Grad School Sports™

13 Days of Hell: The Most Important Stretch of the Yankees 1st Half

June 14, 2022June 14, 2022 by Jacksonrboland, posted in Uncategorized

The New York Yankees have gone scorched Earth to start the 2022 season. Every time I look at the standings and see a 44-16 record, I can’t help but laugh. An off-season that promised one of Corey Seager/Carlos Correa and Freddie Freeman/Matt Olson turned into Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Anthony Rizzo. Not to mention the departures of Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela (not too mad about Gary to be honest). It seemed after all these moves all of Yankee nation, myself included, thought this was rock bottom for a franchise that hasn’t sniffed the World Series since 2009. But, here we are in mid-June and the Yankees have won 44 out of 60 games. FOURTY FOUR. I could go on about Judge being the MVP to this point (pay him all the money, by the way), the lights out pitching or the fact the Yankees are doing this with two auto outs in the lineup in Joey Gallo and Aaron Hicks, but we know all that already.

The Yankees have had a benefit of playing some weak teams to start off the year, and I’ll admit that. However, if you’ve been a Yankees fan for at least the Boone tenure you know that’s something this team does not do. They always play down to their competition. This year, we see what happens when they don’t play like morons and can win games and it’s AWESOME.

These next two weeks, though, is the test. The Yankees have 6 games against the Rays, 3 against the Blue Jays and 4 against the Astros. The Yankees currently sit atop the AL East with an 8 game lead but a bad couple of weeks brings the Rays and Blue Jays right back into contention. On the flip side, the Yanks can really put a stranglehold on the division with a great two weeks. This is where we’ll see what the Yankees are truly made of. Are they really a World Series contender, or are they just the benefactor of a favorable schedule? These 13 games will help us answer that.

All the fun starts Tuesday night with Gerrit Cole on the bump. Not better way to set the tone than your ace looking to respond after a terrible last outing against the Twins. Yankees Nation, our 13 Days of Hell starts NOW.

Man, it feels good to blog again

Should NCAA Student-Athletes be Paid: A Debate

May 26, 2020June 2, 2020 by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NCAA Football

Last night as I sat down to edit next week’s edition of our weekly newsletter, the Syllabus (click here to subscribe to the Syllabus), I found myself engaged in a contested debate with some good friends from college. The topic: should college athletes be allowed to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL)? While that may be a “yes or no” question, the overall situation is far more complex as many members of the group (myself included) are beginning to understand. What is clear though is that in this debate there tend to be 4 different types of people which I will outline in this table.

Name	Opinion
Free-Marketers	Schools and their donors should be allowed to pay the players as much as they want. Let free-market capitalism run its course.
Regulated Marketers	Players should be able to profit off their NIL, however there should be regulation as to who is paying them.
Realists	While student-athletes should be able to profit off their NIL, which players will get compensated? The circumstances surrounding compensation are so intricate that there is no easy solution.
Boomers	Athletes already get an education so they shouldn’t receive any additional compensation.

While I consider myself more of a “regulated marketer” I do tend to side with a few of the arguments the “realists” make. Let’s examine jersey sales. Sorority girls and frat stars love to strut around in the jersey of their school’s biggest athletic superstar. For Duke, it was students walking around in Zion Williamson jerseys. This past year, if you went down to Baton Rouge, LA you were greeted with a barrage of white and gold #9 Joe Burrow jerseys. Did Mr. Williamson or Mr. Burrow receive a dime for their marketability? I think you know the answer. However, this is where the conversation gets incredibly tricky. How would an athlete get compensated for a jersey sale?

Let’s use Johnny Manziel as an example. We all remember Johnny Football frantically running around defenders then finally throwing a prayer up to receiver Mike Evans who would somehow make the catch? Manziel was a household name. Make a trip to College Station and notice how he is revered like the second coming of Christ. His #2 jersey is everywhere. Let’s say he began getting paid a percentage of every jersey Texas A&M sold with his name on it. What would the offensive lineman who protected his blindside have to say? Or even star receiver Mike Evans who made several miracle catches that turned rather errant throws into touchdowns? I’m fairly certain those players would all say they played a role in Manziel becoming a star and a highly marketable player. Therefore, they too are going to want a piece of the action. So how would those players get paid? While the players from the 2012 Texas A&M football team have long graduated, how would allowing star players to profit off jersey sales affect team chemistry. When QB Trevor Lawrence is raking in money from jersey sales but his offensive linemen or receivers aren’t wouldn’t that negatively affect team morale? I don’t possess all the answers but I do know that whole situation could get messy.

