HarleyQuinn

The last names I remember really being "built up" as anything promotion wise was Andy Roddick and Federer on the male side of things. I could barely name you a woman outside of the Williams' sisters except for the new blonde girl that I can't remember. The ads on USA basically show a bunch of faces and then say the Grand Slam is returning (or was that for ESPN?). Tennis used to be so good at making stars and it seems like when an upset happens, like Venus' recent loss, they don't do anything to immediately promote the loser's face on camera/have her get an interview on some station, etc.

Come to think it, I'm now curious who gets in defensively. There are a ton of big names that will be worth induction soon and I could see the next several classes being very Defense heavy. Defense is woefully filled in the HOF in my opinion (as most focus on offensive talent) and I can see that definitely changing. On one hand: You have a guy like Derrick Thomas who was a beast at LB (601 tackles and 126.5 Sacks) who definitely deserves to get in based on statistics but also never won a SB Ring. He's still struggling to get in. Very soon you'll have the following guys - John Lynch at S (13 Sacks, 26 INT, 740 tackles, and 1 SB Ring. Also 2 time All-Pro) - Rodney Harrison at S (30.5 Sacks, 34 INT, 919 tackles, and 2 SB Rings. Also 2 time All-Pro) - Ty Law at CB (5 Sacks, 52 INT, 704 tackles, and 3 SB Rings. Also 2 time All-Pro) - Junior Seau at LB (56.5 Sacks, 18 INT, 1515 tackles, and 0 SB Rings. Also 6 time All-Pro) - Ray Lewis at LB (33.5 Sacks, 28 INT, 1255 tackles, and 1 SB Ring. Also 6 time All-Pro) - Aeneas Williams at CB (3 Sacks, 55 INT, 677 tackles, and 1 SB Ring. Also 3 time All-Pro) - Michael Strahan at DE (141.5 Sacks, 667 tackles, and 1 SB Ring. Also 4 time All-Pro) As of this year, here are the totals at each position in the HOF: 26 DL, 17 LB, and 19 DB

Okay, 7-8 years is a bit too long but I can't see him making it in earlier than his 2nd or 3rd year due to the stiff competition at other positions that he'll be facing as well as the talent that will be retiring shortly (Isaac Bruce & Marvin Harrison at WR, Tony Gonzalez at TE, Ty Law at CB, and Rodney Harrison at S off the top of my head). Phil Simms has over 30,000 yards and 199 TD with 2 SB Rings and 1 Super Bowl MVP. He's still not in the HOF. The biggest issue with Warner is who he faces year to year. If he faces something similar to this year's class (i.e. 4 guys who are shoe ins and 2 others that could be argued over him) then he could wait 2-3 years.

I'd rather see the Chiefs go after some offensive line help in the 1st round as the WR class is fairly deep and they can get a solid WR in the 2nd round. Personally, I'd rather the Chiefs target needs in the first 2 rounds and go for a guy like Brian Robiskie, Jarrett Dillard, or Juaquin Iglesias if they fall to the 3rd round or move up to the late 2nd to get one of them.

Very true although in a way, that makes Warner more amazing considering he's been benched for guys like Bulger, Manning, and Leinart and has still thrown for 182 TD in his career. Warner's a very interesting case because he has 1 SB and could have 2 SB rings by the time he retires. He'll (in a way) have the statistics counting wise as he could reach 200 TD next season if he's given the chance to start but as you've pointed out, he doesn't quite have the season in/season out numbers. I think he'll get into Canton largely because of his SB ring (or 2) and his counting stats by the time he retires. He won't be a first ballot guy at all but I could see him getting in around the 7th or 8th try kind of thing.

I think he has to put up 1-2 more great statistical seasons to be a "shoe in" Canton shrinee. He's gone to 3 SB in only 11 seasons and that's while playing sparingly and starting in the NFL at age 28. He's thrown for over 3,400 yards in 5 seasons and over 20 TD in 5 seasons. The big question with Warner will be: How dominant was he? When he's gotten a chance to play he's put up simply incredible numbers on par with the peaks of any other QB to ever play the game. In the 6 seasons where he's topped 300 attempts: 23,325 yards and 155 TD vs. 93 INT. Those numbers from a guy who's only started 16 games in a season 3 times! He's only topped 10 starts in a little over half of his career season wise. And there are still questions about whether Matt Leinart could start next season with Warner being 38 years old. Warner's Most Comparable Case: Roger Staubach who essentially played 8 seasons and didn't really start until he was 29 years old.

