Loss

The death wave of one public figure after another continues to assault and pummel us and the latest is a 36 year man in the prime of his life.

Ed McMahan seemed to be on my TV my whole life and while I cannot remember details of watching as a youth I know I did.

As I child I have strong memories of being in my peepaw's den, shooting pool. On the wall was the famous poster of Farrah Fawcett with her head lights on and on the radio was Michale Jackson. While I cannot say I am personally damaged because of the loss of either, I can say losing them both on the same day seems to be an ominus conclusion that those younger days are gone. 

Karl Malden was an under rated actor good at both villain and hero, I wish more people understood how good he was. 

For the most part these deaths were not shocking though. Many of these folks had long standing medical conditions.  

Then came the most shocking Steve McNair, a man younger than I am, cut down in his prime. I fondly remember watching games from tiny Alcorn State because ESPN though we had to see this kid. We did, his combination of grit, determination, size, speed, and fire was awesome to behold. I went on to watch his NFL career, even finding myself (a career Packer fan) rooting for the Titans and Ravens with McNair. I will not say McNair was my favorite player but I can say he was close, his fourth and 4 yards "just give me the rock coach, I got this" mentality was contagious and exactly what NFL QBs are supposed to be about. 

I will miss Steve McNair and his style of play and I hope his children carry on his legacy. Prayers and wishes to McNairs. Thanks for the picture Mr. Bryne 

Rumblings from the Suprachiasmatic nucleus June 3rd

I have been asked several times for an opinion on the G.O.A.T and several other sports topics, so here we go...

The G.O.A.T ~

1. I still think he was pound for pound the greatest QB to ever play football.

2. Ted Thompson should have handled it better but they should not have risked locking up Rodgers on a swan song.

3. He was outstanding for the Jets until the injury (Oakland game) at which time he should not have been allowed to play any more.

4. His arm is shot and with out surgery it will not be ready in time to play in 2009 - 2010 season.

5. The media needs to leave this alone.

6. I had a Majic Man poster on the wall before Favre took over and my cheese head is still a cheese head, and while some Jets stream might have been allowed pig tails are not.

End of that talk.

Better questions?

1. Why the hell is the Williams wall not suspended yet? I will enjoy seeing the Vikes go 0 and 4 when the wall is out, just wish it would happen already.

2. Why the hell do we need corporate sponsored practice jerseys in the NFL? NFL owners basically have a key to the US treasury, to get money whenever they want. why whore out the retail space on a players back.

3. If teams do sell the pack of a player’s jersey would the Browns get more for Shaun Rodgers back than Josh Cribbs’? :)

Crew Chief Talk?

I do not want to say anything bad about Tony Eury Jr., he and Dale were to close and each talked the other into doing things that hurt the performance on the track. The change was over due and I am glad to see it. However it will all be for naught if the new chief does not have the balls or freedom to tell Dale "I will set it up, you shut up and drive it”. It cannot get worse so why not right?

4/3 or 3/4?

Most of you that know me and have read any of my stuff know I am a BIG HUGE fan of the flexibility of the 3/4 defense. Even when you use it as a 4/3.
I wanted Green Bay to convert to the 3/4 nine years ago. I firmly believe if they had the afore mentioned G.O.A.T would have more than one Super Bowl ring.
KGB would not only be the all time leading sack leader for the Packers but probably still able to play at the NFL level.
The packers roster has been screaming 3/4 for years.
Quick undersized DTs give up the run in the 4/3 but become run stuffing DEs in the 3/4.
Quick coverage LBs like Barnett roam around and make plays at an alarming rate in the 3/4.
Versatile athletes like DE/LB Kampman (a college LB), LB Poppinga (a college DE), and SS Rouse (a college LB and CB) get to rotate about, stand up, put a hand down, and drive QBs nuts with their pre snap reads.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the packers moving to the 3/4. I loved it before they added BJ Raji (the 2nd coming of Shaun Rodgers) and Clay Matthews (Kevin Greene 2) but adding these two monsters makes it so much better.

What about you guys what do you want to hear rumbled on?

