Bleacher Report - Articles by Reggie Garcia

Brett Favre is Not Worth the Hassle

Reggie Garcia — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:46:26 -0400

As I laid sick on my couch, I watched ESPN from morning until afternoon, and they must have said Brett Favre's name over 100 times.

In between NBA finals coverage, the NHL Stanley Cup, and other sporting events, the Favre saga can rear it's ugly head into just about any situation.

There is no doubt; Favre is NFL royalty. He has accomplished so much in his 18 year career – from three-time MVP to Super Bowl winner to becoming the most recognizable name in the most recognizable football town. He is by and far, up there with some of the NFL greats. Should he have the right to come and go? Alot would say yes, he has earned that right.

I say no. Brett Farve is good, but not this good. I don't think anyone is this good.

Brett had the stupid hold up last year when he retired, then un-retired when he decided he could still throw the pig skin. He returned in a different green jersey and helped them to an 8-3 start with several talking about the Jets really making noise in the playoffs. Well ... after the dust settled, Favre ended up with as many TDs as INTs, something he has done five times in his career.

For several weeks there was speculation, and the heads at ESPN were salivating over all of this juicy drama with one of the most famous players to dawn an NFL jersey, certainly one of the most recognizable. If it were Jim Sorgi, no one would care. But its Brett F'ing Favre.

Now that he has retired again, he swears to everyone he is done. He even pulled a blanket over Ed Werder's eyes.

Now he has crossed the line ...

There is no doubt Brett wants to play again, if he really did not want to, he would not have MRIs of his shoulder and consultations with the famous Dr. James Andrews. If he was really done, he would be playing with his dogs and friends like it illustrates in those Wrangler commercials. Don't you think all of this back and forth is tarnishing his image and overall legacy?

I say yes.

When Montana left, I am sure he would rather have retired in San Francisco, but he didn't. He was a Chief, and when he retired, he retired. That's it.

I believe Favre is spoiled in this scenario. I am sure he doesn't mind the media attention, and before you start shooting word missiles at me, put yourself in his situation, wouldn't you want it all, too?

After NFL, what does he get? the fame, no no. He will not be as famous as if he were playing. The money, no way. Some teams dish out millions for a QB to warm up the bench (I am still looking at you Sorgi), and I would bet Wrangler is not going to give Favre as much compensation to wear their comfortable jeans than Minnesota is to have him throw the ball around the Dome.

So what would Favre have? His reputation and for sure HOF mold waiting for him in Canton, but come on Brett, do you really think you can do this? He must have a pretty smug attitude to pull this crap AGAIN for a second consecutive year. The Jets are not waiting for you, Brett; and it has become evident that the Vikings have taken the high road, either you decide or stay retired, we will move on without you and so will the NFL.

This has become one of the more sad stories I can think of. This shows the lack of commitment in Favre. I understand many of you GB, NY, or even Minnesota heads are just waiting to comment me, tearing my head off for even speaking about Favre in this matter, but do you think this is good for the NFL?

I love you Brett, you have made the NFL fun to watch over 18 brilliant years, but please man ... make up your mind. Because contrary to ESPN and other media outlets, there is life after Brett.

Honestly, the guys like Stafford, Sanchez, Ryan, Flacco, etc are waiting to etch their name into NFL lore. Back and forth Brett is still trying to scribble things before he is REALLY done.

In the words of one of my favorite musicians of all time, Jim Croce once put it in his famous song Operator "Thank you for your time, you have been so much more than kind ..."

The Top 15 Most Feared College Football Players in 2009

Reggie Garcia — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:09:49 -0400

The upcoming season should be filled with plenty of play makers and hard hitters. Offensive coordinators lay awake at night, trying to figure out how to stop these players, and defensive coordinators, don't unpack your bags. Some of these kids are not even old enough to drink. I review the top 15 players in College Football, keep an eye on them.

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The Best and Worst of the 2008-09 NBA Regular Season Awards

Reggie Garcia — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:29:28 -0400

The regular season is coming to a close, and I am here to go over some of the best and worst of the thrilling NBA season. From Rookie of The Year to Least Valuable Player, I will go in depth on what deserved to be first and who deserved to be worst. Personally, I think this season has been one of the more entertaining ones in recent history. From rookie sensations like Derrick Rose and Brooks Lopez to Cleveland Cavaliers winning an NBA best 66 games; I cover the highs and low lows

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Bleacher Report NFL Mock Draft 2009: Picks 11-20

Reggie Garcia — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:37:40 -0400

(Cont'd) Here are my picks for Nos. 11 through 20

:::

11. Buffalo Bills - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State - The Bills can go one of two ways: Take Pettigrew or take Brian Cushing, the stand out linebacker from USC. It comes down to what helps the team win RIGHT NOW.

Obviously, Cushing is a great player and if inserted in the right scheme, he can blossom; But Pettigrew is a prototypical solid TE. He is huge (6'6"), he is an excellent blocker, and he is quick enough to run even the most difficult of routes.

Owens is a "solid" addition for Trent Edwards and Lee Evans, he can take pressure off, but add Pettigrew, who won't be the savior for the franchise but he could help the Bills in so many more than one way. He was a huge part in Oklahoma State's 2,874 rushing yards and 34 TDs.

12. Denver Broncos trade pick to New York Jets, Mark Sanchez, QB, USC - I do not believe New York will chance it and let Sanchez fall to them, especially teams like Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Houston possibly trying to trade up to get Sanchez.

If Mark Sanchez went back to USC for another year, he could have been the first or second pick in next years draft. This might be considered a reach at 12th for Sanchez, but one of those teams I mentioned will attempt to move up on draft day and grab the talented signal caller.

And even though the lack of starting is important, Mark is a smart, instinctive player who has great velocity and accuracy with the ball. With the retirement of Favre leaving the QB door open in East Rutherford, look for NY to take the second best QB at 12.

13. Washington Redskins - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida - Jason Campbell, be prepared to thank the Redskins' organization. Percy Harvin is a speedster who can alter the game at more than one position.

With Santana Moss and Chris Cooley still the first options, Harvin can be used at more than just wideout, maybe even at the wildcat position. Two things do stand in the way though: second-year men Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, whom Washington has invested time and a pick on; but do not mistake that for passing on Harvin.

Any receiver who runs a 4.41 and and who has such great special teams skills as Harvin does, you can not pass up on this talent.

14. New Orleans Saints - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State - Nawlins' is bad on defense, but they have the opportunity to bulk up and add some depth to try to keep pace with that offense.

