March 8. That's the date on which Peyton Manning is due $28 million from the Indianapolis Colts for services, uh, not rendered. At least not any time recently. Which forces a decision for Peyton.

Does he forgo the money and re-sign with the Colts for a much less lucrative deal (which Colts owner Bob Irsay is reportedly open to) or does he hit the open market? The latter is what should concern Rams fans. If Peyton does indeed test free agency or even sign with a team before the draft, the chances to trade that second over pick lessen.

The question is whether or not Peyton Manning will be able to play football in 2012. Judging from today's report from Sports Illustrated's Don Banks, it's not incredibly likely. Not only did that article reveal a previously unreported fourth surgery from last season, but Banks went on to say:

...league sources say Manning's neck has potentially developed bone spurs just above the point where his latest fusion surgery took place in early September, and the Colts organization is under the belief that it is nearly inevitable Manning will at some point require further surgery, and possibly another fusion procedure, even if he does successfully return to the field in 2012. It's unclear how any potential long-term neck issues will impact Manning's decision to attempt a resumption of his NFL playing career later this year.

It's not the most damning article to come out, but it's worth reminding those fan bases eager to bring in Peyton Manning to be their savior that he may not be capable of being himself anymore.

Age has a weird way of making everyone retire at some point.

This is getting interesting.

Last night, I put up a post reacting to this front-paged FanPost from Hogs Haven in which the author, Rodskins, recounted his meeting with Redskins DC Jim Haslett.

Of immediate interest were the Skins' lack of interest in Matt Flynn and any QB beyond Andrew Luck and RGIII, the suggestion that the Redskins had at least "already talked with Jeff Fisher about the possibility" of trading up for the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and the validation of the "Peyton to Washington" rumors.

Well the D.C.-area ESPN radio station spoke with Jim Haslett this hour, and he seemed none to pleased with the story at HH:

"I don't even know the offseason plan..You think I am going to tell some guy I don't even know?...I don't even know the offseason (offensive) plans, so why would I say that?..My (expletive) family wasn't even there.."

As some commenters suggested here in the TST post, this could have well been some of the offseason chicanery that teams play to bluff certain moves to try and entice their opponents to overplay their hand.

On the other hand, if he did indeed disclose this info, that's the exact kind of denial you'd expect him to roll out.

The Super Bowl is over, and Madonna is yet to be released from the underground cage beneath Lucas Oil Stadium.

The offseason absurdity period is here.

(updated by 3k at 12:50pm ET)

And as soon as I write that, I'm hearing that Rodskins, the author of that post at HH, was just on the Mike Wise show on 106.7 The Fan here in D.C. The first zany offseason storyline is here, folks (if you don't count Gronkowski dancing the Super Bowl blues away). Will try and update/find the audio ASAP.

(updated by 3k at 2:20pm ET)

The audio's out (scroll to the bottom), and it's an incredibly interesting interview with Rodskins. Ironically, it would seem that Haslett was naive enough to not think this would get out, and Rodskins was naive enough to think he was just "talking to two or three hundred "friends." God bless the 21st century.

Gotta love SB Nation. From Hogs Haven, the SBN community for Redskins fans, comes this report from one of their community members (I mention his status only because I'm hesitant to vouch for any story that doesn't come from a front page author). And yes, it is important.

The author, Rodskins, notes that he talked with Jim Haslett, the former Rams DC and interim head coach who is currently Mike Shanahan's defensive coordinator. During the talks, he disclosed some awfully detailed information that's of immediate interest to Rams fans.

On the free agent front, he said that the Skins weren't interested in Matt Flynn, but the wheels are turning to make the initial efforts toward Peyton.

Of more import, he said the Redskins have already contacted Jeff Fisher to discuss the second overall pick. He didn't provide any details of the talks, other than to note that the front office only has interest in Andrew Luck and RGIII at this point, so the likelihood of trading up is, well, more than 0%.

Take it for what it's worth, but if true, things are setting up well for the Rams to make out well in trading the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Well, I'm back. Had to move, and didn't have internet in the interim. So let's catch up where I left off.

In my last post, I put up the form for everyone to rank the 2012 Rams' biggest needs. There were almost 300 responses, so if you didn't get yours in, go ahead and throw it in.

You might want to go ahead and check the vote results to make sure yours is in. I deleted the votes that were backwards (remember, 1 means we don't need to upgrade the position, 10 means we need a total depth chart overhaul). So if you voted but you can't find it, I probably deleted it.

On Friday, I'll go ahead and put together the data sets like last year (although those charts have disappeared, so it'll look better on Friday).

After the jump, the current tally and some observations.

Continue reading this post »

First, there was the announcement that the Rams would play a game in London each of the next three seasons, followed by the subsequent reaction.

Then, Stan Kroenke's name was dropped as one of the "more than 10" bids for the Dodgers. Van, of course, went all smartypants on everyone laying out the details in fine form.

Lastly, we had some fun at the end of the week when the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission noted that the Rams' lease includes a clause that prevents them from playing any home games (outside of the preseason) away from the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams responded in kind:

Huh? Oh. Well that's nice, but no not really. Sorry.

Now while all that linkery has put St. Louisans (and forgive me if that's an incorrect demonym) on edge concerning the fate of their NFL franchise, the truth is that both sides have done pretty much what they had to. Neither has really had much wiggle room in their decisions, because there are only so many things each side can do to gain leverage against the other.

And while St. Louis-based Rams fans may bristle at the idea that Kroenke "had" to manufacture these not-so-subtle threats to head back to Cali, the reality is that it's a necessary play to force the hand of the CVC to come up with a comprehensive plan to create the kind of facility that generates revenue commensurate with other NFL franchises' homes.

As Patrick Rishe, Webster University sports economist and Forbes writer, told the P-D's Bryan Burwell this week:

From a pure business perspective, I'd say this is good business for him to play his cards the way he's playing his cards. I'd say 'job well done.' Someone asked me the other day if he had a moral obligation to St. Louis football fans. I said absolutely not. His moral obligation is to do what is best for the best financial return of the owners. And if I was him, I can't say I wouldn't be doing the same things he's doing.

Of course he can't. I'd be doing the same thing too. It's just smart business. And as painful as it is to admit, Kroenke's a smart owner who should care more about the bottom line than a certain subset of fans.

Ironically enough, it's another factor that's out of St. Louis' (and the Rams') control that could force both parties' hands.

If another team, primarily San Diego, Jacksonville, Minnesota or Oakland, commits to Los Angeles before the Rams have made any permanent decision, the CVC becomes a much more powerful entity in these discussions. And given the news out of Minneapolis and the uncertainty in San Diego, those are real possibilities...once LA actually puts shovels in the dirt.

These are uncomfortable times for Rams fans. That won't change very soon. But if there's any solace to be had, it's that neither party has had a real chance to do anything yet. And that means noone's screwed anything up.

Yay.

Well, it's been an interesting week down in Mobile leading up today's 2012 Senior Bowl (4pm, NFL Network).

The WR group took a huge hit for scouts as Baylor's Kendall Wright, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd and Wisconsin's Nick Toon were all sidelined with various injuries. You can look at the fallout in two ways.

On one side, that opened the door for the other WRs to get more time. Some, like Cal's Marvin Jones and Arizona's Juron Criner, to step up. Others, like Texas A&M product Jeff Fuller and UNC Tar Heel Dwight Jones didn't fare as well.

On the other hand, it also meant the corners had added pressure to excel without three of the top WRs in action -- they certainly did. Janoris Jenkins, once a Florida Gator but more recently a North Alabama Lion, had scouts raving. Brandon Boykin (Georgia) and Dwight Bentley (Louisiana-Lafayette) also stepped up. And while Alfonzo Dennard's biggest deficiency (his speed) was exacerbated by the soft coverage, as teams look at his tape, they'll see someone who is more than capable of working up on the line.

