Armchair Superstar

Saturday With the Ocho

2012-01-28T17:57:00.003-06:00

Caught three good games online today, thanks to ESPN3 ("The Ocho"). West Virginia-Syracuse from the Carrier Dome, followed by Freddy Hoiberg's Iowa State Cyclones upsetting Kansas in Ames, and then back home to the Big Ten for Purdue-Northwestern. Here's a few thoughts on each before I preview the Indiana-Iowa matchup tomorrow and maybe write about some other stuff.

West Virginia - Syracuse

The ending of this game was extremely controversial, as officials missed what appeared to be a clear goaltending call that would have tied the score with five seconds to play. After further examination... yep, that was definitely a goaltend. 'Cuse escapes.

The Mountaineers have always been one of those programs that I have a random soft spot for, since the days of the legendary Kevin Pittsnogle, back when John Beilein was coaching there instead of at Michigan. This year's team looks pretty good.

Senior forward Kevin Jones is a beast and will be in the POY conversation for the entire country (Pomeroy has him ranked at #9 overall right now). Truck Bryant is a streaky but entertaining point guard. So I like those guys. I think West Virginia's Euro guy with the beard needs to learn how to pass the ball in the post.

Big win for 'Cuse at home. That's a deep team. Are they title contenders? Of course. Do I think they're goanna win? Not really. Too reliant on that 2-3 zone, and no superstar, though Dion Waiters comes close.

Iowa State - Kansas

Ames, Iowa is upset city! The kids stormed the court after the Cyclones beat Kansas today. Iowa State has been getting a lot of attention on ESPN.com recently, with profiles on Fred Hoiberg and his rebuilding job as well as a puff piece on Minnesota transfer Royce White (I shouldn't hate, it's actually a pretty good read if you can stand the cheese.)

White is a star, no doubt, and this team looks well coached and well balanced. They made some serious clutch plays today and solidified their tournament resume.

Kansas doesn't have a whole lot to worry about from the loss. Iowa State is a good team, and they were at home with a raucous crowd. Tyshawn Taylor and POY frontrunner Thomas Robinson are still enough for Kansas to make a deep tourney run.

Scouting report extra: I think one HUGE factor in this game was Kansas center Jeff Withey sitting with foul trouble late. Iowa State may have provided the rest of the Big 12 (uhhh.. Big... how many teams do they have now?) with something of a blueprint.

Purdue - Northwestern

Robbie Hummel hit a leaner with eight seconds left that provided the margin in a typical low-scoring Big Ten nailbiter. Huge shot for him. Isn't his back supposed to have blown out by this point in the season?

On the other end, Northwestern couldn't get a clean shot off as John Shurna bricked a three at the buzzer that was reminiscent of the Bracey Wright era at IU - thirty feet deep, off glass, nowhere close. Oops.

Northwestern desperately needs to start winning some conference games. Purdue, like West Virginia and Iowa State, looks to be in decent shape for an at-large bid. Northwestern needs more players. I'm pretty sure they're going with a seven-man rotation, and that's just not goanna get it done. Luka Mirkovic, Jer'shon Cobb, where are you guys?

Previewing Indiana-Iowa

Let's keep this short and sweet. Iowa has not sucked too badly this year. They have already beaten Wisconsin and Minnesota on the road, and Michigan at home. Indiana must not overlook this team.

The Hawkeyes' weakness is their defense. Indiana is at their best when they score the ball. They managed to score 70+ points on some of the best defenses in the nation in Kentucky and Ohio State earlier this season, so you know they have firepower. It's time to rediscover it.

Our team defense isn't bad, but this is an Indiana team that should be scoring a lot of points every single game. If Iowa's weak sauce D (Pomeroy has them rated 183rd in the country) causes the Hoosiers any trouble tomorrow, we're in for a looooong second half of the season in Bloomington. Just make some shots and run away from the Hawks.

Like the Penn State game last week, this is an absolute must win for Crean, Cody, and the rest of the Hoosiers.

News/Notes

The Bears hired a new GM in Phil Emery. He was the clubhouse favorite to get the job. I'm not covering the NFL until March Madness is over, dammit. Noffke?

The Bulls got a huge game out of Derrick Rose and beat Milwaukee to move to 17-5 on the season. This team is just grinding in a tough year for the entire NBA. The playoffs are going to be nuts. I'm expecting injuries to play a huge role in who goes deep - the favorites are the Bulls, Heat, and Thunder, but with games almost every day, staying healthy seems like a crapshoot.

Indiana-Wisconsin was decided, in my mind, by Cody Zeller's foul-plagued evening. It's too bad he didn't do better, because his brother Tyler put up 21pts/17rebs as UNC smacked NC State in the mouth Thursday. Woulda been cool to have a double Zeller showcase. T. Zeller and John Henson are a terrifying frontcourt if you're a smaller team. I'm pencilling them into the Elite Eight, at least.

Don't Call It a Comeback (Please)

2012-01-26T16:48:00.004-06:00

I finally caved and bought a yearlong subscription to Ken Pomeroy's genius college basketball website, www.kenpom.com. It's possible I may have mentioned this advanced stats site to some of you before.

So in order to make my $19.99 pay for itself, it's about damn time to get back to AMATEUR SPORTSWRITING! Wahoo! (You can call it a comeback when I manage to stick to a writing schedule for more than one day.)

It also helps that the Big Ten is having the most exciting men's college hoops season I can remember, and that Indiana is back in the mix. Here's the plan. I'm going to try to write an article at least once per off-day (Saturday, Monday, Thursday), focusing mostly on this incredibly awesome basketball season, and of course the Hoosiers, Northwestern Wildcats, the Big Ten, and maybe even the Bulls in particular.

Enough jibber jabber. I'm shakin' the rust off, baby. Indiana gets Wisconsin at the Kohl Center tonight at 9, which means it's Yogi's Time (gunning for a corporate sponsorship by March...). Here's a little preview. Inside the Hall does a better job of these things than me, by the way, and you can check them out at their FREE site. Take that, peegs.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Oladipo's defense on Jordan Taylor. Taylor killed us last year - courtesy ITH's Justin Albers, "the Wisconsin guard ruined two upset attempts by scoring a combined 67 points in two meetings last season." If he goes off again, we're in some trouble. However, Victor has had to guard Bo Spencer and Tim Frazier now in the last two games, who happen to be the conference's other undersized do-everything guards.

If he's learned anything from the last two games, and can hold Taylor to under or around twenty, that's huge. 'Dipo doesn't need to force a lot of turnovers, just contest every shot and not foul much.

2. Cody Zeller needs to get Jared Berggren in foul trouble. Jared who? Berggren was a godawful reserve last year (think Capobianco level bad) but has turned into a solid scorer and inside presence as a junior. He's also the Badgers' only player over 6'6 other than freshman Frank Kaminsky. (That, by the way, is a CLASSIC Wisconsin name right there.)

I don't really need to spell this out. Do like Dicky V says and get Cody the damn ball. Wisco plays good team defense, but Cody can score at will over just about anybody smaller than him, and I think he can own Flat Top Ryan Evans and/or Bruesewitz in the paint if Berggren goes out and leaves them shorthanded.

3. Wake up Christian Watford on offense. Wat's been rebounding well, but not scoring like he's capable of doing. I think IU needs to get to around seventy points to win this game, and we need Christian to get at least 12-14 to get there. Now would be a great time to break out of this little mini-slump and get your name headed toward's people's All-Big Ten lists, buddy. I would say that you can't live off the Kentucky shot forever, but.... well, you can totally live off that shot forever. Please don't.

This is a pretty good Wisconsin team but I think with our superior size and scoring punch we match up surprisingly well. The Badgers are allowing the lowest 3pt percentage of any B10 team and the fifth lowest in the country at 26.4% (thanks, Pomeroy!). Is it the Kohl Center rims? Because if it's not, we may just mess that stat up for them pretty badly tonight.

Indiana 72 - Wisco 66

Random Notes:

Michigan vs. Michigan State last week was one of the best games I've seen all year, thanks to ESPN3 for televising (computering?) it and a great job by the ESPN crew catching Denard Robinson in the student section partying his ass off and having a blast like the star quarterback at a major state university ought to be doing. Oh, and supporting his fellow student-athletes, of course.

Draymond Green is my favorite non-Indiana player in the Big Ten. I love his attitude, I love watching him play. His court demeanor reminds me of DJ White as a senior. This is a Very Good Thing. It's been cool watching him grow into a leader at Michigan State. By the way, that braces picture? That's the #1 image result for "Draymond Green" on Google. Hah.

Northwestern, at 12-7 and having gotten shellacked by Minnesota, is probably looking at the NIT now. Hey, as long as they go to the NIT Final Four, I'm happy. This is Not Such a Good Thing.

Kenpom has this cool thing now where you can see a player's profile year by year, and also guys that have had similar stats throughout the years the site has been up. Will Sheehey's #1 parallel? This year's edition of UNC's Harrison Barnes. I know Barnes hasn't been quite as good as hyped, but he's still been The Guy for the #8 team in the country. That's pretty cool.

By the way, UNC vs. NC State starts at 7, and I'm goanna go watch it. Zeller double feature! (I stole that line). Also an important game for Indiana's NC SOS (that's non-conference strength of schedule).

Matt Roth's #1 parallel, by the way? '11 Jon Diebler. That's almost as good as Sheehey's. It's great to see Roth playing well as a senior.

Thanks for reading and I hope to have a lot more for you as the year goes on. Much love. Go Hoosiers!

Stewart Mandel On NCAA Realignment

2011-09-18T21:54:00.002-05:00

Not that I follow anyone on twitter, but if I did, the first person I am going to follow is Stewart Mandel. Here's a great tweet on NCAA Realiangment

Twitter friends: Sadly, I don't know the answers to any of your realignment questions, other than, the Big Ten is not expanding

I for one am happy that the Big Ten is not expanding. Apprently Delany has been golfing the past few days because he doesn't care. There is no one out there that is looking to move that the Big Ten would want to Add (maybe Oklahoma). And I'm fine with that. Let the other confrences go to 14 or 16. It's already bad enough that confrence teams will go 4 seaons without playing each other in Football, what's the point of the confrence then?

Bill Barnwell Still Hates The Bears

2011-09-12T10:42:00.002-05:00

LINK

no comments on that. I think we all know Bill Barnwell is staking his claim that the Bears suck and will keep this up until the point the Bears give him a game to prove him right.

On other news, this was a great read I forgot to post a few weeks ago.

Here We Go!!!

2011-09-11T09:45:00.002-05:00

BEAR DOWN CHICAGO BEARS
MAKE EVERY PLAY CLEAR THE WAY TO VICTORY
BEAR DOWN CHICAGO BEARS
PUT UP A FIGHT WITH A MIGHT SO FEARLESSLY
WE'LL NEVER FORGET THE WAY YOU THRILLED THE NATION WITH YOUR T-FORMATION

BEAR DOWN CHICAGO BEARS
AND LET THEM KNOW WHY YOU'RE WEARING THE CROWN

YOU'RE THE PRIDE AND JOY OF ILLINOIS

CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!!

Green Bay -- Color Me Unimpressed!

2011-09-09T12:45:00.002-05:00

Wow, last nights game was great, it had nearly everything. A last second goal line stand with 0:00 on the clock. A phantom pass interference call that almost caused a major controversy. Nearly 1,000 yards of total offense. Two great QB's slinging it all over the field. A Chuck Woodson uppercut and no removal from the game. And a whole lot of defense... oh wait.

I'm sorry Green Bay, but, to me, your defense was exposed for what it will be this year: BAD. Green Bay lost Cullen Jenkins in the offseason. In my head, a fair comparison to what this means Tommie Harris and the 2007 and beyond Bears defense (not including last year). The Packers no longer have that guy that can get pressure, or allow others, like Clay Matthews, to be even more effective. Instead, teams can key in Clay Matthews and begin to dismantle you through the air. The best part about the Packers is that they already had issues run stopping. So, if their defense is going to play at the same level as it did last night Green Bay is going to find itself in a whole lot of shoot outs. Oh yeah, and they will find themselves behind the Bears all season long.

So, while the prognosticators and experts are all impressed by the win, because not one of them has ever come to understand that defenses really do win championships (can't win one without a decent defense), I am thoroughly unimpressed by Green Bay. And I'm even less impressed by the Saints, who look like they can't get any pressure nor stop the run or the pass. I could see the Bears going 3-0 in their first three games. On Sunday, let's show these two teams how to play defense.

NFL Player Predictions

2011-09-08T16:57:00.004-05:00

Before I head off to Yogis for yet another Bloomington drinking adventure, a few predictions on some surprises and disappointments this year. In no particular order:

1) J'Marcus Webb makes the Pro Bowl as an alternate and gets signed to a long term contract. Gabe Carimi also gets strong consideration. Webb, the former seventh rounder from Nowhere Directional State (aka: I'm too lazy to look it up right now) becomes one of the better stories of the NFL year.

I'm pretty sure this OL will be better off without Olin Kreutz, whose asshole attitude long ago became his strongest attribute. When you're an offensive lineman, I hate to break it to ya, but blocking is more important than sucker punching teammates.

2) The Bengals and the Seahawks vie for the title of Worst Team in the NFL. Despite this, Marshawn Lynch rushes for over 1,000 yards and eight TDs. My fantasy interests may have something to do with the second half of this prediction.

3) Bill Belichik and the Patriots miss the playoffs and go 8-8. Albert Haynesworth doesn't play in more than six games.

4) The Bears make the playoffs, and Johnny Knox pushes Roy Williams to the bench by Game Three. Knox finishes with over 1,000 yards receiving, the first Bear to do so in almost a decade. Rookie Dane Sanzenbacher finishes with over 40 catches. Williams finishes with under 40 and ends the season on IR.

5) Your out-of-nowhere WR star? Oakland WR Derek Hagan. Just remember I called it. This is what is referred to as a "low-risk" projection, since I look like a genius if/when it happens, and there is absolutely no risk of looking like an idiot if/when it doesn't. I have Hagan with over 900 total yards and as many as 10-11 TDs. Really, who's goanna push him on that Raiders team? Jacoby Ford? It's not a track meet, folks. Darius Heyward-Bey? HAH!

Anyway, Derek Hagan. You heard it here first.

6) I'll roll with the other totally impartial ACSS writers on Super Bowl projections. Bears over, oh hell, Houston for the Super Bowl title. And absolute insanity in Indianapolis as 500,000 Chicago fans descend on our sleepy neighbor to the south.

7) I'll be in Indy making chili and selling it for $5 a cup when this happens. All week long. Ohhhh yes.

Week 1 Predictions

2011-09-07T10:51:00.005-05:00

Week 1 starts tomorrow, so I'm pumped. As a result, I'm going to make some predictions:

NFL MVP: Matt Forte

Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Forte

Defensive Player of the Year: Julius Peppers

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton (only because of shear playing time)

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Vonn Miller

Sacks the Bears offensive line gives up: 29 sacks

Jay Cutler: 320/500 4,171 yards 35 tds 13 ints 200 rushing yards 2 rushing tds

Matt Forte: 294 carries 1,453 yards 4.9 ypc 15 rushing tds 45 receptions 611 yards receiving 9 tds

Marion Barber: 123 carries 527 yards 4 rushing tds 15 receptions 200 yards 1 td

Roy Williams: 26 catches 375 yards 3 tds 4 drops in first two games finds himself at bottom of depth chart

Devin Hester: 46 receptions 580 yards 4 tds

Earl Bennett: 75 catches 1,127 yards 7 tds

Johnny Knox: 41 catches 593 yards 4 tds

Dane Sazenbacher: 17 catches 239 yards 1 td

Sam Hurd: 10 catches 87 yards

Kyle Adams: 7 catches 50 yards

Kellen Davis: 23 catches 245 yards 5 tds

Matt Spaeth: 15 catches 64 yards 1 td

Defense:

Julius Peppers 14 sacks

Henry Melton 5.5 sacks

Amobi Okoye 3.5 sacks

Israel Idonije 5 sacks

Corey Wooten 7 sacks

Stephen Paea 3 sacks

Matt Toeania 3.5 sacks

Anthony Adams 1.5 sacks

Mario Addison 2 sacks

Brian Urlacher 3 sacks

Lance Briggs 2 sacks

Remainder of defense: 3 sacks

Total sacks: 53

Turnovers:

Brandon Merriweather 5 picks

Charles Tillman 4 picks

DJ Moore 4 picks

Chris Harris 4 picks

Tim Jennings 2 picks

Brian Urlacher 2 picks

Lance Briggs 1 pick

Rest of the Defense: 3 picks

Total Interceptions: 25

Fumble Recovered: 15

Total Takeaways: 40

Total Turnovers: 28

Turnover Differential: +12

Devin Hester: 3 Punt Returns for a TD

Okay, now on to the Bears Falcons Game Prediction:

The Falcons are solid team, but they don't have a good pass rush nor any real depth at corner beyond their starters. The Bears' corners could be better, and at times the Bears lack consistent pressure. However, both teams' offense tend to rely on the run. The difference between these two teams is the fact that the Bears have the better defense and special teams, as well as will attack down field more often. The Falcons are stronger at WR and on their o-line. The running game is about a wash for both teams. The Falcons' tend to make short quick throws. Ultimately, I see the Falcons being able to move the ball between 30 yard lines, but getting stiffled. I see the Falcons settling for field goals. Meanwhile, I see the Bears' wide receiver's speed and the Falcons' poor pass rush being the difference in this game. The Bears will hit one or two huge plays down the field that will make the difference in this game, and they will be able to control the game on the ground more than the Falcons, since the Bears have the better run defense.

Final Score: Bears 27 Falcons 16

Matt Ryan 21-33 217 yards 1 td 1 int

Jay Cutler 20-28 318 yards 2 tds 1 int

Michael Turner 18 carries 58 yards 3.22 ypc 1 fumble lost

Jason Snelling 4 carries 16 yards 4 ypc

Matt Forte 24 carries 102 yards 4.25 ypc 1 td

Marion Barber 8 carries 30 yards 3.75 ypc

Roddy White 8 catches 111 yards 1 td

Tony Gonzalez 5 catches 50 yards

Michael Jenkins 2 catches 11 yards

Julio Jones 2 catches 14 yards

Jason Snelling 3 catches 24 yards

Michael Turner 1 catches 7 yards

Earl Bennett 6 catches 75 yards

Roy Williams 4 catches 64 yards 1 td (2 drops)

Devin Hester 4 catches 87 yards

Johnny Knox 2 catches 51 yards 1 td

Matt Forte 2 catches 23 yards

Marion Barber 1 catches 11 yards

Kellen Davis 1 catch 7 yards

Now, on to my Week 1 game predictions, home team in caps:

GREENBAY over Saints

CHICAGO over Atlanta

CLEVELAND over Cincinnati

Buffalo over KANSAS CITY

Philadelphia over ST. LOUIS

TAMPA BAY over Detroit

Tennessee over JACKSONVILLE

BALTIMORE over Pittsburgh

HOUSTON over Indianapolis

ARIZONA over Carolina

SAN DIEGO over Minnesota

SAN FRANCISCO over Seattle

WASHINGTON over New York Giants

NEW YORK JETS over Dallas

New England over MIAMI

DENVER over Oakland

Noffke's NFL Predictions

2011-09-07T10:27:00.003-05:00

Following in Ryan's Lead, I will have my NFL predictions.

I personally can't wait for the NFL season to start. I am sick and tired of hearing how bad the Bears are going to be and how lucky they were last year. This reached a peak today with Bill Barnwell said on the BS report he thinks the Bears will be the worst team in the NFL, primarily based on the new kickoff rule (WHAT!?). Anyway, here we go.

z - conference winner; y - bye week; x - division winner w - wildcard team.

AFC East

Z. Patriots
2. J-E-T-S
3. Bills
4. Dolphins

Patriots are as good as advertised. Jets have a good year, but miss the playoffs. Bills and Dolphins are terrible.

AFC South

X. Texans
W. Colts
3. Titans
4. Jags

I know, I know, Texans aren't that good, but who in this division is? Jags are the worst team in the NFL, Titans could be good depending on if CJ doesn't have any problems without a training camp and how well Hasselback plays. Colts make it in, but not the division winner unless Peyton gets healthy quick.

AFC West

X. Chargers
2. Raiders
3. Broncos
4. Chiefs

Chiefs benefited from and easy schedule last year, and will struggle this year. Broncos will be good, but inconsistent again. Raiders will suprise with some stability for Jason Campbell in Offense (first time he's in the same offense 2 years in a row since High School) but the Chargers are the class of the West. It's tough to finish #1 in offense and defense and miss the playoffs, but some how they did it last year.

AFC North

Y. Steelers
W. Browns
3. Ravens
4. Bengals

Steelers will be the Steelers. I believe in Colt McCoy. Ravens will have a good year and the Bengals will struggle with New QB Andy Dalton, but he'll win Rookie of the Year.

NFC East

Y. Eagles
2. Redskins
3. Giants
4. Cowboys

Eagles have a lot of hype, and part of me thinks they could have a terrible year. Saying that, Andy Reid always seems to have his teams making the playoffs. Mike Shanonhan was embarassed last year and will have his team ready to play with Rex Grossman. Giants and Cowboys have solid years.

NFC South

Z. Falcons
W. Bucs
3. Saints
4. Panthers

Falcons get Home field primarily based on them getting to play the Panthers twice. Bucs keep on rising. Saints will be good, but just miss the playoffs.

NFC West

X. Rams
2. Cardinals
3. 49ers
4. Seahawks

Rams schedule is brutal to start, but no one in this division will run away from them. Cardinal's season will depend on Kolb. 49ers will be starting Kapernick by week 8 and the Seahawks are lousy.

NFC North

X. Packers
W. Bears
3. Lions
4. Vikings

Packers only go 9-7 and beat the Bears for the division on a tie breaker. Lions could be good, but everyone will get hurt again. Vikings could be good, but O-Line is a problem.

Playoffs (Home Team in CAPS)

AFC

Wildcard

Browns over CHARGERS
Colts over TEXANS

Semi-finals

STEELERS over Colts
PATRIOTS over Browns

Title Game

STEELERS over PATRIOTS

NFC Playoffs

Wildcard

Bears over PACKERS
Bucs over RAMS

Semi-Finals

Bears over FALCONS
EAGLES over Bucs

Title Game

Bears over EAGLES

Super Bowl

Steelers over Bears

NFL Predictions

2011-09-07T09:04:00.002-05:00

Hola everyone! With the first games tomorrow, I figured what time is better than now for my annual NFL predictions. A little key: z - conference winner; y - bye week; x - division winner w - wildcard team. Here I go:

AFC EAST

z - 1. Patriots 14-2

w - 2. Jets 10-6

3. Bills 7-9

4. Dolphins 5-11

AFC WEST

x - 1. Chargers 11-5

2. Broncos 7-9

3. Chiefs 6-10

4. Raiders 5-11

AFC NORTH

y - 1. Ravens 12-4

2. Steelers 9-7

3. Browns 6-10

4. Bengals 2-14

AFC SOUTH

x - 1. Colts 10-6

w - 2. Titans 9-7

3. Texans 7-9

4. Jaguars 4-12

NFC EAST

x - 1. Eagles 11-5

w - 2. Redskins 10-6

3. Giants 9-7

4. Cowboys 6-10

NFC WEST

x - 1. 49ers 9-7

2. Rams 8-8

3. Cardinals 7-9

4. Seahawks 4-12

NFC NORTH

z - 1. Bears 13-3

w - 2. Packers 10-6

3. Lions 7-9

4. Vikings 6-10

NFC SOUTH

y - 1. Saints 12-4

2. Falcons 9-7

3. Bucs 7-9

4. Panthers 4-12

WILDCARD ROUND

Chargers 27 Titans 17

Colts 17 Jets 20

49ers 17 Packers 24

Eagles 31 Redskins 20

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Ravens 20 Chargers 17

Patriots 31 Jets 17

Bears 21 Packers 17

Saints 27 Eagles 34

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Patriots 21 Ravens 24

Bears 28 Eagles 20

SUPERBOWL

Bears 17 Ravens 13

There you have it: Bears win the Superbowl. But we all knew that already!

Is It Monday Yet?

2011-08-23T09:22:00.002-05:00

Dear ESPN

2011-08-18T10:54:00.002-05:00

This is a letter to the morons at ESPN. I was watching Sports Center this morning and there was a discussion of the top 10 QB's in the NFL. Darren Woodson had 15 QB's on his board. One of the QB's was Mark Sanchez. ESPN has been riding Mark Sanchez's jock since he was drafted (he wasn't named a top 10 QB but was in the top 15). How is it that a guy who has an incredible offensive line, a great running game, great receivers, and a great tight end considered in the top 15 when he completes 54% of his passes? The guy threw for only 17 td's last year. The year before he threw for 12 tds and competed 15% of his passes. I'd honestly put him near the bottom of the league in QB's. Yet ESPN rides this guy's jock like he's actually good. HE'S NOT. HE SUCKS.

And yes, this article is about to turn into how the heck is Jay Cutler not on the list of top 15 QB's. I get it ESPN, you hate him. Dilfer created your new QBR stat, and I do actually believe this, to try to make Cutler look bad. Sacks? Really? You are going to count sacks as the QB's fault? If that's the case, at least watch the film and find some objective standard in order to tell when the sacks are the o-line's fault and when they are the QB's fault. This is how flawed ESPN's QBR stat is. Here are two stat lines:

336 Completions/555 Attempts - 3,666 yards - 60.5% completion percentage - 27 tds 26 ints (6.61 yards per attempt) 40 rushes 173 yards 1 td 4 fumbles 35 sacks 76.8 regular QB rating

261 completions / 432 Attempts - 3,274 yards - 60.4% completion percentage - 23 tds 16 ints (7.6 yards per attempt) 50 rushes 232 yards 1 td 1 fumble 52 sacks 86.3 regular QB rating

Which player is better? Well, one QB has 123 more attempts and only around 400 more passing yards and 4 more passing tds with 10 more interceptions and 3 more fumbles. Essentially QB 2 could have equaled those numbers in one game. Here is the kicker, QB 1 is rated higher in ESPN's new QBR than QB2. Who are the QB's? Well if you haven't figured it out already they are both Jay Cutler. So, ESPN wants us to believe that Jay Cutler from 2009 was better than last years Jay Cutler. Why? Because of sacks. Somehow, the 17 more sacks Cutler took last year outweighs the 13 more opportunities Cutler gave the opposing team (granted 3 of those were fumbles recovered by the Bears but a fumble is a fumble). Oh yeah, and need I mention that in ESPN's QBR Trent Dilfer has one of the highest ratings in the league the year the Ravens won the Superbowl. ESPN your QBR stat doesn't even pass the eyeball test!

Now onto whether Eli Manning is a top 5, 10, or even 15 QB. I say no. Unlike anyone of the QB's I will name that are better than him, Manning is unable to put his team on his back and win a game. Yes, he can throw a TD in the last minute to make a game 17-14. So can Kyle Orton. And that is who I'd compare Manning to as a QB. Kyle Orton. Now onto where I'd rank Eli Manning right now, and this includes players I'd take over him that are currently in the NFL.

1. Peyton Manning

2. Tom Brady

3. Drew Brees

4. Phillip Rivers

5. Aaron Rodgers

6. Michael Vick

7. Ben Roethlisberger

8. Matt Ryan

9. Tony Romo

10. Matt Schaub

11. Jay Cutler

12. Josh Freeman

13. Joe Flacco

14. Carson Palmer

15. Eli Manning (only because these other guys have no established themselves yet)

16. Sam Bradford

17. Matthew Stafford

18. Matt Hasselbeck

19. Kevin Kolb

20. Donovan McNabb

21. Kyle Orton

22. David Gerrard

23. Ryan Fitzpatrick

24. Matt Cassel

25. Colt McCoy

26. Vince Young

27. Chad Henne

28. Rex Grossman

29. Shaun Hill

30. Jon Kitna

31. Alex Smith

32. Mark Sanchez

This was not based on any bias towards New York teams. I don't have a bias. This is an objective look at QB's I'd rather have starting on my team over Mark Sanchez and Eli Manning. ESPN, you need to hire objective reporters who don't care about their hometown team instead of these subjective morons you have on your staff. Quit sucking so much! Right now, you are the Mark Sanchez of sports reporting. Awful!

Kevin Wilson Gets Pissed At Radio Hosts Making Fun of IU

2011-08-11T13:08:00.002-05:00

Some Fox radio show call Zakk and Jack invited Kevin Wilson on to do an interview. After an intro where they left Wilson on hold for about a minute and a half Wilson went on the attack.

Listen Here

Even though Zakk and Jack went on the rip on Wilson after they kicked him off the show, many other people in the Media have defended Wilson including Dan Dachich on his radio show, SI's Stewart Mandel and Andy Staples.

Mandel via Twitter

Wilson > condescending radio jocks RT @JimmyTraina: Train wreck sports talk radio w/ Indiana coach Kevin Wilson. http://t.co/qARzwtC

Staples has a Lot of back and forth via Twitter I am only including his comments. You can follow is hole chain here

RT @JimmyTraina: Train wreck sports talk radio at its finest here w/ new Indiana football coach Kevin Wilson.

@HawkeyeNation Agreed. Don't start ripping after you hang up on the guy. Hit him with that on the air if it's that important.

I know how Kevin Wilson feels. Last year, I lit up a host off-air for doing no prep before I came on. Should have done it on-air

Not so sure. Think he endeared himself to IU fans. RT @dcvol: If you're Wilson, though, you've got to bite your tongue.

prefer these guys. http://youtu.be/ws58s9wzYsA RT @turnershow: Trudeau and his wingman absolutely brutal

@andy_grey You're underestimating the public's mistrust of the media. Pit yourself against a media member and you look like a hero

@andy_grey He got more buzz by doing what he did than if he had given a sunny, cheery interview

Fantasy Football 2011: Top 5

2011-08-07T09:23:00.005-05:00

So apparently I have a problem. It's apparently an addiction to have completed 10 mock drafts up until this point. But one thing I have noticed in these drafts is the high amount of variability in the first round. Generally, its the same people going 1-5 and then the next 5 are the same people in varying orders however that has not been the case this year. I have seen 6 different people go #1 overall including Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Arian Foster, Mike Vick, Jamal Charles, and even Rashard Mendenhall. That being said this is my Top 5 for the first round. Feel free to comment or debate any of these.

1. Adrian Peterson
With a decent quarterback behind him and a bunch of solid receivers AP is set up to do what he does every year.

2. Mike Vick
I know what your thinking. Dan quarterbacks are so deep this year why would you waste your number 2 pick on an injury prone QB. Here's why: Mike Vick is a play maker. He was among the league leaders in fantasy points last year even not playing every game either due to his injury or to Andy Reid. As for being injury prone, think of it this way. Everybody is injury prone. How many hits is AP gonna take this year? Who took Brady a few years ago and expected nothing to happen to him. The fact of the matter is anybody can get hurt at any time so ignore injuries unless the injury is current.

3. Arian Foster
I've got good news and I've got bad news. First the bad news. Every team is now looking for this guy on every play. He had most of his success last year early in the year when nobody was game planning for him. Now for the good news. Matt Schaub isn't getting any worse. With his ability to air it out to Andre Johnson defenses wont be able to cheat up into the box to shut down Foster or they will get burned deep. So they have a choice. Either get burned deep and then have Houston run out the clock on them or let them run initially either way Foster is going to get his touches.

4. Ray Rice
With Willis McGahee out of the picture look for rice to get all his regular touches plus extra goal line carries.

5. Chris Johnson
Tennesee has no other option but to hope that CJ can run the ball effectively.

If I have time I hope to finish out the first three rounds.

Northwestern to Play on Purple Basketball Court?

2011-08-03T15:18:00.005-05:00

Northwestern is hosting a vote (http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/080111aab.html) to determine what thier new floor at Welsch-Ryan Arena should look like.

Here are the four options.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

I personally like Option 1 the best, but could be talked into Option 4. I think my eyes would hurt after watching long stretches of BBall on a purple court.

Dan Persa For Hiesman

2011-08-02T08:47:00.000-05:00

Intresting quick read from ESPNChicago.com

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/colleges/post/_/id/3298/nu-launches-persa-heisman-campaign

The Final Armchair Superstar Post

2011-07-28T14:14:00.002-05:00

Well, as everyone can see, Armchair Superstar has been steadily declining in the blogging industry. We just couldn't compete with the other guys. So, like many other quality news reporting agencies of today (News of the World much?) we've decided to shut our doors. So, we at Armchair Superstar would like to thank you for your loyal readership and we'd like to take this time to say Goodbye.

Thank you & Goodbye!

2011-07-22T10:43:00.002-05:00

I just read an interesting piece by Andy Staples discussing some potential issues with the Longhorn Network. The major discussion point wasn’t the fact that the Longhorn Network is going to make the school truck loads of cash. or the fact that now with ESPN, ESPN has incentive for the Longhorns to do well and get ratings, blurring the line for unbiased News/Sports reporting on them.

No, the main issue discussed is how the Longhorn Network is going to be showing High School games featuring kids who have verbally committed to Texas. This could be an unfair recruiting tool for Texas. However, it is likely to be deemed ok by the NCAA.

This got me thinking, if the Longhorn Network is going to show two dozen high school football games a year, why doesn’t the Big Ten Network do the same thing? Instead of watching Friday Night Tailgate (which in 4 years went from (yr 1)mildly entertaining, (Yr2) Hey! They figured it out, this is a good show, (Yr3) This is awful, (Yr4) I can’t believe this should could get worse, but it did.) why not show Gunner Kiel’s game so the IU fans can get a look at their future QB, as well as 3 other players. You don’t think Ohio State fans would have loved watching Terrelle Pryor his last year in High School?

The advantage of the BTN showing High School games over the Longhorn Network is they can show a game the features players that are going to multiple schools. If there was a matchup that featured players going to 4 different Big Ten schools, it would bring in 4 times the amount of viewers.

I say if Texas is going to do it, why not the Big Ten. They already have the Network in place, let’s use it to our advantage.

Sox Beat Twins - Finally

2011-07-10T01:22:00.004-05:00

It's one of the enduring mysteries of the American League Central. Why can't the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota (f***in') Twins? Take a look at the stats:

Last ten: Sox 1 - Twins 9

Last 35: Sox 7 - Twins 28

That includes today's win, where Mark Buehrle (who, shockingly, has a winning career record versus the Twins) went eight strong and still had to get bailed out by Alexei "Cuban Missile" Ramirez's ninth-inning RBI single. Jesse Crain (former Twin) vultured the win with a solid 9th.

So, I gotta ask. Is this a style thing? (AJ can't throw anyone out, and the Twins know it) Is it a management thing, and does Ron Gardenhire just have Ozzie's number? Is it just one of baseball's innumerable numerical anomalies? Say that six times fast. And then hope that it is, and that the South Siders will dominate the next fifty matchups.

Anyway, it's frustrating because this Sox team is not that far out of a playoff spot (three or four games, depending on the day), but they can't win against one team they play nineteen times a year, and they aren't a whole lot better against the other three (Tigers, Royals, Indians).

If Konerko and Co. played the NL all year long, they'd be a playoff lock. Once again, they dominated their interleague schedule this year. I'm not going to look it up, but I believe the number stands at twenty straight AL-NL series won. Yeah, playing the Cubs twice a year helps with that, but still.

Unfortunately it seems as though the Sox just can't be a dominant force in their own division. This makes it extremely difficult to gain ground in a playoff push. At this point, I'd almost prefer for them to play against the beastly AL East - it seems like every Red Sox/Yankees/Rays series is at least more entertaining than the beatings regularly handed out by the Twins.

I don't have any answers for this problem. But something's gotta change, and I doubt it's going to involve the Pale Hose changing leagues. Hopefully the win today is the start of something better.

PS - Pauly and Carlos Quentin in the All-Star Game. Good times!

PPS - Sox catching prospect Tyler Flowers is coming up to the majors, since backup catcher Ramon Castro broke his hand today. Hope springs eternal.

Indiana Football Recruiting

2011-06-30T09:46:00.003-05:00

Here is a quick update on Scout discussing Indiana's recruiting.

No, Gunner Kiel has not signed yet, but two of his teammates did. That could be helpful in beating out Alabama or Oklahoma for the highest ranked QB recruit. I personally think that Gunner wants to go to Indiana, but knows his talent level is too high to go there right now.

On the plus side if he comes, he can lead the team and potentially turn around the program. On the down side, he might not have any protection or people to throw the ball to which could hurt his draft stock compared to the other two power house programs. I still don't see him coming, but there's always hope.

Lastly. Indiana has started recruiting another Randle El. That's right, Antwaan's kid who plays WR.

Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn Admits to Using Steroids

2011-06-30T09:24:00.002-05:00

Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn who was a star pitcher with some control porblems for the 1989 Cleveland Indaians admitted to using steriods today.

Here is some highlight clips of Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn

Joe Posnanski Calls Adum Dunn the Most Boring Player in Baseball

2011-06-28T09:51:00.002-05:00

Intresting Article on the struggling White Sox player.

