Storm Player

Draft Pick Grades

2008-04-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

AFC East Buffalo Bills: GRADE: C+
Cornerback Leodis McKelvin is going to be a very good player and I liked the pick. James Hardy is the big wide receiver the Bills need, someone who can be a threat in the red zone. Virginia Tech DE Chris Ellis is a decent pass-rusher, and I thought CB Reggie Corner and TE Derek Fine were reaches in the fourth round. I did like their late-round picks, RB Xavier Omon, OT Demetrius Bell and WR Steve Johnson.
Miami Dolphins: GRADE: B-
Jake Long fills a need at left tackle, and I liked Bill Parcells' selection of Clemson DE Phillip Merling with the 32nd overall pick because he's solid against the run. The pick of Chad Henne in the second round tells you Miami is not sold on John Beck; however, I'm not sold on Henne. He has accuracy issues and a long delivery and he isn't mobile. I do like his toughness and he does have some of those intangibles you look for in a quarterback. Defensive end Kendall Langford is a big body, but I thought he was somewhat of a reach after an average senior season. Shawn Murphy really came on as a guard and he could battle for a starting spot. Jalen Parmele was a workhorse at Toledo, a big running back who also has some speed. And Lionel Dotson was a good seventh-round pick who should be able to help at nose tackle.
New England Patriots: GRADE: C+
I'm a big fan of linebacker Jerod Mayo, a lights-out hitter who reminds me of a young Junior Seau. Cornerback was a position of need with the loss of Asante Samuel in free agency. But taking Colorado CB Terrence Wheatley -- when CB Charles Godfrey was on the board -- was a reach. (I projected Wheatley to go somewhere in the fourth round.) Michigan's Shawn Crable fits their 3-4 scheme as an OLB. Quarterback Kevin O'Connell is intriguing, but he was taken a bit high in the third round. Matt Slater's future is going to be as a kick returner/special teams player. Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite leveled off during his career at Auburn, and Bo Ruud will be a backup linebacker.
New York Jets: GRADE: B-
Lining up opposite Calvin Pace, OLB Vernon Gholston has a chance to get a lot of sacks in his rookie season. Tight end Dustin Keller can be used in a lot of different ways and will give the passing game some much-needed juice. Dwight Lowery had a great junior season at corner for San Jose state, but his grade tailed off as a senior. Erik Ainge does not have that wow factor you like to see in a quarterback, but he has great pocket awareness. And he has the ability to make throws when he's outside the pocket. Ainge has a little bit of that "it" factor. Kansas wide receiver Marcus Henry does not have a lot of speed and doesn't separate well, but he caught the ball very effectively. I liked the Jets' picks, but I thought they would have taken wide receiver a bit earlier in the draft.
Team-by-Team Picks
Baltimore Ravens: GRADE: B
The Ravens wanted Matt Ryan, but Joe Flacco was the next-best quarterback in this draft. The Ravens made a great deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that got them three additional picks. They also traded down and still were able to get running back Ray Rice in the second round. The Ravens need to start bringing in young linebackers and Miami's Tavares Gooden had a very good 2007 season. Tom Zbikowski is a good third-round choice, but only if his play resembles what he did in 2006 as opposed to 2007. Oniel Cousins is a versatile offensive lineman and WR Marcus Smith will help on special teams in kick coverage and as a returner. Safety Haruki Nakamura and RB Allen Patrick might have to make this roster by performing on special teams.
Cincinnati Bengals: GRADE: C+
Keith Rivers is solid player with great character. Jerome Simpson is a hard-working receiver and WR Andre Caldwell could be a second or third option right away. While junior DT Pat Sims was a very underrated player out of Auburn, OT Anthony Collins should have stayed at Kansas for another year. Still, he was decent fourth-round pick. Safety Corey Lynch is a playmaker (he blocked the field-goal attempt in the closing seconds of Appalachian State's upset win at Michigan last season). Some scouts I spoke with thought Lynch -- who went in Round 6 -- could go as high as the fourth round. Villanova TE Matt Sherry is not a very good blocker, but he has very good hands and could push for a roster spot. Wide receiver Mario Urrutia didn't have a great 2007 season and I'm not sure why he came out. Urrutia has talent, but should have gone back to Louisville for his senior season. Angelo Craig flashed pass-rushing abilities at times; at other times he disappeared.
Cleveland Browns: GRADE: B+
The Browns didn't have a pick until the fourth round and grabbed UNLV linebacker Beau Bell and Missouri tight end Martin Rucker, who could be a factor in the passing game. Ahtyba Rubin is more of a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. Wide receiver Paul Hubbard is big and athletic, but he's inconsistent catching. Alex Hall will be an OLB in the Browns' scheme. Cleveland only had five picks; however, they traded this year's first-round pick to take QB Brady Quinn last year and traded second- and third-round picks for Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. When you factor those transactions, the Browns are using the draft process the right way.
Pittsburgh Steelers: GRADE: B
Running back wasn't a need area in the first round, but when Rashard Mendenhall was still on the board at No. 23, he became a luxury pick. Mendenhall was a very good pick, so too was Limas Sweed, who fell to the 53rd overall pick. Dennis Dixon was a one-year wonder at Oregon before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. He showed skills in 2007; still, Dixon is a good fifth-round pick as someone you can develop. Bruce Davis fits the Steelers' scheme as an OLB (he had 24.5 sacks the past two seasons). Tony Hills is a solid backup at OT who has the ability to push for a starting role if he can work on his aggressiveness. Mike Humpal could be a good backup LB and help out on special teams; and safety Ryan Mundy will be a decent special teams player.
AFC South Houston Texans: GRADE: C
Some thought Duane Brown was a reach in the first round, but I thought he was one of the five or six best offensive tackles in the draft because of his athleticism. Brown is a very good offensive lineman, and that's what the Texans need. Antwaun Molden is a good developmental cornerback; RB Steve Slaton will be a good change-of-pace back; OLB Xavier Adibi is fast and athletic, but is not instinctive, and a bit overrated; and Frank Okam is a big body who wasn't consistent enough to be a high pick. Safety Dominique Barber is a decent sixth-round pick and could help out in the secondary.
Indianapolis Colts: GRADE: B
The Colts drafted three of my top six centers. Mike Pollak has outstanding mobility and will likely be moved to guard, while Steven Justice and Jamey Richard are quality linemen. Philip Wheeler will help out at ILB. For this offense, fourth-round pick Jacob Tamme at tight end should be a nice fit. The Colts drafted Mike Hart in the sixth round, and he'll have a great opportunity to be the backup to Joseph Addai. Hart lasted till the sixth round because of a 4.7 time in the 40. Mount Union WR Pierre Garcon is a nice player who some scouts thought could make a team.
Jacksonville Jaguars: GRADE: C-
Not only was defensive end Derrick Harvey a big reach at No. 8 (after trading up with Baltimore), but the Jags gave up three picks in order to draft the Florida defensive end. Quentin Groves will be a good defensive end if he plays like he did as a junior. I do like CB Trae Williams, who could be a factor right away. I thought the Jaguars should have traded for Jason Taylor, a proven pass-rusher who would have been the missing link along the defensive line.
Tennessee Titans: GRADE: C
Running back Chris Johnson is a good player, but I wasn't expecting him to go to Tennessee, especially because the Titans need a wide receiver. (They should have looked at WR Devin Thomas in the first round.) They did get WR Lavelle Hawkins in the fourth round and Vince Young will like the former California wide receiver. Jason Jones can play DE or DT. I don't have a problem with the player they drafted on Day 1, but the philosophy is skewed. It was the third straight year Tennessee drafted a running back in the first two rounds. Craig Stevens is a good blocking tight end. William Hayes has good closing speed for a defensive end, but was a reach in the fourth round. Stanford Keglar was a good fourth-round pick with some ability, and seventh-rounder Cary Williams could make this team as a developmental cornerback.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: GRADE: C+
Ryan Clady is the left tackle the Broncos needed to help Jay Cutler, and Clady should start right away. Eddie Royal is a decent slot receiver who has some return skills, Kory Lichtensteiger was one of the top centers in the draft and Arizona State's Ryan Torain is an interesting pick at running back because he has the potential to prosper in Denver. Torain's ASU teammate, safety Joshua Barrett, has great physical abilities, but does not always play up to his potential. I want to see how they use FB Peyton Hillis because he has great hands out of the backfield, and would be an ideal H-back if he were a couple of inches taller.
Kansas City Chiefs: GRADE: A
The rebuilding process is on. The Chiefs started the draft with 13 picks, and they made them count. After getting defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey -- the No. 1 player on my Big Board -- with the fifth overall pick, the Chiefs grabbed tackle Branden Albert, although he will be a work in progress. Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Flowers would have been a mid-first-round pick if he had run better 40 times at the NFL combine. On Day 2, RB Jamaal Charles and Tennessee TE Brad Cottam -- who has untapped ability -- will be nice complements on offense. Cottam could be a diamond in the rough. DaJuan Morgan is a solid safety, Brandon Carr is another corner who might be a sleeper and Kevin Robinson can make his mark in the return game. Barry Richardson never materialized into a great offensive lineman at Clemson, but he could start right away with the holes Kansas City has on its offensive line. Defensive end Brian Johnston has long-range potential.
Oakland Raiders: GRADE B-
We all know what Darren McFadden can do. I really liked Oakland's second-round pick, Connecticut CB Tyvon Branch. He can help out in the return game, and also has great catch-up speed. Wide receiver Arman Shields hurt his knee early in the season and fell off the radar, but he's a developmental receiver.
San Diego Chargers: GRADE: C+
Antoine Cason played a lot of football at Arizona, which at times works against a player in terms of being overevaluated. Cason doesn't have great recovery speed, but he has good technique in coverage and good ball skills. Jacob Hester could make up for the loss of Michael Turner. Hester was a fullback at LSU, but isn't a prototypical lead-blocking fullback. UTEP RB Marcus Thomas has some ability and was a good fifth-round pick; CB DeJuan Tribble did not have great workouts, but he flashed second-round potential early in the season. One thing I didn't like about the Chargers' draft is they didn't really address their need at right tackle.
NFC East Dallas Cowboys: GRADE: B+
Felix Jones will join Marion Barber in the Cowboys' backfield and will also return kicks. Cornerback Mike Jenkins has really good ball skills and should be a major contributor this season in the secondary. Tight end Martellus Bennett has talent and should be able to help out in the passing game. Running back Tashard Choice had a knee injury in 2007; otherwise he would have gone a little higher in the draft. He can run between tackles, but isn't going to run away from anyone in space. I projected Boise State cornerback Orlando Scandrick to go late in the second round, and I was surprised to see him last until the fifth round. However, the Cowboys didn't draft a wide receiver, which I thought was one of their top three need areas.