JimmyK has a good roundup of players who impressed or disappointed him. And CBS' coverage has been excellent this year.

So holler it up in here if you're watching.

About a year ago, I asked our battalion (or have we entered brigade status?) of readers what they thought the biggest needs for the Rams were with the 2010 season behind us.

It's that time again.

After the jump, you'll find a form where you rank each position from 1-10 (10 meaning we desperately need help, 1 meaning no changes are needed whatsoever).

How do you grade the Rams offensive tackles? Rodger Saffold has the look of a capable young player, but should Jason Smith be in the team's long-term plans? Guard and center are also going to be interesting positions to analyze?

How about defensive tackles and outside linebackers? Are they both 10's? I'll definitely be watching how the safety votes come in...

What about the specialists? Do Donnie Jones and Josh Brown still deserve our confidence?

Continue reading this post »

Jumping off of Van's piece from this morning, I figured we should wrap up the news from today's action at the 2012 Senior Bowl.

Wide Receivers

It was a down day for Dwight Jones and Jeff Fuller, two heavily hyped wide receivers coming into the 2011 season. Both have the frames, but Fuller isn't exceptional in any area and Jones, for his size, isn't winning the physical battles he should.

DeVier Posey got some love today; more than any of the Ohio St. suspendees, Posey likely took the biggest draft stock hit. And especially in a year without obvious top WR talents, he'd be in a much stronger position had he played.

Arizona St.'s Gerrell Robinson didn't impress; he's just too sloppy past the first couple yards. You could attribute much of his statistical explosion this year to QB Brock Osweiler.

Arizona's Juron Criner continues to pick up fans as well. He runs pretty crisp routes, but without great speed he's going to be a limited guy at the next level.

And while he's not a pure WR, Chris Rainey got tons of love today. He's a Molotov cocktail of a player - he explodes all over the field. His hands are messy, but he's a decent enough route runner. Having gotten time both at wideout and as a running back, he's the kind of athlete that could make a difference for plenty of NFL teams in the right system.

Summing up some of the rest of today's action after the jump.

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I began following Arsenal just before Arsene Wenger took over in the brief period that followed George Graham's departure.

I witnessed a brilliant mind take over and transform a team into an international powerhouse. I followed as the old guard champions aged out of the game, as guys like Tony Adams, Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, David Seaman, Nigel Winterburn and Martin Keown gave way to a new Arsenal. An international Arsenal.

In came Viera, Henry, Pires, Ljungberg, Overmars, Petit, Anelka. Trophies followed. Historic moments were created. And the goals...my god the goals. It was as it was supposed to be. And with the success, Wenger began to invest in young, unproven players...and he did it well. The list is too long to go through, and that's not what this is really about at its core. It's about how Wenger has responded when it didn't work out perfectly.

Far too many better writers than I have bemoaned the lack of experience in the team in the last few years, the adherence to a transfer policy that ignored the failings of the last few years in the silverware acquisition department. And to be fair, there's something to be said about faith, faith in oneself, faith in your players and teammates, and faith in your system.

But the line between faith and stubbornness is thin. And today did it for me. A single substitution was too much for me to swallow.

Continue reading this post »

The conference championships may not be until tomorrow, but draft season is in full flight.

The East-West Shrine Game (NFL Network, 4pm ET) and NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (NBC Sports, NOT NBC, 6pm ET) are both on tap today, featuring dozens of day 2 and day 3 prospects. You might want to just keep the rosters open during the game to be able to check jersey numbers (Shrine Game, Collegiate Bowl). And the Mocking the Draft game notes are always a must read (Shrine Game).

Neither game provides prospects on par with the Senior Bowl (next Sunday), but they're showcases nonetheless and could help a couple players jump up a few rounds.

After the jump, some notes and my players to watch.

Continue reading this post »

Well, the hints and speculation of a few hours ago are no longer - per just about anybody talking about the Rams today, they've hired Brian Schottenheimer to head the offense for the Rams in 2012.

Interestingly enough, in that last link:

According to league sources, it was a close call between Schottenheimer and Hue Jackson.

