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Tom Brady breaks down talking about being selected in the sixth round

Just because he’s had a storybook career doesn’t mean that Tom Brady doesn’t get a little emotionally when discussing draft day in 2000.

Or really emotional.

Brady appeared on ESPN’s “Year of the Quarterback” series and broke down when discussing what he went through before hearing his name called with the 199th pick in the sixth round.

Before watching the clip, my initial response to hearing that Brady started crying while recounting how he was a sixth round pick was: Oh, brother. What else could the guy ask for? He’s won three Super Bowls, is often viewed as the decade’s best player, has made millions of dollars and married a supermodel. And he’s crying about being taken in the sixth round? Give me a break.

But then I watched the clip and I had a change of heart. At some point or another, we’ve wanted something so bad that we could taste it. Obviously Brady wanted nothing more than to be a NFL quarterback, to prove himself and also make his parents proud. I can imagine how that was a tough day for him and maybe I would have broken down too while recounting how agonizing the wait was. In fact, it seems like a lot of his emotion stemmed from remember how supportive his parents were.

Either way, everything worked out in the end. In fact, it was almost better that he was taken in the sixth round because it has made his career that much more legendary. A sixth round quarterback winning three Super Bowls? Unheard of.

On a related note, how about the Browns taking Spergon Wynn with the 183rd pick instead of Brady? You know that they must have had Brady on their draft board if they were looking for a quarterback in the sixth and they wind up with Spergon freaking Wynn. If that’s not Cleveland Brown luck, I don’t know what is.

Vikings to take Jake Locker at No. 12?

The Vikings need someone to replace Brett Favre and according to ESPN 1500’s Tom Pelissero, they may have their eyes on a quarterback prospect who has Favre-like qualities in their eyes. (Uh, on the field.)

After doing “a lot of digging,” Pelissero believes that Washington quarterback Jake Locker could be the Vikings pick at No. 12. The former Huskie has apparently generated “comparisons internally” to Favre at Vikings headquarters, and there’s a growing sense around the league that Locker is bound for Minnesota.

The fit certainly makes sense. First and foremost, head coach Leslie Frazier told the media a couple of weeks ago that the Vikings want to draft and start a rookie QB. The team also brought Bill Musgrave over from Atlanta to be the new offensive coordinator because he works so well with young quarterbacks (i.e. Matt Ryan). I’m sure the Vikings would love to give Musgrave a similar opportunity to groom someone like Locker, who has great intangibles and an abundance of athleticism, but who needs a fair amount of coaching.

If Locker does wind up in Minnesota, one thing he must make strides with is his accuracy. He fits the mold of a West Coast Offense quarterback in that he’s mobile and can get the ball out of his hand quickly, but his accuracy runs hot and cold. If he’s going to run Musgrave’s version of the WCO, Locker must improve that area of his game. Of course, the nice thing about landing in Minnesota is that Locker will have Adrian Peterson to take most of the load off his shoulders as he learns the ropes. Obviously not all young quarterbacks have AP lining up behind them in the backfield.

We’ll find out in a couple of weeks if Locker does indeed wind up in purple and white.

Ten things learned from Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley

HeavyMMA.com’s Specer Kyte points out the 10 things he learned from Saturday’s historic Stirkeforce: Diaz vs. Daley card in San Diego.

DIAZ VS. DALEY WAS BETTER THAN ADVERTISED
I had concerns about the main event falling short of expectations. Boy, was I wrong.

For three ticks shy of five minutes, these two went toe-to-toe, trading punishing blows and trying to put the other one away. Both men got rocked at different points in the frenetic first round, and even though they only used 1/5 of the allotted time, the fans still got what they came for and then some.

Whatever your feelings on the organization, you have to give Strikeforce their due: more often than naught, we’re treated to wildly exciting fights, and Saturday’s main event was no different.

Read the full article.

Female reporter barred from locker room at the Masters

Tara Sullivan, columnist for the Bergen Record, was barred from the locker room after the Masters. She was attempting to interview Rory McIlroy, who was the leader heading into the Sunday.

“Bad enough no women members at Augusta. But not allowing me to join writers in locker room interview is just wrong,” the initial tweet read.

A member of the Masters media committee (Steve Ethun) told her that it was a mistake and that she should have been allowed in to conduct her interviews.

Augusta National Golf Club has a long history of discrimination and still does not allow female members to join the club.

Judge to impose forced mediation on owners and players?

David Boies, attorney for the National Football League (at microphone podium), speaks to the media after attending a federal court hearing regarding labor negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Players Association in St. Paul, April 6, 2011. Right of Boies is attorney Gregg Levy. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL CRIME LAW BUSINESS)

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter via Twitter, Judge Susan Nelson told owners and players that she will impose “forced” mediation” early this week.

From Rotoworld.com:

The NFL desperately wants mediation of a collective bargaining agreement under George Cohen while the NFLPA prefers mediation of their antitrust lawsuit under Nelson’s supervision. Nelson has hinted that she will side with the players, though there is a chance that she will defer to Cohen’s several-week head start on negotiations. Sources on both sides tell CBSSports.com’s Mike Freeman that this round of mediation “might lead to a deal.” Let’s hope so.

Let’s. The best way for these two sides to come to an agreement that works for everybody is if they talk. Leaving it up to the court system is a bad idea because I would have to imagine that one side would walk away a clear winner and the other a clear loser. Granted, there needs to be compromise on both sides but leaving the lines of communication open would seemingly make the most sense.

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