PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2009 press release

CANTON, OHIO – Wide receiver Bob Hayes, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas, owner Ralph Wilson, and defensive back Rod Woodson make up the Class of 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.



The six-man class was elected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee who met today in Tampa, Florida. The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 17 finalists that had been determined earlier by the committee.



Hayes, a gold medalist track star in the 1964 Summer Olympics, combined his world class speed with great hands. “Bullet Bob,” a three-time All-Pro pick, caught 371 career passes for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns.



McDaniel was named All-Pro nine straight seasons and voted to a record 12 consecutive AFC-NFC Pro Bowls during his 14-season career with the Minnesota Vikings (1988-1999) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000-01).



Smith, the first overall pick in the 1985 draft by the Buffalo Bills, is the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200 career sacks. A member of both the NFL’s All-Decade Teams of the 1980s and 1990s, Smith was named first-team All-Pro nine times and voted to 11 Pro Bowls.



Thomas amassed more sacks during the 1990s than any other player. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls, named All-NFL three times, and was All-AFC seven times in an eight-year stretch.



Wilson founded the Buffalo Bills in 1959 and has watched his team win back-to-back AFL titles in the mid-1960s and become the only team ever to advance to four consecutive Super Bowls. He was an integral part of the AFL’s success and has also served on a number of important NFL committees over the years.



Woodson, a member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team in 1994 and selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, intercepted 71 passes which he returned for an NFL record 1,483 yards and a record 12 touchdowns. He was named All-Pro six times and voted to 11 Pro Bowls.



The 2009 class will increase to 253 the number of all-time greats permanently honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Enshrinement of the Class of 2009 will take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, on Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Enshrinement Ceremony will be televised live by both ESPN and the NFL Network.



The annual NFL Hall of Fame Game will be played on Sunday, August 9, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. and broadcast live by NBC. Teams have not yet been announced.



The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival is a multi-day celebration of the enshrinement of the newest Hall of Fame Class. Held in Canton each year, the festival includes 15 special public events and culminates with the Enshrinement Ceremony and NFL Hall of Fame Game. Two other major events are the Enshrinees Dinner (Friday, August 7), and the Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable (Sunday, August 9). It is at the Enshrinees Dinner where each member of the Class of 2009 will be presented his gold Pro Football Hall of Fame Jacket. At the GameDay Roundtable, the members of the Class of 2009 will be featured center stage to share memories of the game and their personal feelings about being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.



Individual enshrinement tickets and Festival Fan Packages are on sale now. Ticket information can be found on the Hall of Fame’s website at Profootballhof.com.





PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2009



Bob Hayes

Wide Receiver. . .5-11, 185. . .Florida A&M. . .1965-1974 Dallas Cowboys, 1975 San Francisco 49ers. . .11 seasons, 132 games. . .Selected as a future pick by Cowboys, seventh round, 1964 NFL Draft (88th player overall) and future choice by Denver, 14th round (105th player overall) 1964 AFL Draft. . .Won a pair of gold medals in the 1964 Olympic Games earning him the title “World’s Fastest Human”. . .As a rookie, his 46 receptions for 1,003 yards led all Cowboys receivers. . .His world class speed was major factor in Cowboys offensive successes. . . “Bullet Bob” terrorized defensive backs and demanded deep double coverage rarely seen in the NFL at that time
. . .Often said that bump and run defense was developed to slow him down. . .Used his speed “in a football sense,” rather than just trying to run fast. . .Four times was named first- or second-team All-NFL. . .. Three times led the Cowboys in receptions, including back-to-back titles in 1965-66 when he caught a total of 110 passes for more than 2,200 yards and 25 touchdowns. . .For 11-year career, Hayes accumulated 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns
. . .His 71 career touchdown receptions remain a Cowboys’ club record. . .Born December 20, 1942 in Jacksonville, Florida. . .Died September 18, 2002, at age of 59.





Randall McDaniel

Guard. . .6-3, 276. . .Arizona State. . .1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . .14 seasons, 222 games. . .Selected by the Vikings in first round (19th player overall) of 1988 NFL Draft. . .Played in all 16 games as rookie, starting 15. . .Earned All-Rookie honors. . .Started in 13 consecutive playoff games with the Vikings. . .Started in 202 consecutive games before retiring. . .Possessed uncanny ability to either finesse block or overpower opponents. . .Led Vikings offensive line that held opponents to a sack every 22.7 attempts (1994), and every 21.3 attempts in 1998. . .Blocked for six 1,000-yard rushers and five 3,000-yard passers during career
. . .With McDaniel leading the offensive line, team captured NFC Central Division titles in 1989, 1992, 1994, and 1998. . .Anchored offensive line of explosive Vikings team that led league with then-record 556 points in 1998. . . Named All-Pro nine consecutive times (1990-98). . .Selected to play in a record 12 consecutive AFC-NFC Pro Bowls (1990-2001). . .Born December 19, 1964 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Bruce Smith

