Shake or Bake?

Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice was suspended for the first two games of the 2014 NFL season by Commissioner Roger Goodell for violation of the league's Personal Conduct Policy. Earlier this year, Rice was seen on video at an Atlantic City hotel dragging his fiancée (to whom he is now married) by her hair from an elevator after knocking her unconscious. In contrast, Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon of the Cleveland Browns was recently suspended for a year for a repeat offense for the league's substance abuse policy after recently testing positive of marijuana. The NFL's has its crimes and punishments out of whack.

Unless they were planning an extreme sports honeymoon, I don't think Ray Rice wife thought she was signing up for the WWE treatment caught on the video above. 1

CHOKE, DON'T TOKE!

I understand that application of the Personal Conduct Policy is ultimately at the discretion of the Commissioner while the Substance Abuse Policy is written out as part of the players' collective bargaining agreement with the league. But to ding Rice for two games for cracking his lady upside the head and knocking her out like Bones Jones and to throw the book at Gordon for doing something that is legal in two states and a slap-on-the-wrist or less elsewhere seems out of alignment to me.

I'll keep this rant short, because I think it warrants little explanation. Gordon did something that's completely legal in two states, partially legal in about a dozen, decriminalized in about half, and less serious than a DUI or driving on a suspended license, in most states, if you get caught. Ray Rice could have easily done time on his first offense for knocking her out, potentially a felony. The NFL is out of whack with the rest of the country on that one. The message sent by this set of incidents is the wrong one.
   

Josh Gordon wears his intention to bake on his sleeve (and his back), unlike Mr. Rice, who wore Mrs. Rice's grill on the back of his hand. 2

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1) Image from www.blackmediascoop.com
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Keep It Locked in the Dungy

Former Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalist Head Coach Tony Dungy, one of the most respected figures in NFL history, waded ever so slightly into the pool of controversy on Monday. 

Dungy commented that he would not have drafted former University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay player to be drafted. Sam was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the 7^th round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Dungy cited the distractions that would come with having the first openly gay player on the team as the reason. He went on to say, however, that Sam deserves a chance to play in the NFL. It was at this point that I had to stop and scratch my head.

Dungy can fiund at least one person who would agree with him. I'll bet Tyler Murphy (center, getting body slammed) wished that Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel didn't give Sam (right, #52, throwing Murphy to the ground) a chance. 2

C’MON COACH! C’MON….

Tony Dungy is one of my favorite Head Coaches in the history of sports. His pristine reputation is well earned. He is almost universally respected by players, peers, and media alike. But I think the good coach stepped into a little doo-doo with these remarks.

One of my biggest criticisms of most public figures, especially the “good guys”, is that they rarely say things to ruffle any feathers. Usually, people who are universally liked do not get to be that way by rubbing others the wrong way. They tend to think before they speak, make well-reasoned statements and choices in life, and demonstrate respect for their fellow men, even when they don’t necessarily agree.

That is a very safe approach to personal and public relationships. Safe doesn’t tell me much about a person’s deep inner core. When Dungy opined on the selection of Michael Sam, we tiptoed out of the safety zone. Good for him.

I don’t necessarily agree; football is a game of inches. Michael Sam was an accomplished enough pass rush at Missouri to win the 2014 SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year. I think that an edge, even a slight one, provided by a player in one of the four most important positions on the field (DE, CB, OT, QB) can make a difference between winning and losing. In my opinion, that trumps a social controversy which, for several years, has become exponentially less controversial with each passing day.

Still, the public sentiment is far from the level of consensus on an openly gay player in a masculine, often macho environment like a sports locker room, fire hall, police department, or military barracks. There will be additional attention from the media placed on Sam because of his known sexual orientation. It may make people uncomfortable to know that his orientation could affect his career prospects, but Coach Dungy offered just such an opinion.

Why would Coach Dungy hedge his bets by saying that Sam still deserves a chance to play? How can he say that when he just said he would not have drafted Sam?!?!? Is he saying that he wouldn’t have Sam on his team, but he would support another coach’s decision to bring Sam into camp? I doubt that he is saying he isn’t a good enough manager of his players to handle having Sam on the roster. What is he saying?

SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY

Tony Dungy made it quite clear that he would not have drafted Michael Sam. A man who has spent his career leading by example and even wrote a book called, “Quite Strength” is not setting a very consistent or strong example by turning around and saying Sam deserves a chance to play. Dungy would not offer that chance because of his orientation.

