Five Good Questions with . . . Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe about the Patriots

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe....Mike covers the New England Patriots provided some feedback their upcoming NFL draft.....

Q1. First off, is there any chance the Patriots package up the 24th and 28th picks to try and move up for one "stud" player? If so, who would they be looking at?

I would say it's unlikely that the Patriots would move into the position to land a "stud" player. If they were to take that course of action, I'd put LSU safety LaRon Landry as the player they'd go get.

Q2. If they keep the 2 first round picks, what must the Patriots address with those picks? Who would you take with those 2 picks?

I'd put linebacker and defensive back at the top of the Patriots' needs list. Since the picks are at 24 and 28, a lot will depend who is still on the board at that time.

Q3. People are talking about the multi-position player Eric Weddle from Utah and that he would be a great fit with the Patriots. Do the Patriots have an interest in Weddle?

The Patriots have not had many discussions with Weddle, but that is not always an accurate measure of interest.

Q4. How unhappy is Asante Samuel about being "franchised?" Is he going to be a problem this upcoming season?

Samuel expressed his displeasure with the current state of contract negotiations in a recent piece with NFL Network's Adam Schefter. As of now, he said he would consider holding out.

Q5. Who are a few sleeper picks that you can see the Patriots making in the first 2 or 3 rounds?

Florida State wide receiver Chris Davis is a third-round type sleeper. I'd put Davis's teammate, running back Lorenzo Booker, in that category as well.

I want to thank Mike Reiss for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!

Here are a few interesting stories on the internet.....
- Mark Story of The Lexington Herald-Leader has a column which appeared in Friday’s edition...Story writes that the university should recognize Tubby Smith.....

Tubby Smith Story

- Legendary Chicago Daily News sports columnist Dave Nightengale dies.....

Dave Nightengale

- L.A. Times columnist J.A. Adande writes about Clippers guard Sam Cassell and his veteran experience....
Sam Cassell Story

Final Thoughts about the Don Imus Saga

Earlier this week I gave my views about the Don Imus Saga....throughout the week as we talked about this incident at the ‘water cooler" (even though we don’t actually have a water cooler) at work, I continued to state that Imus is not the sole problem here.....I talked to my African-American co-workers and they agreed with me....

What Imus said was wrong....but there is a bigger problem with racism in society than calling someone a "nappy headed ho".....this isn't about the Rutgers basketball team....who gives two hoots about Rutgers basketball....there is bigger problem....

Finally a national journalist stood up and basically stated the same thoughts that I have....Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock, who is African-American, has a different view about this situation....Whitlock wrote that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are basically grandstanding and fighting the battle of racism the old fashion way where someone has to lose their job....

I give Whitlock credit for standing his ground and stating his opinion even if it is not considered popular.....too many of these liberal media wonks have fallen in line like Soviet soldiers in blasting Imus instead of having the "grapefruits" to get to the real problem.....it is easy to sitback and blast Imus....but it takes courage to tackle the real problem of racism....

Sharpton, Jackson, Rutgers basketball coach Vivian Stringer and others missed the opportunity to address the real problem – the lack of respect that talk-show hosts, rappers, and other individuals who have the people's ear nationally have for each other....

Instead of addressing this problem head-on and talking about the crap that rappers "rap", people like Whoppi Goldberg sidestepped the issue.....she said the language that is used in rap songs is in a different context than what Imus stated.....

No it isn’t!!!!!.....

Rappers like Eminem, 50 Cent, Lil Boosie, and other knuckleheads are using their medium (music) to instill hateful and hurtful comments to people.....our youth listen to these lyrics and think it's "cool" to call a woman a ho, slut, tramp, slit, etc., etc....

Instead of Jackson and Sharpton calling for Imus’ head, these two clowns should have put all these rappers, both white and African-American, to task also....why doesn’t Sharpton chastise these thug rappers on his radio show?.....for people like Sharpton and Jackson, it’s a double standard.....and both idiots have never met a camera they didn't like....

I ask this question to the African-American community in this country, "when will the African-American community finally get fed up with the bullshit of knuckleheads like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and look to a new African-American leader who will try to make intelligent headway with racism instead of mugging in front of the television cameras".....When???.....I will tell you this, until Jackson and Sharpton get pushed aside, racism will still be a big problem in this country....

Here is the link to read Whitlock’s column.....

Whitlock

Five Good Questions with . . . John Shinn of The Norman Transcript about Adrian Peterson

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with John Shinn of The Norman (Oklahoma) Transcript ....John covers Oklahoma football for The Transcript and provided some feedback about stud running back Adrian Peterson....

