As day three of Redskins training camp opened this morning most fans probably woke up hoping to find out that Albert Haynesworth finally passed his conditioning test. Well, he didn't fail it for a third consecutive day. Instead, after two days of testing, Haynesworth rested on Saturday and chose to watch practice and do a few drills with Ray Wright.
Redskin's fans may have been annoyed before, but I would assume that most of us believed he would pass it in a few days and begin practicing with the team and learning the new schemes. But not even taking the test on the third day? Unless there is some kind of injury that hasn't come out yet it is a disgrace that Haynesworth is taking a day off. I would hope a professional athlete could handle running for 140 seconds with a three and a half minute break halfway through.
This is just another day that Haynesworth won't be practicing with the team. He won't be with his teammates and he won't be learning the new defense. Instead Haynesworth can watch the practices from a distance and do some light conditioning work on the side. The worst part of all of this is not that Haynesworth failed the test the first two times (which is bad enough), but that on the third day he is simply opting out of the test and choosing not to be a part of the team today.
I haven't exactly been high on Shanahan, but I have to have trust that he will do what is best for the team today, whatever that may be. Apparently Haynesworth needs another message sent because having to pass a conditioning test and starting with the second-team defense, whenever he actually does get on the practice field, is not enough.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Showalter in, Miggy Out
The Orioles finally announced the hiring of Buck Showalter as the team's new manager on Thursday, nearly two months after the club fired Dave Trembley. Showalter had been on the team's radar for some time and had multiple interviews. It was only a matter of time before his hiring was made official.
So what does Showalter bring that all of his predecessors since 1997 have not? What about Showalter makes him the man to finally turn this once proud franchise around?
Everyone knows about Showalter's track record. He has a winning record in his managing career and helped turn around both the Yankees and the Rangers in previous stints. We hear that he focuses on little details, fundamentals and is prepared for every situation. Well so was Mike Hargrove supposedly.
Since the Orioles last playoff appearance in 1997 the team's managers have included: Ray Miller, Mike Hargrove, Lee Mazzilli, Sam Perlozzo, Dave Trembley and Juan Samuel on his recent interim stint during the managerial search. Only one name in that list isn't a joke, right? Believe it or not, Hargrove had the second worst winning percentage of the managers on that list, only ahead of the biggest joke of them all: Dave Trembley. Mazzilli of all managers was the last head of the team to have the club in the AL East race at the All-Star break (two games back of Boston in 2005).
Showalter is the first proven manager the Orioles have hired in seven years. Although Hargrove didn't work out as planned, maybe things are different now that the O's have MacPhail at GM, a "new" Angelos up top and now a first-rate manager in Showalter. However, Orioles fans should still be cautious. The pitching is still lacking, the bats are still cold and the fielding recently has been suspect at best. You can have a great manager, but at some point the players have to produce on the field...
...Thursday also saw third basemen Miguel Tejada's second departure from Baltimore in four seasons. The Orioles traded Tejada and his one year, six million dollar contract to the Padres for Double A righty Wynn Pelzer.
Here's the real breakdown on the trade: Miguel Tejada is heading to NL West contending San Diego. Miggy was only on a one year contract so if the O's could get something for that contract now, then that's pretty good. Tejada is also 36 and his batting average dropped to .269 this year, not to mention he only has 39 RBI's. In comes Pelzer, a right-handed pitching prospect. Obviously pitching is something Baltimore is in desperate need of if they are to contend in the future. So far this season Pelzer has produced a 6-9 record and a 4.20 ERA in AA ball. The stats aren't impressive but he is still young and has time to grow in the Orioles farm system. He probably won't become an ace for the Orioles staff but if he can one day contribute solidly to the pitching staff then getting that for a half-season of an aging Miggy in another losing year has to be seen as a win.
So what does Showalter bring that all of his predecessors since 1997 have not? What about Showalter makes him the man to finally turn this once proud franchise around?
