Oaklands Best Option at QB

Here's what I believe to be the top 5 options for the Raiders at QB for the 2010 season:

5. Charlie Frye - Although his season was a C- at best, throwing for 1 tug and 4 INT's, he shows signs of athleticism, scores TD's on QB sneaks, and excites the fans anytime he come in to replace a 290' Russell.

4. Dennis Dixon - The bay native and Oregon stand out would look awesome in the Silver and Black. Although the Steelers love his skills and probably wouldn't give him up, this is one player worth the typical "the Raiders always over pay over players." (aka. Deangelo Hall and Javon Walker). Giving up some valuables and some cash would would benefit the Raiders with an Athlete, a cannon, and a a player who almost won the Heisman if it weren't for a devastating knee injury against Ariz St (a game I was at).

3. Bruce Gradkowski - The No doubt fan favorite. Bruce stepped it up big time in '09, the supposed break out year for Russell. Although I give him probp for his leadership, drive, commitment to the winning, and his stellar performance vs. the Steelers; consistency is my issue. His performance against the Cowboys is case and point why although he works his ass off, he is at best a 2nd stringer.

2. Jason Campbell - His number during his time on the Redskins don't show his true potential. This guys has excelled is past seasons, been brutally injured as a result of the worst o line in the game, and has been calm and collected through it all. I think given some weapons at WR (T.O.) and a top o-line draft pick he would surprise a lot of people.

1. Jimmy Clausen - I saw earlier today that Mel Kiper Jr. on the Mothership projects the Raiders to draft him at #8 and thought to myself, how did I not think of this earlier? He's labeled at cocky, arrogant, disliked by others, and is a stud behind the pocked with a rocket launcher for an arm; The ideal Raider. Although many would say why waste another #1 pick on a QB, he had proven he can play in a pro offense under Weis at ND, is a team leader, he is in shape (couch couch JR), and is ready to prove the doubters wrong. Obviously, Al Davis is ready to usher out the Jamarcus era, lets do it bu ushering the Clausen era.

As for Jamarcus...I think their is an need for a solid wedge blocker on kick returns or even a workout/drinking buddy for Janikowski

Bracketology, A Day of Rest for Those Chosen 64

Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Scientology, are all very popular religions, but they are not getting practiced this Sunday, today we practice Bracketology! While some are taking this Sunday as a day of rest, College basketball fans worldwide are filling out their brackets. Selection Sunday is finally here. Post your Final Four, Winner, and Sleeper for this years NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Selection Sunday........ Yeah It's Awesome BABY!

Can the Giants shed the Weight?

The San Francisco Giants enter the 2010 season with a little extra weight this spring. No, I am not talking about Operation Panda going haywire and ending up at the Panda Express. I am referring to the weight of playoff expectations. While surprising many critics, the offense anemic 2009 squad improved on their 2008 win total by 16 games. The mix-in of youth gave the veteran happy Giants a much needed shot in the arm. The 09 Giants relied heavily on the pitching arm of Tim Lincecum, and the bat of Pablo Sandoval.

To improve from 88 wins last season, once again the 2010 Giants will rely heavily on the arms of their pitching staff. Lincecum might not be able to carry the weight of going for his third straight Cy Young, but look for Matt Cain, the now longest tenure Giant to lend him a hand. The recently married Madison Bumgarner, will not only carry the burden of his ball and chain, but the highly touted pitching prospect will be looked upon to contribute every fifth day or from the bullpen. After losing 12 pounds this off-season the 5-foot-11, 245-pound panda is not only looking to improve his figure, but he is looking to improve upon his 2009 stats. 330 Avg. 25 HR 90 RBI was not enough to tip the scales for NL MVP in his direction, but look for slight improvements in the Panda’s second full season in the bigs.

Look for Buster Posey to have a huge Spring Training. This will make the decision hard for the Giants’ brass to put him back down in the minors for more seasoning. The 22 year old lost 15 pounds last season and admitted to being worn down during a lackluster Arizona Fall League. Posey regained those 15 pounds — he's at 215 now — after a winter spent working out six days a week and enjoying his wife's southern cooking.