Defensive End. . .6-4, 280. . .Virginia Tech. . .1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-03 Washington Redskins. . .19 playing seasons, 279 games. . .Bills’ first-round draft pick (1st player overall), 1985 NFL Draft. . .All-America choice at Virginia Tech. . .Considered one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history. . .Known as fierce pass rusher who possessed tremendous strength. . .His 200 career sacks is NFL all-time record. . .Recorded 10 or more sacks in an NFL record 13 seasons. . .Most consider 1990 as his finest single season during which he recorded 19 sacks, including four against Colts QB Jeff George in the first 20 minutes of a Week 14 game and sacked Giants QB Jeff Hostetler for a safety in Super Bowl XXV. . .Was a dominant part of Bills championship teams that between 1988-1995 won six AFC Eastern Division crowns (1988-1991, 1993, 1995) and four AFC championships (1990-93) . . .Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1990 and 1996. . .Named to the NFL’s All Decade Teams of the 1980s and 1990s . .. Named first- or second-team All-Pro 11 times and selected to play in 11 Pro Bowls (1988-1991, 1993-99). . .Born June 18, 1963 in Norfolk, Virginia.



Derrick Thomas

Linebacker. . .6-3, 243. . .Alabama. . .1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs. . .11 seasons, 169 games. . .Selected in the first round (4th player overall) in 1989 NFL Draft. . .Consensus All-America. . .Amassed 10 sacks and 75 tackles to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. . .In 1990 recorded league-leading and team record 20 sacks; including NFL record seven sacks in game vs. Seahawks. . .Also recorded six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 63 tackles, five pass deflections, 35 quarterback pressures. . .Named to nine Pro Bowls. . .No player amassed more sacks during 1990s than 116.5 by Thomas. . .e He HFinished career with 126.5 sacks; fourth highest total by linebacker in NFL history at the time. . .Had 10 or more sacks in a season seven times; recorded multi-sack games 27 times
. . .Forced 45 fumbles, had 19 fumble recoveries, scored four touchdowns on fumble returns and added three safeties during career. . .Lone interception came in final season. . .Member of NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s
. . .All-NFL three times. . .Named first-team All-AFC seven times during eight-year stretch (1989-1996). . .In 11 years Thomas anchored defense, Chiefs finished first or second in AFC West ten times, made seven playoff appearances, won three division titles. . .Born January 1, 1967 in Miami, Florida. . .Died February 8, 2000, at age of 33.



Ralph Wilson, Jr.

Founder/Owner. . .Virginia, Michigan. . .1960-present Buffalo Bills. . .One of original founders of American Football League, Wilson formed Buffalo Bills in 1959. . .During tenure as team owner, Bills won AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965, AFC titles in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993 on way to unprecedented four consecutive appearances in Super Bowls XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII. . .Bills 103 regular season wins, second most in NFL during 1990s. . . Helped lead AFL through early years making tough decisions that were necessary for league’s survival. . . Began talks with Carroll Rosenbloom, then owner of NFL’s Colts in January 1965, that eventually resulted in AFL-NFL merger. . .Considered “voice of reason,” Wilson served as President of AFL, was on AFL’s Expansion Committee and AFL-NFL Negotiations Committee. . .Was prominent in 1977 negotiations between NFL Management Council and NFL Players Association. . .Has served as Chairman of NFL Pension Committee, Labor Committee, Super Bowl Site Committee, NFL Expansion Committee, NFL Realignment Committee. . .Born October 17, 1918 in Columbus, Ohio.

Rod Woodson

Cornerback/Safety. . .6-0, 200. . .Purdue. . .1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-03 Oakland Raiders. . .17 playing seasons, 238 games with 229 starts. . .Steelers first-round draft pick (10th player overall), 1987 NFL Draft. . .First-team All-America at Purdue. . .First interception of pro career resulted in 45-yard touchdown return. . . From 1991-94 recorded 12 sacks and 19 interceptions, returning three for TDs. . .In 1995 suffered serious knee injury with recovery time projected to be six to 12 months. . . Returned to action in just four months and played in Super Bowl XXX. . .Member of NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team and NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s. . . NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1993. . . Intercepted 71 passes in career; third on NFL all-time list. . . Is NFL’s all-time leader in interception return yardage (1,483). . .Holds NFL record for most interceptions returned for TDs (12). . .Six-time first-team All-Pro choice (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001). . .Earned All-Pro honors as cornerback, kick returner, safety. . .Chosen to play in 11 Pro Bowls – seven with Steelers, three with Ravens, and one with Raiders. . .Born March 10, 1965, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Super Bowl Info

