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“Quarterbacks-So What Would You Do?”

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You’re on the clock readers. You obviously had a bad season. You run a bad football team. That’s why you are drafting at the top of the draft board come Thursday night in Dallas.

So what are you going to do.

The NFL is a quarterback driven league, and there should be 4-quarterbacks taken early in the first round. But the debate rages on.

How do you make sure you are getting the blue chip real deal and not some fool’s gold.

NFL draft history is littered with quarterback high pick failures.

You make a mistake on one, it costs you probably 40M in salary cap money, and probably sets your franchise back five years.

The Ryan Leaf saga damaged the Chargers. JaMarcus Russell virtually destroy what was left of the Raiders, that Al Davis had not destroyed.

Robert Griffin III seems to be a budding star, but the system, his injuries, his feud with coaches, wiped out his career.

We know the track record of the person and the player, Johnny Manziel.

Need we mention the disgrace Todd Marinovich became. Or the failures of high picks like Gene Smith, EJ Manuel and so many others.

The Cam Newton’s of the world are few and far between. Finding a gem like Carson Wentz doesn’t happen very often.

But good guys are out there. Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and more. There are very few Peyton Mannings and Troy Aikmans.

And so we wait for 5pm to see what Cleveland does with the first pick, and which teams trade up to try and get access to other quarterbacks at the front end of the draft.

Josh Allen had a nice two years at Wyoming, and is a stud as an athlete. But there will be a real learning curve for him, for he is not polished. But then again, Wentz came out of North Dakota State and the step up in competition didn’t bother him.

If you subscribe to the theory you want a big time player, who played at a big time program, and in big time games, then the big numbers Sam Darnold put up at USC would carry him to the top of the board. You can work on mechanics, ball protection and all that. He seems to be a born leader with lots of physical tools.

The wildcard might be UCLA’s Josh Rosen. He did crank out big passing numbers, is a strong athlete, but took lots of hits, sacks and got hurt two years in a row with the Bruins. He might be a bit of a free spirit, but that was never a problem for guys like Jim McMahon. He needs time grow and refine his strengths.

Baker Mayfield did a lot at Oklahoma, but the burning question, is he a systems quarterback? But that’s what they said about Alex Smith coming out of Utah, and he won in San Francisco and then in Kansas City. Some say his size works against him, but try telling that to Drew Brees.

The great unknown is Louisville’s amazingly productive Lamar Jackson. He was everything to the Cardinals, run and pass. A great athlete, some think he could be an elite receiver and running back. But learning the NFL game, under center, takes a lot of time. Those read option QBs take lots of hits. Just ask RGIII or Vince Young, what happened to his career when he failed to become a pocket passing QB.

The next in the pecking order would be Mason Rudolph, the one man gang at Oklahoma State, viewed as solid but not complete, more second round, compared to the good guys in the first round.

So that’s what the top of the draft board looks like. Of course we have the Tom Brady rule, that says you can find established QBs later in the draft.

That’s where guys like Kyle Lauletta-Richmond…Luke Falk-Washington State…Riley Ferguson-Memphis…Mike White-WesternKentucky might wind up.

Right guy? Right system? Right coaching support staff? All that goes into determining how good the blue-chip names at the top of the draft board become.

We might never-ever see the likes of the 1983-Elway-Marino-Kelly-Eason-O’Brien NFL draft. Four of those QBs led teams to the Super Bowl. But Thursday night’s group could turn out to be just that.

You’re on the clock. What are you going to do at the top of the draft board?

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1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Tuesday……”Browns-Top Pick-Terrible Quarterbacks”

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The once proud NFL franchise, that brought us the brilliance of running back Jimmy Brown, and the leadership of NFL icon owner Art Modell, has fallen on hard times.

It’s hard to believe that Cleveland, which lost its team in the mid-1990’s, when Modell moved the money troubled team to Baltimore, has been down for so long. It’s harder to believe the number of quarterbacks who have worn the Orange helmet since the team was put back on the field.

They have a (1-31) record over the last two seasons. Have failed miserably under any and all head coaches, since the team was readmitted to the NFL in 1999.

No one, not Bill Belicheck, Eric Mangini, Butch Davis, nor others, has been able to resurrect the franchise.

And how special was this franchise? The flagship team, founded in 1946 by the legendary Paul Brown. Won all those championships in the old All American Football Conference. Won an NFL title in 1964. Haven’t won much recently, with anybody and everybody trying to make plays.

— DeShone Kizer-Cody Kessler-Kevin Hogan—

The NFL gave Cleveland the expansion franchise in 1999, and gave them extra draft picks with Chris Palmer as incoming head coach. It’s been a horror show of bad ownership decisions, bad coaches and bad drafts.

The numbers surrounding Browns football are staggering, not just last year’s (0-16) season, or the (1-31) record dating back two seasons. So to are the numbers of quarterbacks they’ve tried to win with, 28-different starters in all since 1999..