Take that for what it's worth, Hue fans.

Nevertheless, a team that saw most of its leadership blown up at the hands of "Silent Ninja Assassin Sniper Guy" Stan Kroenke now has a head coach in place with both coordinators on board. Fisher still has a couple spots to fill out on the sidelines, including a QB coach; maybe of more importance is the search for a new general manager, which Tony Softli, member of the Missouri Mustache Mafia, ssaid earlier today will intensify after next week.

And while Van posted a similar poll this week, I figured it'd be useful to revisit to see if attitude's toward Sawed-Off Shotty™ have changed.

Leaving just enough room for speculation and uncertainty, the NFL media don himself, SI's Peter King, dropped this tweet last night (h/t to Smiff620):

Brian Schottenheimer, not Hue Jackson, likely offensive coordinator in St. Louis.

— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) January 21, 2012

This comes nearly a full week after NFL.com reported the deal to be seemingly all but done.

Doug has already done some leg work to dig up some info across SB Nation, and Van opened the floor for discussion this week as well (although looking at the poll, I think Rams fans are firmly rooted in a "wait and see" response to the hire).

I'll take a bit of a different tack, one that certainly has a precedent to follow. One year ago, the Rams hired Josh McDaniels to be their next OC. With hopes of an explosive offense that "stressed" areas of the field, Rams fans were excited to bring on a coordinator who had managed explosive offenses that provided firepower drive in, drive out. It never happened.

Still, the imprint left by Josh McDaniels on the Rams isn't schematic - it's the personnel decisions he effected in the 2011 NFL Draft.

With Robert Quinn in the Rams' pocket after day 1, the Rams went after three passing targets in rounds 2-4. The additions of TE Lance Kendricks and WRs Austin Pettis and Greg Salas squeezed out former picks Donnie Avery and Mardy Gilyard.

Going into draft season with his OC and DC intact, Fisher has an early test with the combine and leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft...especially since the Rams are yet to select a GM to run the front office.

The early returns on Jeff Fisher, and Brian Schottenheimer, could well depend on how they approach the re-tooling of an offense that was as inept and ineffective as you'll ever see.

(update from 3k at 12:35ET)

Looks like a confirmation to me.

Rams hire brian schottenheimer as offensive coordinator.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) January 21, 2012

- Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick arrested for marijuana possession - This isn't like Justin Blackmon's DWI that any sensible mind in a front office will be able to rationalize; this is a player coming off of a championship, beginning his transition to the NFL by doing something with weed. I say doing something, because whether he was about to smoke it or he was selling it (and in that low quantity, that may be the worst answer) or he was just riding with a friend who had it, it's a judgment issue. The real question people will have for him at the combine is "why now?"

- Shrine Game practices are in full force - This is largely behind the curtain stuff. Does the fact that USC RB Marc Tyler had a good two-day run immediately catapult him into day 2 status? No. But saying catapult reminds me of nerdy guys who spend too much time making homemade catapults. And while I make fun of those guys, I really wish I had their handheld homemade catapults.

- Did Van get a mock on the SB Nation front page? - yes.

It's still relatively quiet on the draft front at this point, until Andrew Luck gets busted for moving a donkload of that Pyrex pure over the California border. Don't know what a donk is? Then you probably don't know what that Pyrex is for (consult your local Brad Jordan historian).

But the Shrine Game is this Saturday followed by the Senior Bowl a week from Saturday. That will help lead up to the combine in late February, so expect stuff to pick up on this front quickly.

For a team that's won just 15 games in the last five years, the St. Louis Rams seem to have been awfully close to relevance. A week 17 playoff play-in. A popular pick to win the NFC West before the 2011 season. We've been on the precipice.

When Stan Kroenke took over the team, it was a move from concern for financial readiness to market and competitive dominance - a move well explicated by Bryan Burwell on Wednesday. With that move came a need to make a statement to the competition that the Rams are no longer a joke of a franchise.

