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      Patriots to use franchise tag on Matt Cassel?

      January 2, 2009 /

      Matt CasselThe New England Patriots have quite the decision to make regarding quarterback Matt Cassel, who becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. They could allow the young signal caller to walk, franchise tag him and keep him, franchise tag him and trade him or re-sign him and ship multiple Super Bowl winner Tom Brady elsewhere. (The last option I discussed in more detail a couple weeks ago.)

      NationalFootballPost.com writer Mike Lombardi recently provided some insight on which way the Pats are leaning:

      NationalFootballPost.com writer Mike Lombardi, speaking on Inside the NFL, said the Patriots will place the franchise tag on Matt Cassel.

      “The Patriots are way too smart, and I’ve talked to people in the organization,” Lombardi said. The former Raiders GM worked under Bill Belichick in Cleveland. While this may just be informed speculation, it’s the likely move. Cassel is a huge asset and the Patriots can either work out a short-term contract or trade him after using the tag.

      I agree with Rotoworld.com – the Patriots will likely tag Cassel and then figure out what their next move is. Maybe the team will know more about Brady’s recovery and whether or not he’s going to be ready next season. If Brady continues to recover slowly (which seems to be the current notion), than maybe the Pats will eventually make Cassel their long-term answer and deal Brady in the offseason.

      This will be one the best storylines this offseason.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      VA Tech saves ACC from more bowl embarrassment

      January 2, 2009 /

      Darren EvansEntering the Virginia Tech-Cincinnati Orange Bowl matchup Thursday night, the ACC hadn’t earned a BCS victory since 1999 and some media outlets were even suggesting that the conference champion should lose its automatic BCS bid. Making matters worse, the conference was just 3-6 in non-BCS bowl games this year, further adding to the embarrassment.

      But Frank Beamer’s Hokies put an end to the ACC’s drought with their convincing 20-7 win over the Big East Champion Bearcats. Tech held Brian Kelly’s dynamic offense to just 239 passing yards and picked off Cincy quarterback Tony Pike four times.

      Offensively, Hokie frosh running back Darren Evans did most of the damage, rushing for 153 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore quarterback Tyrod Taylor added 47 rushing yards and a score. As a team, Tech rushed for 259 yards, which was their third 250-yard rushing game of the year.

      Maybe this win will breathe some life into the ACC, which certainly has some talented programs, but inconsistency seems to be the conference’s major drawback.

      VA Tech always has one of the more talented defenses, but poor quarterback play doomed them for most of the year. Georgia Tech’s triple option was impossible to stop at times, but LSU’s 38-3 rout in the Chick-fil-A Bowl proved that the Jackets still have a long way to go to compete for a national title. Boston College, NC State and Maryland have some great young talent, but once again, inconsistency doomed those three programs throughout the year.

      With players like Evans, Taylor, Da’Rel Scott and Russell Wilson, the ACC will feature some of the best young talent in college football heading into 2009. So hopefully the ACC can turn their BCS misfortunes around and produce a legit title contender next year, instead of being the conference that’s best known for its underachieving.

      College Football

      Pete Carroll, you cocky S.O.B.

      January 2, 2009 /

      Behind quarterback Mark Sanchez’s four touchdown passes, the USC Trojans crushed the Penn State Nittany Lions 38-24 in Thursday’s Rose Bowl game.

      Following the win, USC head coach Pete Carroll had this to say:

      Pete Carroll“With all due respect, those are two great programs, I don’t think anybody can beat the Trojans,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “I just think we can beat anyone we played. That’s happened a lot to us late in the season. This is a terrific finishing program. There are so many things we can do. We’re just hard to beat right now.

      “I just wish we could keep playing. Unfortunately, we don’t get to. Maybe someday there will be a chance, but not now.”

      You didn’t get the chance because you lost to an unranked Oregon State team, Pete. And while I agree with your hinted suggestion that their should be a playoff format, with the way the current system is set up, the Rose Bowl is exactly the game USC should have been playing in – not the national championship.

      While the title would suggest otherwise, I actually don’t think Carroll’s, “I don’t think anybody can beat the Trojans,” comments were that bad, although I still don’t think he should have made them. Tell your team that nobody can beat them – not the national media. The politicking for this year is over, Pete.

      As for the game, it essentially played out like I thought it would. USC’s defense was too fast for the PSU, although I thought the Lions would keep the game close after the first quarter. The key was Sanchez not turning the ball over. Several times throughout the course of the year, Sanchez killed scoring drives for the Trojans with costly interceptions. But he kept the ball moving last night and easily played his best game of the year.

      College Football

      Mike Shanahan likely to take the year off

      January 1, 2009 /

      According to ESPN.com’s John Clayton, former Denver Broncos’ head coach Mike Shanahan is unlikely to coach before the 2010 season.

      Mike ShanahanBroncos owner Pat Bowlen admitted he didn’t have a plan yet to replace Mike Shanahan as head coach, and it sure looks as though Shanahan isn’t going to find the right opportunity to keep him in coaching this season. Bowlen appeared a little lost as to the direction of the coaching search during his version of the news conference Wednesday. During his talk, he said all of Shanahan’s coaches were being let go. Later, it was revealed that he misspoke and offensive coaches such as coordinator Jeremy Bates are staying for now. Shanahan was blindsided by his firing. And unless the Jets decide to throw his name into their search, the Lions and Chiefs don’t look like teams ready for his plans to get to the Super Bowl. Shanahan will coach but it most likely will be in 2010 or later.

      Coaching class: If Mike Shanahan does indeed sit for a season, it sets up a remarkable store of head coaching candidates for 2010. Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher and Shanahan should all be available. A team looking for a head coach can’t lose if they get the guy whom they considered the third best from that list.

      Well this puts a major crimp in my massive plan to get Shanahan in a Detroit Lions jumpsuit next year, now doesn’t it?

      NFL

      Iowa’s Shonn Greene declares for NFL Draft

      January 1, 2009 /

      Thanks in large part to Shonn Greene’s three touchdowns, the Iowa Hawkeyes dominated South Carolina 31-10 in Thursday’s Outback Bowl. The win will be the last one for Greene in a Hawkeye uniform, because the 2008 Doak Walker Award winner has decided to forgo his senior season at Iowa and enter the NFL draft.

      Built ideally at 5’11/235, Greene took home the Doak Walker Award in 2008 and eclipsed 100 rushing yards in every game as a junior to set the school’s single-season record with 1,850 on 307 carries. Having started for one season at Iowa, Greene has fresh legs and late first-round pick potential for next April’s draft. Springs workouts will be key for Greene because he is not known as a burner. He also has very little experience as a pass catcher.

      NFL teams would be wise not to judge Grenne mostly on his 40-time because this kid can flat out play. He’s a strong runner and depending on his draft status, he’ll likely be a steal for a team come April. He would have definitely been one of the leading candidates to win the Heisman had he returned for his senior season.

      College Football

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