BARKLEY TO STAY AT USC, A PAIR OF BLACKOUTS, KU GETS A HUGE COMMITMENT & WAY TOO MANY PRE-BOWL SUSPENSIONS
A decision was made today & frankly it really surprised me. USC quarterback Matt Barkley has announced he will return to the Trojans for his senior season instead of entering the NFL Draft. Much like Andrew Luck's announcement this time last year, Barkley wants to win the PAC-12 & with 16 starters probably returning, I like their chances. Barkley would also become the Heisman front runner provided the other finalists(all underclassmen) go on to the NFL. RG3 hasn't made a decision yet, but with Barkley staying in school, Griffin should be the 2nd QB taken if he decides to come out. With the new CBA, high first round picks no longer get the $40-50 million guaranteed contracts, so maybe that had something to do with it as well.
The TCU Horned Frogs fought like hell all night, but with 2 late fourth quarter touchdowns, they finally prevailed, beating Louisiana Tech 31-24. Now TCU will join the Big-12 next season, 11-2 seasons just got a whole lot tougher. Tonight we have the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl between 6-6 Arizona State & 11-1 Boise State. This will be Boise's last game in the Mountain West, they're headed to the Big East next season for football. It will also be quarterback Kellen Moore's final college game. He already has the NCAA record for all-time wins. I expect him to go out on a high note. The Sun Devils have been a major disappointment in the second half of the season, causing head coach Dennis Erickson to be let go. Broncos big tonight at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Also tonight we have the Houston Texans playing in Indianapolis. The Texans will again be without defensive coordinator Wade Phillips who is recovering from kidney & gall bladder surgery. His guys missed him last week, surrendering 28-points in a home loss to Carolina. Third-string QB T.J. Yates will try to lead his team to victory against the 1-13 Colts. It might mark the final home game for Indy WR Reggie Wayne who becomes an unrestricted free agent at season's end. Wayne has played everyone of his 11-seasons with Indianapolis but openly acknowledges this will most likely be it for him in Indy. I'll admit, even with this game & Boise State going in our old hometown, we'll have the #8 Mizzou Tigers versus the #24 Fighting Illini on the bigscreen. The other games will be on the smaller outboard screens whikle the basketball game is going. Then we'll watch KU-USC hoops after football.
St. Louis Rams rookie wide receiver Austin Pettis was suspended for 4 games after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. He will miss the Rams' final 2 this season & the first 2 next year.
Don't expect to see Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger this Saturday for two reasons. One, his ankle sprain isn't getting any better playing on it & two, they're playing St. Louis. Charlie Batch should get the call at QB with Dennis Dixon backing him up & Big ben inactive.
Baltimore WR Anquan Boldin underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this morning for a partially torn meniscus he suffered in yesterday's practice. He will return for the playoffs. A first round bye would help Boldin get another week to rehab.
Tebowmania hasn't swept all the way to Buffalo as Denver's game with the Bills this Saturday is blacked out after 21,000 non-premium tickets went unsold. The Cincinnati Bengals will also have their local TV blacked out for their game with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Giants & Jets have given each other enough bulletin board material to wallpaper an airplane hanger. Everyday they take shots at one another, it isn't the least bit restrained, so both coaches have given their players the green light to dis their opponent. This game means everything to both sides, I can't wait for kickoff on Saturday.
Charlie Weis' Kansas Jayhawks got a major commitment when former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist announced his decision to transfer to Kansas. He was in Weis' last recruiting class, so there's already a connection. Weis traveled to South Bend to meet with Crist before undergoing surgery for hip replacement. Crist has only one year of eligibility left but will be able to play immediately because he sat out the last 11 games of the season. It's also rumored BYU QB Jake Heaps is looking toward Lawrence. He wouldn't interfere with Crist since Heaps will have to sit out a season for transferring. These quarterbacks would be a major coup for Weis in his first season. The Jayhawks are in need of major upgrades across the board, if Weis lands these two it is a huge step in the right direction.
I guess making a bowl game makes some people lose their ever-lovin' minds. There have been so many suspensions from bowl-bound teams it's truly ridiculous. They range from academics to missed practices, DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery, domestic violence, breaking & entering & the pat charge of violation of team rules. As of today, 37 players have been suspended for their team's bowl game & we still have a couple of weeks till the BCS final is played, so we could see even more.
Please remember my radio show will be on Tuesday night instead of Monday for the next two weeks. We'll review the Mizzou Bowl game & preview the NFL's final weekend of the regular season. As usual we'll have the predict the score contest & a special guest will be in studio with me, Mrs. Rich's Football Report & you don't want to miss that.