—-Tim Couch-Charley Frye-Colt McCoy—

Since the advent of Browns football in 1999, the team has a composite record (88-216). Cleveland has just one playoff appearance since the ’99-debut. It’s had just two winning seasons in 19-years, despite being a wealthy franchise, in a new stadium, with tremendous heritage and fan support. All that is Browns football’s honor roll, and then there’s the other history of the team, the ‘Mistake by the Lake’.

—Ty Detmer-Spurgeon Wynn-Doug Pederson-Jake McCown—

The NFL is all about stats and performances. And here’s the most staggering stat of all. Since 1999, when they re-emerged, and drafted quarterback Tim Couch with the number one pick, the Browns have gone thru 28-different starting quarterbacks in those 19-seasons.

Now we fast forward to this Thursday and the NFL draft. Because of that winless season, and by virtue of a number of trades, the Browns will draft 1st and 4th in the opening round. They have 3-second round picks, winding up drafting 1-4-33-35-64. New GM-John Dorsey has 5-of the top 64-picks.

Oh do they ned a quarterback, having given up of draft picks DeShone Kizer and Cody Kessler since traded.

They have dealt for ex Bills starter Tyrod Taylor, a decent QB, not prone to turnovers, but not someone with a winning track record.

—Jeff Garcia-Kelly Holcombe-Ken Dorsey-Connor Shaw-Austin Davis—

Cleveland approaches Thursday with the chance to make the right pick, or as the fans fear, make the wrong pick.

The bluechip names atop the board come in all sizes, shapes, backgrounds. Quarterbacks galore, but which is the right one-vs-the wrong one?

USC’s Sam Darold rewrote the passing records for the Trojans. Big strong, loud,, makes big plays, but has a history of big turnovers.

Wyoming’s Josh Allen put together two big stat seasons in Laramie, but completed just 52% of his passes, but that may be a by-product of not having much talent around him.

UCLA’s Josh Rosen is a riverboat gambler, who put up big number, got big injuries, and is a showboat.

Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield is only 6′ tall, is free spirit, and did fabulous talent, but has some Johnny Manziel in him.

—Trent Dilfer-Derek Anderson-Robert Griffin III-Johnny Manziel—

Though losing a lot, the Browns have spent past draft currency on defense. The off season has brought them ex Miami wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Josh Gordon, a tremendous skill receiver, seems to have fought thru the demons of substance abuse, and finished the season strong.

The Browns could take a quarterback at number one, and the top defensive player at four. They could take Saquon Barkley, a Bo Jackson lookalike, at running bak with the first pick, and take a QB at four. They could keep the first pick, trade th fourth, and add more picks.

Thursday will be fascinating, with hopes the Browns hit the jackpot,make the right calls, and start to win.

—-Brady Quinn–Bruce Gradkowski–Jake Delhomme-Bryan Hoyer—

The glare of the spotlight is everywhere around this team, or maybe it is more the dark shadow of past bad quarterback history, that still rings around this franchise.

I’d take the running back first, the quarterback next, and start the drive to takeover the AFC-North.

The Dawg Pound is sitting there waiting to explode. The franchise, that has gone to the dogs, needs this to be the biggest day in modern Browns history. i

—Branden Weeden-Seneca Wallace-Thad Lewis-Jason Campbell—

The franchise that set the pace back in the day, starting with Otto Grahame thru Bernie Kosar, has also given us Jin Ninowski-Frank Ryan and Milt Plum.

What they give us Thursday has to be better than they’ve given their fans the last two decades or so. Things have to get better.

It just cannot be the Browns as we know the Browns to be

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“The Padres-Only a Small Sample Size”

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So they are starting this season, like they have started so many seasons lately, with a lousy record, a struggling starting rotation, some guys hitting,others not, and the typical number of injuries.

This (8-15) start is not the end of the world, because there is so much to look forward to….we think.

Yes it is a small sample size.

Christian Villanueva has had a really strong start, hitting homes runs, slashing extra base hits. So far so good. We’ll see if the scouting reports catch up to him. And the standing joke, will he drive in more runs than he allows on defense.

Manny Margot has had a rugged start, hitting in the sub-200’s, after a rock solid season last year from start to finish.

Franchy Cordero gives you a flash moment, but lots of strikeouts. The misplay of the flyable that cost Tyson Ross his no-hit opportunity in Arizona, is typical of his aggressiveness that leads to either a big play, massive homer, or bad play, end of no hitter.

Tyson Ross looks likeTyson Ross looked the year he went to the All Star game. This is a fierce competitor who has battled back from blood clot surgery. His velocity, his slider, his approach in that game at Arizona was outstanding.

Craig Stammen continues to rack up shutout innings in hold situations for the lead in guy to Brad Hand.