New York Giants: GRADE: C+
I understand taking safety Kenny Phillips with the last pick in the first round. He had a great sophomore season in 2006. Terrell Thomas could be a No. 2 cornerback, but I thought that pick was just OK. Wide receiver Mario Manningham is worth a role of the dice in the third round because he has talent, but his stock dropped in the months leading up to the draft, with some teams viewing him as a late-round pick. Jonathan Goff was a good find in the fifth round, and the same can be said about Andre' Woodson in Round 6. Defensive end Robert Henderson is just a marginal prospect.
Philadelphia Eagles: GRADE: C+
Trevor Laws had a very good 2007, and was arguably Notre Dame's best player. I like where the Eagles got DeSean Jackson because he's an exciting player (when healthy) who will help out in the return game. Bryan Smith is a combination DE/OLB, and Michael McGlynn had a nice season at right tackle opposite Jeff Otah. Cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu is a pick for the future; after declaring for the draft, he suffered a knee injury in January and isn't expected to play in 2008. Andrew Studebaker out of Wheaton has the potential to be a situational pass-rusher.
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In Washington, Colt Brennan will get a chance to develop and transition from college to the NFL.
Washington Redskins: GRADE: B+
They traded out of the first round and still were able to get three offensive weapons in the second round: wide receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly and tight end Fred Davis. Chad Rinehart is a versatile offensive lineman who can play guard or tackle. In the sixth round, Georgia Tech's Durant Brooks was the first -- and only -- punter drafted. He has a strong leg and should compete for the starting job (30 of his 65 punts were 50 yards or longer). Hawaii QB Colt Brennan went in the sixth round. He isn't very big, but he has some ability. What hurt Brennan was his performance in the Sugar Bowl and the Senior Bowl practices, and the system he played in, which allowed him to put up big numbers. Safety Christopher Horton will be a good backup and special teams player. The only thing the Redskins didn't get was a pass-rushing defensive end.
NFC North Chicago Bears: GRADE: B
Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent.
Detroit Lions: GRADE: C+
Gosder Cherilus is a right tackle who is an effective run-blocker, which is why the Lions drafted him in the first round. But third-round pick Kevin Smith is the key player in the Lions' draft class. Smith proved at Central Florida he could carry the load, and in my opinion, he'll be the Lions' starting running back in Week 1. Jordon Dizon is undersized for a middle linebacker, but he has a chance to be productive in Detroit's scheme, because he has the ability to cover the deep middle. Fullback Jerome Felton is more effective as a runner than a blocker, but he's a good value pick in the fifth round. Army safety Caleb Campbell went in the seventh round and is big at 229 pounds. Campbell could be an OLB if he puts on 10 to 15 pounds. Cliff Avril could be a decent pass-rusher, although he had only six sacks in 2007. DT Andre Fluellen flashed big-time ability early in his career at Florida State but never lived up to it.
Green Bay Packers: GRADE: B-
The Packers took a QB on both days of the draft: Brian Brohm in the second round and Matt Flynn in the seventh. Brohm is cerebral and accurate, but can he stay healthy? Flynn is big, has good arm strength and can run for a first down if he has to. Flynn has intangibles, something you must have to lead a team to a national title. Second-round pick Jordy Nelson is a great athlete, and will be a faster version of former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark. Patrick Lee is a very good cover corner and a solid second-round pick. Tight end Jermichael Finley has a ton of talent, he just has to make strides in terms of catching the ball and blocking. Defensive end Jeremy Thompson has a similar attitude and motor to current Packer Aaron Kampman.
Minnesota Vikings: GRADE: B
They had only one pick in the first four rounds. I had safety Tyrell Johnson going in the first round, so to get him in Round 2 (43rd overall) is a great pick because Johnson has big-time skills. In the fifth round the Vikings took John David Booty, an accurate quarterback who is great at throwing on the move and sees the field extremely well. Letroy Guion is more of a developmental defensive tackle, and center John Sullivan was average in 2007, but at times looked very good in his career. Factor in the addition of DE Jared Allen, and this was a good draft for the Vikings.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: GRADE: B
I thought they would take DT Glenn Dorsey, but the Falcons needed a face for the franchise, and had to take QB Matt Ryan. He should be a great starting point; a new era of Falcons football begins. USC OT Sam Baker wasn't healthy in 2007, he struggled in Senior Bowl practices and he has short arms for a left tackle. I like Baker, but I thought it was a bit of a reach moving up to get him. Linebacker Curtis Lofton is a decent second-round pick, but I really like what Atlanta did in the third round, taking WR Harry Douglas, CB Chevis Jackson and safety Thomas DeCoud. Kroy Biermann is a good pass-rusher. Wilrey Fontenot played opposite Antoine Cason at Arizona, although he'll be more of a dime back. RB Thomas Brown is not real big, and he's going to be battling Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood for playing time in the backfield.
Carolina Panthers: GRADE: B
The future is now in Carolina, which gave up its first-round pick in 2009 to trade back into this year's first round and draft offensive tackle Jeff Otah. Jonathan Stewart is a workhorse running back and Dan Connor is a real nice pick in the third round. I like the Panthers' picks on Day 2, highlighted by Iowa CB Charles Godfrey, who I thought was the best player on the board heading into Day 2. Tight end Gary Barnidge, who they picked in the fifth round, catches everything thrown his way, although he is not much of a blocker. Hilee Taylor has a very good motor at OLB, Geoff Schwartz is an overachieving OL and G Mackenzy Bernadeau out of Bentley has a good chance to make the team. I didn't like seeing them give up a future first-round pick, and Stewart does have some durability concerns, but this was a good draft for the Panthers.
New Orleans Saints: GRADE: C+
I'm high on DT Sedrick Ellis -- there wasn't much of a difference between him and Dorsey. Cornerback Tracy Porter has to show toughness in run support and also be able to match up against physical wide receivers. Porter should also be able to help out as a punt returner. DeMario Pressley is a classic underachiever. He looked good at the start of his college career but never became a dominant player. OT Carl Nicks has some ability and talent, but he just needs to maximize it. I didn't like taking PK Taylor Mehlhaff over Brandon Coutu, but I did like getting WR Adrian Arrington in the seventh round. I thought he could go as high as the fourth round.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: GRADE: B
Aqib Talib fits this system and is the perfect Cover 2 cornerback. He has great ball skills, but not the recovery speed. Wide receiver Dexter Jackson has great speed, but are his hands going to be good enough? Jackson was the only WR the Buccaneers drafted, and that was a need area for them heading into the draft. Third-round pick Jeremy Zuttah from Rutgers gives this offensive line some versatility. What I want to see is DT Dre Moore put it all together every week. He showed glimpses of that at Maryland, but if the Bucs can motivate Moore, then they could have found a gem in the fourth round. QB Josh Johnson is a great athlete and Jon Gruden likes him, but Johnson will be a project quarterback for the future. Linebacker Geno Hayes probably isn't the next Derrick Brooks at linebacker, but he's very instinctive and is a good form tackler. He could be a nice fit at weakside linebacker in Tampa Bay's scheme.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: GRADE: B-
I like CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but I thought Arizona would take a running back (Ray Rice?) in the second round. Instead, Arizona drafted DE Calais Campbell. If Campbell reverts back to his 2006 form, this will turn out to be a good pick. LSU WR Early Doucet will be a slot receiver and was a good third-round pick. I like RB Timothy Hightower, although he doesn't have a lot of speed. I like their sixth- and seventh-round picks (Christopher Harrington and Brandon Keith), but the Cardinals didn't get a quality running back to complement Edgerrin James, unless Hightower is able to play the part.

