Is this Guy the Next Mike Alstott?

With the NFL Draft upcoming I started wondering what the Tampa Bay Bucs needed. Of course they need to continue to bring in younger defensive players, get some WR's, and decide who their "Quarterback of the Future" is.

What I want to know is, who could replace the fan favorite Mike "A-Train" Alstott, who retired this year. Fans either had #40 (Alstott), #20 (Ronde Barber), #55 (Derrick Brooks), or #7 (Martin Gramatica) jerseys. Besides Barber and Brooks, who are at the tail end of their careers, the rest are gone. Who will rise up?

Gaines Adams, and Cadillac Williams are somewhat there, but they need a bruiser. Someone who isn't afraid of contact. Ladies and gentleman, I give you, West Virginia FB, Owen Schmitt. Take a look at the video below. Brings back memories, eh?

Yes, the Buccaneers have a FB, BJ Askew. But in 5 years with the Bucs and Jets, he has just 102 rushing yards and 30 receptions. Hardly a fan fav.

Now the question is, can they get him? ESPN.com predicts he'll go around the 4th-5th rounds. Tampa has the 24th pick in the 4th. Now, I just need a #35 Schmitt jersey.

Barry + Rays= ?

Such a simple equation, yet what is the end result? Yes, if rumors come to pass, Barry Bonds, with his steroid-enlarged head, will play in Tampa for the Rays. Let that soak in a little.
Now back to the equation. Sure to Rays will get a lot of negative publicity for the move. But for the Rays, any publicity would be good.
Secondly, any fans the Rays have, will resent the team for signing the hulk. But, they will show up. Yes, they may boo, but you have to have people in attendance to boo. The Giants, in the past 7 years have had season attendance above the league average. While the Rays, have one season (1998, inaugural season) above league average. The low points included under 14,000 "fans" per game in 2002-2003. Most of those in attendance where wearing other teams jerseys.
So yes, I think the Rays should go after Barroid, despite my heart. Because Barry + Rays=Exposure. So for the few Tampa fans can get some national attention.


Also, if you wanted to know what would have happened if the Rays got Bonds, a bit earlier, this is a good read.

Year of the Trade

The NBA season began with a bang, with the Celtics gathering up Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to propel them to a league best 41 wins. That must have gotten the other teams to try to find their own Garnett, to put them in position to make a playoff run. Phoenix shocked everyone by trading Shawn Marion to Miami for Shaq, Dallas got J-Kidd back, Kobe got some help in the form of Pau Gasol, and Bibby is now with the Hawks.
Well, it ain't over yet, news in now in that, like Kobe, LeBron will now have his sidekick. Yes, exit Larry Hughes, enter Ben Wallace.

Can Wallace, on his $15 shoes, help lift the load on James, after 2 horrendous years in Chicago? I have no clue. But this is gonna be an exciting second half.

Wow Miami, Just Wow

It hasn't been a good year for Miami in sports. The Dolphins showed just how bad a football team could possibly be, with just one win in the whole season. The Panthers are 24th in the NHL. And the Marlins just won't keep their proven players.

The Heat used to be the bright spot. It was only a couple of years ago, that Shaquille O'Neal was brought in from L.A. on a 18-wheeler, promising a NBA title.

Well, he did. But since then he has sat. A lot. While the Big Diesel had his pit stops, the Heat have just stunk. 9-37 is their record right now, bad enough for last place. Yes, worse than the Knicks.

So why is everyone starting to believe again? Shaq is gone. Although, it's not really that he is gone, but Shawn Marion is in. How they dealt a over-his-prime superstar to a team that had 3 potential all-stars, I do not know. All I know is that the Heat, thanks to a new sidekick for Dwayne Wade, are back in it. Because in the East, no one is ever really out of it.

My MVP

No offense to Eli, but I think the MVP deserved to go to Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Michael Strahan.

They held one of the NFL's all time greatest offenses to 14 points, a new low. Tuck added two sacks of Tom Brady, and a forced fumble.

I have never seen Tom Brady get hit so many times. He was constantly under pressure, and was out of sync for a large portion of the game. Without this pressure, Brady, with a clean jersey, would have had time to make the right decisions, and then win the game. The game was decided by the trio of Tuck, Umenyiora, and Strahan. So for the Most Valuable Player, I gotta go with those guys

Football is Over...

All of football is over. So now I can concentrate on other things. Such as hockey and basketball.

2008 Patriots: 7-9?

After losing to the Giants this past Sunday, I have to wonder: What will happen to the New England Patriots next year. Since the Giants lost to the Baltimore Ravens in SB XXXV, the losing team has had a significant downfall.

