NFL 2011 1st Quarter Awards

MVP – Aaron Rodgers - The best player right now on the best team at the most important position. Just had one of the best games a Quarterback has ever had with 400 yards, 4 tds and 2 running tds. Rodgers also does not have a strong running game to support him so the team must rely on Rodgers’ passing. Rodgers is on pace for 48 tds with 8 ints, 5300 yards which would break Marino’s record and a rating of 124.6 which would pass Manning’s 121.1 rating in 2004, and is about 13 points higher than the great Tom Brady for this season. His 73% completion percentage would also be a record surpassing Brees and Kenny Anderson of 70.6. Rodgers has passed Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers and along with Brady is considered the best Quarterback in the league.

 

Offensive Player of The Year – Tom Brady(Calvin Jonson close 2nd) – On pace for 6200 yards or more than a thousand better than Marino’s record season. If not for a 4 interception game that led to the Patriots only loss he would be in consideration for MVP but it’s Rodgers turn this year. Brady is also on pace for 52 touchdowns which would surpass his record of 50.

Rookie of The Year – Cam Newton – Quite simply the best season a rookie quarterback has ever had. He throws beautiful deep balls, runs better than just about any quarterback not named Vick and has made Carolina respectable. Newton is a game changer and typically rookie quarterbacks do not have that skill set or moxie yet. Newton is on pace for 5544 which would shatter Marino’s 1984 season. Newton has kept Carolina in games that they would have lost last season. He has also turned Wide Receiver Steve Smith who has been dormant for 2 seasons into one of the league’s best again.

Coach of The Year – Mike Munchak (Jim Harbaugh close 2nd) – A washed up veteran Quarterback that nobody wanted, an underachieving Chris Johnson who had been the focal point and the second best running back in the NFL, a great defense and a very respectable 3-1 record, tied for 1st place in the AFC South. Not to mention a new offensive scheme.

Villanova, The Next BCS School?

There are many college football teams that want nothing more than to join a BCS conference. Boise State’s domination of college football is easily the most deserved. Other teams on the outside looking in are the University of Central Florida, Eastern Carolina, University of Houston, Southern Methodist University and Central Michigan. The Big East has decided to expand their conference and just recently looked west to Texas Christian University to join their automatic qualifying status conference. Recent football powerhouse TCU is the ninth football program in the conference and the Big East is now needing one more team to make an even ten. Villanova is already a member of the Big East in basketball and now just needs to accept an invite. Their decision will come on April 12th.

Villanova University is in Radnor Township, a suburb 12 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a very attractive market to the BCS, the fifth largest city in the US and has a population of 5.8 million including the suburbs. Villanova prides itself on academics first and then athletics. 96% of student athletes graduate and 92% from basketball and football. This Catholic university has 6000 undergrads, small compared to most BCS schools.

Villanova has a highly successful basketball program. They reached the Final Four in 2009 and Elite Eight in 2006. In four of the last six years the Wildcats have gone to the Sweet Sixteen. In what use to be called Division I-AA, their football team won the 2009 FCS National Championship.

The Big East has already offered the invitation and is now waiting for Villanova to accept. Villanova does lack the 15,000 seat requirement for a BCS stadium. Two possible options would be playing at Lincoln Financial Field which will swallow the team or sharing the new soccer stadium with the Philadephia Union. With so few BCS offers that become available, especially already your own basketball conference, I do not see Villanova declining this great opportunity. I don’t see how a school would turn down more revenue, more exposure and a better chance at recruitment in all sports. Certainly Villanova priding itself on academics would not make such an unwise mistake.

Not The Next Big Star

Seven athletes in seven different sports.  Something for everyone unless you live in Canada.  These are seven athletes that started fast and looked like promising careers were in store but ultimately failed to live up to the hype with injury not to blame.  You won’t see guys like Mark Prior or Greg Oden on this list since they were plagued by injuries.  Nor will you see JaMarcus Russell or Darko Milicic whom were busts from the get-go.  Conversely you’ll see these men that enjoyed early success and looked like they were going to live up to expectations but fell way short.      

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Son of The Intimidator. With legendary bloodlines and name, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed like he would be a force to be reckon with in stock car racing. Winning the Super Bowl of NASCAR three years after his father’s death in 2001, Junior looked poised to become one of the top drivers in the sport. However in 11 full years of racing, Junior has finished in the top 10 year end ranking only 3 times. For by far the most popular racer today, you would think he has a career like Jeff Gordon. But the results show otherwise. He can’t be satisfied with his success but his pocketbook is a different story.

Andy Roddick – The right place at the right time. Andy Roddick looked like a bright future for American men’s tennis. He looked to be the next #1 American to follow Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. In 2003 he won the Masters Series on hardcourt and also the US Open. Roddick had the hardest serve in the game and one of the best forehands in the game. Then along came Roger Federer and the rest was history. The following February he lost his #1 ranking and never got it back. He reached 3 finals at Wimbledon since but hasn’t come close at the French, Australian or US Open. His lone slam win was post Sampras, before Roger was Roger and Andre Agassi was on his last legs.

Freddy Adu – An American child prodigy soccer player. At the age of 14, Ghanaian born but American Citizen Freddy signed a professional contract. The year was 2004 and Adu played in his first Major League Soccer game with the DC United. Two weeks later he scored his first goal. Adu went on to play 2 MLS All Star Games and was selected captain of the Under 20 American World Cup team. Today Freddy plays for a Second Division Turkish team. He has bounced around Europe since his MLS days and has never been invited to play for a World Cup team. Not quite what was expected to be the great American footballer.

