News broke a few days ago relating to possible NCAA violations for Boise State University. My first reaction was what did their football team do. However, the initial sanctions were violations regarding the Women's Tennis team. Yeah, thats right, Women's Tennis. Now don't get me started about Title 9 and how I think it is unfair to schools and what not, but after those violations, things turned back to the football program.
The violations that occurred were minor NCAA violations included providing cheaper housing and stay for recruits during summer visits. NCAA experts on ESPN have stated that these violations were minor compared to some other schools. Hint hint... Nevertheless, Boise St came down harder on themselves than many thought they would. Typical to normal NCAA methods, if a school punishes itself enough, they will not face any other punishment from the NCAA. Boise took away three scholarships over the next two years and took away at least three practices before their opening game. These are fairly large punishments especially being self-imposed.
Three scholarships can hurt a program and practice time before their first game is very surprising. Head coach Chris Peterson took full responsibility by saying, "We pride ourselves on doing things the right way at Boise State. As soon as we became aware that these inadvertent infractions were not in accordance with NCAA rules, we acted swiftly and without hesitation."
Jim Tressel needs to take a hint from this. I know these sanctions are different from one another, but Peterson showed that by taking responsibility, you can look like you actually have integrity. Practically every team in Division 1 NCAA cheats a bit. But when you are ousted, you have to come forth and take the punishment. Ohio States punishment of a five game suspension did nothing. Please, Tressel is still going to make the game plan and be there during the practices. Ya it will be hard in game without him but the NCAA does not think that is a good enough punishment.
By Boise taking away scholarships for a minor violation, this almost certainly means Ohio State will lose some scholarships. They may even lose more of their coach and possible coaching restrictions. Even though Boise still could face more, this shows that they are at least taking responsibility and trying to improve their image. An image of a sub-par academic institute who built its football program on Prop-48 kids who couldn't get in anywhere else. As much as I personally dislike Boise State and how they reached their level as a football program, you can't help but applaud Chris Peterson or owning up.
Ohio State should take a page from Peterson in the future and see how they can avoid such a terrible national image.
May 5, 2011
Morning Notes and Links
-The Tribe had a great outing from Josh Tomlin but came up short 3-1 to the Athletics. Can't be too mad at this one. Great start from Tomlin but some poor at-bats in the later innings and two bombs from DeJesus stop the Indians from their streak. They play 162 for a reason, keep up the good pitching and we'll be fine.
-Lakers claim they will start playing harder in the finals when they are watching somebody else play. Also, you can add Andrew Bynum to the list of people who can't trust Kobe with: Kobe's wife, Shaq, females in the greater Colorado area, and anyone who places a bet on a Laker regular season game. Please don't let the Mavs or the Thunder have to beat the Heat!
-Derek Jeter has the hip of a 83 year old woman. Actually, I would bet good money that my one Grandmother can beat him in a race/lift off right now. Some of you know I'm serious about that.
-Todd McShay claims his bosses forced him to complete a 2012 mock draft yet still had the Browns picking 1st overall. I mean we do get Luck but what the fuck Todd, i'm no expert but I think the Browns will not finish 32nd in the NFL this year.
-Alex Ovechkin is the Russian equivalent of LeBron. Except that I have 1000000000 times more respect for Ovechkin for these reasons. If I had to pick a sport i'd go drinking with and have a guy fight on my side i'd obviously pick hockey. Rounds of Kamchatka on Ovechkin!
-If NASCAR had every driver mic'ed up during every race, and put it on some raunchy cable network, i'm sure more people would watch it. Thanks to Kurt Busch for this rant and for the future NASCAR marketing plan.
-Finally, its Cinco de Mayo which means us Americans have another excuse to drink on a weekday even though we have no idea what this holiday is about. God Bless America!
-Lakers claim they will start playing harder in the finals when they are watching somebody else play. Also, you can add Andrew Bynum to the list of people who can't trust Kobe with: Kobe's wife, Shaq, females in the greater Colorado area, and anyone who places a bet on a Laker regular season game. Please don't let the Mavs or the Thunder have to beat the Heat!
