Football Thoughts: Kiper, Cutler, and Patriots

We'll have enough college basketball over the next few weeks, so I'll talk NFL.

Let's start by talking about Mel Kiper's draft board.  He still has the Lions taking Matthew Stafford.  The Lions will not select a QB with the #1 pick.  I think Mel Kiper still has Stafford #1 because he predicted out of high school that Stafford would be a future #1 overall pick.  How can he go against himself? He'll have Stafford to the Lions in mock drafts all the way to the draft.

The Lions hope to sign their pick prior to the draft. If it happens, only then Kiper will reluctantly change his mock draft board, but without first saying "The curse of Bobby Lane continues... They just don't get it.  You have to have a franchise QB to win in this league and the Lions just missed out on drafting one."   

I've liked all the moves the Lions have made since they traded Roy Williams last year.  They have signed and traded for veteran talent during the off-season (Maurice Morris, Anthony Henry, Eric King, Bryant Johnson, Phillip Buchanan, Grady Jackson, Daniel Loper, and Julian Peterson).  True, they have many holes, but does that sound like a team who's going forward with a rookie QB?  They'll stick with Dante Culpepper and Drew Stanton, then probably add a 

veteran QB through free agency or via trade (i.e. Jay Cutler).  They could draft Aaron Curry of Wake Forest (doubt they'll pay 3 high priced LBs with Peterson and Ernie Sims), but more than likely it will be an OL, like Jason Smith from Baylor.

Speaking of Jay Cutler.  Just SHUT UP!  Football Jay Cutler, not body builder Jay Cutler.  I just want to make that clear so there's no confusion.

Am I the only one getting annoyed by his antics?  His feelings are hurt because the Broncos and coach Josh McDaniels talked about trading him to get Matt Cassel.  Jake, you are not an untouchable franchise QB.  Your name is not Manning, Brady, or Roethlisberger.  You are a good QB, but not a franchise QB.  Let me ask you this.  When was the last time you lead your team to a winning record?  Not during your 3 seasons in the NFL for the Broncos.  Not in college for Vanderbilt with 11 total wins in 4 seasons.  Did I mention that 4 of those wins were against 1-AA opponents?  Yikes!  The last time he led his team to a winning record was when he did it for the Heritage Hills Patriots in Lincoln City, IN to a perfect 15-0 season and a Indiana Class 3A State Championship.  Is that why you're untradeable?  The nerve of the Broncos for even exploring trading the Indiana High School State Champion.

If I were McDaniels or Pat Bowlen, I would tell him the truth.  "Jay, football is a business.  You are property of the Denver Broncos and you're our QB until we decide otherwise.  Our responsibility is to make the team better, and if that includes trading you, so be it."  When and if Cutler shows up at the "voluntary workouts" or mini-camp, I would make him take 2nd string snaps behind Chris Simms, and he would have to earn his job like everyone else on the team.  Jake needs to learn some humility.  McDaniels comes from an organization, the New England Patriots, that this is a key point for all players.  Cutler needs to take notes.

Speaking of the Patriots, if they pull off this rumored trade to get Julius Peppers, mark them down for a Super Bowl berth.  Their off-season has been amazing!  The only caveat is Brady being healthy, but they added Fred Taylor to help bolster the rushing attack, WR Joey Galloway and TE Chris Baker to help the passing attack (I guess Brady needs more weapons other than Randy Moss and Wes Welker?),  and CB Shawn Springs, among others, to shore up the defense.  Nothing is a sure thing in the NFL, but the Patriots may be in Mercury Morris' block again. 

DC is a contributor to The Sports Information Hub and can be contacted atdcthesportsguy@gmail.com

Friday the 13th Came Early: Top Teams lose in 1st round of Conference Tournaments

Prior to the beginning of the Conference Tournaments, the presumed #1 seeds for the NCAA Tournament was UNC, UConn, Pitt, and the winner of the Big 12 (Oklahoma or Kansas).  Well on Thursday the 12th, Pitt, Oklahoma, and Kansas all lost in the first round of their tournaments.  UConn lost in 6OTsagainst Syracuse, with Syracuse almost winning it in regulation with an Eric Devendorf 3-point shot that literally was on his finger tips when the light when off.  Due to the 6 OTs, this game actually finished on Friday the 13.  I watched the last 5 minutes of regulation and all 6 OTs, and felt like I've been watching games all day long.

These upsets possibly opens the door for several other teams to become #1 seeds.  The primary candidates are Louisville, Duke, Memphis, and Michigan State.  I'll review the candidates.

Louisville has a high chance of getting a #1 seed.  They won the Big East regular season title over both UConn and Pitt, however they get downgraded because they only played the top 4 other Big East teams once during the season (UConn, Pitt, Villanova, and Marquette.)  The also lost to Western Kentucky, Minnesota, and UNLV in the non-conference schedule. Their road was made much easier with UConn and Pitt both losing in the conference tournament.

