Peyton Manning’s in about 4 months, he won’t be taking the first snap of his team’s season. It will take roughly one or two seasons to groom him into the role of traditional, drop-back quarterback. There’s a reason the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn; they simply needed depth at the QB. It’s funny to see some scouts’ takes on Tebow. “Strengths: Intangibles, Weaknesses: Tangibles”. At least Tebow has the size and strength to become a menacing threat from a couple schemes.
Just because Tim Tebow looks awkward throwing a football doesn’t mean he can’t succeed in the NFL. Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell actually moved his back leg forward instead of the front leg when swinging in the batter’s box. Despite the unorthodox battle style, he’s regarded as one of the most prolific first basemen of the 1990’s. And have you ever seen Shawn Marion shoot a jump shot?
In summary, I’m not expecting the guy to make multiple Pro Bowls. The number of college stars who didn’t hit it big in professional football is incredibly huge, and if Tebow joins that list, he obviously won’t be the first. But his intangibles will (hopefully) prevent him joining that list. If a guy like Trent Dilfer can get lucky and win a Super Bowl (with the help of the 2000 Ravens’ defense), Tebow can make it big. He’s going to sell jerseys. Once he signs endorsements with Gatorade and what-not, you’ll have no choice but to look at him on billboards, magazines, and television. Stop hating on him because he’s more famous and makes more money than you’ll ever see in your life. The guy’s a born leader; in a league where people can drive drunk and kill guys and only go to jail for 30 days (looking at you, Donte Stallworth) or beat up strippers and get involved in a triple shooting (you too, Pacman Jones), Tebow is a breath of fresh air, maintaining a level of class similar to Tim Duncan or Derek Jeter.
Okay, so as you can tell, I have a bit of a man-crush on Tim Tebow. But when he starts succeeding in the league and keeps adding to his fan base, you may have a man-crush too.
What I’m going to address, though, is the probable influx of Tebow haters. Not to say the contingency of those who don’t like Timmy T (or the second coming of Christ, depending on your beliefs) isn’t big already. But there are still many people who don’t follow college football as passionately as the NFL. When they hear about this new Christian guy with questionable quarterbacking skills enter the league, “Tebow sucks” is all they can say.
First of all, Tebow has the potential to be one of the most marketable players in the league, regardless of how good he is or how much he plays. You have to understand how big of an impact he had in the state of Florida, a football hotbed greatly divided by allegiances to 6 teams (Jaguars, Dolphins, Buccaneers, Florida, Florida State, Miami). After his SOPHOMORE year of college (with two more years to go), Tebow had a Heisman trophy and the love and adulation of football fans in his home state and country. By the end of his collegiate career, arguably one of the most decorated in the history of the game, he became a national hero for his great faith and Super Bowl commercial, which wasn’t as controversial as people made it out to be.
Secondly, one has to assess the actual value of the pick that Tebow was taken with. He wasn’t the first overall pick. He wasn’t drafted in the Top 10 to replace an immediate need. He was taken in the end of the first round, a reasonable juncture of the draft to choose someone who may need development upon reaching the professional level. He’s not going to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s not going to throw for 30 touchdowns in any season he plays. He’s going to be a contributor to the Broncos.
Which brings me to the team that’s rolling the dice with Tebow: Denver. This isn’t a team in search of a new identity like Buffalo and Jacksonville, two of the teams most closely associated with drafting Tebow Christ. Tebow doesn’t have to assume the role of team captain or spokesman or city hero. Head coach Josh McDaniels was an offensive genius in New England and definitely led the Broncos to surpass expectations for the 2009 season (with the exception of that mini-collapse at the end of the campaign). McDaniels trusts Tebow to come in to the organization and learn the team’s offense willingly; given Tebow’s intelligence and passion for the game, it’s easy to see he can do that. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in several packages like a Wildcat of some sort; who the hell wants a 6’3’’, 225 guy running straight at you?
Tim Tebow will most likely not be the starting quarterback come Opening Day. Unless his mechanics emulate Peyton Manning’s in about 4 months, he won’t be taking the first snap of his team’s season. It will take roughly one or two seasons to groom him into the role of traditional, drop-back quarterback. There’s a reason the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn; they simply needed depth at the QB. It’s funny to see some scouts’ takes on Tebow. “Strengths: Intangibles, Weaknesses: Tangibles”. At least Tebow has the size and strength to become a menacing threat from a couple schemes.
Just because Tim Tebow looks awkward throwing a football doesn’t mean he can’t succeed in the NFL. Former Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell actually moved his back leg forward instead of the front leg when swinging in the batter’s box. Despite the unorthodox battle style, he’s regarded as one of the most prolific first basemen of the 1990’s. And have you ever seen Shawn Marion shoot a jump shot?
In summary, I’m not expecting the guy to make multiple Pro Bowls. The number of college stars who didn’t hit it big in professional football is incredibly huge, and if Tebow joins that list, he obviously won’t be the first. But his intangibles will (hopefully) prevent him joining that list. If a guy like Trent Dilfer can get lucky and win a Super Bowl (with the help of the 2000 Ravens’ defense), Tebow can make it big. He’s going to sell jerseys. Once he signs endorsements with Gatorade and what-not, you’ll have no choice but to look at him on billboards, magazines, and television. Stop hating on him because he’s more famous and makes more money than you’ll ever see in your life. The guy’s a born leader; in a league where people can drive drunk and kill guys and only go to jail for 30 days (looking at you, Donte Stallworth) or beat up strippers and get involved in a triple shooting (you too, Pacman Jones), Tebow is a breath of fresh air, maintaining a level of class similar to Tim Duncan or Derek Jeter.
Okay, so as you can tell, I have a bit of a man-crush on Tim Tebow. But when he starts succeeding in the league and keeps adding to his fan base, you may have a man-crush too.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Mock Draft: Picks 1-32 (and bonus pick)
I have no life, so I made a mock draft of my own.
1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma- Bradford is actually an official member of Cherokee Nation. That's right, the #1 overall pick is a Native American whose Cherokee name may actually translate to Wounded Shoulder.
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- This guy is absurdly good. Probably the best overall prospect in the draft, Suh dominated last season at Nebraska, including 4 sacks in the Big 12 championship game. Also has the coolest name in the draft.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma- McCoy may be the second best DT prospect this year but he would probably be #1 in scouts' eyes in many other years. Surely an impact player for years to come.
4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State- The Skins' offensive line is awful. Okung is a solid upgrade over essentially everyone on the O-Line right now in Washington; Trent Williams is also a solid pick for the zone-blocking scheme the team employs.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OL, Iowa- Supposedly, Chiefs boss Scott Pioli and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz are tight. Will this lead to KC drafting Bulaga? Considering the need for a tackle and Bulaga's skill, probably.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Williams, OL, Oklahoma- The third Oklahoma Sooner to come off the board already. Williams is a great addition for Pete Carroll's Seahawks. It warrants mentioning that I think Carroll will struggle as head coach in Seattle. Just saying.
7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee- With Suh, one of the best draft prospects in years. Head and shoulders above the rest of this year's safety crop, he was picked apart by scouts at the Combine this February. Make that "tried to be picked apart"; there's nothing wrong with his game or measurements at all.
8. Oakland Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers- You never really know what Al Davis will do with an Oakland draft pick. Davis makes the most sense, but don't count out drafting Combine star Bruce Campbell or California native Jimmy Clausen. Because JaMarcus Russell needs to not play in the NFL anymore.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame- Clausen, the golden boy. Blessed with one of the best arms draft scouts have ever seen, Jimbo is an interesting case. He clearly has Top 10 potential but may slip all the way into the 20's if the guys in Cleveland and Buffalo suffer from retardation and pass up on him. The Bills need a QB, though.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech- The Jaguars desparately need a guy to help out the pass rush; the team had 14 sacks last year. Morgan is one of the more solid, safe picks at DE. He flourished in his team's bowl game and Combine.
11. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama- Rolando (sweet name) is the best linebacker prospect in this year's draft. He is on the top of many teams' draft lists and would probably start from Day 1 in Denver; he's that good. Also earns bonus points for wearing an unusual number for a linebacker at Bama (25).
12. Miami Dolphins: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida- This man is scary. At 6'6'', 260 pounds with great athleticism, JPP will supply Bill Parcells' Dolphins with relentless pass-rushing skills and energy. Also went to college not far from Miami; the local boy will make good.
13. San Francisco 49ers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- Arguably the most dynamic offensive player in the draft. Spiller has ridiculous speed, great hands, and also makes for a lofty returner. A good complement to the bruising Frank Gore, who continues to be overrated in every Madden game.
14. Seattle Seahawks: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State- Although Seattle would probably prefer Spiller, they get another playmaker in Bryant. Scouts say that Dez is a better prospect coming out of college than Michael Crabtree, who was rather beastly. It also warrants mentioning that Bryant's mother had him when she was 13 years old. 13 years old. That's 8th grade.
15. New York Giants: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri- Not the glamour pick Giants fans wanted to see, but it makes sense. The linebacking corps is decimated after the release of Antonio Pierce; Weatherspoon is a ferocious tackler.
16. Tennessee Titans: Joe Haden, CB, Florida- Tennessee really, REALLY needs another cornerback to line up opposite Cortland Finnegan. Haden is a Top 10 talent but slipped a bit because of "slow" 40-yard dash times at the Combine. If I ran a 4.5 40 like Haden, I would want to race everyone I met on the street.
17. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, OL, Idaho- The Niners may also look for Haden if he's available. Iupati supplies good versatility along the O-Line and patches up some holes SF has. Also, it bothers me that the state of Idaho has two solid college football programs. New York does not have a single one.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida- The drafting of linemen continues. Pouncey is an interior line guy (guard/center) but definitely warrants the high draft selection. The Steelers will try to look for high character guys because of the Ben Roethlisberger nonsense. The man has as many Super Bowl rings as rape accusations (two).
19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- Graham had an impressive Senior Bowl and Combine, catapaulting his way up the draft rankings. Also, as a Michigan fan, he gets my full endorsement. (Even though Michigan football is awful right now.)
20. Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, S, Texas- Thomas is from Texas. The Houston Texans are located in Texas. The Texans need a safety. Can it be this easy?
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma- Just like Houston, Cincy can address a very glaring need by drafting Gresham. Injury problems aside, Gresham was the best tight end in college football for two years.
22. New England Patriots: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas- Some people are saying Tim Tebow and Jermaine Gresham are legitimate picks here. I would agree more about Gresham... until one realizes the Patriots had a subpar pass rush last season. Kindle, who I have seen as a nasty linebacker as early as NCAA Football 2007 (yes, 2007), is a solid pick here.
23. Green Bay Packers: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State- The Packers' pass defense is atrocious with the exception of Charles Woodson. Wilson will supplement the D with his playing style. I don't know what else to write about a small cornerback from Boise State.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Everson Griffen, DE, USC- With a name that sounds like a heavyweight boxer, Griffen is a great fit for Andy Reid's crew. Reid's tendency to draft big men in the first round will definitely come into play with this pick. A lot of different options on both sides of the trenches here...
25. Baltimore Ravens: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers- I didn't know Rutgers still had a football team. But seriously, the Ravens need a CB badly and after Ray Rice's success, will again look to reach into the atomic wasteland of New Jersey to pick McCourty.
26. Arizona Cardinals: Charles Brown, OT, USC- Despite the fact that all of the elite O-Line guy will have been taken by now, Arizona still needs help up front. Brown is a raw prospect who will provide depth on the line.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC- Either Mays or wide receiver Demaryius Thomas would be a great pick here. Mays wins out because of his absurd size (6'3'', 230) and speed. He was "unofficially" clocked at 4.24 at the Combine, which would have tied Chris Johnson for fastest ever, but it was taken "all the way down" to 4.43. That's still a fast dude.