Chase Headley is in a stunning slump, hitting .100 as we head to the 5th week of the season. He’s not getting at-bats except as a pinch hitter. You wonder if he has lost some bat speed.

Joey Luchessi has heen dazzling. In four starts, only two bad innings so far. Of course he has hurt himself with bad throws to the bases, but his diverse stuff is fun to watch, his maturity on the mound equally impressive.

Eric Lauer appears to be the next one on the horizon, the next AJ Preller draft pick to get a chance to start a major league game. Most impressive among his numbers in El Paso, strikeouts to walks ratio.

Freddy Galves catches everything in the middle of ht infield. He wants to play every inning, so we will have to see if the wear and tear takes a toll on his offensive output.

El Paso has some good starts, some bad stuff early in the season, though that (12-5) record in the PCL is a great start. Brett Kennedy has a (1.04-ERA) in 3-starts, in a hitters league. Javy Guerra, who struggled for two years in the lower minors, is hitting (.276), and Diego Goris, another infielder, is slashing at (.382). Hard throwing relief pitcher Trey Wingenter has a bloated (11.01-ERA). Hot prospect Luis Urias is batting (.250)

San Antonio’s 1st baseman Josh Naylor has been All-April, with a (.379) month, with 6-homers and 15RBIs out of the gate. Pitcher Matt Strahm is likely the next arm to be called up, with a (3.68-ERA) as they flip him back into a starting pitcher, stretching him out. Former 1st round pick Calvin Qunatrill has a (1.23-ERA) but walks are still an issue. Not an easy debut at Double A-for Fernando Tatis. Hs hitting (.187) wit 20-striekouts in 66-sat bats.

Lake Elsinore has had a slow start. Cuban phenom pitcher Adrian Morejon has found the jump to High Class A-pretty tough, an (0-2) record with a 5.11-ERA, allowing 21-bae runners in his first 12-innings. Ditto for young pitcher Ron Balona, an (0-2) mark and a 7.29-ERA.

Fort Wayne is impressed with young SS-Esteury Ruiz, with a (.273) average, but Gabe Arias is struggling at (.216). On the mound, last years first round pick MacKenzie Gore has blister problems and is on the Midwest League disabled list. Fellow pitching prospects Mason Thompson (10.80-ERA) and Osvaldo Hernandez (4.73) have found roughage going early.

It’s early season, and this is a small sample size. But for the Padres and their prospects, some good games, and a bunch of bad ones too..

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“QB History-Anniversary-San Diego”

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Dan Fouts-Stan Humphries-Philip Rivers.

Pretty good NFL quarterbacks. Fouts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Humphries led the Chargers to their only Super Bowl Appearance. Rivers has rewritten all the passing records, but has only gotten to the AFC title game once.

Mention those names and the stories keep on coming about record setting passing days, big wins, wild comebacks, and memorable games.

This weekend is the 20th anniversary of another quarterback with the Bolts, Ryan Leaf, who brought the franchise down, and destroyed his career-life.

It was 20-years ago now when the Chargers, coming off horrid seasons, selected Leaf with the 2nd pick in the NFL draft right after the Indianapolis Colts had taken Peyton Manning.

The Chargers went thru 18-different quarterbacks between the time Dan Fouts retired and the franchise traded for Stan Humphries of the Redskins.

Then Humphries career ended with a concussion a couple of years after the teams Super Bowl run, and they went thru 18-more quarterbacks, until that 1998-draft, that brought them Leaf.

Thru all those bad years, you’ll remember the names Mark Vlasic, Sean Salisbury, Bob Gagliano, Mark Herrman, Jim Everett, Jim Harbaugh, Tom Flick, Craig Whelihan, Jim McMahon and more, as the franchise tried to find someone-anyone to be competitive under center.

The Ryan Leaf acquisition was supposed to be the one that led the franchise back.

While Manning led Tennessee to great seasons in the SEC, Leaf set passing records at Washington State in the Pac 10-Conference. Leaf and his ‘Fab 5’ receivers corps were so much fun to watch.

The fun ended shortly after he was drafted.

GM-Bobby Beathard, like a lot of scouts around the NFL, thought they had a diamond in the rough in Leaf. Big (6’5), thick (235lbs), a cannon for an arm, a smile and a leader. The so-called diamond became fools-gold.Ωz

They were misled by Cougars coach Mike Price, who flat out lied about Leaf. Disliked by teammates, arrogant, not a student of the game, a party guy, an arrogant ass.

He wasn’t ready to play, and yet troubled head coach Kevin Kilbride threw him on the field early.

The memories of this mess are still everywhere in San Diego, even if the franchise is no longer here.

Leaf drunk in a bar, wearing sun glasses. Leaf injuring his writs screwing around in practice, diving on a loose football.

