Thursday, November 30, 2006

WEEK 13

For tonight's game I like teasing the Ravens +9 with the under 47.5......

Rumblings out of Arizona indicate that Cardinals’ head coach Dennis Green and his staff won’t be around long enough to participate in the high pick the team is going to get at the 2007 draft. The Cardinals are currently in a dog fight with Detroit to get the #1 pick at this year’s draft, and with a very tough schedule the rest of the way will be hard-pressed to move down from the first or second picks. The Cardinals have reportedly already decided to make a coaching change next year with names like Pete Carroll of USC, former 49ers and Lions’ head coach Steve Mariucci and even former Giants’ head coach Jim Fassel being mentioned as possible replacements. Indeed, the only remaining question in Arizona appears to be whether G.M. Rod Graves keeps his job, although he may be safe for now. Of course, there is similar speculation in Detroit that Lions’ fans will finally be put out their misery with the expected release of G.M. Matt Millen at the end of the season.....

Oakland has reassigned embattled offensive coordinator Tom Walsh to coach the tight ends while tight ends coach John Shoop will take over offensive coordinator duties for the remainder of the season. Oakland's offense is ranked 32nd and last in the NFL in points scored, yards per game and passing yards per game through 11 games. Walsh was hired by incoming Raiders’ head coach Art Shell in February. Walsh was running a bed-and-breakfast in Swan Valley, Idaho, where he also was the mayor. Walsh was Shell's offensive coordinator with the Raiders when both got fired after the 1994 season. Oakland, which would have the 3rd pick overall if the 2007 draft were held today, has a key draft related game this Sunday with Houston which would have the next pick in town. Meanwhile, Cleveland, which would have the 5th pick overall if the draft were held today, will be without OT Ryan Tucker for the rest of the year. Tucker, who has already missed all or parts of the past three games, has an undisclosed illness.....

Bill Cowher might ultimately go to North Carolina, but he won't be going to North Carolina State. He made that clear yesterday after the university's board of trustees chairman said the board would be foolish not to try to find out if the Steelers' coach were interested in returning to his alma mater to fill its vacancy.....

Del Rio isn't headed to the University of Alabama to become its new coach, as a few Internet message-board rumors suggested. Del Rio isn't even interested.....

Arizona State’s search for a football coach has found its way to Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow. A source confirmed Wednesday ASU has contacted Chow.....


Justin Gatlin, the 100-meter world champion who is facing a suspension of up to eight years from track and field after testing positive for a synthetic testosterone, is apparently trying to forge a career in the National Football League. Gatlin, who won the 100 at the 2004 Olympics and tied the world record in the event in May, participated Tuesday in a 90-minute tryout for the Houston Texans, said Kevin Cooper, the team’s director of media relations.....



CFB NEWS AND NOTES






Most of the top name underclassmen eligible to enter the 2007 NFL draft will be playing in bowls either in late December or early January, however, many will be taking advantage of the break between the regular season and the bowl season to consider their football future options. Underclassmen have until January 15th to officially file paperwork with the NFL in order to be entered in the upcoming draft. And while most top underclassmen will be making up their minds in the next few weeks most won’t announce until after their respective team’s bowl game. On the other hand, several juniors, including Notre Dame DB Tom Zbitkowski and Fresno State RB Dwayne Wright, had for all intents and purposes announced earlier in the year that they would be leaving school at the end of the current season. As usual, much of the interest in who declares is focused on the QBs. Jamarcus Russell of LSU, for example, is reportedly seriously considering a jump to the NFL this year, although the strong-armed junior could also opt to return to school next fall for a run at a potential national championship, the Heisman Trophy and a possible #1 selection in the 2008 draft. Same story for Lousiville junior Brian Brohm, who like Russell would likely be a top 10 pick this coming April, but could return next fall to take a shot at the #1 pick next year. Meanwhile, Russell’s fellow LSU junior, DT Glenn Dorsey, is also reportedly seriously considering entering the 2007 draft where he would likely figure in the late first, early second round mix. Kentucky WR Keenan Burton, who had a breakout season this past fall, is also reportedly close to deciding to turn pro; Kentucky junior RB Rafael Little, on the other hand, is indicating that he will be back for his senior season next fall, while UK junior QB Andre’ Woodson isn’t saying much of anything. At the same time, rangy Indiana sophomore WR James Hardy, reportedly is eyeing a return to school despite the fact he has had academic difficulties in the past, while Oklahoma junior WR Adarius Bowman is also reportedly leaning to returning to school. Players thinking of entering the upcoming draft can not sign with an agent until after their bowl game, but can get advice on where they might be taken from a special NFL advisory committee. Tennessee WR Robert Meacham, another solid junior who had a breakout year in 2006, though, may be taking the most off-beat course. Meacham reportedly will spend several days fasting while he thinks about his pro options.....

Anybody who bet on a Central Michigan/Ohio matchup in the MAC final prior to the season has probably already bought a yacht. But those two teams will indeed be facing off later tonight (7:30 PM ET; ESPN) in the conference championship game. And it will also be a bit of a bonus for pro scouts as Central Michigan has two of the better prospects in the country anywhere in DE Dan Bazuin (#93, 6-3, 270) and OT Joe Staley (#73, 6-5, 295), both of whom are considered to be legitimate first day prospects for the upcoming draft. The CMU defense could also have a prospect in the secondary in Isaac Brown (#6, 5-11, 205), an athletic OLB who also returns KOs, while MLB Doug Kress (#46, 6-0, 240) is a solid mike backer. Meanwhile, Ohio, which hasn't been to a bowl since 1968, is one of this year's great stories in college football, as the Bobcats won nine games. Whether that will translate into someting - anything as Ohio hasn't had a positional player drafted since 1973 - is still to be determined although pro scouts are intrigued by veteran MLB Matt Muncy (#50, 6-1, 230), a tackling machine with almsot 350 career stops, and speedy WR Scott Mayle (#82, 6-0, 175).....

Oklahoma had been hoping to have star junior RB Adrian Peterson back in the lineup if they made the Big XII conference championship game. The Sooners in fact will play Nebraska in Saturday’s title game however Peterson will not be in the lineup. Peterson, rated as a possible top 5 prospect at the 2007 draft, has been out since mid-October with a broken collarbone. Oklahoma is still hoping to get Peterson back for their bowl game.

No comments: