A.J. Green's Cincinnati Bengals Rookie Card

This is supposedly what the former Georgia receiver, A.J. Green's, rookie card for the Cincinnati Bengals will look like. I sure wish he were still wearing the red and black this season, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what this Top 10 pick will do at the next level.

Related articles

• A.J. Green Goes Fourth Overall To The Cincinnati Bengals (theladysportswriter.blogspot.com)

Georgia Bulldogs: Is Washaun Ealey's Release Really A Surprise?

Photo Credit: Brant Sanderlin/AJC

It has been announced that Georgia Bulldog running back, Washaun Ealey, has been granted an unconditional release by the team—he will finish his career elsewhere.

Now, raise your hand if this news surprises you.

Okay, raise your hand if you truly saw Washaun Ealey playing any significant downs for the University of Georgia football team in 2011.

I'm willing to lay a bet down that not many of you raised your hand because, to be quite honest, the surprise would have been if Washaun Ealey made it through the summer based on some of Mark Richt's comments last month at a Bulldog Club gathering in Augusta, GA.

Said Richt, at that time, "Washaun has a ways to go still to show me that he deserves to start or even play right now..."

Does that sound like a guy who's in a hurry to bring back a kid who has been, for the last 12-16-months, displaying less and less interest in wearing a Bulldog uniform? Let's face it, Ealey wore out his welcome a long time ago and, I'll go on record and admit, I'm not so sure how much a pulled hamstring had to do with his lack of carries this past spring.

It has long been rumored, although not confirmed, that Ealey wasn't happy with the new attitude being promoted and enacted at Georgia (mostly from the strength and conditioning aspect) and he wasn't buying into the program that new strength coach, Joe Tereshinksi was selling. It was for that very reason he was given an indefinite suspension this past February.

If we assume the latter is all true, then Ealey's release was not only a matter of time, but a necessary evil as there is no place for that level of dissension on a team that is already heading into a tenuous 2011 football season.

That said, there will be even more pressure for new recruit, Isaiah Crowell, to be all he can be—now—as the depth chart at tailback just got real thin, real fast.

Hopefully Mr. Ealey can find what he's looking for at another institution. He's clearly got a lot of talent, but he'll need to mature a bit before he can reach his max potential.

Related articles

• Georgia Bulldogs reinstate Washaun Ealey after 2-week-plus ban (sports.espn.go.com)
• Put on notice (blutarsky.wordpress.com)
• Lingering hamstring issue to sideline UGA's Ealey for spring game. (collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

The NFL Lockout: Will All The Whining End Today?

I've stayed away from any chatter regarding the NFL Lockout because a) it's hard to understand the issues between all the finger-pointing and whining, and b) no matter what anyone says, it all comes down to the money—the players want more, the owners want to give less.

From a fan standpoint, I can see where changes need to be made—starting with the NFL Draft. It's never made any sense to me that a rookie can come in and make millions as a top 10 pick, based solely on his potential and draft order. That seems monumentally unfair to those players who have actually proven their worth on the field of play and deserve better.

Second, the contract structures have always seemed shady—heavily back-loaded, with the signing bonus being the biggest talking point. Why not offer the bulk of the money in the first few years as opposed to the last few? Oh, that's right, that wouldn't be beneficial to the owners.

And lastly, speaking of those owners, not every franchise is blessed with a billion-dollar stadium, with a Lake Michigan sized big screen, yet many patrons are still subjected to ridiculously high ticket prices and sub-par stadium conditions. 

How about the owners start offering a better fan experience for all the money they're given—after all, without the fans, there likely wouldn't be much revenue to speak of.

Which leads me to this point, this issue effects the fans as much, if not more, than it does the players or the owners. It pisses me off that, in all this chatter, both sides are looking for sympathy from the fans in a situation where neither would be relevant if said fans weren't there to support their sport in the first place!

Good grief, get over yourselves!

Here's a question, someone answer it for me if you can, how many Fortune 500 companies are willing to completely open their financial portfolios up to their employees—even the lowest earning ones—and say, 'hey, we're going to base your salary off of these earnings—if that's okay with you'? In a business as money-driven and cutthroat as the NFL, why would players expect owners to be willing to do as much?

And speaking of said owners, I wouldn't go as far as Adrian Peterson and call them slave drivers, but they definitely don't have a problem pimping players for a hefty profit and that needs to stop. One hand washes the other, and if you [the owners] continue to treat your players like rented mules, they will eventually kick you in the gonads—just saying.

The hearing today might reopen the negotiation table, but the damage has already been done as far as I'm concerned. The NFL has likely lost a lot of fans, disillusioned a ton more, and made their profit-earning lives more difficult where ticket sales are concerned because, let's face it, in an economy where recreational money is at a premium, who is going to be willing to support a bunch of free-spending, prima donnas, with a me-complex?

People will come back to the sport once the lockout is over—no doubt about that—but they won't be nearly as enamored of it as they were before because, to put it simply, all these dollars won't have  amounted to much sense.

Related articles

• What You Need To Know About Today's HUGE NFL Lockout Hearing (businessinsider.com)
• NFL, union take conflict to courtroom (cnn.com)
• The NFL Lockout: Where Are We Now and What It Means for Business (businessinsider.com)
• NFL Lockout Would Send Sports Fans To The Internet And Church (sbnation.com)

Mark Richt: "We Didn't Win The Fourth Quarter"

During a Thursday presser, some of which can be heard here via UGASports.com ($$$), Mark Richt discussed a few of the things that went wrong with the team last season, and what he feels needs to happen to not see a repeat of it again in 2011. Said Richt,

"...we all gotta be pulling in the same direction, and we all gotta be believing, and we all gotta get better at doing the things that will help us win the fourth quarter, really. I mean it's...we gotta, we have to finish well,  ya know? I think that's the main thing that we did not do. Six out of seven games I believe we were within a touchdown in the fourth quarter...and we didn't win the fourth quarter. That was our biggest problem—really."

In short, finish the drill.

