Two weeks ago, Arkansas football had a surefire top-25 team for 2012 coming off a 21-5 record the past two seasons. Today, the Razorbacks have that same team, but Bobby Petrino is no longer there to lead them. In fact, his house in Fayetteville, Ark. is up for sale for $2.5 million, about $1 million less than the salary he was due to earn this year.
Right now, linebackers coach Taver Johnson, a former Ohio State assistant who was hired in the offseason, will serve as the interim coach for at least the rest of the spring. Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, who took a huge stand in firing Petrino for his transgressions, now has the task of finding a new coach who can keep Arkansas near the top of an SEC West division that has Alabama and LSU.
Arkansas has the advantage of not conducting a head coaching search under the auspices of an NCAA investigation or sanctions like USC and Ohio State. The Razorbacks return a very strong team, including two of the best offensive players in the conference in quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis. Unfortunately, very few coaching searches occur during or after the spring, so it'll be hard to find a current coach willing to leave his program and jump into a new situation.
South Florida head coach Skip Holtz and new Arkansas State head coach Gus Malzahn are two of the top names being talked about to replace Petrino. Holtz has been a successful coach everywhere he's been, from Connecticut to East Carolina to USF, and his father, Lou Holtz, was the head coach at Arkansas from 1977-83. Though Skip Holtz hasn't been at South Florida very long, SEC jobs don't open up with the regularity of other conferences, and Arkansas would be a great situation to jump into. Malzahn was the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator in 2006 after being the head coach at Springdale (Ark.) High from 2001-05. It'd be hard for him to leave Arkansas State months after taking the job, but if Arkansas goes with an interim head coach for the entire season, Malzahn would probably be more interested.
Then again, there's John Daly's idea. Daly, the golfer and Arkansas dropout, tweeted earlier this week with his suggestion.
"My first loyalty is to the University of Arkansas. I trust that Jeff Long will do what's best for the program. Everyone ogs in the Razorback Nation is devastated! This is heartbreaking as Coach Petrino is a very good friend of mine! From here, I think we will need a great coach like him to continue our winning ways! I myself, would hold out for a great NFL coach---GRUDEN! #GoHogs"
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Another guy's baseball predictions
Baseball season is upon us, and everyone has predictions about who will make the playoffs. ESPN posted the predictions of 51 different analysts and writers earlier this week, and here are a few more:
National League
East champion: Atlanta Braves
Central champion: St. Louis Cardinals
West champion: San Francisco Giants
Wild cards: Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds
League champ: Braves
Sleepers: Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks
The prevailing wisdom is that the Phillies, by not losing much and adding closer Jonathan Papelbon, will be the best team in the NL this season. They still have Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, a top two that any team would love to have, but I believe the Braves have a better pitching staff from top to bottom than Philadelphia. A staff with Tommy Hanson, Tim Hudson (when he comes back from back surgery), Jair Jurrjens, Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy combined with the bullpen combination of Jonny Venters, Craig Kimbrel and Eric O'Flaherty should keep Atlanta in every game. Miami and Washington are both much improved, but the Braves and Phillies are still the class of the division.
In the Central, the Cardinals still have Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright and a lineup that features Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman, Carlos Beltran and World Series MVP David Freese.Cincinnati has the hitting and defense to last, but the Reds have to have consistent pitching to win the division. Acquiring Mat Latos from the Padres should really help their cause, but Johnny Cueto, who has never won more than 13 games in a season, needs to turn in ace-like numbers. Whatever Ryan Braun does coming off last year's MVP and subsequent offseason issues, Milwaukee will have a hard time making it back into the playoffs without Prince Fielder.
What the San Francisco Giants don't do at the plate, they make up for on the mound. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, baseball's newest $100 million man, make up one of the best one-two pitchers in the league. With the Dodgers and Padres not expected to make much noise, the NL West should be a two-team race between the Giants and Diamondbacks, who surprised many by making the playoffs last season.
American League
East champ: New York Yankees
Central champ: Detroit Tigers
West champ: Los Angeles Angels
Wild cards: Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers
Sleepers: Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox
Though the Red Sox have close to the same lineup that had them leading the AL East midway through last season, that lineup suffered one of the worst collapses in baseball history and not much has changed. The Yankees still have the edge in the division, and the Rays, with their wealth of young talent, aren't far behind. Though New York is still led by aging stars Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettite and Alex Rodriguez, younger All-Stars like Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson provide a lot of firepower. Tampa Bay introduced the league to young flamethrowers Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore last season, and combined with David Price and James Shields, the Rays have arguably the best pitching staff in the division. The progression of young outfielder Desmond Jennings will be key in Tampa Bay's pursuit of the AL East crown.