Johnson can be contacted at johnsonthesportsguy@gmail.com

Real Competition in the Big Game

I often wonder why I was not blessed with about six more inches of height, and why I am not a half of a second of faster in the 40 yard dash. At some point in most sports fans lifetime they have these types of thoughts in regards to their physical limitations that I do. Many of these fans want to be like their idols, or the athletes that they went to school with who received all of the attention. Most of these fans dream to be known as “THE MAN” due to their athletic prowess. My desire to have the physical capabilities that I described above is not rooted in the aforementioned reasons. When I was on campus I got plenty of attention. The athletes that I watched then as well as the ones which I watch now are not my idols, and I do not have a desire to be known for my athletic ability. I look at sports completely different than most fans.

Sports is a form of entertainment. Now I will admit that my choice of entertainment can at times seem consuming to outsiders, but I assure you it is purely a form of entertainment which I have under control. However many other fans view sports as a microcosm of life. They see different scenarios playing out with their favorite teams that they can relate back to their own lives. These people are delusional. How can the average person making $40,000 a year relate something from a multi-million dollar athlete to their lives? This is impossible. They live in two different worlds, and it is very difficult for one to relate to the other.

Just as I view sports differently than most fans, I feel that the players should look at sports differently than they did when they grew up. They have been taught since Peee-Wee or little league that the game is about passion, emotion, fun, and teamwork. I feel for the pure entertainment of the fan, the player should view their craft as a business, this would eliminate the nights when the player is not giving the game their all, which would in turn increase the competition of games and make them more entertaining. By viewing their roles in their sport as a business that the player would attempt to perform his best on as many nights as possible so that they could make as much money as possible. In essence what I am proposing is that every game be a winner takes the majority of the purse competition.

Let’s look at a player such as Brandon Keith who was a 7th round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals out of Northern Iowa this year. Being that he was a lower round draft choice Brandon’s contract called for him to make $335,500 in base pay. With the NFL’s system of paying people for their post-season performance (which is broken down by a payout of Wild-card games [division winners]: $20,000, Wild-card games [fifth- and sixth-seeded teams]: $18,000, Divisional games: $20,000, Conference championship games: $37,500, Super Bowl winners: $78,000, Super Bowl losers: $40,000) Brandon could make $155,000 or almost half of his regular season base pay because his team wins. This should increase Keith’s desire to win dramatically, if he is looking at the sport as a business. He is not competing just to win the holy grail of his sport, but he is competing for the financial security of his family. This is how every game should be. This mentality would go a long way in erasing the perception for leagues like the NBA, many people feel that NBA players do not play hard until the playoffs, and thus are not willing to shell out their hard earned dollars for what they perceive as an exhibition game during the regular season.

There are those that disagree with my premise that athletes should play the game strictly for financial gain. They say that this way of thinking would cause players to cheat, and would detract from the competitiveness of the game. I argue the exact opposite is true. If athletes were to play the game for financial gain exclusively, they would police cheating better amongst themselves, and they would compete at a higher level on a regular basis. Do you think that if baseball players pay had been slotted by the amount of home runs which they had hit in a given year, they would have allowed admitted steroid users Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGuire to continue to use “juice” and take shortcuts while they turned a blind eye to the situation? I would ague that there is no way that the steroid era would have been so prevalent if there had been an established pay scale for players to tie tangible dollars to for their performance. I also think that if players are playing for their pay and not having it handed to them that the vast majority of them would play harder because they would be able to see how their action translated into real dollars.

Imagine how intense the Super Bowl game would be, if a player’s entire next years base salary was based on him winning the Super Bowl. The phrase “blood, sweat and tears” would truly take on new meaning. The competition would be as fierce as that of mid-evil gladiators fighting for their lives. These players would go at 110% for as long as they possibly could, and every missed assignment and dropped ball would be magnified. The Super Bowl would no longer just be remembered for its flashy ads, but for the vicious his by linebackers like LaMarr Woodley on offensive players like Anquan Boldin. This would bring an similar excitement to all of sports which is usually reserved for boxing.

I ask the question why is this way of thinking any different than what the owners do. They are business men who are in business to make money. If their team began to hemorrhage money, they would attempt to find ways to stop the bleeding. These owners usually want to win at all cost because the more wins their teams accumulates usually translates into a higher profile which translates into higher merchandise sales revenue. This adds cold hard cash to their bottom lines. If these owners begin to lose money they usually change their course of action and go to a strategy that will make them money, whether that entails changing coaches or players, the end goal is the same win and make more money. Players need to have this same mentality.

