Month: January 2009 (Page 46 of 61)

      Blackistone: Stoops badly needs BCS victory

      January 8, 2009 /

      Kevin B. Blackistone of AOL Fanhouse writes that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops badly needs a BCS victory before he begins “experiencing some belittlement in the Sooner state.”

      Bob StoopsThe fact is that all these other influential voices on Oklahoma football will point out, should Stoops’ Sooners not beat Florida, that the national title Stoops brought back to Norman is nearly antique, having been captured in the first season of the new millennium. They’ll remind everyone that Stoops’ Sooners lost four of their last five season-ending bowl games coming into this Orange Bowl. They’ll point out that they lost three of their last four games against their hated rivals in Austin, Texas, and watched Mack Brown’s herd gallop away with one national championship during that stretch and attempt to lay claim to another one the other night by shocking Ohio State at the gun.
      And the last time the Stoops’ Sooners played for the all the glory, they’ll say, it didn’t go very well at all. It was right here at the Orange Bowl, too, back on Jan. 4, 2005. The opponent was USC and when it was all over the Sooners were on the short end of an embarrassing 55-19 shellacking.

      Urban Meyer can see it all too clearly from his side of the field, in part because he and Stoops are so much alike. Both are from Ohio. Both are fortysomethings. Both won their first national championships as head coaches in their second seasons running their current ships.

      And neither said Wednesday that they could see themselves surviving in their vocation into their 70s like some of college football coaching’s idols. Why not?

      “You’re a missed field goal away from being a bum with everybody else,” Meyer said. “That’s just part of the [coaching] deal.”

      That is why Stoops needs to beat Florida. He’s unfairly close to having some people call him that bum.

      Stoops has no one to blame but himself for why writers and other media members feel he needs to badly beat Florida in order to prove (some) of his worth. Too many times over the past couple years his Sooners have played flat and often looked like they had nothing to play for. Now a title is on the line and Stoops has a track record of blowing these types of games. It’ll be interesting to see if Bobby Boy can get over the hump.

      College Football

      One and done: Cowboys cut Pacman Jones

      January 8, 2009 /

      The Pacman Jones experiment in Dallas has come to end after just one season, as the Cowboy released the cornerback on Wednesday.

      The Cowboys traded for Jones despite the cornerback’s suspension for the 2007 season after multiple off-field incidents while with the Titans. He was given another chance and cleared to play in 2008 by commissioner Roger Goodell.

      But on Oct. 7, Jones got into a scuffle with a bodyguard who was part of a team-employed security detail. A week later, Goodell suspended the cornerback indefinitely, which eventually turned into a six-week suspension. Jones missed a seventh game later in the season with an injury.

      The 25-year-old Jones spent part of his time away from football taking part in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

      Kind of funny that when the Cowboys desperately need cornerbacks to make a playoff push late in the year, owner Jerry Jones did everything in his power to get Pacman reinstated again after his most recent f-up. And now he’s promptly shoving him out the door.

      Despite Pacman netting zero interceptions and just a 4.5-yard average on punt returns, I think Jones got everything he needed out of the delinquent one. He got a rodeo clown for his circus (i.e. HBO’s “Hard Knocks”) and a warm body when the Cowboys were hurting with injuries late in the year.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Should Trevor Hoffman sign with the Dodgers?

      January 8, 2009 /

      hoffmanSince Brian Fuentes signed with the Los Angeles Angels, the market for a successful closer has significantly tightened. Last December, the Los Angeles Dodgers released closer Takashi Saito, citing his age and recent elbow injury as deciding factors. The Dodgers have struggled to fill this role all winter, on the fence as to whether young hurler Jonathan Broxton has the consistency that is needed. Now the organization is looking to all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman.

      As the San Francisco Giants consider trumping the Dodgers’ offer to Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have offered all-time save leader Trevor Hoffman a one-year contract to be their closer.

