2020 NFL Draft Takes, Part 1 of 2

Despite the Y2K like hysteria that the COVID-19 pandemic brought to The NFL 2020 draft, pro football survived it in early 70s like fashion. Forced into their homes, shot callers and all the participants, the draft seemed to lose lots of the Hollywood production like fluff and get right to what we were there for, the picks. The teams got right to the nitty-gritty. I think they all benefited from the minimal slight of hand the restrictions dictated. They focused more on filling their needs, and that's what most teams did. 

Joe Burrow has high expectations in Cincinnati. Will we see the guy who, brought the national title to LSU or the guy who couldn’t win the job at Ohio State. He won’t have the weapons he had in the Bayou, but the cupboard isn’t completely bare in Cincy.  2nd Rd pick, Tee Higgins and a healthy A.J. Green, will make the transition to the bigs a lot easier. Ohio State wrecking ball DE Chase Young, should make new Washington Redskins new coach, Ron Rivera, very happy. He also nabbed do-it-all Memphis RB Antonio Gibson, in the 3rd round. A Christian McCaffery type player.  The Lions improved their secondary with Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah. The New York Giants get much needed offensive line help in Georgia tackle Andrew Thomas. 

The Miami Dolphins got Tua Tagovailoa without having to tank. I think Tua has the most upside of all the QBs in the draft, provided his body can hold up to the pounding. The Dolphins could very well have engineered the most well rounded draft this year. They also grabbing USC OT Austin Jackson, Auburn CB Noah Igbinoghene in the 1st Round, and Louisiana G, Robert Hunt and Alabama DT Raekwon Davis in the 2nd. 

The Chargers hope they’ve found Philip Rivers replacement with the number 6 pick Justin Herbert from Oregon. Later in the round they tabbed Oklahoma run stuffing LB Kenneth Murray. filling the void left by Thomas Davis departure. Davis still hasn’t been replaced by his old team, the Carolina Panthers, so the speculation was they might look to draft Clemson, play anywhere defender Isaiah Simmons, but they instead chose to shore up their defensive line and called on Derrick Brown from Auburn. Carolina made no secret of their intent to "Keep Pounding" by using everyone of its 2020 draft picks on defensive players. 

That left the door wide open for the Arizona Cardinals to draft Simmons. Cornerback, Safety, Linebacker, Edge Rusher, you name it Simmons played it at Clemson. For years we’ve heard NFL talking heads comments on what a match up nightmare it was to defend big Gronkowski type tight ends. So every team had to have one. Simmons could be the prototype to match up with those tight ends. He could bring exciting nuances to defensive football.  In Round 3 they grabbed Houston T Josh Jones, Then after that, they chose back to back defensive lineman. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars picked next and grabbed the Florida’s C.J. Henderson, arguably the best cover in the draft, filling the hole left when they jettisoned perennial pro-bowler Jalen Ramsey. Their next pick was LB K’Lavon Chaisson, is a steal if he can stay healthy. Colorado WR Laviska Shenault Jr. could also be a great pick for the boys from Duval. Great athlete, track speed strong hands, loves to battle. The Cleveland Browns priority is protection for Baker Mayfield, so they went after Alabama tackle, Jedrick Wills Jr. After that they took safety Grant Delpit, LSU. Delpit will be looking to prove that he can play more like he did in his junior year. He should work out fine, fully healed from nagging injuries. The Jets bring massive Louisville T Mekhi Becton to the Big Apple, great on his feet, he need to learn the ins and outs of playing the position in the big leagues and work harder to maintain his weight. 

The Las Vegas Raiders were first team to take advantage of this receiver heavy draft and of course they went after of of the speediest Henry Ruggs III, Alabama. This draft would have made the late Al Davis proud. They chose aggressive Ohio State corner Damon Arnette with the next pick. Then WR/RB/QB Lynn Bowden Jr., Kentucky and big body South Carolina WR Bryan Edwards. They also picked up sleeper Corner Amik Robertson in round 4. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are starting to look like the champions of the off season (That and $5 will get you a cup of coffee), pick up Iowa T Tristan Wirfs. A multi sport athlete, Wirfs combination of athleticism, size, and speed make him a good bet to being a successful body guard for Tom Brady. 

Part 2, Thursday

The NBA Version of Chicken Little (Part 2)

The NBA Version of Chicken Little (Part 2)

         I'm amused by the outrage over Kevin Durant's move to the Golden State Warriors. Which came on the midst of the outrage over the NBA's free agents salaries. Didn't people learn anything after overreacting to Lebron James jump to Miami? James going to Miami, didn't send the NBA the way of the ABA, and neither will the KD's escape to Oakland.