St. Louis Rams: GRADE: C+
Taking DE Chris Long allows Adam Carriker to stay inside at defensive tackle. Some didn't think Donnie Avery should have been the first WR to come off the board. It might have been a bit of a reach, but he caught 91 balls and has the ability to make people miss. John Greco is a versatile offensive lineman. CB Justin King has a lot of potential, but he gets beat in coverage far too much. Wide receiver Keenan Burton would have gone higher than the fourth round if he hadn't been slowed by knee and ankle injuries in his senior season. Roy Schuening has a chance to start this year at guard. Chris Chamberlain had a very nice season at Tulsa. And don't forget about OLB David Vobora, aka Mr. Irrelevant, who I thought was a midround pick. Vobora has some ability and I would be surprised if he didn't make this team as a special teams player.

San Francisco 49ers: GRADE: C+
They didn't address their need at wide receiver until the sixth round and didn't take an OLB until the seventh round. Kentwan Balmer is a solid DT prospect for their scheme, and I like Chilo Rachal's aggressiveness at guard (he can also play right tackle). Reggie Smith is kind of a tweener at safety or corner. He has ability, but needs to settle on a position. Cody Wallace was the No. 1 center on my board. Josh Morgan is a decent receiver. OLB Larry Grant can make this team as backup.

Seattle Seahawks: GRADE: B
Lawrence Jackson stepped up his performance and deserved being a first-round pick. I would have looked at Dustin Keller, although John Carlson is a more complete tight end. Texas A&M's Red Bryant is a stay-at-home defensive tackle. He was productive in 2007, but he never took his game to the next level coming out of high school. Owen Schmitt is a throwback old-school fullback. Tyler Schmitt is a good long snapper. Justin Forsett has the chance to make this team at running back. Georgia's Brandon Coutu -- whom I thought was the best kicker in this draft -- could be this year's Mason Crosby.

UCLA QB Problem

2008-04-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

Coming into the season, new UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel had a tough decision about who will be his starting quarterback in 2008 with Patrick Cowan and Ben Olson as the top two candidates.
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AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan's college football career may be over. Having already taken a redshirt year, he would have to apply for a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA.
While not the way Neuheisel had planned, that decision was made easier after he found out Cowan will undergo surgery on the ACL in his left knee and will miss the entire season, according to L.A.-area media reports.
"All I know is I need the surgery and I'm not going to be able to play next season," Cowan told reporters Saturday.
Olson's injury, which will require doctors to put a screw into his foot to help it heal, will keep him out six to eight weeks.
In practice Thursday, Cowan and Olson went down on back-to-back plays. Both were wearing helmets, shoulder pads and shorts, in the next-to-last practice of an injury-free spring.
Cowan, who won the starting QB job in spring practice, has already used up his redshirt eligibility, was unsure of his future plans.
"I don't know," Cowan told reporters. "I wasn't expecting this. There are a lot of things that can happen at this point. I need some time to think about what's going to happen."

Shaquille O'Neal

2008-01-29T17:28:00.000-08:00

Shaquille O'Neal on Thursday denied speculation that he planned to walk away from the Heat after 2008, telling ESPN Radio's Jack Ramsay that he will play out his contract despite his current injury-riddled year.
O'Neal suffered an acute hip injury while diving for a loose ball against Utah on Dec. 22 and re-aggravated the injury Monday against Cleveland. He will miss at least six games, barring a change in the rehabilitation schedule.
In the interview Thursday, O'Neal strongly disputed media reports this month that reportedly characterized the All-Star center as being prepared to walk away from the last two years of his five-year, $100 million contract.
"I'm the son of an army drill sergeant and when we enlist, we go out full-term. So I got two years left on my term and then, after that, I'll be looking to do other things," O'Neal said on the show.
"I'm not the type to say every game, 'my leg is hurt, my leg is hurt.' I just tried to do it the old-school way for so long, just play on ... rather than try to get healthy," he added. "I'm not even playing at 50 percent right now. I just got to focus on getting that leg back strong."
When asked if he could get back into form this season, O'Neal said: "We're going to be trying to do it. I just have to get through it."
O'Neal has missed an average of 20 games over the past six seasons because of an array of injuries. The earliest he could return from the current injury, under the timetable released by the team, is Feb. 6 at Detroit.
He's averaging a career-low 14.2 points this season, and his string of 14 straight All-Star Game selections -- which matches a league record -- almost seems certain to end because of his latest malady

Terell Owens in Trouble

2008-01-29T17:20:00.001-08:00

PHILADELPHIA -- Terrell Owens should set aside part of his roster bonus from Dallas to pay his old team a debt.
An arbitrator ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles last Friday on a grievance that was filed by the NFL players' union on Owens' behalf in 2005.
A team spokesman said the Eagles would not comment. Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return a phone message left by AP.
The union disputed the Eagles' effort to recover $1.725 million of the $2.3 million signing bonus the team paid the wide receiver when it signed him to a seven-year, $48.97 million deal in 2004.
T.O. with Mike Tirico
In a visit with the Mike Tirico Show, Terrell Owens talks about the frustration of his late-season injury, his relationship with Tony Romo, the money an arbitrator says he owes the Eagles and ... the chicken dance? Listen
Owens was kicked off the team seven games into the 2005 season for a series of infractions, including repeated criticism of quarterback Donovan McNabb and lashing out against management. He was suspended four games without pay and the team withheld his final five paychecks, totaling $955,880. That means Owens still owes the Eagles $769,120.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said this month he plans to pay Owens a $3 million roster bonus, so the All-Pro should have some extra cash to pay the Eagles.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing a league source, first reported arbitrator Shyam Das ruled against Owens. An NFL spokesman confirmed the report to the AP.