There were many things that went into Georgia's inability to finish well in 2010—hopefully most of that will be remedied with the institution of a new strength program—but the attitudes on and off the field were in need of tweaking as well. There were too many alpha dogs trying to mark their territory, in my opinion, and that made for a team that didn't have the type of continuity or effort that we would have liked to see late in games last season.

All signs this off-season point to a team with a renewed interest in playing football for Georgia—not just at Georgia—and if that ends up being the truth, 6-7 will be a footnote for Mark Richt and not just the kink in the chain that led to his departure.

Related articles

• You get what you pay for. (blutarsky.wordpress.com)

It's Nice To See Jared Lorenzen Is Still Keepin' It Real...Real Big

Back in the day when the Georgia Bulldogs played the Kentucky Wildcats—post Tim couch, pre Andre Woodson—they had the displeasure of going up against Jared Lorenzen (AKA, pillsbury throwboy and the round mound of touchdown). He had a big arm, attached to a big body, and most Georgia players found his cushy mid-section was quite the bouncy house as they often just ricocheted right off him.

Well, Lorenzen is still finding an avenue for his God-given talents as a member of the Northern Kentucky River Monsters of the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL), and while he's not nearly as dangerous now as he was back when he played at the University of Kentucky, he's certainly keeping that figure right where he wants it.

Here's a shot of Mr. Lorenzen as he looks today at a svelte 6'5", 290 (photo courtesy of NationofBlue.com):

Jared should seriously consider moving his talents to the offensive line. Wow...that's one biiiiigggggg dude.

Keep doin' your thang, Jared—nobody does it better.

Clint Boling on Georgia: "We Just Didn't Really Play Up To Our Potential"

Former offensive lineman, Clint Boling, was recently interviewed during a media session at the NFL combine—taking place this week in Indianapolis—and when he was asked to explain how a team  that came into the 2010 season so talented ends up 6-7, he had the following to say,

(h/t Jay Adams)



So, basically, Clint had no more of an idea what went wrong than the rest of us.

He mentioned A.J.'s absence and pointed to their inability to meet their "potential", but it didn't look to me like he really had much of a clue what happened in 2010—honestly, he didn't look comfortable answering the question at all. To me that screams loss of control.

The offensive line was by far the most heralded unit on the 2010 squad and, if nothing else, they were expected to remain as effective last season as they appeared to be at the end of 2009. The fact that they were as wildly inconsistent as they were says, to me at least, that there was a definite problem with the message coming from the coaching staff. None of these guys were on the same page and the play on the field suffered as a result.

Hopefully that "disconnect" won't be an issue in 2011.

Forbes Writer Calls For Removal of College Football From ALL Universities

Let me be the first to say that I am an avid college football fan and I wouldn't trade my Saturday afternoons between August and December for anything. I love the sport and see no inherent issue in that fact.

However, Steven Salzberg (a contributing blogger for Forbes) feels college football is driving academia to its death:

"...The culture of football in American universities is completely out of control. It is undermining our education system and hurting our competitiveness in technology, science, and engineering. If we keep it up, the U.S. will eventually be little more than the big, dumb jock on the world stage—good for entertainment on the weekend, but not taken seriously otherwise.

Too harsh? I don’t think so. I think we need to eliminate football entirely from our universities if we want to maintain our pre-eminent position as the world’s scientific and technological leader."

Oh boy, where to begin? Let's state the obvious here, first: playing, watching, attending, or following college football is a choice. No one is forced to pledge their allegiance to any one team and the mere notion that the sports' presence at a university plays a significant role in the dumbing down of our society is, at best, an irresponsible inference.

The educational system is a wreck all by itself—what with the standardized testing models made necessary by the presence of "No Child Left Behind—and removing college football won't change that one bit.

Quite honestly, if Salzberg's hope is to see the United States "...maintain our pre-eminent position as the world’s scientific and technological leader" then his efforts to make that change should start much earlier than college. He should encourage more reform at the elementary, middle, and high school levels first—as that is where his message is likely to be the most useful.

Mr. Salzberg goes on to imply that,

"...If football disappeared, we could get our entertainment from another sport, as we do every year after the football season ends. But if we stop producing scientists, other countries will make the discoveries that solve the technological, medical, and engineering problems of the future, and that form the basis for great civilizations."

Let me just say that there's a certain amount of ignorance that goes into such a statement because it seems to suggest that sports fans are not unlike drones—sitting around waiting to be entertained by whatever option is presented them.

As a college football fan I say, with confidence, that I don't enjoy all sports with the same passion as I do college football. So, to say that eliminating it is okay because, well, I (and countless others) could just find some other sport to follow is a touch insulting.

Even more, who's to say that simply by ridding society of college football, more scientists would be produced? That seems like a big jump to make. Is he really willing to stand behind the notion that the only reason college students aren't able to reach their maximum potential is because college football exists?

If that's his aim, he's reaching.

Quite honestly, the more I read his points, the more his rant seemed aimed at his current employer—the University of Maryland, than anything else,

"The football-industrial complex has too much power over our universities. Nothing else can explain how we spend so much money and time on football, which contributes almost nothing to students’ education, while academic departments are cutting faculty and staff. The culture of football worship has gotten so out of control that I think the only solution is to get rid of it entirely."

College football is the cash cow at many universities and, regrettably, that means that some academic departments are forced to play second-fiddle to the athletic department. Is that wrong? Perhaps, but those same dollars are often used to upgrade facilities, build better buildings, and pay for programs meant to enhance the academic experience of the student body (via study abroad programs, guest professors, etc.) as well—whether those individuals follow football or not.

Are all universities using their money in an even-handed way? Of course not, but the college football fan isn't writing or cashing those checks, and it's up to each university's president to advocate that the monies earned be divvied up in  such a way that it both sustains their athletic programs and uplifts the academic ones.

If that fails to happen, that's not the fault of college football, it's fans, or the athletes that play the sport.

In the end, Mr. Salzberg's ire and concern are coming from a good place, but his anger is misdirected and his message needs tweaking.

You can read his entire article here.

The 10 Biggest Super Bowl Fiascos of All-Time

The Super Bowl is undoubtedly America's most hyped sporting and television event. Last season's big game, in which the once moribund New Orleans Saints defeated the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts, drew an audience of more than 106 million people, surpassing M-A-S-H as the most-watched program in US television history. 