Further, I don’t think players using their social media accounts to make money is as cut and dry as people think. Who is paying these athletes to post on their social media accounts? If the school directly pays the athlete to post on their Instagram account would that be considered direct compensation? Additionally, schools like Ohio State or Georgia with large athletic department budgets could potentially use that as a recruiting tool. They could possibly tell a recruit that they’d be able to offer them money for social media posts once they develop a large enough following. This would give them an advantage over mid-major schools such as Cincinatti or Memphis who do not have such deep pockets.

However, isn’t there already a gap in inequality between athletic departments? Larger institutions that are known for their strong athletic departments tend to have nicer facilities and better coaches that are used to recruit the most talented athletes. Would allowing a collegiate athlete to profit off their NIL drastically change this already large gap in inequality between schools? I find it hard to believe. Let’s take it a step further and look at the top schools in college basketball and football every year. For basketball, you typically see Duke, Kentucky, Louisville and Michigan State atop the rankings year in and year out. For football, it’s Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Ohio State. The top football talent is headed to these institutions because the amenities, such as the nicer facilities and better coaches, at these schools give these athletes the best chance to make it to the NFL. Not to mention, playing in the SEC, Big 10 or even Big 12 allows these athletes to face the stiffest competition that resembles what they will possibly face at the next level.

We see the same schools competing for championships in those two sports every year. I don’t think compensating athletes for their NIL would really change that. Football teams such as UCONN or South Florida probably weren’t going to land 5-star recruits to begin with. In fact, allowing athletes to profit off their NIL could actually be a playing card mid-major schools could use in their favor. Coaches could meet with a 4-star recruit and tell them: “Hey, you may not play your first couple years at a school like Alabama. But if you come to my school, you will immediately play and could become the face of the school. You could profit off your social media accounts right away and could even have local businesses wanting to endorse you.” That may sound like a much better alternative to a 4-star recruit who would undoubtedly not see the field for the first couple years at a blue-chip school. Bottom line: there is already an inequality gap in terms of recruiting and landing the top high school prospects so allowing athletes to profit off their NIL wouldn’t drastically alter the landscape of college football or basketball.

Lastly, athletes are getting paid by donors. We’re lying to ourselves if we don’t think it’s happening. Sports’ betting, too, is prohibited in most states yet the gaming industry rakes in billions a year. But some states are coming to their senses and passing laws that legalize sports betting. If it’s going to happen anyways why not legalize it and be able to tax it? Imagine the tax dollars that would come from large university donors who are giving these players cars, money and in some cases even houses. Further, legalization means high regulation. Allow donors to directly pay student-athletes and highly regulate it. Once again, I’m not advocating for student-athletes to be able to receive compensation from donors, however let’s not pretend it isn’t already happening.

While the previous paragraphs may say otherwise, my position on the matter is quite clear. If the NCAA is going to designate collegiate athletes as “STUDENT-athletes” they should be allowed the same rights as their other classmates. These rights include the ability to profit off social media or sign marketing deals. If not, then the NCAA should assign a new name to college athletes because it has not viewed them as “students” first in quite some time.

Should Dak Get Paid?

May 23, 2020June 2, 2020 by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NFL

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott reportedly turned down a $35 million per year salary and supposedly is seeking upwards of $45 million per year. While Jerry Jones is far from my favorite person, I am one to give credit where credit is due. Signing former Bengals QB Andy Dalton this offseason was a solid move and gives Jerry leverage in contract negotiations with Dak.

The Cowboys led the league in team total offense in 2019. Thanks to Mr. Jones, they drafted CeeDee Lamb, arguably the best receiver in the draft, to add to its plethora of offensive weapons. With the likes of receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, Ceedee Lamb paired with the playmaking abilities of RB Ezekiel Elliot, this Cowboys offense is going to put up points no matter who is under center. This is where Dak should take the money and not leave anything to chance.