Q1. Adrian Peterson is the top rated running back in the draft. You have watched him over the past 3 years, describe his strengths and weaknesses.

His strengths are speed and power. He's probably the best between-the tackles tailback I've seen in college football. He always hit holes with a burst and always moved the pile forward. He is also very tough to bring down one-on-one. Few times can I recall a defensive back or linebacker making a solo tackle in the open field. His weakness is his ability to help on third down. He's impressed NFL people with his pass-catching ability during workouts, but blocking kept him off the field during passing situations at Oklahoma. It's the part of his game that needs the most work.

Q2. With all the various styles of blocking and offenses in the NFL, will Peterson have a problem with any specific offense or is he capable of adjusting?

He would have a problem playing in an offense that doesn't emphasize running between the tackles. An offense like Denver's would be a bad fit because most of the running plays are "stretch" plays where he would have to read blocks and make immediate cuts. He struggled with that at OU. He tended to try to outrun everyone to the sideline like he was still in high school. Obviously, a spread offense where they throw the ball to the runningback 10-15 times a game would also be a bad fit.

Q3. Character and off-the-field activities are a hot topic in the NFL these days. Are there any red-flags that NFL teams should be aware of about Peterson?

He had no brushes with the law during his time at OU. He was suspended for a couple of practices and didn't start one game due to missing class his sophomore season. But in the locker room every player I ever talked to said he was an ideal teammate. I can't imagine any off-the-field stuff turning teams away.

Q4. The Cleveland Browns are supposedly interested in Peterson with the 3rd pick and so is Tampa Bay with the 4th pick. However, both teams already have veteran running backs, Jamal Lewis in Cleveland and Cadillac Williams in Tampa. If Peterson is selected by one of these two teams, do you think he will be frustrated if he is not given the opportunity to be "the man" right away?

I think he would fit in perfectly with Cleveland. He's faster than Lewis, but both have the same running style. Those two guys could bang away at defenses without the worry of wearing one down. I think if the Bucs took him, it would signal Cadillac Williams is going to be traded within two years.

Q5. In your opinion, is Adrian Peterson an impact player who can immediately help an NFL team?

I could if he winds up on a team with a good defense. He'll be great at pounding away at defenses in the second half of games. But his impact won't be the same if he's on a team that tends to fall behind early. His worst games at OU were always the ones where the Sooners fell behind early.

I want to thank John Shinn for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe about his thoughts on the New England Patriots....

Five Good Questions with . . . Brian Bennett of The Louisville Courier-Journal about the Cardinals

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Brian Bennett of The Louisville Courier-Journal ....Brian covers Louisville football for The Courier-Journal and provided some feedback about the Cardinals players who are preparing for the draft....

Q1. After suffering a devastating leg injury in the first game of the season, Michael Bush still chose to enter the NFL draft. Where do you think he is going to be selected? If he did not get injured, where do you think Bush would have been selected?
Well, I think Michael Bush might be the most intriguing prospect in the draft. His talent really isn't in question, but his health certainly is. He recently had another surgery on the leg and isn't expected to run at full speed now until July. So whichever team drafts him will be doing so with a lot of unknowns. For this reason, I suspect Bush will not be taken before the third round, and I could see him slipping to the second day. Of course, all it takes is one team to believe in him, and so that could change. Had he not gotten hurt, I think Bush was a first- or second-rounder for sure.

Q2. All the draft publications have been praising Amobi Okoye as his stock has been rising. I notice that he is listed at 287 pounds while defensive tackles often tip 310 plus. Do you think his weight and youth are going to be an issue in the NFL?
Amobi weighed in at 301 pounds at Louisville's Pro Day last month. His weight has fluctuated quite a bit since the season ended. He actually lost some weight before his senior season, and that seemed to help him play faster and use his motor more. I can't see the weight issue being a major factor. I think any NFL team that wants him heavier can simply realize he's 19 years old and that he has plenty of room to grow. In a sense, it's a huge advantage drafting a 19-year-old rather than a 22-year-old senior, because you can control his rights longer.

Q3. Inside linebacker Nate Harris has the talent to make it in the NFL. However, character issues off the field may be scaring teams away to the point that he gets selected late on Day 2. What is the lowdown on Harris?
I don't know if the character issue is a big problem right now. Nate obviously had his run-in with the law as a high school senior, but he has kept his nose clean ever since and by all accounts was a model citizen during his two years at Louisville. If there's anything that's holding him back, it might be his size. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, he's a shade small for an NFL linebacker. But he had a strong performance at Pro Day, and I think he'll get drafted because of his athleticism.