Because there is so much at stake, whether it's the Lombardi Trophy, or money for FOX, NBC or CBS, every element of the event is magnified. Mass attention is bestowed upon both the players, and non-football performers, for their actions on and off the big stage. In the past, some reveled in it while others found it bothersome, but all of it contributed to a few memorable fiascos that added drama, horror or humor to an already exciting week.

Here are just a few of those wild moments:

1. Super Bowl XXIII—Stanley Wilson's Pregame Cocaine Binge:

The Bengals entered Super Bowl XXIII as heavy underdogs to the San Francisco 49ers, so the addition of an unnecessary distraction was the last thing they needed. Prior to their last team meeting, before the game, running back Stanley Wilson, who had been suspended for the 1985 and 1987 seasons for cocaine use, told teammates he'd forgotten his playbook and was going to retrieve it. Minutes later he was found on the bathroom floor of his hotel room, debilitated by a spontaneous cocaine binge. Consequently, he was left off the roster by coach Sam Wyche and because it was his third strike with the NFL, he was later banned for life. The Bengals narrowly lost the game, which culminated with the famous Montana-to-Taylor game-winning touchdown.

2. Super Bowl XXXVII—Barret Robbins Forgets Anti-Depressants, Goes MIA:



Barret Robbins is another would-be Super Bowl participant who fell victim to his own demons before the game. The Raiders' Pro Bowl center went missing two days before kickoff and resurfaced Saturday evening, disheveled and disoriented, incapable of playing in the game. His teammates claimed that Robbins went on a drunken binge in Tijuana—located just across the border from Super Bowl XXXVII's host city of San Diego. As a result, coach Bill Callahan left him off the roster and the Raiders offensive line suffered.  The Bucs defense sacked 2002 NFL MVP Rich Gannon five times, pressuring him into five interceptions, and stifled the Raiders run game—then finished with a total of 19 yards rushing. Robbins subsequently entered the Betty Ford Center and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. His personal freefall continued during the following years as he was linked to BALCO, tested positive for steroids, and was involved in an incident in which he was shot three times, resulting in an attempted murder charge.

3. Super Bowl XXXIV—Ray Lewis's Supposed Murder Involvement:



Today, Ray Lewis is recognized as a Super Bowl champ and one of the most accomplished and intimidating linebackers in NFL history. In January of 2000, however, he was viewed by many NFL observers as just another professional athlete turned criminal. After a post-Super Bowl party, he was involved in a bloody fight that resulted in the stabbing deaths of two men, and the accusation that he had a role in their murders. Lewis avoided murder charges and jail time by testifying against his two co-defendants and pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. The episode delivered yet another hit to the NFL's reputation, coming just two months after Ray Carruth was accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend.

4. Super Bowl XXXIII—Eugene Robinson's Awful Weekend:

The elaborate Super Bowl XXXIII festivities apparently weren't enough for Falcons Pro Bowl safety Eugene Robinson—he just wanted to engage in the XXX activities. Not a day after he was given the Bart Starr Award for exemplifying "outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community," he was arrested for soliciting an undercover police officer for sex. He was bailed out by a team official and played a prominent role in the game, but in a bad way. He surrendered an 80-yard touchdown to Broncos receiver Rod Smith—which placed the Falcons in a two-touchdown hole—from which the Falcons never recovered. They lost the game 34-19.

5. Super Bowl XIII —Hollywood Disses Bradshaw, Pays the Price:

Trash-talking has long been a tradition of Super Bowl week. It adds to the anticipation of the game, especially if it involves two of the league's most prestigious teams, the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the lead-up to Super Bowl XIII, colorful Cowboys linebacker, "Hollywood" Henderson, told reporters that Bradshaw was "so dumb he couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the 'C' and the 'A'." The Steelers quarterback had never been viewed as the sharpest tool in the shed, nor the most emotionally composed person, but he didn't let the zinger get under his skin. In fact, he responded by putting forth the best Super Bowl performance of his career. He posted 318 yards and four touchdown passes, winning the game's MVP honors after the Steelers' victory.

6. Super Bowl XX—Irving Fryar's Fingers:

The two weeks that led up to Super Bowl XX were far more entertaining than the Bears' 46-10 thrashing of the Patriots. Bears quarterback Jim McMahon was the center of attention, most notably referring to the women of New Orleans as "sluts" and mooning a camera during a practice before the game. When the camera wasn't fixed on McMahon's mug, it was focused on Patriots Pro Bowl receiver Irving Fryar's two bandaged fingers, which he cut prior to the AFC Championship Game. The injury was initially explained as a freak accident with a kitchen knife, but it was later reported by the Boston Globe that it occurred during a fight between him and his wife. Fryar, a key component of the Patriots' offense and special teams, played anyway, catching the team's lone touchdown.


7. Super Bowl XXXVIII—Janet Jackson's Slippage:



One of the most dramatic games in Super Bowl history was overshadowed by the halftime show performance of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. The two suggestively performed Timberlake's hit "Rock Your Body"—culminating with Timberlake's tearing off a piece of Jackson's clothing and revealing her partially-covered breast for a split second. Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" created a flurry of controversy and elicited heated debates about indecency in broadcasting and the supposedly corrupted morality of America. The incident resulted in a record $550,000 fine levied by the FCC against CBS. The video above features the moment as it occurred on live television.

8. Super Bowl XLI—Prince's Pointy Profile:



Although it didn't garner as much attention as Janet Jackson's performance three-years earlier, Prince's halftime performance angered the slightly more conservative crowd. During his guitar solo for "Purple Rain," his shadow was projected onto a large sheet, forming a silhouette that combined the figure of his body and guitar. Some viewers claimed the instrument appeared phallic and complained to the FCC and CBS. Late night talk show hosts poked fun at the incident, but the minor controversy subsided rather quickly. Now, most people remember Prince's performance as the highlight of an otherwise anticlimactic night. (Note: advance to 9:45 in the above video to see what all the fuss was about).

