Saturday Niblets from around the net for 03/28/09

Fryingpan Sports

Saturday Niblets from around the net for 03/28/09

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By Bill Smith

Best comment of the last 2 weeks:

Acai Burn’s comment on Don’t get too excited about a 3 team deal involving Jay Cutler and the Browns.

The Browns have two serviceable quarterbacks on the team at this time and to make a move at the qb position when they have other needs is a waste.

The problem is that in a three way deal, there is no way to compensate the Browns for the loss of Quinn. The Broncos will demand more than Quinn in return for Cutler. The question I posed boils down to where will the draft choice(s) for the Browns come from to compensate them for giving up Quinn?

Updates on previous columns:

Thoughts about the first 2 rounds of the NCAA Tournament. – CBS has done a little better job limiting the switches in games. The officials must be reading my site. There have been very few visits to the scoring table replay TV since I commented on the issue. The top seeded teams are still in control of the bracket although Xavier gave Pittsburgh a tough game on Thursday night. In my opinion a 3 winning over a 2 is not an upset. The quality of play was still way below average even in the games between 2nd and 3rd seeds. The experience of Missouri was too much for 2nd seed Memphis. The Missouri pressure cause both forced and unforced turnovers by the younger Memphis players. Shot selection is a totally unknown concept in college basketball today.

Owens going to Buffalo says most about the BillsOur favorite drama queen Terrell Owens did not report to the voluntary workouts in Buffalo. That is an indication that he is not overjoyed at being forced to sign with the NFL equivalent of Siberia. Supposedly, Coach Dick Jauron told TO it was alright to miss the workouts. However, TO has to earn the support of the Bills’ locker room. Avoiding workouts with the team is not the way to do that. The Bills’ organization is going to have to put TO on a VERY short leash.

Fresh Niblets:

The NFL is considering a developmental league. Given the current economic downturn, that would not be on the radar without the United Football League starting play in 09. Keep checking this site for updates on the UFL.

Curt Schilling retires. Schilling is a shoe and a bloody sock in for the Hall of Fame. While his regular season numbers are good, his performances in the playoffs and the World Series puts him in. The very best players want the ball when the season is on the line. He wanted it and was at his best in the biggest games.

Patrick White West Virginia QB refused to do WR drills at his pro day. The NFL scouts wanted to see White catch the ball and demonstrate his abilities at WR. White wants to play QB and given the number of teams in desperate need of a QB, I think he has a chance. He will probably be as good a wildcat formation QB as any in the league. But he has the chance to develop into a Mike Vick type QB without the dog fighting baggage.

The NCAA is investigating possible recruiting violations at Univ. of Connecticut. Coach Jim Calhoun was under fire for his reaction to questions by a reporter about his salary. This should add to the heat considerably. Although the player in question never played for UConn, the best way to defuse the issue is to win the championship.

Miguel Tejada sentenced for lying to Congress about steroids – Since it can’t seem to convict the users, the US Congress is going after those that refused to name names. Now, if we could just get those in Congress to admit their guilt for the housing and economic crisis, …

Cowboys’ Jerry Jones lifted the gag order on HC Wade Phillips for the owners meetings—Opps! – Phillips said it takes 4 years to tell if a HC can do the job. No Wade, we knew you were a dolt by the third game in your first HC job. You have been fired twice since then and should have been let go after last years disaster.

People wonder why Jones keeps Phillips as HC. Admittedly, trying to coach the Cowboys is like trying to herd cats—it just is not possible. It is not that Jones can’t see Phillips’ short comings. Phillips keeps his job by letting Jones call all the shots. The reason that Jimmy Jones and Bill Parcells are no longer in Dallas is they would not put up with Jones’ constant interference.

The Blue Jackets look like they are going to make the playoffs for the first time. It seems silly to play 82 game to find out which half of the league is not going to the playoffs. Even so, the CBJ have never made the post season. For fans of Columbus, all I can say is IT’S ABOUT TIME!

The Browns signed UFA alleged OT John St. Clair to a 3 year 9 mill contract. YUCK! St. Clair is a turnstile at tackle. If they play him at guard, he might be an adequate reserve. But at tackle, St. Clair has left more broken QB’s on the ground behind him than Mean Joe Greene.

That’s what I think. Tell me what you think.

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for and edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and edits .

My email is [email protected].

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