Leaf, supposedly doing rehab, discovered playing flag football in Mission Bay, while the team was on the road, and he wa supposed to be doing rehab.

The horrific (1-15) passing day with 3-picks in the rain in Kansas City. The 6-interception game in Seattle’s Kingdome against the Hawks. The blowup in the lockeroom with the media. His suspension by his General Manager.

A career record of (4-17), a trade to Dallas, a spiral down addiction to pain-killers, jail time-rehab and all.

Peyton Manning went to Super Bowls and will go to the Hall of Fame. Leaf went to prison and goes down as one of the all time biggest busts in NFL draft history.

It took forever for the Chargers to pick up the pieces. They discovered Drew Brees, then they traded the rights to Eli Manning for the rights to Philip Rivers.

The Chargers have had good seasons with Rivers at the helm, though they have never gotten to a Super Bowl.

We now look forward to next Thursday’s NFL draft, where 5-quarterbacks could all go in the first round. Might be a superstar in the Sam Darnold-Josh Allen-Josh Rosen-Baker Mayfield group. Might be a washout or two too.

The pictures are everywhere in the minds of longtime Chargers fans.

Fouts, with blood on the front of his uniform, quarterbacking Air Coryell. Humphries bomb’s away mentality in the playoffs. Rivers slingshot passing style and all those 400-yard games.

But you can never get away from the horror of Ryan Leaf era either.

Twenty years removed, the nitemare that was Ryan Leaf is part of Chargers history, and it just will never-ever go away. An anniversary you’d like to forget.

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“Padres Pitching Problems-Everywhere”

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Root-root-root for the home team. That’s what the old time baseball chant is.

Not here in San Diego, not right now.

Not after the Padres got sand-blasted three straight games by the Dodgers. Now the Friars go on the road to face the first place Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Colorado Rockies and their humidor home run balls at Coors Field.

I told you when spring training opened, the Padres didn’t have enough starting pitching. I recall writing the 10-potential starters they had brought to camp, had a combined (5.62-ERA) a year ago.

I told you opening day of my fears that they still did not have enough arms in that rotation, and then Chris Young walked out, Dinelson Lamet got bad news, and they proceeded to waste the opening home stand, going (1-6) to start all this.

Now the Dodgers drill them, and off they go on another road trip, where the D-backs and Rockies have a history of trashing pitching in their ballparks.

Thank goodness for Joey Luchessi, assuming the role of ace, with a 1.66-ERA in his first group of starts. Good stuff, better composure. Doing here what he did for 3-seasons in the minors.

Clayton Richard grinds thru starts and will give you everything he has. Some outings good, sometimes he gets banged around. But his ERA is a gaudy (5.73).

Tyson Ross, proven veteran, so far so good, and has reclaimed his dominance and competitive fire post blood clot surgery. The veteran ha a (3.50) ERA.

Beyond that, problems everywhere.

Bryan Mitchell has a crackling fastball, but all types of location problems. A glaring (5.09-ERA), even worse, it seems like he’s pitching from the stretch the minute he leaves the dugout. He’s allowed 37-baserunners in 19-innings, and struggles nightly.

Luis Perdomo got torched by the Dodgers, probably his worst outing of his San Diego career. The problem, he’s had many more bad outings than good ones in the last half of last year and the start of this season. An ERA that is now at (8.36)

And there is no Lamet coming back, maybe not till 2020.

We’re just 3-weeks into the season, and the starting pitching is so shoddy, the bullpen has been used 66-times in the first 19-games. They had the second most innings working out of the pen in all of baseball.

The team leads the National League in unearned runs allowed (18) leading into last night’s game, so defensive issues keep popping up..

And of course the team, which showed us a 20-strikeout night on Tuesday, has also struck out a whopping 197-times in the first 19-games, again leading all of baseball.

There are no easy answers to all this.

Young college lefty Eric Lauer is likely the next one to be called up, but who knows if he is really ready, though he has a (3.00-ERA) in the hitter happy Pacific Coast League. Even better, is Brett Kennedy’s (1.04-ERA) but he has yet to be called up last year or this year.

The first round pick of a couple of years ago, Calvin Quantriill is at San Antonio, has a good ERA, (1.23) but has walked a bunch of batters, and put a lot of runners on base.

Ex-Royal Matt Strahm is being flipped back to a starter, and is at (3>68) at Class AA, but is coming off knee surgery, and needs to build innings, and does not appear major league ready.

Yes the future is better than today, but with this lousy start, we are looking at a lot of bad baseball this summer. The Friars have pissed away two homesteads already.

You see the crowds for the Dodgers series-not good. And remember they gave up a 3-game homestead with the Dodgers to go play in Mexico too.

I had hoped (81-81) was possible as the season opened, but that was before Lamet got hurt, and Perdomo stopped getting people out.

Any ideas? AJ Preller could use some advice. The suggestion box is open.