NFL Goes American Idol

by | Jan 22, 2009 | Business of Football, NFL ... something

The NFL has danced around reality television for the past few years, with former players in need of money appearing on shows like “Pros vs. Joes,” wannabe stars showing up on “The Bachelor,” and current and former stars who wanted to break into the entertainment world appearing on “Dancing with D-List Celebrities.”

Closer to the league, there have been series around making NFL Cheerleading teams (always dramatic),and of course, HBO’s Hard Knocks series, which followed a few teams through training camp over the years.

But now, thanks to Michael Irvin and the Dallas Cowboys, reality TV may be making it’s biggest foray into making the NFL a laughing stock–the Hall of Fame Wide Receiver announced on Thursday that he is launching an American Idol style show, in which one of 12 “football neophytes” will win a roster spot for the Cowboys 2009 training camp.

That’s right–one of the 80 spots at the Cowboys training camp will be the winner of a reality show contest.  Apparently Jerry Jones is so hard up for cash and/or drama that he is willing to sacrifice a roster spot in an attempt to draw more attention to his club.

I can only assume that the 12 contestants will have some football experience beyond starting 12 career high school games at 4 different offensive line positions–if not, feel free to drop me a line Michael–but still, for the Cowboys to latch on to this idea, and the league to allow it, seems to have the potential to do more damage to the league’s reputation than good.

Then again, given how many people tune in to watch crappy reality stars, I suppose it might actually take off.

Bradford Staying is the Right Call

by | Jan 15, 2009 | College Football, NFL Draft

Heisman winner Sam Bradford announced yesterday that he is going back to school for his Junior season.  It will be his fourth season in Norman, given his red-shirt season.

This morning on my way in to work, the morning crew on the local sports radio station all pretty much agreed that he was making a mistake, since some experts (like Todd McShay) have Bradford pegged as the likely #1 overall pick.

But Bradford made the right call, if he wants to be a successful NFL quarterback, by going back to school.

Although I believe it would be a mistake, it’s possible that the Lions would have taken Bradford #1 overall, and he would have (eventually) signed a nice, fat contract, and likely been set for life.

Many people, including my die-hard Sooner alum/fan neighbor, insist that it is his mental makeup that will make him a success at the next level.  But even against Florida in the national championship game, Bradford just looked average.  Add to that what looks to me to be a strange throwing motion, and only two years of experience–and that coming in a shotgun heavy version of the spread offense, based somewhat on the offense Mike Leach installed in 2000 (which has produced gaudy numbers at the NCAA level, and several QBs who have gone on to do nothing in the NFL), and the likelihood of Bradford succeeding out of the gate in the NFL drop.

Add to that that he would likely be joining one of the worst teams in the NFL, and he would be sure to fail.

2008 NFL success stories Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco might have some teams (and their fans) thinking that throwing rookie QBs to the fire is the way to go.  But they would be sadly mistaken in the case of Bradford.  Both Ryan and Flacco played four years of college, had success in offenses better suited to the pro game, and had that success surrounded by talent that was not as forgiving of mistakes as the OU talent pool.

So Bradford made the right call–at least one more year of college experience, a chance for a second Heisman, another chance at a national title, and hopefully some offensive scheme tweaks (if Bob Stoops wants to improve his reputation as someone who gets players ready for the next level–I count four Sooners from the Stoops era who are NFL stars, and only a handful more that have made any impact), and he could go on to NFL stardom.

Tim Tebow is the Next Brett Favre

by | Jan 9, 2009 | College Football

OK, not so much in arm strength. Or probably NFL touchdown passes.  Or even NFL interceptions.

But when it comes to announcers knocking each other over to get on their knees to fellate the star quarterback, Tebow might already have Favre beat.

Seriously, some of the comments from tonight’s BCS Might Be Best of the Big Conferences Game, some of the comments on Tebow were ridiculous.  I was doing more drinking than taking notes, but I know I heard something about how his teammates were better people simply for playing with them, how great of a guy he is because he went and lived with lepers, how it might have been his first penalty ever (after he blatantly tried taunting an opponent–and failed, which of course made their highlight reel at the end of the game), how great he was making yards after contact (on a simple dive play up the middle that got like 3 yards), and how he placed the ball perfectly where he had to so only his guy had a chance to catch it (he didn’t, because the ball was too low–had the ball been thrown sooner, or higher, it would have been a touchdown).

And finally, after the game, there was the “When you’re talking about the greatest college football players of all time…<pause for 10 seconds>if he was in the top 10, he’s now in the top 5”.  Might be paraphrased a bit, as I was busy trying not to throw up.

I get that he’s a solid college QB, and that his team won.  But frankly, the defense won that national title for Florida more than Tebow.  And if I have to listen to NFL announcers gush over Tebow the way they gush over Favre…at a minimum, we’ll have some quiet Sunday’s at the ZoneBlitz headquarters watching games with the sound off.

Hall of Fame Voting Process Flawed?

by | Jan 8, 2009 | Hall of Fame

Thinking I had a chance to finally prove Bachslunch wrong on a Hall of Fame matter (I didn’t–I thought that the Hall could take seven inductees regardless of whether they are senior candidates or not, but they are considered seperately), I came across this article on the Hall of Fame Web site that outlines the voting process, and lists the Hall of Fame Board of Selectors.

Looking at the list of selectors, a few things jumped out at me:

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Hall of Fame Finalists Announced

by | Jan 6, 2009 | Hall of Fame

The fifteen 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists were announced Tuesday, adding their names to the two senior candidates announced in August.  The 25 semifinalists had been announced in November.

We’ve got a couple of great Hall of Fame discussions going already–one discussing our picks for the Hall of Fame Class of 2009, and one discussing the Hall of Fame worthiness of several current players.

The seventeen finalists:

WR Cris Carter
C Dermontti Dawson
DE Richard Dent
G Russ Grimm
WR Bob Hayes (Senior Candidate)
DE Claude Humphrey (Senior Candidate)
DT Cortez Kennedy
G Bob Kuechenberg
G Randall McDaniel
DT John Randle
WR Andre Reed
TE Shannon Sharpe
DE Bruce Smith
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
LB Derrick Thomas
Team Owner Ralph Wilson
DB Rod Woodson

Sharpe, Woodson, Smith and Randle are all first year finalists.

Only two players from our original guess of the 15 finalists did not make it–Ray Guy and Charles Haley.  The two that made it that weren’t on our list were Cortez Kennedy and Ralph Wilson.  All five of our picks for the Class of 2009 made the cut.