Q4. Why has the Louisville program been able to produce quality NFL prospects of late?
The recruiting definitely improved at Louisville in recent years. The Cardinals have always had a lot of pro talent on the roster, but some of that in the recent past stemmed from the fact that they were willing to admit players with somewhat questionable backgrounds. Now, with their on-field success, they're getting in with top high school talents without character questions. The other thing that I think helps is that they have run a pro-style offense and, for the most part, pro-style defensive schemes that both attract players and prepare them for the NFL.

Q5. What future NFL draft "studs" are currently on the Louisville team who we should keep an eye on in the future?
Obviously, quarterback Brian Brohm is at the top of any list. He has the potential to be a No. 1 overall pick with a strong senior season. Wide receiver Mario Urrutia, who's 6-foot-6, could also be a first-rounder if he excels as a junior, and fellow receiver Harry Douglas, while small in stature, has been incredibly productive and could be a Deion Branch type. On defense, a name to remember is sophomore-to-be Peanut Whitehead. He was one of the top recruits in Alabama, and if he continues to blossom, he could develop into one of the top defensive ends in the country.

I want to thank Brian Bennett for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from John Shinn of The Norman (Oklahoma) Transcript about his thoughts on stud running back Adrian Peterson....

On Monday, in a way to promote other quality bloggers, we will hear from Zach of The Big Picture and his thoughts about the upcoming draft....

Also, here are two links to stories that I thought were interesting......the first is from Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe.....Mike writes about how Bill Belichick is working to repair his friendship with Eric Mangini.....

Belichick Story

The second link is from Nancy Gay of The San Francisco Chronicle about new Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin....

Lane Kiffin Story

Five Good Questions with . . . Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic about the Cardinals

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic....Kent is the NFL beat writer for The Arizona Republic and provided some feedback about the Arizona Cardinals...

Q1. What is the biggest need the Cardinals have to address with the 5th overall pick?
The biggest need they have in the draft is offensive line, specifically a left tackle. Leonard Davis left via free agency, and while he never lived up to his potential, the Cardinals don't have anyone ready to step in. Right now, it's a battle between Oliver Ross and Mike Gandy. I'm not sure, however, if they address this position with the fifth overall pick, unless Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas is there. As usual, this team has plenty of needs: an outside linebacker, a pass-rushing defensive end, a cornerback, etc. They could go a number of ways and still fill a need.

Q2. If Adrian Peterson should slide to the Cards at number 5, do you think they will select him even though they have Edgerrin James and other needs to fill?
I think it's possible; it depends upon who else is available to them. Peterson is certainly a dynamic talent. I watched him a lot in college and he's a special guy, but he doesn't avoid many hits and he was injured a lot. He would give the Cardinals a big-play threat at running back. James is a nice hunt-and-peck kind of runner but he's not very explosive. Peterson would add that dimension. Plus, coach Ken Whisenhunt wants to run the ball 550 or so times a season, so the club needs two backs to be able to do that.

Q3. During the early part of the draft season, most publications had the Cardinals taking Michigan's Alan Branch. However, Branch's stock has slipped of late. Are the Cards still interested in him or has another defensive player moved past him in the organization's eyes?
It's hard to say. You can't believe much of what anyone in the NFL says these days about the draft. Smokescreens, lies and more deception are the order of the day. I think it would be more likely they would take Clemson's Gaines Adams than Branch.

Q4. Have the Cardinals players been receptive to new coach Ken Whisenhunt?
So far they have, but he has yet to coach his first practice. I think they'll like him. He's smart. He has a plan. He makes sense when he talks to them. That wasn't always the case with Dennis Green. A former player, Whisenhunt I think will have a good feel for working the players hard yet knowing when to back off. He seems like he will be willing to listen to players' ideas.

Q5. Ultimately, who is the Cardinals "dream" pick at number 5?
Wow, that's hard to say. Remember, this is a team that once traded the No. 6 pick and the chance to take Terrell Suggs for the 17th and 18th picks where they took two guys who should have gone in the second round. I'd say they would love it if Joe Thomas was there at No. 5. From everything I read and see, you can just plug that guy in for the next 10 years.

I want to thank Kent Somers for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from Brian Bennett of The Louisville Courier-Journal about the Louisville Cardinals players who are getting ready for the draft...

Comments on the Don Imus Saga

I wasn’t planning on commenting about the Don Imus situation, however, I changed my mind since it will not go away....

First off, I am not a Imus fan....honestly, I have never listened to his show....in fact, I think the guy is a shriveled prune who needs a haircut....

Anyway, I do not defend nor condone the remarks he made about the Rutgers women’s basketball team....it was totally wrong and unprofessional to call them "nappy haired hos".....whether he was joking or not, it was inappropriate to make those comments....

