Bleacher Report - Articles by Marshall Cupelli

Weekly Rant: Larry Bowa, What Are You Doing?

Marshall Cupelli — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:10:23 -0400

Larry Bowa Just Sit Down!

This Monday Larry Bowa third base coach for the LA Dodgers was ejected and suspended three days for arguing against the fact he was told to stay in the coach’s box and having to wear a helmet.

Now Larry, what's wrong man? So, you have to stand in the little white box. Bowa, listen to me—the rule was made for your safety. You wear a helmet for protection from possible balls or bats coming strait at you. A double-A coach was killed last year by a foul ball, are you really going to argue a rule for you’re safely and disrupt the game after that? Throwing the water cooler and cussing out the umpire is not the way to handle it. You should know better!

Diamonds Are a Giants Best Friend

The design for the New York Giants' Super Bowl rings just came out, and wow—they are nothing short of beautiful. It will have 1.5 carats of diamonds plus will depict three super bowl trophies and the New York Giants logo. Shaun O’Hara the New York Giants center and one of the players in the group that helped design the ring said that he wanted a ring that could be seen 10 tables away. I say after their impressive victory over the Patriots they deserve it.

Brian McNamee get a real degree

Brian McNamee former personal trainer and current accuser of Roger Clemens is auctioning of all of his Clemens Memorabilia. All of the proceeds will go towards McNamee’s Juvenile Diabetes Charity. He even had the balls to sign some of the items him self noting after his signature “Ly 0” as in zero lies. Now for a man who got an online degree and some how got a gig being a personal trainer for professional athletes I believe has hit an all time low even if it is for a good cause.

Marshall takes another fall

In regards to all the Brandon Marshall news, Jay Cutler said that he had it with all the drama “Yeah he’s not my favorite person right now”. It’s about time someone stepped up and told Brandon to straiten up. Marshall who had his breakout season last year still could use some work and this foolish injury will just hold him back. Cutler a young and upcoming quarterback in this league needs a #1 target that he will not have to worry about getting in trouble all the time. This could also be a turning point for Cutler with him stepping up and taking some authority on the matter plus being a leader. Both Marshall and Cutler are growing, one faster than the other.

Adam “Pacman” Jones is not worth it!

Why, Jerry Jones, would you want to bring in another player with attitude problems? Pacman I believe is worse than what T.O. was. What if Jones does not fit in well in the locker room? What if he gets into trouble at a bad time like before a playoff game (the Cowboys barring injury will be there)? Is it really worth it? You already have a solid secondary with Roy Williams and Terence Newman. Save you money because you have other needs to fill, like adding some youth at wide receiver.

P.S. “Feed The Children”? Who is he trying to fool?

Losing is a way of life

The Pirates gave me a heart attack this past Monday in the bottom of the ninth. Ahead 9-7 with two outs Mark Teixeira popped out to left center for what most would think would be an easy out. Well for the pirates it apparently was not so easy and a miscommunication between Jason Bayand Nate McLouth ended up with a ball on the ground and a two-run lead blown. The pirate eventually won almost blowing another lead in the 12th.

I hope I have more to look forward to this season from my favorite team—yes, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

My Weekly Rant: Shut Up Ocho Cinco

Marshall Cupelli — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:02:58 -0400

Shut up Ocho Cinco

Everyone who agrees with me that Chad Johnson should just shut up and play football please raise your hand. Ok now that I know you’re not happy listen up. You’re not helping your cause by being a huge distraction. If you want to be traded so bad then why give teams reasons not to trade for you. This is starting to look like the T.O. drama that happened in 2005. As much as I respect Johnson as a football player I hate what he is doing to his team.

It also seems like Carson Palmer doesn’t care if he leaves! If my star wide receiver was leaving I would be speaking out. Palmer said himself, in regards to Chad, “I’m not going to get involved in what’s going on”. Why would you not want to get involved? Your primary receiver is leaving TJ Housh and other no names for you to throw to.

Defenses could start doubling TJ with no other serious threats to line up on the other side. Beyond Houshmandzadeh the Bengals have criminal Chris Henry, Marcus Maxwell, Antonio Chatman, and Glenn Holt. Unless they draft a quality wide out in the first round Carson and the Bengal’s passing attack will get shut down, and Carson seems to not care. Could someone please knock some sense into him!

With all of this talk about Ocho Cinco moving, it makes me think where would Johnson go? He was said he wants to go to Dallas but I don’t know why Dallas would want another 30+ year old wide receiver. If anything Dallas needs some youth at wide receiver. If you want a sleeper pick to trade for Johnson I would choose the Carolina Panther. Former college teammate and good friend Steve Smith would make a trade very tempting for the panthers to pair the two again. All in all it seems like Chad’s disruptive behavior this off season can do nothing but hurt the Bengals.