An injury plagued 2008 season did not go the way of Saints fans, but with the 14th pick, and Vontae Davis already off the board, the Saints will go to the next best thing: 2008 Jim Thorpe winner Malcolm Jenkins.

What he lacks in speed, Jenkins makes up for in run support and tremendous ball skills. Rarely did you see Jenkins get beat (I almost forgot that one game against USC), which is over confidence on Jenkin's part sometimes; and the fact that he does not possess elite speed is a bad thing, too.

New Orleans could put him at safety or keep him at cornerback, no matter what, Jenkins has Top 10 ability.

15. Green Bay Packers - Aaron Maybin, DE/LB, Penn State - Dom Capers will be switching to a 3-4 defense for the upcoming season, and with A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Aaron Kampman already leading an underrated Packer D, if Maybin were to fall at 15, you might just see a stellar defense in the making.

Maybin has Top 10 talent, along with deceptive speed off the edge, Maybin could be the best thing for Green Bay at 15. Another possible choice for the Packers is WR Hakeem Nicks, but I see them addressing that defense within the first two rounds, and WRs can always be found in the later rounds.

16. San Diego Chargers - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia - LT is still the No. 1 back, he is still a pro-bowl caliber player, he is still a future hall of famer, ya ya ya. Moreno could be seen as an insurance back or quite possibly the feature back in years ahead.

Although Beanie Wells is still sitting here, I do not think Wells down hill running style would fit quick based San Diego, which makes the perfect fit for Moreno being that elusive and quick is what he predicates his game off of.

Moreno runs very reckless and has excellent vision out of the back field, being a threat not only to run, but to catch as well. If Knowshon is still here, expect SD to take the 5'11" Sophomore.

17. Denver Broncos - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss - Another dark horse has been climbing up draft boards since the Senior Bowl.

After being the top rated Senior DT, he fits the mold of a Glenn Dorsey in that he fights off double teams and even though he might not make the tackle every play, he is still a disruptive force.

Jerry is best at a three technique, so he might have a limited role in the pros, but a big DT that can compliment last years first round pick Derrick Harvey and that defense, makes him desirable even at pick 12.

18. Chicago Bears - Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State - Perfect man for a 3-4, Brown has showcased him raw talent throughout the 2008 campaign, posting 12.5 sacks and constantly helping in run support.

It seems like every year that Brown was at FSU, he got better and better, improving his versatility and using his speed and athleticism to disrupt ACC QBs. The Bears would more than likely put him at OLB, to complement Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.

With Brown in the lineup, expect many offensive coordinators in the NFC North to have plenty of sleepless nights.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State OR Clay Matthews, OLB, USC - Earnest Graham is still there, but who would you rather play? Graham or Wells? If you answered the latter, then we can work with this.

New coach Raheem Morris is cleaning house and making way for the youth movement down in south beach. Wells would fit great in Tampa Bay, because there is a balanced attack between run and pass, he would not be asked to carry the ball more than 25 times a game.

Matthews has been an NFL born player, he has it in his blood. Nephew of HOF center Bruce Matthews and son of Clay Matthews Sr. both of whom played very well in the NFL, Clay seems like the next pro-to typical pass rushing LB.

Tampa Bay lost Monte Kiffin, but the players he mentored did not forget what they were taught when they had the legendary coordinator. I believe Tampa Bay will go with Wells.

20. Detroit Lions - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona - The Lions acquired this pick with the Roy Williams trade with Dallas. Coach Schwartz knows what he has to do to build ground for a successful team, when you worked with Jeff Fischer, you kind of pick up on some useful football knowledge.

Britton possesses the size and leadership to anchor a O-line, also consistency is his calling card, with 37 straight starts under his belt. Right tackle is the best position for him to be at, but thanks to his versatility, he can even be put at inside guard.

Thanks for reading.

Bleacher Report Mock 2009 NFL Draft: Picks 1-10

Reggie Garcia — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:46:21 -0400

The best time of the year is upcoming. For real draft nuts, the time of the year could not come any sooner. By the time the final picks are about to be announced, you are already looking at the next best thing coming out of the MAC.

But I am here to discuss some of the picks that I think will happen in this years draft.

1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - Despite every knock on poor Matty, this franchise is in dire need of an identity, oh and a quarterback. You can not count of the Jeff Garcia's of the world to always be around, but drafting a QB with the 1st overall pick is a chance sometimes. Stafford showed a lot more in his final bowl game that I think he did in years of starting for the Bulldogs. He has a rocket for an arm and Stafford to Johnson sounds like something a guy would trade for in Madden. He may not be the "safest" pick but you need him more than he needs you, Detroit.

2. St. Louis Rams - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor - Everyone outside of Waco, TX had a hard time hearing about this guy. In the position dominated by Andre Smith (cough) and Michael Oher, Smith seems like the biggest dark horse in this draft. Standing at 6' 5", 309 LBS. Smith has been probably the best prospect at the combine. People can argue that the Rams need a lot more that a tackle right now. With the recent release of Holt, possibly looking at a immediate playmaker or difference maker might be best, like a Crabtree or Curry. As I have always referenced in my articles, my old HS football coach always told me "the backbone of a team is the O line, without them there is no team". Smith is the real deal.

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest - The best player on alot of people's draft boards, Curry seems poised to be the next best thing in this LB dominated league. Kansas City desperately needs a pass rush, since the Jared Allen deal, the Chiefs seem even more like sad sacks (Sorry, Kansas City). He seems like once in a decade kind of prospect; Curry just has all the intangibles and ability to make a good defense, great.If Curry goes 1st or 2nd, Kansas City would look to possibly take something that would help newly acquired Matt Cassel in pass protection with OT Jason Smith.

4. Seattle Seahawks - B.J Raji, DT, Boston College OR Brian Orakpo, DE/LB, Texas - If the Chiefs did not take Curry with the 3rd pick, I believe Seahawks officials would have been running that draft card up to the commish. The offense has the ability to be good again if Hasselbeck can stay healthy a full season. A veteran O-line, capable wide receiver core, and an emerging star in TE John Carlson, Seattle looks to be more desperate on the defense. Raji, a 6'1" 330 LBS behemoth of a man, would be an excellent pick for any team. Haynesworth is the best player at his position, despite being taken with the 15th pick from Tennessee in the 2002 NFL draft. Seattle could go down this route, or take Michael Crabtree or quite possibly Brian Orakpo (of course I don't think it's a reach, he has raw talent to play either DE or LB.) Brian Orakpo showed his worth at the NFL combine and has been impressing scouts since deciding to enter. Brian is surprisingly very strong against both the pass and run; Seattle would insert him into Mora's schemes and voila! You might even argue Raji would be a reach at fourth, but fortunately for Seattle, they are not in a bad place draft wise.