After just watching the NBC Nightly News, I saw where the Rutgers basketball coach, Vivian Stringer, spoke out that something positive needs to come of this....

She is right -- something positive needs to come of it.....but it should not stop with just Don Imus....
The so-called music that young people listen to today is loaded with derogatory and sexual remarks about women....

I just looked on the I Tunes store and there is some group called Lil Boosie.....so I looked up the lyrics to some of the garbage (I won’t even call it songs) they perform....there is a song called "Fo My Thugz".....the lyrics state:
This is for my hoes who love dick
And be bout that thug shit
Ain't with that stud and they just ready to fuck quick
This is for my hoes who smoke joe
Go to the club and warm hoes

Later on, there are these lyrics:
This is for the pill poppin hoes
Who ready to take off they clothes
Who smoke weed all day
But don't fuck wit they nose
This is for the real ass hoes

Here is some crap from the Ying Yang Twins from a song called "1st Booty on Duty"

Some of these bitches be real the hard knock
Watchin gettin crunk they start they won´t stop
Hoes get naked for weed they love that
Take the baddest bitch in the club I fuck that
You fuck that, I fuck that, I fuck that, you fuck that, I fuck that, I fuck that

These are just two samples of garbage that is out there on CDs that is made by both white and African-American rappers....(believe me, I am not singling out African-American rappers at all)....

So I guess if Don Imus would have put his comments to music and a good beat, he would have been called "real" and someone who has "street cred"....

I also think it is unfair for the Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to call for Imus’ firing....if Sharpton is truly sincere about the use of these horrible words, then why doesn’t he choose to bring thugs like 50 Cent, Eminem, Lil Boosie and others to task?....

I also think that Jesse Jackson is far from being the moral voice of this situation.....this is coming from the same man who called Jews "hymies"......the same "moral" man who had an extramarital affair and an illegitimate child....so it is time for Jesse Jackson to take his protest placards and just go away....

If something positive is to come out of this, we need people like Vivian Stringer to talk about it - not Jesse Jackson nor Al Sharpton -- two people who never shied away from a camera....

This incident should not be about Don Imus alone.....it should not be about race alone....it should be about having all people, including these so-called "artists" clean up their acts and learn how to respect people and especially women....

People in this world lack respect for one another....and anyone who is calling another person a "ho", whether it be Don Imus or 50 Cent needs to be taken to task about it by our so-called leaders....

Five Good Questions with . . . Kevin Seifert of The Minnesota Star-Tribune about the Vikings

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Kevin Seifert of The Minnesota Star-Tribune ....Kevin is the NFL beat writer for The Star-Tribune and provided some feedback about the Minnesota Vikings...

Q1. Do the Vikings plan on going into this season with Tarvaris Jackson as their starting quarterback? Has he progressed during the off-season?
Officially, they're saying Jackson and Brooks Bollinger will be competing for the starting job. That will hold true even if they draft a quarterback in the first round, which I doubt they will. There won't really be any evidence of Jackson's progress until the spring practice season really gets underway in May and June.

Q2. If things bounce just right, it is quite possible that Brady Quinn could be there for the Vikings at the 7th spot. First, do the Vikings have an interest in Quinn and do they take him if he is there at number 7?
They have spent a good deal of time investigating Quinn and I don't doubt they consider him a good prospect. My guess is that if Quinn is available at No. 7, they will work very hard to trade down.

Q3. Some draft publications have the Vikings going with a wide receiver in the first round. With a plethora of receivers in this draft, are the Vikings considering moving down in the draft?
If they're going to take a WR in the first round, it's going to have to be after trading down. The only guy worthy of being taken No. 7 overall is Calvin Johnson, who will be long gone by then. Again, I think it's likely they will really try to trade down.

Q4. Who best fits the Vikings defense - Alan Branch, Gaines Adams, LaRon Landry, or Jamaal Anderson?
As far as need goes, I'm guessing Gaines Adams is the best fit for them. Like most teams, they really need better outside pass rush. But a guy like LaRon Landry can help any defense. All defenses are better when they have an instinctive, hard-hitting safety.

Q5. Are there going to be any changes to the Vikings defense since Mike Tomlin moved onto Pittsburgh?
The biggest change will be more blitzing with Leslie Frazier, who learned the scheme will playing for the Bears under Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan in the mid-1980's. It'll still be the same base scheme, but probably with more blitzing.

I want to thank Kevin Seifert for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic about the Arizona Cardinals....