So here’s to hoping that the slight difference in the winners and the loser’s portion of the purse will inspire players to play for more than just pride and the love of the game during Sunday’s big game. Let’s hope that these players play for a lifestyle just like I anticipate Brandon Keith will be doing, if he is allowed to step between those white lines. So let me leave you with this question, is Allen Iverson’s performance this year really worth $20,840,625 (25-19) compared to LeBron James’s (35-8) at $14,410,581.

Is he almost Back?

What are the 49ers up to? They have expressed an interest in Dan Reeves, and Hue Jackson for the position of offensive coordinator. They have also expressed a general interest in Mike Johnson, who coached quarterbacks in Baltimore. You may ask why this is news worthy and why is Johnson writing about this. My question to you is what player, who is expected to become a free agent; do all of these candidates for Mike Singletary’s new staff have in common? The answer is Michael “The Human Highlight Film” Vick.

Adam Schefter of NFL.com and other sources have reported over the past few days that all of the above mentioned coaching candidates have been speaking to the 49ers about jobs. Anyone with knowledge of the San Francisco quarterback situation knows that a rusty Vick would be a major upgrade over Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan, but will the public accept him? I contend that if the 49ers put together a marketing plan in conjunction with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with Vick as the focal point, he donates a percentage of his future earnings, Michael stays out of trouble, and, most importantly. wins people will indeed give Vick a second chance. He can no longer have any Ron Mexico incidents. Vick cannot expect to get the benefit of doubt from fans or law enforcement when he has a water bottle with a false compartment and it smell like marijuana. He has to be on the straight and narrow; he must become a role model.

America loves a comeback story, and Michael Vick is set up for one. He, his creditors and the 49ers are all hoping that his story will end successfully, and with the advent of the wildcat formation in the NFL, I am willing to bet that it will. I am also willing to bet that a league which allows sex offenders (multiple), Gangsters (Pac-Man) and murders (Leonard Little) on the field each Sunday, will allow a man who was convicted of dog fighting back on the field if it deems him marketable (if they can make money off of him). Am I off base with this thought? What do you think, but before you respond, think about who we are talking about the NFL or the Not For Long league if you do not make them money.

Johnson is a contributor to this blog and can be contacted at johnsonthesportsguy@gmail.com

NBA Mid-Season Awards

Well, we have reached the midway point of the NBA season, and that means that the All-Star game is upon us. With the bogus voting system that the NBA has in place, players such as the Detroit Pistons Allen Iverson are being voted in as starters. During this time of year many players’ contributions to their teams are over valued. With all this being said I am prepared to select my All-Star, All-Rookie, and All-NBA teams for the first half of the season. I will also select my league MVP, Rookie of the First half, Coach of the first half, Most Improved Player, and Defensive Player of the first half. My All-Fantasy team will also be unveiled. So let’s go!

All-Star
East
PG Dwyane Wade
SG Danny Granger
SF LeBron James
PF Kevin Garnett
C Dwight Howard

West
PG Chris Paul
SG Kobe Bryant
SF John Salmons
PF Paul Millsap
C Amar'e Stoudemire

All-NBA
PG Chauncey Billups
SG Dwyane Wade
SF LeBron James
PF Amar'e Stoudemire
C Dwight Howard

All-Rookie
PG Russell Westbrook
SG O.J. Mayo
SF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
PF Michael Beasley
C Brook Lopez

All-Fantasy
PG Chris Paul
SG Danny Granger
SF LeBron James
PF Amar'e Stoudemire
C Dwight Howard
Util Dwyane Wade
Util Paul Millsap
Util Kobe Bryant

MVP
LeBron James
Cleveland’s other starters PG Mo Williams, SG Sasha Pavlovic, PF Ben Wallace, C Anderson Varejao. This team has a record of 32-8 and is in a dead heat for best wining percentage in the league. What else needs to be said with that starting line up?

Rookie of the first half
O.J. Mayo POINTS19.1 ASSISTS2.9 STEALS1.0 MIN. PLAYED37.8
Have you seen him? Sure he puts up a lot of shots but he has to. He and Gasol could be the next Shaq and Kobe.

Most Improved Player
David Lee POINTS15.5 Rebounds 11.4 STEALS1.0 MIN. PLAYED 34.9
A double double machine and that is all that needs to be said about a guy who backed up Eddy Curry last season.

Defensive Player of the first half
Dwight Howard POINTS 20.2 ASSISTS 1.4 STEALS 1.0 Rebounds 14.1 Blocks 3.2
Howard has dominated the boards and swat anything within his Super Man reach so far this season.