28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State- This is definitely the best possible pick at this juncture of the first round for San Diego. I'm not really sure if Mathews excels in one area, but he does appear to be a workhorse who's physically tough. He would be an effective complement to Pocket Darren Sproles.
29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State- The Jets essentially addressed all their needs before Draft Day, which is pretty impressive. The one thing they can look for is depth along the D-Line, as the injury-prone Kris Jenkins and the unimpressive Mike Devito need backups. Odrick is an impressive player. That's really all I can say about him. I'm just amazed at how the Jets got ultimate baby-daddy Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes for extremely low draft picks...
30. Minnesota Vikings: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- Yeah, I went there. The Vikings need a cornerback but will probably use all of their time on the clock with this pick because of the many options available. I'll keep the Tebow analysis to one sentence (for now): Although he will need an extra year or two to develop as an NFL quarterback, Tebow is a versatile player and a great investment for a team who needs high character, leadership, and marketability.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Bruce Campbell, OL, Maryland- The Colts haven't really drafted marquee playmakers in the last several years in the first round, and this year should be no different. Campbell is an intriguing prospect though; with an excellent Combine, he shot up scouts' rankings and could actually be drafted significantly higher if he's lucky. Never discount the Raiders to draft a guy like Campbell, but for Indy, either he or Jerry Hughes (pass-rusher) would be good fits.
32. New Orleans Saints: Jerry Hughes, DE, T.C.U.- The defending champs don't really have immediate needs. However, Hughes can play as a DE/OLB hybrid and would give New Orleans depth on the defensive end of the ball.
(BONUS PICK) 48. Carolina Panthers: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama- I know, the bonus wasn't that exciting. But they're my favorite team, cut me some slack. The Panthers' first pick doesn't come until #48, so they really need to pick up a big name if there's one still on the board. Cody is a mountain of a man and had several clutch sacks and blocked field goals for the Crimson Tide. Considering Carolina doesn't have much at D-Tackle, they really have no excuse to pick up Cody if he's available.
1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma- Bradford is actually an official member of Cherokee Nation. That's right, the #1 overall pick is a Native American whose Cherokee name may actually translate to Wounded Shoulder.
2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska- This guy is absurdly good. Probably the best overall prospect in the draft, Suh dominated last season at Nebraska, including 4 sacks in the Big 12 championship game. Also has the coolest name in the draft.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma- McCoy may be the second best DT prospect this year but he would probably be #1 in scouts' eyes in many other years. Surely an impact player for years to come.
4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State- The Skins' offensive line is awful. Okung is a solid upgrade over essentially everyone on the O-Line right now in Washington; Trent Williams is also a solid pick for the zone-blocking scheme the team employs.
5. Kansas City Chiefs: Bryan Bulaga, OL, Iowa- Supposedly, Chiefs boss Scott Pioli and Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz are tight. Will this lead to KC drafting Bulaga? Considering the need for a tackle and Bulaga's skill, probably.
6. Seattle Seahawks: Trent Williams, OL, Oklahoma- The third Oklahoma Sooner to come off the board already. Williams is a great addition for Pete Carroll's Seahawks. It warrants mentioning that I think Carroll will struggle as head coach in Seattle. Just saying.
7. Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee- With Suh, one of the best draft prospects in years. Head and shoulders above the rest of this year's safety crop, he was picked apart by scouts at the Combine this February. Make that "tried to be picked apart"; there's nothing wrong with his game or measurements at all.
8. Oakland Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers- You never really know what Al Davis will do with an Oakland draft pick. Davis makes the most sense, but don't count out drafting Combine star Bruce Campbell or California native Jimmy Clausen. Because JaMarcus Russell needs to not play in the NFL anymore.
