If you had to vote for the Heisman today....

...who would be your choice?

Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama, So.
Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford, Sr.
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson, Sr.
Tim Tebow, QB, Florida, Sr.
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State, So.

Or do you have someone else in mind,

Right now I'd have to go with Ingram. All of the running backs listed above have impressive stats for this season, but Ingram is doing it in the toughest conference. No quarterback is really putting up Heisman numbers this year, that includes Tebow. A lot of the voters will try to give him the award soley because they crowned him the winner before the season started. I like him as a college player, but he is not the best player in college football this year.

Raider defender penalized for ... thanking God?

In the days where players that dance, gyrate and posture after making a simple tackle, Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct during Sunday's 29-6 loss to the Texans. With the Texans on the Raider 19 yard line, with 51 seconds left in the 1st half, Johnson picked off a Matt Schaub pass in the end zone, intended for Andre Johnson. The 7th year defensive back dropped to his knees and threw up his hands in praising God. The official in the end zone threw a flag because he felt that gesture was an excessive celebration.

See Johnson Interception

I watched the much hyped Viking Packer game the next night where Viking DE Jared Allen celebrated after every sack. The Lambeau leap, whether it's the the Packers or Chad Ochocinco. There are blatant excessive celebrations every week that never draw a penalty. So, why throw a flag on a player who's giving praise to God? The fact of the matter is, the NFL suffers from inconsistent officiating. Especially when it comes to the celebration rules. I didnt think there was anything excessive about what Chris Johnson did. What do you think?

Browns ship Braylon Edwards to Jets

I guess Lebron James is truly the king...in Cleveland. Braylon Edwards who was involved in a scrap with one of Lebron's good friends over the weekend, has been sent packing by the Cleveland Browns, to the New York Jets. The Browns will receive WR Chansi Stucky, special teamer Jason Trusnik, and 2 draft picks form the Jets. Edwards is an extremely talented reciever, who has only shown flashes of his potential and has a been involved in his share of controversy in his short time in Cleveland.

As a Jet fan, I like the trade. Edwards was a talented player on a bad Browns team. Their quarterback situation has been unstable for the last couple of seasons and seems to been even shakier, since Ex-Jet coach Eric Mangini took over the head coaching reigns. Over his career he has averaged 60 catches, 925 yards per catch over his first 4 years. In 2007, he averaged 16 yards per catch 1289 yds, and 16 TD's, but last year, his 16 drops stood out over his 55 catches, and 15.9 average per catch. You can't ignore his off the field issues. The fight with James' buddy over the weekend. Last November, Edwards was fined $150 and given 30 hours of community service after he was found guilty of driving 120 mph. There was also controversy with the Browns over the way they handled his staff infection in 2005, his rookie season.

Sometimes good players need a change of scenery. (See Randy Moss) Edwards will be going from a team thats is wallowing in ineptitude, to a Jet team that seems to be on an upswing. Rex Ryan has brought some much needed swagger into the Big Apple and it seems to be carrying over to the team. The upside on marc Sanchez is tremendous, and they have a chance to develop into a potent pass catching duo. That Ryan defense is proving a force to be reckeoned with. Rex is a shoot from the hip type of guy so I'm sure he will let Braylon know what he expects right from the start. It will be up to Edwards to start over fresh, put his past issues behind him and get on board in New York. If he does, the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets Jets will be looking, not just to grab the division title that escaped them last year, but do some damage in the playoffs also.

HBCU Players Drafted in 2009 NFL Draft

Sammie Lee Hill - DT, Stillman College , Detroit Lions, 4th Round, 15th Pick, 115th Overall Hill is regarded by many to be the premier small college prospect at his position. The four-year starter lined up at left defensive end as a junior and senior, but with explosive burst penetrating the gaps and wide frame, many teams feel that he is better suited to play inside at tackle at the next level, his original college position. His ability to shut down the running game saw him produce 44.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage during his career, setting the school career record.

Greg Toler - CB, St Pauls College, Arizona Cardinals, 4th Round, 31st Pick, 131st Overall Great Story - After high school, he got a job at JC Penney before playing semi-pro football. He came to St. Paul's College, which was starting a football program, and excelled at the small-school level. He really impressed scouts at his workouts. The Cardinals hope they've found another Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
"I never took my grades seriously like I should have," he said. "My coaches kept telling me that education's first, that you'll never be a student-athlete unless you're a good student." In 2006, Toler produced 35 tackles (24 solo), picking off one pass while batting down three others during a "sophomore slump." He bounced back with a banner junior campaign, receiving All-CIAA first-team honors. He had an interception with seven pass deflections, averaging 8.2 yards on ten punt returns and 16.8 yards on six kickoff returns. He also ranked eighth on the team with 37 tackles (16 solo), as he did not allow a pass reception in four of 10 games he started.

The left cornerback earned All-CIAA and Little All-American first-team honors in 2008. He placed fourth on the team with a career-high 51 tackles (37 solo), including 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He tied for ninth in the nation and second in the league with six interceptions and set the school record with three blocked kicks, returning one blocked punt for a touchdown. He knocked down 13 other tosses, as his total of 19 passes defended tied for the CIAA title while ranking second nationally.

Don Carey, CB, Norfolk State, Cleveland Browns, 6th Round, 4th Pick 177 Overall Carey was a four-year starter and has drawn a lot of attention in workouts. He's worked out in three or four difference places, and a number of teams came to watch him. He has a chance to develop into a starter, and this is about the spot in the draft where these types of players go. The Browns secondary was a weak point last year and Carey provides depth. An excellent student, Carey turned down a chance to attend Yale because it was cost prohibitive. Had the second-highest GPA on the team and graduated with honors.

Jarvarris Williams, RB, Tennessee State, Kansas City Chiefs 7th Round, 3rd Pick, 212th Overall Williams is a two-year starter who has been productive at the smaller college level. He translates into more of a fullback at the NFL level and he could fill that role with the Chiefs. He leaves the TSU ranking second in school history with 849 carries, 4,329 rushing yards and 5,117 all-purpose yards. He ranks third in school annals in scoring with 264 points and 44 total touchdowns, as his 42 touchdowns rushing set a TSU all-time mark. Solid build with room for additional muscle mass. Good quickness to and through the hole. Good quickness and agility at the first level to re-direct. Good vision. Patient runner who follows his blocks well. At least adequate speed to turn the corner. Effective short-yardage runner. Will lower his shoulder and fight for extra yardage. Provides a pop and has good balance and lateral agility as a pass blocker. Experienced receiver out of the backfield. Enjoyed a solid week of practice at the East-West Shrine Game, answering scouts' questions about his production against his level of competition.