NBA Draft Quick Hits

2011-06-23T14:07:00.004-05:00

According to almost every sports pundit I've read recently, this is one of the weakest drafts since 2000. Coming, as it does, during a year with great uncertainty as to the future of the NBA (if there are lockouts in both football and basketball, I'l leaving the damn country), the Class of 2011 is entering The League under a bit of a cloud.

Well, cheer up kids. At least you're not LeBron.

Here are a couple of my thoughts on this year's NBA draft class.

1) How on earth is Kyrie Irving the consensus #1 pick? Let's go to the film, shall we?

He's slower than Derrick Rose and has a tiny fraction of the athleticism. Also, he's smaller. And he can't pass like Chris Paul. I just don't see Irving being that good in the league.

2) Derrick Williams, on the other hand, is a future All-Star. Cleveland should really be taking him #1, and I won't be surprised if/when they do. I love his game. So powerful around the rim, a good rebounder, and terrific range. He's an absolute nightmare for most of the small forwards in the NBA.

3) One of the overseas guys will succeed, and the other two-three will fail miserably. It's just statistics. Try picking which one lasts. I sure can't.

4) The above does NOT include Enes Kanter, who I think will be a viable NBA player.

5) Sleepers. I like Butler's Shelvin Mack as a tough rotation guy, and Purdue's JaJuan Johnson as a big SF a la Kevin Durant (lite, but with better defense).

6) Again, Derrick Williams is a legit baller.

He's only a year older than Kyrie, and he is about five times more NBA-ready. I'm sensing another year of buyer's regret for the teams that pass him up (Greg Oden? Sam Bowie?). He's going to come in and be better than, say, Carlos Boozer... within a year or two.

If you want to read a far better draft preview, head on over to Bill Simmons' Grantland.com (the best thing to happen to online sports journalism that I can recall) and READ THIS.

PS- Grantland.com is named after Grantland Rice. If you don't know, now ya know.

US Open Preview

2011-06-15T18:54:00.002-05:00

The US Open is this weekend in DC. Its being played at Congressional Country Club and its a Par 71. The defending champ is Graeme McDowell. Now there are going to be a few story lines that will for sure be talked about to much. First story that will probably talked about way to much is the absence of Tiger Woods. Woods will be skipping the event because of knee problems. This will be the second time Woods will miss a tournament because of his knee which makes me wonder how much golf he has left. He is four away from tying Jack Nicklaus's record but not sure if he we will get there.

The next storyline you'll hear about most likely will be about Phil Mickelson and how he will be going for his first US Open win. He could have already won this tournament before, but he decided to hit a driver on 18 out of bounds. He ended up doubling the hole and losing the tournament. Of course another story you will hear about will be about Rory Mcilroy and can he start off as well as he did at The Masters and finish that way.

Players to watch this year are the usual suspects. They are Phil, Furyk, Rory, Luke Donald, Ricky Fowler. My pick this year to win this year is Luke Donald. The current number 1 player in the world hasnt won a major yet so its interesting how he is actually number 1. I think a win here will help his cause and hes been playing pretty well.

If this Doesn't Get You to Watch the US Open, I don't Know What Will

2011-06-15T09:51:00.002-05:00

Golphers clearly have too much free time on thier hands. Atleast we know the US Ryder Cup Team has Chemistry.

Viciedo Could be Called up Soon

2011-06-14T12:21:00.003-05:00

According to this article, Kenny Williams has been really impressed with the way Dayan Viciedo has been playing in right field and he could be called up soon.

I am not exactly sure how often he would play if he got called up with Carlos playing excellent in right field. Even if they set up a rotation with the outfielders, it could still be tough for him to find regular at bats.

Plaxico Free!

2011-06-06T10:46:00.002-05:00

Those of you that know me well (wait a second, that's basically everybody that is reading this right now... never mind) know that this story has a special resonance for me.

If you've never been in jail, you lucky li'l devils you, let me compare the feelings expressed in this ESPN article to the sense of relief you get after finishing an extremely difficult semester, and it's 85 and sunny out, and you all of a sudden have all day to DRIVE AROUND IN A DAMN RANGE ROVER WITH YOUR FRIENDS YOU HAVEN'T SEEN FOR TWO YEARS. I mean, yeah, unfortunately Drew Rosenhaus is also there, but still... pretty awesome.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6630528

Look, I don't love Plaxico Burress. I think he's a great wide receiver. I don't think he'd be a good fit with the Bears. But I do think that we as fans should give this guy every opportunity to prove that he's done his time - by the way, it was an insanely unfair sentence - and is ready to return to society and redeem himself.

Plax, wherever you end up, I wish you the best.

Oh, and one other thing, bro. STAY OUT OF THE DAMN CLUB.

Trivia: Title Less NBA MVPS

2011-06-03T12:49:00.002-05:00

In the history of the NBA there are 7 NBA MVPs that never won an NBA title. After the 2011 NBA finals, there will be only 6. Name all 7.

Answers will be in the comments on Monday.

Blackhawks Division Likely To Change

2011-06-03T09:46:00.002-05:00

With the move from Atlanta to Winnipeg, it looks like the NHL divisions will look a little different starting in 2012. According to this article the three most likely teams to move East to make room for the Jets in the West are Detroit, Columbus and Nashville. This make sense as these are the three most eastern West conference teams and they all play in the Eastern Time Zone.

All three of these teams are in the Blackhawks division, so it appears change is on the horizon for them.

The Current Central Division is

Chicago
Columbus
Detroit
Nashville
St Louis

Personally, I think the following scenario makes the most sense. Winnipeg moves from the Southeast to the Northwest (to join with the 3 other Canadian teams in the Western Conference), Minnesota moves from the NW to the Central and Nashville moves from the central to the the Southeast.

Three moves that make geographic sense, and don't mess up too many teams. Saying that, I've already heard rumors that Colorado could be going to the pacific and Dallas could join the central. I hear if Detroit moves East, then the Penguins would move to the southeast. Then you start thinking of the different scenarios and your head hurts.

Bottom line is, the Central will not have the same teams in 2011-12 as they will in the 2012-13 season.

And 1

2011-05-26T22:12:00.002-05:00

In case the refs need another reason to blow the wistle on the Bulls, please call me for a "MAKE UP RANDOM FOUL, CAN'T BE ON LEBRON OR WADE" on Wade while shooting a 3.

I thought we got rid of these fixed games

This is why I stopped watching this wothless p.o.s. league.

Indiana's 2012 Class Ranked #1

2011-05-25T13:15:00.003-05:00

Considering the Class of 2011 hasn't even come into school yet, this may be a little premature. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/school/_/id/84/class/2012. But hey, it's good publicity for the University, right?

Granted, our last highly ranked class is still developing - if Christian Watford, Mo Creek, and Jordan Hulls don't make The Leap next year, it's doubtful they ever will. And that class was rated top five, easy.

I like the idea of Yogi Ferrell coming in and learning from Hulls during Jordy's senior year, and then taking the reins himself, but I still think next year with Cody Zeller is going to be very make or break for the Crean era at Indiana.

Dwight Howard A Bull?

2011-05-24T18:28:00.002-05:00

So, I was stumbling around the internet today (and no, not with stumble upon), when I found multiple references to the Bulls being one of, if not the, front runner to land Dwight Howard this offseason. Essentially, the Bulls would have to trade their first two first round picks this year, a first round pick next year, and two of either Noah, Gibson, Boozer, or Asik, and possibly either Deng or Brewer as well. A lot of the talk has been that it would have to be a package of Noah, Gibson, and Deng with the three first rounders for Howard and either Hedo Turkoglu or Gilbert Arenas. Apparently Orlando is going to want to dump one of those two huge contracts. Either way, it is very conceivable that next years starting Bulls roster looks like this:

PG: Derrick Rose

SG: Gilbert Arenas

SF: Ronnie Brewer

PF: Carlos Boozer

C: Dwight Howard

I'd prefer that if we were giving up three players that we NOT take on Arenas or Hedo, but oh well if you have to. It's a lot to give up, but the guy you are getting may actually be the overall most valuable player in the NBA.

Bulls Panic Meter is High But I Believe They Will Likely Win Tonight

2011-05-24T09:57:00.003-05:00

Why is everyone talking like the Bulls are out of this one? ESPN has already discounted the Bulls. If you ask them its already guaranteed to be a Heat-Mavs finals, even though the series is 2-1. ESPN has determined that the Bulls just can't keep pace with the Heat. I don't buy it. The simple fact to me is that the Bulls have played two very BAD games.

The Bulls have shot a combined 37% in the last two games and still have been right in the games until the very end, despite the Heat shooting around 49% in those very same games. In game 2, the Bulls shot 34%! Had they shot a measly 42% they would have won that game!

WHEN the Bulls start shooting around 44% they will win. And you can run around and say the Bulls are shooting that bad because of the Heat defense, but that's not true. The Heat's D is good, but not that good. The Bulls will more than likely revert back to the norm, just as the Heat will too. Don't be surprised if the Bulls win the next two.

And to go back to ESPN for a moment, does anyone else hate Michael Wilbon aside from me? He tries to act like he's a Chicago fan but he is just some guy who USED to be from the area and has lost any all connections with it, including the sports teams.

Anyways, my predictions for the games:

Game 4: Bulls win 96-86

Game 5: Bulls win 91-84

Game 6: Heat win 101-98 OT

Game 7: Bulls win 94-92

Series: Bulls win 4-3.

Carlos Boozer: Rapper, Baller, Entrepreneur

2011-05-20T12:36:00.003-05:00

I can't even comment any further on that.

It's Carlos Boozer and Twista, feat. Mario Winans, on "Winning Streak."

First time this played at the UC, it resulted in the end of the Bulls' playoff winning streak. Coincidence? I hope so.

http://blogs.thescore.com/tbj/2011/05/19/finally-carlos-boozer-rocks-the-mic/

Gus Johnson Joins Fox, Leaves CBS

2011-05-11T12:08:00.002-05:00

According to this SI Article, Gus Johnson will be leaving CBS to Join FOX's broadcast team. This is terrible news because Gus will no longer be going crazy during March Madness.

Rooting for the Red Wings?

2011-05-11T08:26:00.004-05:00

First let me just say that I am a Blackhawks fan and hate the Red Wings, however I find myself cheering for them to advance. There is a good reason for it so hear me out. The only reason I am cheering for Detroit is because I believe that they have a better chance to beat the Canucks in the Western Conference Finals and I despise the Vancouver Canucks. If you haven't heard the Red Wings have fought their way back from being down 3-0 against the Sharks to tie the series 3-3. This is part of the reason why I don't think the Sharks could beat Vancouver.

The Sharks have shown us from past seasons that they are a great regular season team and a terrible playoff team. They are Washington Capitals of the Western Conference pretty much. As Noffke stated in our intense Business Lunch, if the Sharks advance to the Western Conference Finals it will be a match of which team freaks out first (Lets face it the Cancuks faced a Nashville team that has no offensive weapons so they had nothing to fear in that one). On that note I have to give credit where credit is due, the Canucks are a very good hockey team. A hockey team that freaks out just as easily as the Sharks but can beat them as well.

The Red Wings have solid veterans on the team that have the playoff experience that will benefit them is this Game 7 and possibly beyond. The majority of the roster is over the age of 30 but they are still solid players that could match up well against the Canucks. So is it wrong for me to cheer for the Red Wings because I think they have a better chance to beat the Canucks? Don't get me wrong if they make it to the Stanley Cup Finals I hope they get swept but I want them to beat the Canucks in the process. Thoughts?

Noah and Mutombo

2011-05-08T13:31:00.004-05:00

Nice article on espn.com/chicago by Jon Greenberg, who has been doing great features on the Bulls all year.

Joakim Noah a unique player, person

And of course, any mention of Dikembe Mutombo means we have got to watch some hilarious Mutombo clips.

New "This is Sportscenter Commercial"

2011-05-05T13:02:00.001-05:00

Bears Draft Pick Highlights

2011-05-01T13:21:00.004-05:00

Hooray, it's Lineman Highlights? From chicagobears.com... I hope these load paused and don't start automatically. (Post note: Woo hoo! Apparently I do know a little HTML!)

Stephen Paea (DT, Oregon State, Defensive MVP of the Pac-12 last year)

Gabe Carimi (The Jewish Hammer, Wisconsin OL, Outland Trophy winner last year) - combine video.

Minnesota Vikings: The Place QBs go to Die?

2011-04-29T15:35:00.001-05:00

Last night the Minnesota Vikings made one of the more surprising picks of the Draft when they selected QB Chris Ponder #12 overall. Unless the Donavon McNabb rumors come true, this shows they are ready to move in a new direction for QB, and not just this season, but from the past 25 years.

The past 25 years, the primary way Minnesota has found it’s starting quarterback is by finding a player who is past their prime and hope he can resurrect his career. As much as division rival Chicago is mocked for its inability to find a quarterback, the Vikings have had just as many problems finding some to replace Fran Tarkenton (3 Supersbowls, 9 Pro Bowls, 1975 MVP, Primary starting QB from 1961-1978 with a 4 year hitatus play for the Giants).

Here’s a look back at the primary starting quarterbacks who have been used for Minnesota the past 25 years starting with the most recent.

2009-2010: Bret Favre

Age 40 when he started playing for the Vikings and had already been in football for 18 seasons. Won a Super Bowl in Green Bay and played in another one. Was able to lead team to 2009 NFC Championship game before getting hurt his second year.

2008: Gus Frerotte

Age 38 when he started playing for the Vikings, had been in the NFL for 14 seasons and had primarily been a back up for the past 8 seasons for Denver, Cincinnati, Miami, St Louis and Minnesota. Went to a Pro Bowl as a member of the Washington Redskins. He Led Vikings to 8-3 record before getting hurt.

2007: Tavaris Jackson

Tavaris was drafted by the Vikings with the last pick of the 2nd round the previous year. He drafted to be the Quaterback of the future, but never panned out.

2005-2006: Brad Johnson

Age 37 when he started playing for the Vikings again and had been in the NFL for 13 seasons. Won a Super Bowl in Tampa and went to 2 Pro Bowls with Tampa and Washington. Went 7-2 in 2005 missing the playoffs by 1 game. Midway through the 2006 season, he had already set an NFL record for passes completed short of a first down on third down in a season.

2001-2005: Daunte Culpepper

Culpepper is the one success story for the Vikings. They drafted him 11th in 1999 and by 2001 he was starting. He was a 3 time pro-bolwer and graced the cover of Madden 2002. His stint with the Vikings didn’t end well with the boat cruise dilemma

1999: Jeff George

Age 32 when he started playing for the Vikings and this was already his 4th team in 9 Season. He was the 1st overall pick in 1990 and had medicore success with each of his first three stops Indy, Atlanta and Oakland. In 10 games as a starter went 8-2 and put up excellent numbers (23 touchdowns, 8.6 yards per attempt, a 94.2 rating) in leading Minnesota to the playoffs and a round 1 victory of the Giants. After the season, Minnesota did not resign him

1997-1999: Randall Cunningham

Age 35 when he started play for the Vikings and coming off 1 full season of retirement. Was a three time pro-bowler with Philadelphia. In 1997 he came in to replace Brad Johnson and led the Vikings to the 2nd round of the playoffs. In 1998 he guided the Vikings to a 15–1 regular season record with 34 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions and took them to the NFC title game where the heavily favored Vikings were upset in Overtime by the Atlanta Falcons. After playing 6 games in 1999 he was benched due to poor performance

1996-1998: Brad Johnson

Johnson was taken in the 9th round in the 1992 draft and was primarily used as a back-up. He started only limited time in 1996 and had injury shortened 1997 and 1998 seasons.

1994-1996: Warren Moon

Age 38 when he started playing for the Vikings and had already been in football for 15 seasons. He was a 5 time Grey Cup Champions (CFL Title) 6 time pro bowl QB for Houston. Moon passed for 4,200+ yard in his first two seasons, but was injured and not resigned in 1996.

1993: Jim McMahon

Age 32 when he started playing for the Vikings and had already been in football for 11 seasons. He had won a Super Bowl with Chicago and went to one pro-bowl. He then bounced around 2 more teams before landing on the Vikings in 1993 and led them to the playoffs before being replaced by Warren Moon

1990-1992: Rich Gannon
1986-1989: Wade Wilson

Both of these two quarterbacks were late round draft picks that didn’t have much potential. They both had some success but were unable to sustain it for the Vikings

So that’s the past 25 years of quarterbacks for the Vikings. Four draft picks that didn’t pan out (3 of which were taken past the 4th round (4, 8 and 9) and were never expected to be good) 7 quarterbacks who were past their prime but were able to have one last good season for the Vikings and Daunte Culpepper.

So now we can ask the question, what does this all mean? Well as you can see, the Vikings did have some success with their old QBs, but none of them could sustain it for more than 3 seasons. They have been competitive using the model so why not look to sign Donvan McNabb for a year or two? It’s worked before and it can work again.

The only time they used a high overall pick on a QB (Culpepper), they had him sit on the bench for two years behind past their prime quarterbacks. After the two Years Culpepper thrived in the system and gave the Vikings their longest run of consistent quarterback play in a decade. The other quarterbacks they drafted were late round picks and never had much hope that they’d become the franchise quarterback even though they did spend time behind past their prime quarterbacks.

So is Minnesota the place QBs go to die? If they sign McNabb I think we can agree it is, but if you can get 1 more run out of them, that might not be a bad thing.

Peter King Explains Bears and Ravens Non-Trade

2011-04-29T10:44:00.001-05:00

Peter King led off his article today discussing the Bears and Ravens trade that didn't happen.

Chicago, picking 29th, and Baltimore, at 26, finalized a trade that would have had them switch slots, with the Ravens getting the Bears' fourth-round pick in return. Chicago would take Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi, and the Ravens, if Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith was still on the board, would take Smith at 29. With two minutes left in the Ravens' period, the deal was done.

Under NFL rules, each team has to report the trade to NFL draft headquarters at Radio City Music Hall. The Ravens called it in. They assumed Chicago called it in, but due to a miscommunication in the Bears' draft room, no one from Chicago ever called the league. As the clock ticked down to zero, and with Chicago on the phone with Carimi to tell him he was going to be their pick, Baltimore noticed no one at the league had announced the trade and Chicago's pick of Carimi. Meanwhile, Kansas City, with the 27th pick, rushed its card to the desk at Radio City, taking Pittsburgh wideout Jonathan Baldwin.

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome, on an open line to New York, demanded to know why the trade hadn't gone through. Chicago never called to confirm it, Newsome was told. Baltimore was infuriated. The league didn't allow the trade. The Ravens picked Smith at 27 (not 26; Kansas City was awarded the 26th pick and took Baldwin, because the Chiefs got the pick in before the Ravens did), and the Bears got lucky, getting Carimi at 29.

"Whatever you hear, Baltimore did everything the right way," Bears GM Jerry Angelo told Chicago media. "There were a lot of things happening in the draft room. We were getting a lot of calls, we just ... dropped the ball. I dropped the ball. I can't say anything more than that."

All's well that ends well, you say? Not so fast. Angelo called Baltimore owner Steve Bisciotti to apologize, but Bisciotti wanted the fourth-round pick anyway, claiming it was part of the deal they'd agreed to. In fact, I'm told Bisciotti today will push to get the fourth-round pick, or to make the situation right in some way.

The league is under no obligation to do so, because the trade was never official. And maybe all's fair in love and draft-night trades, but as far as Baltimore's concerned, I don't think this one's over. I think the Ravens will ask the league to award them some compensation from Chicago before the draft resumes at 6 p.m. Eastern today. Stay tuned.

Noffke’s NFL Draft Round 1 Recap

2011-04-29T09:01:00.003-05:00

Before I dive too much into this I first have to state I really don’t like instant analysis on the draft. Really we should wait a year or two to analysis who had a good draft. Too often I hear, “You know who had a good draft? The Patriots! They got good players, and filled some needs.” Well yeah, when a team has 6 picks in the top 90 I hope they have a good draft. So I don’t want to hear any of that crap. I am just going to go through some quick thoughts.

Cam Newton being the #1 pick: I think he could be good, but I don’t trust him. He was a 1 year wonder, and he has a very checkered past. He got in trouble while at Florida or he never would have left, then he “shopped” around for a new team to play for, but didn’t know about it. Great. I just heard Mike Lombardi from the NFL network say, “With one year guys, you don’t look forward, you look backwards. You look at what reasons made the guy a 1 year wonder.” I think that’s the case here, let’s see why he wasn’t better longer.

Also, TMQ brought up an interesting point. Look at BCS winning quarterbacks in the pros? Here’s a list of the 12 BCS winning QBs who have played in the NFL.

1. Tee Martin – Tennessee: Never did anything in the pros
2. Chris Wienke – Florida State: Never did anything in the pros
3. Josh Huepel – Oklahoma: Never did anything in the pros
4. Ken Doresy – Miami: Never did anything in the pros
5. Craig Krenzel – Ohio State: Started a few games for the Bears
6. Matt Mauk – LSU: Never did anything in the pros
7. Carson Palmer – USC: Good NFL Career with multiple pro bowls.
8. Vince Young – Texas: Started off promising, but didn’t sustain his level of play
9. Matt Lienart – USC: Never did anything in the pros
10. Chris Leak – Florida: Never did anything in the pros
11. Matt Flynn - LSU: Never did anything in the pros
12. Tim Tebow – Florida: Won two games as a rookie in limited action.

We’ll let Tebow be TBD and not count him. So 1.5 out of 11. Not a high success rate. These guys had great players around them which helped them thrive. Brees carried Purdue around for 3 years. Tennessee was good, not great when Peyton was there. Brady had great players around him at Michigan, but had to constantly fight with Drew Hensen for a starting job. These players learned how to play in tough situations which made them better. So needless to say, I’m penciling in Newton as a mediocre, but never great player.

While we are in Auburn, let’s talk about Nick Fairly to Detroit. Instantly everyone is excited to see Fairly play with Suh. I don’t think Fairly is anywhere near as good as Suh, and I am not convinced he’s going to be a good player in the NFL. He’s a one year player, and let’s take Lombardi’s advice and look back. He had to go to Jr College for 2 years before he could get into to Auburn cause he didn’t have the grades (think about that). He plays very high and tries to avoid contact, neither of which you want to see out of an interior lineman. If he plays high, the O-line will beat him up which could lead to injuries. He has to engage a player (or two) and then beat them to help the linebackers stay clean and flow to the football. He has a questionable work ethic, and we know how that turns out right after you pay that type of player a lot of money. I am predicting a very short NFL career for Mr. Fairly.

The Cardinals were smart, there was an obvious need for this team at QB in a very winnable division. However, they saw this draft had quarterback depth and didn’t value any of the top guys as high, so they took the best player in the draft in Patrick Petersen. I think Petersen is going to be a star, and playing inside can only help him utilize his speed. I see them grabbing Dalton or Mallet with their 2nd round pick.

The more amusing parts of the night came when the Falcons traded a whole bunch to get Julio Jones. Way to hold the Jersey the right way buddy. I can’t understand trading that much to get a WR. WR are a benefit, not a need. A smart d coordinator can eliminate a WR’s impact on the game easier then any other position. Unless they feel this guy is going to be a Randy Moss like talent (he’s not) or a Jerry Rice like work ethic (he won’t’) then I can’t see him making a big enough impact to warrant trading as much as they did. As ACSS draft expert Ryan Parrent pointed out, the Bears traded less for Jay Cutler, a proven NFL player. I don’t get it.

The dumbest part of the night came when the Vikings selected Chris Ponder with the 12th pick. I thought I had blacked out for 24 hours and it was the 12th pick of the 2nd round. I was just dumbfounded by this pick. I saw him play live against a very sub-par Boston College team, and I was not impressed. He doesn’t have the arm strength necessary to throw the 15-20 yards out which are necessary for playing in the NFL. He also has not proven to be durable, missing time in his final two years at FSU. While I am glad the Vikings took him, so they can waste 3-4 year figuring out he’s not that good, I don’t understand the pick.

Finally to the Bears. I think the trade they were trying to get through with Baltimore was to get Smith from Colorado, I don’t see any other reason why they’d try to move to that spot. Taking Camri at 29 is a good choice. He’s a solid offensive lineman who can play either tackle or either guard. I think they are going to try to get him to start at LT, but if he can’t beat out Williams or Omieyle then they can play him somewhere else until he gets the confidence and the ability to make that spots his a year or two down the line.

Looking at the Bears line I see positives and negatives now. The positives are we have 3 guys who can play both guards and both tackle spots (Omieyle, Williams and Camari) along with Garza who can play either guard, Webb who proved he can at least hold his own for a full 16 game season, and one last run for Kruetz (still think the Bears should get an interior lineman 4th or 5th round to be his eventual replacement). So the Bears will have depth and flexibility on the line that will give Mike Tice the ability to find the best fit for the team. The problem with all this flexibility is there are no players who own the position. Knowing from day 1 where they are going to play and building together from there. I think if Tice gets these guys in defined roles early in Camp (if there is one) it will be better for the team as a whole.

My Three Round Mock Draft

2011-04-27T19:32:00.001-05:00

Okay, this is it. The NFL draft is on Thursday. So, I am going to post my final NFL Mock Draft. It will be three rounds. I will not predict any trades. At the end I will predict trades for the Bears (if there are any) and how they will wind up with their ALL of their picks.

ROUND ONE:

1. Carolina Panthers - Cam Newton QB

2. Denver Broncos - Marcel Dareus DT

3. Buffalo Bills - Von Miller DE/OLB

4. Cincinnati Bengals - AJ Green WR

5. Arizona Cardinals - Patrick Peterson CB

6. Cleveland Browns - Julio Jones WR

7. San Francisco 49ers - Robert Quinn DE

8. Tennessee Titans - Nick Fairley DT

9. Dallas Cowboys - Prince Amukamara CB

10. Washington Redskins - Jake Locker QB

11. Houston Texans - JJ Watt DE/DT

12. Minnesota Vikings - Aldon Smith DE/OLB

13. Detroit Lions - Tyron Smith OT

14. St. Louis Rams - Correy Liuget DT

15. Miami Dolphins - Blaine Gabbert QB

16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Cameron Jordan DE

17. New England Patriots - Anthony Costanzo OT

18. San Diego Chargers - Da'Quan Bowers DE

19. New York Giants - Gabe Carimi OT

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ryan Kerrigan DE

21. Kansas City Chiefs - Nate Solder OT

22. Indianapolis Colts - Mike Pouncey OG/C

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Derek Sherrod OT

24. New Orleans Saints - Muhammad Wilkerson DE/DT

25. Seattle Seahawks - Jimmy Smith CB

26. Baltimore Ravens - Cameron Heyward DE/DT

27. Atlanta Falcons - Brooks Reed DE

28. New England Patriots - Akeem Ayers OLB

29. Chicago Bears - Benjamin Ijalana OT/OG

30. New York Jets - Marvin Austin DT

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Phil Taylor NT

32. Greenbay Packers - Mark Ingram RB

ROUND 2:

33. New England Patriots - Mikel LeShoure RB

34. Buffalo Bills - Christian Ponder QB

35. Cincinnati Bengals - Andy Dalton QB

36. Denver Broncos - Aaron Williams CB/S

37. Cleveland Browns - Adrian Clayborne DE

38. Arizona Cardinals - Rahim Moore FS

39. Tennessee Titans - Ryan Mallett QB

40. Dallas Cowboys - Jabal Sheard DE/OLB

41. Washington Redskins - Randall Cobb WR/KR

42. Houston Texans - Brandon Harris CB

43. Minnesota Vikings - Colin Kaepernick QB

44. Detroit Lions - Ras-I Dowling CB

45. San Francisco 49ers - Torrey Smith WR

46. Denver Broncos - Ryan Williams RB

47. St. Louis Rams - Titus Young WR

48. Oakland Raiders - Stefan Wisniewski OG/C

49. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Hankerson WR

50. San Diego Chargers - Martez Wilson LB

51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Danny Watkins OG

52. New York Giants - Stephen Paea DT

53. Indianapolis Colts - James Carpenter OT

54. Philadelphia Eagles - Allen Bailey DE

55. Kansas City Chiefs - Jonathan Baldwin WR

56. New Orleans Saints - Kyle Rudolph TE

57. Seattle Seahawks - Orlando Franklin OG/T

58. Baltimore Ravens - Davon House CB

59. Atlanta Falcons - Jerrel Jernigan WR

60. New England Patriots - Rodney Hudson OG/C

61. San Diego Chargers - Edmund Gates WR

62. Chicago Bears - Jurrell Casey DT

63. Pittsburgh Steelers - Will Rackley OT/G

64. Green Bay Packers - Sam Acho DE/OLB

ROUND 3:

65. Carolina Panthers - Jaiquawan Jarrett S

66. Cincinnati Bengals - Quan Sturdivant LB

67. Denver Broncos - Jarvis Jenkins DE/OLB

68. Buffalo Bills - Christian Ballard DE/DT

69. Arizona Cardinals - Johnny Patrick CB

70. Cleveland Browns - Tandon Doss WR

71. Dallas Cowboys - James Brewer OT

72. New Orleans Saints - Daniel Thomas RB

73. Houston Texans - Curtis Brown CB

74. New England Patriots - Greg Salas WR

75. Detroit Lions - Marcus Gilbert OT

76. San Francisco 49ers - Shareece Wright CB

77. Tennessee Titans - Justin Houston OLB/DE

78. St. Louis Rams - Jason Pinkston OT/G

79. Miami Dolphins - Taiwan Jones RB

80. Jacksonville Jaguars - Ricky Stanzi QB

81. Oakland Raiders - Jalil Brown CB

82. San Diego Chargers - Kendall Hunter RB

83. New York Giants - Clint Boling G

84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Luke Stocker TE

85. Philadelphia Eagles - Marcus Gilchrist CB/S

86. Kansas City Chiefs - Kenrick Ellis NT

87. Indianapolis Colts - Drake Nevis DT

88. New Orleans Saints - Chimdi Chekwa CB

89. San Diego Chargers - Terrell McClain DT

90. Baltimore Ravens - Austin Pettis WR

91. Atlanta Falcons - Jordan Cameron TE

92. New England Patriots - Bruce Carter OLB

93. Chicago Bears - Greg Little WR

94. New York Jets - Casey Matthews ILB

95. Pittsburgh Steelers - Joseph Barskdale OT

96. Green Bay Packers - Lee Ziemba OT/G

97. Carolina Panthers - Dontay Moch DE/OLB

There you go. Now, what do I realistically think will happen with the Bears? I think they'll trade down. I think you'll see teams who want MARK INGRAM and/or QB's looking to trade to the top part of the first round. I think the Jaguars will trade up to take our pick. They'll trade us their second and third rounders (49 and 80) and we'll swap picks 114 for 127. That puts the trade value within about 15ish. So we'll get picks 49, 80, and 127 for picks 29 and 114. Keep in mind the draft is not the same as the mock draft above since there will actually be trades.

MY ACTUAL PREDICTION FOR THE BEARS PICKS:

40 - Jonathan Baldwin WR

62 - Jurrell Casey DT

80 - Clint Boling OG

93 - Chimdi Chekwa CB

114 - Joseph Barksdale OT

160 - Jake Kirkpatrick C

195 - T.J. Yates QB

So there you have it! My three round mock draft, and my picks for the Bears draft. LETS GO BEARS!

Ozzie on E:60

2011-04-27T09:46:00.000-05:00

Speaks for Itself

2011-04-27T01:39:00.001-05:00

(Credit to cnnsi.com)

(I love this picture)

Tressel a Goner?

2011-04-25T16:33:00.001-05:00

Pat Forde thinks so.

"The only bigger coach than Tressel in Ohio State history was Woody Hayes, winner of AP national championships in 1954 and '68 and the all-time leader in Big Ten conference victories with 152. Yet when Hayes shamed the university by punching Clemson's Charlie Bauman in the 1978 Gator Bowl, igniting a bench-clearing brawl, the school fired him the next day.

If Ohio State could fire its greatest football icon, it can fire Tressel."

Hawks Puck Mystery

2011-04-21T13:01:00.004-05:00

I definitely woke up this morning thinking ESPN.com was swearing at me - the giant headline saying "WHERE IS THE PUCK?" was a bit, well, confusing.

However, after all my confusion, it looks like Outside the Lines has finally ventured outside of the realm of cheesy stories about disabled high school athletes doing meth or whatever and is actually doing something semi-cool, since this story is all about Patrick Kane's Stanley Cup-winning hockey puck and its mysterious disappearance.

In other news, I'm heading to Conseco Fieldhouse tonight to watch the Bulls take on the Pacers in Game 3 of what has been, so far, a highly entertaining series. It'll be strange not being at Yogi's for a game, but hey, it's the NBA! Love it Live, right? I'm thinking the place will be about 70 percent Pacers fans, 30 percent Bulls fans. Looking forward to some serious MVP chants.

Cubs Throw 1918 World Series

2011-04-20T16:38:00.001-05:00

Well, looks like the Black Sox weren't the only dirty team in Chicago.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6396358

This Day in Sports (Jordan Scores 63)

2011-04-20T11:46:00.000-05:00

Bears 2011 Schedule

2011-04-20T09:54:00.001-05:00

As I am sure some of you are aware, the NFL just announced its 2011 schedule (assuming there is a season). I have pulled up the Bears Schedule and am going to do a quick breakdown Lovie Smith style, breaking the season into quarters

1. Falcons, @Saints, Packers, Panthers

Wow, talk about getting the NFC south out of the way. Three of the first four games are against the NFC south including both home games. This is a bummer as the Bears can’t take advantage of Warm weather teams come up North in the Winter. I am glad the Falcons are coming to Chicago though, the Georgia dome has become a house of horrors for the Bears. I see the Bears beating the Panthers, and winning at least 1 of the other 3. I could see them winning more, but to be conservative

Bears Record 2-2

2. @Lions (MNF), Vikings (SNF), @Bucs (In London), Bye, @ Eagles (MNF)

Interesting stretch here for the Bears with 4 high profile games. The Bucs make their 2nd trip to London to play while for the second straight year the Bears will play internationally (Maybe next year they can play Arizona in Mexico City and keep it going). Luckily, the Bucs are the team that are losing the home game and not the Bears. After the London trip, the Bears have 15 days off with the bye week and then MNF, so hopefully they will be fully over the jetlag. Also, it’s another year the Bears are playing the Eagles in a primetime game, that seems to happen every year. I see the Bears beating the Lions and Vikings, then splitting the Bucs and Eagles.

Bears Record 3-1

3. Lions, Chargers, @Raiders, Chiefs

The Lions then a run of the 4 AFC west teams seems odd to me. Why would the NFL schedule all the AFC games back to back? Even with all 4 teams improving (maybe not the Chiefs) I still see the Bears sweeping this part of the season, at worst dropping 1.

Bears Record 3-1

4. @Broncos, Seahawks, @ Packers (SNF *subject to change), @Vikings

The end of the season is a little rough with 3 of 4 on the road and playing in 3 of the most difficult stadiums. Luckily the Bears don’t have to make the trip to the great Northwest with the Seahawks coming to town. The Broncos game will get more attention if Captain NeckBeard is playing, but most likely the Bears will have to stop Tebowmainia? I have a feeling the Bears will lose 2 of the road games even though they should probably only lose 1.

Bears Record 2-2

Overall Record: 10-6
NFC Central: 2nd Place
NFC Playoffs: 5th Seed

With the 5th seed the Bears will defeat the NFC West Champion Rams and after that, who knows what happens.

If the season happens, it should be a fun one for the Bears. A trip to London and San Diego, I don’t think you can get any further apart?

From the Big Ten Blog: Iowa drop motivates IU's Damarlo Belcher

2011-04-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

From the Big Ten Blog
After the 2010 season wrapped up, Damarlo Belcher had Indiana's video staff compile cutups of all his catches and drops from the previous 12 games.

The catches far outnumbered the drops. Belcher had 78 receptions last fall, tops among Big Ten players. He ranked 19th nationally in receptions per game (6.5) and finished fourth in the league in receiving yards per game (69.3 rpg). The 6-foot-5, 214-pound Belcher emerged as the most consistent pass-catcher on the league's top passing offense.

[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Darron Cummings
Damarlo Belcher led the Big Ten in receptions last fall, but is motivated by his drop against Iowa.Belcher reviewed every play, but he spent more time on the drops. Specifically, he watched The Drop.

Indiana fans don't need further explanation. Anyone who watched the end of the Hoosiers' Nov. 6 game against then-No. 15 Iowa understands.

After Iowa scored a late touchdown to take an 18-13 lead, Indiana responded with a drive to the Hawkeyes' 18-yard line. After three incompletions, quarterback Ben Chappell lofted a pass to the end zone on fourth-and-10. Belcher leaped above the defenders to grab it for the game-winner.

But the ball bounced off of his hands. Iowa ran out the clock, and another chance for Indiana to turn a corner had disappeared.

Belcher hasn't forgotten what happened that day.

“I can't," he said. "But it won't happen again, I'll tell you that. That’s the one I watch the most."

Belcher felt understandably sick after the drop, but his coaches and teammates rallied around him. Indiana's leadership council unanimously voted him a game captain the next week against Wisconsin.