Coach of the first half
Mike Woodson
The Hawks have a .610 winning percentage are in second place in their division this season. They are a good team because they are being put in the right situations to make plays by an undervalued coach, who the ownership group thought of firing last season.

All of the players named above may not play the designated position 100% of the time but they play it enough to qualify for the designation which I have given them in my mind at least.


Johnson is a contributor to this blog and can be contacted at johnsonthesportsguy@gmail.com

Athletes influence on politics

On the eve of the inauguration we need to discuss the impact that athletes had on the 2008 Presidential election. The questions which need to be asked are: should sports be purely a form of entertainment or a microcosm of society; Are athletes role models for society as a whole; Should athletes’ social commentary be taken seriously by the public at large; Does the discussion of politics belong in the locker room? These are all questions which were raised during the November Presidential Election between then Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and Republican nominee John McCain, but really were never addressed.

Often times in society people drool over sports stars, while looking at politicians with contempt. It is not often that a politician or anybody for that matter is admired by an athlete, but recently this changed. On January 3, 2008, during the Iowa Democratic Caucuses, we began to hear the faint chants of a relatively unknown name. This chant reverberated from Main Street U.S.A. to locker rooms around the country. The name heard in these chants was “Obama Obama Obama.” After June 3rd 2008, when Barack Obama officially became the Democratic nominee for President, these chants became louder from the general public, the many athletes who either had or began to support Barack. The chants were no longer “Obama Obama Obama”, by these individuals; they were now chanting “Obama Obama Obama!!!!” With even more average everyday Joes and more high profile athletes joining the chant daily.

With athletes now vocalizing their support of the then Democratic Presidential nominee and current President Elect Barack Obama, many more ordinary people who had never before been involved in politics began to endorsing Barack Obama as the candidate that they supported. When many of the athletes were questioned why they supported Obama many of them cited the need for change as their reason for this choice, and proclaimed their political affiliation to be Obama 08. While I am all for change, I often felt that some of these athletes were doing themselves and those that merely followed their lead a disservice, because they did not express specific social issues that had shaped their beliefs. While many of the these athletes are now rich and famous, a large portion of these athletes grew up in substandard and impoverished living conditions similar to those of a third world country. To many of them and other Americans, Obama was their ray of hope with his tax and health care policies. Due to people’s inability to express what they saw in Obama, many people supported him because their favorite athletes, such as LeBron James, Luke Walton, Grant Hill, or Chris Paul, Dave Winfield, Muhammad Ali etc, endorsed him. Many of the followers of these athletes knew they wanted change, as did the athletes wanted, but they were not sure what change they wanted? Some political pundits have said that these types of actions perpetuated an uninformed electorate, which many see as a dangerous electorate.

As the campaign continued opposing Democratic and Republican sides challenge Obama supporters to justify their support of him and to define what he meant by “change.” This forced supporters voting for Obama, because their favorite athlete endorsed him ,to take a deeper look at the issues. These individuals who had initially been brought into a political discussion, for the first time in their lives, by their desire to support their favorite athlete or to oppose other athletes’ views, began to arm themselves with information about the various candidates, their stances, and their past records. Their choice of candidate turned from being the choice of the athletes that they admired or disliked, to their choice because they felt he was or was not the best candidate for the job.

There was a groundswell of support for the then Democratic nominee. Obama was seen by many of the famous athletes and common people as the most qualified candidate. Without knowing it, many athletes had made their mark in the political world, by convincing their fans to become engaged in the political process for the first times in their lives. These athletes were using their voices to educate the general population without even knowing it. Some observers have asked the question “is this path that the pure sports fan should embrace”. Should Tiger Woods for example be speaking at Inauguration activities or rehabbing his knee, and should Charles Barkley be going on Larry King Live endorsing a candidate while he cannot stop gambling and drinking and driving?

Many of the athletes who openly endorsed either presidential candidate stood, and still stand, to lose millions in endorsement dollars because of their outspoken political views. With this in mind, it is vitally important for athletes to have finally stood up and let their voices be heard. Athletes should not instruct citizens on how they should vote; however, they should instruct them on how to become informed voters to make their own decision. Even when they are, at times, uninformed rational for selecting a certain candidate, athletes forced the American sports fan to take notice of issues outside of the playing field. They forced fans to research socio-economics issues, and make judgments for themselves. And more important, athletes enabled the country’s youth to become more engaged in the political process—a group of people who voted and participated in the political campaigns in unprecedented numbers. In the end a person who is better informed will make better judgments than those who are not, hence making them a better voter.