Continue reading this post »

Last night, the football-watching world was treated to a painful exhibition of one team's absolutely terrifying delivery of defensive power. It was also forced to watch LSU's floundering offense drown in a pool of 260-pound linebackers and an adherence to a gameplan that stopped working before the game started.

Spencer Hall wrapped up the season perfectly using a metaphor of last night as the funeral that allowed us to put the 2011 college football to rest. There is an aspect of that metaphor he doesn't touch on, however -- the process of betterment after the funeral.

Sure, he suggests we not "mourn" the passing of the season, of the game, or of the scandals that left a greater impact than the final scores. In that sense, he is asking we not feel grief or sorrow for losing all of that. But there is also a sense of mourning that incorporates a process of moving on, of growth and developing a greater understanding of one's own existence.

In medieval England, that process culminated in the Month's Mind, a capstone for a month of drinking and crying and all the kinds of stuff LSU fans were getting out of their system in the midst of some Bourbon Street-inspired debauchery. In Ethiopia, women set up an edir, a neighborhood mourning society that strengthens the community financially, socially, culturally and spiritually.

So what the hell does that have to do with the Rams?

Five lessons from the funeral after the jump.

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No matter where your football psyche lies, this game has something for you.

The storyline of the coach who left LSU seeking greener pastures and finding them in 2009 with a national championship. The other coach who is as zany and lovable and unpredictable and professional as any in the business. The rematch of the two best defenses in the game and who, if the other didn't exist, would be in the discussion as one of the best of all time. And a boatload of NFL prospects (including plenty who barely see the field if at all since they're playing behind day 1 and 2 guys.).

It's going down. Stuff after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

AT&T Cotton Bowl, (Kansas St. v. Arkansas), 8:00pm - FOX

References:

- my preview

- Mocking the Draft notes

- the SBN StoryStream

- Bill C's stat-heavy preview and prediction

- Bring on the Cats, the SBN community for fans of Kansas State

- Arkansas Expats, the SBN community for Arkansas fans

This one doesn't project for 100+ points like the last bowl open thread. Sorry. There is plenty of good scouting to be had though, not to mention the capability for a really close game. Arkansas does have a hell of an offense, with QB Tyler Wilson consistently firing to his top three options: Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Cobi Hamilton.

Kansas State, on the other hand, leans on their running game with Collin Klein and John Hubert. What should you expect from a wildly inconsistent Big XII team that leans on their running game? A weak roster for NFL scouts. It is what it is.

AT&T Cotton Bowl, (Kansas St. v. Arkansas), 8:00pm - FOX

Whew, no ACC teams. It's fun to watch teams put up 70, but when a conference is posting a Rams-esque record of 2-13 in BCS bowl play since the '98-'99 bowl season it's best just to let them sit out for a while. Meanwhile, the best conference in football offers yet another powerhouse in Arkansas against the confusing, what the hell, this isn't right, how are they winning Kansas State Wildcats. KSU beat Baylor, Texas A&M and Texas (by a combined 8 points...); on the other hand, they lost to Oklahoma by 41 and only beat Eastern Kentucky by 3... so who knows what the hell is going to happen tonight.

For the Cats, they picked up some good news last month when ILB Arthur Brown decided to return to school...unlike his brother, RB Bryce Brown, who left Tennessee to join his brother (who had transferred to Lawrence from Miami...). Bryce apparently will enter the NFL Draft despite totaling just three carries in the last two seasons. I expect he'll get some UDFA love, but without a notable performance doing something other than a pro day, don't expect anyone to throw a day 3 pick at him.

On the Hogs' side, you're looking at a roster full of NFL talent. Senior WRs Jarius Wright and Joe Adams as well as DE Jake Bequette lead the way, but they don't have the highest ceilings on the team. Junior WR Cobi Hamilton looks much more the part of an every down WR than his senior counterparts; he'd be wise to return to school to see what he could do once Adams and Wright depart. As for Bequette, while he'll get focus now, it's the offensive line that deserves attention in a year. Redshirt sophomores Travis Swanson (center) and Alvin Bailey (guard) are on the path to be top selections. Beyond this year's eligible prospects, true sophomore DT Byran Jones and frosh CB Tevin Mitchel have set up prominent careers in Fayetteville.