Say what you want about Andy Dalton, but he has been an above average NFL QB for the last decade. While the past couple seasons his production has dropped, I’d contribute that to a lackluster offensive line and a useless group of receivers other than A.J. Green. However, Green has been plagued by injuries the past couple years which hasn’t eased the burden on Dalton. Is Andy Dalton better than Dak? No. But I do think he can come in and produce relatively similar numbers for about a 1/8^th of the cost.

In 2017, Ezekiel Elliot was suspended 6 games by the NFL. In his absence, Alfred Morris and Rod Smith combined for over 800 rushing yards and 4.5 yards per carry (YPC). When Zeke got back he was able to put up nearly 1,000 yards rushing and a 4.1 YPC in 10 games. While there’s no doubt Zeke is the better RB of the 3, the takeaway was that anyone could run behind that vaunted Cowboy offensive line. I imagine a similar scenario playing out if Andy Dalton took over the reins of the Cowboys offense. Cooper, Gallup and Lamb are going to make any QB look good and it doesn’t take superior athleticism to hand the ball off to Zeke. Dalton doesn’t possess Dak’s running ability, but he can still make the necessary throws to get the ball to those playmaking receivers.

Even if a deal does not get done before July 15, Dak will still suit up for the Cowboys in 2020. The Cowboys placed the exclusive franchise tag on him in March so he will make at least $31.4 million this year. If Dak doesn’t put up astronomical numbers and lead the Cowboys to the playoffs this year, Jerry should let him walk in free agency and take his chances with Dalton. The cards are aligned for Dak to be a front runner in the MVP discussion as the Cowboys’ offense should have no trouble putting points on the board. If he can’t get the job done, then it’s time to find someone who can.

There’s no denying Dak is a great QB who is the perfect candidate to be the face of America’s team. However, is he worth the steep price tag he is reportedly seeking? The Cowboys’ offense has the talent to make a star QB out of anyone so only time will tell if Dak is the right man for the job.

Top 5 NFL Games to Watch

May 21, 2020June 2, 2020 by Brady Vaughan, posted in NFL

Top 5 Games to Look Forward to in the 2020 NFL Season

Now that the NFL schedule has been released, we finally have light at the end of the tunnel during this global pandemic. Sports will return soon, but in the meantime, we have to listen to Cowboys fans talk about how they’re gonna go anywhere from 13-3 to 16-0, win the NFC East, win the Super Bowl, but also how they’re going to beat the crap out of the Philadelphia Eagles.

No just kidding, but Cowboys fans aren’t the only ones with high hopes for this season. The season promises to bring a lot of intriguing matchups, and it’s impossible to breakdown all of them right now, but here are five of the top games I’m looking forward to this upcoming season.

Chiefs at Ravens on Monday Night Football (Week 3). A matchup of the last two MVPs, this time on Baltimore’s turf. Mahomes is 2-0 against Lamar in the early stages of his career, but both games have been in Kansas City. In addition, these two teams are some of the current odds on favorites to win the Super Bowl (KC at +400, Baltimore at +700).
Buccaneers vs Saints (Weeks 1 and 9). Tom Brady vs Drew Brees. Need I say more? These are two of the best QBs to ever play the game. For all we know, this ~ could ~ be the last time these two QBs ever matchup against one another again. Their Week 9 matchup will be on Sunday Night Football
Vikings at Saints on Christmas Day (Week 16). Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings return to the Superdome to play Drew Brees and the Saints who fell out of the playoffs at the hands of the Vikings last season. These two teams are perennial playoff teams and having a matchup this late in the season between the two could shake up the NFC standings and be a big factor in who end up getting the coveted playoff bye week one seed now that the NFL has switched to the new playoff format.
Titans at Broncos on Monday Night Football (Week 1). I’m intrigued by this game because both teams have invested in their QBs a lot these last couple seasons. Ryan Tannehill was the solid rock that gave the Titans stability at the position in order to make a run to the AFC Title game last season. Denver on the other hand has found Drew Lock who was decent as a rookie QB last season after becoming the starter late in the season. Denver has also given Drew Lock tons of weapons through the draft, most notably drafting WRs Jerry Jeudy out of Alabama and KJ Hamler out of Penn State, while signing RB Melvin Gordon in Free Agency to go along with RB Phillip Lindsey. I think both teams could be serious players in the AFC playoff picture.
Eagles at Cowboys (Week 16). In all seriousness though, the Eagles and Cowboys are two teams that in my opinion should reach the playoffs. Matching them up against one another this late in the season will have serious implications on the NFC East division title and the NFC playoff picture as a whole. Look out for rookie WRs Ceedee Lamb for Dallas and Jalen Reagor for Philadelphia as they aim to make a big impact on their respective teams

Zion Williamson Legal Battle: A Breakdown

May 20, 2020June 2, 2020 by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NBA, NCAA Basketball

Here’s a breakdown of the lawsuit between Zion Williamson and his former marketing representative, Gina Ford.

