Saturday's Niblets from around the net.

Fryingpan Sports

Saturday’s Niblets from around the net.

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By Bill Smith

Best comment of the week:

On Thursday’s article What to look for at the Combine—Offense by 2008 Taxes

Great information about what to look for in an NFL quarterback. I think high school kids should consider going to an NFL style system in college before signing with a team that plays some weird kind of spread.

That is a great point. It is one of the reasons that USC and other teams that use a traditional NFL style offense do so well at bringing drop back QBs to play for them. More athletic QBs that are more run oriented than drop back passer go to schools with the spread offense to take maximum advantage of their ability.

Updates from previous editorials:

On Texas Tech AD needs to have his head downsized from 2/18/09

Mike Leach and the administration have reached agreement. So far there is a gag order on the details of the agreement. The fans, particularly those with a history of large donations to the university, complained loudly about the problem. It is most likely that the Board of Regents slapped down AD Gerald Myers’ attempt to super glue Leach to the TT bench.

My Advice: At the next meeting of the Regents, why not discuss the future of Myers? He has done more to make your university look like a ship of fools than anyone else ever could.

The Daytona 500 prayer

There were some columnists that complained about the prayer before the race. Those that are not religious complained that there is no place for a prayer at a sporting event.

My Advice: If I was going to run that fast around that narrow a track with that many cars on it, I would want to be right with God as well. Get over it.

The Daytona 500 is cut short.

Can you imagine a Super Bowl that is called off after the 3rd quarter? How about the 7th game of the World Series called after 6 innings? I don’t for a moment believe that the fans would stand for that. There were major complaints about the MLB All Star game that was called after 14 innings and was still tied—and that was an exhibition!

NASCAR is going to have to find a way to complete the Daytona 500 no matter what. Granted the current rules provide for a race being called the way that the 500 was. But when you are running the biggest and most prestigious race of the year, you need to have special rules for it. The NFL plays unlimited overtimes for playoff games but only 1 quarter of OT for the regular season as Eagles QB Donovan McNabb found out to his surprise.

My Advice: Move the California race a week and change the rules to run the entire 500 miles for Daytona. Use the Monday after to run it if necessary but give the fans a full race.

A record 14 teams use Franchise tags

This year’s total broke last years record of 11 teams using the contract free agent loophole to keep a critical player. This might sound like no big deal but it could be a very big deal. To me, the large number (almost half of the league) indicates that those teams do not believe that the league will be able to come to an agreement with the NFLPA.

When the franchise tag is used and the team is able to sign the player to a long term contract, the tag can not be used again for the length of that contract. The fact that 2 kickers were tagged is another indication that the teams believe that the league will vote to lock the players out in 2010 if no new contract has been signed. If the league does not play football in 2010, these franchise tags would expire.

There is another possible explanation. It also could indicate that even if the league is able to get a deal, it will not include any restrictions to player movement. In that case as well, the tags would expire but the contracts would still be in place.

My Advice: I don’t often quote Larry the Cable guy but in this case I will. On the subject of the contract with the players: “GET ‘ER DONE!”

Tampa Bay lets QB Jeff Garcia leave via free agency.

Tampa Bay refused to resign Garcia and signed backup Cate McNown to a 2 year extension. That makes me wonder what new head coach Raheem Morris has been smoking! Have you seen McNown throw?

My Advice: The D is getting old but is still ready to win now. Find a starting quality QB very quickly or you and your fellow coaches won’t be around long.

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].

Technorati Tags: NASCAR,Daytona 500,Franchise tag,Garcia,NFL Draft,NFL Combine,USC,Ohio State,College football,Texas Tech,Leach,contract,NFLPA,PRAYER
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1 thought on “Saturday's Niblets from around the net.”

  1. The Chicago Bears this year was very upsetting. I think they did better last year when the six player were out hurt.. I know that next year they will be better then ever..

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