Getting my Etta James on!

"At last my love has come along


my lonely days over and life is like a song


Ooh, yeah, yeah


At last the skies above are blue


My heart was wrapped up in clover


the night I looked at you "



Finally it has happened, the nightmare that was Tony Kornheiser is no longer going to befoul Monday Night Football. His fear of flying finally getting the better of him Tony K announces he will not return to the TV staple.


As if that news was not good enough, ESPN announces they will replace the King of the stupid bomb with the King of the F bomb.


That is right legendary curse master Jon "Chucky" Gruden will join the three man team on Monday Nights!


"This is a tremendous opportunity and I am very excited to be associated with ESPN and Monday Night Football," Gruden said in a statement released by ESPN. "I grew up a fan of Monday Night Football, and whether I've coached on Monday night or watched, I've hardly missed a game all these years. "To join Mike and Jaws in the booth and to work alongside this top-notch team is going to be a real thrill."


Now I am sure we can all agree this is a short lived gig. Gruden will no doubt go back to collecting QBs on the sideline either in the Pros (Philly, Cinncy) or in college (Notre Dame) but for this season he will bring his big boy vocabulary and little boy hair cut to the booth!

As for Kornheiser, unfortunately he will continue to spare up the sports universe with his existence on Pardon the interruption, but that show is so easy to ignore I will not even know it. More important is the fact that the 65 pound putz whose football knowledge extends as far as the jocks he sniffed in junior high school and the jocks who administered swirly to him every WED, is gone and never again do we have to experience him sparing us to death during God's gift to humanity football.

Happy days are here again!

Prayers

At all times we each have something or someone to pray for. I assume each of you, like me do that praying in your own way and feel uncomfortable putting your burdens on others.

Some where Mark Herlich is doing the same thing. Herzlich is a 6'4 240 pound wrecking ball All American LB. With 110 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries last year on the way to being named the ACC defensive player of the year. No small feat when you consider one of the men he beat out, defensive teamate BJ Raji, went #9 overall.

He seeks and destroys ball carriers, quarterbacks, and all things offensive on the football field. A projected first rounder in next years draft, Herlich was considered a top 45 player in this years draft had he declared.

Today it was announced that Herlich has Ewing's sarcoma, a cancer found in soft tissue and bone. The rough and tumble LB known for his war painted face (as emmulated by EO Jr in flag football) and 410% motor is not going quietly however...

"Obviously, I was shocked. I had been extremely focused on preparing for my senior season at Boston College and for life beyond that. Now, I must channel all that energy into facing my toughest opponent yet, and that is exactly what I will do," Herzlich said in a statement released by the school.

Nor is Herlich ready to give up his football days...

"At this point, I do not know what this means for my football future, but I am determined to rid my body of this disease so that I can put that uniform back on," he said. "Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. Together, we will fight this and win."

Obviously football is not the priority any more and to see a awesome physical specimen like Herzlich struck with a disease like this puts life into perspective for all of us, but it is good to see his fire and drive alive. That passion maybe what it takes for him to win the biggest battle of his life.

I for one will be adding Herzlich to my prayer list and I hope anyone that reads this also has room. I too will pray for the rest of my list and for each of your list.

Random, randomness

Needless to say the 2009 edition of EO's mock draft was a failed bit. I lacked the courage of my convictions at #3, I knew KC wanted Tyson Jackson. I knew Tyson Jackson was the best pick for their depth chart, I just did not believe that they would pull the trigger there.

With out question once the train left the rails at #3, it was impossible to get it back on track.

So with the bar set so HIGH with that mock and the fact I refuse to issue meanignless draft grades (Packers GREAT / Raiders HORRIBLE) lets try a random mock of next years 2010 draft. *order determined by projection of records conduction in a highly scientific way I invented, called guesstimation...

1. Oakland ~ Taylor Mays 6'3 230 S USC


2. Detroit ~ Russell Okung 6'5 300 OT Oklahoma State


3. Cinncy ~ Terrence Cody 6'5 360 DT Alabama


4. St Louis ~ Sam Bradford 6'4 218 QB Oklahoma


5. Kansas City ~ Greg Hardy 6'4 265 OLB Mississippi


6. Arizona ~ Jermaine Gresham 6'6 262 TE Oklahoma


7. Buffalo ~ Brandon Spikes 6'5 247 LB Florida


8. Carolina ~ Brandon LaFell 6'3 210 WR LSU


9. Seattle ~ Trent Williams 6'5 310 OT Oklahoma


10. Jacksonville ~ Tim Teabow 6'3 240 QB Florida


11. New York Jets ~ George Selvie 6'4 252 DE/OLB S. Florida


12. Minnesota ~ Colt McCoy 6'3 216 QB Texas


13. Atlanta ~ Sergio Kindle 6'4 254 OLB Texas


14. Miami ~ Ciron Black 6'5 330 OT LSU


15. Tampa Bay ~ Trevard Linely 6'0 180 CB Kentucky


16. Washington ~ Ndamukung Suh 6'4 305 DT Nebraska


17. Chicago ~ Antonio Coleman 6'2 252 LB Auburn


18. Tennessee ~ Adam Ulatoski 6'8 310 OT Texas


19. Baltimore ~ Joe McKnight 6'0 200 RB USC


20. Denver ~ DeMarcus Granger 6'3 305 DT Oklahoma


21. Cleveland ~ Sam Young 6'8 330 OT Notre Dame


22. New Orleans ~ Mark Herzlich 6'4 238 LB Boston College


23. Dallas ~ Brandon Lang 6'4 250 DE/OLB Troy


24. Houston ~ CJ Spiller 5'11 195 RB Clemson


25. San Fran ~ Everson Griffen 6'3 265 DE/OLB USC


26. Philly ~ Lawerence Marsh 6'5 305 DT Florida


27. Green Bay ~ Carlos Dunlap 6'6 285 DE Florida


28. San Diego ~ Sean Witherspoon 6'1 235 LB Missouri


29. Indy ~ Bryan Bulaga 6'6 304 OT Iowa


30. Pitt ~ Greg Romeus 6'5 265 DE Pitt


31. New England ~ Gerald McCoy 6'4 295 DT/DE Oklahoma


32. New York Giants ~ Ras I Dowling 6'2 200 CB Virgina

2009 Mock Draft

Here it is just short of 16 hours early...

Round 1

1. Detroit Lions ~ Matt Stafford QB Georgia
   
2. St. Louis Rams ~ Justin Smith OT Baylor
   
3. Kansas City Chiefs ~ Eugene Munroe OT Virgina 
   
4. Seattle Seahawks ~ Aaron Curry LB Wak Forrest
   
5. Cleveland Browns ~ Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech
   
6. Cinncy Bengals ~ Andre Smith OT Alabama
   
7. Oakland Raiders ~ Darius Heyward Bey WR Maryland
   
8. Jacksonville Jaguars ~ BJ Raji DT Boston College
   
9. Green Bay Packers ~ ** Denver Broncos ** Matt Sanchez QB USC
   
10. San Fransico 49ers ~ Brian Orakpo DE/OLB Texas
    
11. Buffalo Bills ~ Michael Oher OT Mississippi
12. Denver Broncos ~ Tyson Jackson DE LSU
    
13. Washington Redskins ~ Aaron Maybin DE Penn State
    
14. New Orleans Saints ~ Rey Maualuga LB USC
    
15. Houston Texans ~ Brian Cushing LB USC
    
16. San Diego Chargers ~ Robert Ayers DE Tennessee
    
17. New York Jets ~ Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri
    
18. Denver Broncos ~ ** Green Bay Packers ** Malcom Jenkins CB Ohio State
    
19. Tampa Bay Bucaneers ~ Everette Brown DE/OLB Florida State
    
20. Detroit Lions ~ Eben Britton OT Arizona
    
21. Philadelphia Eagles ~ Branden Pettigrew TE Oklahoma State
    
22. Minnesota Vikings ~ Percy Harvin WR Florida
    
23. New England Patriots ~ Clay Mathews LB USC
24. Atlanta Falcons ~ Peria Jerry DT Mississippi
    
25. Miami Dolphins ~ Vonte Davis CB Illinois
    
26. Baltimore Ravens ~ Darius Butler CB UConn
    
27. Indianapolis Colts ~ Chris Wells RB Ohio State
    
28. Buffalo Bills ~ Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech
    
29. New York Giants ~ Kenny Britt WR Rutgers
    
30. Tennessee Titans ~ Evander Hood DT Missouri
    
31. Arizona Cardinals ~ Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia
    
32. Pittsburgh Steelers ~ Max Unger G/C Oregon

Round 2

1. Detroit Lions ~ James Laurinatis LB Ohio State
2. New England Patriots ~ Louis Delmas S Western Michigan
3. St. Louis Rams ~ Josh Freeman QB Kansas St 
4. Cleveland Browns ~ Larry English DE/OLB Northern Illinois
5. Seattle Seahawks ~ William Beaty OT UConn
6. Cinncy Bengals ~ Sen Derrick Marks DT Auburn
7. Jacksonville Jaguars ~ Clint Sintim LB Virgina
8. Oakland Raiders ~ Phil Loadholt OT Oklahoma
9. Green Bay Packers ~ Alex Mack C California
10. Buffalo Bills ~ Donald Brown RB UConn
11. San Fransico ~ Jamon Meredith OT South Carolina
12. Miami Dolphins ~ Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina
13. New York Giants ~ Eric Wood C/G Louisville
14. Houston Texans ~ Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forrest
15. New England Patriots ~ Lawrence Sidbury DE/OLB Richmond
16. Denver Bronocs ~ ** Green Bay ** Ron Brace DT Boston College
17. Chicago Bears ~ Duke Robinson G Oklahoma
18. Cleveland Browns ~ Patrick Chung S Oregon
19. Dallas Cowboys ~ Shaun Smith CB/S Utah
20. New York Jets ~ William Moore S Missouri
21. Philadelphia Eagles ~ Rashad Jennings RB Liberty
22. Minnesota Vikings ~ Alex Magee DT Purdue
23. Atlanta Falcons ~ Marcus Freeman LB Ohio State
24. Miami Dolphins ~ Connor Barwin OLB Cinncinatti
25. Baltimore Ravens ~ Jonathan Luguis C/G Arkansas
26. New England Patriots~ LeShon McCoy RB Pittsburgh
27. Carolina Panthers ~ Rashad Johnson S Alabama
28. New York Giants ~ Jared Cook TE South Carolina
29. Indianapolis Colts ~ Juaquin Iglesias WR Oklahoma
30. Tennesse Titans ~ DJ Moore CB Vanderbilt
31. Arizona Cardinals ~ Andy Levitre G Oregon State
32. Pittsburgh Steelers ~ Mike Mickens CB Cinncinatti

Can the Irish return to prominence, is there talent in Charlie Weis or is he just the lucky benefactor of two men named Brady?

Tom Brady certainly helped Charlie Weis in the NFL and helped get him to Notre Dame.

Brady Quinn put big Charlie on his back and helped him get that fat new contract.

Now in a land without a Brady, can Charlie prove his worth?

Enter Jimmy Clausen, a loud, pompous, some times obnoxious blonde bomber from sunny California. Like Quinn, Clausen got to the field early in his Irish career. Clausen also took Quinn’s lead in rewriting the record books. Now is the important thing, as a junior can Clausen again be like Quinn and take a HUGE step forward.

I wanted to compare Clausen to Quinn, but also other QBs.

First find the standard, attempts and INTs seemed to be the key to efficiency but would that prove out?

Easiest way to start was with NFL Hall of Famers right?

Elway .031
Montana .025
Marino .030
S Young .025
Aikman .029

.03 looks good, but is that just extreme greatness or good ole boy syndrome? So I sought some current QBs…

Favre .033
P. Manning .027
Brady .037

OK so .03 looks like a ratio to predict greatness in the NFL right?

So how about great college QBs?