Who: Zion Williamson v. Gina Ford

Where: Williamson filed suit against Ford in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Meanwhile, Ford filed her suit against Williamson in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.

What: At or around April 15, 2019, Williamson made a deal with Gina Ford, president of Prime Sports Marketing, a sports agency. On May 30, 2019, Williamson signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which broke the contract he had with Ford. Ford threatened CAA with a lawsuit, however Williamson threw a punch of his own and sued Prime Sports (Prime) on June 13, 2019 arguing that the contract he signed with Prime was invalid because they didn’t follow the guidelines of the North Carolina Uniform Athlete Agent Act (UAAA). On June 19, 2019, Ford counter-sued Williamson alleging that he breached his contract with Prime when he signed with CAA. She is seeking more than $100 million in damages. Both parties requested each other’s lawsuits to be dismissed but both were denied. On May 10, 2020, Ford served Williamson with Requests for Admission (RFA’s).

Why: RFA’s are part of the discovery process in a lawsuit and allow one party to request that another party admit or deny the truth of a statement under oath. The RFA’s Zion have been served with could be particularly damning to him, his family, and anyone involved with Duke University Basketball. One RFA asks Zion to “fully state all facts that show how Sharonda Sampson and Lee Anderson (his mother and stepfather) found and paid for the house in which they lived during the time that you attended Duke.” Another asks Zion to “admit that you knew Lee Anderson demanded and received gifts, money and/or benefits from persons on behalf of Duke University to influence you to attend Duke University to play basketball.” Everyone knows the NCAA is incredibly stringent on what benefits an athlete and their family may receive and if Zion admits to any of these RFA’s Duke University could be facing severe sanctions from the NCAA. Likewise, companies such as Adidas and Nike who are mentioned in the RFA’s could be facing reputational damages.

What’s Next: Ford’s attorneys said they would be vigilant in discovery and would “leave no stone unturned.” This means legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski will likely be deposed. A deposition is where a person appears at a specified time and place and gives sworn testimony. This obviously isn’t great news to hear if you are a Duke fan but Coach K will have the best attorneys armed and ready for battle. Meanwhile, look for Zion and Co. to do everything possible to get these RFA’s thrown out of court, mainly by using their right to object. A party may respond to an RFA by objecting to all or part of it. Zion could claim the RFA’s are irrelevant to the case and that the interrogatories are purely used as harassment. Additionally, his legal team will likely pursue a settlement as the reputations of their client, Coach K, Duke University and two of the biggest companies in the world (Adidas and Nike) are on the line.

Numbergate – Jerry Jones telling the young gun what number to wear

May 2, 2020June 2, 2020 by lucasblk19, posted in Football, NFL, Uncategorized

I’ll never forget the day my 8U baseball coach looked at me and said, “The one thing I need you to think about today, and this is very important, is what number you are going to wear for us this season.”

At eight years old this decision is more important than the kid (I think she was of the female gender) I just asked to be my girlfriend at recess, four hours ago. Was she blonde with brown eyes? Or did she have brown hair with blue eyes? If I even remember her name at this phase of the relationship I am doing well. In reflection, I may not know who I was dating when I was eight years old, but I know what number I was and why I chose that number.

There is a complex calculation that comes into picking one’s number for any sport. My favorite baseball player at the time was Scott Podsednik. He was from a small Texas farming town where my mom grew up, and they happen to make amazing kolaches (yes, the Czech Stop). He wore double two.

My cousin, the goalie for his high school hockey team, was tied for my favorite athlete at the time. He wore double three. I just wanted a piece of them to be a piece of me. I took one of their numbers and came up with two-three or three-two. Oh, did I mention I have always been the loud mouth? Yea, if you talk like I do, you wear two-three, no questions asked.