Ennis Del Mar

My favorites... 1: Raven's Evenflow DDT. I know Jake did it before but Raven was the one who really made me fall in love with it. Not a lot of variations on it although I'm always impartial to the shortarm into it. 2: Death Valley Driver + Saturn. 3: Rob Van Dam's Van Daminator although it can get contrived at times. Ironically, I think I actually preferred Jerry Lynn's version from that HH (?) match that was re-aired on ECW on TNN's initial show. The way Lynn extended the leg and the way it was shot, gorgeous! 4: DDP's Diamond Cutter, mainly during 1997 I believe when it seems like he was trying to set a record on how many variations he could do it from. IIRC, in WCW/NWO Revenge there were like 3 or 4 different ways of doing it as well. 5: Bret Hart's Sharpshooter. As classic a finisher as the Figure 4 or the Legdrop and Bret had that knack for really cinching it in that Austin/Rock didn't do.

and in Kansas City, Herman Edwards has been fired. I'm sure everyone saw this coming... now what happens to QB Tyler Thigpen? A lot of questions about whether he'll even be the starter.

I always find it interesting that people believe Marino had no running game in terms of not having a 1,000 yard rusher... His teams often were RBBC and they often had over 1,000 yards (and scored over 9 TD a season more often than not on the ground). The biggest issues during Marino's tenure: The O-Line was not built to run the ball, period (It was literally the 90's Houston/Tennessee Titans with Eddie George but Miami had a passing game) and the D. 1991: Leading RB - 3.9 YPC 1992: Leading RB - 3.6 YPC 1993: Top 2 RB averaged 3.7 and 3.3 YPC 1995: Top 2 RB averaged 3.7 and 3.8 YPC 1996: Top 2 RB averaged 3.6 and 3.6 YPC 1997: Leading RB - 3.2 YPC 1998: Top 2 RB averaged 3.6 and 3.5 YPC 1999: Top 2 RB averaged 3.4 and 3.2 YPC As for the defense: Miami ranked 16th or lower in PA in 10 of Marino's seasons.

I'd argue the 1998 (into) 1999 class: Val Venis, Edge, Christian, Hardy Boys, Kurt Angle off the top of my head

Given that as of recently, it seems the "golden" number is around 5 inductees... here are my predictions DE Bruce Smith TE Shannon Sharpe CB/S Rod Woodson Commissioner Paul Tagliabue LB Derrick Thomas Note: I'm wavering on Woodson/Cris Carter. I have a feeling Carter will have to wait a year (or even 2) before he gets in.

Coaching News The Colts' next defensive coordinator will reportedly be former Bucs assistant head coach/defensive line Larry Coyer. Coyer's last stint as a coordinator was from 2003-06 in Denver, where his defenses ranked 7th, 4th, 2nd, and 12th against the run. The Jaguars are reportedly "very close" to hiring Mel Tucker (Cleveland 2008) as their next defensive coordinator. Jets named Mike Pettine their defensive coordinator. Pettine coached the Ravens' outside linebackers for four years. Rams hired former Panthers LBs coach Ken Flajole as defensive coordinator.

NFL Coaching News Rams hired former Eagles QBs coach Pat Shurmur as offensive coordinator. Near as I can tell, he'll be bringing the WCO to St. Louis with him. Lions hired Gunther Cunningham to be their next defensive coordinator. He was notably with the Kansas City Chiefs. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, with the help of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, has filled out his defensive staff in recent days. Wayne Nunnely, whose contract was not renewed by the San Diego Chargers, will coach the defensive line, Raiders assistant Don Martindale will coach linebackers and longtime NFL assistant Ed Donatell the defensive backs.

Football I think one of the reasons that a "championship" can make a player is because a large percentage of the time, the position player that wins the championship had to get there through the "best" teams of that season in a very short period of time. It's not like the regular season where you can get by playing a bunch of 5-11, 6-10, or 7-9 squads in the NFL. Most teams are at least 9-7 more often than not. People like to point out when a player is carried into a SB win (Dilfer, Brady in 01, etc.) but don't realize just how much effect a QB can have on the playoff run itself. Trent Dilfer: Went 7-1 in the regular season and threw 3 TD vs. 1 INT in his playoff run. He did what he had to do as a QB and it's almost the Troy Aikman syndrome, where I think fans really... underestimate a QB who throws for 170 yards with 1 TD and 0 INT over a QB who loses but throws for 325 with 3 TD and 2 INT. As dominant as the Ravens D was, Dilfer didn't need to throw it 35 times a game to lead them to a SB ring and the Ravens coaching staff knew it. It's almost seen as a negative when a solid QB can be "carried" by his team, which I honestly find curious because every team in the playoffs is really separated essentially by the QB and the mantra of don't turn the ball over. Off that small side rant: I think championships are more important in the sense that they are... so few and far between. Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills lost 4 straight Super Bowls and people still recognize the talent that was on that team. Talent will always rise to the top but the ability to win a championship is a far tougher challenge than people give credit for. Edited To Add "Playoff" Run Numbers by recent SB winning QBs. You'll notice that very few put up "gaudy" numbers in the playoffs/SB. Mark Rypien (1991): 44/79 for 690 and 4 vs. 2 Troy Aikman (1992): 61/89 for 795 and 8 vs. 0 Troy Aikman (1993): 61/82 for 686 and 6 vs. 3 Steve Young (1994): 53/87 for 623 and 9 vs. 0 Troy Aikman (1995): 53/80 for 717 and 4 vs. 1 Brett Favre (1996): 44/71 for 617 and 5 vs. 1 John Elway (1997): 56/96 for 726 and 3 vs. 2 ~ Played 4 Games John Elway (1998): 45/86 for 691 and 3 vs. 1 Kurt Warner (1999): 77/121 for 1063 and 8 vs. 4 Trent Dilfer (2000): 35/73 for 590 and 3 vs. 1 ~ Played 4 Games Tom Brady (2001): 60/97 for 572 and 1 vs. 1 It's interesting to note that most of the above played very marginally. Steve Young threw for 143 and 155 yards prior to his SB explosion. Dilfer is the only one that was arguably "carried" but he was playing with arguably one of the Top 5 defenses in football history post 1960. Brady showed his mettle in the Oakland game but like Dilfer, was mainly asked to not make mistakes and that's what he did.

For VX (and others): http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/37856129.html An interesting article where McCarthy talks about the implementation of the 3-4 Defense Indianapolis fired DC Ron Meeks.

Belichick quietly taking over the league! - Mangini in Cleveland - Schwartz in Detroit - Ryan in NY - McDaniels in Denver and Dimitroff/Pioli as GMs in Atlanta and KC.

I think the passing game could be the Steelers' achilles heel on defense. They allowed 24 points to SD (and 275 passing) when they played a decent offense and their special teams have struggled so far in the playoffs. Arizona's proven they can throw the ball and balance it a bit with the run (which will be snuffed quickly by Pit). Prediction: Arizona wins 31-23 thanks to Kurt Warner throwing for 3 TD and the Arizona special teams coming up with a couple of big returns on punts or kickoffs.

CFL Invading! Dolphins signed OLB/DE Cameron Wake to a four-year, $4.9 million contract. The deal includes $1 million guaranteed. The Bengals have reportedly approached Ravens QBs coach Hue Jackson about becoming their next offensive coordinator. New Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is expected to target Eagles QBs coach Pat Shurmur to be his offensive coordinator.

Actually got PMed this time, sorry! Make Up Pick 1: Kathryn Merteuil Pick This Go Round: Andrew Beckett

As a reminder, the Shrine Game is on ESPN2 in 50 minutes. Very curious to see how Chase Daniel does as he's reportedly struggled during practices. Some I-AA guys to watch... The following have received high praise during practices from DraftGuys.com - RB Javarris Williams (Tennessee State): He ran with a good low pad level and initial burst once again, showing that he definitely belongs in this game. He continues to look like a viable backup RB with his compact strong build, powerful lower body, and surprising lateral agility. - TE Brian Mandeville (Northeastern): He’s not as explosive as Tony Scheffler, but he could be a Kevin Boss at the next level. Mandeville drew kudos for his blocking on a few reps and even sealed the edge on a touchdown run. He also lined up in the slot on a few plays. - LB Jason Williams (Western Illinois): Has been the best linebacker on the West squad all week and made a terrific play to read a run play and knife through a gap drawing kudos from the coaching staff. - DE Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond): Sidbury didn’t always win his battles, sometimes being guided past the QB too easily or losing his feet, but with hard work and good coaching, he’ll be a productive sack artist in the NFL. His game is far from polished, but in a league hungry for pass rushers, he will be one of the first small school players off the board in April.

So the following teams will have new head coaches (excluding SF who had Singletary as an interim and then hired him)... - Cleveland Browns - Denver Broncos - Detroit Lions - Indianapolis Colts - New York Jets - Seattle Seahawks - St. Louis Rams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Also Kansas City could quickly be added to this list as well. I'll hold off on adding Oakland until they confirm they aren't bringing back Tom Cable.

Jon seemed to doom himself by trying to "resurrect" players after his success with Gannon/Brown/Rice in Oakland... - Brad Johnson/Brian Griese/Jeff Garcia at QB, Ike Hilliard/Joey Galloway/Antonio Bryant at WR, Michael Pittman/Earnest Graham/Warrick Dunn at RB It seemed like every season, there was one hire at an offensive position where as a fan you went, "WTF? Isn't he like 32 years old?"

Yeah, he was on the practice squad. Micah Rucker was a really good WR (think Limas Sweed type build) in I-AA. Biddle would probably be a Special Teams guy (as would Wright) but Wright could move up depth chart wise if the Giants utilize a 3/4 man rotation at RB again. Most players hit the practice squad first if they're late round picks (Tom Brady in 2000) and gradually move onto the active roster. It's literally a "farm" if you will but allows young rookies to get some experience without wasting a 53 man roster spot on them. Usually helps them get ready for the #3 QB/#4 RB/#4-5-6 WR spot if they're at offensive positions by the next season after they're drafted. Also the place where late round picks who are "raw" or "need work" land to get some extra coaching.

CFL Invasion? http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content...de_the_dolphins As a note: Reserves/Futures contracts are essentially 1 year contracts (i.e. 2009 only) and only players not on active rosters are eligible. Essentially a way to steal a player from a team's practice squad or lock up a PS player for another season and hope he can make the 53 man roster (often as a Special Teams player).