-Derek Jeter has the hip of a 83 year old woman. Actually, I would bet good money that my one Grandmother can beat him in a race/lift off right now. Some of you know I'm serious about that.
-Todd McShay claims his bosses forced him to complete a 2012 mock draft yet still had the Browns picking 1st overall. I mean we do get Luck but what the fuck Todd, i'm no expert but I think the Browns will not finish 32nd in the NFL this year.
-Alex Ovechkin is the Russian equivalent of LeBron. Except that I have 1000000000 times more respect for Ovechkin for these reasons. If I had to pick a sport i'd go drinking with and have a guy fight on my side i'd obviously pick hockey. Rounds of Kamchatka on Ovechkin!
-If NASCAR had every driver mic'ed up during every race, and put it on some raunchy cable network, i'm sure more people would watch it. Thanks to Kurt Busch for this rant and for the future NASCAR marketing plan.
-Finally, its Cinco de Mayo which means us Americans have another excuse to drink on a weekday even though we have no idea what this holiday is about. God Bless America!
Hines Ward Handcuffed At Gun Point
TMZ Sports- Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Hines Ward was removed from a vehicle at gunpoint by LAPD officers and placed in handcuffs this morning in L.A. -- but he was NOT arrested .. TMZ has learned.
The "Dancing with the Stars" contestant was a passenger in a Honda Civic around 2 AM ... when LAPD officers flipped on their lights and sirens and pulled the car over.
Law enforcement sources tell us cops had run the license plate and noticed the car had been reported stolen. We're told police drew their weapons ... and ordered both Hines and the female driver out of the car and placed them both in handcuffs.
The female driver then explained ... SHE was the person who reported the car stolen in the first place after an incident involving a valet. But she got her car back ... and forgot to tell cops to call off the alert.
We're told the officers verified her story -- and eventually let both Hines and the driver leave without further incident. Law enforcement sources tell us Hines was VERY cooperative and understanding about the situation.
The "Dancing with the Stars" contestant was a passenger in a Honda Civic around 2 AM ... when LAPD officers flipped on their lights and sirens and pulled the car over.
Law enforcement sources tell us cops had run the license plate and noticed the car had been reported stolen. We're told police drew their weapons ... and ordered both Hines and the female driver out of the car and placed them both in handcuffs.
The female driver then explained ... SHE was the person who reported the car stolen in the first place after an incident involving a valet. But she got her car back ... and forgot to tell cops to call off the alert.
We're told the officers verified her story -- and eventually let both Hines and the driver leave without further incident. Law enforcement sources tell us Hines was VERY cooperative and understanding about the situation.
Hmmm this seems very shady to me. Who forgets to tell the cops that my stolen car magically reappeared. This has Ray Maualuga driving around drunk with an underaged teen written all over it. Also, as much as I hate the Steelers, this has Rodney King written all over it even more. I mean holy shit LAPD, just cause the man has some color in him doesn't mean you have to be so damn trigger happy. I really hope Hines yelled, "Is this 'cause i'm Asian!?"
Anyways, Shitsburgh really needs to take a step out of the limelight for the next week or so. Between allegedly stealing cars to hating America, Pittsburgh has had a rough week. Im sure Mendenhall will come out and say he had the right to express his opinion by stealing that car.
May 4, 2011
Rashard Mendenhall Defends Osama, Then Tries to Deny it Without Actually Denying It
I'm sure you've seen Steeler's back Rashard Mendenhall's tweets about the death of Osama. Look, I'm against murder as much as the next guy, but I don't have sympathy for war criminals that masterminded a plan to kill thousands of civilians in one of the worst atrocities in history. I'm not going to turn this into a political blog, but fuck you Rashard Mendenhall. Just another reason why the Steelers suck and the Browns are the classy organization in every way. I love Mendenhall's "apology" too. He defended his comments as trying to "generate conversation." Look, he didn't even really apologize. But even if he did, it wouldn't generate much sympathy some too many people. Also, think about this: do you know the closest major city to Shanksville, the town where United 93 crash landed? That's right, it's Pittsburgh.