The TCU Horned Frogs fought like hell all night, but with 2 late fourth quarter touchdowns, they finally prevailed, beating Louisiana Tech 31-24. Now TCU will join the Big-12 next season, 11-2 seasons just got a whole lot tougher. Tonight we have the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl between 6-6 Arizona State & 11-1 Boise State. This will be Boise's last game in the Mountain West, they're headed to the Big East next season for football. It will also be quarterback Kellen Moore's final college game. He already has the NCAA record for all-time wins. I expect him to go out on a high note. The Sun Devils have been a major disappointment in the second half of the season, causing head coach Dennis Erickson to be let go. Broncos big tonight at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Also tonight we have the Houston Texans playing in Indianapolis. The Texans will again be without defensive coordinator Wade Phillips who is recovering from kidney & gall bladder surgery. His guys missed him last week, surrendering 28-points in a home loss to Carolina. Third-string QB T.J. Yates will try to lead his team to victory against the 1-13 Colts. It might mark the final home game for Indy WR Reggie Wayne who becomes an unrestricted free agent at season's end. Wayne has played everyone of his 11-seasons with Indianapolis but openly acknowledges this will most likely be it for him in Indy. I'll admit, even with this game & Boise State going in our old hometown, we'll have the #8 Mizzou Tigers versus the #24 Fighting Illini on the bigscreen. The other games will be on the smaller outboard screens whikle the basketball game is going. Then we'll watch KU-USC hoops after football.
St. Louis Rams rookie wide receiver Austin Pettis was suspended for 4 games after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. He will miss the Rams' final 2 this season & the first 2 next year.
Don't expect to see Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger this Saturday for two reasons. One, his ankle sprain isn't getting any better playing on it & two, they're playing St. Louis. Charlie Batch should get the call at QB with Dennis Dixon backing him up & Big ben inactive.
Baltimore WR Anquan Boldin underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this morning for a partially torn meniscus he suffered in yesterday's practice. He will return for the playoffs. A first round bye would help Boldin get another week to rehab.
Tebowmania hasn't swept all the way to Buffalo as Denver's game with the Bills this Saturday is blacked out after 21,000 non-premium tickets went unsold. The Cincinnati Bengals will also have their local TV blacked out for their game with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Giants & Jets have given each other enough bulletin board material to wallpaper an airplane hanger. Everyday they take shots at one another, it isn't the least bit restrained, so both coaches have given their players the green light to dis their opponent. This game means everything to both sides, I can't wait for kickoff on Saturday.
Charlie Weis' Kansas Jayhawks got a major commitment when former Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist announced his decision to transfer to Kansas. He was in Weis' last recruiting class, so there's already a connection. Weis traveled to South Bend to meet with Crist before undergoing surgery for hip replacement. Crist has only one year of eligibility left but will be able to play immediately because he sat out the last 11 games of the season. It's also rumored BYU QB Jake Heaps is looking toward Lawrence. He wouldn't interfere with Crist since Heaps will have to sit out a season for transferring. These quarterbacks would be a major coup for Weis in his first season. The Jayhawks are in need of major upgrades across the board, if Weis lands these two it is a huge step in the right direction.
I guess making a bowl game makes some people lose their ever-lovin' minds. There have been so many suspensions from bowl-bound teams it's truly ridiculous. They range from academics to missed practices, DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery, domestic violence, breaking & entering & the pat charge of violation of team rules. As of today, 37 players have been suspended for their team's bowl game & we still have a couple of weeks till the BCS final is played, so we could see even more.
Please remember my radio show will be on Tuesday night instead of Monday for the next two weeks. We'll review the Mizzou Bowl game & preview the NFL's final weekend of the regular season. As usual we'll have the predict the score contest & a special guest will be in studio with me, Mrs. Rich's Football Report & you don't want to miss that.
Rich,
I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas. I think you'll agree that it is a bitter sweet time of year without my mom and dad.
It was also 39 years ago I remember watching the Chiefs-Dolphins game. Ed Podolak had a record game and Stenerud didn't.
My point of this comment is about Haley and the Chiefs that was a slap in the face when I saw it. To preface, my opinion of Haley has been a roller coaster (snubbing Waters, any 52 guys off the street comment, Gailey let go, hiring of Cremnnel and Weiss, Weiss leaving, Muir as OC) When Weiss left, I knew the problem was with Haley. On Sunday, it was confirmed for me, Haley played and involved who he liked. Some of the first plays went to
McLain, Becht, Pope and Copper. It seemed like the ball and chain around our offense was gone.
Another point, if you don't mind, I like Orton, for two reasons. One I can see and the other, your comment would be appreciated. One, Orton does not have happy feet like Cassel does. Two, Orton seemed to go through his progressions better than Cassel. Cassel seemed fixated on one or two guys.
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