To take some of the weight off these younger players shoulders, the Giants will look upon a few veteran players who have experienced playoff baseball. With Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa coming on board, Manager Bruce Bochy has said he envisions Aaron Rowand as the new leadoff hitter. The CF said he has lost 10 pounds in the off-season, and he owes it all to his new hobby. Rowand became an avid bike rider, cycling four times a week around his Las Vegas home. Rowand hit .294 in 50 games as a leadoff hitter in 2009, so he seems most comfortable in that spot. Although Aaron estimates he rode about 2,200 miles, don’t look for him standing on a podium wearing the yellow jersey anytime soon. The 2008 Silver Slugger Award winner, Aubrey Huff, looks to rebound from a career low year in 2009 where he split time in Baltimore and Detroit. A lifetime .282 hitter with an on-base percentage of .340 and slugging percentage of .472, Huff is not the answer to the Giants' offensive woes. His job in 2010 with the Giants will be mentoring the younger players, and more importantly, protecting cleanup hitter Pablo Sandoval. If the former Devil Ray can put together a season closer to his 2008 numbers, then the Giants' offense arguably should be more productive than 2009.

The addition of Mark DeRosa this off-season might just be the straw that tips the power scales of the NL West in the Giants direction. In DeRosa, the Giants have found a versatile veteran who can hit for power and give the offense some much-needed punch. I am not saying he will match his career-best 23 homers to go along with 78 RBIs for Cleveland and St. Louis. I am saying he is a professional hitter that will take pitches and extend the line up. DeRosa will be an important player on a team that was a bat or two away from making the playoffs last year. He is a player that is used to wining. Having made the playoffs 6 out of 12 seasons. "He's a winning player and any organization wants as many players like Mark on the ballclub, especially ours, that has a chance to turn the corner and get to the playoffs next year," GM Brian Sabean said. " The former University of Pennsylvania quarterback will bring that winning attitude to the Giants, something the team has been missing in this post Bonds Era.

With the 2010 season fast approaching. It’s up to the Giants to be the biggest losers this season and shed that weight of playoff expectations, and turn those expectations into reality.

The Olympics are Over. What Now?

As Sidney Crosby's wrist shot slid past goalie Ryan Miller Sunday, my mood changed for the worse not only because Team USA lost. The two weeks leading up to the greatest hockey game ever transpired perfectly in culmination. Great Olympic moments were abound. Lindsey Vonn took gold in the downhill, Bode Miller wasn't a complete embarassment, and how about the German speed skater who swam across the line after cramping up in the team pursuit. Sunday's hockey game trumped them all, but it was a great two weeks for a patriotic sports fan.

Unfortunately, we won't get to enjoy the games again until August 2012. So what do we do in the meantime? Here are the top five sporting events to look forward to in the near future (in order of awesomeness),

5. NFL Draft

April 22nd. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are a die hard NFL fan, or a die hard college football fan, it can be fun. The drafts of previous years are more important, because Raider fans can validate their skepticism and sheer embarassment when looking back. But draft day itself gets the blood going as your team's clock slowly expires.

side note--The Draft beat out the NBA Playoffs. Mostly personal preference on this one...the Warriors are 17-41 at press time.

4. Stanley Cup Playoffs

April 13th. This would be higher on my list, but I am a Sharks fan and my undying interest usually dissipates after they take their early exit. Most casual hockey fans say "call me when the playoffs start", and there is good reason. Every posession is magnified. Teams do whatever it takes not to lose, and it shows. The Cup tournament is the best playoff system in sports.

3. The Masters (yes, even sans Tiger)

April 8th-11th. Ok, I admit, The Masters might have been number two on my list if I knew Tiger was playing. Nevertheless, the tournament at Augusta National will once again captivate golf fans for four days. It has received the tagline "a tradition unlike any other", and rightfully so (Sorry Rose Bowl, that Washington State Oklahoma matchup really bit you in the arse). The stunning beauty of Amen Corner and the drama thick storylines on Sunday make it the best tournament around.

2. NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

March 18th. There are nothing like the first two rounds of March Madness. Madness truly is the only word to describe it. People who haven't watched a single game all year fill out brackets, which is a good indicator of its Super Bowl like qualities.

1. MLB Opening Day

April 4th. It isn't so much the entertainment value that vaulted this one to the top... no chance I'm watching all nine innings of whatever game ESPN throws on in the morning. It's the idea of baseball being back. It symbolizes the changing of seasons, and re-establishes eternal hope in even the most pessimistic of Cubs fans. After all, Opening Day means next year is upon us.

True Crime or Media Hype?