Hey Stanzi! Help a brother out with the rest of this blog!!
Hey Stanzi! Help a brother out with the rest of this blog!!
Browns Draft Analysis, A Dunk Star, & The End Of The Vickers Era
The Browns made some very shrewd moves this past draft. Overall, I like what we did to fill our holes. I love the trade down to 27. Not sure yet about the trade up to 21 but well see. One flashy high priced player at 6 would not have filled our holes. The trade allowed us to take advantage of the 2nd round and grab some nice players. Here's my thoughts on each of our picks.
First Round: Phil Taylor, DT Baylor- I like this pick a lot. Many people wonder why we traded up for him but there were rumors that he was going to be taken in the mid 20's. Taylor is not a sexy pick. But you don't play sexy football in the AFC North. You need a big guy to stop the run against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. We have not been able to do that before and stopping the run helps the entire defense. Taylor may be a better fit for a 3/4 defense, but he played the 4/3 at Baylor and knows how too. Usually a 4-3 defense features a massive tackle to stop the run and a lighter tackle to get more of a pass rush. In other words, the tackle's strengths compliment each other's weaknesses. Paired inside with Rubin, the Browns immediately have a better front against the run, but won't have much of a pass rush inside. Rubin showed flashes of this (2 sacks), but it seems like Heckert wants to fortify against first and foremost. Since returning in 1999, the Browns have never ranked better than 23rd in the NFL against the run. Taylor should fit right in and give a solid boost to the run defense. Plus, I hope everyone heard what he said about Ben Rapelisberger:
"I know how much the Cleveland fans hate Pittsburgh and I look forward to the matchup. He is a great quarterback, but when I am going to play against him, he is going to go down."
You gotta love a guy who understands and is passionate about how we Browns fans view that team from down the turnpike.
GRADE: B+
GRADE: B
Second Round: Greg Little, WR UNC- I love this pick right here. Great value for a WR with tremendous upside. Ya, he was suspended for the entire 2010 football season, but that is why we were able to grab him in the late second round. Many said he could have been a first rounder if he was not suspended. Great hands, size, and athleticism, Little could be a great fit in the west coast offense. He was originally recuited as a running back, and the WCO should give him a chance to showcase his running ability with a lot of short catches that allow him to run after the catch We filled our two biggest holes with our first three picks very nicely.
GRADE: A
First Round: Phil Taylor, DT Baylor- I like this pick a lot. Many people wonder why we traded up for him but there were rumors that he was going to be taken in the mid 20's. Taylor is not a sexy pick. But you don't play sexy football in the AFC North. You need a big guy to stop the run against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. We have not been able to do that before and stopping the run helps the entire defense. Taylor may be a better fit for a 3/4 defense, but he played the 4/3 at Baylor and knows how too. Usually a 4-3 defense features a massive tackle to stop the run and a lighter tackle to get more of a pass rush. In other words, the tackle's strengths compliment each other's weaknesses. Paired inside with Rubin, the Browns immediately have a better front against the run, but won't have much of a pass rush inside. Rubin showed flashes of this (2 sacks), but it seems like Heckert wants to fortify against first and foremost. Since returning in 1999, the Browns have never ranked better than 23rd in the NFL against the run. Taylor should fit right in and give a solid boost to the run defense. Plus, I hope everyone heard what he said about Ben Rapelisberger:"I know how much the Cleveland fans hate Pittsburgh and I look forward to the matchup. He is a great quarterback, but when I am going to play against him, he is going to go down."
You gotta love a guy who understands and is passionate about how we Browns fans view that team from down the turnpike.
GRADE: B+
Second Round: Jabaal Sheard, DE Pitt - Sheard, out of Pitt is a nasty DE who can give us good pass rush off the end. Many fans wanted Bowers right here but there is obviously something really wrong with his knee. Not to mention he doesn't seem to have the explosion or speed to be a double-digit pass rusher in the NFL. While at Pitt, Sheard was involved in an off the field incident where he may or may not have thrown a guy threw a window. Honestly, I think the Browns need a guy like this. We need a nasty player to go up against the others in the AFC North. Both him and Taylor are expected to start week one with our new 4/3 defense.