No matter which side you choose, hopefully the athletes helped convince you to at least pay attention to the process, and pick a candidate or issue to support. So, yes, I do believe the discussion of politics belongs in the locker room, because the locker room reaches into your living room. I do feel that athletes should give some form of commentary about politics in hopes of engaging others. I just hope that these athletes’ using their voice to change American culture is not a single election cycle phenomenon. Athletes should follow the lead of boxing great Muhammad Ali, or Chris Duhon who is skipping practice to attend the Presidential Inauguration, and let their voices be heard no matter what the consequences. While they are at it, they should take up other pressing social issues, such as the issues of better health care and pensions for the fans that attend their game. This will help them avoid hypocrisy and give them more credibility in the eyes of their critics. This will not only make sports world better, it will also make our country better place. So enjoy Tuesday's Inauguration, and realize the impact that sports had on this day.

Johnson is a contributor to this blog and can be contacted at johnsonthesportsguy@gmail.com

Donovan McNabb a measuring rod!

You better watch out!
Better not cry!
Better not pout!
I'm telling you why,
Santa Claus is comin' to town.
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Who would boo these lyrics, who would boo Santa Clause himself? Only the Philadelphia Eagles fans, these are the same smart fans that booed Donovan McNabb for half of this season and cheered when he was benched for Kevin Kolb in the 12th game of the season. These are the same fans that asked the question on sports talk radio if Kolb would be the full time starter in week 13 or 14 after he had played horribly in relief of Donovan during that week 12 game against the Ravens. These are the same fans that now call into sports talk radio shows and proclaim that Donovan is their starter for good now, because he is the quarterback that gives the Eagles the best chance to win.

McNabb gives the Eagles the best chance to win on a regular basis because he is simply one of the best five quarterbacks in pro football today. You can argue that Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are better than Donovan, but you would be hard pressed to find another QB who is head and shoulders better than McNabb in today’s game. There are many who would argue that Brees is nothing more than a stats hog and that many of the yards and touchdowns that he puts up come during meaningless garbage time. Under the premise that victories equal greatness, Brees is not in McNabb’s area code. Many people do not realize that McNabb’s guidance has helped the Eagles reach the NFC Conference Championship game for five of the last eight years. Many people argue that he has not won the Super Bowl and that is a direct reflection on his ability as a QB, but how many QBs have won the Super Bowl? One of the greatest QB of all time Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl during his playing career, does that diminish any of his career accomplishments?

When comparing McNabb’s stats (see below) to what many consider the “gold standard” of Hall of Fame (HOF) quarterbacks, he compares very favorably.


TD Int YDS RTG
Montana
Total 273 139 40551 92.3
Yearly AVG. 18.2 9.27 2703.4

Elway
Total 300 226 51475 79.9
Yearly AVG. 18.75 14.13 3217.1875

Unitas
Total 290 253 40239 78.2
Yearly AVG. 17.06 14.88 2367

Bradshaw
Total 212 210 27989 70.9
Yearly AVG. 15.14 15.00 1999.21

Marino
Total 420 252 61361 86.42
Yearly AVG. 24.71 14.82 3609.47

McNabb
Total 194 90 29320 85.9
Yearly AVG. 19.4 9 2932
Projected total for 16 yrs 310.4 144 46912



Donovan’s yearly numbers are better than Montana, Unitas, and Bradshaw’s in every category listed. His yearly numbers are on par with Elway, and only slightly worse than Marino’s. To be able to compete with these quarterbacks’ statistics, and have arguably worse talent around him than they all did shows just how underappreciated McNabb is and has been by the Philly fans. Looking at these numbers it is laughable that the Philly fans once had a debate whether to keep Donovan or Terrell Owens (T.O.), because Donovan got tired in the Super Bowl, just ask the Cleveland fans if they would take the Eagle’s number 5 instead of their current two headed quarterback monster.

Former Atlanta Quarterback Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb were once thought to be the new standard for “Black Quarterbacks” in the NFL, but a funny thing happened over time. McNabb hurt his knee, and transformed himself from the new standard for “Black Quarterbacks” to possibly being part of the measuring rod for all quarterbacks. If McNabb can some how will his team to win this years Super Bowl, his borderline HOF career should no longer be considered borderline. It should be full fledged Canton worthy. Make no mistake about it he will have earned it. If Donovan leaves the Eagles, the Philly fans have gotten everything they deserve. They will have gotten a chance to witness a great quarterback play the game the right way, a classy gentleman who handled adversity remarkably well under the scrutiny of one of the toughest media markets in the nation, and a man that has lead his team to the top of the mountain. And if he does not win the Super Bowl he is still the same man. Maybe the Philly fans really got what they did not deserve. With all this being said Philly, who would you rather have now, T.O. or Number 5?