Everyone knows about Showalter's track record. He has a winning record in his managing career and helped turn around both the Yankees and the Rangers in previous stints. We hear that he focuses on little details, fundamentals and is prepared for every situation. Well so was Mike Hargrove supposedly.
Since the Orioles last playoff appearance in 1997 the team's managers have included: Ray Miller, Mike Hargrove, Lee Mazzilli, Sam Perlozzo, Dave Trembley and Juan Samuel on his recent interim stint during the managerial search. Only one name in that list isn't a joke, right? Believe it or not, Hargrove had the second worst winning percentage of the managers on that list, only ahead of the biggest joke of them all: Dave Trembley. Mazzilli of all managers was the last head of the team to have the club in the AL East race at the All-Star break (two games back of Boston in 2005).
Showalter is the first proven manager the Orioles have hired in seven years. Although Hargrove didn't work out as planned, maybe things are different now that the O's have MacPhail at GM, a "new" Angelos up top and now a first-rate manager in Showalter. However, Orioles fans should still be cautious. The pitching is still lacking, the bats are still cold and the fielding recently has been suspect at best. You can have a great manager, but at some point the players have to produce on the field...
...Thursday also saw third basemen Miguel Tejada's second departure from Baltimore in four seasons. The Orioles traded Tejada and his one year, six million dollar contract to the Padres for Double A righty Wynn Pelzer.
Here's the real breakdown on the trade: Miguel Tejada is heading to NL West contending San Diego. Miggy was only on a one year contract so if the O's could get something for that contract now, then that's pretty good. Tejada is also 36 and his batting average dropped to .269 this year, not to mention he only has 39 RBI's. In comes Pelzer, a right-handed pitching prospect. Obviously pitching is something Baltimore is in desperate need of if they are to contend in the future. So far this season Pelzer has produced a 6-9 record and a 4.20 ERA in AA ball. The stats aren't impressive but he is still young and has time to grow in the Orioles farm system. He probably won't become an ace for the Orioles staff but if he can one day contribute solidly to the pitching staff then getting that for a half-season of an aging Miggy in another losing year has to be seen as a win.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Mice Droppings: It's What's for Dinner
This week ESPN's "Outside the Lines" released its in depth report on health code standards at professional stadiums. This study investigated every stadium, arena or ballpark in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. One of the local findings in the D.C./Baltimore area was quite disturbing.
Verizon Center in Washington D.C., home to the Capitals and Wizards, had a 100% fail rate at its concession stands. 100%. Think about that for a minute. For every time you ate at a Caps or Wiz game last season you had an extremely good chance that you were eating contaminated food. What was the biggest shock of the report? Ten...TEN concession stands inside the Verizon Center had mice droppings. Not even one stand having a problem like that is possible, but ten? How can that many areas serving food in one building be that disgusting?
How can any professional stadium have this kind of problem? Before shrugging it off and thinking 'oh well, it will be fixed by next season', think about if it isn't. You are taking your wife and kids to go see John Wall. Or you're going with your college buds to see Ovie dismantle his next opponent. Instead of grabbing some food at the jam-packed Turtle, you figure you'll just grab some grub inside. You get a hot dog, pretzel, nachos and a couple of sodas. The next morning you wake up violently ill. You are re-tracing what you did the day before that could have caused this. Then you suddenly remember that ESPN report from earlier in the summer...oh yeah, you just had a big, hearty serving of mice droppings for dinner.
What's equally disturbing is that Verizon Center, the Capitals and the Wizards haven't released a statement on this (at least I haven't been able to find one). And the local media isn't covering this catastrophe at all. When the report came out and the Dallas Cowboys had a 72% fail rate and Tropicana Field had a 100% fail rate both clubs immediately said they were taking steps to improve their concessions. Where is Leonsis or anyone else high up that deals with the concessions at Verizon?
Ted Leonsis is a good man and a great businessman. He will surely work hard at fixing this problem even if he hasn't said anything publicly. But one thing is for sure: when I'm at Verizon Center this fall to catch some Wizards and Caps games, I certainly won't be partaking in the food at the big phone booth.
Verizon Center in Washington D.C., home to the Capitals and Wizards, had a 100% fail rate at its concession stands. 100%. Think about that for a minute. For every time you ate at a Caps or Wiz game last season you had an extremely good chance that you were eating contaminated food. What was the biggest shock of the report? Ten...TEN concession stands inside the Verizon Center had mice droppings. Not even one stand having a problem like that is possible, but ten? How can that many areas serving food in one building be that disgusting?
How can any professional stadium have this kind of problem? Before shrugging it off and thinking 'oh well, it will be fixed by next season', think about if it isn't. You are taking your wife and kids to go see John Wall. Or you're going with your college buds to see Ovie dismantle his next opponent. Instead of grabbing some food at the jam-packed Turtle, you figure you'll just grab some grub inside. You get a hot dog, pretzel, nachos and a couple of sodas. The next morning you wake up violently ill. You are re-tracing what you did the day before that could have caused this. Then you suddenly remember that ESPN report from earlier in the summer...oh yeah, you just had a big, hearty serving of mice droppings for dinner.
What's equally disturbing is that Verizon Center, the Capitals and the Wizards haven't released a statement on this (at least I haven't been able to find one). And the local media isn't covering this catastrophe at all. When the report came out and the Dallas Cowboys had a 72% fail rate and Tropicana Field had a 100% fail rate both clubs immediately said they were taking steps to improve their concessions. Where is Leonsis or anyone else high up that deals with the concessions at Verizon?
Ted Leonsis is a good man and a great businessman. He will surely work hard at fixing this problem even if he hasn't said anything publicly. But one thing is for sure: when I'm at Verizon Center this fall to catch some Wizards and Caps games, I certainly won't be partaking in the food at the big phone booth.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The 2010 Redskins - Change We Can Believe In?
It is the eve of Redskins training camp which only means one thing: it's time for all Redskins fans to unite in our delusional perception that "this is our year".
Well, except for here. It's time to take a true look at what Washington has done since last season to somehow make 2010 "the year".
Word is that Albert Haynesworth is actually in D.C. right now. Amazing. If the man can keep his mouth shut and play football he will be a huge positive for the defense. If he returns to his dramatic ways, well, any guess is as good as the next.
After Snyder dispatched Vinny Cerrato in December last season he brought on Bruce Allen to take over the GM role. Allen has been involved with some good franchises for football, but one couldn't help but feel that maybe The Danny got caught up in the nostalgia of Allen being the son of a former great head coach for the Redskins. Allen's first major act as Redskins GM: sign Mike Shanahan as the new head coach after firing Jim Zorn.
Mike Shanahan has a great track record. He won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and is known especially for his ability to have a potent ground attack with any running back. Offense was not usually a problem when Shanahan was in Denver. However, Shanahan also had John Elway, one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Elway was the quarterback for both of Shanahan's Super Bowl's...a game he never reached again once Elway retired. Just some food for thought...
The biggest off-season addition comes from just up I-95 in Philadelphia. The Eagles traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to DC. The move made absolutely no sense in any way for the Eagles. And even though McNabb is old and past his prime, he is a quick step up from what Jason Campbell had been bringing to the table the past few seasons. Having Clinton Portis out of the backfield and tight ends Fred Davis and Chris Cooley should allow McNabb to have a short passing game which will open up the rest of the field.
The biggest problem for the 'Skins in recent years has been offensive line and in this off-season the team tried to address that issue. Washington drafted Trent Williams in the first round and also added Jamaal Brown to the mix. While the first string of linemen may be a bit more respectable there is still no depth. And anyone who is a Redskins fan knows that it is almost a foregone conclusion that they will have to dip into that depth during the season.
It can be said that the team made some key additions this spring without breaking the bank. The biggest questions will be: do the signed players still have what it takes? Can the team gel in time for the start of the season? And can those key players stay healthy? Everyone wants to believe that Shanahan and McNabb are the people that will finally take the Redskins further than it was thought possible in recent years.