Belcher finished the season with an eight-catch, 83-yard performance as Indiana knocked off Purdue in overtime to reclaim the Old Oaken Bucket. But Indiana fell a win shy of bowl eligibility, and the school fired coach Bill Lynch the day after the Bucket game.

The Drop has lingered in Belcher's mind throughout the winter and spring.

"I think about it every day," he said. "Whenever I'm in the weight room or out at practice, I think about it. It gives me an extra effort or motivation to just go hard."

Belcher will be Indiana's clear-cut No. 1 receiver this fall after teammate Tandon Doss declared early for the NFL draft. Belcher also considered bolting after the coaching change.

Indiana's hiring of offensive guru Kevin Wilson helped keep Belcher in Bloomington.

"That was a big part of the reason why I stayed," Belcher said. "Coming from where he came from, I couldn't do anything but stay."

Wilson has talked to Belcher about former Oklahoma star tight end Jermaine Gresham and other standout pass-catchers he coached in Norman. Belcher has responded well to the new staff this spring.

"He's the oldest guy in the group, the most experienced, and he's been great to work with," co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach Kevin Johns said. "For someone who led the Big Ten in receptions, who made All-Big Ten recognition, he's very hungry to learn. He comes into meetings with wide eyes, not a guy who feels, 'I already know everything.'"

Belcher's hunger stems in part from the drop against Iowa. He can't wait for the season and a chance for redemption.

"If it can be close, man, I want it, I want the ball in my hands," he said. "That's how much it affected me. Whenever it's crunch time, I'll be ready."

Hawks vs Canucks

2011-04-15T10:06:00.004-05:00

So I was browsing the Web and came across this video supporting the Canucks.

While it's a kind of clever video. It did get me pumped for tonight's game (sadly still to far away). I do think we are going to win the series still, the Hawks have lost Game 1 the past two years. To make myself more pumped I started watching more clips

Goal Horn

Last Years Anthem vs Canucks

Best Anthem Ever (All-Star Game while USA was at war in Iraq in the Old Stadium)

CBC Remebers the 2010 Stanley Cup

To Beat Nashville in Game 5

Playoff Trivia: Bulls and Blackhawks

2011-04-15T10:02:00.002-05:00

What is the only year in history of Chicago did both the Bulls and Blackhawks make it to the Finals?

Why Not?

2011-04-13T13:08:00.000-05:00

I'm so damn happy with this Bulls team.

The Masters: A Tradition Unlike Any Other

2011-04-06T20:54:00.006-05:00

Its that time of year again where I contribute something to this blog. The Masters is upon us and I'm estatic. This is my favorite major out of the four. There is so much tradition that goes with this tournament and so many great golf moments come The Masters. It is a goal of mine to one day go to Augusta National, I would like to play but that would never happen sadly.

Last years champion, Phil Mickelson, looks to repeat his performance from last year. Ill never forget last year when he went 7 under (I think thats right, I cant remember and I dont feel like looking it up) through three holes. He had that unbelievable shot where he was in the trees and he knocked to about 3 feet. Pretty sure it made Sportscenters top ten list, however probably wasnt able to beat some lame ass dunk. It became an instant classic Masters moment and gave Phil the momentum that carried him through the rest of the weekend towards the victory.

This year im not so sure if he can repeat and for really one reason, and that is because he is Phil Mickelson and you cant really predict what he is going to do. As I write this the St. Louis Blues just tied the Hawks 3-3 in the 3rd and makes me miss how awesome last summer was with the Hawks winning it all (It was a crappy goal and I let Duncan Keith know how I felt about his effort on that play). Back to The Masters, this year should be a good one though. Tiger will be going for another major win getting closer to the all-time record, however I dont think he will win. I dont think he is back to his old form and I havent seen anything that makes me think otherwise.

I would like to see Ricky Fowler do well just because he is young and will win a couple majors in his career, so why not start with this one. I'm also interested in watching Rory McIlroy. He is another youngen that has a bright future in the PGA. Plus his name sounds like Roy Mcavoy from the movie Tin Cup which is a good movie.

My pick to win this year is Bubba Watson. I think he has played well this year so far and because it seems like a good pick. Also look for Mark Wilson to do well. He is the current money leader and FedEx Cup Points leader. He is having a good year and could carry the momentum he has gained into this tournament. Alright thats it from me, hope you enjoy tournament.

Am I The Only One Who Thinks Erin Andrews Is Not That Hot?

2011-04-05T08:10:00.002-05:00

I keep seeing those stupid Mountain Dew commercials and I cannot get over how Big Erin Andrews' nose is. It makes her look like a troll. I don't think she is ugly, but I don't think she is hot. I don't get why everyone thinks she is. Perhaps I am the only one, but I think she is incredibly overrated. I mean her head is too large, and her nose is a mountain on her face. I don't know, I really don't get it. What does everyone else think?

Playoffs: A closer inspection

2011-04-04T11:38:00.003-05:00

I know what you must be thinking: Holy crap two articles in a row from Dan.

So recently, (about when the final four was determined) I heard somebody on CBS make the assertion that the tournament was not the best forum for determining a national champion. This struck me as absurd, however I then thought about every league and their playoff systems to see where improvements could possibly be made. Here is what I came up with. In advance I look forward to the feedback that this will receive.

NCAA Basketball

With the tournament just recently expanded, and VCU taking full advantage of this new system, the current format doesn't seem to need any adjustments. However, lets for the sake of argument lets assume there is a holy grail playoff to be attained. What would it be. To me there is only one playoff system better than the current format: World Cup format. In my new scenario the underdogs all have a chance to advance in a round robin first round. This gives even more chances for upsets to occur, and would eliminate fluke losses due to cold shooting as quality teams would still win 2/3 assuming they had a bad night. After these round robin games the stage would be set for the sweet 16 to advance from the round robin rounds. From there the tournament would play out as usual, just like the world cup.

NCAA Football

I am a huge hater of the current BCS system. I think that a simple 8 team playoff would be the best solution. Throught last season on my radio show we routinely compared what an 8 team tournament versus a 16 team tournament would look like and a majority of the time the first round was a waste of time in the 16 team format. However, the 8 game format posed some exciting firts round match-ups. This system would also add a few games to the BCS games which would result in better games for veiwers to watch and more profits for the bowls. Win-Win.

Baseball

I have always been a tad uncomfortable sending only 4 teams to the playoffs from each league. That being said My new system only adds two teams per side in an NFL format. In the new format, the three division winners get a spot and then the next three best records also get a spot. The top two records overall get first round byes. At first this seemed unfair as it sets up the first round bye teams rotations very well. However to combat this the opening rounds will be shortened. The first round will be best of 3, the second round best of 5, the championship series will be best of 7 and the world series will be best of 9. This seems excessive, however I think its time the game adapts to its players again. In the past in order to give batters a chance the lowered the mound. I feel that in recent world series it has been a race to see if you can get your ace and your #2 to pitch games 4 and 5 and wrap it up as fast as you can. In a 9 game series this would allow your whole rotation to compete and also take your bullpen into account. I think that with actual managerial decisions to make the world series would be way more interesting.

Hockey/Basketball

Unlike baseball I feel there are too many teams in each of these playoff scenarios. Realistically an 8 will hardly ever beat a one but on occasion it happens. Therefore I am willing to leave these playoff systems alone but put them on notice that they are subject to change.

As I stated earlier I think all of the proposed changes would make the games more interesting to watch while further testing the teams to determine a "truer" champion.

Baseball Time

2011-03-30T19:50:00.003-05:00

I am too lazy to come up with my own format, so here is my take on how this season will shake out in baseball.

NL.

Cy Young: Tim Lincecum
MVP: Joey Votto

NL East: Braves
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Giants
NL Wild Card: Reds

NL Pennant: Reds

Unlike my Noffke counterpart, I think the Phillies are extremely overrated and although they have the pitching, I heard on ESPN that the Phillies scored less than 3 runs in 73 of their games last year and losing Werth means having to win games 1-0. I really like the Brewers lineup top to bottom this year and with Prince's contract situation I expect great things this year. The Giants and Rockies could be interchangeable in the west and it will come down to who goes on a winning streak down the stretch. I will however take the Giants.

AL

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia
MVP: Carl Crawford

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Twins
AL West: Rangers
AL Wild Card: Yankees

AL Pennant: Red Sox

As a Yankees fan it really hurts to have the Red Sox win the pennant, but they are STACKED! That being said the Yankees will win enough games this year to mae the wildcard. No real competition in the west making the Ranges pick easy and then there was the central... The tigers and sox have greatly improved, but much like the brewers I like their lineup way to much not to pick them. Their only drawback is that they will have to score 6 runs a game to win. I really like the sox rotation but I'm not sure if it will hold up down the stretch.

World Series Title: Boston

Too. Much. Talent.
Pending a team killing plane crash or a curse that hurts their entire rotation there is no way that the Red Sox will not roll through the playoffs. As previously stated I hate picking them but I cant foresee an alternate ending.

Brand New One Month Away Mock Draft

2011-03-29T14:50:00.002-05:00

Alright, we've had the combine, the senior bowl, and most of the pro days. Now, all that is left, is the really the draft, which happens in one month. So, here I go, taking my second to last shot at the draft (I will post my last mock draft in the comments of Steve and Fodor's annual mock draft). So, I will begin:

1. Carolina Panthers - Blaine Gabbert QB

I see the Panthers making a costly, costly mistake and drafting a Bust of QB with their first overall pick. Shoulda gone with...

2. Denver Broncos - Patrick Peterson CB

Easily the best player in the draft IMO. The guy has the size of a safety and the speed of a corner. Not to mention he played man-to-man coverage through out most of his college career. This guy is the sure fire pick of the draft.

3. Buffalo Bills - AJ Green WR

The Bills cannot afford to take a risk on Cam Newton since they have been bad for waaaaay too long.

4. Cincinatti Bengals - Cam Newton QB

I see the Bengals making a dumb pick here, and selecting a raw, headcase, who doesn't have as much NFL caliber talent as everyone is saying.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Marcell Dareus DT

The first defensive lineman off the board in a draft that is stocked with them. The Cardinals improve the interior of their d-line since there is no one worth picking here.

6. Cleveland Browns - Julio Jones WR

The Browns need to improve their WR corp for the sake of both Colt McCoy and Peyton Hillis.

7. San Francisco 49ers - Prince Amukamara CB

The 49ers could use some help at CB. They would first look for a young QB to select, but there is honestly no one worth value here. They could wait til the second round and nab someone like Christian Ponder, Ryan Mallet, or Jake Locker.

8. Tennessee Titans - Vonn Miller DE

The Titans could go Nick Fairley here, but I think they see Miller as too much of a value pick at this position. Thus, I can't see them passing up Fairley.

9. Dallas Cowboys - Tyron Smith LT

I know the Cowboys have never selected an O-Lineman in the first round under Jerry Jones, but I cannot see them being that stubborn. I think they'll improve their old as balls OL with the best prospect on the board.

10. Washington Redskins - Nick Fairley DT

The Redskins can finally replace Albert Fatass Haynesworth with someone who is eager to play.

11. Houston Texans - DaQuan Bowers DE

The Texans are ecstatic that Bowers dropped this far. They add him to their d-line in hopes that him and Mario Williams will be a beastly combination for quite a few years.

12. Minnesota Vikings - JJ Watt DE

I could see the Vikings taking the Wisconsin boy. They would've had a great opportunity to scout him over the college season, and would likely have great access to him. Not to mention he is flying up the Boards anyways.

13. Detroit Lions - Gabe Carimi OT

People seem to love Carimi's work ethic, and motor. Plus, this is another guy the Lion's likely have a strong scouting report on. I see the two Wisconsin products going back to back.

14. St. Louis Rams - Corey Luiget DT

The Rams are apparently extremely interested in Luiget. Since both the WR's are gone, I can see them nabbing Luiget here.

15. Miami Dolphins - Mark Ingram RB

With what is available at this position, I cannot see the Dolphins doing much else. If one of the two QB's fell, then yes. However, I cannot see them reaching for a QB at this point. But, my money is on the Dolphins trading out of this pick, as long as there is a CBA.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Robert Quinn DE

The Jacksonville Jaguars almost always select a DE with their first pick (which is extraordinarily sad). Quinn drops far enough for the Jaguars to jump at the chance to nab him.

17. New England Patriots - Aldon Smith DE

The Patriots need help in the pass rush, which is why they select Smith. Why do the Patriots continue to get tons of picks in the draft? Despite their multitude of picks in rounds 1-3, they were awarded 4 compensatory picks, I believe I read an article which said that (gotta love fact checking).

18. San Diego Chargers - Brooks Reed DE

I just have a feeling that they will by-pass the other lineman and select Reed. He is moving up the charts fast, and had an amazing combine.

19. New York Giants - Nate Solder OT

The Giants need an olineman, and decide that this is the best value at their pick. Solder, IMO, will be a bust, but hey, I've been wrong MANY times before.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cameron Jordan DE

The Bucs cannot believe Jordan drops to them, so they select him. I feel like the first round is 100% d-linemen.

21. Kansas City Chiefs - Phil Taylor DT

The Chiefs need a nose tackle, and Taylor can be that, sort of... However, the Chiefs are hard up to give Hali more help with the pass rush.

22. Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Castonzo OT

The Colts want to help Peyton Manning stay upright. That way, he won't throw as many picks. Somehow the media understands that this is what caused Manning's issues, but has yet to address the same issues in a fair light with Cutler. Biased much?

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Mike Pouncey OG/C

The Eagles need help on their o-line, so that way Vick can "look down field," as the commentators would have you believe he does, as opposed to taking off running. My guess is that Vick continues to be the same guy that cannot beat great defenses because he relies too much on his legs.

24. New Orleans Saints - Muhammad Wilkerson DT

The Saints land a nice 3-tech DT for their defense. They continue to improve their defense so that they can return to the Superbowl.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Jake Locker QB

The Seahawks surprise everyone by going with their hometown hero. They need a QB, he is projected to be a second round pick, but one QB always gets nabbed, and he played for Washington. Could this pick make any more sense?

26. Baltimore Ravens - Torrey Smith WR

The Ravens need a downfield threat to keep the defenses honest. They think they land that here, but I think they landed Troy Williamson part duex.

27. Atlanta Falcons - Ryan Kerrigan DE

Boy did he ever drop in my mock draft. Going from top 15 pick to late first round. However, the Falcons improve their pass rush by adding Kerrigan.

28. New England Patriots - Derek Sherod OT

The Patriots draft Matt Lyghts eventual replacement. The guy is getting old, and they need someone to take over at LT.

29. Chicago Bears - Cameron Jordan DE/DT

Let me just say I HATE HATE HATE this pick for the Bears. I have a lot of quality DE's dropping in this draft, but all the DT's being nabbed early. Further, there are almost no O-lineman in this part of the draft. I almost went with Jimmy Smith CB, simply because he was the best value in my opinion. But really? I cannot see us drafting that. Don't get me wrong, I think Jordan is an amazing talent. However, at 285 I'm not sure if he's big enough to play DT. If he can play DT, which I guess Tommie was only 10 lbs heavier, then I wouldn't be surprised if the Bears selected him.

30. New York Jets - Adrian Clayborne DE

The Jets need a good pass rushing DE. Last Year, Clayborn would have gone top 10, but he played bad this year. The Jets don't seem to care too much about character issues as they have Cromartie, Braylon Edwards, and Santonio Holmes. Thus, this seems to make sense to me.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jimmy Smith CB

The Steelers could definitely use another corner. Especially if they want to stop the Patriots and Packers passing attacks. Smith falls to them here, and they don't hesitate.

32. Greenbay Packers - Benjamin Ijalana OG

Everyone talks as if the Packers have a great offensive line. They don't. They could take Houston here, but instead they go with Ijalana because they need to protect their investment. Rodgers had 2 concussions last year. And at the current rate, he will be on the cover of Madden, and we all know what happens then...

Bears picks:

1 - Cameron Jordan DE/DT

2 - Orlando Franklin G/T

3 - Ras-I Dowling CB

4 - Austin Pettis WR

5 - Lee Ziemba G/T

6 - Alex Linnenkohl C

I will probably do a 3 round mock when Steve and Fodor do their mock drafts. Mine will be in the comments though and no explanations.

Armchair Superstar Baseball Predictions

2011-03-28T12:21:00.003-05:00

So last year I predicted every division, Series and Major award winner. I failed pretty miserably picking the Phillies to beat the White Sox and only had 3 teams in the playoffs correctly. I did however correctly predict King Felix would win the AL Cy Young. So please enjoy this read, and expect absolutely nothing of this to come true.

NL.

Cy Young: Cliff Lee - Philadelphia
MVP: Pujols - Cardinals
ROY: Freddie Freeman – Atlanta

Pujols, in a contract year. Good luck to all other MVP candidates. I went Cliff Lee of Roy Halladay because of the whole AL to NL move. I do expect them both to have an amazing years along with Grienke in Milwaukee. Lastly Freddie Freeman is a left handed outfielder who is a ROY candidate in Atlanta. Sound familiar? Yup, Gordon Heyward last year. Heyward has crazy hype around him, and I expect to hear a lot about both him and Freeman and how they are the future of the Braves. I think Bryce Harper is a great player, but holding out for most of last season does not lead to ROY awards.

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Rockies
NL Wild Card: Braves

NL Pennant: Phillies

Phillies are the best team in the NL and will go to their 3rd World Series in 4 years. I see the Reds staying with the Cardinals most the year, but in the end, Pujols will put them over the top. Anyone could come out of the west and it wouldn’t surprise me, but I like the Rockies. They are always good for a late run.

AL

AL Cy Young: King Felix - Mariners
MVP: Adrian Gonzalez - Boston
ROY: J.P. Arencibia – Toronto

I went with Arencbia because I expect Toronto to make a push for the post season this year and he will be a big part of it. I am concerned that Jesus Montero will win it because he plays for the Yankees. Adrian Gonzalez is going to have a big year in a new city for a team with World Series aspirations. Lastly, I went with King Felix last year and was right, so why not again.

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: White Sox
AL West: A’s
AL Wild Card: Yankees

AL Pennant: Red Sox

I know, very risky picks here, going with Yankees and Red Sox to be doing well. I can’t pick against them though, their teams are too loaded. I like what the White Sox have done getting left handed power in Dunn, and if the pitching comes around as expected, could be tough for anyone to beat. The A’s are my surprise team out of the West. They have acquired a lot of talent over the past few years and that pitching staff could end up being best in the bigs.

World Series Title: Phillies

As loaded as the Red Sox are, they can’t compete with the pitching the Phillies have. I see Philadelphia being a wire to wire winner with very few obstacles on their way to the 2011 Title.