Tony Dungy and the Colts

2008-01-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

Tony Dungy looking at retiring at the Indianapolis Colts. He thinks he has the super bowl so why should he stay. He already has many good things in life. he has a super bowl title, a wife, a nice religion, and many other things. He has a great life with getting to play in the NFL and having many very interesting friends, like basketball players, and has many talents in many different sports.

Jon McCain's Position's

2008-01-14T16:58:00.000-08:00

While studying for my research on John McCain, a candidate for President of the United States, I came across these 14 main positions he's taken. My source was www.johnmccain.com

McCain Tax Cut Plan
John McCain believes taxes should be low, simple, and fair and has a track record of commitment to these principles. Read More

Government Spending, Lower Taxes and Economic Prosperity
America's economic progress requires that the federal government abide by the same standards of common sense and fiscal restraint as hardworking families. Read More

Straight Talk on Health System Reform
John McCain is willing to address the fundamental problem: the rapidly rising cost of U.S. health care. Bringing costs under control is the only way to stop the erosion of affordable health insurance, save Medicare and Medicaid, protect private health benefits for retirees, and allow our companies to effectively compete around the world. Read More

Human Dignity & the Sanctity of Life
During more than five years as a POW in Vietnam, John McCain experienced the worst assaults on human dignity imaginable. Yet each day he also saw in his fellow prisoners the power of human compassion and the will to prevail against unimaginable evil. It is this experience, and a life dedicated to public service, that has imbued in John McCain a fundamental commitment to the protection of human dignity that will shape his presidency. Read More

Lobbying & Ethics Reform
John McCain believes that a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" must remain ever faithful to that noble charge. America needs leadership devoted to the public interest, not the special interest, and a government that fulfills its duties with unfailing integrity, accountability, and common sense. Those who serve in positions of public trust have a patriotic duty to serve the national interest with integrity and accountability, to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the people we are privileged to serve, and to devote ourselves to America's agenda, not that of narrow special interests. Read More

Strategy for Victory in Iraq
John McCain believes that we must not fail in Iraq. Succeeding in the cause of helping the Iraqi people build a stable, secure, representative state is essential to achieving an enduring peace in a region of the world central to American prosperity and national security. Failure in Iraq will endanger America for generations to come. America has a vital interest in a secure, democratic Iraq, at peace with its neighbors, to help stabilize a dangerous and critical region. Read More

Border Security & Immigration Reform
I have always believed that our border must be secure and that the federal government has utterly failed in its responsibility to ensure that it is secure. If we have learned anything from the recent immigration debate, it is that Americans have little trust that their government will honor a pledge to do the things necessary to make the border secure. Read More

Commitment To America's Service Members: Past And Present
America owes its liberty, its prosperity, and its future to our veterans who have dedicated their lives to protecting our great country. John McCain has fought to honor our national commitment to our veterans who have given their careers and livelihoods to ensuring our freedom. He believes we must provide for service members and their families while they serve, we must help those who return from combat to adjust to civilian life, and we must honor and never forget the service of those who do not return. Read More

National Security
The most sacred responsibility vested in a president - the commander in chief - is to "preserve and protect" American citizens. John McCain has the necessary vision and unrivaled experience to command the United States armed forces and adapt our nation's defenses to the demands of a changing and dangerous world. Read More

Stewards of Our Nation's Rich Natural Heritage
John McCain has a proud record of common sense stewardship. Along with his commitment to clean air and water, and to conserving open space, he has been a leader on the issue of global warming with the courage to call the nation to action on an issue we can no longer afford to ignore. Read More

Protecting Second Amendment Rights
John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect. We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens. Gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime. Law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their rights because of criminals - criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway. Read More

Boston Celtics

2008-01-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, finally hitting their losing streak. The Boston Celtics have now lost 2 out of their last 3 games. They lost last night to the Wizards.

Eastern All-Stars

2008-01-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

Point Guard: Chauncey Billups, DetroitThis is pretty much a slam dunk. Billups is the only point guard in the East to average at least 30 minutes a game and rank in the top 50 in player efficiency rating (PER); he's ninth overall at 24.18.
He's the best player on the second-best team in basketball, his third straight season with a PER of at least 21, and his defense is nearly as valuable as his offense. Of course, in the real balloting he's nowhere close, so he'll have to be named as a sub.

Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade, MiamiI have some misgivings about this one, because Wade clearly hasn't been himself at the offensive end this season, and because he's pretty much been a sieve on D.
But when I look at my criteria, Wade is a shoo-in. Is he one of the 12 best players in the East? Of course he is. Has he played at this level before? Duh.
Besides, who else is worthy of starting here? The next best shooting guard in the East is who? Maybe Richard Hamilton or Michael Redd? Nobody in their right mind would take either over Wade. Even in his diminished state, Wade is 12th in PER, easily the best among the East's shooting guards.

Center: Dwight Howard, OrlandoThere is only one center in the East averaging at least 30 minutes a game and ranking in the top 50 in PER. That's Howard, who ranks seventh, is shooting 60.2 percent from the floor, and is the unquestioned centerpiece of the conference's third-best team.
He's as strong on D as on offense, too, making him a double no-brainer.

Small Forward: LeBron James, CavaliersHe leads the league in PER, just as he did two years earlier. And in the season in between he carried a team on his back to the conference title.
James is on his way to a historic season with his averages of 29.2/7.7/7.3; needless to say, no other small forward in the East comes close to him.

Power Forward: Kevin Garnett, CelticsI just want to point out how inane all the things written about him in Minnesota the past several years now seem. Yes, clearly it was Garnett's fault that the team couldn't get over the hump; a better man could have turned Marko Jaric and Mark Blount into champions.
Anyway, all Garnett has done in Boston is put his new team on pace for a record win total after they won 24 games the previous season. He ranks fourth in PER and if you took a vote for Defensive Player of the Year and MVP today, he'd probably win both.

The Western All-Stars

2008-01-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

Point guard: Chris Paul, HornetsSome may stump for Steve Nash based on the idea that he has proved he can play at this level and Paul hasn't. But the truth is that Nash has never played quite this well. Paul would be the hands-down choice for Western Conference MVP if you handed out ballots today. He ranks second in the league in player efficiency rating (PER), first in steals, third in assists and pure point rating (see my Jose Calderon comment in the East All-Stars); Paul has his Hornets at a stunning 23-11, just a game behind Nash's Suns despite a much less imposing supporting cast.
Even if you're a skeptic and think Paul is playing over his head, consider that his PERs the past two seasons nearly matched those of Nash (Paul: 22.14 and 22.00; Nash: 23.29 and 23.87) and that he's now outplayed Nash head-to-head twice. There are a ton of great point guards in the league right now, but for this season the debate about which one is the best is pretty one-sided.

Shooting guard: Kobe Bryant, LakersAnother fairly obvious choice, the Kobester is actually having a slightly down year by his own lofty standards, with his PER ranking "only" 10th and a scoring average that's down nearly five points from last season. On the other hand, for a scoring guard, he's been pretty darn good defensively, and his team isn't exactly suffering from his diminished output -- L.A. has surprised many with a 21-11 start despite a tough schedule.
Besides, based on past performance, this is probably more like the floor for Bryant than the ceiling. All told, that makes him a far better pick here than the other assorted off guards (Allen Iverson, Manu Ginobili, Brandon Roy, Tracy McGrady) up for consideration.
Center: Amare Stoudemire, SunsChide him for his periodic defensive lapses if you will, but there's no question that Stoudemire is a devastating offensive force. He ranks third in the NBA in PER and is shooting a ridiculous 58.3 percent from the field. Usually players who shoot that well are doing it with few attempts, but Stoudemire is pumping in 27.9 points per 40 minutes.
Even while averaging only 31.4 minutes per game due to frequent foul trouble, there's no question that he has been the West's most proficient center this season. In fact, his numbers are almost an exact replica of his 2004-05 stats suggesting he's finally back to his pre-microfracture self.

Power forward: Tim Duncan, SpursNow that he's a forward on the ballot, we can check the box for both Duncan and Stoudemire in the starting lineup. While some may dispute his position, there's no question that Duncan is one of the five best players in the West.
He ranks eighth in the NBA in PER, and while one other West forward (Utah's Carlos Boozer) is slightly ahead of him, the glaring defensive disparity between the two more than makes up the difference.

Small forward: Dirk Nowitzki, MavericksYes, I'm cheating here. Dirk is mobile enough to play the 3, especially in a game like this one, and the West is overloaded with great power forwards. Additionally, we have a bit of a shortage of qualified small forwards this year, which I'll delve into further in a moment.
Nowitzki hasn't been up to his usual MVP self so far this season, but his recent play and previous track record suggest to me that it's more of a short-term blip than a new reality. Besides, it's not like he turned into Jason Collins -- even with the early slump, Nowitzki is 11th in the league in PER.

BCS Championship Bowl

2008-01-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

Les Miles unleashed an ear-piercing whoop, then leaned back and exhaled as if he had been holding his breath all night.
"I just had to do that," the LSU coach said.
Unlucky No. 7
Another chapter was added to Ohio State's well-documented struggles against the SEC in bowl games after its loss to LSU on Monday. The Tigers were the seventh different SEC team to defeat the Buckeyes in a bowl game and the loss dropped Ohio State to 0-9 in such games.
Bowl
Opponent
Result
2008 BCS Champ. Game
LSU
Lost, 38-24
2007 BCS Champ. Game
Florida
Lost, 41-14
2002 Outback
S. Carolina
Lost, 31-28
2001 Outback
S. Carolina
Lost, 24-7
1996 Citrus
Tennessee
Lost, 20-14
1995 Citrus
Alabama
Lost, 24-17
1993 Citrus
Georgia
Lost, 21-14
1990 Hall of Fame
Auburn
Lost, 31-14
1978 Sugar
Alabama
Lost, 35-6
Easy for him to say, now that he has the BCS national championship trophy.
The second-ranked Tigers danced, dodged and darted their way into the end zone Monday night for a 38-24 victory, turning the title game into a horrible replay for No. 1 Ohio State.
They made it look easy with Matt Flynn throwing four touchdown passes. Now the debate begins: Are they the best?
In a season of surprises, this was hardly an upset: Ohio State once again fell apart in college football's biggest game. A year after the Buckeyes were routed by Florida 41-14, they barely did better.
But this was unprecedented. Playing at their home-away-from-home in the Big Easy, the Tigers (12-2) became the first two-loss team to compete for the title.
Still, LSU was a runaway No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll. The Tigers received 60 of 65 first-place votes from a national media panel. Georgia, Southern California, Missouri and Ohio State rounded out the top five. Georgia had three first-place votes while Southern Cal and No. 7 Kansas each had one.
And while Miles got to hoist the $30,000 crystal prize, surely many fans around the country were wondering if someone else was equally worthy.
Southern California, Georgia, West Virginia, Kansas and Missouri all put on impressive shows in bowl games, and will be among the favorites in 2008.
"Certainly there will be some argument as to who's the best team. But I think the national champion has been crowned tonight," Miles said. "I have to give great credit to some divine intervention that allows us to be in this position."
The final Associated Press poll was to be released early Tuesday.
Shouts of "SEC! SEC!" bounced around the Superdome as the Tigers won their second BCS crown in five seasons. They are the first school to win a second title since BCS rankings began with the 1998 season.
"My team is the No. 1 team in the land," said All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, who passed up the NFL draft to return for his senior season.
LSU rallied from an early 10-0 deficit, taking a 24-10 halftime lead that held up.
"We just didn't do the things you need to do to win a ballgame of this nature. We're very aware that LSU's a deserving champion," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.
Jacob Hester bulled for a short touchdown, Early Doucet wiggled loose for a touchdown and Dorsey led a unit that outplayed the top-ranked defense in the nation.
From No. 1 To No. 1
Since the NFL common draft began in 1967, this is the fourth time a team has won a national title the year after its quarterback was drafted No. 1 overall in the NFL draft.
Year
School
QB
2007
LSU
JaMarcus Russell
2003
USC
Carson Palmer
1998
Tennessee
Peyton Manning
1987
Miami
Vinny Testaverde
Ohio State (11-2) had little to celebrate after Chris "Beanie" Wells broke loose for a 65-yard TD run on the fourth play of the game.
"It's unbelievable to know you've failed two years in a row," Wells said.
LSU, whose two losses both came in triple overtime, became just the fourth favorite to win in 10 BCS championship games. The Tigers added to the crown they won in 2003 -- their other national championship came in 1958.
"We came out here with the right frame of mind. We kept hanging in there," Flynn said.
Miles probably got a little extra satisfaction, too. Though he turned down a chance to return home to Michigan, he did something his alma mater hasn't done recently -- beat the Buckeyes.
The loss left Ohio State at 0-9 overall in bowl games against teams from the Southeastern Conference. The SEC delights in whipping Big Ten teams in what's become a rivalry that steams up fans on both sides.
Better on offense and defense, the Tigers got two big plays on special teams -- Ricky Jean-Francois blocked a field goal, and LSU took advantage of a roughing-the-kicker penalty.
Flynn hit Doucet with a 4-yard toss with 9:04 left for a 31-10 lead and the celebration was on in earnest. The Buckeyes made the score more respectable on Todd Boeckman's 5-yard TD pass on fourth down to Brian Robiskie, only to have Flynn come back and throw his second TD pass to Richard Dickson.
Flynn finished 19-for-27 for 174 yards and was picked the game's most outstanding offensive player.
As the clock ticked down, Boeckman threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Brian Hartline.
Ohio State was trying to win its second BCS title in six years, and add to the one that Tressel captured by upsetting Miami 31-24 in double overtime for the 2002 championship.
For sure, the Buckeyes were perhaps the most-maligned No. 1 team in recent memory, with critics attacking them all season. Tressel gave his players a 10-minute DVD filled with insults hurled at them by television and radio announcers, hoping it would motivate his team.
Instead, the Tigers ravaged the nation's best defense and showed that maybe all those naysayers were right.
"I worry about disappointment because of how hard the kids work. I don't worry about criticism," Tressel said. "If you struggle taking criticism, you better not be at Ohio State and better not be playing football."
Known as a punishing runner, Wells got the game off to a quick start. On the fourth play from scrimmage, the Buckeyes' bruising back started left, made a nifty cut right and burst through the middle.
Wells was gone, off on the longest run of his career. And so much for SEC speed -- Wells outran All-America safety Craig Steltz for a 65-yard TD.
Wells was welcomed by a familiar face once he got back to the sideline. Miami Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn Jr., wearing scarlet and gray Mardi Gras beads, knew all about early strikes. He provided Ohio State's only highlight in last year's BCS title game, returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
No Front-runner
Ohio State jumped out to leads in the past two BCS title games, only to let the other team storm past on the way to the championship.
2006
2007
Opponent
Florida
LSU
OSU scored on
Opening kick
Fourth play
OSU lead
7-0
10-0
Opp. 2nd-quarter points
20
21
Opp. rush yards
156
155
Turnover margin
-2
-2
Result
L, 41-14
L, 38-24
This time, Ohio State made it 10-0 on its next possession. Boeckman hit a wide-open Brandon Saine for 44 yards, setting up Ryan Pretorius' 25-yard field goal.
Only five minutes into the game, Ohio State and its all-brass band was blowing away the Tigers. LSU looked dazed and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini -- who now becomes Nebraska's full-time coach -- had few answers.
Fortunately for the Tigers, their offense started clicking. On a team full of flash, it was the reliable ol' Hester who settled down LSU.
First, he barreled into All-America linebacker James Laurinaitis for a short gain. Both players are the rugged type and in a nice show of sportsmanship, Laurinaitis -- whose dad, Joe, once starred as "Animal" in the "Legion of Doom" wrestling tag team -- helped up Hester.
Hester broke off a 20-yard run on the next play, and LSU eventually got a 32-yard field goal from Colt David that made it 10-3.
That score late in the first quarter seemed to jazz everyone in purple and gold. The Tigers zoomed into fast motion, the band's Golden Girls suddenly put more bounce in their step and thousands of fans started screaming even louder.
Flynn also seemed to recognize exactly what Ohio State was trying to do. LSU quarterbacks spend a lot of time with an Xbox, playing a custom-made video game to read defenses. Apparently, what worked on the screen did even better on the field.
Two big penalties against Ohio State helped set up Flynn's 13-yard touchdown pass to Dickson, who somehow found himself uncovered. Flynn punctuated the strike by hollering, giving a wild fist pump and putting up both hands to signal TD.
Tied at 10, the Buckeyes counted on Wells. He delivered one of the season's best stiff-arms on a 29-yard romp, and Ohio State seemed poised to retake the lead.
Instead, Jean-Francois crashed through the middle, swung his big right arm and blocked Pretorius' 38-yard field goal try.
As Ohio State trudged off the field and LSU ran on, it was all over. It only took a while to confirm it.
"We had a chance early and a chance later. LSU just made too many plays," Laurinaitis said.
LSU turned to another of its five dangerous tailbacks, and NCAA sprint star Trindon Holliday zigzagged closer to the goal line. Flynn's perfect pass to Brandon LaFell in the back left corner of the end zone put the Tigers ahead 17-10.
Then, it was time for LSU's defense to make the big play. Cornerback Chevis Jackson intercepted Boeckman's loss toss and streaked 34 yards down the right sideline.
The Tigers moved to a first-and-goal at 1. On third down, Hester plunged up the middle and it was 24-10.

My Presidential Canidate

2008-01-07T15:41:00.000-08:00

1.
Theoretical Ideal Candidate (100%)
2.
Sam Brownback (withdrawn, endorsed McCain) (58%) Information link
3.
Duncan Hunter (57%) Information link
4.
Mike Huckabee (54%) Information link
5.
Tom Tancredo (withdrawn, endorsed Romney) (53%) Information link
6.
Stephen Colbert (campaign halted) (53%) Information link
7.
Jim Gilmore (withdrawn) (51%) Information link
8.
Chuck Hagel (not running) (51%) Information link
9.
Alan Keyes (50%) Information link
10.
Tommy Thompson (withdrawn, endorsed Giuliani) (48%) Information link
11.
Ron Paul (46%) Information link
12.
Mitt Romney (46%) Information link
13.
Bill Richardson (43%) Information link
14.
John Edwards (41%) Information link
15.
John McCain (40%) Information link
16.
Hillary Clinton (40%) Information link
17.
Joseph Biden (withdrawn) (39%) Information link
18.
Barack Obama (38%) Information link
19.
Dennis Kucinich (37%) Information link
20.
Wesley Clark (not running, endorsed Clinton) (37%) Information link
21.
Fred Thompson (36%) Information link
22.
Christopher Dodd (withdrawn) (36%) Information link
23.
Michael Bloomberg (says he will not run) (36%) Information link
24.
Newt Gingrich (says he will not run) (35%) Information link
25.
Al Gore (not announced) (34%) Information link
26.
Alan Augustson (campaign suspended) (33%) Information link
27.
Elaine Brown (32%) Information link
28.
Mike Gravel (30%) Information link
29.
Rudolph Giuliani (25%) Information link
30.
Kent McManigal (campaign suspended) (24%) Information link

The Motor City Bowl

2007-12-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

In the Motor City Bowl Purdue took on Central Michigan. I am in a bowl pick'em game with my dad. I said that Purdue would win by more than 6 points. They didn't so I didn't get any points. The final score of the game was 51-48, with Purdue winning.

The Boilmakers had a big passing game, Painter through for 550 yards with 3 TD and 2 INT. On the rushing part of the game they didn't run that well but Sheets had 27 yards of rushing with 2 TD. On the receiving part of the game Keller was the leader with 7 receptions for 150 yards and a TD. Orton also had 9 receptions for 136 yards. They didn't do anything with their defence they just had a bg game on their offense.

Central Michigan had a pretty weak passing game with LaFevour only passing for 290 yards and 4TD. On the rushing side of the ball, LaFevour ran 33 as the quarterback for 115 yards with 2 TD. Anderson was their biggest reciever with 7 catches for 130 yards with 3 TD. On their defence the Central Michigan had 2 INT.

Scott Skiles

2007-12-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

Scott Skiles was fired on Monday. He was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. John Paxson took over control. In the Bulls first 25 games of the season the bulls were terrible and were 9-16. They were 2-10 in the first 12 games of the season, and then were 7-6 in the last 13 games of the Scott Skiles career at the bulls.

I hope the bulls start to do better becasue they are my second favorite team. I also think the team was ready to have another coach becasue they haven't got very far with Scott Skiles. Everyone thinks he made a bad choice in 2006 when he traded LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas. Now LaMarcus is averaging about 18 points and Tyrus is of the lineup. Everyone thinks it was also a bad choice how they didn't try to get Kobe Bryant even though they could of.

Football

2007-12-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

The Patriots are my least favorite team which is not a good thing this year. They have now just won their 15th game. Next week they play the New York Giants. They will probly win that and be 16-0. Which will be terrible and since their the best team in the league they will probly go far but get beat in the AFC game by the Colts. The teams that will make the playoffs in the AFC will be the Colts, Patriots, Browns, Jaguars, Steelers, and the Chargers. The Colts and Patriots will get a bye and the other teams will play in the first rounds. The Jaguars and Browns will go to the next round and then the Colts and Patriots will beat them and the Colts will beat the Patriots in the Confrence play. In the NFC the Cowboys, Packers, Redskins, Bucceneers, Seahawks, and the Giants. The Cowboys and Packers will get the bye and the Redskins and the Seahawks will advance to the next round. Then the Cowboys and Packers will beat them and advance to the confrence round. Then in the confrence the Packers will win if they have Brett Farve. Then in the super bowl the Colts will win the game by a nice roll down the field with Peyton Manning with the winning touchdown or field goal.

Michelle Wie

2007-12-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

Michelle Wie is a female golf player. She is reallly good and has won just about everything since 2004. They were about to put her in the men's league but now say that is unlikley to play in the men's league.

Bill Parcell

2007-12-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

Bill Parcell is going to be the VP of the Miami Dolphins. He signed a 4-year deal with the Dolphins. This is crazy because he was offered better jobs at better teams. I am pretty sure he was offered a job at the Steelers that he said he wasn't ready to go back to football. It was probobly becasue he was offered a bunch of money at the Dolphins.

My Mini City

2007-12-16T06:44:00.000-08:00

This is a new site I just got on to. You build your own city and the more people go your city your city gets bigger. So go to myminicity.com.

The Colts

2007-12-09T05:43:00.000-08:00

The colts are my favorite team. I really like Tony Dungy and I want read his new book called "Quiet Strength". I also love Marvin Harrison because he has stick with the colts for his whole career and has never just quit after a bad season. My favorite player on the colts is Bob Sanders. He is an amazing player who shows up at all of there games and when is a little bit injured he still is out playing his hardest.