The Denver Broncos drafted Tim Tebow last Friday in the NFL Draft. Shock waves went through all of the sports media outlets as experts displayed surprise and bewilderment. How could this happen? Didn't almost everyone predict that Tebow would not make it into the Pro game as a quarterback? Didn't Mel Kiper rip into Denver for taking this pick, and calling it stupid?
I have no feelings at all for Tebow, one way or another, but never have I heard such talk about any player not making it in the NFL before he has even had a chance. What do they see that I don't see? He was one of the best, if not the best quarterback in college football. His records are staggering, and he has not been in trouble with the law, abused drugs, or raped anyone. I think he deserves a chance without everyone knocking his mechanics, footwork and passing sharpness before he even plays on a Sunday.
Is the quarterback position so easy to figure out, that before a player even takes one snap, he is ruled as unplayable? Is it such a science that we can tell who will make it and who won't, before the start of their career?
If this is the case, then what happened to the sure prospects of the past, like Joey Harrington, Ryan Leaf, Chuck Long, and Tim Couch? Mel Kiper's worst quarterback pick of any draft was the seventh overall pick, Andre Ware (Detroit) in 1990. in fact, all of these quarterbacks were picked in the first round and all were busts.
I don't know if Tim Tebow will make it in the NFL. I am absolutely positive that no one really knows. Give him a break. See what he can do. He might just surprise a few people. He might surprise Mel Kiper?
I remember a quarterback who did not play in college and had the most unorthodox way of playing that position, and who ended up in the Hall of Fame. In the 50's I attended a game where he handily beat the Detroit Lions 36 to 0 in sub degree temperatures. He holds the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass. (47) His name is Johnny Unitas of the Baltimore Colts and is listed as one of the best quarterbacks of all time. I am pulling for Tim.
Bob
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Media on Draft Day
Most of my family and friends think I am a strange person. Not only do I watch the whole NFL Draft, but I actually switch between the two TV stations that broadcast the event. Both ESPN and the NFL Network covered the festivities live, and each treated the affair like a world news event.
ESPN had Mel Kiper, John Gruden, Tom Jackson, Michael Irvin, and Chris Berman. The NFL Network had Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Steve Young, and Mike Meyock. Below are my observations from the first night of the draft.
Although both shows looked identical, (as far as scenery and number of members at the desk), the NFL Network came out a bit better and more comfortable to watch.
NFL's Mike Meyock impressed me the most. He was articulate, and concise. He really knew his stuff, and did much better than ESPN's Mel Kiper. Both know college players inside and out, but Kiper kept getting overshadowed by John Gruden, who talked and talked with such authority that you thought he was the "God of Football." Gruden was really annoying and if you ever watched Monday Night Football, he was a carbon copy of himself. He bragged about the talent of each player like it was the only pick of the draft. Each and everyone (32 times). At times he disagreed with Kiper, and shook his head, as if he was the only one who knew the game of football.
Tom Jackson threw in his remarks every so often, and Michael Irvin, who I can't understand half of the time said some things that left the panel quiet for a few seconds (seemed like a few minutes). Chris Berman seemed lost. At times there were big gaffs in the show with timing and wrong cameras, and you could see he was upset. At times he was a deer in headlights. Once the camera panned on him at the wrong time and he abruptly made hand gestures as if cutting his throat and shooing the camera away.
Berman's counterpart, NFL's Rich Eisen acted calm and collected. He didn't add much, but kept the flow going with his experts on the panel. Steve Mariucci was okay, but I never seem to learn much from him. He tries not to offend anyone and his information came out bland. I was really impressed with Marshall Faulk. You could tell that he had studied and came out with a lot of true gems about the college players. As far as Steve Young, he was okay too, but if he would have gone to the restroom during the show, nobody would have missed him.
Mel Kiper was the only one who came out against Tim Tebow. He is sure that Tebow will not make it in the NFL, and that the Bronco's made a big mistake. He did not hold anything back on this subject, and you knew exactly how he felt. Good for him that he spoke his mind and did not go with everyone else who didn't want to hurt Tebow's feelings or be controversial.
All in all, Mike Meyock was the best on the first night. I could have listened to him all night, and I learned just enough from him not to be overwhelmed. John Gruden was the worst, with his loud, supremacy attitude. He really got on my nerves and I now blame him for my headache after the whole thing was done.
If you have a choice on which program to watch on night two, I suggest the NFL Network.