2001 Giants (after loss to Ravens) 7-9

2002 Rams (after loss to Patriots) 7-9

2003 Raiders (after loss to Buccaneers) 4-12

2004 Panthers (after loss to Patriots) 7-9

2005 Eagles (after loss to Patriots) 6-10

2006 Seahawks (after loss to Steelers) 9-7

2007 Bears (after loss to Colts) 7-9

There it is, one winning record out of 7 previous SB losers. The Patriots are getting older, and Randy Moss could always revert to his old ways. I just can't wait till next year!

What Happened to Eli?

Halfway through the season, everyone was right. Eli Manning was overrated. He wasn't horrible, but he wasn't Peyton.

Then came the final game. Should you rest the starters against the perfect New England Patriots, or play for a place in history. Surprisingly, they started the players, and even more surprisingly took the Pats as far as they could go. They didn't win, mind you, but Eli got his dignity.
He has had only one interception from the New England game till now. Compare that to his 5 INT's in the first 4 games in the season. He has played in some of the most difficult places as well. Tampa Bay (One of the top defenses), Dallas, and Green Bay (in the 21st century's version of the Ice Bowl).

Whats next for Eli if he does do the impossible and beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday? I predict more commercials, date supermodels, and overall, live the life that was meant to be lived as a QB in the NFL. Joe Namath would be proud.

Bucs, Former & Present, Dropping Like Flies

First it was Warren Sapp, now it's Mike Alstott. The greatest players in Buc history are retiring one by one. Both were fan favorites. It wasn't odd to see a #99 or #40 jersey walking around in the Tampa area. Both have lost their luster. Sapp declined after a trade to the Raiders, and the A-train with constant back injuries.

I will personally miss both players, especially Alstott. The question now is, who's next? Former coach, Tony Dungy recently contemplated retirement before he ultimately decided against it. Will it be Derrick Brooks, or Ronde Barber? Or perhaps John Lynch. Who ever the next Tampa Bay Buccaneer to retire is, I know this. Gone are the great players from the Super Bowl. We need our younger players to step up now.

PiPA NFL Reg. Season Review

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Best Moment: Week 9, National TV audience. What do you do? Blow the other team out of the water. 5 TD's for Big Ben, over 100yds for Santonio Holmes, and a monster block for Hines Ward.

Worst Moment: Losing to the New York Jets. That's all that needs to be said.

MVP: Mike Tomlin. He brought the 8-8 team that was a huge letdown after SB XL, up two wins and a Division Championship. Not bad for a rookie.

Next Year (Better or Worse?): I say, they'll stay around 10-6. Tomlin will know what to expect, Holmes will be improved. The only downside is their competition. If the Ravens return to form, along with the surprisingly good Browns, this could be a tough division.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
Best Moment: Beating the Cowboys in their own house in week 15.

Worst Moment: Roy Williams horse collar tackle on Donovan McNabb. Everyone was having flashbacks of T.O. getting injured the same way.

MVP: Brian Westbrook. He runs. He catches. He is the most important player on this team.

Next Year (Better or Worse?): I'm gonna go out on a limb and say worse. McNabb is not getting younger, the receivers are not getting better, and fans are not getting any happier.

Miami Dolphins (1-15)
Best Moment: Cleo Lemon's walk-off TD pass in week 15 against the Ravens, giving the Dolphins its first win of the season.

Worst Moment: The other horrendous 15 games. Or Ronnie Brown getting injured.

MVP: The fans. It takes alot of guts to go watch a team who hasn't won a a game in a couple of months. Congrats few Fin fans, there is always next year.

Next Year (Better or Worse?) Better. I mean they can't get any worse. Right? Cause they have draft picks and Ricky Williams will be with them for a full season.... Why don't I feel very confidant in this team?


Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Best Moment: Tie. Michael Spurlock's Kickoff return for a TD. The first in Tampa History.
Ronde Barber Intercepts Jason Campbell in a key situation, that puts him number one in Buccaneer Franchise INT's.

Worst Moment: Losing the season opener against Seatle, which later cost them the tie-breaker against the Seahawks.

MVP: Ernest Graham. Started the season as the 3rd string RB, behind Carnell Williams and Michael Pittman. After both were hurt, he was not brilliant, but effective. After Pittman came back, and the Bucs got Michael Bennett from the Cheifs, Ernest was still the starter.

Next Year (Better or Worse): I want to say better (2 games were lost most likely because of sitting players for the playoffs). But I can't say that, so I'll go with no change.

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5)
Best Moment: David Garrard's Season. Everyone condemned the Jags for letting Byron Leftwich go. Garrard came, won, and conquered the Steelers.

Worst Moment: Fred Taylor not getting a Pro Bowl position. Never been to a Pro Bowl before. The announcement comes, and he's still not there.

MVP: This is too tough to give it too one guy. Fred Taylor and David Garrard. Taylor had the stats, Garrard didn't make mistakes.

Next Year (Better or Worse?): Better. The Super Bowl's the limit for this team.