There is nothing fun about graduating from college and getting a job other than getting paid. When you get paid there are certain guidelines and regulations that your new employer has set forth for the company as a whole, and for you individually. This is not college ball anymore; this is a business.

Pat McAfee, on his daily sports show, frequently discusses how these rookies do not comprehend the business side of ball until they are up for a contract negotiation. Cowboy fans are not new to this as the recent dilemma with our QB1 received the franchise tag, compared to getting paid (like the world knows he should).

You sign your first-round draft pick, but tell him what number he has to wear. If this was a random assignment that added no value to the team or had no historical context, would I see a cause for media outcry? Absolutely.

Instead, we see the polar opposite from retiring a number in respect of a Hall of Fame career. We are telling the young buck to wear the number that the greats before him wore, and that played the same position he plays. If you forced Derek Rose to wear number two-three when he arrived in Chicago, they have at least two more banners hanging in that arena, no doubt.

My dad has told me stories about the triple threat in Dallas featuring Aikman, Smith, and Irvin. I sat on the couch, while dad sat in the recliner watching Romo, a slew of running backs, and Bryant take the field. It was fun. It was memorable. I can only dream about telling my kids about the dominance, Prescott, Elliot, and Lamb shared on the gridiron (I know Cooper will be around for some time but for story intensive purposes we are utilizing Lamb because he’s taking Irvin’s number). I hope the peak for this youthful trio is higher than the hall of fame trio dad used to tell me about.

CeeDee, my buddies that went to school in Norman couldn’t stop talking about you in your last two years of college ball. I can’t wait for you to be on my NFL team, and allow me to rave to the Cowboy haters out there what a baller you are. It sucks Jerry Jones told you what jersey number to wear. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad move though, it’s a business move. The only moves Mr. Jones knows how to make. I think he will make you into a similar player my dad grew up watching wearing the double eight. I think you got big shoes to fill, but know your feet are only growing. Stoked to watch you play this year, ROY.

NCAA’s NIL Recommendations

May 1, 2020June 2, 2020 by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NCAA Basketball, NCAA Football

According to the official website of the NCAA, the Board of Governors (“Board”) supported rule changes to allow student-athletes to receive compensation for third-party endorsements both related to and separate from athletics. These recommendations will now move to the rules-making structure in each of the NCAA’s three divisions for further consideration and will likely take effect at the start of the 2021-2022 academic year.

With pressure mounting from politicians, and other leagues beginning to poach their prospective athletes, the NCAA was forced to cave to the mob and begin actively pursuing ways to allow student-athletes to get paid. Now, it looks as if actual “pay for play” is not in any immediate plans as the board emphasized that at no point should a school pay student-athletes for “Name, Image and Likeness” (“NIL”) activities. However, the new rules would allow Compensation for third-party endorsements related to athletics, without school or conference involvement, and compensation for other student-athlete opportunities, such as social media, new businesses, and personal appearances, without institutional involvement or the use of trademarks/logos.

While these recommendations are rather vague and much clear legislation is required, this is a significant step for the NCAA and student-athletes. Currently, a student-athlete could not get paid for his social media accounts or even make money signing autographs at a local restaurant. However, the Board’s suggestions would allow players to profit off their NIL. In 2017, University of Central Florida Kicker, Donald De La Haye, ran a YouTube channel that had over 90,000 subscribers. The channel had videos which featured De La Haye performing trick shots. The NCAA ruled him ineligible after he refused to stop the monetization of his videos and he eventually lost his scholarship. The NCAA believed his videos were a direct violation to its rule that prohibits student-athletes from using their status to earn money. Under these new suggestions, De La Haye would be allowed to profit off the videos as long as he did not use any NCAA trademarks or logos. Further, there are plenty of student-athletes, specifically basketball and football players, who have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on various social media platforms. These players could now earn money off these accounts.

Sadly, unless the NCAA allows their athletes to unionize, there will not be a NCAA football video game in the future. However, athletes now have the ability to sign agents to help them make key financial decisions. The NCAA will install “guardrails” which will be heavily regulated, but good agents can be beneficial in the lives of an athlete as they can sometimes be mentors or even role models.

