Thoughts along the Way

The Vest is a “Goodfella”

If you’ve been following me on Twitter, you know I’m no fan of The Vest. Everyone has heard about the NCAA cracking down on him for lying. I can rationalize what he did and why. I have to look at it as he was protecting his players not covering up because he thought they could win a national championship with that team.

The main part of this story that really makes me mad, other than the fact that everyone involved should not have been allowed to participate in the Sugar Bowl, is Tressel’s blackmail job on those players. His Henry Hill mob tactics of coercing them into committing to play for Ohio State in 2011 and not declare for the NFL Draft or he would suspend them for the Sugar Bowl is a crime unto itself. I can only imagine his sales job on them included “I’ll do anything I can to keep the suspension length down and help you get drafted for the 2012 NFL Draft otherwise you are on your own”. He’s an adult, they are children. He knows better.

Welcome to the league but not really

As of today the lockout is over but the back and forth surrounding the NFL lockout is too much to keep following. The NFL is looking for a temporary stay or injunction on the judge’s ruling. Collective Bargaining could wind up being the downfall of pro sports in America.

Anyway, leading up to Thursday’s NFL draft the Player’s Union requested that the rookies-to-be not walk their “draft graduation” from NCAA football to the pros because of the lockout. So what did the rookies-to-be and ESPN do? They’re making it a rookie draft record attendance as 28 are scheduled to appear. Take that NFL Player’s Union and the Rookie Salary cap you’re putting on us as well.

Draft experts? More like draft idiots

If you’ve been following my draft comments online, you know I do not think highly of the abilities of talent evaluators in the NFL. IF they were so great, why are there so many busts? If that doesn’t work for you, then why are there so many undrafted players making major contributions in the NFL, some of them are All-Pros?

I’m interested to see what NFL fool drafts Cam Newton in the first round this year. I can go down the list of draft busts at the quarterback position that ran a similar style of offense as Newton in college: Alex Smith, Tim Couch, Andre Ware, Akili Smith, Joey Harrington (any Jeff Tedford QB!). I will never understand why the NFL is so brash to think they are the coaches that can turn this kid around.

If you get a chance, look up Dave Razzano. He’s a former NFL scout for the Rams, Cardinals, and 49ers. He speaks his mind and knows what he’s talking about. That may be why he’s a former NFL scout not a current NFL scout.

Raiders get a new stadium name

This scenario has punch lines written all over it… and not just the punches thrown in the stands by their fans. When the Raiders take the field next season, whenever that may be, they will be running out under the banner of Overstock.com Stadium. The name is funny enough by itself considering the “under stock” of talent on the field. Overstock.com has the right to change the stadium name to O.com should they rebrand their business name in the future.

Just to clarify, this has to stop. I have come to terms with the fact that all new stadiums and arenas will sell out their stadium name rights for revenue. It’s a sign of our times right along with the fact that reality stars get paid millions for doing nothing… what can we do? But the naming of some of these stadiums has to stop. I hope Tampax gets the naming rights to one of the NFL stadiums in the future. I’ll leave you to add your own jokes from here.