In-Game Fiascos:

9. Super Bowl VII—Garo Yepremian and The Worst Pass in NFL History:



Garo Yepremian may be one of the most proficient kickers in NFL history, but he's best remembered for his fool-hardy pass attempt during Super Bowl VII. Up 14-0 with just more than two minutes remaining in the game, the Dolphins field goal unit took the field with the intension of sealing the victory. Instead, the attempt was blocked and the ball was immediately retrieved by Yepremian. He then attempted a pass, causing the ball to flutter just above his head, bounce into the air and end up in the hands of Redskins cornerback Mike Bass, who returned it for a touchdown. The Dolphins lead was cut in half in just a matter of seconds. Fortunately for Yepremian, the Dolphins won the game, accomplishing the goal of becoming the first undefeated team in NFL history, and the play became nothing more than a comic relief highlight for NFL Films.

10. Super Bowl XXVII—Leon Lett-down:



Former Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett, like Yepremian, enjoyed a very productive NFL career. And Lett, like Yepremian, will always be remembered for what he did wrong. Lett was responsible for two high profile blunders, the first of which occurred late in Super Bowl XXVII. With the game already in hand in the fourth quarter, Lett scooped up a fumble and ran it back 45 yards. As he neared the goal line, he slowed and held the ball with his arm outstretched in order to showboat, but karma bit him in the butt when Bills receiver Don Beebe ran Lett down and knocked the ball out of his hand before he reached the endzone, causing a touchback. Lett was noticeably embarrassed after the game, admitting that he was looking at the Jumbotron as the play unfolded. But, some people never learn and, at the end of the next season, he cost the Cowboys their Thanksgiving game versus the Dolphins when he attempted to recover a blocked kick in the waning seconds, enabling the Dolphins to regain possession and kick the game winner.


*This article is reprinted via permission of onlinedegree.net.

Isaiah Crowell's Signing Day Moment Was One For The Dawgs (VIDEO)

The little pup at the end was a nice move by Crowell. Let's hope he's got more tricks up his sleeve once he gets on the football field next season.



Not to be completely outdone, his Carver-Columbus teammate, Gabe Wright, caused a stir as well when he revealed Auburn as his school of choice by putting on a hat that said "Nick Who?"...he clarified that he meant Fairley, not Saban—nice save there, Gabe.

National Signing Day: It's Less About The Signature Than The Spotlight

College football recruiting used to be about the team. It used to be about each school's football program, and how well their coaching staff went about finding, and signing the best players the high school ranks had to offer.

The schools were in the spotlight, and the prospects were just a bunch of names on a big board—hanging in some coach's office—the importance of those names had little to no meaning to the everyday fan until said player showcased his talents on the football field.

College football didn't have the luxury of sending out key members of their staff to recruit a particular player. That was something schools with big money did—schools that many coaches considered as "cheaters" for doing so.

You see, during the 1950's, few schools had a recruiting budget and there was no place on the staff for a "recruiting coordinator" or talent scout. There was no Rivals, Maxpreps, or Scout around to offer up their evaluations. It was a fairly new concept back then to do so and very few schools had any idea where to start.

Sure there were guys who knew how to analyze talent—and they did it well—but, for the most part,  their talents were only valuable to those who were looking for an edge over their opponents and were willing to pay to get it.

Nowadays, the everyday college fan finds himself paying a premium to keep up with every little item on a prospect they, prior to that point, probably had never heard of and they will likely know as much as any analyst about how good that particular will be.

In 1956, the University of Florida was the only school in the State of Florida to utilize a full-time recruiter on it's staff.

Fast-forward to 2010, and not only is recruiting a full-time endeavor on just about every Division I football staff, but it's something that is thought to be the very definition of success and/or futility for any given program.

So, the best thing a coach can hope to do is land the best of the best. There isn't a coach worth his millions that doesn't want to be the envy of every other Division I program in America come signing day when he trots out his Top 10 class and it is for this very reason that an 18-year old kid can hold a team, it's fanbase, and it's coaches in the balance.

If he chooses to go to school 'X', then the media, publicity, and leftover spotlight given to schools 'Y' and 'Z' could be enough to bring other big-time recruits their way—particularly if the school is not on the same level, exposure wise, as school 'X'.

The same holds true of the prospect himself. The greater his flamboyance, the larger his legend, the more scrutinized he will become once he hits the field.

Just look at the fate of former University of Miami linebacker, Willie Williams. His path to destruction started with something very innocent—a blog. He was given the unfortunate opportunity to share with the college football world exactly the kinds of perks a blue-chip recruit is awarded.

He relayed experiences of expensive lobster dinners and campus co-eds. The items seemed funny at the time. However, after he signed on the dotted line, he was found to be less a comedian than a comedy of errors.

He bounced around to five different schools before landing in the NAIA—a far cry from the powerhouse of the then, Larry Coker-led, Miami Hurricanes. Needless to say, he never lived up to what his premature coronation promised.

The only thing he ever accomplished in Division I football happened as a result of his recruiting tales. The NCAA enacted new laws to keep such pandering from ever happening again—at least where the public could see it.

Another such example is Ryan Perriloux. The Bayou Boy Wonder with the all-world talent and game-changing athletic ability. The day he de-committed from the Texas Longhorns, it seemed the UT faithful saw their dreams of a national championship float away.

However, all Perriloux ended up doing at LSU was squandering his opportunities. He was eventually kicked off the team and left many wondering what might have been if he had just been able to handle the expectations of the next level. 

Talent evaluation isn't always an exact science. Some kids might be athletically gifted, but mentally incapable of handling the pressure of being touted as a blue-chip talent. That is why for every success story you can find, there is another story with less of an positive outcome.

Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that these are teenage boys, not men. The elevation of the high school game via televised game broadcasts, prep magazines, and national rankings has made it possible to start scrutinizing kids at 14 and 15-years of age.

Can you imagine being barely out of middle-school and someone is already asking for your allegiances? Your autograph?

Better still, you are 18-years old and involved in the social networking scene afforded us all by the presence of such sites as Facebook and Twitter, and your friend numbers go from a couple hundred to a couple thousand within a week of your name hitting a college team's message board.