Duke at one point during the season was ranked #1 in the nation, however, they haven't been consistent.  One game they look like no one can stop them, and other games they don't look into to it.  Duke has lost to UNC twice, and finished 3rd in the ACC behind UNC and Wake Forest.  I personally don't think that Duke is EVER as good as they are ranked.  They are a fraud and will be exposed again in the ACC tournament.  The only way they get consideration is if they win theACC tournament.  Don't count on it!

Memphis has won 58 straight conference games, but unfortunately that conference is Conference USA.  Memphis has no competition playing in that league and many times the games are not competitive, so they don't get opportunities to face adversity.  This will hurt them come seeding time, but most importantly in the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan State won the Big Ten regular season title by 4 games.  They also beat Kansas earlier this season.  However, the biggest negative against Michigan State is their early season lost toUNC by 35 points.  Granted MSU wasn't at full strength during that game (or any of their 5 losses for that matter), but if you're an elite team, you don't lose to another elite team by 35 points.  Never.  Never ever.  Only chance they have is if they also win the Big Ten Tournament title.

That being said, I believe that UNC, Pitt, and UConn are locks to get #1 seeds.  I think the last #1 seed will ultimately go to Louisville.  They should end up winning the conference tournament with both Conn and Pitt out, so you'll have three #1 seeds from the Big East.  I really don't think any conference deserves three #1 seeds, but it's the way this is shaping up.  The only way I don't see this scenario is if Louisville doesn't win the conference tournament, then Memphis would slide unto that final #1 slot over Michigan State and Oklahoma.  Michigan State would probably be better served being a #2 seed in the Midwest versus a #1 seed in the West.  They wouldn't have to leave the Midwest to make it to the Final Four in Detroit. 

DC is a contributor to The Sports Information Hub and can be contacted atdcthesportsguy@gmail.com

Why I Love My DIRECTV: Dwayne Wade for MVP

Yesterday I was at home watching DIRECTV, and for the first time, I changed it to the Sports Mix channel. This channel shows 8 sports channels simultaneously. I initially was watching some of the NCAA conference championship games, but I noticed NBA TV was showing the Chicago Bulls at the Miami Heat and the game was in the 2nd OT. I watched live as Dwayne Wade made this steal and 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the game. (The look on Brad Miller's face at the :19 second mark is priceless!)

There is no question that D-Wade deserves to be mentioned in the league MVP race with Lebron and Kobe. It is definitely a 3-man race.  His stat line is ridiculous, as he showed in this game by scoring 48 points, 6 rebs, 12 asts, 4 stls, and 3 blks.  As of today, he is also leads the league in scoring (29.7 points).  The only issue preventing D-Wade from garnering more attention for MVP consideration is that the Heat are 5th place in the East, whereas, the Cavs and the Lakers are in 1st place in the East and West, respectively.  It will get VERY INTERESTING down the stretch, as he continues to torch the competition.

DC is a contributor to The Sports Information Hub and can be contacted atdcthesportsguy@gmail.com

What's On My Mind: NFL Tragedy

Today, I could write about the NBA and the league leading LA Lakers.  Or I could write about what I think about the NFL Free Agent Transactions, the Jake Cutler situation, or Manny Ramirez finally agreeing to a contract with the LA Dodgers.

However, the only thing that's been on my mind since the weekend has been the tragic boating incident involving Oakland Raiders LB Marquis Cooper, former Detroit Lions DL Corey Smith, and former University of South Florida players William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler.  I don't know why it's been on my mind all weekend since I heard about it.  Was it because I can't swim and I'm afraid of deep water?  I couldn't even imagine being in their situation.  I couldn't save myself in 8 feet of water, let alone an ocean.

Earlier today, the US Coast Guard suspended the search for these men after 3 days and 24,000 miles.  Luckily, they found Schuyler on Monday with the boat, two days after the boat capsized.  This gave me hope that the other men would soon be found.  I checked every few hours during the day to get updates.  After they weren't found during the daylight hours, I began to get really worried that they wouldn't be found.  I even woke up several times during the night to check to see if there were any positive updates but to no avail.

As they went into today, and still no sight of the missing players, the Coast Guard set a 6:30 pm deadline before giving up the search.  I was still hopeful, but didn't expect any good news.  I know it had to be emotional when the family was told of the Coast Guards' plan to suspend the search.  When the deadline passed, I paused to reflect on my own mortality.  Like I said earlier, I definitely wouldn't have made it, but it reminds you how life can be taken away so quickly.  It made me want to eat better, lose weight, exercise, pretty much do anything I can to live longer to be with my family.  You can't control some factors, but the ones that you can control, I will.

Schuyler apparently told one of his friends in the hospital that a chopper flew over them the first night and shone a light above them, and later they could see lights from the shore.  This also shows you how close life and death can be.  My deepest condolences go out to the families and may the many prayers help you find solace.

DC is a contributor to The Sports Information Hub and can be contacted atdcthesportsguy@gmail.com