Upon hearing of the NCAA findings regarding alleged violations of the football program at the University of Michigan, I did what I always do with these types of stories: I read the comments section. It’s a great way to get biased, anonymous, and genuine fan reactions. I have to admit my own bias towards Michigan as there is no real sense in hiding it in a blog. Scrolling through the pages of comments on numerous sites I got a sense that there were 3 groups of “commenters”. There are the two extreme sides: the Michigan supporters who think the violations are a bunch of bullshit, and the haters that would pounce on any opportunity to impugn the football program and want their pound of flesh (many OSU fans). These groups are expected and appreciated by any college sports fan. Then you look at the middle group. The group that knows the university broke the rules but realizes the true nature of the violations and the incompetence of the NCAA. I am no apologist, and I’m not going to use the brain-dead argument that “every school breaks the rules so it’s OK”. I merely think we need to put the violations and subsequent media uproar into perspective and I don’t mind defending Michigan’s reputation while I’m at it.

Yo Oprah, Do Some Research Next Time

As a part of winning the Super Bowl and the MVP, Drew Brees has been doing his round on the TV circuit, as well as taking part in the Mardi Gras festivities. One of his appearances, and probably the most awkward, was with daytime goddess Oprah.

As exhibited in the video below, Oprah either did little research or has a few too many goose cosmos before Brees made his debut.

You would think that she would have her plethora of assistance's fill her in on the specifics of Brees before he came on, such as his 2inch birthmark on the side of his face. I have to admit, that I always just assumed that it was a scar from a hit he took while he has a crappy line in SD, but I wouldn't go as far as Oprah did, and try to wipe it off attributing it to a kiss she thought he had backstage. Maybe next time Marv Albert is on she'll try and pull off his toupee

5 Radical Changes to Make Sports Better

The sports world is one fraught with many perils and pitfalls. While I love many things about the current state of sports right now, there are definitely things that I think have gone wrong and would like to see corrected. Here then, in no particular order, are five very radical and controversial, changes I would make to sports (both pro and college) to make them better. I'm sure this will stir up some debate, so please comment away:

Cheechoo a Bust, or Thornton a Legend?

Less than a year after the Sharks traded Jonathan Cheechoo to the Senators, he has been placed on waivers. Cheechoo came from San Jose with Milan Michalek in exchange for embattled superstar Dany Heatley. The trade has worked out well for all involved...besides Cheech. Heatley is putting together an all-star year in San Jose, the Senators don't have to deal with his trade demands any longer, and Michalek is leading the Sens with 20 goals. But things have not worked out for Cheechoo, the forward from Moose Factory, Ontario. He has 14 points on five goals, and has a plus minus of -13. He simply isn't helping the Senators win.

Players get waived and signed daily. This isn't the story. The story is that Cheechoo was a Rocket Richard Trophy winner (most goals scored in a season) only four years ago. He racked up 56 goals for the Sharks which is still a San Jose franchise record. His electrifying style of play and unrivaled enthusiasm made him a crowd favorite in San Jose. But after a series of nagging injuries, Cheechoo never returned to form and was relegated to the third line. He never recaptured his goal scoring form, and was traded this past off-season to Ottawa.

It really is a shame that Cheechoo has been labeled a bust or an underachiever. This whole saga reveals only one absolute fact: Joe Thornton is the best hockey player in the World. Thornton is the first line center for the Sharks. He dished out many of the assists for Cheechoo's 56 goal season. After the injuries, Cheechoo never got reunited with Thornton and his play suffered drastically. Last season, Sharks youngster Devin Setoguchi had a breakout year, scoring 31 goals and tallying 65 points...Surprise, Surprise: Seto was a winger on Thornton's line. This year, after a few injuries, and relegation to the second and third lines, Setoguchi has only 14 goals through 49 games. Meanwhile, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley, both playing alongside Joe Thornton, are having career years.

Cheechoo's situation is certainly disappointing, but to label him a bust is not fair. He benefited from one of the greatest passers of all time, and hasn't caught many breaks since. Hopefully he lands on a team where he can just play hockey and help his team win some games.

People of Haiti - "Thanks for the Shirts Peyton."

Despite throwing for 333 yards on 31 completions, Peyton Manning was unable to put on his second Superbowl winning t-shirt over his jersery and shoulder pads after a 33-17 loss to Brees and the Saints.