The Tigers were a clear favorite in the AL Central before they added Prince Fielder. Now, they should definitely run away with it. The Royals, with their impressive stable of young players, have been an intriguing team for the past couple of seasons. Is this the season Kansas City breaks through? Who knows, but the Royals are definitely a team to watch this year.
The West was a two-horse race before the Angels went on a spending spree this offseason, signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. The Rangers have won the American League pennant the last two seasons, and they replaced Wilson with Japanese phenom Yu Darvish. If Darvish can give Texas anything close to Wilson's production, the Rangers could be well on their way to another league title.
World Series prediction: Braves over Angels
Friday, March 30, 2012
Nash to Miami? It could happen
Nash will be one of the most intriguing free agents this summer, and Phoenix would have to make some huge moves to keep him there. "I'm not coming back to the Suns if there isn't improvement," Nash told "The Dan Patrick Show" on Thursday.
In the interview, Nash mentioned Miami among the teams he would consider when he hits the market.
"I would listen," he said. "I love what they're doing there. A lot of people don't like them because they put all that talent there. But they're professional, they play hard, they play together. Their coaching staff has done a great job, so I have a tremendous amount of respect for them."
It's not hard to see why Nash would consider the Heat. They have James, Wade, Bosh and a strong collection of role players. Miami almost won a title last year and has a great chance of making it back to the Finals. For the 38-year-old Nash, the chance to be on a championship team is the one thing his resume is missing.
The Heat also have a point guard spot that could use an upgrade on offense. Mario Chalmers is serviceable and makes plays on the defensive end. Chalmers is eighth among point guards in defensive plays per 40 minutes (2.84) and sixth in steals (2.1). Nash continues to lead the league in assists (11.2 per game) and is third in true shooting percentage (63.4 percent).
On the other hand, Miami doesn't have much cap room for Nash. He could take the Heat's mid-level exception, which would be between $3 million and $5 million based on how the team fares with the luxury tax. Either of those salaries would be a long drop down from the $11.6 million Nash is making this season, but for a shot at a title, he may be willing to take a pay cut.
To make room for Nash, Miami could part ways with Chalmers, who makes $4 million this year and the next two years. He could be traded for a second-round pick or cash considerations that could be used to sign Nash.
The Heat have done just fine without a great point guard. With almost seven assists per game, James is the only player in the league's top 15 assist men who isn't a point guard. The potential addition of Nash, one of the great distributors the game has ever had, could make Miami even better.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Parcells shouldn't be the Saints' savior
Before Bill Belichick roamed the New England sidelines and led the Patriots to Super Bowls, it was his mentor Bill Parcells who made the franchise relevant in the 1990s.
Now another of Parcells's pupils--deposed Saints coach Sean Payton--is reaching out in hopes that he'll stand in for Payton in New Orleans as he serves out his year-long suspension. Sounds like a worthwhile solution? A big splash, right? Wrong.
In this case, the Big Tuna is a fish the Saints shouldn't reel in. Parcells hasn't been very successful recently. He hasn't been a head coach since 2006, and he hasn't won a playoff game since 1998.
New Orleans is a team that put itself in the crosshairs of Roger Goodell and is now facing the consequences. When you get hit with penalties like New Orleans has incurred, you go about your business quietly and try not to ruffle any more feathers. You don't need the spotlight on the team any more than it exists now.
From an organizational standpoint, why is this conversation even happening? You have a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Payton who will undoubtedly be the head coach when the suspension ends. Why would the Saints rent Parcells for a year?
Sean Payton has a strong personality, but he's nothing compared to Parcells. He's the coach who once referred to Terry Glenn as "she" while he was with the Patriots and called Terrell Owens "the player" during his time with the Cowboys.
Parcells is not only unafraid of calling out players; he's also publicly questioned management. When he felt he wasn't getting enough of a say in New England's personnel decisions, he took a shot at Robert Kraft, saying "They want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries."
When it comes to the Saints players, bringing in Parcells -- or anyone from the outside -- is a tricky proposition. No matter how much respect a coach like Parcells has garnered, it's hard to imagine that the players would welcome him with open arms.