I think Dungy should demonstrate some of that quiet strength and stand behind his controversial and not necessarily popular beliefs. Own them; stand behind them; defend them. If not, then just “stay safe” and say nothing.

Quite strength...verbal weakness.

1) Image from www.coachdungy.com

2) Image from www.columbiamissourian.com

Sam I Am

Former University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted in the NFL. Sam was chosen by the St. Louis Rams in the 7^th round with the 249^th overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. With that, history was made. Let the debating begin.

Draft day is the biggest day in a football player's life. His immediate reaction is perfectly normal. 1

Xs and Os

Prior to Sam announcing he was gay earlier this year, the SEC co-Player of the Year was projected, among a host of draft evaluators, to be as high as a third round pick and as low as a fifth round draft pick. In spite of impressive statistics in the nation’s toughest college football conference, there were legitimate concerns raised about his size translating to NFL-level competition.

Since then, Sam came out. The world reacted. On the field, Sam had a Scouting Combine performance that could only be described as disastrous. He ran a 40-yard dash in over 5.0 seconds, among other concerns. His Pro Day was a bit of an improvement. Still, the potential for distraction in concert with an unimpressive set of job auditions and a lack of stature relative to his position did nothing to push his draft stock up. From a football standpoint, being selected in the fifth round seemed like a ceiling for Sam rather than a floor.

Sam was picked in the 7^th round. Considering his football factors and non-football factors (both positive and negative), the 7^th round was not a surprising landing spot for Sam.

Sam (52) paid his dues like everyone else to warrant consideration in the draft. 2

The Show

ESPN, the 800 pound gorilla of sports programing, did not waste an opportunity to broadcast a seminal moment. The four letter network televised Sam receiving a call on his cell phone from the Rams informing him that he had been drafted. Sam became emotional and then embraced and kissed his boyfriend, Vito Cammisano. Later that evening, an image of Sam and Cammisano feeding each other cake and kissing with cake on their faces circulated around the Internet.

I would like to think that I have a good pulse of where my position is relative to the mainstream in the sports world and in society in general. I believe my position is pretty middle of the road for a guy in his late 30s. I don’t completely understand the lifestyle, certainly not the attraction, but I do think people are born the way they are. Only a masochist, someone not wired normally for self-preservation, would choose the societal burdens that come with being part of the LGBT community if that same person’s natural inclination is to be straight. I think many (probably most) American men are coming to grips and going along with sincere tolerance (if not acceptance) of and humanitarian respect for the gay community.

All of that said, I think most Americans are stand-offish at best about gratuitous public displays of affection in most situations. I think a lot of people would rather that those displays are done discreetly and privately. Speaking for myself, I could do without seeing two people smearing cake on each other’s faces and then kissing/licking it off (exceptions include weddings, bachelor parties, and two employee-performers at a gentleman’s club).

Factoring in that this exhibit was between two men, when so many in the American mainstream are just beginning to tolerate/embrace/accept the dignity and rights of gay people as being as important as their own, I think that Mr. Sam hurt his own cause. I think he hurt his cause as a football player, as there is minimal tolerance for marginally NFL-level talented players inviting off-the-field attention (potential distractions) into a locker room. I think he hurt his cause for wanting to be treated like any other player because his actions and the coverage it received were unlike any player drafted in the 7^th round.

Was this really necessary? 3

Not Everyone is Equal and Life is Not Fair

Let me be clear. If Michael Sam had the pass rushing skills of physical freak-of-nature, genetic lottery winner, and #1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft Jadeveon Clowney, he would not need to tread as carefully as I am suggesting he should. The aforementioned Clowney is a once every several years, transcendent talent. He will single handedly influence the outcome of many games over the course of his career if he lives up to his billing. A person with that level of talent has something that all 32 NFL teams and their fans crave and, quite frankly, can get away with behavior that some may view as off-putting.

That’s capitalism. That’s America. That’s just how it is. People who can deliver more get more latitude in life.

Sam is not Jadeveon Clowney. I am glad the man came out. I believe he has a right to be himself and not have to hide who he is out of fear or for any reason. There is not hiding, then rubbing it in America’s face. If the display of affection witnessed on his draft night was near or over the line for a straight couple, who are otherwise accepted for who they are, giving viewers a double dose of “different” was not in the best interests of understanding and acceptance. Simply put: the cake in front of the camera was completely unnecessary and I think Sam and Cammisano were fully aware that they would be broadcast worldwide immediately.