Sergio Garcia – Tiger Wood's rival. Another child prodigy that made the European Tour at the age of 16, which was the youngest ever. In 1995 Sergio won the European Amateur Championship and in 1998 won the World Amateur Championship. In just six tour starts Sergio won the Irish Open. In what was suppose to be many head to head matchups, Sergio dueled Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship and finished runner up. He then became the youngest ever Ryder Cup entry. In 2001, in Forth Worth, Texas, Garcia won his first PGA Championship. To this date Sergio has 7 PGA Tour victories and one top 5 ranking. His best results in Major Championships have been runner up in the British Open and the PGA Championship twice. He dominates in the Ryder Cup but golf is an individual sport measured on Major Championships in which he has none.

Rick Mirer – The next Joe Montana. In Notre Dame, Rick Mirer set the school record for touchdowns and was second in career total offense and passing yards. Like Montana, Mirer could also run and also finished his career winning the Cotton Bowl. Mirer was also Co-MVP of the Sugar Bowl the year before. Mirer was selected 2nd overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 1993. Mirer set NFL rookie records for attempts, completions and yards. He also started all 16 games, which had happened only three times since 1970. In just his rookie year, Rick was 5th in yards in the AFC. After a promising rookie year in which he showed great potential Mirer had 3 more mediocre years in Seattle. Before the 1997 draft, Mirer and a 4th round pick were traded to Chicago for a 1st rounder. He did not throw a single touchdown for Chicago that year and lost his starting job and never regained it for the rest of his career with five other teams.

Harold Miner – Failed to live up to nickname. In 1992 Harold Miner was named by Sports Illustrated as the best college basketball player, over such greats as Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Christian Laettner. In 1993, Baby Jordan, won the slam dunk contest and again in 1995. Miner averaged 10 points a game in his first two years but then fell to 7 points and then 3 points. After year four he was out of basketball. He had the nickname but not the game.


Ben McDonald – Greatest pitching prospect ever. 6’ 7” Ben McDonald led LSU to two College World Series and set the SEC record for strikeouts. McDonald played on LSU’s basketball team and was called the best athlete he ever coached by Dale Brown, head coach of the Tigers. He also led the 1988 US Olympic Team to gold with complete game victories over Puerto Rico and South Korea. In 1989, the All-American won the Golden Spikes Award given to the nation’s best amateur baseball player. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him #1 overall later that year. McDonald debuted against the White Sox July 21, 1990 and threw a complete game shutout. In his first game, he threw his best game. McDonald lasted seven years with the Orioles and two more with the Brewers. He never made an all-star team and had a respectable career for anyone other than what many scouts had as their highest rated pitcher ever.

NFL Head Coaches On The Hot Seat

Coaching Hot Seats with the percent chance of joining America’s unemployed. 

Tony Sparano – 95%  Miami has regressed since Steve’s first season.  A 38-7 final game assures his firing.  He was a Parcells’ guy but he’s no longer there. 

Tom Cable – 80% Al Davis fires coaches like no one else but the Raiders have improved to 8-8 and played perfectly within the division.  Although I don’t agree with firing Cable at this point I think he’s a goner. 

Eric Mangini – 75% The Browns had their typical disappointing season and Mangini was not a Holmgren guy so he’ll be looking for a job again.  After finishing strong last year they played poorly at the end of this year.

Marvin Lewis – 70%  Two playoff berth in his 8 year tenure with the Bungles.  That’s not good enough.  They did play well without the drama queens,  TO and 85, but was not able to manage those personalities well during the season.  He has a career losing record and no playoff wins.  His contract has expired.

Jeff Fisher – 50%  It’s him or Vince Young and the longtime coach from even the Oilers days has Bud Adams backing Vince Young.  A change of scenery could be good for Fisher.  Nice effort in the final game.  He'll find a job soon.

Jack Del Rio – 40% A hands off owner and Jacksonville is usually competitive.  They missed out on a chance to make the playoffs this year by losing their last 3 games.

Tom Coughlin – 20% Only 3 years removed from winning the Super Bowl.  A Super Bowl win should give you a 5 year buffer.  However it’s New York and New York is a results driven city.  The Giants were picked my many to make the playoffs.

Norv Turner – 15%  The Chargers missed the playoffs but are typically a contending team.  He is a great offensive mind and has a great relationship with Phillip Rivers.

Jason Garrett - 10% The Cowboys improved under Garrett and were without Tony Romo.  The best candidates wouldn’t want Jerry Jones to be their main personnel guy.  Jones won’t have to pay Garrett as much as other head coaches. 

Mike Shanahan – 10% The first year was a bust but there are a lot of holes in D.C.  Maybe the team can play better with a better QB since McNabb was a bad move.  Although Shanahan has handled the former Pro Bowl QB poorly.  Shanahan does have 2 Super Bowl wins under his resume.

Pete Carroll 5% – A losing season but a team without much talent.  Also just a win away from winning the division and hosting a playoff game.  Many uninspiring performances by the Seahawks could be why owner Paul Allen pulls the trigger.  He is definitely safe if he beats St Louis tonight.

Gary Kubiak - 1% Owner Bob McNair showed patience with Dom Capers and has been patient with Kubiak.  Adam Schefter from ESPN says he’ll be back but Bill Cowher is available and the Texans were the most disappointing team in the AFC.