Five Good Questions with . . . Tony Grossi of The Cleveland Plain Dealer about the Browns

Today's segment of "Five Good Questions" is with Tony Grossi of The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)....Tony is the NFL beat writer for The Plain Dealer and provided some feedback about the Cleveland Browns....

Q1. Supposedly the Browns have "cooled" on Adrian Peterson. However, do you think that is a ploy by G.M. Phil Savage? I don't know where some of this stuff on the Internet comes from. I know the Browns were really hot on Peterson during the last college football season. Maybe upon further examination their interest has cooled. But maybe not. I'm not 100% sure. I can still see them taking him at No. 3, though I would not.

Q2. If you were the Browns G.M., who would you select among these players - Peterson, Thomas, Quinn, or Johnson and why?
To me, it is an incredibly difficult decision between Thomas and Quinn. Let's just assume the character of these two men are impeccable -- no flaws. Thomas would fill a great need at left tackle. If he is a 10-year stalwart at the position, he and Eric Steinbach would give the Browns a true foundation on the left side. Believe it or not, Thomas would probably excite the Cleveland fan base more than Quinn because Browns fans have been pining for a blue chip LT for decades. But, in my opinion, you cannot keep passing on potential great quarterbacks in the top 10 of the draft as long as your QB position is as iffy as the Browns. If Quinn is the real deal -- a future Tom Brady, say -- he should be the pick. I don't know if he is. That's Phil Savage's job to determine.

Q3. Concerning Brady Quinn, let's look at it from the reverse side. Why shouldn't the Browns draft Quinn?
Drafting a young QB automatically signals another rebuilding phase. It almost assures the team won't win consistently for 2 more years. The Browns have severe needs at other areas and failing to fill them will assure the team of more growing pains.

Q4. As of today, what are the chances the Browns trade down?
I think they are 70-30 against. Detroit is in the driver's seat to trade down. If the Lions fail to do that, the Browns chances improve to 50-50 while they are on the clock. This would be my preference, but I would still have to think long and hard about Quinn if he is there. Thomas, too. The trade would have to be pretty good to pass up either.

Q5. So far, Braylon Edwards has not lived up the expectations of the 3rd overall pick. Why hasn't Edwards excelled so far with the Browns? What do both Edwards and Crennel need to do, on and off the field, to take advantage of his skills?
Edwards did well to recover from knee surgery and not miss a game in 2006. That feat was overlooked because of some behavioral issues. He is a good kid who needs to mature. I believe Crennel should have come down harder on him last year, but it's too late now. Beyond all the issues -- Edwards' sideline rants, his selfishness in attending an OSU-Michigan game the night before a big rivalry game, etc. -- the guy has to stop dropping balls. His inconsistency in catching the ball is my biggest hangup with him.

I want to thank Tony Grossi for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated!!!....tomorrow we will hear from Kevin Seifert of The Minnesota Star-Tribune about the Minnesota Vikings....

Random Thoughts

Somehow, Tiger Woods has worked his way back into contention for The Master’s title....this may be one of his best golfing efforts just to stay in contention as the Augusta course has gotten tougher.....

Woods is a heavy favorite over leader Stuart Appleby.....you would have to put $35 just to win $10 on Tiger.....while if you want Appleby, you have to put $10 to win $25.....I’m putting my money on Appleby....

The Kansas State fans need to chill out about Bob Huggins leaving Manhattan to take the job at his alma mater, West Virginia.....Huggins also gets the opportunity to go against his former school, Cincinnati, since they are both in the Big East.....you cannot blame someone who leaves to become a head coach at their alma mater....isn’t that like a Man Law or something?....

Plus, star recruit Michael Beasley is going to honor his commitment to Kansas State.....the Wildcat fans need to grow some grapefruits and stop whining.....

Wasn’t Rose McGowan once married to Marilyn Manson?....come to think of it, what ever happened to M2?.....

Why would Major League Baseball schedule a non-divisional game in a northern city so early in the season....MLB scheduled the Seattle Mariners for a 4-game set in Cleveland this weekend....it is the Mariners only trip into Cleveland all year....why wouldn’t MLB schedule a divisional foe instead in case there is inclement weather, it is easier to re-schedule a game.....

Nice first outing by Dice-K.....

Has anyone seen the new Barbasol commercial with the Swedish woman?.....whew....

For some reason, I think the Republicans are trying their hardest not to like Rudy.....

Instead of Fred Thompson, I would rather see Jack McCoy run for president....

While watching a Minnesota Twins game earlier this week, the announcers stated that Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is only the 3rd player to ever win a league MVP before ever making an All-Star game.....the other two were Kirk Gibson and Terry Pendleton....

Finally, Happy Easter to everyone.....God Bless You and God Bless America....