It's an unusual position to put an adolescent in when he's barely able to understand the rules, much less the risks. 

Most of us will never know the glitz and glamour that a blue-chip recruit feels when all eyes are on him. We won't be able to understand what it feels like to stand in front of a crowd of a thousand or more people—knowing that they are hanging on our every word—and make a decision that will impact us for the rest of our career.

Think about that, just for a moment, how many times have you seen a kid immortalized for choosing the home team but crucified for spurning the others? How does it feel to know a whole state now hates you because you did what was best for you?

Granted, the prospects milk the spotlight too. Many of them take full advantage of this, likely, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They play the hat game, send the mixed messages, and play it coy with the media. Many of them love the attention and make the most of it. 

That said, when does it become too much? Where does the hype train stop? Who should be held accountable for the Willie Williams' and Ryan Perriloux's of the world? Someone has to be, right?

Where does the buck actually stop? When is enough truly enough?

Related articles

• Largest National High School Football Combine Camp Announces Expansion and 2011 Combine Schedule (prweb.com)

Aaron Rodgers on Cancer Patient: "I Didn't See Her, I Didn't Sign For Her"

 Everyone seems to be jumping on Aaron Rodgers for the following incident,



that "diss" started a firestorm of negative publicity that painted Rodgers as just the type of villain most fans have no problem rooting against.

The sentiments raged from the mild, "How dare he just brush past her like that" to the not-so-mild, "He's a jerk!" But the overwhelming opinion was the same, 'Aaron Rodgers is not a nice man'.

Well, today on The Dan Patrick Show, Aaron Rodgers explained what really happened in that moment that he was seen walking past Jan—that's the name of the woman dressed in the all-pink Green Bay Packers gear. In short, he said the following, "I've met Jan on previous occasions...as the video shows, I didn't see her. I didn't sign for her. It turned into something I didn't really expect."

Jan, has also come out in defense of Rodgers and stated that he has signed a number of items for her on multiple occasions and she's unhappy that she has been made a pawn in this negative media slant.

So, it seems to be much ado about nothing according to both parties.

Related articles

• Two-second video clip doesn't at all capture Rodgers (cbssports.com)
• Is Aaron Rodgers An Epic A**hole? (withleather.uproxx.com)
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NFL Swap: After Elway's Statements, What's Next For Tim Tebow In Denver?

John Elway is the new Vice President of Football Operations for the Denver Broncos. Translation: he has a say in what happens on the team—personnel wise—but he doesn't write the checks that make them happen.

So, when John Elway talks, the Denver players better be listening, and it looks like Tim Tebow's ears just started burning where his future as Denver's starting quarterback is concerned.

Elway, speaking to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, made it clear that Tebow is not the guy Denver needs at quarterback right now. Said Elway, "I don’t think Tim Tebow is a good quarterback at this level at this time..."

Could that statement mean Tebow is destined to move to another position in the very near future?

If so, would Tebow be willing to make a switch—to possibly fullback or tight end—now that he's had a taste of success at quarterback?

Does the very idea of Tebow playing elsewhere—be it position or team—mean there's still a chance for Orton in Denver?

Elway still holds a high-opinion of Tebow as a player, it's just not certain that he's willing to wait the 2-3 more seasons Tebow would need to become the player that leads Denver back to glory.

One thing is for sure, if Tebow stays in Denver, he won't have much room for error in 2011.

As for Elway, he's definitely placing his football smarts on the line early where personnel evaluation is concerned.

Tebow was drafted to be the future in Denver, and to hear Elway dismiss him as only average is a sure sign that the former legend isn't about to kowtow to the, possibly, future one.

Related articles

• Elway clarifies his comments on Tebow (profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

Marvin Lewis on OchoCinco: "He's Being His Mopey Self"

You know, with a coach like Marvin Lewis, who needs enemies?

Reportedly when coach Lewis was asked about the recovery status of Chad OchoCinco, he had this to say, "Well, he's being his mopey self. Hopefully, he can pull himself out of it and move forward ... When things don't go Chad's way, that's kinda how it happens."

Uh huh, tell us how you really feel Marvin.

To further aggravate the situation, Lewis added the following when asked how he deals with such behavior from his other media-friendly receiver, "I don't deal with it...we just move on. We'll put a new guy in there. If he's not ready to go Sunday, we'll have somebody in there ready to go and go from there."

Wow, coach, I didn't realize you had so many grand options at that position—especially considering your other head-case, wait, I mean playmaker is out for the year.

Mr. Lewis might need to learn how to be a touch more diplomatic when discussing his players. It's a trait that could serve him well when he searching for his next job—which could be soon.

As for how OchoCinco feels about this, well, he did say something about being thrown under the bus.

Things are getting hot in Cincy. Looks like there's still plenty of drama left for No. 85.

NFL Thoughts: Brett Favre Needs To Hang It Up...Seriously

Listen, no one here will profess to know what an NFL level hit feels like—don't want to know—but it seems that Brett Favre may need to rethink his decision to keep bringing his "41-year old man" body out on the football field.

After all, like the announcer says in the clip above, the defense is gunning for him on a weekly basis, they don't give a damn how old he is. He's got the ball, he's the quarterback, and they want to lay his pass-throwing backside out as much as possible.

At last check, that's how the game of football is played. No one should feel any obligation to keep Favre upright just because he's the oldest man on the football field—he made the choice to be out there so it's open-season.
  
It's high time that Brett took a longer look at how he wants to spend the remainder of his young days because, if this is the kind of hit that's going to require him to be carted off like a man who just had his jock strap set on fire, then he's beyond the iron man stage—he's just a man—and it won't be long before someone really knocks his butt out.

College Football Odds (ATS): Alabama Will Roll, Michigan Will Rebound

It was yet another average week for the 'Lady', as the site finished the weekend slate at 5-5, bringing the season total to 27-28.

You can revisit last week's picks here.

The BCS will release it's first set of rankings this Sunday, so expect a lot of good play from teams auditioning for a place in the top 10.

That said, it's time to offer another round of picks.

(All lines are courtesy of  VegasInsider.com).