Nobody likes a substitute teacher. A lot of the Saints will look at Parcells that way. When a team goes through adversity, players can become even more tight-knit and less likely to accept an outsider. It's also difficult to believe that Parcells would come in and be a caretaker for anyone.
Head football coaches, especially successful ones, are control freaks. They do things their way. Parcells is not going to stand in front of the Saints at their first team meeting and say, "Now, I don't want to change how things are done around here. I just want to help guide you guys through this rough patch."
No, he'll come in and try to remake the Saints in his image. Also, why would he even consider returning to the sidelines? Parcells will be 71 when the season begins, not necessarily a great age to be an NFL head coach, especially for a franchise in such turmoil. Another year of coaching would also put off Parcells' Hall of Fame chances for an additional five years.
Parcells is football's version of Larry Brown. Both are Hall of Fame-caliber coaches. The two specialize in reclamation projects, but they never stay with teams very long. They come into bad situations, shake things up and improve their teams' fortunes right away. Then the shine wears off and the coaches move on.
The Saints don't need the kind of help Parcells can give. They still have Drew Brees and a division-winning roster behind him. They were a defensive stand away from hosting the NFC Championship game.
New Orleans needs a caretaker this season, and there are qualified candidates. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, a Boston College grad from nearby Framingham, has worked closely with Brees over the past few years and deserves the opportunity to show what he can do as a head coach.
Steve Spagnuolo, the Saints' new defensive coordinator, might still be the Rams' head coach if Sam Bradford hadn't had an injury-plagued sophomore season. In any case, he has head coaching experience and could lead New Orleans. Even considering Brees as a player-coach is a better option than bringing in Parcells.
The indefinitely-suspended Gregg Williams reportedly used to tell Saints defenders, "Cut off the head, and the body will die." One can appreciate how the Saints brass is now trying to disprove that edict, but Bill Parcells is not the answer.
The Saints have enough self-inflicted wounds.
Now another of Parcells's pupils--deposed Saints coach Sean Payton--is reaching out in hopes that he'll stand in for Payton in New Orleans as he serves out his year-long suspension. Sounds like a worthwhile solution? A big splash, right? Wrong.
In this case, the Big Tuna is a fish the Saints shouldn't reel in. Parcells hasn't been very successful recently. He hasn't been a head coach since 2006, and he hasn't won a playoff game since 1998.
New Orleans is a team that put itself in the crosshairs of Roger Goodell and is now facing the consequences. When you get hit with penalties like New Orleans has incurred, you go about your business quietly and try not to ruffle any more feathers. You don't need the spotlight on the team any more than it exists now.
From an organizational standpoint, why is this conversation even happening? You have a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Payton who will undoubtedly be the head coach when the suspension ends. Why would the Saints rent Parcells for a year?
Sean Payton has a strong personality, but he's nothing compared to Parcells. He's the coach who once referred to Terry Glenn as "she" while he was with the Patriots and called Terrell Owens "the player" during his time with the Cowboys.
Parcells is not only unafraid of calling out players; he's also publicly questioned management. When he felt he wasn't getting enough of a say in New England's personnel decisions, he took a shot at Robert Kraft, saying "They want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries."
When it comes to the Saints players, bringing in Parcells -- or anyone from the outside -- is a tricky proposition. No matter how much respect a coach like Parcells has garnered, it's hard to imagine that the players would welcome him with open arms.
Nobody likes a substitute teacher. A lot of the Saints will look at Parcells that way. When a team goes through adversity, players can become even more tight-knit and less likely to accept an outsider. It's also difficult to believe that Parcells would come in and be a caretaker for anyone.
Head football coaches, especially successful ones, are control freaks. They do things their way. Parcells is not going to stand in front of the Saints at their first team meeting and say, "Now, I don't want to change how things are done around here. I just want to help guide you guys through this rough patch."
No, he'll come in and try to remake the Saints in his image. Also, why would he even consider returning to the sidelines? Parcells will be 71 when the season begins, not necessarily a great age to be an NFL head coach, especially for a franchise in such turmoil. Another year of coaching would also put off Parcells' Hall of Fame chances for an additional five years.
Parcells is football's version of Larry Brown. Both are Hall of Fame-caliber coaches. The two specialize in reclamation projects, but they never stay with teams very long. They come into bad situations, shake things up and improve their teams' fortunes right away. Then the shine wears off and the coaches move on.
The Saints don't need the kind of help Parcells can give. They still have Drew Brees and a division-winning roster behind him. They were a defensive stand away from hosting the NFC Championship game.