****Weekend Picks****

Eagles 31 Cards 27
Ravens 10 Steelers 14



Johnson is a contributor to this blog and can be contacted at johnsonthesportsguy@gmail.com

The QB Quandary

With Matthew Stafford declaring for the NFL draft yesterday and the college bowl season coming to an end tonight, one of the most interesting questions that still looms from the college ranks is which of this year’s star college quarterbacks who will enter the NFL Draft and picked in the first round will be a bust? The debate is centered on whether it will be Sam Bradford, Stafford, Colt McCoy, Mark Sanchez, or some other lesser known prospect. With most of these verdicts based on projections of these players’ skills at the next level, but even with the trained eye it is very difficult to accurately project their NFL successes or lack there of success. The only semi accurate barometer of success for most young NFL quarterback prospect is how early in their career they are forced into extensive action. For those who are unfortunately forced into action in their rookie year, usually does not fare as well as those players who are given time to mature, and learn.

From 1983 to 2003 63.2% of the quarterbacks who saw significant action (25% of their team’s games) during their rookie season have turned out to be bust (Chuck Long, Jim Everett, Vinny Testeverde, Kelley Stoufer, Jeff George, and Rick Mirer Heath Shuler, Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Akili Smith David Carr, and Joey Harrington). During the same time period 26.3% of the rookie quarterbacks that have seen significant time during their first season are considered all time greats (John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Troy Aikman, and Peyton Manning) , and 10.5% of the signal callers are considered either good or decent quarterbacks (Donovan McNabb, and Drew Bledsoe). After watching the group of possible first round draft picks for the upcoming draft, I predict that the trend of the majority of first round quarterbacks who are rushed to play a significant amount of time in their first year, who become busts will continue just as it has in the past.

It is believed by many that the percentage of first year quarterbacks who will forced into early action will greatly increase in the coming seasons because of the success this season of super rookies Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. In the copycat world of the NFL, many GMs will ask the question, “Why am I paying a rookie tens of millions of real and more importantly salary cap dollars to sit on the bench and learn when Ryan and Flacco were able to come right into the league and play at a high level”. What many of these GMs will not realize are the shortcomings of their team’s defense and running games. They also will not take into account that these quarterback were asked to be game manager and not saviors of the franchise. There is a major difference between being a game manager with a stout defense behind you, and a running game that churns out yards like a Keebler Elf churns out cookies, and a quarterback who is asked to come into a situation like the Detroit Lions and be the savior of the franchise. The pressure that is put on a young kid who is put in this type of position with the dearth of talent that a team like the Lions has is overwhelming for even a seasoned quarterback such as John Kitna.

When a young quarterback is put into a situation where it is nearly impossible for him to succeed because of the lack of talent around him four things can happen, one he can get hurt from taking such a beating from opposing teams, two he can lose confidence in himself because he has never had to struggle like he currently is, three he can get cut because the team that drafted him thinks that they over evaluated his talent, or four he can become a unmotivated disinterested cancer on the team which will only perpetuate the losing atmosphere. With none of these outcomes being positive, it is senseless to put a young quarterback in a position in which he will not find success, especially since he is more than likely not equipped to deal with the harsh failures that he is bound to face in the NFL. The ultimate outcome of their rushed progression into the position of being a starting quarterback will ultimately lead the young star to being what many people have termed as a first round bust. In general the quarterback washout level of first round pick is approximately 50%, so with that being said, why not nurture your investment, or even better yet do not make the investment in a first round QB pick. I would personally prefer if my favorite team were to invest in a later round draft choice to lead the team. There have been many late round picks which have been turned out to be great pickups (Joe Montana, Tom Brady, or Matt Cassel), while at the same time there have been many first round flops in the history of the NFL (Andre Ware, Todd Blackledge, or Dan McGuire). This type of thinking still allows a team to possibly find a hidden gem, and have significant salary cap flexibility to sign other players.

With the development of a quarterback being so sensitive, it is even more risky to draft one high this year or next because of potential labor strife in the NFL in the 2010-11 season. If in that season, there is a long term lock out of the players by the owners as suggested by many, this could severely retard the progression of a potential franchise quarterback. The reason that the development of this key piece of a franchise could be stunted is because a QB’s steps in the developmental process are very regimented. The lack of practice time and even more importantly reps with the coaches critiquing the QBs every move will be missed and bad technique and poor mechanics could creep into his delivery and throwing motion during the lockout period. With this risk and the enormous amount of money that will be tied into this one player, is it really worth the risk of handcuffing your franchise with a first round quarterback for five to seven years? The lack of flexibility that this player will create may hinder a team from picking up a key free agent, who could eventually contribute to a Super Bowl championship. Because of this reason and the potential for flameout, it is more important to invest in a high powered scouting department who finds stud players in the later rounds who may be from smaller schools, a tough General Manager who has the guts to draft a borderline player who could turn out to be a stud because he fits the team’s mold, a Capologist who signs players to reasonable and flexible contracts, and a coach who put the players in a position to succeed more than a perceived potential high powered quarterback who has a 50-50 chance to be a decent player in the league for 5 years.




