The Pallilog
NFL Draft gives us some sports, and the SEC dominates again
Apr 24, 2020, 6:57 am
The Pallilog
We're into week seven of no meaningful athletic competition, so the arrival of the NFL Draft Thursday night was most welcome. Interest in it around here wasn't great given the Texans had no first round pick, but the first round is always a big deal and this year provided a few hours of hope toward having sporting events we lust to watch being back by September at the latest. I'd have much preferred NBA and NHL playoff games to watch.
The Texans have the eighth pick of the second round and Bill O'Brien could go a number of directions. Emperor O taking a guard would be justifiable, likewise wide receiver with Will Fuller and Kenny Stills both free agents after the 2020 season, but the defense is in need of a bigger boost. A defensive tackle, edge rusher, corner, or safety who fills draft cliché number one (best player available) should be able to make some impact as a rookie. Alabama safety Xavier McKinney might be the guy most expected to go in the first round who did not. Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike would make sense if on the board for the Texans' pick at number 40.
For those who question whether the Southeastern Conference is overrated, stop. Nine of the first 15 selections were SEC guys. In all an amazing 15 of the 32 first round picks were SEC guys. LSU led the way with five. That's five more than the University of Texas which failed to produce a first rounder for the fifth year in a row. Going into Friday night UT produced just one second rounder in the last eight drafts.
In leading LSU to the National Championship against the toughest schedule any school has never negotiated its way through undefeated, Joe Burrow had the greatest passing season in the history of college football. 60 touchdown passes against just six interceptions. Still, Burrow is not a "can't miss" prospect the way John Elway, Troy Aikman and Andrew Luck were as they entered the NFL. If Burrow goes on to greatness, the four guys taken behind him will have to collectively be great if they are to match the collective careers of the top five picks in the 1989 Draft. The second pick in '89 was epic steroid-created bust Tony Mandarich. But picks one, three, four and, five? All Hall of Famers. Aikman went first to the Cowboys, Barry Sanders third to the Lions, Derrick Thomas fourth to the Chiefs, and Deion Sanders fifth to the Falcons.
Wonder what Aaron Rodgers was thinking as he called it a night. The Green Bay Packers took an offensive player in the first round for the first time since 2011. Rather than help for Rodgers, the Pack tabbed his prospective successor in quarterback Jordan Love out of Utah State.
So weak of Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to release his Red Sox investigation and punishment the day before the NFL Draft. The timing was not a coincidence. It was clearly designed to minimize coverage and blowback. Astropologists shouldn't go overboard in outrage at the relative wrist slap given the Bosox. At no point was there indication that the Red Sox' scheme was as extensive as the Astros' cheating. But for Manfred to completely exonerate Alex Cora of anything during his Boston tenure strains credulity to amazing levels.
Russell Westbrook told an amusing story during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this week. When he was 10 or 11 Westbrook attended a Michael Jordan basketball camp in Santa Barbara not too far from Westbrook's California home. As the last day of camp was winding down, each team was allotted time to get an autograph from and picture with MJ. When Westbrook's team's turn came, he blew it off, to keep playing whatever game he was in at the time. When Russ got home his parents asked "Did you get your time with Michael?" Mom and Dad Westbrook had bought a basketball that he could get signed. Russ explained that he didn't because he'd kept playing instead. Then he cried over the opportunity lost. At least somewhat ironically two decades later, Westbrook gets Jordan autographs, on checks! He is an endorser of Nike's Jordan Brand.
1. Playing them is one thing, but sitting through whole video baseball or basketball games being played? Can't do it. 2. Don't have to be desperate for sports content to find the Jordan/Bulls "The Last Dance" documentary riveting. 3. Best last dance songs: Bronze-Last Dance, Dua Lipa Silver-Save The Last Dance For Me, The Drifters Gold-Last Dance, Donna Summer. Of course.
.
Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are the top three leading rushers in the NFL.
Every team had a chance to add them in the offseason.
Henry, Barkley and Jacobs switched teams in free agency along with several other starting running backs who are leading their teams in rushing. J.K. Dobbins, Tony Pollard, Aaron Jones and De’Andre Swift are on the list. Joe Mixon also changed uniforms but he was traded.
Many running backs felt they were being devalued last year and openly expressed their frustration. They were paid better this season, though nowhere close to the money quarterbacks and wide receivers receive.
The success of Henry, Barkley and others could change the future of the position. Teams may be more inclined to give top backs bigger contracts.
Henry signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. He has 1,185 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.
Barkley got a $37.5 million, three-year contract with $26 million guaranteed from the Philadelphia Eagles. He leads the NFL with 1,347 scrimmage yards, including 1,137 on the ground, and has eight rushing TDs and two more receiving.
Mixon received a $25.5 million, three-year deal from Houston after he was traded by Cincinnati. He has 764 yards rushing and 10 TDs, including three Monday night, in eight games.
Christian McCaffrey is the highest-paid running back with an average annual salary of $19 million. Meanwhile, 23 receivers are averaging at least $20 million per season, including six making $30 million.
Henry, Barkley and Mixon have been bargains for likely playoff-bound teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
They could pave the way for other backs to get paid.
Mike Tomlin is one win away from securing his 18th winning season in 18 years as the head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This could be Tomlin’s best coaching job yet.
The Steelers (8-2) took control of the AFC North with an 18-16 win over Baltimore (7-4) and have established themselves as surprise Super Bowl contenders. They were an afterthough t coming into the season before starting 4-2 with Justin Fields filling in for Russell Wilson. Tomlin was widely criticized for switching to Wilson when he returned from a calf injury and the Steelers haven’t lost since.
Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy was among the few national analysts who supported Tomlin’s decision to make a QB change.
“So many said Mike Tomlin didn’t know what he was doing and Russell Wilson couldn’t play football any more. I think Coach Tomlin has watched enough football to be able to make intelligent decisions,” Dungy said.
Despite his success, Tomlin has never been the AP Coach of the Year. He’s built a strong case through 11 weeks.
The Saints (4-7) are 2-0 since Dennis Allen was fired and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi became the interim coach. The Jets (3-8) are 1-5 after Jeff Ulbrich replaced Robert Saleh.
Ulbrich, who was promoted to interim coach from defensive coordinator, has continued to call plays for a unit that has regressed.
Twice in the past four games, the defense has allowed a 70-yard touchdown drive that culminated with the go-ahead score in the final minute. It happened against Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots in Week 8 and against Anthony Richardson and the Colts on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers now has to lead the Jets to six straight wins to avoid the fourth losing season of his career.
New York’s miserable season cost general manager Joe Douglas his job on Tuesday.
Just when it seemed things couldn’t get worse for the Cowboys, their stadium fell apart. Well, a piece of the roof at AT&T Stadium fell about 300 feet to the field a few hours before Monday night’s 34-10 loss to Houston.
With Dak Prescott, Dallas was 3-5. Without their star quarterback, the Cowboys have no chance. They’ve been outscored 68-16 in two losses. Even worse, the future looks bleak because the team has too many flaws.
Owner/general manager Jerry Jones has to make important decisions, starting with who will lead the team if coach Mike McCarthy, as expected, doesn’t return.
Unfortunately, a national TV audience will have to watch America’s Team the next two games on Thanksgiving and Monday night Dec. 9.