The New Format and My Sweet Sixteen Pick

2011-03-17T14:24:00.002-05:00

First off, let me say I am loving this new format of having the games on CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV. As one game ends you get the next one in the second half. It's AWESOME.

Now, it seems every year you have one team make it the sweet sixteen that is a double digit seed. My pick: Moorehead State. I know the game is already underway, and 3/4ths through the second half, where Moorehead State is down 48-47, but I had them in my brackets going to the Sweet Sixteen.

Finally, my final four:

Kentucky - Of course!

Duke (Didn't really want to pick them but can't see Uconn running the table here, nor can I see SDST and their struggles from behind the arc getting here, and that leaves me with AZ, who I was tempted to pick, but I think they are cocky SOB's. So, my pick is the Uncle Toms.)

Kansas (Toss it between Kansas and Purdue, but had to go with Kansas, although I was tempted to have Illini go, but really they'll be lucky to make it past the first round)

Kansas State (I don't like Pitt, Kansas State has been hot towards the end of the year, and BYU is down a critical player).

Championship:

Kansas v. Duke

Champion:

Kansas (although they almost ALWAYS fail me).

Some Predictions

2011-03-17T09:15:00.002-05:00

This is the first year of staggered start times for the NCAA Tourney, which means we don't get four games kicking off at once but instead a constant stream of games - in theory. I'm curious to see how it works.

Here's what I suspect will be some of today's better games. And yes, I AM tempted to just say "All of them." We don't get Gus Johnson today, but we DO get THIS GUY - and who better for announcing on St. Patty's Day? Get 'em, Raftery!
12:15 PM: Clemson vs. West Virginia @ Tampa, FL. Closer to home for Clemson, but they're well travelled, having just beaten UAB in Dayton a few days ago. I just think the Tigers are peaking at the right time. And it's a 12 v. 5. Still, Huggy Bear and Co. won't go down without a fight.

Also early: ODU/Butler, Morehead State/Louisville

2:10 PM: Penn State vs. Temple @ Tuscon, AZ. It's a battle for Pennsylvanian supremacy! Seriously though, I think Talor Battle wants this, bad.

Also in this time area: Princeton/Kentucky, Richmond/Vandy

6:50 PM: UC-Santa Barbara vs. Florida @ Tampa. Don't say I didn't warn you when this turns into an upset bid, even at home. For some stupid reason I can't believe in this Gators team.

Also: Belmont/Wisconsin

9:57 PM: Utah State vs. Kansas State @ Tuscon. GO AGGIES. I have them in the Sweet Sixteen. Frankly, I doubt I'll even remember most of this game, because it's, umm, past my bedtime. And it's frickin' St. Patrick's Day!

Other blackout games: Michigan State/UCLA, Gonzaga/St. John's, Mizzou/Cincinnati.

HAVE FUN, EVERYBODY.

The Most Wonderful Time...

2011-03-16T01:26:00.006-05:00

March Madness is here, ladies and gentlemen, as you are well aware if you haven't been living under a rock for the last week.

I just wanted to make a little list of some of my favorite things about this time of year, especially in 2011:

1. Yogi's Marathon Day - This Thursday is not only the first day of the tournament (not counting the play-in games) but it's also St. Patrick's Day?! Ohhh man. Who smells trouble?

This will be the fourth year in a row for the all-day Yogi's marathon in the little bar, and when you're already planning for something back in December, I mean, how can I even overstate how excited I am? I will eat chili (with cheddar, onions, and green peppers on top), Caesar salad, wings (hot garlic? Hawaiian fire?), and certainly one of my new favorites, the pot roast melt, which has somehow eluded me all these years.

Oh, and there's also basketball. Some unbelievably epic games always seem to happen Thursday (see: Last year and the year before), and of course quarters will be flying back and forth all day long on every possible bet.

2. The Bulls are in first place in the East! At 48-18 after dumping the Wizards today (even without Boozer and Noah), this team is a force to be reckoned with, and a joy to watch. Too bad we can't say the same about IU basketball. They also busted out the green jerseys today. Which is sweet.

3. Northwestern's annual NIT trip. For once, can we please get out of the first round, guys? For the record, Noffke and I are doing an NIT bracket challenge, and we both have the 'Cats making the Elite Eight. He has Va Tech winning. I've got Colorado. Regardless, should be a pretty solid tourney this year. God willin' and the creek don't rise, I'll have more NIT coverage SOON.

NU plays UW-Milwaukee (Bruce Pearl's former team) at Evanston tomorrow.

4. Uh, the actual Big Dance. Let me remind you of just a few people. Kevin Pitsnogle. Ali Farokhmanesh. The Western Kentucky Hilltopper. Excited yet?

5. Bloomington in springtime. It's supposed to be 58 tomorrow. And 70 and sunny on Thursday. Ohhhhhh yes.

6-10: Gus Johnson. No further comment. Enjoy this website.

NCAA TV Listings

2011-03-14T13:37:00.001-05:00

In Case you need to flip around. I still have no idea what channel truTV is for me.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/03/13/tourney.tiptimes/index.html?eref=sihp

My Biggest Draft Sleeper

2011-03-13T17:56:00.002-05:00

There are a couple guys I like in the draft, but one guy I thought was great when I saw him play, even though it was one of his few plays: Mario Fannin. The guy is huge, fast, and in my opinion has first round talent. He weighs 231 pounds, ran a 4.37 40 yard dash, and has a good vertical at 37". Maybe I'm just getting lost in his work outs, but I am really impressed by this young man, and I believe you ALWAYS draft the best player available, especially in the later rounds. His potential is out of this world. So, if he is there in the 5th round (or even the 4th) I'd be ecstatic if the Bears took him.

Daytona 500 Seats

2011-03-08T13:44:00.001-06:00

As you may or may not know. I attended this year's Daytona 500. If you want to see exactly where my seats were click this link. Then zoom out on the picture to see.

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/gigapixelfancam/110220.aspx?slug=201107-stephen-noffke

Dan Persa Heisman 2011 Kickoff

2011-03-05T16:40:00.003-06:00

Here's an article from ESPN.com detailing our favorite Northwestern quarterback's road to recovery this offseason:

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/24165/northwesterns-dan-persa-on-his-way-back

Also, I know I asked at least Snuffles about this a while ago, and maybe Pituch too, but how do you rank the Northwestern QBs of the past ten to fifteen years?

Consider the possibilities.

Persa
Mike Kafka
Zak Kustok
Brett Basanez
Steve Schnur
... and several more I'm sure I'm forgetting.

For me, I think Kustok has to be #1, Baz #2, Persa #3, but they were all memorable players.

IU New Coach, Living in A Van in Memorial Stadium

2011-03-02T09:25:00.003-06:00

This article from Indiana Daily Student is Awesome. Fodor find some pictures!

IDSnews.com | Ekeler’s arrival from Nebraska has him ‘living in a van down by the river’

For the last two months, through snow and ice and arctic winds, IU’s new co-defensive coordinator lived and slept inside an RV parked just beyond the south end zone of Memorial Stadium.

Every morning before dawn, Mike Ekeler emerged from his Holiday Rambler Navigator and clicked the remote to lock his temporary motorhome.

Determined to arrive in the weight room before his players, Ekeler would wake early and walk 100 yards along the FieldTurf to work.

He arrived in Bloomington on Jan. 4. Since then, he has been hustling from 5 a.m. to midnight, launching into a mission many would call impossible: Turning a team that has spent the last three years in the basement of the Big Ten into a powerhouse.
***

The grind of Big Ten football comes with sacrifices. New IU coach Kevin Wilson and his staff left successful programs to come to Bloomington, a program known mainly for its losses. Most coaches are separated from their families while they scramble to recruit and coach a team, while living out of temporary residences. They are all trying to settle into their new lives.

Ekeler, 39, traded his Cornhuskers red for the traditional IU crimson when he left his job at Nebraska, the latest in a line of stops at powerhouse programs — Oklahoma (’03-’04), LSU (’05-’07) and Nebraska (’08-’10) — to join IU.

IU hasn’t been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 in 22 years. Nor have they won, or even shared, a Big Ten crown in 43 years. In fact, the Hoosiers won one Big Ten game in each of the last three seasons.

Ekeler’s rise to coaching success took just seven years, but after the 2010 Big 12 Championship game, the 39-year-old said he knew he needed a change.

In fall 2010, he told the Lincoln Journal Star that Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David, a kid who came from junior college ball, was the best linebacker in America.
He felt comfortable.

“If I had stayed, I would have become as big as my linebackers,” Ekeler said. “Instead of coaching, I would have gained 300 pounds. I’d’ve ate eight hot dogs and smoked two packs of Marlboro’s on game day because I would have nothing to coach. There was no challenge.”

A guy who once had a pet piranha, he likes life outside the comfort zone. So he left Nebraska for a program full of challenges.

Wilson said the team should perform at a successful level in the 2011 season.
“Then again talk is cheap,” Wilson said. “So the way we practice and prepare over time will show how we can be in the Big Ten.”

IU Athletics Director Fred Glass said Ekeler hasn’t even watched game tapes on his guys. He’s waiting to judge their on-field talents when spring ball starts at the end of March. Ekeler said he will work from 5 a.m. until midnight. He wants to change the program that has seen only eight bowl games in its 126-year history.

Ekeler said there’s no doubt in his mind that IU will turn it around.

“No, it’s going to happen,” Ekeler said. “The change starts this coming fall.”
***

A yellow electric cord wound from the left side of Ekeler’s Navigator to Memorial Stadium, giving the motorhome its power. He said he was a little disappointed he couldn’t hook up the sewage too.

“Oh, that uh, that there’s an RV ... it’s a good-looking vehicle, ain’t it?” Ekeler quoted from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation when discussing the Navigator.

But unlike a Chevy Chase character, he’s not embarrassed by his RV — a Mother’s Day gift for his wife. On the University of Nebraska’s website, Ekeler said the Navigator is his third RV and it drives like his F150. The Navigator, white with champagne trim, is 45 feet long. Its MSRP lists at $592,649.

Dirk Ochs, Ekeler’s former K-State teammate, laughed when he heard Ekeler is living in his RV at Memorial Stadium. But he said he takes seriously Ekeler’s guarantee that the new coaching staff will change IU football into an elite program.

“When you go to a program that hasn’t had success and then you have success, there’s something to be said for that,” Ochs said. “We’ve done that before. That’s why all of us went to K-State — to build up a program that was never very good.”

Tom Osborne, Nebraska’s athletic director, said Ekeler would always boast with confidence before games against good teams.

“He’d think we were gonna win 50-0,” Osborne said. “It always made me feel good to talk to him, but it didn’t always turn out that well. However, I’d rather be around someone who is optimistic then always negative. Mike sees the glass half full.”
The comedy and charisma Ekeler used at K-State has never left him.

His new IU linebackers are already playing jokes on him, so he said the fun will continue. It’s who he is, it makes him happy and so does living in that RV.

“And I live in a van down by the river ... I’m going to live down by the river eating governmental cheese.”

“I’m a comedic coach,” Ekeler said after quoting a classic Chris Farley skit from “Saturday Night Live.”

According to Ekeler, a linebacker won’t amount to anything unless he laughs at his jokes.

“I kept a linebacker from playing for three games because he wouldn’t laugh at my jokes during a meeting,” Ekeler said about a former Nebraska player. “He just needed to figure it out. Now, the guy’s a linebacker for the New York Giants.”
***

The cherry wood of his new desk gleams with the morning sun. The back glass wall of his office gives Ekeler a view of the North End Zone. He hasn’t called the off-white rectangle his work space for more than a month, but already his four children, J.J., 10, Cameryn, 9, Abigail, 7, and Bella, 3, added a family touch.

On their first trip to their dad’s new office, they started to turn the place into home.
“I <3 you. You rock,” written in red marker, accompanied by a red smiley face with green eyes remained untouched in 3-week-old dry erase ink.

Eventually, the drawing will be replaced with names of players, opponents or the other work of a 5 a.m.-to-midnight job. Eventually, IU will become home. And Ekeler said he hopes eventually IU will turn into a championship team.

A video of a recruit played on an LG flat screen as Ekeler slightly reclined in his chair. Although the weather outside said 28 degrees, he said it feels tropical and those winds are nothing like the ones in Nebraska, or to Ekeler, “N-Alaska.”

As nice as the RV might be, the south end zone wasn’t a permanent location. Ekeler and his wife, Barbie, have already found a home near College Mall. Ekeler’s last night sleeping beside the football field in his Navigator was Sunday. He, Barbie and the kids moved into the new house Monday.

Even though his walk will increase from 100 yards and his home will no longer be powered by IU Athletics, Ekeler is determined to give his all to IU.

“We’re going to do it,” Ekeler said. “We have the right players and leaders. The staff really doesn’t care what happened in the past.”

Then with another laugh he added, “I’m an optimist. A three-quarters full kind of guy.”

Luckily he's not like this guy

Naked Man Arrested for Questioning Jay Cutler's Dedication

2011-03-01T12:13:00.003-06:00

I think this article is hysterical. A naked man was arrested for running around questioning Jay Cutler's dedication in a parking lot. Really? How did this guy think this would end? That people wouldn't think he's a lunatic. I guess that is what makes him crazy. I think the only fitting end would be for Jay Cutler to show up and answer this guys questions. I mean doesn't he know who this guy is?

Chicago Becoming a White Sox Town?

2011-02-28T09:18:00.002-06:00

Is Chicago becoming a White Sox town? I don't think so, don't think it ever will, but that is the point Gene Wojo tries to make on ESPN Chicago. I can understand where one might think the White Sox are making up ground in the city. Going back to the 2003 NLCS, the Cubs have lost 9 straight post season games while the White Sox are 12-4. If the White Sox make the playoffs this year it will be three times in 6 years, which is 1 more then the Cubs over that stretch. So based on performance, I can see why one would make that argumnet.

I also can understand how Cubs fans have mixed emotions about Tom Ricketts. It doesn't appear he has a vision for the team, but he keeps making changes to Wrigley. Cubs fans want a winner, and the verdict is still out on if Ricketts is going to spend to get a winner, or treat the Cubs as a business he plans to make money off of?

For these reason, I get why some people might say the White Sox could over take them, but I don't see it happening. Cubs games are an expierence, and people who don't love baseball will almost always choose the Cubs over the Sox for that expierence.

Top Chef Power Rankings (02/23/11)

2011-02-25T14:44:00.005-06:00

Well, my Power Rankings get rocked again. #1 from last week was sent packing. I was surprised he did so poorly in the challenge. When he choose Angelo I felt good for him since they basically cook the same food and Angelo would be a great chef to have since he is very quick at prep work. Alas, Dale got overwhelmed by the amount of people at the event and undercooked his potatoes while over seasoning his crouton. He was sent home and we have a new #1 this week.

Overall I didn’t think the challenge seemed too hard. The southern style might have thrown some people off, but I think it was the amount of food the chefs had to prepare in the short amount of time that really hurt them.

In the Finals

1. Richard Blais

Richard, who apparently reminds Fabio of his ex-wife, won the elimination challenge and conceptualized the quickfire’s winning dish. Based on his good performance, he has vaulted to the top spot. If I could gamble on this, I would put my money on him. If I could choose the field or him, I’m taking him. With Angelo and Dale knocked out in consecutive weeks, I see no real challenger to him. I am a little worried he is too intense and is going to over think one of his dishes these days. I also think he needs to lay off the liquid nitrogen a little bit to show he has a more rounded set of cooking techniques.

2. Antonia Lofaso

Anotnia had another top finish this week. She has been making good and simple dishes and is looking like a lock to make the finale. I think she’s the only person who has a shot to knock off Richard, but I don’t think it’s a very good one. I do think she’s a better chef then she gets credit for. She makes simple dishes that lack some of the pizzazz that the other chefs have. However, her simple dishes taste good and that’s the only thing that matters.

Pretty Sure they’ll make the Finals

3. Carla Hall

Carla had a 2nd bad week in a row including her performance in the quickfire challenge. I still think she has a good shot of making the finale, but she can’t keep making dumb mistakes. I think she was too worried this week that she was cooking southern food which is her comfort zone. She was worried that everyone was expecting her to knock it out of the park, and honestly, she should have. Maybe not a challenge win, but at least a good showing. If you can’t do well in your comfort zone, what are you going to do well in? I see her making the finale, but not a serious contender to win.

Might miss the Final

4. Mike Isabella

Congrats to Mike for winning his 3 competition ever in Top Chef history. All 3 have been quick fire challenges. the first quick fire he won was a cactus challenge, and he was the only chef to have worked with cactus before. This win, he was “inspired by” (blatantly stole) an idea that Richard had discussed with him that morning. I’m sorry, but Mike is no way clever enough of a chef to put the oyster part of a chicken in an oyster shell without being inspired by someone else. I’m glad all the other chefs know, I just wish Richard was man enough to call him out on it. On top of all that, Mike wouldn’t have won the quickfire if Antonia wasn’t an idiot and forgot to make a second plate. So this will go down as the lamest victory in Top Chef History (Is there a worse one?).Mike finished in the top for the 2nd time this season (lowest of the remaining 5 chefs and lower than 4 chefs who have been eliminated). He has cruised along only make mistakes twice to put him in the bottom. I see him having enough talent to outlast Tiffany, but not enough skill to beat any of the other 3 chefs in front of him.

5. Tiffany Derry

Tiffany was on the bottom again. She still hasn’t won and has been surprised the past two weeks when her name wasn’t called. She made it exactly this far last season, 1 episode short of the finale (and Singapore). I think this is where she stops again. I hope she makes it and Isabella doesn’t but not the way they have been performing.

Top Chef Power Rankings (09/16/11)

2011-02-24T09:41:00.007-06:00

My How quickly things can change just that quickly. The Top 2 in my Power Rankings finished in the bottom last night and Angelo got sent home. Just like that, everyone moves to a different spot in the rankings.

The episode last night was pretty good. The Muppets doing the cookie challenge was a little too childish for me, but I’m sure some people got their kicks out of it. I thought the Target Challenge was a fantastic idea and a very demanding challenge. The strategy in it was compelling. Do you find food first and then go find the things you need to make the food, or buy as much cooking and chopping things as you can before figuring out what you can make. All the running seemed a tad unnecessary, but it looked like every minute counted.

1. Dale Talde

How can Dale jump three spots and become number 1? Yes I know the two previous weeks he finished on the bottom and very easily could have been sent packing on the Jimmy Fallon challenge. The reason I have him number 1 is for his wins. He swept the show last night winning both the quickfire and the elimination challenge, the first time it has happened this season. He has three elimination challenge wins which is tied for the most with Carla. He has won 3 of the past 4 quickfire challenges and has another team challenge win. That’s 6 individual wins and 1 team win. The next closest competitor is Richard with 5 wins (2 elimination, 1 individual qucikfire and 2 team quickfires).