9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame- Clausen, the golden boy. Blessed with one of the best arms draft scouts have ever seen, Jimbo is an interesting case. He clearly has Top 10 potential but may slip all the way into the 20's if the guys in Cleveland and Buffalo suffer from retardation and pass up on him. The Bills need a QB, though.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech- The Jaguars desparately need a guy to help out the pass rush; the team had 14 sacks last year. Morgan is one of the more solid, safe picks at DE. He flourished in his team's bowl game and Combine.
11. Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama- Rolando (sweet name) is the best linebacker prospect in this year's draft. He is on the top of many teams' draft lists and would probably start from Day 1 in Denver; he's that good. Also earns bonus points for wearing an unusual number for a linebacker at Bama (25).
12. Miami Dolphins: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida- This man is scary. At 6'6'', 260 pounds with great athleticism, JPP will supply Bill Parcells' Dolphins with relentless pass-rushing skills and energy. Also went to college not far from Miami; the local boy will make good.
13. San Francisco 49ers: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson- Arguably the most dynamic offensive player in the draft. Spiller has ridiculous speed, great hands, and also makes for a lofty returner. A good complement to the bruising Frank Gore, who continues to be overrated in every Madden game.
14. Seattle Seahawks: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State- Although Seattle would probably prefer Spiller, they get another playmaker in Bryant. Scouts say that Dez is a better prospect coming out of college than Michael Crabtree, who was rather beastly. It also warrants mentioning that Bryant's mother had him when she was 13 years old. 13 years old. That's 8th grade.
15. New York Giants: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri- Not the glamour pick Giants fans wanted to see, but it makes sense. The linebacking corps is decimated after the release of Antonio Pierce; Weatherspoon is a ferocious tackler.
16. Tennessee Titans: Joe Haden, CB, Florida- Tennessee really, REALLY needs another cornerback to line up opposite Cortland Finnegan. Haden is a Top 10 talent but slipped a bit because of "slow" 40-yard dash times at the Combine. If I ran a 4.5 40 like Haden, I would want to race everyone I met on the street.
17. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Iupati, OL, Idaho- The Niners may also look for Haden if he's available. Iupati supplies good versatility along the O-Line and patches up some holes SF has. Also, it bothers me that the state of Idaho has two solid college football programs. New York does not have a single one.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maurkice Pouncey, OL, Florida- The drafting of linemen continues. Pouncey is an interior line guy (guard/center) but definitely warrants the high draft selection. The Steelers will try to look for high character guys because of the Ben Roethlisberger nonsense. The man has as many Super Bowl rings as rape accusations (two).
19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan- Graham had an impressive Senior Bowl and Combine, catapaulting his way up the draft rankings. Also, as a Michigan fan, he gets my full endorsement. (Even though Michigan football is awful right now.)
20. Houston Texans: Earl Thomas, S, Texas- Thomas is from Texas. The Houston Texans are located in Texas. The Texans need a safety. Can it be this easy?
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma- Just like Houston, Cincy can address a very glaring need by drafting Gresham. Injury problems aside, Gresham was the best tight end in college football for two years.
22. New England Patriots: Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas- Some people are saying Tim Tebow and Jermaine Gresham are legitimate picks here. I would agree more about Gresham... until one realizes the Patriots had a subpar pass rush last season. Kindle, who I have seen as a nasty linebacker as early as NCAA Football 2007 (yes, 2007), is a solid pick here.
23. Green Bay Packers: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State- The Packers' pass defense is atrocious with the exception of Charles Woodson. Wilson will supplement the D with his playing style. I don't know what else to write about a small cornerback from Boise State.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: Everson Griffen, DE, USC- With a name that sounds like a heavyweight boxer, Griffen is a great fit for Andy Reid's crew. Reid's tendency to draft big men in the first round will definitely come into play with this pick. A lot of different options on both sides of the trenches here...
25. Baltimore Ravens: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers- I didn't know Rutgers still had a football team. But seriously, the Ravens need a CB badly and after Ray Rice's success, will again look to reach into the atomic wasteland of New Jersey to pick McCourty.
