An Historic Day in the NFL

Posted by on March 11th, 2015  •  0 Comments  • 

It was a day like never seen before in the history of the NFL and free agency.  
 
We have had historic days in the National Football League, whether it was Joe Namath’s New York Jets Super Bowl win over the Colts, or it was OJ Simpson of Buffalo being the first ever to rush for 2,000-yards behind the Electric Company line in Buffalo, or the Ice Bowl in Green Bay, or the Hershel Walker or Eric Dickerson trades..
 
But never off the field have we seen a day like yesterday, launching the 2015-free agent shopping season.
 
There were 5-blockbuster trades announced, involving leading rushers, starting quarterbacks, and big money players.  Then 55-players changed teams on the first day of free agency, including some high water-big money contracts.
 
The landscape in the NFL has forever changed.  The salary cap is at an all time high of $143M, and now trades amongst NFL teams in the offseason are very much changing the look of rosters.
 
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is now a Ram.  Philadelphia has ex St. Louis big money quarterback Sam Bradford.  LeSean McCoy has a record contract and lots of carries coming in Buffalo.  The Jets have brought in explosive wide receiver Brandon Marshall.  Seattle wound up with pass catching tight end Jimmy Graham. The Lions dealt for massive defensive tackle Hloti Ngata.  
 
Some of it was salary cap driven, some of it was changes in coaching staffs.
 
Then NFL teams opened their checkbooks, and the contract offers made were staggering, as were the signing bonuses, and more so than ever, the guaranteed money.
 
Ndomukong Suh heads to the Miami Dolphins on a (6Y-$114M) deal with $60M guaranteed.  He is as good a defensive tackle in the history of the game, and if he stays healthy for four season, should pay off handsomely on the deal. 
 
The New York Jets fired another volley in the long standing border war with the Patriots, signing CB-Darrelle Reavis to a record (5Y-$70M) deal with nearly $40M-guaranteed. 
 
Seahawks young DB-Byron Maxwell is headed to the Eagles on a (6Y-$63M) package, alot of money for a player who has blossomed in just 18-months.
 
Kansas City shelled out ($55M) to Eagles WR-Jeremy Maclin, a huge amount of money for a player who has had just two really good seasons in the league.
 
New England was stunned in the loss of Revis, but did hand over ($47M) to safety Devin McCourty, a proven stars.
 
Julius Thomas, the young tight end, left Denver for Jacksonville, lured by a ($46M) package.  Green Bay’s big play WR-Randall Cobb elected to stay there at a price of ($40M).  
 
Offensive lineman set records too, with the Raiders giving Chiefs OC-Rod Hudson  a wild ($44M) payday, and Arizona handing over ($40M) to guard Mike Iupati of the 49ers, contracts never seen like that before.
 
Of course there were those players franchise tagged, who got guaranteed one year deals, like the ($14M) to Dez Bryant of the Cowboys, the ($14M) deal to Denver’s Demaryius Thomas, and a $13M-package for Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston.  
 
The NFL Union has done an amazing job at the bargaining table on behalf of players.  NFL clubs had to spend to 88% of the salary cap in years gone by, but the union found a number of teams sitting on cap space, and pocketing the money.  The new rules in the CBA, you must spend to the cap, and the NFL guarantees teams will spend 95% of all available cap space.  Lots more money going around.
 
And as we saw on day one, sign early, and get the money while it’s still available.  What was spent in day one, won’t be there for today’s second day of deals.
 
Players getting rich; teams hoping now they get big time production out of the people they just gave big time contracts to.

Chargers – Multiple Choice Exam

Posted by on March 10th, 2015  •  2 responses  • 

The possibilities are fascinating for the San Diego Chargers.
 
The signing of Denver Broncos young, veteran, offensive tackle-guard Orlando Franklin, is a huge upgrade over what they had on the field last year.
 
More importantly, his versatility fits right in, with the unique group of teammates he will join the trenches, once OTA workouts begin in May.
 
Franklin was a 3-year starter at right tackle in Denver, and I thought played well.  Last year, he moved inside to left guard, and though the Broncos had problems, he and teammate Ryan Clady were not the issue.
 
The Broncos lost a couple of centers, had an injury at right tackle, and forced rock-solid right guard Louis Vasquez to go outside and play on the edge, not his normal slot.  The end result, Denver wound up having problems at three offensive line positions, and the pressure and hits on quarterback Peyton Manning got worse and worse as the season wore on.
 
Franklin joins the massive DJ Fluker on that San Diego offensive line.  Fluker has been a road grader at right tackle, but might be even better playing inside at right guard.
 
Chris Watt wound up as the starting center last year, a position that became a Mash unit, with all those injuries.  Watt came out of college as a guard.
 
We know the Chargers, with the 17th pick in the first round, will get a shot at a very good offensive lineman.
 
Reports say Iowa’s guard Brandon Scherff will fall to them.  Florida State center Cam Irving will be there too.  LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins and Miami Hurricane Ereck Flowers could also drop.
 
Think of the mix San Diego could have.  Scherr drafted as a guard. Watt is your young center, Fluker stays at tackle, and Franklin plays left guard, next to King Dunlap.
 
Or maybe Irving is the choice to play center, with Watt going back to guard, with Fluker on that right side.  Franklin and Dunlap anchor the left.
 
Maybe Collins falls to them, and becomes their right tackle, Fluker kicks inside at guard, next to Watt, with Franklin and Dunlap rounding it all out.
 
Could the field tilt with the two wide bodies, Franklin-Fluker playing next to each other?  You could keep Watt in the middle, bring back Chad Rinehart next to Dunlop, and go draft a running back or defense instead.
 
The signing of Orlando Franklin was a brilliant stroke, because he can do so many things, with guys who have already done so many things.
 
The possibilities for the Chargers are endless in this Multiple Choice exam they will take on draft day.

Chargers – Bold or Timid

Posted by on March 9th, 2015  •  1 Comment  • 

NFL free agency starts tomorrow morning for the Chargers and everyone else in the NFL.
 
In San Diego, there are many things to be done in a short, short time.  The biggest, find enough talent to put around quarterback Philip Rivers, before the clock runs out on his record setting career.
 
The window is closing on the 30-plus year old quarterback.  He has taken some big hits, dealt with being hurt, each of the last two seasons.  His franchise has 1-playoff win in 6-years.
 
The Chargers had some $21M left in cap space after the signings of kick returner Jacoby Jones of Baltimore, and the re-signing of offensive tackle King Dunlap. Now the agreement to keep cornerback Brandon Flowers, reduces the available amount.
 
The Sunday night news flash was something.  The Chargers close to a deal to sign Broncos starting offensive lineman Orlando Franklin, a huge get to solidify a weak link on the team.
 
The roster still may have shortcomings, and the team will have to go find more money to fix holes on defense.
 
It’s a nice haul so far, but there may be more holes to deal with early tomorrow morning, when players can actually start signing, especially if the rumors come true, that safety Marcus Gilchrist may get an offer from the Redskins, and the same for cornerback Shareece Wright, from Miami.
 
They could spend their 1st round pick on another offensive lineman, or maybe the need now becomes defense.
 
The Bolts need a true defensive tackle, and free agency offers them some  proven veteran.
 
Ndamukong Suh of the Lions is asking for $16M a year, an enormous amount of money, but he changes everything on your defense if you sign him, but he appears headed to Miami.  The Patriots Vince Wilfork is a force upfront and a strong leader in the lockeroom, and a short term contract could lure him.  The Jets Kenrick Ellis has upside, size, and a bit of experience, and seems poised to leave the Jets.
 
In the secondary, the name Troy Polamalu, headed to the twilight of his career may be out there too, and a short term rental to bring the ex-USC Trojan and Steeler  home, might be worth the investment, from a talent standpoint and a chemistry one too.
 
Tom Telesco has shed his conservative approach.  He may need to do more… The GM has the ability to restructure Rivers’ $17M-cap figure contract and give him an extension. They can do the same with safety Eric Weddle’s $10M cap figure deal, and give him a short term extension.  Those deals now give you more cap space immediately to finish the job..
 
San Diego doesn’t need more draft picks to develop, they need instant veteran additions.
 
The window is closing on Rivers career fast, the roster needs experience and leadership.  Time to move quickly on all this, for signings start at 10am-Tuesday..
 
Telesco once viewed as “Tom Timid”, could finish as “Tom Terrific.”

Halos Player Life in Hell

Posted by on March 6th, 2015  •  0 Comments  • 

This will be a tough, tough call.  This will be a devastating blow to the ballclub.  This a terrible setback for the player.
 
Major League baseball has a decision to make on oft-troubled Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has had another drug relapse.  He is facing a significant suspension as a repeat offender.  He is facing additional time in rehab again.  And now the word trust has to come into any future conversation about his career, his contract, his ability to beat this, not pitching, but cocaine and alcohol.
 
The story is so well told, high draft pick, Tampa Bay, living on the edge, deeply involved in substance abuse, suspended, left baseball for 3-years while a minor leaguer.
 
Rescued himself thru rehab and religion, given a chance by the Cincinnati Reds, and stayed clean.  Traded to Texas, hired a sobriety coach, put together some amazing seasons, 5X all star, MVP type player, in the World Series too.  Signed a 5-year big money contract with the Angels, but has been hurt, underachieved and now has fallen off the wagon into a ditch.
 
There are two ways to look at Josh Hamilton.  He cannot stay sober, has failed to grasp the opportunities afforded him, and should be gone from the game.  
 
The other is the more emotional version, has fought back from addictions, committed to stay clean, has slipped a couple of times, but always rallied back.  
 
Putting at risk this huge $25M contract for this season with the Halos, shows how severe the addiction to alcohol and cocaine can be.  The urge is there everyday, the hook is waiting to grab you, the money in your pocket makes you an easy mark.
 
The harsh critics will say baseball cheat, get rid of him.  But you need to look inside Josh Hamilton to understand the man and the mission he has been on.  
 