Bob
ESPN had Mel Kiper, John Gruden, Tom Jackson, Michael Irvin, and Chris Berman. The NFL Network had Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Steve Young, and Mike Meyock. Below are my observations from the first night of the draft.
Although both shows looked identical, (as far as scenery and number of members at the desk), the NFL Network came out a bit better and more comfortable to watch.
NFL's Mike Meyock impressed me the most. He was articulate, and concise. He really knew his stuff, and did much better than ESPN's Mel Kiper. Both know college players inside and out, but Kiper kept getting overshadowed by John Gruden, who talked and talked with such authority that you thought he was the "God of Football." Gruden was really annoying and if you ever watched Monday Night Football, he was a carbon copy of himself. He bragged about the talent of each player like it was the only pick of the draft. Each and everyone (32 times). At times he disagreed with Kiper, and shook his head, as if he was the only one who knew the game of football.
Tom Jackson threw in his remarks every so often, and Michael Irvin, who I can't understand half of the time said some things that left the panel quiet for a few seconds (seemed like a few minutes). Chris Berman seemed lost. At times there were big gaffs in the show with timing and wrong cameras, and you could see he was upset. At times he was a deer in headlights. Once the camera panned on him at the wrong time and he abruptly made hand gestures as if cutting his throat and shooing the camera away.
Berman's counterpart, NFL's Rich Eisen acted calm and collected. He didn't add much, but kept the flow going with his experts on the panel. Steve Mariucci was okay, but I never seem to learn much from him. He tries not to offend anyone and his information came out bland. I was really impressed with Marshall Faulk. You could tell that he had studied and came out with a lot of true gems about the college players. As far as Steve Young, he was okay too, but if he would have gone to the restroom during the show, nobody would have missed him.
Mel Kiper was the only one who came out against Tim Tebow. He is sure that Tebow will not make it in the NFL, and that the Bronco's made a big mistake. He did not hold anything back on this subject, and you knew exactly how he felt. Good for him that he spoke his mind and did not go with everyone else who didn't want to hurt Tebow's feelings or be controversial.
All in all, Mike Meyock was the best on the first night. I could have listened to him all night, and I learned just enough from him not to be overwhelmed. John Gruden was the worst, with his loud, supremacy attitude. He really got on my nerves and I now blame him for my headache after the whole thing was done.
If you have a choice on which program to watch on night two, I suggest the NFL Network.
Bob
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Just Thinking
Ozzie Guillen, manager of the White Sox, remarking on only 10,000 fans at the Chicago/Toronto game, that the Blue Jays should put a few hockey players on their baseball team to get more attendance. With weather probably being the main factor, I would like to tell Ozzie that Toronto just needs better competition. Chicago only has 4 wins, and Toronto has 7 wins, and is in first place in their division. Ouch!
Attending sporting events can sometimes be not as much fun as anticipated. "The Philadelphia Phillies had a fan (not sure if "fan" is the right word here?)get into a fight with a father and his young daughter in the stands. The drunk put his fingers down his throat and vomited over the couple. I have heard some terrible stories of things happening at football stadiums (Oakland-Philadelphia), and this has got to be a new low for baseball. This was disgusting.
I wrote on "Twitter", that the NFL forces NFL teams to speak to the media about the upcoming draft before the big day. Things like, who they might pick? Who they might trade up or down for, etc.,
What a waste of time. Every team tries to be so secretive that news never comes out of these media promotions. Most of the dealing happens in the final minutes, so everyone lies or just tells the same stories that have been speculated from the press. Stop it! Quit wasting our time and theirs.
Five more days until the NFL draft. Got to make some popcorn!
Bob
Attending sporting events can sometimes be not as much fun as anticipated. "The Philadelphia Phillies had a fan (not sure if "fan" is the right word here?)get into a fight with a father and his young daughter in the stands. The drunk put his fingers down his throat and vomited over the couple. I have heard some terrible stories of things happening at football stadiums (Oakland-Philadelphia), and this has got to be a new low for baseball. This was disgusting.
I wrote on "Twitter", that the NFL forces NFL teams to speak to the media about the upcoming draft before the big day. Things like, who they might pick? Who they might trade up or down for, etc.,
What a waste of time. Every team tries to be so secretive that news never comes out of these media promotions. Most of the dealing happens in the final minutes, so everyone lies or just tells the same stories that have been speculated from the press. Stop it! Quit wasting our time and theirs.
Five more days until the NFL draft. Got to make some popcorn!
Bob
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Draft Day 2010 (April 22nd)
Eight days and seven hours until the start of the 2010 NFL Draft. Tick, tick,tick. I know this is not usually very exciting for some of the NFL teams in the league, but for us Detroit fans it is the closest thing to the Super Bowl. We (die-hard Lions)relish every moment, and hope that some miraculous pick will make our team, "not win" the Super Bowl, but just be respectable again. Most of us are not even hoping for the playoffs anymore. 8 wins, and 8 losses would really be a step up, and I believe all of Michigan would go crazy if that happened. It has been such a long, long, long time. I haven't checked on how the Lions rate with the highest picks each year, but over the past 4 years, they have had a number one, two number two's and a seventeen. Five years ago they picked number 9. And for all of that,Detroit won three games in the last two years. But, am I down? Oh no. I can hardly wait for draft day. Then after the Lions make their picks, I will probably be down.
Detroit's number one pick could be Suh, or McCoy, both defensive tackles. I am fine with that, although I think it would be better to give up the pick for two players in the second round and save some money. Either way, I think that Detroit has made some good moves already with free agents, and with a few new draft picks, who knows?
It will be interesting to see how other teams enter the draft this year. The Philadelphia Eagles need a quarterback, and the Minnesota Vikings are waiting on Farve's decision. Again! Plus there are a few new coaches, and it will be interesting to see how Pete Carroll pans out with Seattle and Mike Shanahan deals with McNabb in Washington. Can't wait.
bob
Detroit's number one pick could be Suh, or McCoy, both defensive tackles. I am fine with that, although I think it would be better to give up the pick for two players in the second round and save some money. Either way, I think that Detroit has made some good moves already with free agents, and with a few new draft picks, who knows?
It will be interesting to see how other teams enter the draft this year. The Philadelphia Eagles need a quarterback, and the Minnesota Vikings are waiting on Farve's decision. Again! Plus there are a few new coaches, and it will be interesting to see how Pete Carroll pans out with Seattle and Mike Shanahan deals with McNabb in Washington. Can't wait.
bob
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Opening Day: Tigers
I am still trying to get over the the disappointment that Polanco and Granderson are not with the Detroit Tigers anymore. How long will it last? They are not making it any easier for me. On the first day with their new teams, Polanco had a grand-salami (4 run homer)with the Phillies and Curtis had a lead off homer with the Yankees. Great starts for both of my favorite players in the past 4 years. I am sure I'll be watching many more Philadelphia and New York games this season to see how they progress. Good luck to both of them.
I thought that the new players for the Tigers played well. Sizemore looked a little young and nervous as a rookie, but Damon and Jackson seemed to fit right in. Both had a good start and looked comfortable playing for Detroit. One thing for sure, the Tigers will have much more speed this year and their bench players like Santiago and Rayburn will fill in nicely. Move over Chicago, the Tigers are coming!
It was a nice comeback win for Detroit on opening day, winning 8 to 4. Verlander pitched well enough, but the thing that stood out for me in game one, was Johnny Damon. I was not overly happy when we got him this year, and I knew it would take some time until I warmed up to him. What a shock. He looked like he had been a Tiger for 10 years. He was up-beat, comfortable and really seemed to be the leader of the team. And this was only his first day. I had heard that he was super in the locker rooms of New York and Boston, but I was impressed on how he stood out here. He looked like he belonged on the team more than Cabrera (20 million dollar man) did. This is hard to say so soon, but Johnny Damon could become my favorite Tiger!
Bob
I thought that the new players for the Tigers played well. Sizemore looked a little young and nervous as a rookie, but Damon and Jackson seemed to fit right in. Both had a good start and looked comfortable playing for Detroit. One thing for sure, the Tigers will have much more speed this year and their bench players like Santiago and Rayburn will fill in nicely. Move over Chicago, the Tigers are coming!
It was a nice comeback win for Detroit on opening day, winning 8 to 4. Verlander pitched well enough, but the thing that stood out for me in game one, was Johnny Damon. I was not overly happy when we got him this year, and I knew it would take some time until I warmed up to him. What a shock. He looked like he had been a Tiger for 10 years. He was up-beat, comfortable and really seemed to be the leader of the team. And this was only his first day. I had heard that he was super in the locker rooms of New York and Boston, but I was impressed on how he stood out here. He looked like he belonged on the team more than Cabrera (20 million dollar man) did. This is hard to say so soon, but Johnny Damon could become my favorite Tiger!
Bob
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