New Orleans needs a caretaker this season, and there are qualified candidates. Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, a Boston College grad from nearby Framingham, has worked closely with Brees over the past few years and deserves the opportunity to show what he can do as a head coach.
Steve Spagnuolo, the Saints' new defensive coordinator, might still be the Rams' head coach if Sam Bradford hadn't had an injury-plagued sophomore season. In any case, he has head coaching experience and could lead New Orleans. Even considering Brees as a player-coach is a better option than bringing in Parcells.
The indefinitely-suspended Gregg Williams reportedly used to tell Saints defenders, "Cut off the head, and the body will die." One can appreciate how the Saints brass is now trying to disprove that edict, but Bill Parcells is not the answer.
The Saints have enough self-inflicted wounds.
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Pros and Cons of Broadway Tim
Tim Tebow is the most polite, unassuming hijacker that you'll ever meet. Any news relating to him hijacks all forms of media. The news that Tebow was traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets almost broke Twitter. Fail whales for everyone!
Social media jokes aside, Tebow is one of the few figures that transcends sports. Everyone has an opinion on him, from the bros on the quad to suburban moms to your local clergyman. Here are some opinions to come out as a result of the Tebow trade.
"Tebow is cheap, a salary of about $1 million for next season. He is a winner, getting the flawed Denver Broncos to the playoffs. The Jets new offensive coordinator, Tony Sparano, thinks he can incorporate him into the offense in a way that will help a running game that struggled mightily last season." - Steve Politi, Newark Star-Ledger
"Let us be clear: Tim Tebow's arrival in New York is a complete joke. It's a move so ridiculous, one could laugh openly … if only it were anyone but the New York Jets." - Stephen A. Smith, ESPN columnist/analyst/radio host
“The more I studied him in an NFL setting, the more disturbed I was that he has no clue what he’s looking at. His IQ as a football player is not very good. That is why they have to come down and make it some of a college-form system that he’s comfortable with in Florida. He can’t execute, from a cerebral aspect, a pro-style system.” - ESPN analyst Merril Hoge
“I think New York is unique; if there’s anyone that can handle it, it’s Tim. He’s going to handle it the same way he’s handled everything since I first met him: up front and first class and humble about everything. It’s probably a whole different animal in New York, but he handles everything the same way.” - Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who coached Tebow at the University of Florida
Positive opinions about Tebow going to the Jets were hard to find, but they exist. Then again, nobody thought Denver should have drafted him in the first place. A couple years later, the Broncos were back in the playoffs. Much crazier things have happened in the NFL, but since Tebowmania is heading to New (Jersey) York, here are some pros and cons to the move.
Pro: Tebow can push Mark Sanchez. Sanchez hasn't had any real competition for his job since he got drafted. Mark Brunell, Kellen Clemens and Greg McElroy were never going to start ahead of him. The presence of Tebow could help Sanchez, a guy who clearly took a step back last year, improve.
Con: Tebow is exactly what Mark Sanchez didn't need. The Jets were very interested in Peyton Manning, and when Manning didn't return the interest, the Jets gave Sanchez a contract extension. Tebow wants to start, and as they say, every fan's favorite player is the backup quarterback. A bad start to next season for Sanchez combined with Rex Ryan's hot seat would have fans clamoring for Tebow -- loudly.
Pro: Tebow can improve the Jets' running game. The Jets (and Sanchez) were at their best when they ran the ball successfully. Tebow is another weapon new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano can use to help Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson to pound the ball. He could be a better version of Brad Smith.
Con: The Jets are still in the same division as the Patriots. The only New York team that can stand toe-to-toe with New England these days is the Giants. The Jets lost a lot of their swagger last year and have never really beaten the Patriots consistently. Not to mention that the Bills have already made some big moves toward improving on defense, and the Dolphins were a tough out last year.
Pro: Tebow could help bring together a dysfunctional team. The guy definitely has a habit of galvanizing those around him. The combination of his play and strong performances by Willis McGahee and the Denver defense got the Broncos into the playoffs last season. You also can't argue what he did at Florida.
Con: The Jets may be beyond salvaging. I submit to you cornerback Antonio Cromartie's tweet from earlier this week: "We don't need Tebow. We sell out every home game let him go to Jacksonville Tampa or Miami. Our wildcat offense can b ran by J. Kerley or Joe McKnight we straight."
Tell us how you really feel, Antonio.