26. Arizona Cardinals: Charles Brown, OT, USC- Despite the fact that all of the elite O-Line guy will have been taken by now, Arizona still needs help up front. Brown is a raw prospect who will provide depth on the line.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Taylor Mays, S, USC- Either Mays or wide receiver Demaryius Thomas would be a great pick here. Mays wins out because of his absurd size (6'3'', 230) and speed. He was "unofficially" clocked at 4.24 at the Combine, which would have tied Chris Johnson for fastest ever, but it was taken "all the way down" to 4.43. That's still a fast dude.
28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State- This is definitely the best possible pick at this juncture of the first round for San Diego. I'm not really sure if Mathews excels in one area, but he does appear to be a workhorse who's physically tough. He would be an effective complement to Pocket Darren Sproles.
29. New York Jets: Jared Odrick, DL, Penn State- The Jets essentially addressed all their needs before Draft Day, which is pretty impressive. The one thing they can look for is depth along the D-Line, as the injury-prone Kris Jenkins and the unimpressive Mike Devito need backups. Odrick is an impressive player. That's really all I can say about him. I'm just amazed at how the Jets got ultimate baby-daddy Antonio Cromartie and Santonio Holmes for extremely low draft picks...
30. Minnesota Vikings: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida- Yeah, I went there. The Vikings need a cornerback but will probably use all of their time on the clock with this pick because of the many options available. I'll keep the Tebow analysis to one sentence (for now): Although he will need an extra year or two to develop as an NFL quarterback, Tebow is a versatile player and a great investment for a team who needs high character, leadership, and marketability.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Bruce Campbell, OL, Maryland- The Colts haven't really drafted marquee playmakers in the last several years in the first round, and this year should be no different. Campbell is an intriguing prospect though; with an excellent Combine, he shot up scouts' rankings and could actually be drafted significantly higher if he's lucky. Never discount the Raiders to draft a guy like Campbell, but for Indy, either he or Jerry Hughes (pass-rusher) would be good fits.
32. New Orleans Saints: Jerry Hughes, DE, T.C.U.- The defending champs don't really have immediate needs. However, Hughes can play as a DE/OLB hybrid and would give New Orleans depth on the defensive end of the ball.
(BONUS PICK) 48. Carolina Panthers: Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama- I know, the bonus wasn't that exciting. But they're my favorite team, cut me some slack. The Panthers' first pick doesn't come until #48, so they really need to pick up a big name if there's one still on the board. Cody is a mountain of a man and had several clutch sacks and blocked field goals for the Crimson Tide. Considering Carolina doesn't have much at D-Tackle, they really have no excuse to pick up Cody if he's available.
Top 5 Storylines of the NFL Draft
Draft Day is here. And of course, the media outlets (more specifically, ESPN) are creaming in their pants to create "interesting storylines" to give the fans. I don't play that. So I devised 5 intriguing topics that will be big focal points come Thursday night.
1. Tebow-mania: How can this not be a storyline? Tebow is one of the most decorated college football players to ever play the sport. He's an incredibly curious prospect in the eyes of scouts, earning draft projections from the first round to round 3. All it takes is one team to simply say, "We want a high character guy who's extremely marketable. We'll take him." Inviting him to the first round of the draft may not be a great idea; if he isn't taken after pick #32, it would be more awkward than seeing your one-night stand in class the next day.
2. The QB conundrum: It goes like this... Only 3 out of the Top 10 teams (Rams, Browns, Bills) are really looking for a quarterback. The Rams will almost definitely take Sam Bradford at #1. The Browns at pick #7 supposedly "aren't interested" in Jimmy Clausen, which would make Jimbo available at #9 for the Bills. Meanwhile, Colt McCoy (who is being severely undervalued in my opinion) won't be taken until the second round, perhaps by Cleveland; his arm is a good fit in Cleveland's West Coast offense. And there's that Tebow guy as well.
3. Teams in trouble: The Steelers, fresh off the Rape-lisberger debacle (see what I did there?), are reportedly shopping Big Ben for high first-round draft picks. The Seahawks and 49ers, both NFC West teams trying to knock off the Cardinals, both have two first-rounders and will try to make a statement with their picks (C.J. Spiller and Trent Williams are two guys that could be drafted by either team, actually.) And of course, my favorite team, the Panthers, don't have a first round pick for the second straight year; I wish they pull a good draft out of their asses.
4. Trench warfare: As any football mind will tell you, games are controlled and won "in the trenches." Offensive lines and defensive lines are crucial for every team's success, and this year's draft class has many options on both sides of the ball. As many as SIX linemen could be drafted in the Top 10 alone, not including other potential impact players such as Maurkice Pouncey and Dan Williams who may hear their name called in Round 1.
5. New time for draft time: The new format of the draft (Round 1 on Thursday, 2 and 3 on Friday, and 4 through 7 on Saturday) raised some eyebrows among fans. I mean, it's good to see the first round during primetime, but I think I'm gonna miss sitting around and wasting a good spring Saturday watching the elite players get picked. At least making a drinking game (and subsequently drinking) for an event that starts at 7 PM is slightly more socially acceptable than an event starting at noon.
1. Tebow-mania: How can this not be a storyline? Tebow is one of the most decorated college football players to ever play the sport. He's an incredibly curious prospect in the eyes of scouts, earning draft projections from the first round to round 3. All it takes is one team to simply say, "We want a high character guy who's extremely marketable. We'll take him." Inviting him to the first round of the draft may not be a great idea; if he isn't taken after pick #32, it would be more awkward than seeing your one-night stand in class the next day.
2. The QB conundrum: It goes like this... Only 3 out of the Top 10 teams (Rams, Browns, Bills) are really looking for a quarterback. The Rams will almost definitely take Sam Bradford at #1. The Browns at pick #7 supposedly "aren't interested" in Jimmy Clausen, which would make Jimbo available at #9 for the Bills. Meanwhile, Colt McCoy (who is being severely undervalued in my opinion) won't be taken until the second round, perhaps by Cleveland; his arm is a good fit in Cleveland's West Coast offense. And there's that Tebow guy as well.
3. Teams in trouble: The Steelers, fresh off the Rape-lisberger debacle (see what I did there?), are reportedly shopping Big Ben for high first-round draft picks. The Seahawks and 49ers, both NFC West teams trying to knock off the Cardinals, both have two first-rounders and will try to make a statement with their picks (C.J. Spiller and Trent Williams are two guys that could be drafted by either team, actually.) And of course, my favorite team, the Panthers, don't have a first round pick for the second straight year; I wish they pull a good draft out of their asses.
4. Trench warfare: As any football mind will tell you, games are controlled and won "in the trenches." Offensive lines and defensive lines are crucial for every team's success, and this year's draft class has many options on both sides of the ball. As many as SIX linemen could be drafted in the Top 10 alone, not including other potential impact players such as Maurkice Pouncey and Dan Williams who may hear their name called in Round 1.
5. New time for draft time: The new format of the draft (Round 1 on Thursday, 2 and 3 on Friday, and 4 through 7 on Saturday) raised some eyebrows among fans. I mean, it's good to see the first round during primetime, but I think I'm gonna miss sitting around and wasting a good spring Saturday watching the elite players get picked. At least making a drinking game (and subsequently drinking) for an event that starts at 7 PM is slightly more socially acceptable than an event starting at noon.
The Birth of a Blog
I love sports. I love writing creatively. Therefore, I will now write creatively about sports. I really have no idea how many people will read this, or how long I will do this for. But what I DO know...
1. Football, American football, basketball, and baseball will be predominantly covered.
2. Not only will you learn a good deal of information from this blog, but you may laugh while doing it.
3. I just wanna be, I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful.
First material will be a preview for the NFL Draft.
-Miguel
1. Football, American football, basketball, and baseball will be predominantly covered.
2. Not only will you learn a good deal of information from this blog, but you may laugh while doing it.
3. I just wanna be, I just wanna be, I just wanna be successful.
First material will be a preview for the NFL Draft.
-Miguel
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