1. Alabama vs. Ole Miss: Alabama (-20.5)

This actually seems like a ton of points to lend the Tide's way—even if they are playing in Tuscaloosa. That said, the Rebels aren't very good on defense.

Look for both Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to get something they didn't last week—running room—and look for the Tide to take out their frustration on the Rebels.

The Lady's Pick: Alabama

2. Michigan vs. Iowa: Iowa (-3)

As impressive as Iowa has been all season, save the loss to Arizona in week three, Michigan's offense is going to be tough to stop at home. Sure Michigan State came in and shut Denard Robinson down, but the Spartans have played the Wolverines well over the last few seasons and that loss wasn't really all that hard to see coming.

That said, Iowa has been nearly as effective, defensively, on the road as they have been at home.
Expect Mr. Robinson to rebound and steal a win from the Hawkeye's.

The Lady's Pick: Michigan

3. Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest: Virginia Tech (-22.5)

Wake Forest is atrocious, there is little doubt about that, but they have played a better brand of football over the last couple of weeks, and have nothing to lose by giving it all they've got against a Hokie squad that, honestly, still isn't all that impressive.

The Lady's Pick: Wake Forest

4. TCU vs BYU: TCU (-28)

TCU is good. BYU is bad. There is not much else you can say about these two teams or this match-up.
BYU's coach is currently wearing two hats (head coach and defensive coordinator) and that has to be tough, considering he's got a true freshman quarterback trying to run the offense.

The Cougars are a mess right now and, even though it seems crazy to think they will get beat by 28 points, that's what is likely to happen.

The Lady's Pick: TCU

5. Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State: Texas Tech (-3.5)

Texas Tech is still trying to find themselves under Tommy Tuberville, and it's not clear that they are anywhere near close to doing that right now—despite their 3-2 record.

The Lady's Pick: Oklahoma State 

6. Rice vs. Houston: Houston (-9)

As terrible as the defense of the Cougars is, the Owls might be worse. If Houston quarterbacks, David Piland or Terrance Broadway, want to get their respective games going, then this is the week to do it.

The Owls have little in the way of offense and don't defend well against the pass—a recipe for disaster when you're opponent specializes in air raids.

The Lady's Pick: Houston

7. Wisconsin vs. Ohio State: Ohio State (-4)

Hmmm, wonder what Bielema's card will tell him to do this week?

He better have a definite plan of action against the Buckeyes ,or he'll be the one feeling some kind of wronged after this game.

The Lady's Pick: Ohio State

8.  Auburn vs. Arkansas: Auburn (-3.5)

Auburn has been getting by on the grace and talent of Cam Newton—no doubt about it. However, the cardiac cats will have to go into arrest at some point, and it's highly possible that the Razorbacks will be just the team to send them rushing for the nearest ambulance.

The Lady's Pick: Arkansas

9. Georgia Tech vs Middle Tennessee State: Georgia Tech (-19)

This pick could come back to haunt me later, but, Dwight Dasher could end up being a problem for that developing Yellow Jacket defense. He's much better than he showed last week, and this could be just the game he needs to get his game back on the right track.

Georgia Tech will definitely win, but not by 19. 

The Lady's Pick: Middle Tennessee 


10. Florida vs. Mississippi State: Florida (-9)

Mississippi State might be scrappy but their quarterback situation leaves much to be desired. Expect the Gators to get back to their winning ways this weekend.

The Lady's Pick: Florida

Georgia Wide Receiver, A.J. Green, Is Ready To Play Some Football (VIDEO)

The Georgia Bulldogs have been without A.J. Green for the last four weeks. Many thought he would return to a team that was 4-0, at best, and 3-1, at worst. There were few who believed he would make his debut on a team that was 1-3 and reeling from one of the most embarrassing losses in a very long time.

However, Green is undeterred by the record or the circumstance. After sitting on the sidelines, watching the offense sputter minus his play making hands, he is simply ready to suit up in his signature No. 8 jersey and play a little Georgia Bulldog football.

Fans are hungry for something to feel good about and, for the first time in a month, A.J. brings the hope of something better—at least for the moment.

Green is ready to play—saying he still feels he has a lot to "prove" to those out there who might still be questioning his overall legitimacy as a player. (h/t wnegtv)

Ray Lewis: Tell Em' Why You Mad, Son!

Saw this vid on ESPN News and just knew it needed to be on this blog for the day. So, thank you YouTube for being a go-to point for all things video and thank you WNST Baltimore for uploading it for public consumption.

Ray Lewis, a future Hall of Famer—without question—decides that he wasn't going to be "politically correct" about the Ravens loss to the Bengals on Sunday. On the contrary, he was going to try and keep it "real". His take on the game, the referees gave it away by calling two pansy-ass calls on the Bengals for what they deemed to be rough hits on Bengals QB Carson Palmer.

The NFL has done a stellar job of trying their best to protect offensive players from the big hitters, like Lewis. They have instituted all types of rules that tell a defender how he can hit a guy, where he can tackle him, how much distance he has to give him in a particular situation, etc. However, what the NFL has not done is take into account that it's just as much the job of the defender to stop points from being put on the board as it is the offensive players job to put said points on the board.

Where's the balance and, Ray makes a valid point, where's the call for instant replay on defensive plays that come into question? Clearly, there's a need for some type of review process to keep defenders from getting hosed as well.

Anyway, I like Ray's honesty, but he needs to direct some of that anger to his own quarterback as well—the refs didn't make Flacco  throw those four picks.

Boise State Would Contend For An SEC Championship?...Andrea Adelson, Surely You Jest

Andrea, Andrea, Andrea. It's not enough that you had the idiotic gall to rank the Georgia Bulldogs No. 64 in a recent preseason poll, but you are still finding ways to take pot shots at the Bulldogs now that the idiots over at E$PN have seen fit to give you a job—when will you ever learn.

Yesterday, Chris Low was paired up against Andrea Adelson in a blogger debate (h/t Get The Picture). The question was whether or not a one-loss SEC team would get the nod over an undefeated Boise State team for a shot at the BCS national title and would Boise State be able to survive an SEC schedule? 