Just remember a couple of things: Mike Shanahan has two Super Bowl rings with John Elway as his quarterback. He hasn't reached the Super Bowl without him. Donovan McNabb has played for five NFC Championships. He has only won one of them and followed that up with a loss in the Super Bowl.
Well, except for here. It's time to take a true look at what Washington has done since last season to somehow make 2010 "the year".
Word is that Albert Haynesworth is actually in D.C. right now. Amazing. If the man can keep his mouth shut and play football he will be a huge positive for the defense. If he returns to his dramatic ways, well, any guess is as good as the next.
After Snyder dispatched Vinny Cerrato in December last season he brought on Bruce Allen to take over the GM role. Allen has been involved with some good franchises for football, but one couldn't help but feel that maybe The Danny got caught up in the nostalgia of Allen being the son of a former great head coach for the Redskins. Allen's first major act as Redskins GM: sign Mike Shanahan as the new head coach after firing Jim Zorn.
Mike Shanahan has a great track record. He won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and is known especially for his ability to have a potent ground attack with any running back. Offense was not usually a problem when Shanahan was in Denver. However, Shanahan also had John Elway, one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Elway was the quarterback for both of Shanahan's Super Bowl's...a game he never reached again once Elway retired. Just some food for thought...
The biggest off-season addition comes from just up I-95 in Philadelphia. The Eagles traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to DC. The move made absolutely no sense in any way for the Eagles. And even though McNabb is old and past his prime, he is a quick step up from what Jason Campbell had been bringing to the table the past few seasons. Having Clinton Portis out of the backfield and tight ends Fred Davis and Chris Cooley should allow McNabb to have a short passing game which will open up the rest of the field.
The biggest problem for the 'Skins in recent years has been offensive line and in this off-season the team tried to address that issue. Washington drafted Trent Williams in the first round and also added Jamaal Brown to the mix. While the first string of linemen may be a bit more respectable there is still no depth. And anyone who is a Redskins fan knows that it is almost a foregone conclusion that they will have to dip into that depth during the season.
It can be said that the team made some key additions this spring without breaking the bank. The biggest questions will be: do the signed players still have what it takes? Can the team gel in time for the start of the season? And can those key players stay healthy? Everyone wants to believe that Shanahan and McNabb are the people that will finally take the Redskins further than it was thought possible in recent years.
Just remember a couple of things: Mike Shanahan has two Super Bowl rings with John Elway as his quarterback. He hasn't reached the Super Bowl without him. Donovan McNabb has played for five NFC Championships. He has only won one of them and followed that up with a loss in the Super Bowl.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday Grab Bag
Occasionally the middle of summer has days which don't have big topics for the day in sports. When that happens there is still an array of shorter topics to cover over a few paragraphs...
...The trade deadline is looming and it may be time for the Orioles to make a move. No, they won't be making a move to get back in the AL Wild Card race, but maybe there is a veteran or two that another team will be willing to deal a prospect for. Unloading Scott, Millwood, Guthrie, etc... all at the same time isn't the answer, but if the O's can deal one of them for at least a halfway decent prospect, why not?...
...Terrence Cody and Walt Harris both failed to pass the conditioning test at Ravens training camp this week. It's understandable (sort of) that Cody was unable to pass the test. He's a lineman who takes up space and blockers. But when a defensive back fails a conditioning test, well there may be some cause for concern there...
...ACC Media Day took place this week as college football teams get ready to open camp. One of the more interesting quotes had to come from Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen when he stated that he's not worried about his job security. Simply, the big man says, if he does well, he'll be here, if he doesn't, he won't. Just the kind of determination all fans like to see from their team's head coach. "Maybe we'll be good! But if not, I won't be here! Hip, hip, hooray!"...
...The Tennessee Titans are suing USC and Lane Kiffin after Kiffin essentially "stole" the Titans' running backs coach over night without contacting Titans coach Jeff Fischer first. The Titans maintain that Kiffin and USC ignored the NFL's hiring requirements, even though USC is not an NFL team. So let's get this straight: Kiffin, the man who immediately faced criticism for his recruiting tactics when he arrived at University of Tennessee, called out Florida during the pre-season, then after assembling something in Knoxville bolted overnight for the more prestigious USC job, just hired a Titans coach without talking to or asking anybody about it first? And people are actually surprised by this?...