2. Richard Blais

Richard moves up a spot based on a strong performance from him and a poor performance from Carla. I do think Richard tried to take a short cut on his Ice Cream “Cookies” and glad the Muppets called him out on that. Initially I thought Dale was going to win the elimination challenge, but after hearing judges table, I started thinking they were going to pick Richard because he was the only chef to get two proteins done, both of which tasted well.

3. Antonia Lofaso

This was the hardest choice of the power rankings. Should I have Antonia or Carla in the three spot? Carla was on a tear with 3 wins and 2 other top finishes the previous 6 weeks, but had an awful week this week. Antonia the past three weeks finished with a win and two top finishes. Based on the logic of what have you done for me lately, I put Antonia over Carla. Antonia has had a crazy season and has only had to not face the judges 1 time, week 1. Every week since then, she has either been in the top (5 times with a 1 win) or the bottom (4 times). If she can avoid the faults that put her in the bottom, she could move on to the finale.

4. Carla Hall

As discussed before, I was really tempted to leave Carla in the top 3. She is tied for the most elimination wins, but seemed so out of wack yesterday. I don’t understand why she spent so long shopping for stuff to make her table display pretty. The judges were served at a completely different table. She lost focus and wasted most of her night and was unable to get flavors to develop. Had she started cooking 45 min to and hour earlier like the other chefs, the food could have come out better. I never felt like she was in danger of going home, but if she loses her focus by that much again, she could be going home.

Chopping Block

5. Mike Isabella

Mike continues to cruise in the middle. Nothing to great, nothing too bad. If he wants to make the final, he’s going to have to start cooking better than just OK food. I don’t see the other 5 chefs making large enough mistakes to allow him to sneak in. He does need to stop acting shocked in the stew room at every announcement. Clearly you opinion is nothing like the judges so stop overreacting. Him still being alive shocks me, I expected him to be long gone.

6. Tiffany Derry

When Tiffany burst into tears at the judges table, I thought for sure she was going to be sent home. When she’s cooking she doesn’t seem to be emotionally worn down, but as soon as the confessional hits, you can see the back to back seasons are starting to take their toll on her. Angelo mentioned that as he was leaving, he’s done 40 some challenges all close together now, and it was taking it’s toll on him. I don’t see Tiffany lasting much longer for this very same reason. If she can somehow make it the next two challenges and make the finals. Some time off may help her regroup before the finale and my thoughts on her chances to win might change, until then, I have strong doubts.

TOP CHEF POWER RANKINGS (02/09/11)

2011-02-16T09:35:00.013-06:00

I know I know, I suck at life and haven’t written any power rankings since the first week. Ryan has been giving me extra crap for it. Time to turn it on for the final run.

Last week’s episode featured Jimmy Fallon as the special guest host/judge. I personally am not a fan of his but he did bring some interesting food choices for the Chefs to make. Fabio made a meatball hamburger that apparently tasted like meatloaf. His last second cheese addition put him over the top as the chef to go home. There are only 7 chefs left.

Topic for discussion. Any ideas on where the finalist will be headed? I’m guessing since this is All-Stars, and they’ve already shown that the show will go to international locations, I’m guessing they are going to Paris or Rome.

Top Shelf

1. Carla Hall

Carla won her 3rd challenge of the season. Over the past 6 weeks, she has been on an impressive run. All three of her wins have come, she’s had 2 other top finishes. The only blemish on her record over this stretch was 1 low finish. I am not sure if she has enough to bring home the crown, but if she keeps cooking the way she is, it’ll be hard to beat her.

2. Angelo Sosa

Angelo had another strong week, I actually was expecting his name to be called as the winner. Angelo has had 4 high finishes since winning the first 2, but has always been missing something to get him that elusive third win. I do think Angelo has what it takes to win the title. Last season, you could see Angelo showing signs of physical and mental fatigue. If he didn’t get sick in the finale, he could have won. This season, he is showing no signs of slowing down at all.

3. Richard Blais

Richard has been very hard on himself all season. He wants and expects to win every week. He has won twice with two other top finishes. His loan bottom finish was a team challenge where he worked with Fabio and Marcel on a meal that Marcel conceptualized. If I had to gamble money on the winner, I would still put it on Richard followed closely by Angelo.

Middle of the Pack

4. Dale Talde

Dale gets the 4 spot of Antonio because he has two challenge wins, two solo quickfire wins and one team quickfire win compared to Antonia’s one challenge win and one team quickfire win. I know Dale has had two back to back bottom finishes, but he is trying to avoid repeating his mistakes. He went from no taste or seasoning to over seasoning his Philly Cheese steak. I also think he has a better chance to win over Anotnia, but another bottom finish this week could send him packing.

5. Antonia Lofaso

Antonia followed up her 3 straight bottom finishes (one of which wasn’t her fault, but her teams) with a win and a top finish. She has been cooking very strong as of late, but as discussed before, doesn’t have as many wins as Dale so she is sitting at 5. I could easily see her jumping Dale and even Richard with another strong performance this week.

Chopping Block

6. Tiffany Derry

I do find it interesting that the two contestants from season 7 have made it to the top 7. I was expecting both the chefs to be worn down from the quick turnaround of the two seasons. However, maybe they were more prepared for this season then the other chefs. Tiffany is starting to doubt herself, which obviously is never a good thing. She’s been very up and down this season with 3 top finishes and 3 bottom finishes over the past 6 weeks. If she can get her confidence back I can see her making the finale, but if she can’t, I can easily see her being sent packing this week.

7. Mike Isabella

Mike has been a pretty consistent performer all season. He has been safely in all but 3 weeks with 1 high finish that was followed up by back to back low finishes. He has won 1 quickfire this season. I can’t say he’s really done anything bad to be placed on the bottom, but everyone else is performing better.

MJ and Scottie Courtside. So Close, Yet So Far

2011-02-16T08:19:00.005-06:00

In case you missed it, last night during the Bulls game against the visiting Charlotte Bobcats Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had courtside seats for the action. According to this article, when showed on the Jumbotron the two of them received a standing Ovation. It's always great to see Micheal back in Chicago.

Here is a clip of my favorite MJ standing ovation, His last professional game in Chicago.

Dave Toub Special

2011-02-13T00:11:00.003-06:00

The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs has been doing positional breakdowns of the Bears looking towards next year, and the most recent one (I think) covers special teams.

If you're a Bears fan, you know our special teams are this team's secret weapon. It's not just Devin Hester or Danieal Manning, though those guys are obviously all-time great and very good, respectively.

It's guys like Corey Graham, who will be an unrestricted free agent, and Rashied Davis, the WR-slash-expert at keeping promising young receivers from making the team in summer camp.

Anyway, this breakdown covers all of the Bears' large number of free agents on special teams, which include Graham, Davis, and punter Brad Maynard. Highly recommended. Now let's learn about playing gunner! Wahoo!

My Post-Superbowl 2011 NFL Mock Draft

2011-02-08T14:41:00.002-06:00

Because I'm ubber excited for the NFL draft already, I am going to post my post-superbowl 1 round mock. I will do more rounds once the combine is over. Before I do it, did anyone else hear that the Bears are looking to trade Greg Olsen again. Last year they almost got a 2nd rounder. I don't know if they'll get anything better than a 3rd Rounder at this point. Anyways, here we go:

1. Carolina Panthers - Nick Fairley DT Auburn

Seems sort of obvious. Since Andrew Luck is not coming out, the Panthers will be focused on defense. Ron Rivera will want to get a dominating DT for his new team.

2. Denver Broncos - Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson

The Broncos couldn't get pressure on the QB last year to save their lives. Da'Quan Bowers solidifies one defensive end position. Elvis Dumervil coming back will help them have an incredible pass rush. I could also see them going with AJ Green.

3. Buffalo Bills - Vonn Miller DE/OLB Texas A&M

I see the Bills placing more emphasis on attacking the line of scrimmage than they do defending the pass. Further, Steve Johnson came into his own this year so I don't think they'll go AJ Green with this pick.

4. Cincinnati Bengals - AJ Green WR Georgia

With Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens likely gone this year, I think they will look to please Carson Palmer with the best Wide Receiver in the draft.

5. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Quinn DE UNC

The Cardinals could go QB or CB. However, I think they'll look to add to their defense and add a QB via a trade. I could see them landing Kevin Kolb with their second round pick.

6. Cleveland Browns - Marcell Dareus DE/DT Alabama

They could take Julio Jones but I don't see them reaching for him. Instead, they reach for a solid defensive tackle as they shift to a 4-3 defense. Also, its clear that the run on defensive lineman is early.

7. San Francisco 49ers - Patrick Peterson CB LSU

I know he drops a bit here. I would have him dropping even further if I wasn't convinced that Jim Harbaugh is hoping for a scenario where he can draft Andrew Luck next year. Heck, don't be surprised if they trade this pick for a first rounder next year just so he can land his guy. But a great value at this pick if they do land Patrick Peterson.

8. Tennessee Titans - Cam Newton QB Auburn

I know they just got done with Vince Young. However, Bud Adams (the owner of the Titans) LOVED Young's abilities. The only reason he was let go was likely because he is a head case. Enter Vince Young 2.0... Cam Newton. This pick makes too much sense to me.

9. Dallas Cowboys - Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska

The Cowboys want more help in their secondary. They could go offensive line but I think Jerry Jones continues his trend and instead focuses on corner.

10. Washington Redskins - Blaine Gabbert QB Missouri

If I were a GM I wouldn't draft a QB in this years first round. However, I'm not. I see the Redskins going after a QB early and letting go of Donovan McNabb. Then again, they may wait and draft one in the second or third round and see how Sexy Rexy does.

11. Houston Texans - Brandon Harris CB Miami

I know this is a HUGE reach. But I see the Texans making a huge reach seeing how bad their secondary was last year. They need help here and they know it. That's why I think they reach for what may be a late first early second round talent in the top 15.

12. Minnesota Vikings - Derek Sherrod OT Mississippi State

The first tackle off the board goes to the Vikings. They had some protection issues last year and they will probably want to fix them this year since there are no other available QB's worth a first round pick.

13. Detroit Lions - Nate Solder OT Colorado

With the corners off the board the Lions look to keep Matthew Stafford healthy. So, offensive tackle it is.

14. St. Louis Rams - Julio Jones WR Alabama

They want more weapons for Sam Bradford. Julio Jones is a solid pick here.

15. Miami Dolphins - Mark Ingram RB Alabama

The Dolphins are going to probably let go of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown. What does that mean? They have no starting RB. So why not take one in the first round.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars - Cameron Jordan DE California

A few things seem to happen every draft. The Raiders do something stupid. The Bears draft at least one huge bust in the first three rounds. And the Jaguars use their first round pick to go defensive end. The run on the defensive line slowed a bit, but now it picks back up.

17. New England Patriots - Ryan Kerrigan DE/OLB Purdue

The Patriots continue to bolster their defense. The addition of Ryan Kerrigan will help their defense become a very good one.

18. San Diego Chargers - Aldon Smith DE/OLB Missouri

The Chargers are trying to find someone who can do what Steroid McGee used to be able to do. It's funny to see how far Shawne has fallin' since he's tested postive. Mr. Matthews, your turn is right around the corner.

19. New York Giants - Tyron Smith OT USC

The Giants have some offensive line issues that they could start to take care of here.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cameron Heyward DE/DT Ohio State

The Bucs want to solidify their defensive line and start to get a ton of pressure. They could also go after Akeem Ayers, but he continues to slide down the board.

21. Kansas City Chiefs - Justin Houston DE/OLB Georgia

The Chiefs need to rush the passer better. They could also use another really good defensive player. In my opinion, they also need a wide receiver, but there is no one worth taking here.

22. Indianapolis Colts - Mike Pouncey OG/C Florida

I see him jumping up the board and the Colts had some issues on their interior line. This seems to make too much sense.

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Akeem Ayers OLB UCLA

The Eagles watch as Akeem Ayers drops to them and they select him to help bolster a defense that was much worse than people actually give it credit for being.

24. New Orleans Saints - Adrian Clayborne DE Iowa

The Saints are ecstatic that Adrian Clayborne is still there and select him to help bolster their pass rush. Their offense seems to be just fine, they just need to improve their defense.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Gabe Camrini OT Wisconsin

The Seahawks desperately want to get better on their o-line. Most people think of Camrini as a RT and the Seahawks just drafted their LT last year. So, the improvement continues.

26. Baltimore Ravens - Titus Young WR Boise State

Many people have him moving up the boards quickly after the Senior Bowl. He's being called the next DeSean Jackson. If you ask me, I'd say bust. However, the Ravens need a downfield threat to take the pressure of Joe Flacco and Ray Rice.

27. Atlanta Falcons - Jonathan Baldwin WR Pittsburgh

The Falcons are in obvious need of a second receiving threat. Jonathan Baldwin has some character issues, but otherwise has all the tools. He's 6'5" and will help the Falcons offense become something to fear.

28. New England Patriots - JJ Watts DE Wisconsin

The Patriots continue to bolster their defense. They pick the best player available here, and that happens to be JJ Watts.

29. Chicago Bears - Corey Liuget DT Illinois

Corey Liuget is the best 3-technique available. I don't see the Bears keeping Tommie Harris and they could use someone who can penetrate through the middle of that defense to take pressure off of Julius Peppers. Plus, there is no one on the board for the offensive line that matches the quality of the pick that you get with Liuget. If Camrini or Pouncey fell I would love to have them, but I don't think they will. I think Camrini may actually be the best tackle in the draft.

30. New York Jets - Muhammad Wilkerson DE/DT Temple

It's clear that the Jets need more pass rushers. Shaun Ellis is getting old. This pick makes just too much sense to me.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jimmy Smith CB Colorado

The Steelers add more CB depth so that they can stop high powered passing attacks, such as the Patriots or the Packers.

32. Green Bay Packers - Anthony Castonzo OT Boston College

The Packers really need help on the o-line still. One year ago they were a lot like the Bears were last year (so they are 1 year ahead in the crappy o-line to good o-line race). The Packers go with the best available tackle, in their opinion, and end up with another tackle who is a bust. See Bryan Bulaga. Enjoy bitches!!!

As for the remaining Bears picks. I see us trading Greg Olsen for a second round pick, and here is how I see our first three rounds going.

1. Corey Liuget - DT Illinois

2. Stefan Wisniewski - G/C Penn State

2. Marcus Cannon - OT/G TCU

3. Ras-I Dowling - CB Virginia

Trivia: Winners of Heisman, NCAA Title and Super Bowl

2011-02-08T14:22:00.002-06:00

Charles Woodson became just the third player ever to win a Heisman Trophy, NCAA Title and the Super Bowl. Name the other two.

Williams Wall Suspended.

2011-02-08T13:33:00.001-06:00

Its official. The Williams brothers are suspended. Let's just hope the Bears get them in the first four weeks.

Utah State Fans

2011-02-08T10:33:00.006-06:00

Last year the big newcomer to college basketball fans was Kansas State and the Octagon of Doom. This year, is the Utah State Fan Base

I am not sure if you have seen it, but before every game the entire Student Section Starts Chanting "I Believe That We Will Win"

During the game, they have some of the best distractions for free throw shooters thanks to Wild Bill.

See more funny videos and TBT at Todays Big Thing.

Once the game is over, or clearly over. The crowd starts kindly pointing out which team is the winning team and which team is the losing team.

All this adds up to 23 and counting straight wins at home for Utah State.

Looks like fun, who wants to road trip?

William Perry Article

2011-02-08T09:54:00.002-06:00

This is a great Read from ESPN

White Men Can Dunk

2011-02-07T13:44:00.003-06:00

And Indiana is apparently devoted to proving it. Where's my Elston throw-down?

Wow.

Super Bowl Picks

2011-02-06T11:40:00.006-06:00

FODOR'S PICKS

As per usual, I'm working all Super Bowl Sunday, which means I get to enjoy the game via the dulcet tones of Kevin Harlan, Boomer Esiason, and whoever the hell else they have on the radio broadcast.

This is definitely not a bad thing. See below.

God, I hate these guys.

Anyway, since I typically root for the NFC on the rare occasion that the Bears don't make it to the Big Game, this year presents a difficult challenge, because, well, it's the freakin' Packers.

Let's not drag it out any more, eh? I'm rooting for the Steelers. And in case I had ANY doubts whatsoever, douchebag Rick Reilly conveniently erased them for me last week.

"You root for the Packers in this Super Bowl because Packers fans took a taunt -- "You cheesehead!" -- and turned it into a gouda thing. In 1987, Ralph Bruno, while upholstering his mother's couch in Milwaukee, burned holes into one of the cushions, carved a hole for his head and painted it yellow. Thus, the Cheesehead product line was born.... Do they wear steel beams in Pittsburgh?" - Reilly

You've gotta be kidding me, man. Just to be fair to The Juggernaut, here's a nice mailbag from their other featured columnist, the one with a brain in his head.

Here's what I like about the Pittsburgh Steelers, aside from the fact that they're not the Pack:

Troy Polamalu flying around the field.

THIS GUY (oh, and he can actually play a little DE, too).
Big Ben: Not Guilty, but has grown out of it anyway, and is no longer the cocky asshole that everybody that ever went to Miami of Ohio (and Roger Goodell) told me he was.

Antwaan Randle El - the Indiana connection, baby! Highest rated passer in NFL history. Seriously. Look it up.

Rashard Mendenhall - because I know at least one hilarious incriminating story about him from a U of I student or graduate. And because he's given that stuff up and is now a GREAT running back.

So here are a few picks.

To win: Steelers

ATS: Steelers +3 over Packers

Prop Bets:

Christina Aguilera National Anthem: UNDER 1min 54 sec

First scoring play of the game: Pittsburgh Steelers FG +300

Result of first coaches' challenger: Play Overturned -110

Which will be the highest scoring quarter: 3rd quarter +350

Man oh man, there are so many of these! Let's take a look at some cross bets, eh?

Which game will have the larger winning margin, Magic @ Celtics or Super Bowl? I think I'd probably take Magic @ Celtics here.

You can also get odds on the Dub-fecta of both the Steelers winning and the Penguins winning the Stanley Cup, which is one I'd be interested in if I were an insane Pittsburgher.

And last but not least, "Who will the winner of the Super Bowl MVP thank first?"
Coach 15/2
Family 13/2
God 3/2
Teammates 5/4
Does Not Thank Anyone 15/4 <-- I like those odds. Have fun today everybody, and fast forward those commercials! You can YouTube the good ones later. We'll see y'all in training camp, along with Brett Keisel's Beard. Go Bears. Uh, Steelers. Right.

NOFFKE'S PICKS

HAPPY SUPER SUNDAY! EVERYONE!

Pre-game has been going on for 8 hours, the Burgers ready for the grill, Meatballs are cooking and Beer is getting cold. Sadly Fodor cannot make my 8th annual Super Bowl Party

As for the game, this was the easiest choice of who I am rooting for. It's my favorite non Bears team vs the Bears arch rival. No Brainer I'm going for the Steelers. Will I be wearing my Jerome Bettis Jersey that is three sizes too small? You bet I am

As for my expert pick against the line, I will take the Steelers and lay the three. I think Aaron Rodgers has had a couple good games in the playoffs and is now overated. He actually played terrible against the Bears in the NFC title game. There are people who are saying he plays better indoors, then why did he play so bad against the Lions.

I see a close game, but the Steelers end up winning by 10. Also, every time I've picked them to win on this Blog, they have.

Heads or Tails: TAILS! (it never fails)

Will any Steelers do the Rodgers Championship Belt Celebration: YES

Will Jerome Harrison get a Personal Four: Yes

Over/Under 6 seconds on Brave for Christina during the National Anthem: OVER

Over/Under 2.5 Brett Favre references. OVER! WAY WAY OVER!

Will a Kick hit the Scoreboard. No

Will BJ Raji see the field on offense? YES

Over/Under 38.5 for Number of the Player who scores the first TD. I'm taking the Over. I am worried about one of the Steelers fast WR breaking one long, but if I had to pick a player I'm Going Ward

HAPPY SUPER SUNDAY

Fitzgerald to Analysts: Suck It

2011-02-03T10:16:00.004-06:00

I loved this quote from Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald regarding his 2011 signing class -

Critics say the class lacks top-end talent, but Fitzgerald doesn't care how analysts view his players. "I went from a zero-star prospect to a two-time All-American," he said of his linebacker days with the Wildcats. "Put that in your pipe and smoke it."

Yup.

Watford Breaks Right Hand

2011-02-01T17:08:00.003-06:00

This just in, from IU Media via insidethehall.com.

Indiana University sophomore Christian Watford is out indefinitely with a broken left hand suffered Sunday in an 84-83 overtime loss at Michigan State. He underwent surgery today. He is the team’s leading scorer and is eighth in the conference averaging 17.0 points. He is sixth in the conference in free throw percentage (83.5) making 111 of 133 charity tosses.

(*&#$^(@*&#^($*&% !!!!!!!
I don't know that anybody on the team can step up and fill this gaping hole. (uh, that's what she said?) Seriously, we don't really have another true small forward. Hopefully Verdell gets back soon and Derek Elston sacks up. This one really hurts.

So How 'Bout Those Hoosiers?

2011-02-01T13:41:00.005-06:00

We've obviously been staying on top of the emerging story surrounding the youthful Indiana Hoosiers, who beat Illinois last week 52-49 (great game, watched it at Yogis) and then took Michigan State to the wire in an 84-83 overtime loss (we were ROBBED, thanks officials) at the Breslin Center.

My first question is: The kids are getting it done without the services of Verdell Jones OR Maurice Creek, who were inarguably the top scoring options on this team coming in to the season, at least at guard. How?

The answer? Sophomores Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford are apparently entering their primes. Hulls is absolutely clutch -

-and Watford is presenting a strong case that he is going to be NBA worthy after probably another year.

Next question: Are the injuries to Creek and Verdell allowing other players to shine?

Well, I wouldn't exactly call this a blessing in disguise, but let's be honest. Maurice this year was nowhere close to where he was last year, when he led all freshmen in scoring before his season-ending injury. He couldn't move as well and his shot was off.

Now, Matt Roth gets off the bench and can provide instant offense, as he did against Michigan State. Will Sheehey can show us all why Crean was so excited to add him to the team - nice fastbreak and dunk against the Spartans, kid! - and between him and Oladipo, this year's freshman class looks to be fitting in nicely.

Lastly, what about the big men?

I've been a Tom Pritchard defender basically since we started having to defend Pritchard all the time, which would be after his production fell off a cliff midway through 2008-09. If he can just stay in the game, he provides solid defense and pick-and-roll skills, as well as a penchant for the big moment. Huge plays winning the Illinois game and then getting some very key rebounds in the later minutes of Michigan State.

On average, Tom fouls 6.7 times per forty minutes, while only drawing two fouls in that time. If there's an area for improvement (and there is) then this is it, because his backups Derek Elston (minus 2.1) and Bobby Capobianco (minus SEVEN!) aren't good at getting opposing big men in trouble, either.

Watford, by the way, leads the team in this category, fouling three times per forty and drawing 6.7/40, good for 47th in the nation according to kenpom.com.

So can we beat Minnesota tomorrow? I think so. Will we? Who knows, but if this team keeps showing us steady improvement and gelling like they have been, almost anything is possible. And yes, I include an NIT bid in that statement.

Tommie Harris is a BARGAIN!!!

2011-01-27T08:50:00.003-06:00

I just thought I'd share with you guys this hysterical picture.

Jay Cutler: Pour the Haterade

2011-01-26T12:34:00.003-06:00

I keep debating about going into a in depth post about this, but I feel like it has been well covered how the overactive S*** storm over Jay Cutler. Two non-main stream pieces that I thought were very well done can be found

http://youcantplayhere.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-lines-get-crossed.html

and

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/1/24/1952992/jay-cutler-injury-nfl-soap-opera

I think the best description of what happened was said by Cris Carter. He said, depending on how you felt about Jay Cutler before the game, is how you felt when you saw him on the sidelines.

Basically what he is saying, if you hated Jay, then you saw him standing on the sidelines as a sign of weakness, but you already felt that way about him

I am a Jay Cutler supporter. Is he what I expected when the Bears signed him 2 springs ago and I stayed up all night celebrating? No, he's not as good as I thought. The doesn't mean I think he's any less of a competitor as any other QB in the league.

Sports Guy Loves a Bull?

2011-01-20T15:06:00.003-06:00

After calmly observing Bill Simmons' anti-Chicago bias for the last six to seven years, I pretty much expect everything that comes out of his mouth (err.. computer?) regarding my teams to make me just a little mad. I mean, I like the guy, but c'mon!

Anyway, it appears now that he has fallen in love with Derrick Rose. How can you not, right? Some great tidbits from his Q&A on All-Star Weekend, in which he calls Rose the best point guard in the NBA and the clear favorite for MVP:

• Backstage intrigue: As the story goes, Rose took it personally when Wade didn't return two of his phone calls during the two weeks leading up to The Decision, then immediately shifted into "I'll show those guys a decision!" mode and devoted the rest of his summer to destroying both of them. Even if this sounds like the makings of an Us Weekly cover -- "ROSE TO WADE: YOU'RE A SELFISH BITCH!" -- there were enough rumblings within NBA circles that I believe this one. So yeah, throwing Rose on the same team with LeBryane could be interesting -- maybe not as rocky as Isiah allegedly freezing out MJ in 1985, but still pretty interesting.

Q: Does the East team have too many bad chemistry subplots? Won't that affect how it plays together?

A: Not necessarily. Back in the 1980s, Parish, Bird and McHale (the original Big Three before Perry, Don and Mole) coexisted with Bill Laimbeer even though they probably would have run the Celtics' bus over him under any other circumstances. It's basketball -- these guys have spent their entire lives playing with people they didn't like. Does it look like an episode of "Bad Girls Club" on paper? Sure. You have bad blood with Rose and Wade/LeBron (covered earlier); Rose and Rondo (their rivalry started in the 2009 playoffs and festered over during the 2010 Team USA scrimmages, when it became so icily competitive that Coach K decided he couldn't keep both)

I like this killer instinct stuff! I like it a LOT!

New Hunt and Halas Trophies

2011-01-20T11:26:00.004-06:00

I am not sure if anyone else has noticed that the NFL has come out with new branding this year.

This includes

New AFC and NFC Logos.

New Preseason Logos.

New Post Season Logos.

And finally new Lamar Hunt and George Halas trophies for the winners of the AFC and NFC Championship games.

So if the Bears win on Sunday, instead of seeing this

you will see this trophy.

I am not a huge fan. I am not going to miss the old trophies too much, but the new ones look kind of incomplete. I also don't think they are as timeless as these trophies should be. It looks like a flavor of the month design. Seem cool now, but we will change this in 5 years cuase then they will be dumb. The old trophies didn't have this problem.

Let me know what you think

Bears on SI Cover

2011-01-19T15:09:00.002-06:00

Well it's official, the Bears will become the latest victim of the SI Cover Curse. I anticipate Jay Cutler and Devin Hester to run into each other on the first play of the game and have them both simultaneously tear their ACLs.

Houston Oiler's Fight Song

2011-01-19T12:01:00.003-06:00

After hearing this, I feel like my entire life has been a lie.

WTF, Can T-Pain Remix this one too? Thank goodness they are extinct, cause how can two football teams have identical fight songs?

NFC Championship: Armageddon

2011-01-16T15:36:00.002-06:00

This will be the first time the Bears and Packers have met in the postseason since 1941 (according to ESPN).

Good game today - could have been a little bit better if Tillman had come down with the late interception, but I'll take a comfortable win like this any day.

Much more to come later from your fabulous Armchair Superstar Writing Staff, which has to go to work now.

I don't much care who wins tonight. Since Chicago beat the Jets and got stomped by New England, it's kind of a mixed bag - on the one hand, a rematch and chance for revenge (a la the Giants a few years ago vs. the Pats), and on the other, an easier potential matchup. Whatever, one week at a time, let's get ready for the Pack, shall we?

BEAR DOWN.

Indiana Beats Michigan, Hoosier Fans Exhale

2011-01-15T21:32:00.003-06:00

The boys finally got one tonight at Assembly Hall, taking down John Beilein's Wolverines 80-61 behind strong efforts from Verdell Jones III and Christian Watford.

Confession time. I played Starcraft2 instead of watching the game tonight. My deal was, until Indiana won a Big Ten game, I wasn't going to watch another death march like the past two years have turned into.

Well, now I can resume having my heart broken -- the next two games are on the road at Wisconsin and then at Iowa. You may recall Iowa for having been terrible last year, and STILL managing to beat Indiana.

The Cream and Crimson at least have decent metrics this year. I'll hawk kenpom.com every damn day, it's the best information site in the college basketball scene, and Pomeroy has Indiana at No. 78 right now. That's good for last in the Big Ten. Iowa is ranked one spot ahead.

For comparison's sake, last year's Indiana team finished the year 183rd. So this is something of an improvement. By the way, both of the freshmen are in Indiana's top five, efficiency-wise.

I would be remiss in not explaining what I've been doing with my free time lately. As mentioned above, Starcraft 2 has eaten my life. You may be familiar with the original SC, which spawned professional leagues and a rabid fan base... in Korea. Can we cover eSports here? Meh. Why not? Check out some pro coverage, from one of my favorite commentators. And go Hoosiers.

New Alex Ovechkin "This Is SportsCenter" Commercial

2011-01-05T17:21:00.002-06:00

Ranking Host Cities for the Next Winter Classic

2011-01-03T14:08:00.015-06:00

SI.com’s Dan Shaughnessy wrote an article today saying the NHL should get rid of the Winter Classic. I do agree this year’s game was unfortunate with the rain, but the Winter Classic is a great idea and should be continued. Now that this year’s game is over, it’s time to start thinking of future sites. Below is my rankings for possible sites of next year’s (and future years) Winter Classic.

First off, I want to spread around who gets to play in the Winter Classic. So sorry Montreal, Edmonton, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburg, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia. If you played in the game before, then you are out of consideration (Montreal played Edmonton in the 2003 Heritage Classic which was the predecessor to the Winter Classic). The next issue becomes warm weather cities? I am not suggesting the game be played outside in the 70s (although apparently they have the technology for this) but what about teams with Dome’s nearby? The Stars playing in Cowboy Stadium sounds cool, but what about the Lightning in Tropicana Field (Rays)? I decided since Detroit hosted the Frozen Four in a dome to include domes. I know this will lose some of the appeal of having the game played in cold and snow and my ratings will reflect that.

Ohio Stadium (Columbus):

My number one choice would be to see a hockey game played in the Horseshoe. The Blue Jackets have had a great following since they arrived in Columbus and I could see 100,000 people coming out to see them play in the cities most beloved stadium. Just last month, Michigan played Michigan State in the Big House which was a huge success. So we know the game could work in a large college stadium. The issue I see though is the success of the team. They have only made it to the playoffs once (lost in Round 1) and do not have many household names. The NHL wants to promote this event and needs stars or good teams to do that.

Rogers Center (Toronto):

Obviously the Roof of the Stadium would be open for this. Toronto is a hockey crazed town and they would embrace this game. The stadium has already hosted games for North America’s 3 other major sports (MLB, NFL/CFL and NBA) so getting Hockey would be a nice way to round it off. Toronto is Canada’s biggest city and the Maple Leafs are Canada’s favorite team. Maple Leafs are an original 6 team. I see no reason why this game wouldn’t work.

BC Place (Vancouver):

Vancouver has been lobbying to get the Winter Classic played there. We know the city is capable of handling big events after hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. The game being played inside the inflatable dome wouldn’t be as exciting but getting the game into Canada for the first time would be a plus.

Cowboy Stadium (Dallas):

Jerry Jones has wasted no time getting large events to come to his palace of a stadium. Cowboys stadium has been open for just two years already will have hosted the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star game and annually hosts the Cotton Bowl and a College Football Kickoff game. The stadium can host big events and would have enough time between the Hockey Game and the Cotton Bowl (played on January 7th this year).

McMahon Stadium (Calgary):

McMahon Stadium is home the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and is located on the University of Calgary. Even though it only holds approximately 46,000 (with temporary seating) it is Canada’s 5th largest stadium. The stadium has hosted the Largest Grey Cup game ever (2009) so should be more then capable of hosting an event like the Winter Classic.

Target Field (Minneapolis/St Paul):

Target Field is the new home of Minnesota Twins. Getting Minnesota the Winter Classic would be great and hosting it either in Target Field or TCF Bank Stadium (University of Minnesota Football) would work. I picked Target Field because it was designed better to handle the cold then TCF was as we found out this NFL season.

Yankee Stadium (New York):

I was thinking this would be one of the top choices for next year. It’s North America’s biggest market, home of an Original 6 team playing in a brand new stadium. However, until they move the day the Pinstripe Bowl is played, there won’t be time to set up the field for another game. So would they move it to the New Meadowlands or Citi Field? I don’t think so, I think the NHL would prefer Yankee Stadium. Until they move the date of the bowl game or the Winter Classic, Yankee Stadium will be low on this list.

University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale/Phoenix):

The University of Phoenix Stadium has hosted a Super Bowl and a NCAA National Championship games. It has also hosted Wrestlemania proving it can be used for more than just Football games. Having hockey’s biggest regular season event played in the dessert would be a little odd. Also, there is a chance the Coyotes could move back to Winnipeg. If they move back, then they can play in the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers new stadium expected to be complete in 2012

Frank Clair Stadium (Ottawa):

Frank Clair Stadium is the former home of the CFL’s Ottawa Rough Riders, Ottawa Renegades and most likely home for an expansion Ottawa team in 2013. The stadium only seats 26,000 which is only five thousand more than Montreal’s regular stadium.

Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay) :

I am as a big of a fan of this stadium as you will find. But I do not see this as a likely place for the game. The main reason is the Lightning played in the stadium regularly from 1993-1996 (see picture) which would eliminate the novelty of the event. The stadium does have the NHL Attendance with approximately 28,000.

Radio Show

2011-01-02T08:41:00.005-06:00

I haven't posted any of the radio shows in awhile, and some are probably a touch outdated due to the nature of the shows, however if you wanted to download any of the shows here are all of them from what we are calling season 1.

Show 1
Show 2
Show 3
Show 4
Show 5
Show 6
Show 7
Show 8
Show 9
Enjoy!

Sweet Feature from Bears Online

2010-12-23T02:07:00.005-06:00

Didn't know these videos existed 'til just now... check it out:

This is an AWESOME video of all of Devin Hester's record TD returns:

And this is a field level look at last week's division clincher:

Derrick Rose is Unreal

2010-12-20T19:00:00.002-06:00

Video time, folks!

And one more, because this is, well, pretty damn funny. Stick with it, there's a nice surprise in there at the end.

More IU Coaching News (Defense!)

2010-12-18T12:34:00.003-06:00

According to a few reports out there Indiana's new football coach Kevin Wilson is getting closer to naming his staff. The latest news is that IU will stick with the co-defensive coordinator system and the the two guys will be...current Nebraska linebacker coach Mike Ekeler and current New Mexico defensive coordinator Doug Mallory (also the son of IU all-time wins leader Bill Mallory).

If these two are announced as part of the IU staff, Kevin Wilson is off to a great start. Both guys have been a part of winning programs in the past (Ekeler at Nebraska and Oklahoma while Mallory has spent time at numerous schools including LSU) and have extensive defensive backgrounds.

No word on when the hires will be announced but it sounds like it will be in the near future.

Also - for people who like to believe internet message board reports it looks like Coach Wilson is already putting his stamp on the IU program. A few different posts on the Indiana Rivals.com site have mentioned the intense offseason workouts that Wilson has already implemented at IU...the latest even mentioned that a rumored 6 players have quit the team. If you can't stand the heat - get out of the kitchen! I like that Wilson is already setting expectations. IU will be a much different team next year.

DucksNational Title Unifrom

2010-12-14T12:41:00.003-06:00

As a follow up to yesterday's article, here is the Ducks new Uniform here's Paul Lukas' Article found on ESPN.com

We've had the Ninja Ducks, the Storm Trooper Ducks, and now we have -- well, what should we call these? Canary-legged Ducks? Tron-sleeved Ducks?

That's the new Oregon uniform for the BCS National Championship Game that's just been been unveiled today. Auburn is the designated home team and will be wearing blue, so it was a given that Oregon would wear a white jersey. Surprising to see them going with white pants, though. And even more surprising to see those socks, which are straight out of the school's highlighter-yellow phase.
But wait, it looks like they're keeping their options open with black pants and socks, so this may end up being a one of those mix-and-match guessing games that continues right up until the Ducks come out of the tunnel on Jan. 10. Seriously, will anyone be surprised if Nikegon scraps this look altogether and comes up with something entirely different for the big game in Glendale?
My initial take: Could be worse, but could also be a whole lot better. I'll have a full point-by-point Uni Watch assessment, along with an in-depth look at the new bowl game uniforms that are also being unveiled today for TCU, Florida, and Boise State, here on Page 2 tomorrow. Meanwhile, post a comment to let us know what you think, because the whole point of this uniform is to get people talking.

I like them, I am glad they didn't stray to far away from thier uniforms of all year. It's defiently Oregon though.