Football Quick Hits

He’s still a classy guy after all these years?

We can argue into the wee hours about how good of a coach Bill Parcells was or was not. The phrase, “the company you keep”, applies to him. Anyway, in a recent interview Parcells was asked about mistakes he may have made while overseeing operations with the Miami Dolphins. Instead of coming up with a smart-ass comment, something he always did to reporters trying get information (even annoying as a fan), he answered this question. But why would he do that? What does he gain from answering this question?

Parcells had to throw Pat White, former college quarterback for the University of West Virginia, under the bus. Parcells stated that he regrets drafting White in the second round of the 2009 draft. To pile on, he said “they” got caught up in the hype around White. I guess “they” thought he could be a Michael Vick type of player?

Just to Clarify, Pat White is a great athlete but was not a great quarterback. He was an electric player for WVU racking up accomplishments like being one of only 9 players to run for 200 yards and pass for 200 yards in the same game. He finished his college career as the all-time leading rusher in the NCAA from the quarterback position and holds many WVU all-time records for rushing and passing. He was a headache for any team’s defense to game plan against and fun to watch as a fan. Problem is pro football is the same game, just on a whole other level of skill and ability.

White’s size, listed at 6’ ¼ and 197 lbs at the 2009 NFL Combine, was part of his downfall. His height makes it tough for him to see over his offensive lineman’s helmets, being 3-6 inches shorter. His speed at the Combine was not great either, 4.55 in the 40 yard dash. Granted he could’ve had a bad day, slipped when he took off, had a cramp, or any other thing in the world that slowed him down that day; he could be faster than that, who knows? Bottom line is the physical stats don’t add up but he was a player on Saturday.

Parcells, having been a football coach since 1964 and a NFL coach since 1979 (he became head coach of the New York Giants in 1983) should have known better. He was honest and said he wished they would have drafted someone else with their second round pick… fair enough. But why mention Pat White? Pat White played one year in the NFL and then tried his hand at pro baseball signing a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals in 2010. After he played in the fall instructional league he promptly retired from baseball as well. Easy for Parcells to step on White when he’s down; and Parcells obviously missed really badly on this draft pick. I still do not understand why he had to say the player’s name? He gains nothing by doing so and tramples on White… again.

The Devils get new threads.

The Arizona State University men’s football team will wear a new uniform this season. Just to clarify, they do look sharp but I don’t think that will help them win any games. New threads, same result!

I’m sure that recruits will like the new uniforms more than the previous ones; maybe they will snag a recruit or two that they wouldn’t have signed with the new uniforms? But polish a … and its still a … I have nothing against ASU. I wish them success. I also wish for them to get a coach that will recruit the talent rich PAC-10 land and get them back to a winning program.

Will he just play and then be quiet???

Anyone tired of Tim Teabow? I am, and have been for five years now. He has a ridiculous commercial running for the sports drink FRS. Throughout the commercial he’s working out and letting us know that “everyone said he couldn’t play quarterback in high school. Everyone said he couldn’t play quarterback in college. Everyone said he couldn’t play quarterback in the NFL.” And so on… he then “thanks everyone”. This commercial is ridiculous because who said he couldn’t play in high school? He was a top recruit coming out of high school thus, who the hell said he couldn’t play on the collegiate level? I get the comment on the pro level. He was a first round draft pick but the coach that drafted him is long gone. We will see about him continuing to play on the pro level.

Just to clarify, I’m not wishing anything hateful on Teabow. I’m sure he’s a great person to be around and if he is successful on the pro level than so be it. I don’t see it, but so be it. After all, we all love an underdog. An underdog that was a top recruit coming out of high school, a Heisman Trophy winner in college, and a first round draft pick in the NFL.