...Lastly, the Jets and Bengals are both publically courting Terrell Owens now. The once star-studded receiver has caught both teams eyes now that each needs to bolster their receiving corps heading into the season. Owens wasn't terribly productive last season (albeit he was in Buffalo) and the consensus seems to be that he's lost a step to go with his still problematic attitude. No team in the NFL would bite on Owens all off-season, and now suddenly two teams are trying to bring him in at once. One thing is for certain: wherever Owens ends up, he won't be the reason that a team makes a run in the playoffs...
...The trade deadline is looming and it may be time for the Orioles to make a move. No, they won't be making a move to get back in the AL Wild Card race, but maybe there is a veteran or two that another team will be willing to deal a prospect for. Unloading Scott, Millwood, Guthrie, etc... all at the same time isn't the answer, but if the O's can deal one of them for at least a halfway decent prospect, why not?...
...Terrence Cody and Walt Harris both failed to pass the conditioning test at Ravens training camp this week. It's understandable (sort of) that Cody was unable to pass the test. He's a lineman who takes up space and blockers. But when a defensive back fails a conditioning test, well there may be some cause for concern there...
...ACC Media Day took place this week as college football teams get ready to open camp. One of the more interesting quotes had to come from Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen when he stated that he's not worried about his job security. Simply, the big man says, if he does well, he'll be here, if he doesn't, he won't. Just the kind of determination all fans like to see from their team's head coach. "Maybe we'll be good! But if not, I won't be here! Hip, hip, hooray!"...
...The Tennessee Titans are suing USC and Lane Kiffin after Kiffin essentially "stole" the Titans' running backs coach over night without contacting Titans coach Jeff Fischer first. The Titans maintain that Kiffin and USC ignored the NFL's hiring requirements, even though USC is not an NFL team. So let's get this straight: Kiffin, the man who immediately faced criticism for his recruiting tactics when he arrived at University of Tennessee, called out Florida during the pre-season, then after assembling something in Knoxville bolted overnight for the more prestigious USC job, just hired a Titans coach without talking to or asking anybody about it first? And people are actually surprised by this?...
...Lastly, the Jets and Bengals are both publically courting Terrell Owens now. The once star-studded receiver has caught both teams eyes now that each needs to bolster their receiving corps heading into the season. Owens wasn't terribly productive last season (albeit he was in Buffalo) and the consensus seems to be that he's lost a step to go with his still problematic attitude. No team in the NFL would bite on Owens all off-season, and now suddenly two teams are trying to bring him in at once. One thing is for certain: wherever Owens ends up, he won't be the reason that a team makes a run in the playoffs...
Monday, July 26, 2010
Does MLS Need Landon Donovan?
In the wake of Landon Donovan's success for the U.S. team at this year's World Cup has been speculation that the 28 year-old may be ready to take his game overseas permanently. Major League Soccer has stated in no uncertain terms that they have no plans to sell Donovan.
Clearly Donovan has the skills to play in a big-time league in Europe. Donovan showed his knack for finding the net in the World Cup and was also successful during his short loan to Everton in the English Premier League last season. He has been the face of the MLS and the LA Galaxy for some time now as he has carried the torch for American soccer.
MLS goes back to the fact that Landon signed a new four year deal with the league in December of last year. The league has control of where Donovan eventually ends up playing on a permanent basis. However, last week Manchester City who has been very active on the market this off-season, was clear that they are interested in obtaining the rights to Donovan. Landon didn't exactly dismiss the remarks and hasn't come out and said he absolutely wants to continue playing in and representing MLS.