While the NCAA denotes players as “student-athletes”, their rules governing collegiate athletics have always signified that they are ‘athletes’ first. NCAA student-athletes are students first and ought to be treated as such meaning they should have the same liberties to profit off their NIL. The recent recommendations demonstrate that the NCAA is moving toward equity in the way both students and student-athletes can make money. While the NCAA was pressured by several external forces, the old adage ‘better late than never’ is sufficient in this situation. Student-athletes won’t be directly paid anytime soon by their prospective universities, but potentially having the ability to profit off their NIL will make collegiate athletics far more appealing.

MLB’s Newest 2020 Season Idea and Predictions

April 30, 2020June 2, 2020 by Jeremy Fernando, posted in MLB

To avoid having to refund ticket holders, Major League Baseball (“MLB”) is taking ideas out of left field (literally) to try and salvage their season. This time MLB is considering a three-division, 10-team plan in which teams play only within their division. Each division would be realigned based on geography. This plan has been looked upon more favorably by the players as the season would be played at each teams’ ballpark and would severely reduce travel. The season would start in late June and would include at least 100 regular season games with an expanded postseason. The plan is far from bulletproof but fans can at least dream for the time being. With that being said, here are my predictions if the MLB used this format for the 2020 regular season.

East:

The East Division includes the New York Yankees and Mets, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins. The Yankees are the clear favorite to win this division and this time off as allowed them to get healthy. However, how well would the Yankees do without the home crowd behind them? The Rays won 96 games last year and we all know they don’t need fans in attendance to win games. The Marlins, Orioles and Blue Jays might lose 200 games combined, and the Red Sox and Pirates won’t be much better. The Mets love to disappoint their fans year in and year out but could fare well with added games against the Orioles , Blue Jays and Pirates. The Phillies and Nationals will compete with the Rays to upstage the Yankees. All 3 teams have the necessary arms to do so. It’ll be interesting to see how MLB structures the playoff field as this division features 4 quality ball clubs who all have their eyes on a world series.

1.	Yankees
2.	Rays
3.	Nationals
4.	Phillies
5.	Mets
6.	Red Sox
7.	Blue Jays
8.	Pirates
9	Marlins
10.	Orioles

Central:

The Central Division includes the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers. This has to be the deepest division of the 3 as 4 teams made the 2019 postseason and the Indians won 93 games. The Cubs and Reds also have high expectations coming in to the season. The Braves, Cardinals and Twins are the favorites to win the division with the Royals and Tigers likely to bring up the rear. However, after that it is truly a coin flip.

1.	Braves
2.	Twins
3.	Cardinals
4.	Indians
5.	Cubs
6.	White Sox
7.	Reds
8.	Brewers
9	Royals
10.	Tigers

West:

The West Division features the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners. The matchup between the Dodgers and Astros should provide fireworks all regular season and Mike Trout vs. Clayton Kershaw will also be memorable. While the Rangers aren’t expected to do much, they did have a surprisingly good record last season through 90 games, and the shortened season could benefit them immensely. Don’t expect much from the Giants and Mariners, but don’t overlook the Padres. The A’s will once again be contenders as well but will have a tough time taking down a Dodgers team that got even better this offseason.

1.	Dodgers
2.	Astros
3.	Athletics
4.	Diamondbacks
5.	Padres
6.	Angels
7.	Rangers
8.	Rockies
9	Mariners
10.	Giants

NFL Draft Winners and Losers

April 25, 2020June 2, 2020 by jonesg17, posted in NFL

With the NFL draft being the only semblance of sports in well over a month, I have been glued to this draft more than in past years. With teams unable to meet face-to-face with prospects and almost every pro day being canceled, teams have had to do a lot of guesswork on potential players. However, like every draft, some teams made savvy picks and others had some head scratchers. I will mainly focus on the earlier rounds because those tend to shape the franchises.

I am a Vikings fan and this is the first time in years I can say I am proud of their draft top to bottom. I am absolutely thrilled that they ACTUALLY addressed their needs and still acquired picks in 2021. I will be leaving them off this list to avoid any sort of bias but those that are interested can ask me but make sure to pencil in some time because I can go on and on about their class.

#3 Loser

Chicago Bears-

With the Bears only having 2 picks in the top 160, you think they would address more pressing needs than Tight End. With the 43^rd pick they took Cole Kmet out of Notre Dame. He has a lot of potential but they now have 10…. yes 10 tight ends on their active roster which means they will be cutting at least six of them before the season. They signed Jimmy Graham to a completely overpriced contract so getting a tight end with your very first pick makes almost zero sense. Their next pick was CB Jaylon Johnson which may have saved their draft. He is a very physical corner and Chicago fans will love him because he doesn’t fear contact. The Bears shot 50% on draft picks they needed to go 100% on because of the lack of draft capital.

#3 Winner

Dallas Cowboys-

As much as I hate to say it, Jerry put together a hell of a draft. Having someone like CeeDee Lamb fall all the way to 17 is something that happens once in a generation. They can thank the Las Vegas Raiders for doing what they do best and picking the fastest player on the board regardless of other skill traits when they took Henry Ruggs III as the first receiver. Putting Lamb in the slot with Cooper and Gallup makes the Cowboys offense that much more potent. TV networks better be careful because they could be in high-scoring games that take 4 hours every week. The cowboys were also able to get another player that fell farther than he should’ve in corner Trevon Diggs from Alabama. A solid pick that is lengthy and should be able to matchup with #1 receivers and provide Jerry with some sort of comfort in the secondary. Hopefully he turns out better than Mo Claiborne. Neville Gallimore was the third-round pick of the cowboys and he’s yet another player that flew under the radar. He is a run stuffing machine that eats blocks and will be able to free up Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. The one drawback is he is not a great pass-rusher but when you have Damarcus Lawrence is an easy concession to make.

#2 Loser

Philadelphia Eagles-

Let me tell you the Eagles were absolutely torched by writers and fans alike. People forget Howie Roseman has a ring, but this was not his best work. Their first-round pick was Jalen Reagor out of TCU. As a TCU alum myself I do think he’s a solid player and has a similar skillset to former Big 12 and new NFC East Rival CeeDee Lamb. However, he was not the best receiver on the board at the time with Justin Jefferson out of LSU going one pick later. This wasn’t the worst pick by far. The pick that places the Eagles right here is using their second-round pick on JALEN HURTS. I would’ve taken Jacob Eason before Hurts because I just don’t think he’s a good enough passer to make it in the NFL. The worst part is the Eagles just signed Carson Wentz to a 4 year $128 million deal that doesn’t even kick in until 2021. Unless the NFL adopts the XFL’s double pass rule, this pick will haunt Eagles fans for awhile. The Eagles Taking K’Von Wallace out of Clemson in the fourth round wasn’t a bad pick so at least they got something out of this fiasco.

#2 Winner

San Francisco 49ers-

The rich get richer. A team that was a meltdown away from a Super Bowl championship will enter the 2020 season completely reloaded. They traded DeForest Buckner to Indianapolis for their first rounder and then traded down with Tampa to acquire a later pick. They were then able to snag Javon Kinlaw, a defensive tackle out of South Carolina. They pretty much replaced a good player with a possible superstar at a much cheaper price. The Niners also traded up later in the first to bet Brandon Aiyuk, a receiver out of Arizona State. Aiyuk is explosive on the perimeter and will give defenses headaches when paired with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. To cap off a fantastic draft, they traded for pro-bowl tackle Trent Williams to solidify the offensive line and give Jimmy G more time to miss wide-open receivers down field and then to check down to his running backs.

#1 Loser

Green Bay Packers-

Oh Baby, I love to see this. An absolute dumpster fire of a draft. Unless the Packers were concerned of someone else trading with Miami to get Jordan Love at pick 26, it did not make a lot of sense because the three picks before them were Seattle, Baltimore and Tennessee: all teams pretty committed to their current QBs. On top of that they have several other very pressing needs. It isn’t like this is a rebuilding team either that should develop a QB. Green Bay is coming of a NFC Title game appearance and their first pick is a guy who probably won’t see meaningful snaps at all in 2020. Ok fine Green Bay, you botched the first round but this is a really deep receiver class and you can pick up someone in the second round. Another miss by the Packers in reaching for a day 3 running back in A.J. Dillon out of Boston College. Not only was he unlikely to go in the next 60 or so picks, they have Aaron Jones at running back so they drafted a guy at best that will split snaps and not significantly help out their chances at a Super Bowl. As I’m writing this they have passed on 27 receivers through 5 rounds. #SKOL

#1 Winner

Cleveland Browns-

A completely new regime in Cleveland made a lot of noise with their first draft. Picking up Jedrick Wills with the 10^th pick is exactly what this offense needed. A massive offensive tackle out of Alabama will cover Baker Mayfield’s blindside and address one of the weakest positions in an offense loaded with talent. They traded back a few spots and acquired pick 160 with a trade with the Colts. Their second-round pick at 44 overall was Grant Delpit. The 2019 Thorpe award winner was given first round grades by a lot of experts. He is an absolute playmaker in the secondary and a ball-hawk and has flashes of his predecessor that wore #7 at LSU Tyrann Mathieu. The Brown’s third round pick was Jordan Elliott, A Defensive Tackle from Mizzou. He has all the intangibles you’re looking for in a run stuffing tackle checking in at 6’4’ 302 lbs. It didn’t’ always turn into production in college but with the right coaching this kid could be a gamechanger. Cleveland also received a comp pick used on LSU Linebacker Jacob Phillips. This guy always gives 100% and puts his body on the line every play. A little refinement and he could become a solid starter in Cleveland.

Please address your comments, questions and concerns to jmpfer04@gmail.com who presented me the opportunity to write this article.

Ohio State Ignorance and Some Post-Draft Thoughts

April 24, 2020June 2, 2020 by Jeremy Fernando, posted in NCAA Football, NFL

For those that came just for the Ohio State nonsense, please head down to that last bullet point. Instead of a night filled with the beauty and wonder of the Bellagio Fountain and Las Vegas lights, we got to see Roger Goodell hug his TV. Thanks a lot China. Here are some post-draft thoughts after a “boo-less” NFL draft.

With Jerry Jones drafting alone with no connection to the outside world the draft could have been an absolute disaster. Turns out, the man still has a couple tricks up the old sleeve. What a fantastic pick. The Cowboys offense could break records next season. The addition of CeeDee Lamb puts Dak Prescott in the MVP discussion, and for the gamblers in the crowd I’m sure you could find some nice value there. We all love to hate the Boys but that pick was downright beautiful.

Video by Bleacher Report

Dave Gettleman and the New York Football Giants organization once again let down fans on draft night. However, who all remembers draft night 2019 where Giants fans, I included, were up in arms over their selection of Daniel Jones? As it turned out, Danny Dimes replaced our beloved Eli Manning and has put himself in position to be the franchise guy for the foreseeable future. Perhaps we should wait and see before wanting to guillotine Gettleman.
The Raiders select the 3^rdbest WR in the draft over possibly the two best receiver prospects in the last 5 years and Al Davis just has to be turning in his grave. Henry Ruggs III can fly. No doubt about it. However, so can Usain Bolt and you don’t see him putting on the pads every Sunday. In all seriousness, Henry Ruggs is a playmaker who will have a fine career. But when you have an opportunity to get a guy like CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy you just can’t pass that up. I have a feeling we will be seeing Jon Gruden in the MNF booth in the near future.

While Cowboys fans were rejoicing over their pick (and rightfully so), the Eagles made a very nice selection of their own. Jalen Reagor mainly slid under the radar during his time at TCU thanks to underwhelming QB play. However, the dude can really ball and will pair nicely with Carson Wentz.
For those that haven’t yet watched film on Browns pick Jedrick Wills please take a minute out of your day and do so (I was even nice enough to include a video link here). The guy is a tank. He’s making a mockery out of some of the best defensive linemen in college football. The pressure is now on Baker to perform because that offense on paper is as good as it gets.

Video by LR Filmz

Joe Burrow gets drafted and Ohio State fans immediately jump up to claim him as one of theirs. What absolute stupidity! If the man had stayed in Columbus, he most likely would be starting his career right now as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs with his degree in financial services; which is incredibly generous considering its a degree from Ohio State (just kidding Buckeye fans). Nevertheless, he would never have won a Heisman trophy, become the #1 pick in the NFL draft, and he most certainly would not be a national champion had he not packed his bags and went to the Bayou. The football world persecutes the Aggie fans who claim Kyler Murray, but sit there silently while this blasphemy occurs. My head truly hurts.