THIS AND THAT.........TUESDAY
CORRECTION: Michael Vick can only play in the last 2 preseason games & he can be reinstated to play in the regular season no later than week six, not week four as I reported yesterday. I think this suspension makes it very difficult for teams to sign him, they won't even know when he'll be eligible to play, but then the mess he's in, is totally his own doing.
Last week, I told you of the bizarre decision of the Oakland Raiders to cut a player they drafted without signing him or even seeing him workout in pads. Maybe the Raiders didn't like Stryker Sulak's name, it had to be something pretty strange to do what they did. I mentioned he'd receive some interest from other NFL teams as Sulak's strongest suit is coming off the edge to get after the quarterback. Well he worked out for the Patriots on Monday, he's going to North Carolina to audition for the Panthers on Wednesday & according to his agent, there has been phone calls from 10 teams requesting his presence in their camp for a tryout. The Patriot's interest in Sulak has an intriguing sidelight. The Pats traded pick #199 in the sixth round to the Raiders & Oakland used the pick to select Sulak. New England hadn't had the 199th pick in the sixth round since the 2000 draft when they used the pick to draft who? Yup, an unheralded quarterback from Michigan, Tom Brady.
For the love of God, does the media have no shame? The Southeastern Conference had their media day last Friday, every A.D., every coach, most of the star players were present. When Florida quarterback & Heisman winner, Tim Tebow, took to the podium to answer questions about the upcoming season, he was asked "are you saving yourself for marriage?" Tebow, ever the gentleman, always taking the high road, chuckled & said "I am a virgin, anything else you want to know?" What on earth does this have to do with a player's preparation for the upcoming season? Is nothing sacred? Are you writing for The National Enquirer?Does the media know no boundaries? Apparently not, that's why you get idiotic questions like this one.
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas wide receiver, is in danger of not being on the Jayhawk team this fall. Coach Mark Mangino suspended Briscoe last spring because of academic issues that aren't improving. Mangino said over the weekend "he's on the team for now, but he's day to day, he has a lot work to do if he wants to remain a part of this program". Briscoe set Kansas records last season with 15 touchdowns & 1407 receiving yards. He's big, strong, fast & very tough to bring down after the catch. I saw him as a potential NFL first rounder but this quote from Mangino is very troubling. If Briscoe isn't academically eligible, Kansas would no longer be my pick to win the Big-12 North. He is a fine receiver plus he takes a lot of heat off fellow wideout, Kerry Meier, who won't be nearly as effective without Briscoe in the lineup, thereby making life harder for QB Todd Reesing. I'm a confirmed Jayhawk hater, but I sincerely hope this young man gets his academic life in order.
First it was Tony Romo busting up with Jessica Simpson, now Saints' running back Reggie Bush has parted ways with reality TV show star, Kim Kardashian. They had been a couple for nearly 2 years & this "distraction" crap I've heard about these two relationships is just garbage. Are you telling me a player with a pregnant wife doesn't get distracted from time to time? How about kids? Or a sick parent? Remember Jim Kelly's son Hunter or Boomer Esiason's son Gunnar? These QB's played at or near a pro bowl level for many years in spite of the distractions. Kids with chicken pox, kids with ear infections & what about the Thanksgiving & Christmas pageants at school? There are very few NFL players who don't have at least a few distractions, so don't give me that B.S. about these women being the reason neither player has played up to expectations. Their alleged lack of focus lands on their shoulders, not on the women in their lives.
The Atlanta Falcons have joined the Detroit Lions in what I believe to be a somewhat misguided marketing ploy. The Falcons will offer a "couple of thousand" upper deck end zone seats for $50 & this will allow you to stuff your face all day. I certainly can't criticize anyone who eats more than they should, but maybe this plan could have been a little better thought out, right? The all-you-can-eat ticket, aka AUCE, doesn't include beer or anything more exotic than hot dogs, nachos & peanuts. So if you're a Georgian who desires the ridiculously high sodium intake this offer can give you, this just might be your ticket.
Jason Whitlock of The Kansas City Star must be ecstatic today. His longtime 'best QB available', Jeff George, has sent a workout video to most NFL teams. Illinois coach Ron Zook watched as George threw the ball to incoming freshman & was so impressed, he helped the 41-year old George put a video together that was quickly mailed to NFL head coaches & GM's. Two slight problems with a prospective comeback by Mr. George, he hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2001 & secondly, he was pretty much hated in every locker room he was a member of, from Indy to Atlanta to Oakland to Minnesota to Washington. Jeff was never a real people person. Remember his sideline meltdown in Atlanta with offensive coordinator June Jones on a Sunday night? Strictly on a talent level, George would have to be in the top-5 of all quarterbacks I've ever watched play. Gun for an arm, super fast release, an almost effortless throwing motion, could throw the ball 50 yards by flicking his wrist & always, always, always a perfect spiral. But on the down side, he was like a statue in the pocket, sacked way more often than he should have. He threw more picks than he should have because he didn't like getting hit & then there was that persistent pesky people person problem that has always been there since he enrolled at Purdue in 1985.
Brandon Marshall reported to Bronco training camp, but it appears to be just a matter of time before Josh McDaniels & the powers-that-be become fed up with his passive-aggressive behavior & ship his butt out of Denver. His pending court date on August 13th is the only thing stopping any trade talks. If he is convicted, tho it's doubtful he'll do jail time, it gives the Broncos the green light to suspend him without pay & I think they will. They'll trade him, but I think they'll rough him up a little. His trade value might be more about week 4, when Baltimore & Chicago come to the realization that their lack of a front line wide receiver is the only thing holding them back. If the Cowboy receiver corp disappoints early on, Jerry Jones will certainly enter what could become a bidding war for the disgruntled Marshall.