When you can do this with ease, you can throw the finger more often to anyone who can't accept the real you. 4

Just Because You’re Famous Doesn’t Mean You’re Valuable

When you are drafted in the 7^th round, as opposed to the first, second, or third rounds, the team is saying, “You’re worth looking at. You’re worth having in camp. We think you might have more than met the eye of the other 31 teams the first six times around.” That is far from a guarantee of making the team. In fact, that is far from a ringing endorsement that said draftee is a sure fire NFL talent.

The lines separating the rookies who make the team at the end of the roster and those who get cut are slim. Every positive is scrutinized and each negative is just one more reason to release one player and keep another. Sam has already taken the first step toward inviting media distraction into Rams’ training camp. He should wait until after he has played a few productive games in the NFL before taking that second step. Better yet, perhaps he should stand put.  

If ESPN wanted to show people eating a cake, why couldn't they have taken me here on Saturday? 5

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Rough Draft

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 22^nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, ending months of speculation about where the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner would land. While Johnny Football was the biggest single story of last night’s draft, there were a substantial number of stories and subplots to discuss.

1

NO CLOWNEY-ING AROUND

The Houston Texans wasted no time making South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, a result that had been anticipated since the 2012 college football season. The 6’5” 270 pound pass rusher was a man among boys and a giant among…well…already pretty big boys! He runs a 4.5 40-yard dash time and can cut as quickly as any pass rusher I have ever seen coming out of college.

Clowney joins a furious Texans front seven, known for outstanding pass rushers. Putting Clowney in the mix with J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus, and Brian Cushing in the Houston defense could make their pass rush more than many teams are capable of handling. The Texans need a quarterback and I expect them to acquire one either later tonight or tomorrow, but the available QB’s had some risk factors while Clowney is a can’t-miss, once every 10 years kind of pass rusher. The only person who can stand between Colwney and a bust in Canton, Ohio one day is Clowney himself.

How could Houston pass on this guy? 2

JOHNNY CLEVELAND

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles with the third pick in the draft. With that, the Manziel-watch spiral began.  None of the teams drafting after the Jaguars, other than the Browns, had no pressing need for a quarterback with a number of low risk, high potential players available at other positions of need. When the Browns picked cornerback Justin Gilbert from Oklahoma State, a silent hush came across the room. The wait, and the night, would be long for Manziel (to the delight of ESPN and its advertisers).

Cleveland was able to trade up the 22^nd pick and select Manziel. The Browns fans in attendance erupted. The city of Cleveland, four years removed for LeBron James “Decision”, had a new sports savior. Reportedly, the Browns had 1,200 season ticket requests within the hour of Manziel being drafted. I expect Manziel to bring energy, hope, and excitement to Cleveland, barring injury, during his rookie year.

Browns fans are hoping that Johnny Football is money! 3

WHO DAT COOKS IN THE KITCHEN?

Being Louisiana based, I have to discuss the New Orleans Saints trading up to the #20 pick to acquire Brandin Cooks, the 2013 Biletnikoff Award winner, stands 5’10” at less than 190 pounds with nimble 4.4 speed. Cooks is expected to fill the void in the short passing game left by the departure of Darren Sproles via trade to the Philadelphia Eagles. Expect Drew Brees to quickly get the ball out of his hands and to Cooks in space early and often in the 2014 NFL season.

Cooks lit the stat sheet ablaze every week during the 2013 college football season with 128 receptions, over 1,700 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. With his ability to change direction quickly, expect Cooks to receive a lot of attention from opposing defenses after he busts his first gamebreaker or two as a pro. This will free up receivers Marques Colston and Kenny Stills to operate with less resistance.  

Who Dats hope that "eat my dust" quality translates to the NFL. 4

HOLD THAT TIGER

Also of interest to local readers is the selection of LSU wide receiver and kick returner O’Dell Beckham, Jr. with the 12^th overall pick by the New York Giants. Giants quarterback Eli Manning has to be thrilled to have a speedy deep threat to compliment Victor Cruz. Giants WR Hakeem was not that deep threat. But with Beckham on board to stretch the field more, much like Cooks, other Giants ball catchers should be able to operate with greater freedom.

That's part of the reason he went 12th. 5

STAY TUNED

The second and third rounds of the draft commence tonight. There is still an abundance of quarterback talent on the board and several teams that either need a QB immediately or have a need for long-term depth at the position. With the talent available and the way the NFL and ESPN have packaged and promoted the draft, it is sure to be must-see Friday night television.

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls! 

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3) Image from www.facebook.com via ABC News

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5) Image from www.theadvocate.com

Must See Sports – Second Weekend of May 2014

Last week's advantage/disadvantage record, excluding series: 8-3
Last week's advantage/disadvantage record, in series: 4-0
2014 Advantage/Disadvantage Record, excluding series: 39-32
2014 Advantage/Disadvantage Record (series only): 4-1

If you can’t get your fill of sports this week, then you’re just plain greedy.

Thursday, May 8

NFL

2014 NFL Draft, 1^st Round – New York, NY – 7:00pm CDT

What will the Texans do with the #1 overall pick? Will Jadeveon Clowney go first overall? Where is Johnny Football headed? Those are the headlines but just the tip of the iceberg of questions whose answers will be delivered to us starting tonight.

1

NBA

NBA Playoffs – Conference Semifinals

Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat, Game 2 (Heat lead series 1-0)

I don’t expect Miami to coast to a 21 point win like they did in Game 1. I don’t expect them to hand over home court advantage tonight, either.

Advantages: Game – Heat, Series – Heat

Portland Trailblazers at San Antonio Spurs (Spurs lead series 1-0)

Game 7 of the first round against the Dallas Mavericks appears to have awaken a sleeping giant in the defending Western Conference champion Spurs. San Antonio handed out a complete, top-to-bottom beat down in Game 1. I don’t see the Blazers finding the confidence to win a road game against this Spurs team in Game 2.

Advantage: Game – Spurs, Series – Spurs

This series is loaded with future Hall of Famers. 2

Friday, May 9

NBA Playoffs – Conference Semifinals

Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards, Game 3 (series tied 1-1)

The Pacers are like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get. This team goes from dysfunctional and incompetent to looking like the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference that they are overnight. Roy Hibbert had completely vanished in the postseason until last night and then he emerged like Seabuscuit with 28 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in the series-tying Game 2 at Indiana. Now the series shifts to D.C.. I don’t trust the Pacers but I do trust how home court can tip the scales in the playoffs.

Advantage: Game – Wizards, Series – Pacers

Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers, Game 3 (series tied 1-1)

Another sleeping giant, actually two – MVP Kevin Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook of the Thunder – awoke in last night’s Game 2 as the Thunder hammered the Clippers. The series shifts back to the Staples Center in L.A., however and that move is a potential momentum-shifter.

Advantages: Game – Clippers, Series – Thunder

NFL

2014 NFL Draft, 2^nd and 3^rd rounds – New York, NY – 6:00pm CDT

Will Johnny Manziel still be on the board? Not probable…but not impossible.

Will any of these guys be available on Day 2? Stranger things have happened. 3

Saturday, May 10

NBA

NBA Playoffs – Conference Semifinals

Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets, Game 3

This is the Nets’ best chance to steal a game in this series. First game headed back to Brooklyn coming off of a travel day…. Enjoy the shot at a win, Nets fan! It may be your last.

Advantage: Nets

San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trailblazers, Game 3

That trip to Portland is not a short one. The crowd will be jacked. The Spurs’ 30-something bodies will not respond as well to a travel day as they once did. Jet lag is real. By the way, so are the Trailblazers, Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, in particular.

Advantage: Trailblazers

The Blazers deserve a welcome home...for a great season. 4

Sunday, May 11

Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers, Game 4

I think this series is going the distance and I don’t expect the Thunder to return home down three games to one. This game is pivotal. It is in Los Angeles and it is very winnable for the Clippers. I simply expect the back-and-forth nature of a seven game series between two similarly talented teams, which these teams are, to send them back to OKC even after four games.

Advantage: Thunder

Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards, Game 4

Who knows? I think the Pacers will win four games in this series but their inconsistency makes it difficult to guess which four. Roy Hibbert appears to be back on the Focused Wagon, so I think the Pacers can return the series to Indianapolis tied a 2-2.

Advantage: Pacers

Roy Hibbert must have readjusted his monocle. 5

NFL

2014 NFL Draft, rounds four through seven – New York, NY – 11:00am CDT

If the NFL Draft has taught us anything, it is that there are an abundance of hidden treasures in the late rounds.

Monday, May 12

NBA

NBA Playoffs – Conference Semifinals

Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets, Game 4

Cue the late “Dandy” Don Meredith for the Nets: ♫ “Turn out the liiiii-ghts! The par-ty’s ooo-ver! They say that all-lll…good things must ennn-nd!” ♪

Advantage: Heat

San Antonio Spurs at  Portland Trailblazers, Game 4

This is a pivotal game. If Portland has any realistic chance of beating the Spurs, they need to sweep the remaining games they have at home.  I don’t think that is going to happen as experience and coaching will catch up to the up-and-coming Blazers.

Advantage: Spurs

Tuesday, May 13

NBA

NBA Playoffs – Conference Finals

Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers, Game 5

Don’t put any money on any game in this series. I’m simply deferring to the home court advantage for Game 5. The winner of this game will take the series in my opinion.

Advantage: Pacers

Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 5

Copy what I said for the Wizards and Pacers. The Game 5 winner will eventually advance to the Conference Finals. Being back in Oklahoma City, I expect the crowd and the home court to carry them over the finish line in the event that this game is close.

Advantage: Thunder

Durant and Westbrook we unstoppable in Game 2. 6

Wednesday, May 14

NBA

NBA Playoffs – Conference Semifinals

Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat, Game 5 (if necessary)

Game…set…match.

Advantage: Heat

Portland Trailblazers at San Antonio Spurs, Game 5 (if necessary)

The trail stops being blazed here. I expect Game 5 to be competitive and close because the Spurs will be facing a test of endurance after the seven game first round series and four games of the Conference Semis. But I’ll throw my lot in with Gregg Popovich to close this one out should the Spurs enter the game with a 3-1 series lead.

Advantage: Spurs

Popovich sometimes has a like that it's so easy that he's bored. 7

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To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info. 

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Johnny Who Dat?

The 2014 NFL Draft is tomorrow night. The prime time television event has been the topic of seemingly endless speculation, commentary, and opining by sports media. One of the top stories in the draft is the potential landing spot for Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.

WIDE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES

Manziel has been projected as high as the top pick in the draft to as low as a second rounder and everywhere in between. Johnny Football has the “it” factor both on and off the field. He is a natural born star. His ability to improvise, make something out of nothing, extend plays with his feet, and make extraordinarily difficult passes makes him and exceptionally high potential NFL prospect. His size (or lack thereof – standing a tick under 6’0”), demonstrated willingness to run, and party animal persona off the field may give pause to scouts, coaches, and general managers.

Sometimes it takes hardware to get hardware. 1

WHO, WHERE, WHEN, AND WHY

There are a lot of teams at the top of the draft board that need a quarterback. The Houston Texans, who hold the first pick in the draft, along with the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings all have uncertain long-term futures at the QB position at this time. These teams also have options.

The Texans have the option to trade down in the draft, while the Rams, Jags, Browns, and Vikings all have quarterbacks under contract that were previously drafted in the first round. Bradford, in particular, has shown flashes of high end potential. All of those teams may pursue a quarterback at the top of the draft. It’s also possible that none of them will do so.

Critics have said Manziel's partying while in college could be a deterrent to teams with high draft picks. Don't hate the player; hate the game!

COMPETITION

Manziel is not the only first round quarterback prospect available. Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater is generally regarded as the “safe” pick – more NFL ready with a better pocket presence and no “media magnet” baggage. Blake Bortles of Central Florida is regarded as the superior physical specimen among the potential first-day draftees. And teams may be willing to reach for Derek Carr of Fresno State, whose stock appears to be rising in the days leading up to the draft.

Other later round prospects with greater than average later round potential like LSU’s Zach Mettenberger, Georgia’s Aaron Murray, and Alabama’s A.J. McCarron are options for teams wishing to address other position needs with prospect who carry less performance risk like South Carolina defensive end Jadaveon Clowney, widely speculated to be the most likely top pick in this year’s draft.

JOHNNY WHO DAT!

So, as one may gather from the title of this article, I’m going to throw in my case for my home team, the New Orleans Saints, to make a run at J. Football if he is available when the Saints draft with the 27^th overall pick. Yes, the Saints have more pressing needs at wide receiver and cornerback.  They could also use a center, a running back, and some additional depth at linebacker. By the way, they are set at the starting QB position for the foreseeable future with future Hall of Famer and Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees.

So why would the Saints want to naturalize Manziel into the Who Dat Nation? First of all, every team needs a backup quarterback. The Saints probable backup to Brees, based on the current roster, is veteran journeyman Luke McCown. McCown  would be a great plug-in for a series or a game, maybe two, should Brees suffer a short term injury.

But if Brees suffers a season ending injury or is hurt during the postseason, it’s over. McCown is capable of managing a game, executing his assignments, and not giving the game away with mistakes. That won’t cut it for very long. It’s a Band-Aid strategy, not a long-term desirable fix should that problem arise. Johnny Manziel has demonstrated the potential to come in and make plays in the NFL as a rookie, especially considering his mobility.

While Brees has never missed a start in New Orleans due to injury, Father Time is undefeated and untied at reducing productivity and eventually ending NFL careers. Brees is 35 years old. Realistically, he has about three MVP-candidate level years remaining, five at the absolute maximum (this assumes that Brees plays through the end of his current deal and does not retire before his skills erode). The Saints will need to replace Brees one day and that day may not be farther away than the length of Manziel’s first contract.

Finally, Manziel has real value. Even if Drew Brees stays healthy and plays productively into his early 40s…even if Brees suffers no significant injuries during the next four or five seasons, Manziel would give the Saints options. If Manziel is nowhere near seeing the field entering his third season, he will still be an extremely valuable commodity – a high potential, mobile QB, with two years of experience behind a Hall of Famer with almost no wear on his tread. The Saints could easily recoup their 1^st round pick plus more, pursuing the next rookie to groom behind Brees in a future draft, all while having had the benefit of a potential impact-making backup.

Luke McCown cannot do this. 3

CAUSE FOR CAUTION

The rookie salary structure makes Manziel no less affordable than any other veteran backup. The titanic size of Brees’ current deal should offer enough assurance to Brees that he is the captain of the ship until he chooses not to be or simply cannot do the job anymore. Star athletes’ egos can be delicate and potentially volatile, but Brees has repeatedly demonstrated the leadership to be secure enough in himself to handle the addition of a high profile rookie QB.

With expectations clearly stated and managed properly, Johnny Manziel could serves as a valuable asset to the Black & Gold. I think the chances of the Saints using a first round pick on any QB are slim. It’s nice to think “what if”, though.

Someone has to step in if Breesus gets hurt. No disrespect to Luke McCown, left, but I'd prefer Mr. Football. 4

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Retweet of the Day - March 28, 2014

The rock concert that was former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel's Pro Day was the spectacle one has come to expect with Manziel. Johnny Football had a host of personalities present for his showcase, including former President George H.W. Bush.

From a football standpoint, Manziel did well. Wearing a helmet and pads, also a first to my knowledge, he hit his throws as well as anyone expected. He only helped his draft stock yesterday, circus atmosphere notwithstanding.

Today's retweet, from Evil Mike Tomlin (‏@EvilMikeTomlin) has a theory on someone Mr. Football may not have wanted at his audition:

"After hearing that no one from the Browns organization attended his pro day today, Johnny Manziel said he was extremely "relieved""

Something tells me he would get over it if he went to Cleveland.

Image from www.waitingfornextyear.com

Rising Stock

University of Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles has seen his star rise rapidly over the past college football season. Relatively unknown heading into the 2013 season, Bortles is now expected to be one of the first three quarterbacks selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, along with Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M.

His performance at the NFL Combine didn't hurt him, either. Bortles said that he was asked awkward questions about his girlfriend during the combine interviews. Bortles already has the trophy girl without having taken a snap in the NFL. His girlfriend is Internet sensation Lindsey Duke, the subject of today's Chick Pic. Big props to my man Schondell Thomas (‏@Coach_Thomas_32) for calling this lovely creature to my attention.

That's a great shirt. 1

Gotta love her school spirit. 2

She's a team player like Blake. 3

No problem with the substitution package, either.... 4

I can't be summer if that is concrete she is posing upon. 5

♪ "Sittin' on the dock of the bay." ♫ 6

7

To the victors go the spoils! 8

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