Weekly Picks
Pittsburg
Carolina
Giants

****UPSET Alert Pick****

Baltimore

Surprise Pink Slip

There were four head coaches fired in the NFL after last week’s final regular season game. The coaches of the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns coaches were expected to be fired, while the New York Jets coach was fired after it was suspected that he would receive a contract extension on Saturday evening. The final firing of the week left many asking the question how does a coach who has become too big for an organization in his own mind, come crashing back down to earth. In the case of the Denver Broncos it was last Tuesday, when Mike Shanahan the “Offensive Genius” was fired by owner Pat Bowlen during a brief 5 minute meeting. During this meeting in Bowlen’s office, it was explained to the face of the zone blocking scheme that the team was simply going in a different direction after 14 years. According to many sources the meeting only took five minuets because Bowlen had been contemplating this move for more than a year, which may also come as a shock to many.

While the majority of people are calling the Shanahan’s firing a surprise move, I have to ask the question was it really a surprise? Let’s just look at Shanahan’s record DE (During Elway) and AE (After Elway).

1995- 1998 1999-2008

W-L 47-17 91-69

Win pct. .734 .569

Division titles 2 1

Playoff W-L 7-1 1-4

Since John Elway left the Broncos franchise after the 1999 Super Bowl Mike Shanahan has lost much of his luster to all but fantasy football GMs who are searching for suitable Running Backs because of the prolific yardage gained by any back in the Zone blocking Scheme. Mike Shanahan has essentially become a mediocre coach who was riding the reputation of his sterling past. Gone is the magic of all those 4^th quarter comebacks, and Super Bowl victories. In the place of all of his early success in Denver is the reality of Shanahan’s most recent coaching performances, which was this December’s collapse because of his lack of ability to get consistent play out of the Quarterback position. The expectation of missing the playoffs has also begun to set into this proud franchise because of their pronounced absence for the past three postseasons.

Many casual observers may ask, what was Mike Shanahan’s true down fall in Denver? The informed fan will surmise that he just simply lost his magic, but I will tell you that the issues in Denver were much deeper than that. When a team takes Detroit Lions (0-16) rejects Boss Bailey, and Dre Bly’and insert them into their starting lineup they are not changing the culture in their organization of accepting not making the playoffs for the past three years, they are only perpetuating that culture. When a team has a Quarterback who has done nothing in the NFL but throw for a ton of yards and interceptions, who thinks he has a better arm than John Elway and is out to prove this point on a consistent basis, all he is doing for said team is providing wins only if they are playing fantasy football. Oh, and lets not even talk about the defense which allow 375 yards a game, 44 percent conversion rate on third down, and gave up an average of 28 points a game. These are the real reasons that Shanahan got canned in Denver. With all that being said Shanahan should thank Jay “I AM THE MAN” Cutler and Bob Slowik the teams Defensive Coordinator for the past four years for his unexpected departure in Denver.

Who should be Shanahan’s replacement in Denver for the 2009 season? The answer is a dual answer since Shanahan acted as Coach and General Manager; Bill Parcells AKA The Tuna should be brought in to be the GM, while Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys should be the coach. The Tuna should be begged in as GM by Bowlen because of his strong eye for talent and his desire to win now. The Tuna as we all know has some form of A.D.D. when it comes to winning and with the foundation currently in place the Broncos are set up to win now with a few tweaks to the roster. Jason Garrett should be brought in to be the coach of the Broncos because he has worked with the Tuna previously in Dallas, and with that being said we must also remember the T.O. factor. What is the T.O. factor you ask? The answer is any coach who can lead an offense and put up with T.O. without going mad can handle the adversity of following a coaching icon. Garrett is also a good young, bright coach with the intelligence to allow his Defensive Coordinator to come in and coach that side of the ball up, while maintaining enough control to hold that coach accountable. Garrett’s influence on the young Cutler which will surely make him more efficient and effective will truly be a welcome sight for ownership, fans and fantasy owners alike. I predict Garrett would have Denver back in the playoffs in a weakened AFC West in 2009, but it will certainly diminish the value of running backs in fantasy leagues.

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