As a result of this, the NFL has decided to send the already printed "Colts XLIV Champion" shirts to the people of Haiti after their devastating earthquake. This is something that the NFL tries to do every year. Last year they sent the Arizona Cardinals shirts to EL Salvador. However the year before they handed out the "19-0 Champions" New England Patriots shirts to numerous Boston fans that turn up drunk and naked at the Boston PD drunk tank on a nightly basis.

Maybe next year the unused Charger shirts can go to their fans, they'll probably want them.

Half Man, Half God, Half Dud

Being a sports journalist is tough at times. With all the traveling and time away from home, deadlines, angry fan mail, and coaches’ temper tantrums; it can wear a man down. Which makes it that much nicer when a player does your job for you. There has been talk recently of the Jaguars drafting Tim Tebow this year as a way to generate fan interest. I have discussed Tebow’s draft status with my fellow writers and friends and I have heard everything from him being the first QB taken to him going undrafted. While I think he will get drafted, I don’t think it should be on Day 1 or even in the first 5 or 6 rounds. This is when offensive lineman Uche Nwaneri made my life easier and gave an analysis with which I mostly agree. According to the Florida Times-Union:

Nwaneri posted on the Jaguars’ Web site that, while cashing a check, a bank teller started talking about how Tebow will save the Jaguars.
So Nwaneri posted his five points on Tebow, with capital letters:
"1. He can't throw, PERIOD.
2. He can't read any coverage other than probably cover 2 or man.
3. The QB Wildcat WILL NOT WORK IN THIS LEAGUE. PERIOD.
4. He doesn’t know how to take a snap from center.
5. HE CAN’T THROW, and that’s really something you either have or not."

While this is a harsh assessment, I must agree with his assertions. Due to the ESPN love affair with the SEC and Florida, I was privy to watching every single goddamn snap the guy took every Saturday night on Sportscenter. And first off: No, Tebow can’t take a snap from under center. Trying to say that he will learn how is a purely optimistic assumption, and while people who say he won’t are assuming just the same, at least there is tape at this point to prove that claim. Taking a snap in the shotgun means you get to see everything on the field right when you get the ball, while being under center means you will have to turn your back on some plays and have to make a split decision when you turn back around. In watching Tebow, he doesn’t think quick enough. His QB style is essentially to wait for his excellent receivers to get open and then gun it as hard as he can right at them. There is no touch on his throws and no anticipation of either his receivers’ routes or the coverage.

Tebow has also been on a great team and sheltered by a great line. Colin Cowherd made an excellent point a few weeks back that I will paraphrase as best I can: Most of the top quarterbacks weren’t on unstoppable #1 teams. Those players tend to be spoiled and not know how to take a hit or throw to receivers in coverage. They tend to not react well to pressure, and they tend to make rash decisions in those pressure situations. And we all know mistakes in the NFL will kill you much faster than not throwing for TD’s. Mark Sanchez could be an exception to the rule as he had excellent protection at USC, and looks like he has potential. But then look at Leinart and Booty before him. Think about the QB’s that didn’t play behind amazing O-lines in college: Flacco, Ryan, Mcnabb, Warner, Favre, Brees, Rivers, Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Cutler, Romo, Schaub. Even QB’s who were on pretty good teams like Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady didn’t have close to the protection that Tebow had. Getting hit and losing are learning experiences that greatly improve a QB’s makeup.

Tebow does have intangibles. He is a leader, he is a genuinely good guy, he will never be a negative distraction, and from what we know at this point, he won’t be out drinking and sleeping around the night before games. He is also tough. He can take a hit (and no this does not contradict my statement above as what I meant above is that he can’t deliver a pass while getting hit). He is the most athletically gifted QB to come out since Vince Young. But like I said about Vince Young before, he will never be a star QB in this league. Young’s feet give him a great weapon just like Tebow’s will, but feet alone don’t win Super Bowls. The NFL is driven by passing. The rules have been changed to protect receivers and quarterbacks. The wildcat phenomenon works for some teams as a change of pace, but it will never become a mainstay or true offensive scheme and no team will run a 2-minute drill in that formation, which means Tebow’s running ability and strength won’t help him as much as you’d think.

I just don’t believe Tebow has the tools and head to be an impact quarterback in the NFL. He has the chance to be a solid backup or a Pat White type, or even a RB of some kind, but I still have doubts about that. While I’m no Tebow fan, him being good would be a positive for the NFL. Especially if he brings fans like his ex-girlfriends with him: