Lamenting The Super Loss

from TremendousUpsidePotential.com...

BobbyStompy is bummin'


My name is Bobby. My favorite NFL teams are the Patriots and Bears. Equally. (Yes, I know I'm stupid and dumb. I can't change it. I've tried. I'm sorry.)

My favorite college football team is the Michigan Wolverines.

In a year that began with the Appalachian State upset, how fitting was the Giants toppling the Pats? Pretty fitting, I guess.

I remember when the Bears and Pats both lost in the divisional playoffs two years ago. I remember writing in 2006: "Pats and Bears lost their respective playoff games this past weekend. So that was pretty depressing. Hopefully that's the last time in my life where my two favorite NFL teams are eliminated from the playoffs about 22 hours apart from each other."

You know what's worse than the Bears and Pats both losing in divisional playoff weekend? The Bears and Pats losing back-to-back Super Bowls! Way worse. ARGH.

The worst part is, I don't even mind the Giants. I'm not laughing now, but I know Eli Manning is funny. I know he deserves it. I know Strahan deserves it. I know Coughlin deserves it. I know Barber didn't deserve it. I know the game-deciding play was a fade route (my absolute favorite of all routes). I know the Pats already attained three rings in the last decade, and that alone should give me little to complain about. Am I not grateful? No, I really don't think that's it.

That's the difference between being a Michigan/Pats/Bears/Bulls/White Sox fan, and being a fan of the Atlanta Hawks, or any team based in Philadelphia or Cleveland. Being able to feel the pinnacle of a sport, knowing how great a championship truly does feel -- it just makes it that much worse when it doesn't end up happening.

It's like the Chicago Bulls this year. They suck. They piss me off. And I've pretty much given up on them. But in the end, it's pretty much disappointment combined with reservation. It's horrible, don't get me wrong, but it's nothing compared to aggressively following the 18-0 -- oops, 18-1 -- Patriots and their stumble on the big stage.

With a season that began with the biggest upset in college football history (even though point spreads don't agree), I imagine it's fitting to finish with the biggest upset in NFL history (even though point spreads don't agree).

I'll be the first to say it: if I wasn't a Patriots fan, I'd probably be rooting for the Giants. But I am. And I wasn't.

The only solace I take is knowing that this loss brings Pats fans -- the insufferable ones -- down a notch. The rest of the NFL teams' fans will have this against us for pretty much ever (just like cough cough Appalachian State cough cough). No more full-on smugness. If the Pats pinball the scoreboards next year, we'll know why. But I don't think that's going to happen again.

The solace I won't take is knowing how happy Mercury Morris is right now. I hate him.

As I made my somber walk home through Iowa City from the Super Bowl party I'd attended, trudging through about 8 inches of snow and twenty degree weather for about 40 minutes, I began to feel like Jack Nicholson during the last five minutes of The Shining...

Just depleted, and about ready to give up.

Myths About Super Bowl XLII

from TremendousUpsidePotential.com...

BobbyStompy talks pigskin, cold weather, stupid commercials.

If I have any math skills at all, I think we're less than 48 hours away from the Super Bowl, right?

It's so difficult to try and get a word out regarding the game without feeling like a broken record, so I figured I'd use this space to debunk a few myths about the big game.

Week 17 gave us a good indication of how these two teams match-up...Well, not really. For maybe the first week of Super Bowl hype, I really started to buy into this claim. But thinking more into it, I realized it's not totally true. You look at the box score, see a three point Pats victory, and think, "wow, these teams match up really well."

Wrong.

The Giants needed a late touchdown just to make it look respectable, and this was after blowing a double-digit second half lead. On top of this, one of the G-Men touchdowns was from a kickoff return. It was the only Giants kickoff return touchdown this season (including playoffs). It was also the only time the Patriots gave up a kickoff return touchdown this season (including playoffs). Just seems pretty flukey, you know?

There's at least a small chance Tom Brady might be hurt...Listen closely: Tom Brady is not hurt. Other than his record breaking right shoulder, which has been a mainstay on the injury report for years, the Golden Boy should be ready to go. Even as a Patriots fan, with absolutely everything invested into this game, I have no concern about the health of QB1.

It's actually pretty cold in Arizona...Really? Let's review my 'Winter sucks in the Midwest' checklist:
Is it snowing? Nopes.
Below zero? Please.
Below 32 degrees? Hah.
Are cars covered in weird salt-dirt? Don't think so.
Can you stand outside and be relatively comfortable? Seen plenty of people pull it off.

You're in Glendale for America's biggest sporting spectacle. Stop bitching.

The New York Giants will hoist the Lombardi Trophy...Did I miss something? Are the Patriots not 18-0? Did they not set a gazillion offensive records? I really don't get sports, sometimes. I feel like I've seen more Giants upset picks than I saw Patriots upset picks back when they played the Rams in '02. There were less people taking the Rockies in the World Series. Jesus, did the Rockies really play in the World Series? Man.

The Eagles game was close, yes. The Ravens practically beat them, I know. But this is the playoffs. It means ultra-preparation. Every little detail scrutinized, analyzed, and processed. This isn't the five-day layoff both teams had last time. Two full weeks to scheme, design, and come up with a plan. Against Eli Manning.

Bottom line: the Patriots are not invincible, and it's sports, so anything could happen. And yes, that includes a Giants win. But, to paraphrase Aaron Schatz from the Bill Simmons Super Bowl Podcast, picking the Giants is saying you think they have a greater than 50% chance to win.

I just don't think that's possible to say.


Other items of note:

• There's some dumb local commercial here in Iowa City where a car dealership is advertising some Super Bowl related sale, but since the game is trademarked, the commercial says, "Come down for our Super (BLEEP) sale!" Seriously. The bleep is really loud, too. And they do it three or four times. One of the stupidest, tackiest things I've ever seen in advertising.
• Pau Gasol to the Lakers. Aargh. Luckily for Bulls fans, firearm purchases have waiting periods.
• Props to the immortal Johan $antana for finally cashing in, leaving the AL Central, and setting himself up for what could be a monster year. The only thing left to do is the obligatory lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills ritual.

Pipe Down, LDT

from TremendousUpsidePotential.com...

BobbyStompy bitches about the Chargers, everyone else wonders why he doesn't just appreciate the Patriots' Super Bowl birth

A lot of people hate the New England Patriots. I get that. A lot of people seem to hate the San Diego Chargers, too. I get that. But what I fail to understand is how LaDainian Tomlinson -- or as I like to call him, "No Gain" LaDain -- gets a pass from most Charger haters. You usually here stuff like, "yeah Rivers and Merriman are so cocky, but LT is a class act." Are you kidding me?


Listen, I know the Patriots have their fair share of bastards (Rodney Harrison comes to mind), and I also feel very unqualified to assess Chargers center Nick Hardwick's venomous statements about Patriot DT Richard Seymour, who I always thought was a nice guy. Hey, I'm not in the trenches, I have no idea what goes on. It's pretty hard to say. But while I don't see everything that goes on between defensive and offensive linemen, it was pretty hard to miss what was happening on the San Diego sideline this past Sunday.

After re-injuring himself early on in the AFC Championship, LDT presumably pouted on the bench for pretty much the entire game. I say presumably because you can't see a damn thing behind that visor of his. For all we know, he paid a body double to sit out in the cold while he watched the game in a locker room hot tub.

This post at the Jack Bauer of SEO sums up my sentiment perfectly (via Deadspin):

And my biggest problem is with LT. He just sat on the bench all day feeling sorry for himself. Hey, aren't you supposed to be a leader on that team? Get your butt up and cheer your teammates on, offer advice and help to Turner and Sproiles. Do something! I watched Sam Madison last week in street clothes offer everything he could to his teammates but LT sits on the bench behind his visor and says nothing and does nothing. Just sits and watch. I guess he was just feeling sorry for himself because he couldn't play.

What's worse is his comments after the AFC divisional playoff loss last year. He says a few Patriots dancing on the Chargers logo is a reflection of the classlessness of Bill Belichick? Please. Belichick might not be a saint, but he can't control how his players celebrate. The whole thing came off as sour grapes to me.

My favorite part of his post-game from last year was when, in an incredibly serious tone, he said:

When you go to the middle of our field, when you start doing the dance that Shawne Merriman is known for, that's disrespectful to me.

Oh, really, LaDain? Was it disrespectful to you when Antonio Cromartie picked off a Tom Brady pass in the end zone and mocked the celebration that Randy Moss is known for? Or did you not see that play because you were sulking on the bench? Give me a break.

When Cromartie mocked Moss, I thought it was funny, even as a Pats fan. Though I'm still a little confused why no one -- mainstream or blogs -- has touched on Cromartie punking Randy. But whatever. It kind of reminded me of when TO danced like Ray Lewis as a touchdown celebration a few years ago. If, as a professional athlete, you have the audacity to create a celebration or dance that is specifically yours, you have to be ready for someone to mock it at some point. It's the way of the world.

Hopefully, NFL player ever does the "Hand On Head Ball Flip" (pictured above) that LDT is known for. After all, there would be hell to pay.

Bottom line: I'm not saying LDT is a bad guy, I'm just saying he's equally insane as the rest of his crazy ass team.

Nothin' But BS

from TremendousUpsidePotential.com...

After going an unprecedented 0-4 with his spread picks last week, BobbyStompy -- a glutton for punishment -- is back for league championship week

Alright, a few things about me have changed since last week's apocalypse:
1) Rejoined the sports staff at The Daily Iowan, which ups my title from "fake journalist" to the slightly more prestigious "pseudo journalist"
2) Departed from my winter break used CD store job, which ups my job description from "works with drug dealers" to "blogs with lunatics"
3) Defended potential woman beaters
4) Saw "No Country For Old Men", "There Will Be Blood", and "Cloverfield" in a four-day span, and if I've learned anything from these movies, it's that bad things always happen always

Let's pick 'em -- I've gotta get my head above water...

Chargers (+14) over PATRIOTS

Quick side note: I always thought everybody hated the Patriots except me and all the Massholes, but today's poll on DanShanoff.com was really shocking:

If you aren't a natural Patriots fan, what is the result you are rooting for?

Pats lose in AFC C.G. (27%)
Pats lose in SB XLII (27%)
Pats win SB XLII, go 19-0 (44%)

Votes so far: 616

The majority? Really? Maybe I read too many Deadspin commenters.

After New England beat the Bills by 46 in Week 11, its only covered the spread once (Week 14 against the Steelers) since then.

I look at this game and get a Pats-taking-an-early-lead vibe, followed by spirited attempts by San Diego to get itself back into the game. What I'm saying is, if the Patriots are up by something nice like 17 in the fourth quarter, the defense isn't going to have to pull out all the stops while Rivers or Volek is running a no-huddle two minute drill against a prevent. And remember, screw job covers count just as much as legit covers.

PACKERS (-7) over Giants

This line feels too low.

Don't get me wrong, I like this Giants team, I like that they're sticking it to Tiki Barber, I like that Eli is slowly morphing into the unlikely hero, I like the heart that cornerback Aaron Ross played with when his shoulder quit on him, and I loved their game plan against the Cowboys last week.

But a new week brings new challenges, and its very easy to see the Packers not only winning, but totally steamrolling New York in the process. That cold Wisconsin night is going to be brutal.

* * *

Oh, and for all of you who hate me and my Patriots, I hope it brings you some solace to know that the Daily Iowan sports section meeting is at 2PM Sunday, which all but exactly coincides with Pats-Bolts kick-off.

Oh, oh, and a respectful "He Gone" to the late chess champion Bobby Fischer. I imagine if a TUP post was written about him, it would say something like "Life checkmates Bobby Fischer". It's too bad we're not in the business of chess player obits.

News & Notes: 5/2/07, Grown Up Bulls, St. Louis Trip Nixed, Moss, Keyshawn

Sorry for my lack of timeliness on some of these subjects, but I got pretty burned out after my live-blog. Nevertheless, I'm back, baby!

First off, the Grown Up Bulls sweep the Miami Heat in Round 1. It all happened so fast. I had a meeting for the newspaper, so I actually missed the last eight minutes or so of game time, but when I found out the Bulls actually closed it out, I was partly surprised. I mean, yeah, I thought the Heat would quit on the series, but they're the defending champions, right? Playing at home? Man, the Bulls have come a long way.

Second, I know I ended my last post talking about my trip to St. Louis. Well, that couldn't have ended (or, started?) worse. Minutes before we hit the highway, we got news of Josh Hancock's death, and needless to say, we never made it to St. Louis because the game was postponed. Sad story, and made more angering due to the fact that the whole thing is likely DUI related. Ugh.

In better news, Randy Moss is headed to the Patriots!

First, the only negative I see: it puts a helluva lot of pressure on the Patriots. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is crowning the Pats as the Super Bowl 42 Champs, and the whole thing is giving me an eerie Carolina Panthers vibe. I don't like it one bit.

I won't list the positives, because they're obvious, but I will give a few reasons why I think the situation won't be catastrophic.

1. It's clear that Moss is awfully motivated. In all of his interviews around draft day, he kept talking about how all of the uncertainty about what team he'd be playing for led to him working out and training harder than he'd ever trained before. Maybe he's lying, but I don't think he is, and when he's delivering quotes like "You're going to see things from me that you've never seen before," you better believe I'm fired up.
2. He took a pay cut to play for the Pats. It's clear winning is his No. 1 priority, now.
3. The Patriots gave up a 4th round pick on him. That's it. No matter what happens, it's clear they got a bargain deal for a player with a high ceiling of potential.
4. Even if -- going against everything I believe -- Moss becomes a problem, the Patriots have enough depth at wide receiver now to cut all ties immediately. Moss' one-year deal gives the Pats a lot of flexibility. But again, I really don't see any negatives spawning from this. The only reason people will be worried is because the sports media will give them reasons so to worry. You just have to look at the situation; Moss has clearly matured, and I think he's willing to put his past behind him and finally come into his own on a winning team.

And last, but not least, how could I not mention Keyshawn Johnson getting cut from the Carolina Panthers. I noted the irony on Draft Day of the Panthers drafting USC wide-out Dwayne Jarrett because Keyshawn said Jarrett wasn't ready for the NFL. Now? Jarrett's on Keyshawn's old team. Sports are amazing, sometimes.

Either way, best of luck to Keyshawn in the future. I always liked him.

Do You Feel a Draft in Here?

(Note: I originally uploaded this whole thing unedited from NotePad. I didn't have internet connection until 7:55 p.m. on Draft Day, so there's some weird spacing at points, but for the most part, it's cool.)

Ahh, the NFL Draft. My favorite sporting event of the year. At this stage of the draft, I'm usually excited about what the Pats will do and very, very nervous about what moves the Bears will make. This year, it's a little different.

Coming off the Super Bowl, I can't say the Bears have a lot of needs. I don't even know if I have a preference for offense or defense. I guess I'm looking for the Bears to draft a safety and a wide receiver.

As for the Pats? The Bill Simmons stance: a linebacker and safety. I really hope they address those two needs with the first round picks. People like Michael Griffin (S, Texas) and David Harris (LB, Michigan) would be absolutley perfect.But if I know the Patriots -- and I do -- they'll bust out a surprise in the first round. They always do. It's pretty much a fact.

Well, let's rock this...

NFL Draft Live Blog 2007 (all times Central)

11:19 - Well, no surprises yet. The Raiders took JaMarcus Russell, which is what they should have done all along.

11:30 - Calvin Johnson to the Lions! I love Millen. I'm not saying this is a bad or good move, I'm just saying it's funny. I suppose if Detroit snags a QB in the second round, they could end up salvaging the draft.

11:36 - Come on, Browns. Draft Quinn already and get it over with. I probably should mention that my buddy Ryan and I are doing head-to-head mock drafts for money. So far,we're tied 2-2. I think he has Quinn, too. So this pick doesn't really matter.

11:41 - Joe freaking Thomas! Ohhhh man. Quinn is falling falling falling. So who's going to pick the Irish QB? Minnesota, I suppose. Washington would be a hilarious wildcard, though. Nothing the Redskins ever do makes sense, to me.They draft Jason Campbell in the first round a few years ago, and now, with limited playing time, they're ready to ditch him. They need to settle down, get some patience,and maybe save their draft picks, for once.

11:45 - Wow, looking at the Bucs depth chart, they REALLY shouldn't be drafting a QB. Wasn't Jeff Garcia, like, thee coveted free agent of the off-season? My money's on Gaines Adams.

11:49 - Goodell seems like he's taking this whole process a lot less seriously than Tagliabue. I feel like he could burst out laughing while he's delivering some of these picks.

Also, I wonder if Joe Thomas heard he's been picked yet. I wish I had the NFL Network so I could see his reaction on that fishing boat of his.

11:54 - Little Gaines Adams action. I'm digging his hair.

Bobby: 3, Ryan: 2

11:55 - I kind of go in and out of being indifferent to Mel Kiper and being totally bothered by him. Here's a guy that can be totally wrong about everything, but just because he's been there for so long, nothing ever needs to be validated. It's like when a college professor gets tenure. He's practically invincible.

12:03 - Well, Michael Smith was right. The Cardinals took OT Levi Brown from Penn State. The surprising thing here was learning Brown was actually higher on the Cardinals' board than Joe Thomas. I guess it makes sense, especially if you think about things in terms of "nastiness," which apparently is an important quality for o-linemen.

12:05 - I'm thinking the Bears aren't going to pull off a trade with the 'Skins.The Bears are such trademark letdowns on draft day. It's hard to believe in them. I'd be kinda nice to see a straight up Lance Briggs for the 6th pick trade. The problem is, Redskins and Bears fans alike claim they wouldn't be getting enough. This makes no sense to me. The Redskins are getting a young, proven player, and the Bears are getting a high profile draft pick. Tell me, who is getting the short end of the stick, here?

12:12 - It's hard to believe that after just five picks, it's already been an hour. This is going to be quite the day.

12:13 - LaRon Landry reppin' the White Sox (hat). Always good to see. And is he wearing a hang down belt? If so, does that make hang down belts cool? I haven't thought of hang down belts as cool since sixth grade. It's a new era for them, I suppose.

12:27 - Adrian Peterson is a great choice for the Vikes. Everybody I'm watching the draft with is claiming Quinn was a better choice, but the Vikings took Jackson last year in what, the second round? Give the kid a shot before you bringin an overhyped Noter Dame quarterback as your 'savior'.

12:36 - Who cares where Quinn is going! I have a new debate: Is Quinn's girlfriend hot?

The Verdict...
Mike: "She's cute"
Ryan: "She looks like she's in high school."
Scott: "She's attractive, but I wouldn't call her hot. I mean, I would go out with her, but Brady Quinn shouldn't go out with her -- I'm not nearly as attractive. Put it to you this way, Brady Quinn must have been pretty drunk last night if he brought her to the draft."

Ouch.

I'm still on the fence. I'd think I'd have to hear her talk first to develop a better opinion.

12:39 - Do you think old runningback Jamal Anderson is upset that the Falcons drafted a player with the same name (but an extra A in the first name)? I mean, what if new Anderson becomes amazing in the A.T.L.? That's an overshadowed legacy, right there. Oh well, he'll never have the dirty bird.

12:41 - With Miami on the clock, Mike, a huge Dolphins fan, is pretty much going Quinn crazy right now: "What's taking so long?! Just pick! Just pick!"

He's presenting some theory about how the Dolphins should pick faster because it would put more pressure on the Texans to make a pick afterwards, but I'm not really sure why he has it out for the Texans. At least he makes sense to himself.

12:47 - The new consensus here is that Suzy Kolber looks hotter with long hair. I always liked Suzy. Not enough to name a blog after her, but she really knows her football.

12:50 - And the Dolphins take Ted Ginn, Jr.

Mike: "No, No! No?! NOOOOO!!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!"

Haha, it's kind of like he didn't believe it at first, then it really hit him.

12:54 - I'm still kind of coming to terms with Ted Ginn getting picked in the Top 10. So much for all those claims about his foot injury altering his draft stock. Good for him. Minor injuries shouldn't play a part, anyway. We're talking five, 10, and15 year careers, here. Why get over-concerned about an injury that will obviously heal.

1:04 - Nailed the Okoye pick. Ryan claims he's going to make a push later in the round.

Bobby: 5, Ryan: 3

1:18 - Patrick Willis rockin' a White Sox cap, too. Are the White Sox 'in' again? Are they the hang down belts of MLB teams? Quite possibly.

1:27 - Well, Packers fans everywhere just cringed. Every single cheesehead I know was positive they were gonna snag Lynch in the draft. Oh, well.

I'm debating if I feel bad for Quinn or not. I mean, as a society, should we really feel THAT bad if all of these players are going to be millionaires, anyway? Should the NFL be at fault for inviting him? I don't know. I don't think it's that big of a deal.

1:39 - Quite the picture of Adam Carriker; enough there to rattle a roomful of guys. I think each one of us gasped.

1:43 - TRADE! I love trades. Panthers swapping with the Jets. Are the J-E-T-S drafting Quinn?

Or are they making a push for Hall? Oh, man. I love the NFL Draft.

2:02 - Pittsburgh takes Lawrence Timmons from FSU. I got the pick right, but so did Ryan.

Boo.

Bobby: 6, Ryan: 4

2:02 - With the Packers on the clock, I have no idea who they've got in mind. I think I'll make a call to my friend Chris (big time Pack fan).

2:09 - He, uh, didn't pick up. Might be taking the Lynch loss pretty hard. That, or he's ignoring me. Either way.

2:13 - The Packers picked up DT Justin Harrell. I think it's a good move, despite the fact that some little white kid in a Packers jersey started booing the camera.

What does he know?

2:24 - TRADE! Broncos swap with the Jags to land Florida d-lineman Jarvis Moss....interesting.

2:33 - Sorry, I'm kind of slacking on the comments. But the Bengals are on the clock, so it's all getting interesting again. What if they drafted a shady character guy?

2:34 - Leon Hall to Cinci. Meh. I'm a huge Michigan fan, but Hall is the first guy from UM in a while that I really wasn't excited about being drafted. Him and Branch never really stood out to me. I mean, all season long, I was told that Hall was a lock to be a first round pick, but nothing he ever did on the field jumped out at me. There was never a time where I thought, "Wow, we're lucky to have this guy." Still, best of luck in Cinci, Leon. Stay out of trouble.

2:37 - We're planning a huge trip to Chick-Fil-A at the end of this round. I've never been before, but one just opened up in Iowa City. The real wrinkle here is that Ryan apparently won a year's supply of free Chick-Fil-A. Unfortunatley, Round 1 is at Pick 19, so we're far away.

2:47 - Damn. The Titans nabbed Michael Griffin. The Pats are going to have to re-think their draft strategy. I'm really thinking they're going to back out of this sensible S/LB policy. Is wide receiver a possiblity? I like Dwayne Bowe from LSU. Can't imagine he'll still be available when the Pats pick.

3:05 - Reggie Nelson to the Jags. Dan Shanoff's favorite player in the draft going to his 'favorite' team in the NFL. Gotta imagine he's pretty happy. I didn't even have Nelson going in the first round.

Oh, and just to update...Bobby: 6, Ryan: 4

We've both gone a little cold. Can we use these trades as an excuse?

3:09 - It offends me that ESPN is addressing the possiblity of Quinn going to the Cowboys. Tony Romo has to be at home thinking, "What the hell's going on?!"

I know that ESPN has to keep things interesting, but Quinn is NOT playing in Dallas next year. Is it possible that Quinn could fall to the second round? What a story that'd be.

3:14 - The Pats are so close to Harris. And with the Cowboys and Chiefs in front of them, there is no one standing in their way.

3:15 - TRADE! Browns swapped with Dallas. All signs point to Brady Quinn. Good for him...I guess.

3:17 - It's official. Quinn's a Brown. Ryan just put on "Hero" by Enrique Igleasis, and it's blasting. This, meshed with shots of Quinn dressed in a Browns uniforn as a kid makes this easily a Top 10 NFL Draft moment of my entire life. The chorus of the song started the second Quinn walked onto the stage in New York.

3:19 - I can be your hero, baby! I can kiss away the painnnnnn.

3:30 - The Chiefs used up all 15 minutes of the clock. Looks like their GM took a class or two in Herm Edwards Clock Management School. That joke doesn't even make that much sense. Whatever, Herm Edwards can't manage games...ha!

3:32 - Dwayne Bowe to KC! You know what this means? David Harris, David Harris, David Harris.

Come on, Pats.

3:33 - I have this hope that the Patriots won't take up as much clock as the other teams. You know, they're your team, you're hoping they act cooler than the other time wasting franchises that prolonged this first round.

Keep dreaming, Bobby. (Yeah, we've reached third-person mode).

3:43 - Well, the Pats drafting early into the 15-minute clock was a pipe dream. 1:37 left. Come. On. Pats.

3:44 - I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I'm bracing myself for a letdown. Mort's suggesting a trade. Nahhh. Keyshawn suggested a WR as a choice. Nahhh.

3:46 - Announce it, already!

3:46 - Brandon Meriweather, Safety, Miami (Fla.). Well, I originally had Griffin going in this spot. So, I think I can say things are alright so far.

3:47 - They just showed the video of Meriweather stomping on some FIU player during the FIU-Miami brawl. I'm feeling good about this. The thing is, I never really saw a lot of Meriweather in college, so I associate him with the only other safety from The U that comes to mind: Sean Taylor.

So, although I know nothing about him, I'm stereotyping him as a heavy hitter, playmaker,and loose cannon. Seems OK.

Hopefully Harris is still good to go in the 28 spot.

3:49 - Michael Smith's brilliant breakdown of Meriweather's ability to replace Ellis Hobbs in some complicated nickel package has talked me into the pick, more so.

I love Michael Smith.

3:50 - Sean Salisbury called the stomp in the FIU game "bush league." You tell 'em, Sean.

3:51 - Another interesting thing to think about: this pick came from the Seahawks. So immediatley, the question becomes, is/was Meriweather worth Deion Branch?

With the kind of free agency the Patriots have had in terms of wide recievers, I'd like to think that thus far, the trade will come out with the Pats in an advantageous position.

3:55 - Whoooo. Dodged a huge bullet with the Panthers taking Beason. When ESPN cut backfrom the commercial, I overheard Mort say "They took a Linebacker." Man, was I scared

Harris on the board. Harris on the board.

3:57 - "Are they playing the Rocky song for Philly's pick?" Ryan asks as he looks over at me. "You should blog about that one, don't you think?

3:58 - TRADE! Dallas and Philly swap, with Dallas now on the clock. Who do the Cowboys have in mind, here? I knew Jerry Jones couldn't go without a first round pick.

4:00 - Man, that Chick-Fil-A is becoming increasingly appealing. Buuuut, the Bears and Pats still have first round picks. Gotta stick it out, can't quit now.

4:03 - Oof, I just realized we passed the five hour mark.

"Doesn't seem like it," Ryan says. "It's going pretty smoothly."

I've gotten a second wind, so I'd have to agree with him. Mike and Scott probably don't, though. They've been gone for hours.

4:06 - ...and the Cowboys pick DE Anthony Spencer from Purdue. The Cowboy fans don't look happy. On the plus side, I just clinched the first round head-to-head mock draft victory!

The current score...Bobby- 6, Ryan- 4

Yeah, we're not that good.

4:08 - A lot of people thought Keyshawn would be a disaster analyzing this draft, but he really hasn't bothered me at all. Although he has talked about the wide receiever position pretty excessively, it's what ke knows, so I understand. I look forward to his comments just as much -- if not more -- than most of the other guys.

4:12 - It feels like the Saints have been on the clock forever, and they still have seven minutes left. I think I'm starting to hit another wall.

4:19 - Muh-Muh-Muh-Meachem to the Saints. They just cut to Meachem and he looked more surprised and upset than anything else. You just got drafted, dude. And the Saints aren't bad anymore.

Pats back on the clock, and I'm getting a third wind.

4:27 - Oh man, Greg Olsen is still available. Are you listening, Bears???

4:28 - Four minutes left until the Pats make their second pick of the first round.

4:29 - It's gotta be Harris or Poz, but which one?

4:31 - TRADE! Pats swap with the 49ers. I'm assuming the Pats are going into the second round because they don't currently have a second round pick. Maybe Belichick and Pioli know they can get a 'backer for cheaper in Round 2. Kind of like when they traded into the second round and got Chad Jackson last year. As far as cap space goes, this makes sense.

4:34 - Details of the trade are still unannounced. Get on it, ESPN!

-

5:36 - Ryan and I ended up caving and leaving for Chick-Fil-A as soon as the Niners drafted Joe Staley. I caught the details of the trade on the radio, and they seem pretty solid (the major highlight being the Patriots getting the Niners first round pick next year). It'll be nice to root against a team all year like I got to do with the Seahawks last season. Get the voodoo curses on Frank Gore's ACL going, ASAP.

As for the rest of the first round, I'm glad the Bears finally got the tight end everybody wanted them to get...it just took a year longer. Olsen was a combine stud, and hopefully that translates into some success in the NFL.

It's also worth nothing that the Colts got Anthony Gonzalez with the last pick. Man, Ohio State, then the Colts. That's a recipe for some hating. I can't wait to start rooting against him.

Well, I think I'm going to take it easy for the second round. After (almost) making it through the longest first round in NFL history, I'm a little burned out. So if you'll excuse me, I've got some loungin', eatin', and hangin' out to do.

Here's to a stellar Rounds 2-7.

-

5:48 - Eh, it got boring not blogging. Plus, the Eagles picked QB Kevin Kolb! Now that's inexplicable. The Eagles fans look a bit upset. Too bad Kolb didn't get to walk on stage. He would've been McNabbed so hard. Philly fans are insane.

I think I'll post some updates sparatically.

6:08 - GET OFF OF TED GINN! These NFL Live guys won't quit. I don't even like Ted Ginn that much, but these guys refuse to let go of the fact that he hurt his foot in the National Championship game in January. What did they want? For him to go undrafted? This injury isn't a big deal! Maybe it will effect the start of his season this year. Maybe. But that's about it. They act like he's recovering from paralysis or something.

6:10 - Meanwhile, the Dolphins redeem themselves (at least in the eyes of their fans) by taking the Brigham Young QB, John Beck. The fans were mad because they didn't get Quinn, but if Beck is as good as Quinn -- which some of the analysts are saying -- then maybe Miami ended up saving a lot of money and gained wide receiver/punt returner in Ginn.

I don't know a lot about Beck, but I kind of get the feeling Miami is doing the right thing. Not like that basketball team of theirs! ... Zing! ... Sorry, I had to.

3-0!!!

6:36 - Dwayne Jarrett to the Carolina Panthers. The ironic thing is, Keyshawn Johnson, his future teammate, was one of the more prominent people saying Jarrett should have stayed at USC for his senior season.

This whole selection led Keyshawn to say something like, "I can TEACH him to be physical, I can TEACH him to be agressive..." Ohhhh, man. Keyshawn is regeretting that call.

Keyshawn eventually interviewed a very emotional Jarrett, who is barely able to speak after being selected. Understandable, but we haven't seen a lot of that today.

Also, after re-watching highlights of Jarrett, how the hell did he slip to the second round?! He just dominated in college, and even if his speed is a problem, his hands and size pretty much ensure a certain level of success in the NFL. I really am rooting for him this season.

6:44 - David Harris to the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS. Mangini strikes again. Bummer. Well,I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been available when the Pats pick in the THIRD round.They better get a solid linebacker.

7:10 - And the Titans draft Arizona RB Chris Henry. Ouch to LenDale White. Thankfully, former Trojan Keyshawn Johnson backs up his boy White. Everything is right in the world.

7:30 - Well, Ryan is kicking me out of his place. Says he has to go to work or something. Weak. So, I guess this ends my live blog. In better news, he just offered me a free ticket and ride to the Cards-Cubs Sunday Night Baseball game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis tomorrow, and I'm in. So, say 'goodbye' to a live blog for Day 2, and say 'hello' to a probable post on my experience at Busch.

He Gone of the Moment: Drew Bledsoe

Well, Drew Bledsoe, my second favorite NFL quarterback of all-time, retired yesterday. I honestly think -- based on his style of pocket passing which relies very little on mobility -- he could have lasted another four to six years in the league. Would he have been mediocre to sub-par? Probably, and I think Drew knew that.

He walked away from the game at the right time, and all of his quotes were squeaky clean, feel good, and for me, provided some closure.

Here were my favorites (quotes via ESPN, specifically Michael Smith) :

"Nobody ever had to come and get me off the field," he said. "Even in New England [in '01 after Mo Lewis of the Jets leveled him with a hit that sheered a blood vessel] I went back out there and they had to tell me to stay out. I never once stayed down."

***

"I'm not leaving the game with any hard feelings," he said. "I had a great career and I enjoyed all of it, with the
exception of losing. I enjoyed the time I had with all the teams I played for. I played with a ton of great players and a ton of great people.

"[Last season] was hard, very hard. Nobody said life was fair but that was a tough pill to swallow. I'm happy for
Tony, who's a good guy and a good player. It was sad for him the way the season ended. It's just that I felt like that team had a chance to do some things and I wanted to be on the field with those guys. It didn't work out. But there's no bitterness toward anyone over anything that
happened."

I disagreed with him being benched for Tony Romo last season, but I think, in the end, it was the right move. But that's why Bill Parcells has rings and I don't.

Also, after that Mo Lewis hit, he really could have died. But he didn't, and he came back weeks later, and I have all the respect in the world for him because of that. Even though Brady had taken over his original job.

I also think that Bledsoe was Pro Bowl worthy in 2005; just look at the numbers. He ended up losing the last NFC Pro Bowl QB spot to Michael Vick, who, predictably underachieved, but got in on name recognition. But I swear I'm not bitter.

I'll remember Drew for a few things...

• Getting me into Washington State and New England Patriots football...hell, getting me into football, period. He was my favorite player for a very, very long time.
• Altering the course of NFL history after taking the Mo Lewis hit.
• Being a class act all the way, in every city, for every team he played for.
• Always taking responsibility for good AND bad things that happened to his teams.
• My bandwagon-ish Dallas Cowboys fandom (2005-2006), solely because he was playing for them.
• Bledsoe's cannon arm in its prime, that -- assuming he had sound blocking during the play -- could make any throw, any where with surgical precision

But now, that's all over. So the question presents itself: Is Bledsoe Hall of Fame worthy?

On the New England Patriots message board I post on at over football's future, user "cordovagolfer" and I came up with a pro-HOF argument.

I wrote, "...I think his numbers alone garner at least some HOF consideration. 4 Pro Bowls. 2 AFC Championships. (1 Super Bowl, if we're counting that.) Top 10 in a few major QB statistical categories. I don't know, we'll see."

cordovagolfer wrote, "First it's 2 Super Bowls - 96 and 01 [he seemed to favor appearances alone as an accomplishment]. Let's not forget without him we don't beat Pittsburgh and then never get there.

Top 10 in Yardage and Completions. #13 in TD's. Everyone (who's retired) in that range is in the HOF. Whenever this man had an offensive line in front of him he performed better than anyone else. You can't call what Buffalo and Dallas put in front of him offensive lines, just offensive. He was one of the best pocket passers ever to play. His problem was always mobility. That shouldn't get him discarded from consideration. He will be every bit a serious candidate, just like Tippett."

To counter, user "Tzimisce" (a Patriots fan, who I consider to be the most intelligent poster in the whole forum) made his anti-HOF argument.

Tzimisce wrote, "He's one of those stat-padder types. Like Vinny Testaverde, but without the longevity.

As far as I'm concerned, the HOF should only be for truly dominant players. And Bledsoe was never in that category - not even close. He never really developed great football fundamentals. He was always trying to make the big play, rather than taking what the defense gave him, and that's why he was run out of New England. After the '00 season, I knew that he wasn't long for this town, even if Mo Lewis hadn't nearly killed him in week 2 of '01. Brady would've become our starting QB at some point during that season, regardless.

Bledsoe will forever belong in that second or third tier of QBs - guys who were good when placed in the right situation, with the right talent around them, but were never good enough to carry a team. He's in the same league as Kenny Anderson, Vinny T, Dave Krieg and Steve DeBerg - none of whom were Canton-worthy, even though they certainly had some very good years. If you want to see why Bledsoe was never a great QB, watch a tape of him performing when the defense got pressure from the outside, and then watch one of Brady in the same situation.

Brady would either dump it off to the running back in the flat, or step up into the pocket and throw it at someone's feet, where it couldn't get picked off.

Bledsoe, on the other hand, would continue to stand there like a statue until he was sacked, or he would wing it into coverage downfield, where it could've easily gotten picked off. The dude simply didn't have the pocket presence and intangibles that seperate [sic] the decent QBs from the great ones."

--

Whether you agree or disagree with Bledsoe being in the Hall of Fame, Tzimisce certainly makes a better argument.

But the numbers (padded or not) are up there with the best QBs of all-time, and maybe for some voters, that will be enough to push him in.

RIP Drew Bledsoe's NFL Career (1993-2007) ... He Gone.

News & Notes: 3/5/07

- As of right now, I'm picking Kansas to win the NCAA Tournament. I have a few reasons, but I'm waiting for the Big 12 tourney to play out to write anything more. It's my hope that they lose in the semis or in the final, and maybe fall out of getting a 1-seed. My normal tournament bracket philosophy is to pick the favorite, and key in on some good first round upsets and Sweet 16 teams.

I usually don't think about the field until Selection Sunday, but this year is just different. I have a pretty good feeling about KU, and since I'm feeling more unconventional with this bracket, I'm hoping they're not favorite, so less people will pick them.

- If I'm a GM with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Right now: Oden or Durant? Oden.

- The Chicago Bears and New England Patriots are having off-seasons that are about as comparable as night and day. They seem to be heading in different directions with the Pats throwing money around (what?!) and the Bears losing key pieces (Thomas Jones already, and Lance Briggs, quite possibly). I'm going to wait until the Bears ruin more things to comment any further, but as for the boys in Massachusetts? I can't even begin to describe my excitement for the Patriots' acquisition of Adalius Thomas. Here is a guy that's played every single defensive position. I keep telling my friends about him, and the dialogue usually goes like this...

Bobby: He's played every single defensive position.
Friend X: Tackle and Cornerback?!
Bobby: Yes.

I've had this exact same conversation with at least five people.

Anyway, Thomas will make this team better because he provides youth in the linebacking core, an ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and of course, his versatility.

In the real Super Bowl -- the AFC Championship -- the Patriots led the Colts, 21-3 in Indianapolis. The ship was sailing smooth until the Colts offensive unit refused to leave the field. Ending and starting the half, Manning and Co. were able to not only sustain long drives, but also run their famous no-huddle in doing so. This is a successful form of offense because it doesn't allow adequate time for defensive substitutions. It ended up badly burning the Pats, and the D was essentially running on fumes for the 3rd and 4th quarter.

I mention this because Thomas will have the ability to come up to the line and rush, or drop back into coverage. He's a perfect way to combat the Colts' style of play. Basically, seeing the New England front office pull the trigger on this deal tells me, "Hey, we blew it in Indy last year, and right now, we're building a team to compete with our only real competition: the Colts."

The Pats also gave up some draft picks to the Dolphins for WR Wes Welker, whose size, speed, and toughness make him perfect for an offense that caters to small wide receivers who run sharp and precise routes. This year should be his best yet in the NFL.

On top of all this, the Patriots are rumored to acquire Randy Moss or Dante Stallworth.

I'm drooling.

The Lamenting of a True NFL Bigamist

It's my dirty little secret -- or not-so-secret because I'm so overt about it.

The Chicago Bears. The New England Patriots. My two favorite pro football teams. My two equally favorite pro football teams.

I was raised a Bears fan in the Chicago suburbs, but also a Michigan (Ty Law, Tom Brady) and Washington State (Drew Bledsoe) fan. These guys hooked me into the Patriots, and when they fell to the hated Packers and Brett Favre in Super Bowl XXXI, I was hooked for life. I had two lovable losers on my hands.

I never really knew who I liked more, and I never really had to think about it, but when the Pats won three titles in four years, let's just say I started to lean more towards the East Coast.

Although some people think of the Bears as the dominant team from '85, I don't. I was in the womb when they won the Super Bowl, and to my recollection, I'd never seen them win a playoff game until the beat the Seahawks last week.

But then Lovie Smith happened, and the Bears experienced a resurgence.

Both teams were so pitiful for so long, that when I made them both my favorites (around age 9 or 10, I'd guess), I don't think I ever could have dreamed they'd both be Super Bowl contenders, ever...especially not in the same season. But they both ended up making the final four this year, and I really had to do some thinking.

--

Don't get me wrong, if I could, I'd make a change. But I can't. I won't. Even if I said I liked one over the other, I'd be lying to myself. I wish I could at least subordinate one to the other, but I just can't. And even though I am the way I am, I hate people who like teams "equally," mostly because I didn't believe it was actually possible. But I've grown to learn that it is. The best comparison I could make is the feeling parents get when they watch their children face off against each other. Who do you pick??

With every other major sport (College Football, College Basketball, NBA, MLB), I have one clear-cut favorite team. In the collegiate ranks, it's all about Michigan football and Iowa basketball. Do I also love Washington State football/basketball, Michigan basketball, Iowa football, and DePaul basketball? Yeah, I do. And if any one of those teams won a title, I'd freak out as if they were my absolute favorite. But if there was a championship pitting any of those teams head-to-head, I would have a pre-decided favorite team to root for. That's just not the case in pro football. This is what made tonight's AFC Championship so difficult.

I hate the Colts. Hate. They're my least favorite team in the NFL. But the Colts not going to the Super Bowl meant the Patriots would. And that would have been terrible.

I said I pre-decided to root for the Bears if the unthinkable Super Bowl game happened. Why? They had one title to the Patriots' three. My pre-decision was a crock, because if the Bears had jumped out to a big lead on the Patriots, I know, in my heart, that I would have been pulling for the Pats to at least make a game out of it.

Back to tonight.

As the AFC Championship unfolded, even with the knowledge that I didn't want the Pats to make it, I rooted balls to the wall and expended nearly all of my energy hoping hard that they'd defeat Peyton. "Forget the future. The present is now," I thought.

When it finished, I was left silent and shaking. Why did I feel so crappy if one of my favorite teams had advanced to the Super Bowl earlier in the day? Maybe I'm just selfish. But I knew the feeling would pass, and in the end, it was all for the best.

I'd much rather have my favorite team (the Bears) playing my least favorite team (the Colts) instead of my other favorite team (the Pats). I know it seems complicated, but it's not. The Bears-Pats game would have been win-lose. My favorite team would have won and lost on the NFL's big stage. I would have had no anticipation for the game, and I probably wouldn't have had desire to even watch. So even though the Patriots lost a game I wanted them to win more than anything, in a way, I'm happy.

Here's to Super Bowl XX never, ever, ever repeating itself. My head would probably explode.