5. Cleveland Browns - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech - I can not believe Crabtree fell this far (Yes I am serious.) And I know what your thinking, "what about the injury?" Well...I guarantee, it will heal, that's what the human body does, it eventually heals it self, amazing huh?. Crabtree is a supreme talent, and up until his injury, he was projected as high as second pick in the draft. Even though the QB controversy in Cleveland looks to be over (I say Quinn will get a shot), the Browns have the opportunity to take one of the best players to come out of college, automatically tagged with a Larry Fitzgerald label (Sophomore underclassmen that entered after breaking numerous records). And he is blessed with tremendous hands and great route running; he is desirable for every NFL team.

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Aaron Maybin, DE/LB, Penn State OR Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia - Hmm, this is odd. There both great athletes, and award winning, and All-Americans...dang, why did the NFL have to shorten the length of time for a draft pick?! Maybin, a big and fast sack master, recorded 12.5 sacks in 2008 for the Nittany Lions and captured plenty of well deserved attention. He would fit perfectly in a 3-4 scheme (hint, hint Bengals) and even though he has little starting experience, you can count on him, definitely a tough, hard nosed player; just the way JoePa has them. Eugene Monroe seems like a second option for me. No knock on Mr.Monroe, but if Andre Smith wasn't addicted to trouble, you better believe if available at 6, the Bengals would not think twice on who to take. But Monroe is a pretty good reserve anyway; Eugene's biggest strength is the way he moves on the line. He is 6'6", 315 Lbs but he moves very lightly which is perfect for an offense that prefers agile linemen (Hello, Denver). And even though durability is a question, when he does play he gives it 100 percent on every play.

7. Oakland Raiders trade pick to San Francisco 49ers, Andre Smith, OT, Alabama - Hear me out, okay? Oakland wanted Crabtree so badly, you can just feel that if he were to fall to seven, Oakland would welcome the best player in the draft with open arms. Picks eight (Jacksonville) and nine (Green Bay) would not pick Maclin, the defense is more of a priority for both heading into the draft, and Oakland would chance taking him at 10 instead of seven. Mike Singletary has changed the culture in San Francisco, seems like over night. Coach Mike would mentor and tutor that young man and mold him into the great NFL success he is capable of having. For a linemen, he moves very well in space with a good first step and great athletic ability. Plug him into an ailing 49ers line, and you might just have one of the most underrated lines in the NFL.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois - The 24th ranked pass defense in the league sure won't PASS up a chance at drafting Vontae Davis....Please laugh. Vontae, the younger brother of San Fran TE Vernon Davis, possess as much athletic ability as his older brother, and I see speed runs in the family too. Seriously, how awesome would it be to be the dad of those kids. "Oh, your son got a job at Google? My two boys are top 10 NFL picks, no big." If Mike Smith were still the Jags D man instead of doing great stuff down in Atlanta, he would have loved Davis and use him for all he is worth. He lacks discipline, but pair him with a good coordinator, and he will mold into a very good coverage corner.

9. Green Bay Packers trade pick to Houston Texans, Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss - Houston is one player away from really bursting out and making some noise in the AFC. Oher is the final of the 3 great linemen in the draft, not bad at nine either. When he first arrived at since Ole Miss, he became a special talent quickly, earning First Team Freshman All-American honors, AS A GUARD. Now an even better Left Tackle, Oher is bound for NFL success, and early too. Oher is so good, he made BenJarvus Green-Ellis only the third back in Ole Miss history to go over 1,000 yards, for two consecutive years. The Houston Texans would possibly want to take Harvin here too, but Oher is just too good a prospect to let slip through the cracks.

10. Oakland Raiders - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri - Yes! Oakland finally catches luck, in the form of the (very close) 2nd best WR in the draft. Maclin is very very very fast and also elusive; add onto that he is a solid blocker and special teams speed demon, wow...here I am babbling on about Jeremy Maclin. Anywho, the Raiders need a shot of life into that stagnant offense, possibly helping in the development of JaMarcus Russell and molding him into a perennial Pro Bowler...Early April Fools! Maclin is too good to pass up here though, and even though Harvin is still available, Oakland likes everything about this kid and then some.

Thanks for reading

Reggie Garcia

BCS or Not, College Football Is the Greatest Sport On Earth, Period

Reggie Garcia — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:19:37 -0500

Tell me you did not enjoy Coach Fulmer being carried off the field after he beat Kentucky last week.

He had never lost to Kentucky. It is great to see a good coach like that leave with a win.

Even if your a DAWG or GATOR or COC....I mean...GAMECOCK

College football is more than just a sport for some people, it is a way of life. It is that thought in the back of your head on a slow Tuesday at work. We shouldn't let some stupid computer dictate how great this season has been.

And it has been truly magnificent...

Aug. 30, 2008 - (24) Alabama defeats (9) Clemson.

In a prime-time game where everyone wanted to see what Clemson was made of, we all saw what Clemson was really made of. After a great season before, a lot of star power was coming back including Quarterback Cullen Harper, Wide Receiver Aaron Kelly, and Running Backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller.

But the game belonged to a freshman from Flint, MI

Mark Ingram rushed for almost 100 yards (96 yards), and Clemsons' "Thunder and Lightning" was more like "Pattering and Silence" as Alabama's defense held Clemson to ZERO rushing yards on 14 rushing attempts. J.P. Wilson controlled the game throwing two touchdowns and (the best stat in my eyes) zero INTs. This would be the beginning of Alabama's run to No. 1.

Sept. 13, 2008 - (1) USC defeats (5) Ohio State.

In what was said to be the game of the year (and for good reason, I wanted to treat myself to tickets for the game, some ran over $2,000! I work at a bookstore...gimme a break) USC showed early season dominance of a veteran Ohio State squad that was just plain over whelmed by the USC defense,

Mark Sanchez threw four TDs, two of them to star WR Damian Williams, and Joe McKnight had 105 yards on the ground. USC's offense hit on all cylinders is what I was thinking as I sat on my couch watching the game on TV...sad, but content with my Diet Dr. Pepper and Quiznos sandwich.

Chris "Beanie" Wells was out of the game after injuring his ankle the week before, and Ohio State still liked their chances with returning QB Todd Boeckman and a very good offensive line. There was just one problem...they were still playing USC.

Daniel Herron was playing in place of Wells, but he was a little running back standing at just 5'10"...a little running back couldn't run over that defense, right?!