He sought out help.  He hired his own sobriety coach, a recovering alcoholic.  He has written a book about addiction.  He has deep religious values.  He and his wife spend holidays working in soup kitchens to help the homeless.  His charity contributions in the cities he plays in are significant.  He has openly spoke of his battles.  And he turned himself in, this winter, when he slipped again.
 
Somewhere, baseball needs to find a middle ground for the fallen Angel.  Support him while suspending him.  There appear to be many good qualities to this man, even if the bad ones, relapses, have occurred 3-times in 6-years.
 
The fact that Josh Hamilton cares about people, and cares about himself to reach out and say I did it, I need help, means there is value to the person, who wants to beat this habit, just like he beat pitchers trying to get him out.
 
Each player’s issues are so different, that baseball should recognize that.  Baseball has allowed wrong doers back into the game after they served their time for whatever the crime.
 
Josh Hamilton is so different than the other slugger who is always embroiled in controversy, Alex Rodriguez.  The Yankee has cheated the game, and stained the record books.  The Angel has hurt his team and cheated himself.  One refused to be honest about the steroid era.  This one is honest about his issues.
 
Baseball should hand out discipline in this case with the Angels fallen star, but instead of an iron fist of discipline, maybe a compassionate helping hand to someone who admits he has shortcomings.
 
The Josh Hamilton decision, indeed a tough, tough, call.

A Baseball Day to Remember

Posted by on March 5th, 2015  •  1 Comment  • 

On this day, the first steps were taken to change baseball history.  On this day, in Daytona Beach, Florida, the game would forever begin to evolve..  On this day, the gates were opened and a flood of talent would begin flowing to the grand old game.
 
On this day in 1946,  Jackie Robinson put on his first professional baseball uniform, working out for the first time with the Montreal Royals, the top farm club of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
 
We have read about Robinson, we have seen the most recent movie “42” about his trials and tribulations crossing the color line, but we’ll really never know, nor understand how hard it was physically, and even more so emotionally, and the toll it too on him over the next decade, before his career ended so abruptly.
 
We have seen history of violence against blacks in the deep south, the killings of the Freedom Riders in Mississippi, the KKK-cross burnings, the bloody march across the bridge in Selma, Alabama.
 
The debut of Jackie Robison was so different.  The intent was still the same, but instead of a night-stick from police chief Bull Connor, or the racial hate spewed by Governor George Wallace, or bombs in churches in Montgomery, it was beanballs, threats, and an unwelcome feeling every minute of every day.
 
The International League was spread up and down the Eastern Seaboard.  Jersey City, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Syracuse, Newark, Buffalo, Rochester and Toronto.  Racism in those cities, including those in the North, still existed.  There were opposing players, fans on the road, even biased umpires.
 
The Montreal Royals were managed by Clay Hopper, born and bred in Greenwood, Mississippi, a state where hatred of Negroes was a way of life.
 
His teammates included a longtime deep south Alabaman, Dixie Walker, who looked down on coloreds.  The top two hitters on the team, Marvin Rackley and Lew Riggs, were good old boys, from South Carolina and North Carolina.
 
Walker was outspoken, the others were silent, possibly put in their place by Brooklyn GM-Branch Rickey.  Imagine however how uncomfortable, how lonely at times that clubhouse must have been, the silence on the bus trips, and the air in the dugouts.
 
Montreal was a cosmopolitan city, diverse, dynamic, well-to-do, and they took to Robinson right from the get-go.  But the ball yard was not an easy place.
 
That first year was just a trial run for what 1947 would be all about, when Robinson got to Brooklyn to play first base.  He had already had a life full of experiences, by the time he got to the Royals camp at age 27, from UCLA thru the army tour of duty. 
 
Robinson dominated that 1946 season, hitting (.349) with 40-stolen bases, an a (.468) on base percentage.  He changed the way the game was played, hitting, fielding, stealing bases, and creating runs.
 
His closest teammate would be Spider Jorgenson, who wound up going with him to Brooklyn the next season.  Robinson made everyone around him better, in fact, the Royals had 8-hitters with batting averages of (.285) or better.
 
Oddly, also on that roster were players who would eventually wind up in the major leagues, as front office execs, Bob Fontaine with the Padres, the legendary Al Campanis, himself a minority (Cuban) with the Dodgers, and future Giants manager Herman Franks.
 
When they were done, the Royals went (100-54) and won the Little World Series.  
 
Robinson set standards nobody would ever eclipse in that top minor league during that given season.  His successes in Brooklyn would be recorded forever for mankind, in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
 
But on this day, the journey began, the good times on the field, the toughest of times in the clubhouse, and worst times on the road.  We can document his career by his stats, but the intangibles of the man are as important as the numbers put up by the player.
 
We often use the words like courage and strength, dedication and toughness, resolve and ambition.  They all sum up what the man was all about, and what started on this day in 1946, for the Montreal Royal, future Brooklyn Dodger, and maybe the greatest ambassador baseball ever had, Jack Roosevelt Robinson…  
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