Chris Low, of course, said that a one-loss SEC team would be more worthy of a title shot than an undefeated Boise State—no question. Furthermore, Boise State would find it very difficult to go undefeated on a yearly basis if they had to contend with the SEC's schedule.

No argument from me there.

Well, proving once again that you simply cannot fix stupid, Ms. Adelson had this to say:

"And which of these mighty SEC teams would take down Boise State? Georgia? Tennessee? Ole Miss? Mississippi State? The Broncos would be favored against every SEC team this year except two. This is nothing against the SEC. I think it is the best conference in the country. But to say Boise State would be in over its head in the league is a specious argument. The Broncos are proven winners and would absolutely be contenders for an SEC championship. "

Excuse my french for just a second, but...the HELL you say?

Let's forget for a moment that Boise State has yet to beat an SEC opponent. Let's not even discuss that fact—yet. No, no...let's focus in on this little gem again: "And which of these mighty SEC teams would take down Boise State? Georgia?"...tell me she didn't go there!

If memory serves, and mine is pretty dang good, Georgia played Boise State in 2005—and DEMOLISHED them 48-13. Sure, that was a different coach, a different team, and a different time for Boise State, but to insinuate that in the past four years Boise has become exponentially better than Georgia just because you are an obvious Gator homer is beyond ridiculous—it's ludicrous.

Boise is a WAC team in a WAC conference. They have played four SEC opponents in their history and lost all four times. It doesn't matter how good their smoke screen is right now, the fact remains that they haven't done well, overall, against the SEC, the Pac-10, the Big Ten, or the ACC—all of which receive automatic bids from the BCS sooooooo...you do the math.

Now, the entry yesterday may have attempted to offer a more balanced approach to Boise's situation in the BCS but, rest assured, this author is not yet ready to sip the kool-aid.

"Contenders for an SEC Championship"? Ay, yi, yi...wake me when the stupidity is over.

Urban Meyer Looks To Curb The ebay Trolls—Good Luck

Urban Meyer decided to lay the smack down on those who might be seeking to get rich off the current popularity of his Florida Gators football team.

The prickly coach recently announced that practices would be closed to the fans this summer so that his players could concentrate on football and not have to deal with the pesky autograph hounds who intend to sell their wares on ebay.

Said Urban, "...you walk across and people just maul you and bother you and Internet people grabbing helmets, 'Sign this,' and we don't have security saying, 'Get the heck out of here.' You'll see a lot more 'get the heck out of here' from now on and let the kids go practice and concentrate on football." (ESPN, 8/8/2010).

"Internet people"?...that's a lovely choice of words, Urban—is that like some weird cult or something? It sure sounds scary...should we all be on the lookout for this treacherous group of people or what? Just want to know if I should hide the kids.

Anyway, I guess he's grown a little tired of all the extra attention that comes from putting his players on display. A curious thought when you consider he pimped the heck out of his last star player (ahem, Tim Tebow, cough, cough—promise speech) and his own little Brett Favre moment when he both retired and unretired within a span of 48-hours.

He turned that unnecessary spectacle into one heckuva recruiting haul for 2010.

In all seriousness, though, I can understand Urban's problem with the "Internet people" who are looking to make a quick buck off a hot signature but, the player doesn't have to sign the item—does he? I mean, surely the Gators can afford to hire some security to keep the blood hounds at bay, right?... Just a question.

Urban isn't breaking the mold by closing practices. Many coaches decide to shut out the media and the casual viewer and no one makes a big fuss about it, so, why did he have to come out and make a big spectacle of himself by throwing all those adjectives around?

It sounds to me like he just bought another ticket to drama-ville by calling out the ebay trolls and "Internet people". Good luck keeping them at bay now, Urban, you just made the value of those autographs go up by making them so much harder to get—tsk...tsk...tsk.

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• Urban Meyer Has Had It With "Internet People," "Scumbags," and Crowds [Urban Meyer Vs Internet People] (deadspin.com)

College Football Preseason: Ten Big Questions for The Top Ten Teams

Phil Steele is a well-respected college football sportswriter and analyst. His college football preseason magazine is often one of the most highly-anticipated sports publications of the year. He's nothing if not thorough and he tends to be one of the more spot-on prognosticators in the industry.

That said, when he released his Top 25 in late May, quite a few people were interested in what he had to say. He drew both praise and disdain for going out on a limb to pick Oklahoma as his No. 1, but you had to respect his logic in doing so because, well...he's Phil Steele.

However, since that time, a lot has happened in the world of college football and that Top 10 that seemed to make sense in May isn't looking nearly as air-tight in August. This article is a brief, and I do mean brief, look at the potential weakness of each team Phil Steele listed in his Top 10.

I'll leave the further discussion of said "weaknesses" to you, the reader, because I consider us all to be savvy enough to make a quick, smart, and balanced analysis. Plus, it's always nice to see a different point of view.

As always, I ask that you be respectful of each other and allow for intelligent discussion—thanks in advance for the look. Much appreciated.

10. Oregon Ducks

The obvious place to begin would be at quarterback, right? After all the Ducks lost a possible Heisman contender in Jeremiah Masoli—leaving two inexperienced guys fighting for the right to lead the Ducks back to the promised land.

However, a closer look at the Ducks QB situation and you have to feel like either Nate Costa or Darron Thomas can come in and perform—Chip Kelly knows how to find a good quarterback. The Ducks should be fine at signal-caller as long as Costa can stay healthy and Thomas can stay poised.

So, if there is one weakness that can be found, it would have to be located on the defensive line where the Ducks lost stud defensive end, Will Tukuafu. Can the team repeat the success they had as a unit in 2010 minus one of their best leaders?

Tukuafu's loss isn't a deal breaker but it's definitely something to consider, especially where line chemistry is concerned—can the Ducks keep it together, stay healthy, and remain focused enough to carry their 2009 success into 2010?

9. Miami Hurricanes

 The Hurricanes come into 2010 with a lot of expectations. However, one look at their first road trip of the season—to Columbus to play Ohio State—and you have to wonder if those expectations shouldn't be tempered just a little bit.

The Canes' are loaded with talent, both in the secondary and on the defensive line—despite what their ACC sack totals will tell you—and I don't suspect they will have much of a problem finding a capable back for Jacory Harris to hand the ball off to.

That said, the fact that the offensive line lost two major cogs in Jason Fox (OT) and A.J. Trump (C) is a concern. Harris was already on the ground way too much last season and if fans are looking for him to take the next step in his development, it would help if he weren't running for his life.

Can the Canes' find capable replacements on the offensive line in time to make those title dreams come true in Miami?

8. USC

USC has been taken through the ringer this offseason. From the departure of Pete Carroll to the quasi-erasure of Reggie Bush from their history books, the program has seen better days.

However, just because they won't be eligible for the postseason for a couple years, doesn't mean they can't offer a preview of what might be coming in the future—make no mistake, there is still plenty of talent at USC.

The only true weakness on this team is its secondary. Taylor Mays is gone and the only guy with any significant starting time in the outfield is Shareece Wright. Will the lack of experience in the secondary become a major factor for the Trojans in a pass-happy conference like the Pac-10?

7. Florida

The Gators are not without talent. Tebow may be gone, but John Brantley promises a new approach to the Gator offensive attack—one that will present more balance on the field than the SEC has seen from the Swamp since the departure of Chris Leak.

You could arbitrarily pick a spot and say it could pose a problem for the Gators, but then you'd remember they still have a ton of talent bringing up the rear.

For instance, they lost Brandon Spikes at linebacker, right? Well,big deal, they have plenty more horses in that stable. Joe Haden will be a tough act to follow, but if there is one thing the Gators can find, it's a speedy defensive back to patrol the outfield. Brandon James will be missed on special teams, but I'm pretty sure someone can both catch the ball and run it really fast when the time comes.

So, in honesty, the one weakness, if you are hard-pressed to find one, has to be at wide receiver, where the only significant experience that returns comes with Deonte Thompson—both Aaron Hernandez (TE) and Riley Cooper (WR) are gone.

Will Brantley have enough targets to compliment his talented arm in 2010?

6. Boise State

The Broncos have everything on their side right now, schedule (although that match-up with Virginia Tech could make or break their season), experience (they return 20 starters), coaching (there are few better than Chris Petersen), and expectation (they finally have the respect and the ear of the BCS).

However, what they don't have is an experienced starter returning at the left tackle position. The position that, arguably, is the most important guy on the offensive line. Last season, Nate Potter performed the job very well but he has moved to guard to make way for redshirt freshman, Charles Leno.

Leno may be all that the coaches want him to be, but he hasn't started a game yet, and he will be expected to protect the blindside of the teams most treasured commodity—can he do it?

5.  Nebraska

The Big Red Machine came within an eyelash of winning the Big XII outright last season. Now, with Texas nearly in their rear view, they will look to leave said conference with a bang, not a whimper—hopefully at the Longhorns expense.

In order to do so, they will first need to address their offensive inconsistency. That task will start with the quarterback position where the Cornhuskers seemed to find both joy and pain with Lee at the helm last season.

Nebraska will be fine without Suh, despite what many think, and they have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball to make another appearance at the Big 12 Championship game in 2010. But, if they want to go further, they will need to bring their offense up to the same level as their defense.

Can Lee or Green take the next step and make Nebraska's final season in the Big XII a triumphant one?

4. TCU

The Horned Frogs have long been an under-appreciated, fiercely talented, and consistently steady performer in the Mountain West. All they do is win football games and produce some of the best NFL prospects in the nation—two last season alone in both Darryl Washington and Jerry Hughes.

However, their loss to Boise State in last year's Fiesta Bowl left a bad taste in the mouths of the TCU faithful who figured their program was finally going to get its moment in the sun. Well, that was then.

It's a new year and, even with some key personnel losses on defense, the team still looks poised to make another run at BCS glory if they can address the holes created in the secondary when both Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders departed.

Will the loss of veteran leadership in the secondary be a sore spot for the Frogs this season?


3. Alabama

What can you say about the Crimson Tide? They have one of the best offensive lines in the conference, one of the best running back tandems in the country, and one of the best coaches—in the nation. Nuff said.

They are worthy of all the accolades and the camera-clicks they are getting at the moment and Nick Saban's crew can expect more of the same until their first loss of the season is a reality—pimpin' ain't easy, right?

Well, for all the talent and experience offered by the offense and the defense, there is at least one glaring weakness to speak of—special teams. The Tide lost Leigh Tiffin (K), P.J. Fitzgerald (P), and uber return man, Javier Arenas.

It doesn't matter what your stance is on the importance of the special teams unit, I can say without question, a game can be won or lost in the SEC with one swing of the leg or one badly returned ball.

Can the Tide reload there as well or will the lack of experience on special teams come back to haunt them in a tight game this season?


2. Ohio State

Big things are expected from the Buckeyes this year. Few would place a bet against Jim Tressel's crew in the Big Ten—except maybe Iowa, but that's another story.

However, if the Buckeyes expect to return to another National Title berth, they will need to address the inconsistency of their offensive line. There is just too much experience in that unit for them to play as poorly in 2010 as they did last season.

If they can't do better than that, it won't matter how nifty Terrelle Pryor is, things could get ugly for the Buckeyes in a hurry. 

Can the offensive line grow into the behemoth that many expect it should be already?


1. Oklahoma

Steele rattled a few cages when he chose to exalt Oklahoma to No. 1 over defending champion Alabama and, the heavily loaded, Ohio State. Heck, he rattled cages simply by choosing not to place the Texas longhorns anywhere near his Top 10—the horror.

However, the logic was sound enough that most could at least understand how he might have come to his conclusion.

The Sooners are pretty solid in most areas but the lack of experience at the corner spot could cause some hiccups along the way. Stoops lost two high-quality playmakers in both Domonique Franks and Brian Jackson. He'll need to insert two new able-bodied players at that spot in order to keep the heat off his talented safeties.

Will the Sooners be able to tighten their secondary up in time to be ready for the air attack of the Big 12?

(This article appears courtesy of The Lady Sportswriter)