And yes that was foreshadowing

Here is a stat that would have given most people enough evidence that this was going to be a blow out. USC has won eight straight games against Big Ten teams, all by double digits and by an average of 25 points. Five of the eight have been in BCS games (2000, Penn State by 24, 2002, Iowa by 21, 2003 and 2006, Michigan by 14, and 2007, Illinois by 32)

September 25, 2008 - Oregon State defeats (1) USC

Wooh...I watched this game...and I can say honestly I knew this was going to happen. I even remember the beginning, I was getting ready to go to the gym and I had a bad feeling that this game could get out of hand..but I went anyway hoping for the best. The best was shown in orange and black

Jacquizz Rodgers was a freshman I raved about before the preseason for good reason, he single-handedly beat up USC, to the tune of 186 yards and two touchdowns. And it is not like he burst out for huge runs, the longest run was 15 yards, but he had 37 touches and...he...slowly...beat...USC.

Wanna know the last time Oregon State beat a No. 1 ranked USC? The date was 1967, my dad was six years old, the first Super Bowl was going to be played, Dr. Christiaan Bernard performs the first heart transplant, and Sesame Street was first broad casted that year.

It was a good game by both teams, and I am sure USC was not looking past the Beavers, cause the year before USC lost as the No. 3 ranked team in Corvallis. Oregon State just caught USC on a bad day...but it would be the last bad day for SC.

Oct. 4, 2008 - (19) Vanderbilt defeats (13) Auburn

This win put a smile on the face of Mr. C the mascot...even though it looks like he is trying to kiss something...creepy.

But anyway, there was a lot of history during this game, and since Vandebilt is such good academic school, I'll do this the proper way..

First period, History: Vandy beat a ranked team for the first time since 1956, and their first win over Auburn since 1955.
Second period, Math: What is 30:03 (Vandys TOP) minus 29:57 (Auburn TOP)? A whole six seconds. You know what you can do in six seconds? I can do nine pushups. And yes, I actually did do as much pushups in six seconds.
Third period, English: How do you spell Mackenzi? or Mackenzie? or Mackenzy...well, those are three ways.
Fourth period, Geography: What is the distance between Vanderbilt University and Auburn University? 334 miles.

Now is any of that relevant to the actual game? Probably not. But I liked it. Vandy had their back up QB Mackenzi Adams rally the Dores' back from a 13-0 deficit in the first quarter, and Adams threw a 15 yard TD with 39 seconds left in the first half.

Oct. 11, 2008 - (5) Texas defeats (1) Oklahoma.

Pinned as the best game of the year!...for some. This game was like a boxing match. Punches being traded, Texas landed an upper cut (Jordan Shipley's 96 yard kick off return for a touchdown) and Oklahoma responds with a nice shot to the face of Texas (Jermaine Gresham's 52 yard touchdown grab from Sam Bradford).

This was the highest scoring game in the Red River SHOOTOUT's 103 year history, 80 points. Now this year in the Big 12, 80 combined points seems like an easy game. Bradford threw five TDs in front of 92,182 fans in the Cotton Bowl.

Colt McCoy was absolutely magnificent, and the defense might have allowed 435 yards of total offense...

But Texas had 438 of total offense, and although that may not be a meaningful statistic to some, surely Texas having the ball for nearly 15 minutes more than Oklahoma will. Anyone lucky enough to see this game will tell their grand children someday when they saw some of the best players in OU-Texas history duke it out on a sunny day in Dallas.

Nov. 1, 2008 - (7) Texas Tech defeats (1) Texas.

With 953 yards of total offense, 768 of it through the air, nearly 500 yards of it passing for Graham Harrell; those are all gaudy and fun numbers, but the most important number was No. 1.

One second on the clock left as Michael Crabtree ran into the black end zone, hands in the air, knowing his dream had become a reality. And also Tech's dream. They were no longer Texas' brother school. For that night, everyone outside of Lubbock had their guns up

This was the game of the year, for sure!...right?

Harrell and Crabtree lit up the Texas night sky, and even though McCoy did not have as stellar of a game, applaud him for keeping Texas in the game for 59:99 minutes of the game. Texas rallied from 19 points down in the game, and McCoy took the game over, and boy did he.

Texas Tech had just needed a field goal to win, but no one is complaining about the touchdown. You can't just sum up the game in this little description, but just know it was a helluva game. McCoy could have had his 10th career comeback win.

And to sum up Mike Leachs' thought process, after the game he was quoted saying "Now the biggest game in history is Oklahoma State."

Nov. 8, 2008 - (1) Alabama defeats (16) LSU.

I was watching ESPN a few hours before the game, and it showed LSU fans burning a doll with a Crimson Tide jacket on. Now I am not doctor, but that seems a bit crazy, no?

If I was an LSU fan, I would have a bad taste in my mouth too. But you got to thank him, he made that school relevant in the modern day in terms of recruiting and national exposure. He is a great coach, I mean GREAT coach. I am not a betting man, but the two coaches I would never bet against are Belichick and Saban.

This game was the game of the.....well...it was a great game. With a win, Alabama would claim it's first SEC West title since 1999. Some freshman named Julio Jones had 126 yards receiving and RB Glen Coffee had over 125 yards on the ground.

But the real mark that was made on this game was bad...very bad. Jarrett Lee did awful, that's the only real thing I remember very vividly. 4 INTs, 13-34, and he lost the game.

Yup sounds like a bad game to me. And even though 'Bama won in OT, you knew that 'Bama was for real, some fans knew that weeks before. It took this signature win to vault Saban into one of the best coaches in college football (again).

Nov. 22, 2008 - Syracuse defeats Notre Dame.

This may not have been the game of the year, but the most storied program in college football lost, again, and it wouldn't be the last time that would happen.

Notre Dame was leading 23-10 going into the fourth quarter, and looked certain for a win. I mean, ND with all those blue chip players, former NFL and Super Bowl winning Coordinator/Coach, and a "LeBron James" type player in Clausen looks good on paper.

But Syracuse wanted to win the game more, and everyone knows Syracuse hates games played on paper.

Cameron Dantley made a type of play to save a coach's job, too bad the coach was Greg Robinson. Dantley threw the last minute TD to rally Syracuse back from two touchdowns down, to a 24-23 'Cuse win.

Could this have been the last bad game for Weis...haha, no.

And finally, the game of the year!

Nov. 29, 2008 - (3) Oklahoma defeats Oklahoma State.

In this very controversial game between Big 12 foes, it would be more than a W for Oklahoma, it would give them the inside track to the Big 12 Championship. Probably the most heated race in recent memory, there were three 11-1 teams in just THAT part of the Big 12.

Texas was second in the BCS behind Alabama. Now aside from all the hoopla that is the BCS, the Big 12 seemed somewhat decided. Texas had beat Oklahoma in head to head, and everyone just beat up in each other.

But in this case, and the fifth tiebreaker, you should really hate that computer your sitting in front of right now; the computer says this "On this day in College football, Oklahoma is better."

Now, there is such a thing as " style points", but when your an offensive juggernaut as Oklahoma is, style is scoring alot...like 61 style points. Now I am a statistics kinda guy, I love the numbers. Here is some fun ones...

1,009 yards of total offense, thats 3,027 feet, thats over 504 of me!
61 points scored by Oklahoma is the most scored in the Bedlam Rivalry since 1980 (63 points is the most scored)
This game was the fourth straight game in which Oklahoma scored 60+ points.
Bradford had 82 TDs through his 2 seasons as a starter, second on the list is Rex Grossman with 55.

Oklahoma beat up on Oklahoma State so much, that this game will not be forgotten by either; it was truly Bedlam.

Thanks for reading,

Reggie

Five Players in College Football That Are Not Household Names...Yet

Reggie Garcia — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:25:41 -0500

Recently I took an extended hiatus from writing. I needed to get away from writing for a bit, and I feel I have become more of a "complete writer."

Let's see if it works.

In this day and age of crazy offensive schemes, kooky coaches, and "playmakers" (playmakers should be the coaches, since they actually make the plays), it is hard to find players that can figuratively inflict pain on an opposing team's offense and/or defense.

Let alone that some of them are FRESHMEN.

Here is a list of the players I think will soon be those notable players—and yes, I could not get everyone on this list of five, and you are more than welcome to disagree with me, but please do so in a mindful and polite manner. =]

1. Jeff Demps, RB, Florida

Already the second leading rusher on a very...VERY fast team, Demps seems positioned to be a very explosive player in Meyer's offense. He has world-class speed (10.17 in the 100-meter dash). He is a small player standing at only 5'10", but what he lacks in size he makes up for with versatility.

Demps has almost 500 yards rushing and six total touchdowns. Not to mention, he is the fastest guy on the special teams running downfield on kickoffs, which shows A LOT of courage.

Florida is one of the most dominating teams I have seen in quite a while, not only on offense but defense. When you input someone like Demps into Meyers' very spread offense, well, the rich get even richer.

Demps may not be the first option in this score-happy offense right now, but give any player with that kind of raw talent time in an offense, and he will shine.

2. Russell Wilson, QB, NC State

I found out about Russell Wilson the same way a lot of us fans do...a team's current starters are sucking (Daniel Evans, Harrison Beck), so the coach puts in a freshman, praying for some sort of "freshman miracle." Well...

Your prayers have been answered, Tom O'Brien

Wilson has been more than just a miracle for the Wolfpack. He has been a spark in that offense, in such a short time. A former two-star recruit coming out of Richmond, VA, Wilson was not exactly of "normal" QB size...but we ALL on Bleacher Report know that even shrimpy QBs can get it done (see: Chase Daniel, Todd Reesing, Troy Smith, etc.).

Russell Wilson's numbers are great for a redshirt freshman in the ACC (1,270 passing yards, 12 touchdowns to just one interception). Yes, he is not going to woo you with Graham Harrell-type numbers, but he is efficient, and (ESPN throws this word around way too much) he is a game manager.

On top of his passing numbers, Wilson has 234 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the season. He will be in the talk of the ACC's best quarterbacks soon.

3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

OK, OK. He is the starting QB on the No. 9 ranked team in the nation, but Moore is not a household name yet. People outside of Boise, Idaho know of the Broncos' triumphs over the past...seven years (68-7 is their record from 2001-2008 so far), but all of those East Coasters and people in the Big 12 region may not be impressed with the Moore-led Broncos.

Be impressed, fellas.

Moore is having one of the best seasons a WAC freshman QB has ever had with 2,637 yards passing and 20 touchdowns. His team wins it seems like every Saturday. Even though those numbers may not seem gaudy or even good outside of the WAC, here is a stat that no fan can argue with...43 to 42.

That was the score of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and Oklahoma. Now I know Moore was not the QB of that team, but the same coaches and core nucleus of the team is still surrounding him. I am not saying Moore is going to make you think twice when you're voting for Heisman, but hey...he just might someday.

4. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

Glen Coffee seems like the Most Improved Player in the SEC, but (if there was such an award) Ingram would win Most Outstanding Freshman Running Back to Play For Nick Saban Since Justin Vincent...so...MOFRBTPFNSSJV?

Anywho, Ingram is part of a three-headed running monster that contains himself, Coffee, and Roy Upchurch. You can argue that any one of the three has potential to be a good solid running back in the SEC, but Ingram has one of the most precious things in this world...time.

He is just a redshirt freshman with almost 620 yards rushing on the year. Ingram seems to impress me every week, and I am guessing he impresses you as well. In Week 10, Alabama played Arkansas State, and Mark rushed for over 100 yards and won SEC Freshman of the Week honors.

Even in the first game of the year against (now lowly) highly ranked Clemson, led by Spiller and Davis, those AA studs could not stop the emergence of what may be one of the best young backs in the country.

5. Jarrett Lee, QB, LSU

Now Lee is the best thing to happen to LSU since that Cannon guy played running back or cornerback or...whatever he played. Furthermore...

Just kidding.

5. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Notre Dame is not having the BCS championship type of season. Hell, they were hard-pressed to get a bowl bid, period. But you cannot deny an individual's effort, like Floyd has been all year. As a true freshman, he leads the Fighting Irish in receptions and receiving touchdowns (46 receptions and seven touchdowns)

He has the luxury of not one, but two former five-star QBs in Jimmy Clausen and true freshman Dayne Crist. Floyd could blossom to be one of the nation's elite receivers. Thoughts of Heisman will creep up in the Golden Domers fans' heads, and well, they should be, in the future.

As for right now, just enjoy this talented freshman's first year. He might not be around for long.

Thanks for reading.

2008 NFL Playoff Predictions: The AFC

Reggie Garcia — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:52:01 -0400

I know it's June and the closest thing to football we have to look forward to is the OTAs and training camps...

but...

it is never to early to look at how the draft and free agency has affected your favorite team, and take a look at who will make the playoffs come year's end

Here is who I think will make the playoffs in each of the divisions in the AFC, along with the wild cards.

AFC SOUTH

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have easily been the most dominant team in the south for the past five years, and after a 13-3 year, all looks good for the Colts, right?

Not so much.

After missing their top-tier receiver Marvin Harrison for most of the regular season, optimism is the only thing Harrison has heading into the 2008 regular season. Especially after a knee injury which he suffered Week Four. Harrison needs to rehabilitate to 100 percent if he expects to be the go-to receiver in this pass-happy offense. We also can't forget all of the trouble off the field with the shootings in Philadelphia; which I personally do not care much for. We're talking football here.

Still, Indianapolis has the nod in the conference. The offense did not miss a beat, having the third-ranked point-scoring offense in the league. Reggie Wayne formed into what we all thought he would be, a great receiver. Manning, of course, had another Manning-like year, and Tony Ugoh slowly became an anchor on that already packed Indianapolis O-line.

The defense is a bit of a concern though. Now, I know what you're thinking: They're bringing back the reigning Defensive POY in Bob Sanders, and a pretty sturdy LB corps. But the big question is Dwight Freeney's health. Freeney suffered a Lisfranc fracture (which is a dislocation of the joints in the middle of the foot) last year. If he is healthy, expect Indy to be competitive in not only the south, but the entire AFC, like they tend to do year in and year out.

Dungy is still a great coach. Manning is still going to awe us every Sunday. And make damn sure that Bob Sanders is going to level whoever he comes in contact with.

Colts' Final Record: 12-4

AFC NORTH

Pittsburgh Steelers

How surprising was the immediate success of Mike Tomlin in the Steel City? Although Cowher left Tomlin with a whole mess of talent and depth at almost every position, let's face it; Cowher did win the Super Bowl with that team. You could not help but get the feeling that Tomlin was using his players to the best of their ability in a tough AFC North.

Going 5-1 in any conference is almost a guarantee for a good seed in the playoffs, and the Steelers broke about even this offseason. After the monumental loss of Alan Faneca, the Steelers would rebound with a great draft class, headlined by Illinois' star running back Rashard Mendenall and second-round choice (should have been first round), wide receiver Limas Sweed.

I see a lot of a Bill Belichick in Mike Tomlin. Not the whole videotaping aspect (I know, I know; I am sorry Patriots fans, that was low, even for me), but in Tomlin's ability to use players to their fullest potential. Look at his third-round selection, DE Bruce Davis. He can convert, he can tackle, he is a lot like Jason Taylor (a lanky structure at 6'3", 252 lbs.), and a great straight-line speed player. He seems like the perfect fit in Pittsburgh's defense.

Even with the loss of Faneca, Roethlisberger will have time to throw, thanks to a healthy line containing Marvel Smith, Kendall Simmons, Willie Colon, and Sean Mahan. The great Hines Ward leads a group of solid receivers, with Santonio Holmes, who is not only a fantasy sleeper, but will be a good receiver this year.

Before I start showering Mendenhall with praise, Big Willie Parker is still the starter, and I have no problem with saying that he might top 1,500 yards if they can find a solid replacement at the left guard position

With the resurgence of the Cleveland Browns, it is kind of hard to choose otherwise, but Pittsburgh can hang with anyone.

Steelers' Final Record: 13-3

AFC EAST

New England Patriots

The East is by far the least competitive division in the AFC. But there is hope in the future, as three of the teams had a draft pick within the first 11 picks (Miami-1, NY-6, and Buffalo-11). But hope is nothing but that, just an estimation of how things may turn up. What I am focusing on right now is who has the best team currently, and currently, that team is the New England Patriots.

NFL.com has selected Tom Brady has the fifth-overall player in fantasy leagues. But he is the No. 1 QB, and he will prove that this year. I learned at the tender age of 13, as a diehard St. Louis Rams fan that you do not bet against Tom Brady.

Then I learned at the tender age of 19 that you do not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out how to beat Tom and the Pats, just look at what the Giants did in Tempe.

But aside from past Super Bowls, Tom Brady delivers in the regular season. He still has Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson, and maybe even Chad Jackson. Now Brady needs time to hand the ball off to Maroney or Faulk. Coppen, Mankins, and Light give him enough time.

I expect this offense to still be as explosive as it was previously, even with the offseason loss of Donte Stallworth. Laurence Maroney might have an even bigger role in this offense this year, considering Tom Brady threw the ball 578 times last year, and I bet D-coordinators are just salivating on how they can capitalize on Brady's Super-Bowl beat down.

The defense is still scary, but with glory, there has to be a downfall. With the loss of Asante Samuel and Eugene Wilson, do not think for a second that teams are not going to try to force the pass against them. But they might want to think twice before doing so, because Ellis Hobbs and Fernando Bryant make up a suitable CB position, Brandon Meriweather is a converted safety, so he can jar the ball loose once and a great while, and Rodney Harrison is still the trash-talking punk we all fell in love with 15 years ago.

Bruschi will be healthy, along with transformer Adalius Thomas. Vince Wilfork leads a big D-line, and Warren on the end position. And with a healthy Richard Seymour, you will see the Pats force teams to make mistakes.

I still do not see a kryptonite for New England. Sorry Jets fans, they did not need to videotape your calls, they would have creamed you anyway.

Patriots' Final Record: 14-2

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers

This may be one of the best Charger teams in quite awhile. Aside from two, early playoff exits the past few years, this team seems to get better with every passing year. I think this is the year that Chargers fans can validate their high hopes.

The Chargers just need a go-to receiver not named Gates, and Vincent Jackson is the best receiver you've never heard of. Although first-round choice Craig Davis is lined up opposite of Jackson, you can expect his fair share of balls. The threat of a speedy Davis, the lengthy Jackson, and the All-Pro Antonio Gates gives nothing but smiles to Phillip Rivers, whom I think is poised for a breakout year behind one of the, if not the best, offensive lines in football.

Of course I cannot mention the San Diego Super Chargers without mentioning LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson is the best thing since sliced bread...or Jim Brown, you go ahead and choose. You can bet Tomlinson will get at least 300 touches, and he will make the best of every one of them. Throw in his ridiculous ability to catch out of the backfield, which remind me of a certain No. 28 who played in St. Louis.

All of this, combined with the offensive genius that is Norv Turner, and this offense is just magnificent. But defense wins championships, and let me tell you...San Diego holds up its part of the bargain.

Shawne Merriman leads the Chargers' defense, and Cromartie will still be the stud that he is. I remember draft day, when San Diego took Cromartie, and I just remember Kiper ripping the organization for taking an unproven cornerback out of Florida State. Kiper went on to say that he was a terrific athlete, but he is not NFL material since he had only really a year of playing football for the Seminoles. Kiper was wrong. Cromartie can make plays on the ball, and he is not too shabby at returning the ball either.

Eric Weddle will be one of the better safeties this year. He has the intangibles to be great: good wrap-up tackler, good hands, and he is aware of everything that goes on in the field of play. And Jamal Williams will anchor that 3-4 defense.

Do I think San Diego will win it all? I sure hope so, but I guarantee teams like New England and Indy will have their say in that.

Chargers' Final Record: 13-3

Wild Cards

Jacksonville Jaguars:

I am barely coming back down from my David-Garrard high. I loved Leftwich, but he was a sitting duck in that young team's plans. The (little bit) more nimble Garrard seems to be a perfect fit in Koetter's high-flying offense. The two-back monster that is Jones-Drew and Taylor leads the best set in the league. Do not be surprised if they both surpass 800 yards individually this season.

I am concerned about the offensive line though. They will be subject to injury since most of them started the entire season in 2007. But just from the looks of the depth chart, they have replacements that can hold their own.

Wilford, Jones, Northcutt, Lewis, and Williams do not sound too scary, right? Pfft. They might not be the best receiving corps in the league, but just because you do not have an Owens or Holt doesn't mean you can't play the game.

All of these WRs will contribute to the maturation of Garrard. David will take leaps and bounds this year, and they might not be good, like possibly trying to force the ball more downfield if the running game does not pick up. All of this is natural in the process of developing a QB, just look at Brett Favre. He did it his whole career, but I think that was just because it was fun, well, it sure as hell looked fun.

Mike Smith has gone to some team in Atlanta. I don't know them, but do not worry; even you (the reader) can make this defense untouchable. Gregg Williams is a great defensive coach in my eyes. He's not so good as a head coach, but that's neither here nor there.

Williams will use the same group of guys that led the Jags to an 11-5 record and the No. 2-ranked defense against the run. And it may have gotten better with the addition of first-round choice Derrick Harvey, who will make an impact for years to come. The cornerback position is a bit thin, but Nelson and Knight make up a fantastic safety tandem.

I do think Jacksonville is just missing that "if" to push themselves far, and maybe even claim the division, but until Indy loses that Manning guy, mark it up.

Jaguars' Final Record - 11-5

Cleveland Browns

Hurrah, Hurrah. Cleveland was this close to making the postseason last year. Well, let me tell you, "this close" does not cut it in this league; in fact, "this close" will pretty much get your ass fired.

Bengals fans, you may want to turn away from this portion of my article. CLEVELAND ROCKS!

In my 19 years of life, I never thought that I would say that. But I did. Derek Anderson was a backup's backup when 2007 started, and now he is a Pro-Bowl quarterback who must cut back in the INT column and focus on that pesky TD one.

Jamal Lewis took a breath of new life in Cleveland, and will continue to shock those teams who did not touch him when he was a free agent. And at 28, he still has two years before the magical age of 30 gets him.

Braylon Edwards silenced all of his critics and had an All-Pro year, worthy of recognition from the whole league. Edwards is a tireless worker who should be a model, not only to athletes, but to all human beings. Braylon made a scholarship worth $500,000 to the University of Michigan, his alma mater, for the player who wears his famed No. 1 on the football squad (this year I think it is some freshman).

But that is beside the point. Cleveland lost at the worst possible times last year. Of course, losing period is bad, but you know what I mean. The defense is led by veteran Willie McGinest. He brings a championship-caliber player to the defense that is in its second year of playing together.

But that is the only downfall of the Browns. Their offense can hang with the best, but you need a D if you expect to go deep in the playoffs. If you were to give them Oakland's defense, then hello deep-playoff run. Until then, I cannot stretch the Browns too far.

Browns' Final Record: 10-6

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading my article as much as I enjoyed typing it.

Swear To Shake It Up If You Swear To Listen

Reggie Garcia — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:59:36 -0400

Wow, a lot CAN happen in the week leading up to draft.

For starters, Shaun Alexander is released as the Seahawks all-time leading rusher, just a mere 26 months after his then record breaking MVP season. Personally, I think Alexander got a raw deal; he was the catalyst for that team, I don't care what anyone says. Since he was drafted in the 2000 NFL Draft (19th pick out of Alabama) he was seen to be a change for a franchise not known for running backs. His blend of power and agility made him a coveted player his first few years. Then in 2005, Alexander became the NFL MVP, with an astonishing 27 TD's and 1,880 yards rushing. The Seahawks loved Alexander, and Alexander loved the Seahawks..for the time being. Only playing in 10 games the following year, his numbers dropped dramatically with only 896 (984 yards less than previous year) and 7 TD's (20 less than previous year). February 6th, 2006. Superbowl XL. The time that great players shine..on the big stage. I believe this was the beginning of the fallout that was Alexander. 95 yards in that game, he was overshadowed by Pittsburgh's first AND second string backs. Last year he had played in 13 games, but he had a low 207 in carries, lowest since his rookie season.

Let me just input my opinion before I go any further, Alexander got a bad injury, I am not trying to cover that up, BUT give him time, please. Bones do heal, and he is still that great player he was previously. Call it the magical age of 30, call it Hutchinson-itis. I call it bad timing and even worse decisions. You can at least bring the guy back with Morris and try the 2 back set, but you just cant cut the guy and expect everything to be fine. People are going to sporting the #37 for as long as they have been wearing Steve Largent's #80.

BREAKING NEWS: Jared Allen being traded days leading up to the draft!

Wow...totally did not see that one coming...Seriously. Allen is a Idaho State grad, he always caught my eye whenever I would watch Chiefs games. He did attend Los Gatos HS (not far from where I live) and a 6'6" 270 LBs Defensive End, I mean the guy is huge. At the (still young) age of 26, (4th round, 126th pick) he has already compiled 43 career sacks, he hasn't had less than 7 sacks in the 4 years he has been in the league, all with a chip on his shoulder. I mean lets face it, since Derrick Thomas was drafted by the Chiefs in 1989, they have not had a defensive standout.

He was even a funny guy, always joking on camera, here is a clip of his "antics": http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80699a49. After posting a 15.5 sack season, he was thought of to be one of the premier pass rushers in the game today. Don't think I wont bring up the DUI's. 3 DUI's in the past 4 years. In today's NFL where even if you forget to tip the waiter at the Applebee's, there will be some sort of investigation. and NO I AM NOT DOWNPLAYING THE SEVERITY OF THE CHARGE. After I heard of the DUI's I lost so much respect for him.

The reason he was franchised was because of the DUI's. GM Carl Peterson and the Chiefs Organization wanted to monitor his production for the following year, in the end becoming a controversy because Allen wanted a long term contract. But Allen has also done good things with the millions he makes (hopefully setting an example for more NFL players). Allen serves as an advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and raises funds through his sack diabetes program.

Late Tuesday Night (4/22/2008) Jared Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for draft picks. The offer the Vikings had on the table, which was their 1st (17th) and 3rd (73rd and 82nd) round picks. And it was reported by Adam Schefter on NFL.com that the Vikings were looking to re-structure Allen's contract, possibly finalizing it by Wednesday night. For the past few years, the Vikings have been known as a great defensive line team (1st in NFL against the rush with 164.6 yards a game) and the addition of Allen can definitely improve Minnesota, maybe even improve on their pass rush, which was 28th in the league. All I know is, right now this deal makes sense. 8-8 in the NFC North is an improvement under Childress. and the Chiefs are the big winner in this. They MIGHT have enough to possibly trade up from their 5th selection to select golden armed Matt Ryan if they desire him. I personally think they should stay at 5th and 17th and address their needs at WR, OL, and possibly CB. As stated in my previous article entitled NFL Draft 2008: Projecting Top 10 Picks(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/16088-NFL-Draft-2008-Projecting-Top-10-Picks-030408)

I said the Chiefs can look at Sedrick Ellis, the standout DT out of the University of Southern California, and that pick makes a lot more sense now. They can also keep an eye on a CB, possibly a Mike Jenkins from South Florida, Reggie Smith from Oklahoma, or Aqib Talib from the University of Kansas.

And finally... THE MIAMI DOLPHINS SELECT WITH THE #1 OVERALL PICK...JAKE LONG

This is not a surprise to me (again, my previous article), I mean Miami has Parcells at the helm, and c'mon people, he is known for not his post-game..pre-game...hell, just any interview, he is known for turning BAD teams into GOOD teams. Through draft, free agency, trade, or just knowing who to play at the right moment, Bill knows what he is doing, and I do not doubt him one bit with this pick. Being a former football player, coaches always told me "Reg, the backbone of a team starts and ends with the offensive line...You can have the most X's and O's but it wont mean jack shit if you don't have those big uglies protecting you". Coach Cameron was right; Good Offensive Lineman are about as scarce as "shutdown corners", You can plug some OL into a system and expect results, it just does not happen. Aside from McFadden, I thought Long was the most complete player in this draft. He has great footwork, strong upper body, and he NEVER gives up on a play; it could be a 6 or 60 yard run, as long as Jake knows he manhandled a lineman, that's what mattered. He is also a good person, no off the field incidents, no major arguments with position coaches, no dog fighting...or sorry, that slipped. But anyway, he is a great player, and yes, NFL ready.

Now that the first pick is in the books, all eyes are on St.Louis, my favorite team. Teams like the Lions, Bears, and others have been showing interest in possibly trading up to score a uh..Matt Ryan. Atlanta is the biggest spotlight at the moment. They want to trade the pick, and everyone knows St.Louis wont take Ryan, and many teams covet Ryan and his intangibles.

Thank You for reading, this was the longest article I have written (so far) and if you get to this part, I applaud you.

Reggie Garcia

Should Athletes Be Considered Role Models?

Reggie Garcia — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:07:23 -0400

Ah, college essays, they can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. For anyone who has been to/currently attending college, you can bear with me in knowing the pain of research, cite, research, cite, continuously.

My English teacher assigned us a topic, and at first I felt a rush of anger, followed by the urge to cuss, but then I realized this could be a good thing. My topic was "Should athletes be considered role models?”.

Only then did I realize I can write a rough draft on Bleacher Report, beautiful.

Everyday I watch ESPN, and see Chad Johnson on TV and he seems to be complaining about something, whether it is his contract, the team's inability to reach the playoffs, or even Carson Palmer, the Bengal's Starting QB.

"Is THIS what athletes do nowadays?" I thought to myself; I know not all athletes are the same, but hell, you notice you almost always hear about the bad ones, doing bad things?

Some examples:

1. Pac Man "making it rain" and being involved in a shooting at (you guessed right) astrip club.
2. Michael Vick running a dog fighting ring in his cousins house in Virginia
3. Wayne Huizenga's dismantling of the Florida Marlins less than 2 weeks after the 1997 World Series win.

And all this leaves me asking one more question, "Where have all the heroes gone?"

Going back to Chad Johnson, I am not comparing him to Vick or Jones' crimes, but he is a horrible example of what an athlete should be. Cal Ripken Jr. is a model athlete in my eyes. Reason being is because he just did his job, day in and day out, like every other citizen. Of course with becoming a big leaguer the fame and celebrity comes right along with that, but some athletes are more honest than others, like Charles Barkley simply saying "I am not a role model!"

Growing up playing any sport I can get my grubby little hands on, I learned the true values of sports: Teamwork, Practice, Sportsmanship, and Being Honest in victory or defeat. Really, sports are built on those simple fundamentals; sports are a way to build character for young boys and girls nowadays. I can say I learned more during double days about myself than I did reading Macbeth; my character was developed. And sports bring more than just those lessons, they teach you to be healthy, dedicated to what you do, etc.

In today's culture, sports are more than what they have ever been. It's a right of passage, it is a way to get rich, it is a livelihood; lets face it, it’s bigger than life sometimes.

And in today's sports, a football player celebrates after a five yard gain; a boxer can threaten to eat an opponent's children, hell even an angry Pacer can rumble with the dude in the third row. And those are just some of the daunting things sports have.

Now dear reader, I hope you do not think I am against sports, or bashing on sports, or even think less of sports. I was that chubby kid that had put his pads on every morning in summer to earn a starting spot to try to dream those dreams. I understand the athlete today has evolved, bigger, faster, stronger, and richer. This article is intended to educate you that sometimes the media, the fans, the athlete, even the merchandise guy; we do not have the right idea of sportsmanship.

It should always be there. To ask Cal Ripken Jr. to be a father to a nation is unfair. He has enough of a burden being father to his own children. For us to ask anything else of him is simply a blessing.

A million dollars is chump change in today's sports. It is unbelievable that anyone can receive this amount of money to play a sport, but we have now entered the age of the $100 million player. And is anyone asking what impact this is having on our children?

In a society where value is determined by how much money you make, how much more important is an athlete in the eyes of children than a teacher, a police officer, a minister or parents who don't make in a year what many of these athletes make in a single game? Or how much more important is an athlete making $25 million a year than the President of the United States, who only makes $200,000?

What exactly are we teaching our children to value when we pay athletes these extraordinary salaries, and then allow many of these same athletes to break rules without punishment? Just get off scotch free.

I hope you have learned a bit from this, but most of all, I hope my teacher likes it.