Social media jokes aside, Tebow is one of the few figures that transcends sports. Everyone has an opinion on him, from the bros on the quad to suburban moms to your local clergyman. Here are some opinions to come out as a result of the Tebow trade.
"Tebow is cheap, a salary of about $1 million for next season. He is a winner, getting the flawed Denver Broncos to the playoffs. The Jets new offensive coordinator, Tony Sparano, thinks he can incorporate him into the offense in a way that will help a running game that struggled mightily last season." - Steve Politi, Newark Star-Ledger
"Let us be clear: Tim Tebow's arrival in New York is a complete joke. It's a move so ridiculous, one could laugh openly … if only it were anyone but the New York Jets." - Stephen A. Smith, ESPN columnist/analyst/radio host
“The more I studied him in an NFL setting, the more disturbed I was that he has no clue what he’s looking at. His IQ as a football player is not very good. That is why they have to come down and make it some of a college-form system that he’s comfortable with in Florida. He can’t execute, from a cerebral aspect, a pro-style system.” - ESPN analyst Merril Hoge
“I think New York is unique; if there’s anyone that can handle it, it’s Tim. He’s going to handle it the same way he’s handled everything since I first met him: up front and first class and humble about everything. It’s probably a whole different animal in New York, but he handles everything the same way.” - Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who coached Tebow at the University of Florida
Positive opinions about Tebow going to the Jets were hard to find, but they exist. Then again, nobody thought Denver should have drafted him in the first place. A couple years later, the Broncos were back in the playoffs. Much crazier things have happened in the NFL, but since Tebowmania is heading to New (Jersey) York, here are some pros and cons to the move.
Pro: Tebow can push Mark Sanchez. Sanchez hasn't had any real competition for his job since he got drafted. Mark Brunell, Kellen Clemens and Greg McElroy were never going to start ahead of him. The presence of Tebow could help Sanchez, a guy who clearly took a step back last year, improve.
Con: Tebow is exactly what Mark Sanchez didn't need. The Jets were very interested in Peyton Manning, and when Manning didn't return the interest, the Jets gave Sanchez a contract extension. Tebow wants to start, and as they say, every fan's favorite player is the backup quarterback. A bad start to next season for Sanchez combined with Rex Ryan's hot seat would have fans clamoring for Tebow -- loudly.
Pro: Tebow can improve the Jets' running game. The Jets (and Sanchez) were at their best when they ran the ball successfully. Tebow is another weapon new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano can use to help Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson to pound the ball. He could be a better version of Brad Smith.
Con: The Jets are still in the same division as the Patriots. The only New York team that can stand toe-to-toe with New England these days is the Giants. The Jets lost a lot of their swagger last year and have never really beaten the Patriots consistently. Not to mention that the Bills have already made some big moves toward improving on defense, and the Dolphins were a tough out last year.
Pro: Tebow could help bring together a dysfunctional team. The guy definitely has a habit of galvanizing those around him. The combination of his play and strong performances by Willis McGahee and the Denver defense got the Broncos into the playoffs last season. You also can't argue what he did at Florida.
Con: The Jets may be beyond salvaging. I submit to you cornerback Antonio Cromartie's tweet from earlier this week: "We don't need Tebow. We sell out every home game let him go to Jacksonville Tampa or Miami. Our wildcat offense can b ran by J. Kerley or Joe McKnight we straight."
Tell us how you really feel, Antonio.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Lloyd isn't the answer
Not good enough, Patriots.
Sure, you’ve made some moves in free agency, but when the big names came along, you let them go.
Mario Williams is going to Buffalo to help form one of the best defensive lines in the league with Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Chris Kelsay. Yes, that’s the same Bills team that split with the Pats last season.
Vincent Jackson could have been catching passes from Tom Brady. He’s now heading to Tampa Bay.
Mike Wallace is still sitting in Pittsburgh, without a franchise tag. He could be had with a daring contract and one of the Pats’ first-round picks.
No, New England is going to roll the dice with Brandon Lloyd, a guy who’s playing on his sixth team in nine seasons. For a team that was dying for an outside receiver who could stretch the field, $4 million a year for a guy who’s only topped 1,000 yards in a season once isn’t going to cut it.
You’ve got to do better than that, Pats.
Yes, you spent some money to add depth to a team that needed it last season. You made sure you had special teams guys like Matthew Slater and Tracy White signed, and you added Robert Gallery to an offensive line that has a recovering Logan Mankins and Matt Light, who may retire.
By sheer volume, you've made the most moves of any team in the league so far. But the real value of those moves remains to be seen.
