SHAKEUP AT OU, JIM CALDWELL FIRED & WHY IS VEGAS ROOTING FOR THE 49ERS?
After Mike Stoops was fired from his head coaching position at Arizona, the rumors started flying he'd rejoin his brother Bob at Oklahoma. He was on their sideline during the Sooners' victory at the Insight Bowl. Not long after that the university announced brother Mike would rejoin the coaching staff as co-defensive coordinator with Brent Venables, who had the position to himself for the past 7-years. That was the arrangement they had before Stoops left to go west. Apparently Venables wasn't too thrilled with having to share all over again. On Thursday, Venables will be introduced as the new defensive coordinator at Clemson. Was he told to look for other employment? Was he facing a demotion to make room for Mike Stoops? Whatever it was, Venables made this move rather quickly. Clemson's defensive coordinator Kevin Steele wasn't retained after the Tigers surrendered 31 or more points in their 3 regular season losses down the stretch & the highly embarrassing 70-points West Virginia hung on them in the Orange Bowl. Venables must have been very unhappy with the arrival of Mike Stoops, I can't see anyway he's making more money at Clemson than he received at OU.
Brent Venables - from Oklahoma to Clemson
After two weeks on pondering the fate of his head coach Jim Caldwell, Colts' owner Jim Irsay decided to fire him. I thought he would get canned the day after the season ended, winning just two games with their roster is just unacceptable. I know, I know, no Peyton Manning, but when you have several Pro Bowl performers on both sides of the ball, 2 wins is pathetic. The backup QB situation was similar to Kansas City's, unacceptable, it was a contributing factor to the dismissal of team VP Bill Polian & GM Chris Polian(yeah, his son). So now we have 4 NFL teams without a head coach, Oakland, Miami, Tampa Bay & now Indianapolis.
Tim Tebow told CBS thanks but no thanks in regard to their invitation to sit in with the pre/post-game crew in studio. It was divulged today that Tebow sustained torn rib cartilage & a bruised lung in Saturday's loss to New England.
Tom Brady's left shoulder is giving him enough trouble he left practice today right after it started. Yes, it's his non-throwing shoulder, but if it hurts, it hurts.
Mike Nolan has joined the Atlanta Falcons as their defensive coordinator. I think even tho Nolan has always preferred a 3-4 scheme, he'll make the Falcons' 4-3 much more aggressive & productive. They have some good pieces but they lack the right coordinator & honestly, they lack enough pass rush to stand up against the Saints, who they play twice a year & lost the division to this season.
Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy could be the front-runner for the Miami job. He's the only one to get a second interview.
Tyler Gabbert, the wayward quarterback from Mizzou & Louisville has finally decided(?) on a new school. He has signed to play at Central Florida. He couldn't win the competition at Mizzou, losing out to James Franklin in summer camp, so he left. He then went to Louisville, but that didn't work out either. He visited former Mizzou O-coordinator, Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen as well as South Florida. The kid has talent at the collegiate level, but he's kinda flighty. Good luck to him & the Knights.
Top-15 draft prospect, Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, was arrested on Tuesday night for possession of marijuana. Not the way to start the draft scouting season. Testing positive for pot at the NFL combine last February, Georgia linebacker Justin Houston fell from a late first round pick to the middle of round three where Kansas City selected him. The approximate difference in signing bonus & salary for Houston is well over $1 million for the length of his contract. What part of this is difficult to understand?
So why are several Las Vegas sportsbooks as well as a couple of off-shore locations so nervous about the NFC Championship game? They could get stuck for a lot of money if the New York Giants win this Sunday. See back in December, after the G-Men lost to Green Bay, they stood at 6-6 & looking for all intents & purposes, out of the playoff race. The future odds in Vegas soared to 100-1 on a Super Bowl victory. Giants' fans jumped on those long odds. The influx of cash lowered the future to 20-1, but two weeks later after losing to the Redskins, the number rose to 50-1. Once again Giants bettors made significant bets on their team. If New York wins Sunday, they don't have to win the Super Bowl for the books to lose money. The sharpies holding Giants future bets can take their Super Bowl opponent on the moneyline, meaning no point spread. If the Giants win the Super Bowl they win a 50-1 or 100-1 future bet & if New York loses, they win good money on a moneyline bet. The books are stuck, at least the ones who have substantial exposure with the Giants, if New York beats the 49ers.
Brent Venables - from Oklahoma to Clemson
After two weeks on pondering the fate of his head coach Jim Caldwell, Colts' owner Jim Irsay decided to fire him. I thought he would get canned the day after the season ended, winning just two games with their roster is just unacceptable. I know, I know, no Peyton Manning, but when you have several Pro Bowl performers on both sides of the ball, 2 wins is pathetic. The backup QB situation was similar to Kansas City's, unacceptable, it was a contributing factor to the dismissal of team VP Bill Polian & GM Chris Polian(yeah, his son). So now we have 4 NFL teams without a head coach, Oakland, Miami, Tampa Bay & now Indianapolis.
Tim Tebow told CBS thanks but no thanks in regard to their invitation to sit in with the pre/post-game crew in studio. It was divulged today that Tebow sustained torn rib cartilage & a bruised lung in Saturday's loss to New England.
Tom Brady's left shoulder is giving him enough trouble he left practice today right after it started. Yes, it's his non-throwing shoulder, but if it hurts, it hurts.
Mike Nolan has joined the Atlanta Falcons as their defensive coordinator. I think even tho Nolan has always preferred a 3-4 scheme, he'll make the Falcons' 4-3 much more aggressive & productive. They have some good pieces but they lack the right coordinator & honestly, they lack enough pass rush to stand up against the Saints, who they play twice a year & lost the division to this season.
Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy could be the front-runner for the Miami job. He's the only one to get a second interview.
Tyler Gabbert, the wayward quarterback from Mizzou & Louisville has finally decided(?) on a new school. He has signed to play at Central Florida. He couldn't win the competition at Mizzou, losing out to James Franklin in summer camp, so he left. He then went to Louisville, but that didn't work out either. He visited former Mizzou O-coordinator, Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen as well as South Florida. The kid has talent at the collegiate level, but he's kinda flighty. Good luck to him & the Knights.
Top-15 draft prospect, Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, was arrested on Tuesday night for possession of marijuana. Not the way to start the draft scouting season. Testing positive for pot at the NFL combine last February, Georgia linebacker Justin Houston fell from a late first round pick to the middle of round three where Kansas City selected him. The approximate difference in signing bonus & salary for Houston is well over $1 million for the length of his contract. What part of this is difficult to understand?
So why are several Las Vegas sportsbooks as well as a couple of off-shore locations so nervous about the NFC Championship game? They could get stuck for a lot of money if the New York Giants win this Sunday. See back in December, after the G-Men lost to Green Bay, they stood at 6-6 & looking for all intents & purposes, out of the playoff race. The future odds in Vegas soared to 100-1 on a Super Bowl victory. Giants' fans jumped on those long odds. The influx of cash lowered the future to 20-1, but two weeks later after losing to the Redskins, the number rose to 50-1. Once again Giants bettors made significant bets on their team. If New York wins Sunday, they don't have to win the Super Bowl for the books to lose money. The sharpies holding Giants future bets can take their Super Bowl opponent on the moneyline, meaning no point spread. If the Giants win the Super Bowl they win a 50-1 or 100-1 future bet & if New York loses, they win good money on a moneyline bet. The books are stuck, at least the ones who have substantial exposure with the Giants, if New York beats the 49ers.
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