Last week, I told you of the bizarre decision of the Oakland Raiders to cut a player they drafted without signing him or even seeing him workout in pads. Maybe the Raiders didn't like Stryker Sulak's name, it had to be something pretty strange to do what they did. I mentioned he'd receive some interest from other NFL teams as Sulak's strongest suit is coming off the edge to get after the quarterback. Well he worked out for the Patriots on Monday, he's going to North Carolina to audition for the Panthers on Wednesday & according to his agent, there has been phone calls from 10 teams requesting his presence in their camp for a tryout. The Patriot's interest in Sulak has an intriguing sidelight. The Pats traded pick #199 in the sixth round to the Raiders & Oakland used the pick to select Sulak. New England hadn't had the 199th pick in the sixth round since the 2000 draft when they used the pick to draft who? Yup, an unheralded quarterback from Michigan, Tom Brady.
For the love of God, does the media have no shame? The Southeastern Conference had their media day last Friday, every A.D., every coach, most of the star players were present. When Florida quarterback & Heisman winner, Tim Tebow, took to the podium to answer questions about the upcoming season, he was asked "are you saving yourself for marriage?" Tebow, ever the gentleman, always taking the high road, chuckled & said "I am a virgin, anything else you want to know?" What on earth does this have to do with a player's preparation for the upcoming season? Is nothing sacred? Are you writing for The National Enquirer?Does the media know no boundaries? Apparently not, that's why you get idiotic questions like this one.
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas wide receiver, is in danger of not being on the Jayhawk team this fall. Coach Mark Mangino suspended Briscoe last spring because of academic issues that aren't improving. Mangino said over the weekend "he's on the team for now, but he's day to day, he has a lot work to do if he wants to remain a part of this program". Briscoe set Kansas records last season with 15 touchdowns & 1407 receiving yards. He's big, strong, fast & very tough to bring down after the catch. I saw him as a potential NFL first rounder but this quote from Mangino is very troubling. If Briscoe isn't academically eligible, Kansas would no longer be my pick to win the Big-12 North. He is a fine receiver plus he takes a lot of heat off fellow wideout, Kerry Meier, who won't be nearly as effective without Briscoe in the lineup, thereby making life harder for QB Todd Reesing. I'm a confirmed Jayhawk hater, but I sincerely hope this young man gets his academic life in order.
First it was Tony Romo busting up with Jessica Simpson, now Saints' running back Reggie Bush has parted ways with reality TV show star, Kim Kardashian. They had been a couple for nearly 2 years & this "distraction" crap I've heard about these two relationships is just garbage. Are you telling me a player with a pregnant wife doesn't get distracted from time to time? How about kids? Or a sick parent? Remember Jim Kelly's son Hunter or Boomer Esiason's son Gunnar? These QB's played at or near a pro bowl level for many years in spite of the distractions. Kids with chicken pox, kids with ear infections & what about the Thanksgiving & Christmas pageants at school? There are very few NFL players who don't have at least a few distractions, so don't give me that B.S. about these women being the reason neither player has played up to expectations. Their alleged lack of focus lands on their shoulders, not on the women in their lives.
The Atlanta Falcons have joined the Detroit Lions in what I believe to be a somewhat misguided marketing ploy. The Falcons will offer a "couple of thousand" upper deck end zone seats for $50 & this will allow you to stuff your face all day. I certainly can't criticize anyone who eats more than they should, but maybe this plan could have been a little better thought out, right? The all-you-can-eat ticket, aka AUCE, doesn't include beer or anything more exotic than hot dogs, nachos & peanuts. So if you're a Georgian who desires the ridiculously high sodium intake this offer can give you, this just might be your ticket.
Jason Whitlock of The Kansas City Star must be ecstatic today. His longtime 'best QB available', Jeff George, has sent a workout video to most NFL teams. Illinois coach Ron Zook watched as George threw the ball to incoming freshman & was so impressed, he helped the 41-year old George put a video together that was quickly mailed to NFL head coaches & GM's. Two slight problems with a prospective comeback by Mr. George, he hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2001 & secondly, he was pretty much hated in every locker room he was a member of, from Indy to Atlanta to Oakland to Minnesota to Washington. Jeff was never a real people person. Remember his sideline meltdown in Atlanta with offensive coordinator June Jones on a Sunday night? Strictly on a talent level, George would have to be in the top-5 of all quarterbacks I've ever watched play. Gun for an arm, super fast release, an almost effortless throwing motion, could throw the ball 50 yards by flicking his wrist & always, always, always a perfect spiral. But on the down side, he was like a statue in the pocket, sacked way more often than he should have. He threw more picks than he should have because he didn't like getting hit & then there was that persistent pesky people person problem that has always been there since he enrolled at Purdue in 1985.
Brandon Marshall reported to Bronco training camp, but it appears to be just a matter of time before Josh McDaniels & the powers-that-be become fed up with his passive-aggressive behavior & ship his butt out of Denver. His pending court date on August 13th is the only thing stopping any trade talks. If he is convicted, tho it's doubtful he'll do jail time, it gives the Broncos the green light to suspend him without pay & I think they will. They'll trade him, but I think they'll rough him up a little. His trade value might be more about week 4, when Baltimore & Chicago come to the realization that their lack of a front line wide receiver is the only thing holding them back. If the Cowboy receiver corp disappoints early on, Jerry Jones will certainly enter what could become a bidding war for the disgruntled Marshall.
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