I can already hear the mantra now. "Trust us. We've been to five Super Bowls in 11 years and have won three of them. We have Brady and Belichick. We'll make it work." I get it.
The trouble is the Patriots haven't actually won a Super Bowl since 2004, when Donovan McNabb was (allegedly) vomiting in the fourth quarter in Jacksonville. I realize that's a potentially crazy distinction to make, that just getting to Super Bowls isn't enough, but New England set the bar that high. This is the point where fans of teams like the Browns and Jaguars proceed to cause themselves bodily harm.
This problem is one that successful teams have. Getting to the playoffs isn't enough anymore. Getting to the Super Bowl is cool, but if you don't have the Lombardi when it's all said and done, you've failed.
Every team in the NFL has the goal to win the Super Bowl every season, and the Patriots have been one of the very few franchises that have actually had the capacity to do that over the past decade. They've done it by being shrewd, but it wouldn't hurt to go out on a limb, especially for a proven commodity like Wallace, who's more explosive and younger than Lloyd.
Shrewdness is a good strategy to win regular season games, but the Patriots can't just get to the Super Bowl and hope the Giants aren't on the other sideline. They need to get players who will help them win championships.
The Jets traded for Tim Tebow today. Whatever you think about him as a player, New England's main division rival just added a potential weapon by giving up a fourth- and sixth-round pick. That's a move.
The Patriots are hitching their wagons to young players who may return to form (cornerback Ras-I Dowling and linebacker Jermaine Cunningham for instance) and some good draft picks, but who knows what Bill Belichick will do with his picks?
There are plenty of defensive playmakers in April's draft. Will the Pats get a few of them or will they just continue to build depth?
The 2012 Patriots are a long way from being a fully formed entity, but if they don't make some big moves soon, they'll be exactly where they were at the end of last season: not good enough.
Friday, March 9, 2012
A very selfish view of Peyton Manning's release
I'm 25 years old. I know a lot about football now, but my knowledge and love of the game began with watching Peyton Manning play for the Indianapolis Colts.
I realize my profession asks me to evaluate teams and athletes in an objective light, but that's nearly impossible for most. All of us in the media have biases for or against players and organizations. I can't be impartial about No. 18. I just can't.
To this point, I haven't brought myself to watch Wednesday's press conference. I heard Manning was emotional, even tearful. I won't shed tears for him, but the whole business is saddening.
Make no mistake, folks, sports is a business. There's very little sentimentality involved, and this situation makes me wish for a lot of things.
I wish the Colts hadn't been so bad this year. A record of 4-12 or 5-11 would've secured Indianapolis a pick anywhere from fourth to seventh in this year's draft. That may have been high enough to get a top-flight player that could have helped Manning in his final two or three years.
I wish Andrew Luck had left Stanford last spring. Luck is as complete a quarterback prospect as we've seen in recent years, so much so that scouts are now trying to fabricate reasons why a team shouldn't take him No. 1 overall. The Colts had to take him with the first pick, even if Manning was healthy. Robert Griffin III is a lot easier to pass on than Luck.
I wish Jim Irsay hadn't agreed to the $28 million roster bonus. As soon as it was ruled Manning wouldn't be able to play this season, the March 8 deadline became the fork in the road. No one means more to one franchise than Manning means to the Colts, and it's hard for me to imagine giving him $28 million just for being on the team, even if he was healthy.
I wish Bill Polian had had a little more luck. To build a successful franchise, you need to be shrewd and lucky. Polian made some great draft picks over his time in Indy (Manning, Reggie Wayne, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison and Dwight Freeney to name a few), but most of them didn't pan out. Through Manning, Polian built an outstanding offense, but he couldn't do the same on defense. How many more titles could the Colts have won with a stifling defense? We'll never know.
I wish Alex Smith has completed more passes in the NFC Championship and the 49ers had gone on to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl. As much as I enjoyed seeing the Giants beat New England again, I don't need anyone even considering an argument that Eli Manning could end up with a better career than Peyton.
I wish Peyton Manning would retire. Necks are really hard to repair or replace.
If any of my wishes had come true, we'd probably still be talking about Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. He's going to sign with another team soon, unfortunately. I don't care if it's Miami, Washington, Seattle or Arizona. It'll all be too weird for me.
I'm 25 years old. I essentially don't know anything else in my football fandom other than Peyton Manning leading the Colts to the playoffs every year. I don't want to know anything else.
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