Does MLS really need Landon Donovan? Recently MLS has been able to expand the league to include more teams and will do so again next season. While the league is still clearly not a top four league in the world, they are becoming able to attract a few big names to the league. Landon Donovan has been with LA Galaxy for some time along with David Beckham (when he is actually healthy enough to play). NY Red Bulls recently acquired international superstar Thierry Henry to complement Juan Pablo Angel. When it's not international players athletes from the collegiate level in the U.S. have been able to convert into contributing players in the U.S. and more of them are receiving call-ups to the national team.
Landon Donovan is clearly the face of MLS right now. But MLS has been expanding and growing. More than a few teams now have their own soccer dedicated stadiums and some teams are finally turning a profit. Donovan does not play for every team in the MLS that is making these vast improvements. While it's nice to have such a great player in the league MLS will not struggle to attract other great players. The tides are turning and they are turning in MLS' favor. Landon Donovan is a great player but MLS does not need him to be a successful league.
Clearly Donovan has the skills to play in a big-time league in Europe. Donovan showed his knack for finding the net in the World Cup and was also successful during his short loan to Everton in the English Premier League last season. He has been the face of the MLS and the LA Galaxy for some time now as he has carried the torch for American soccer.
MLS goes back to the fact that Landon signed a new four year deal with the league in December of last year. The league has control of where Donovan eventually ends up playing on a permanent basis. However, last week Manchester City who has been very active on the market this off-season, was clear that they are interested in obtaining the rights to Donovan. Landon didn't exactly dismiss the remarks and hasn't come out and said he absolutely wants to continue playing in and representing MLS.
Does MLS really need Landon Donovan? Recently MLS has been able to expand the league to include more teams and will do so again next season. While the league is still clearly not a top four league in the world, they are becoming able to attract a few big names to the league. Landon Donovan has been with LA Galaxy for some time along with David Beckham (when he is actually healthy enough to play). NY Red Bulls recently acquired international superstar Thierry Henry to complement Juan Pablo Angel. When it's not international players athletes from the collegiate level in the U.S. have been able to convert into contributing players in the U.S. and more of them are receiving call-ups to the national team.
Landon Donovan is clearly the face of MLS right now. But MLS has been expanding and growing. More than a few teams now have their own soccer dedicated stadiums and some teams are finally turning a profit. Donovan does not play for every team in the MLS that is making these vast improvements. While it's nice to have such a great player in the league MLS will not struggle to attract other great players. The tides are turning and they are turning in MLS' favor. Landon Donovan is a great player but MLS does not need him to be a successful league.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tour de France Gets It Wrong
On the final day of the 2010 Tour de France there was once again controversy surrounding Lance Armstrong and his team. This controversy, however, had nothing to do with performance-enhancing drugs or blood doping.
Sunday morning the RadioShack team lined up to begin the final stage of the race. There was one difference today: the team had switched into new jerseys. The team's new jerseys were all-black and simply had the number 28 on them. The number 28 was used to represent the 28 million people in the world living with cancer today. Lance said that today, his last day ever racing in the Tour de France, the team was racing for everyone in the world who has been affected by cancer.
The International Cycling Union had other ideas though as they forced the RadioShack team to return to their regular jerseys. The team had to wear their regular race jerseys as the rule states, no exceptions.
Obviously rules are rules and once you allow one person to bend them you begin your way down a slippery slope. But today should have been a rare exception.
Lance has already announced that this is absolutely the last time he will race in the Tour de France. He battled cancer, won and came back to win every Tour de France from 1999 through 2005. He has raised awareness as well as tons of money for cancer research. Unlike some in cycling he has never tested positive for any use of performance-enhancing drugs or blood doping after his tour wins. Today's decision to switch jerseys was one last simple way to give recognition to those battling cancer before he calls it quits. There was nothing flashy; no showing off. Just a simple black jersey with the number 28 worn by an entire team to give tribute one last time to all those in the battle against cancer. Every rule has at least one exception.
Cancer awareness should have been the ICU and Tour de France's one exception to the jersey rule.
Sunday morning the RadioShack team lined up to begin the final stage of the race. There was one difference today: the team had switched into new jerseys. The team's new jerseys were all-black and simply had the number 28 on them. The number 28 was used to represent the 28 million people in the world living with cancer today. Lance said that today, his last day ever racing in the Tour de France, the team was racing for everyone in the world who has been affected by cancer.
The International Cycling Union had other ideas though as they forced the RadioShack team to return to their regular jerseys. The team had to wear their regular race jerseys as the rule states, no exceptions.
Obviously rules are rules and once you allow one person to bend them you begin your way down a slippery slope. But today should have been a rare exception.
Lance has already announced that this is absolutely the last time he will race in the Tour de France. He battled cancer, won and came back to win every Tour de France from 1999 through 2005. He has raised awareness as well as tons of money for cancer research. Unlike some in cycling he has never tested positive for any use of performance-enhancing drugs or blood doping after his tour wins. Today's decision to switch jerseys was one last simple way to give recognition to those battling cancer before he calls it quits. There was nothing flashy; no showing off. Just a simple black jersey with the number 28 worn by an entire team to give tribute one last time to all those in the battle against cancer. Every rule has at least one exception.
Cancer awareness should have been the ICU and Tour de France's one exception to the jersey rule.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Agents or Players: Who is to blame?
All week the only thing that seems to have been talked about on sports radio and television is the controversy of NCAA football players and agents having improper contact. Everyday a new school is under investigation. Heck, University of Florida is even under multiple investigations. But who is the real culprit here: the players or the agents?
Earlier in the week Nick Saban compared agents to pimps. He offered that the actions of agents are no better than those of a pimp and went further to say that he is disgusted by their actions. He clearly put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the agents, essentially offering that a student-athlete is still young and impressionable.
When Urban Meyer was asked about agents being allowed on Florida's campus he was quick to say that no agents have ever been, nor will ever be allowed on campus. This same statement has been made similarly by most of the other schools under investigation as well.
All week coaches were deflecting the criticism back to the agents. It appeared as though the agents were villains and by the accusations being made by these coaches, why shouldn't we believe that they are?
However, that changed during SEC Media Day when Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and Auburn coach Gene Chizik both insisted that players must be held to the same accountability as the agents. Both coaches insist that this clearly is not the first time that there have been interactions between players and agents and also made it clear that the players are happy to participate in these meetings as well.
When it gets down to it, who is to blame? The NCAA is not going to change their rules for football players to talk to agents early or to leave for the NFL earlier. Should agents be penalized by the NFL and NFLPA if they are caught interacting with student-athletes who have yet to declare for the draft? Or should players lose their eligibility and their teams be stripped of wins because of their improper contact? At the end of the day the only people who get hurt when an investigation proves there was early contact are the players and the teams. Shouldn't the agents have some kind of penalty as well?
Earlier in the week Nick Saban compared agents to pimps. He offered that the actions of agents are no better than those of a pimp and went further to say that he is disgusted by their actions. He clearly put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the agents, essentially offering that a student-athlete is still young and impressionable.
When Urban Meyer was asked about agents being allowed on Florida's campus he was quick to say that no agents have ever been, nor will ever be allowed on campus. This same statement has been made similarly by most of the other schools under investigation as well.
All week coaches were deflecting the criticism back to the agents. It appeared as though the agents were villains and by the accusations being made by these coaches, why shouldn't we believe that they are?
However, that changed during SEC Media Day when Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and Auburn coach Gene Chizik both insisted that players must be held to the same accountability as the agents. Both coaches insist that this clearly is not the first time that there have been interactions between players and agents and also made it clear that the players are happy to participate in these meetings as well.
When it gets down to it, who is to blame? The NCAA is not going to change their rules for football players to talk to agents early or to leave for the NFL earlier. Should agents be penalized by the NFL and NFLPA if they are caught interacting with student-athletes who have yet to declare for the draft? Or should players lose their eligibility and their teams be stripped of wins because of their improper contact? At the end of the day the only people who get hurt when an investigation proves there was early contact are the players and the teams. Shouldn't the agents have some kind of penalty as well?
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