Move on

Cedrick Wilson the recently released Wide Receiver was charged with assaulting his girlfriend. This is the same girlfriend who had a standoff for several hours with police after an altercation between the two. Now Cedrick what’s going on? Your girlfriend needs some help. That has to be a bad situation for your daughter. I believe you should take your 1 year old daughter and go find another job somewhere (the Chicago Bears could use a receiver) and get as far away from Pittsburgh as you can.

Barry Bonds gets another break

Bonds case has been postponed for the second time in as many months to find evidence and get opinions from the government on what to do with the big league slugger. It now seems like where going to have to wait till 2010 or longer to even see a trial. Now why is it so hard to figure out what to do and find even or evidence to convict him with? If you ask me just look at him, his biceps should be enough evidence. He lied and he should be punished for it. I am tired of hearing about Barry Bonds and steroids. Why is he getting so much slack from our legal system? Our government needs to step up their game.

1-2-3-4-5-6

Tigers attempt at winning seven strait wins ended the other day. What an accomplishment six strait victories is. To put it into perspective the last time Woods lost (September 9) the NFL was just starting a new season, the MLB off-season came and went, and people thought Roger Clemens was clean. Once again Tiger Woods is turning heads in a good way.

Nice choice, Pryor

Terrelle Pryor just made the first step on the road to a successful career in college football by deciding to play at Ohio State. With the buckeyes Terrelle can be brought along slowly and learn the spread offense that that was designed for athletic Quarterbacks like him. While I would not be surprised to see him red shirted with returning starter Todd Boeckman I could also see Jim Tressel using him in a freshman Tim Tebow role. Give Pryor some experience as a freshman but at the same time not putting to much pressure on him to lead an offense. Jim Tressel saw first hand twice in national champion games what a two quarterback system can do, once with the Gators (Chris Leak, and Tim Tebow) and another time with LSU (Matt Flynn, and Ryan Perrilloux). I could see Tressel using Pryor, giving him 10-15 snaps a game in what could turn out to be another dominant year for the Buckeyes.

Fast food kills

Brandon Marshall WR for the Denver Broncos slipped on a McDonald’s bag while wrestling with a couple family members and his arm went through a television set and could be out 3-4 months. It was said that he suffered right forearm lacerations to one artery, one vein, one nerve, two tendons, and three muscles. Now out of everything that has tried to take down Marshall in the past (200+lb linebackers, DUI charges, etc.) he finally succumbs to a McDonald’s bag?! That has got to be the most embarrassing event in his life. At least champ bailey, after the incident, said “I’ll keep my eye on him”. Brandon is going to need some adult supervision until he grows up a little and starts picking up the trash around his house.

Miami Dolphins: Matt Ryan is the Quarterback of the Future

Marshall Cupelli — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:18:13 -0400

With the first overall pick in the NFL draft the Miami Dolphins need their Quarterback of the future and Matt Ryan is the obvious pick.

What do the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have in common?

They all have franchise quarterbacks and each has won a Super Bowl in the last three years. It has been proven over the past decade that in order to be a contender for the "big one" in February you need a franchise quarterback leading your team.

Inconsistency at the game's most criticized position can and will kill a team. Just look at the starting quarterbacks for the Miami Dolphins after Dan Marino retired before the 2000 season.

Jay Fiedler
Ray Lucas
Brian Griese
A.J. Feeley
Sage Rosenfels
Gus Frerotte
Daunte Culpepper
Joey Harrington
Cleo Lemon
Trent Green
John Beck

That is eleven starters in seven dreadful years.

You can not expect to even get to the playoffs with inconsistent play from numerous quarterbacks. You need the corner stone and leader of your offense, for his teammates and your players to look to in game situations.

With the first overall pick in the NFL Draft the Miami Dolphins have no choice but to take Matt Ryan.

A Quarterback like Ryan is needed badly for a franchise that has been hurt by inconsistency and a lack of a leadership. With today’s thin market for quality quarterbacks the only way to get one is through the draft.

Matt has shown this past year with his arm strength, accuracy, athleticism, and especially his attitude, that he can be a quality starter for many years to come in the NFL.

If you need anymore proof, look at his game against Virginia Tech, where he put together two long fourth quarter drives on the way to victory. It takes that mental toughness to make it in the NFL and the Dolphins are in need of the NFL’s toughest position and would be foolish to pass it up.