      The Milwaukee Brewers also are in pursuit of Hoffman, who is expected to make his decision this week. It is uncertain whether the Brewers have offered a two-year guarantee to combat their geographical disadvantage, since Hoffman lives in northern San Diego county.

      Hoffman made $7.5 million last season with the San Diego Padres, who withdrew a $4-million offer to him in November. The Dodgers’ offer exceeds $4 million.

      He went 3-6 with a 3.77 earned-run average last season, including a 1.59 ERA after the All-Star break. He converted 30 of 34 saves but gave up one home run every 5.7 innings, the second-worst ratio of his career.

      By signing Hoffman, the Dodgers would return Jonathan Broxton to a setup role and add a veteran arm to a bullpen that has lost Takashi Saito, Joe Beimel and Chan Ho Park.

      At first glance, I’m not sure what to make of all this. The Dodgers are supposedly offering Hoffman at least $4 million, which is more than what Takashi Saito was asking. The two are both older players, with Hoffman at 41 and Saito at 39. Where talent is concerned, Saito was easily the best closer in the National League in ’06 and ’07. Hoffman, however, is the most consistent closer of all time. His all-time record of 554 saves is incredible, considering Mariano Rivera trails behind him at 500.

      What it comes down to is past injuries. It’s remarkable that Hoffman has pitched so long without ever seriously hurting himself. Case in point, he’s still got it. He even managed to convert 30 of his 34 save opportunities last year with the support of a pathetic Padres offense. Saito, while dominant when he’s healthy, had career-altering Tommy John surgery last year and was unable to pitch in the NLCS.

      The Dodgers and Hoffman are a good fit. He’s just the guy to mentor the young and wild Jonathan Broxton. After Broxton sets up Hoffman in the 8th inning, he can take notes while watching the saves leader in action.

      MLB

      Browns hire Eric Mangini

      January 7, 2009 /

      It’s official Browns fans:

      Eric Mangini completed his rise from Browns ball boy and public relations intern Wednesday, when he reached agreement on a contract to become the team’s fourth coach since 1999.

      Mangini went 23-25 with the New York Jets, including a 10-6 playoff season in his first year in 2006. In 2008, the Jets started 8-3 but finished 9-7 as quarterback Brett Favre faded down the stretch.

      Mangini, who turns 38 on Jan. 19, was the first person Lerner interviewed after firing coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage after a 4-12 season and 24-40 record over four years.

      A protege of former Browns coach Bill Belichick and a graduate of Belichick’s alma mater Wesleyan University, Mangini worked with Belichick for 10 years, including one in Cleveland (1995) and three with the Jets when Belichick was assistant head coach under Bill Parcells.

      Mangini could also consider keeping Crennel on as an assistant since they worked together for seven years with the Jets and Patriots.

      I shared my thoughts on the subject here.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Browns to hire Mangini by end of week?

      January 7, 2009 /

      Rotoworld.com (via ESPN’s John Clayton) says that Eric Mangini could be hired by the Browns as early as this week.

      ESPN’s John Clayton believes that the Browns could hold a presser by as early as Thursday to announce their new head coach.
      Eric Mangini is already trying to poach the Jets’ coaching staff for assistants, so it’s clear that a deal is imminent. Mangini’s top choice to run the offense is Bill Callahan. He may target Romeo Crennel to call the defense.

      Depending on who becomes their next GM, this is a good move. There’s no doubt Mangini learned a few things in New York – namely what happens when other teams figure out how to scheme against him. And despite popular opinion, the Browns aren’t a total mess. They have a young quarterback that has showed potential, a solid offensive line and a couple of defensive players in Shaun Rogers, Sean Jones and Eric Wright to build around. They just need a coach that will demonstrate leadership and that will instill direction.

      Mangini should be instrumental in turning around the defense, although the same thing was said when Romeo Crennel was hired. Still, this is a sound move because he’s a good football coach and he’s one of the more creative young minds in the NFL.

      NFL

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