GRADE: B
Second Round: Greg Little, WR UNC- I love this pick right here. Great value for a WR with tremendous upside. Ya, he was suspended for the entire 2010 football season, but that is why we were able to grab him in the late second round. Many said he could have been a first rounder if he was not suspended. Great hands, size, and athleticism, Little could be a great fit in the west coast offense. He was originally recuited as a running back, and the WCO should give him a chance to showcase his running ability with a lot of short catches that allow him to run after the catch We filled our two biggest holes with our first three picks very nicely.GRADE: A
Fourth Round: Jordan Cameron, TE USC- At first I had the reaction of many Cleveland fans. A Tight End? Sure we are actually solid at this position but once your into the fourth round, you have to draft by value and not by need. Cameron is very athletic and I'm guessing we will be flexing him out kind of like what we did with Winslow. He'll have a good chance to learn from two solid receiving tight ends in Evan Moore and Ben Watson. He's super raw and has very little experience, but is athletic as hell. Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez have been successful after originally being basketball players, and that's what Cameron was at BYU and then USC before taking on football. Take a look at this video to see how athletic he is.
GRADE: C-
Fourth Round: Owen Marecic, FB Stanford- This pick was interesting, to be subtle. Everyone has long speculated that Larry Vickers might not be a good fit in the west coast offense. Marecic's selection may very well signal the end of the Vickers era in Cleveland. Marecic was a two-way starter at Stanford, which is incredible when you think about it. He is said to be a good run blocker as well as receiving back. I love Vickers, and if he is done in Cleveland I can only hope that Marecic is just as good and just as passionate the player that Vickers is.
GRADE: B-
Fifth Round: Buster Skrine, CB Tennessee Chattanooga- Skrine is a flier at corner. One of the fastest players in the draft, Skrine hopefully will provide some much needed depth at corner, enabling Mike Adams to focus primarily on safety, his natural position.
GRADE: B
Fifth Round: Jason Pinkston, OL Pitt- Heckert and co. must be hoping that Pinkston can provide some depth on the right side of the offensive line. He played tackle at Pitt, but projects as a guard in the NFL. I almost wish the Browns would have addressed the line a little bit earlier than the fifth round, however.
GRADE: C
Seventh Round: Eric Hagg, DB Nebraska- I have no idea who Hagg is, but here's to hoping that he makes the team come August. And here's to also hoping that he's a better NFL DB than another former Cornhusker, Eric Crouch, was.
GRADE: C? I guess?
GRADE: C-
Fourth Round: Owen Marecic, FB Stanford- This pick was interesting, to be subtle. Everyone has long speculated that Larry Vickers might not be a good fit in the west coast offense. Marecic's selection may very well signal the end of the Vickers era in Cleveland. Marecic was a two-way starter at Stanford, which is incredible when you think about it. He is said to be a good run blocker as well as receiving back. I love Vickers, and if he is done in Cleveland I can only hope that Marecic is just as good and just as passionate the player that Vickers is.
GRADE: B-
Fifth Round: Buster Skrine, CB Tennessee Chattanooga- Skrine is a flier at corner. One of the fastest players in the draft, Skrine hopefully will provide some much needed depth at corner, enabling Mike Adams to focus primarily on safety, his natural position.
GRADE: B
Fifth Round: Jason Pinkston, OL Pitt- Heckert and co. must be hoping that Pinkston can provide some depth on the right side of the offensive line. He played tackle at Pitt, but projects as a guard in the NFL. I almost wish the Browns would have addressed the line a little bit earlier than the fifth round, however.
GRADE: C
Seventh Round: Eric Hagg, DB Nebraska- I have no idea who Hagg is, but here's to hoping that he makes the team come August. And here's to also hoping that he's a better NFL DB than another former Cornhusker, Eric Crouch, was.
GRADE: C? I guess?
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