Peyton Manning .024 for his career at Tennessee
Brett Favre .028 for his career at Southern Miss

Eli Manning .027 for his career at Ole Miss
Matt Ryan .027 for his career at Boston College

This year’s crop?

Matt Stafford .033 career at Georgia
Mark Sanchez .032 career at USC

and if talking college QBs, the best I ever saw Brady Quinn (his ratio is wicked SICK)

Sophomore .028
Junior .015
Senior .014

NOW just how does Jimmy Clausen stack up???

Sophomore .038
Career .033

The IRISH seem to be in good hands with Clausen, and if Clausen takes the Quinn like mega step from SOPH to JR, they could be in for something special, because unlike Quinn before him Clausen is surrounded with some very good talent.

RANT on Cook!

They did want him. They did not want him.

He did want them. He did not want them.

Now his agent is on the phone with the Jets and Eric Mangini?

Sounds vaguely familiar to a nightmare I had last year.

This time however it is not a messy divorce between my all time favorite player and my favorite team. The 2009 version has Jay Cutler and the Denver Broncos nearing the precipice of irreconcilable differences in an out of control vehicle. Like the 2008 story the driver is still Bus Cook.

Almost like an overly protective father ready to beat up his son in law that might look at the pretty girl in the corner, Cook seems to turn to melt down mode whenever a team cast wondering eyes on another.

When Ted Thompson (a pretty good GM despite his one way ticket to hell for mishandling Green Bay’s GOAT) turned his eyes to Aaron Rodgers Cook went nuts. When he started making comments to ESPN about Favre not being done, and not retiring it was the first step in Cook's beat up of Green Bay.

Never mind the fact Cook was making money for his client (and himself mind you) off retirement gigs and the Madden “Favre Retirement Edition”, no he would not have his client done that way.

Cook finally convinced a Mississippi farm boy to move to New York?, because he was sure Favre still wanted to play. Never mind the fact Favre was happy in retirement, hates big cities, and was in no shape to begin a season.

While it was never said aloud; the fact that Cooks final Favre big pay day only came after Favre meet the roster date that triggered his final bonus, and had Favre not played Cook would have missed those dollars. Cooks contract also calls for him to get a % of the player part of jerseys sales. So the surge in Brett Favre Jets (like the one EO Jr. wanted and got for Christmas) jerseys and final edition Brett Favre Packers jerseys netted Cook a nice piece of change too.

So what to do in 2009 for Bus Cook; Favre is really going to Mississippi to ride his tractor (albeit with a permanently damaged right bicep), jersey sales are down, and Cook's out of touch reputation is hurting him attracting incoming rookies.

Well heck, it worked last year and Denver did look at that kid from New England uhm…

Now Cook is talking to whom; the Jets and Eric Mangini with Tampa Bay, and the threat of the NFC North’s 3 headed QB vacuums thrown in to raise the pot. The fact Mangini is now in a new city all the better right. New York sells jerseys Pennington, Favre, and Eli Manning have proved that. Cleveland? Well Brady Quinn was not even a starter when his jersey sales cracked the top 10 in the NFL.

Cutler is getting bad advice; the new offense that Denver will run is tailored to make the QB fame and fortune. Ask Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, hell ask Brady Quinn, and future NFL millionaire Jimmy Clausen. Forcing his way out of Denver to the vanilla offense of the Jets or Buccaneers is not conducive to Cutler making pro bowls or money. The only person that stands to gain is Bus Cook.

Sure, I am bitter about Cook forcing the divorce between Favre and Green Bay.

Sure, Cook cost me money with EO Jr’s 6th birthday present (a Cutler away jersey) and his 2008 Christmas present (the afore mentioned Favre Jets Green), but I am not just sour grapping here. Bus Cook is making a mockery of being a sports agent, to the point even that I now rank him as the #1 most evil agent in football and the #2 most evil agent in sports (in front of Drew Rosenhaus, who actually does take care of his clients needs and behind Scott Boras on the evil agent scale). The NFL needs to step in and prevent these bad recipes being served up from the kitchen of Bus Cook.

Rampant speculation on where Cutler will end up is a good topic for another post so I will defer, (duh the Jets) but I can say this Scott Boras might need to look out if Cutler ends up in Cleveland and thus cost me money on EO Jr’s 2007 Christmas present (a Quinn Cleveland Brown).

Baseball Ramblings

As the days grow warmer and the sunlight flickers over the horizon it is nearly time for baseball.

Which means it is time to look at fantasy players.

My mind is set on position tiers being the tie breaker on whom to draft, and when. As such I give you my Top 100 for draft day...

1. Hanley Ramirez SS


2. Jose Reyes SS


3. David Wright 3rd


4. Albert Pujols 1st


5. Mark Teixeria 1st


6. Ryan Howard 1st


7. Ryan Braun OF


8. CC Sabathia SP


9. Grady Sizemore OF


10. Johan Santana SP


11. Tim Lincecum SP


12. Josh Hamilton OF


13. Ian Kinslar 2B


14. Chase Utely 2B


15. Prince Fielder 1B


16. Miguel Cabera 1B


17. Justin Morneau 1B


18. Brandon Webb SP


19. Evan Longoria 3B


20. Matt Holliday OF


21. Jimmy Rollins SS


22. Roy Halladay SP


23. Carlos Quentin OF


24. Lance Berkman 1B


25. Jake Peavy SP


26. Cole Hamels SP


27. Dustin Pedoria 2B


28. AJ Burnett SP


29. Alex Rodriquez 3B


30. Carlos Beltran OF


31. Manny Ramirez OF


32. Dan Haren SP


33. Nick Markasis OF


34. Aramis Ramirez 3B


35. Josh Beckett SP


36. Alfonso Soriano OF


37. Edison Volquez SP


38. Brandon Phillips 2B


39. Carlos Lee OF


40. Scott Kazmir SP


41. Kevin Youkilis 1B


42. Brian McCann C


43. Dan Uggla 2B


44. Roy Oswalt SP


45. John Lackey SP


46. Corey Hart OF


47. Curtis Granderson OF


48. Daisuke Matsuzaka SP


49. Adam Dunn OF


50. Vladimir Guerrero OF


51. Chad Billingsly SP


52. Brian Roberts 2B


53. Ichiro Suzuki OF


54. Nate McClouth OF


55. Cliff Lee SP


56. Jon Lester SP


57. Chris Davis 1B


58. Fransico Liriano SP


59. Fleix Hernandez


60. Alexei Ramirez 2B


61. Adrain Gonzales 1B


62. Alex Rios OF


63. BJ Upton 1B


64. Carlos Zambrano SP


65. Russel Martin C


66. Geovany Soto C


67. Magglio Ordonez OF


68. Joe Mauer C


69. Stephen Drew SS


70. Carl Crawford OF


71. Jay Bruce OF


72. Justin Verlander SP


73. James Shields SP


74. Chien-Ming Wang SP


75. Victor Martinez C


76. Bobby Abreu OF


77. Jacoby Ellsbury OF


78. Adam Wainwright SP


79. Derek Jeter SS


80. Rich Harden SP


81. Pat Burrell OF


82. Joey Votto 1B


83. Vernon Wells OF


84. Chris Young OF


85. James Loney 1B


86. Aubrey Huff 1B


87. Ryan Ludwick OF


88. Ervin Santana SP


89. Ryan Dempster SP


90. Matt Kemp OF


91. Joba Chamberlain SP


92. Yvoani Gallardo SP


93. Brett Myers SP


94. Shane Victorino OF


95. Carlos Delgado 1B


96. Troy Tulowitski SS


97. JJ Hardy SS


98. Ryan Zimmerman 3B


99. Ricky Nolasco SP


100. Nelson Cruz OF

relaunch

ASK EO is coming back

look for new post coming soon!

In long search of a place to call home...

I have long been searching for a place free of drive by post, posters hunting arguements, and no intelligent sports conversation. Maybe this is the place? Welcome to ask EO hope you enjoy your stay.