  

         I can probably be accused of being kind of old school in my view on sports. I miss the days where your starting five hung around for a few years. You knew your favorite baseball teams entire roster year after year. That being said, I think free agency is a great thing for sports. The athlete should not be owned by the team forever. Lebron had his reason for leaving Cleveland in 2010 and I respect Durant's reason's for leaving OKC, whatever they are. Thunder fans I can understand you feeling a little jilted and upset by the departure. You're left with Russell Westbrook and Steven (Deadwood) Adams, to make a run at Golden State and San Antonio next season, and possibly just Adams. It wasn't that long ago, when they had their own big 3. Durant, Westbrook and James Harden. There is going to be hard feelings in OKC for quite awhile. 

But why is everybody else furious? I mean Stephen A. Smith calling his decision "weak" (I guess he's getting his First Take material ready for next week). People calling him heartless, scared, opportunistic. Do you get mad when franchises dump salaries, or they decide to rebuild? Nah! You roll with it. Stop all the noise. The 2016-2017 NBA seasons will have about the same amount of teams with a realistic chance of winning the championship as the season that just ended, 4-6. Just sit back and enjoy the story line that's being set up for next season. Another Warriors/Cavaliers Finals (which would be the fist time in NBA history the same two teams met for the championship 3 consecutive years). I'm sure Cleveland has another move up their sleeve to try to match up the Warriors for next season. The Thunder (I'm being nice, their fans are hurting right now), Spurs, Clippers, Celtics, Heat, Raptors, Hawks and Knicks can fight for the spots in the conference finals. So have a great summer, enjoy the football season, and we can pick up the story again after the Super Bowl, when it really starts to count. 

Hey Jets get yourself a QB, any day now...I watched the entire Wales/Belgium match the other day and enjoyed it.....I'm not sure how Venus & Serena keep track of all the tourneys they win, I sure can't....are the Knicks actually trying to put a championship team together or am I seeing things......what can we do legally to make Future go away, huh.........are the Denver Nuggets still in the NBA, I'm just asking......are the Broncos actually entertaining going into the season without Von Miller.......are the Heat really playing hardball with D Wade???

NBA: Donald Sterling is being who you knew he was

I laugh to myself when I hear people talk about how racism is not an issue. That it doesn't affect society the way it used to in the past. I also shake my head when people scoff at my assertion that the plantation mentality is prevalent big time sports. We have come a long way, but we have not come as far as a lot of us would like to think. Donald Sterling is the example of both of those points. This is not the first time he let folks know how he feels about us. It must be addressed. I don't want the NBA to do anything. The people he has disdain for need to make him feel it in his wallet. Boycott anything clippers, or any other business he is associated with. When the NBA starts to feel an economic pinch, we won't have to ask them to do anything. They will do something not because it is right, but because of how their association with him continues hurts their bottom line. We can not continue to be mindless sheep. Don't cry for people to do anything about this situation do it yourself. If you are mad, flex your economic muscle and make your voice heard.

NFL To Penalize Crown Of The Helmet Hits

The goal of Roger Goddell is to destroy the game as the hardcore football fan loves it. Him and the NFL owners want to turn it into a global cash cow. A game looks more like flag football, where high scoring aerial shows make it easier for them to sell this product overseas. A politically correct game where they have created the illusion that they have done everything possible to eliminate serious injuries. Soccer moms and dads worldwide won't be afraid of letting their kids play this kinder gentler game. A game where the high profile, high paid star has a longer more marketable shelf life. The NFL doesn't care if the life long hardcore football fan goes the way of the head slap.

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - SIAC Approves Central State University For Conference Membership

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - SIAC Approves Central State University For Conference Membership

 2008 figures

I mean this from the bottom of my heart. If the person you want to elect into office can't give you an definitive answer on how they will take a major chuck out of this figure, then they don't deserve to be in office and all the gasping and head shaking you are doing about what happened in Aurora, and what's been happening in these streets for decades, will be empty posturing. I don't care what race they are, what political party they're from, how rich or poor they are or where they worship. If they can't come up with a solution they definitely don't deserve the salary you're about to vote them into. When America was attacked on Sept 11, 2001, elected officials did what they felt they needed to do to put a plan in place to protect this country from foreign terrorism. THIS IS DOMESTIC TERRORISM! And it's on your block, in your community, at your childs school. I don't care who you are and where you live. If you don't force the people that are supposed to work for us to do something about it, then keep your mouth shut when you see it on the news.

  Pic credited from http://isportsweb.com

I've been hearing people say for days that giving Penn State the death penalty would be hurting all the businesses that rely on the revenue that comes from football, the athletes that are playing at PSU, and the other sports that depend on the football revenue. That's why this happened in the first place, people being more concerned with the cash flow than the well being of innocent children. The Penn State "brain trust", was hell bent on protecting the program at the expense of the victim. They need to feel the financial gut punch that a 5 year ban is going to create. It should also prompt other universities that would protect "the program" above all else, to institute policies that would prevent this complete institutional neglect from happening again. I'm not sure if the NCAA has the fortitude to institute the death penalty in this case. They'll say the no one gained a competitive advantage as a result of these crimes. But you tell me who was more deserved of drastic sanctions SMU, USC, Ohio State or PENN STATE #deathpenaltyforpennstate.