Rams player of interest: WR Jarius Wright, Arkansas (Sr.)

Final score: Arkansas 34, Kansas St. 30

I promised the shortest intro ever. Open thread after the jump.

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Allstate Sugar Bowl, (Michigan v. Virginia Tech), 8:30pm - ESPN

New Orleans is a wonderful city. It's great for, let's say, culture. It's great for culinary exploration. It's also great for football. There's a reason the Superdome hosts every big football game it can every so often - the stadium and the city craft the perfect environment for a fantical love of everything football. It's the kind of environment where a person can walk around wearing argyle-patterned pants with a drink in one hand, the other stuffed in a pocket with a dead wolverine on one's head while the sun is still up, and not a single person will notice.

On the field, there's good talent to scout. Michigan's best prospects are along the lines both defensive and offensive. While C David Molk is, IMO, the best the Wolverines have to offer, DT Mike Martin, DL Ryan Van Bergen, DE Craig Roh and OT Taylor Lewan will all factor in on day 3. It's pretty obvious to see why Michigan boasts one of the best running games and defenses in the country.

The Hokies match the Wolverines in production, but where Michigan plays a power game with an athletic QB, Virginia Tech sacrifices power for athleticism across the depth chart. Their star RB, David Wilson, could well be a late 1st round pick if his offseason goes well. Jayron Hosley is one of the best corners in the nation from a conference that is quickly becoming a pipeline for teams looking to improve their secondary. Jarrett Boykin is versatile enough that he could find himself a starter at WR in the NFL when the 2012 season rolls around.

I'll have the open thread up later.

Rams player of interest: RB David Wilson, Va. Tech (Jr.)

Final score: Michigan 17, Virginia Tech 16

Rose Bowl (Wisconsin v. Oregon), 5:00pm - ESPN

This one's already in the 2nd quarter, but better late than never. The Badgers have one of the best offensive lines in the country, and given the play of the Rams' line this year early on when healthy, it makes sense that this would be a good unit to poach. Guard Kevin Zeitler's the only senior, but C Peter Konz and OT Ricky Wagner both look the part of NFL players. Scarily enough, G Travis Frederick might be the best of the bunch as just a redshirt sophomore.

Oregon on the other hand has plenty of speed on both sides of the ball. And as De'Anthony Thomas' 91-yard TD shows, speed kills. Thomas is just a freshman; LaMichael James, however, is a junior and as you can see on the MTD underclassmen tracker, he's coming to the NFL. The Rams haven't paired Steven Jackson with a quick-fire speed back since drafting him; James might finally be the complement to AxJax the Rams have been sorely lacking.

Rams player of interest: Peter Konz, Wisconsin C (RS Jr.) just slightly ahead of LaMichael James, Oregon RB (RS Jr.)

Final score: Oregon 42, Wisconsin 23 (and no, judging by that first quarter, my prediction doesn't look good)

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (Stanford v. Oklahoma St.), 8:30pm - ESPN

Stanford QB Andrew Luck and OT Jonathan Martin along with OSU WR Justin Blackmon -- there's a decent chance that you could see three of the top five picks in the 2012 NFL Draft in this game alone. And there's plenty of talent on the board after those three. Guys like Oklahoma St. FS Markelle Martin, OT Levy Adcock and QB Brandon Weeden all have a shot at factoring in the second round. For the Cardinal (and yes, it's Cardinal not Cardinals), TE Coby Fleener, G David DeCastro and OLB Chase Thomas could all be gone before day 3.

Rams player of interest: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma St. WR (RS Jr.)

Final score: Stanford 51, Oklahoma St. 45

Amid the Rams madness today is a sextuplet of bowl games with four going off early. We'll try to provide as much content as we can on the Rams action (led by Van whose fingers have now been worn down to dwarfy nubs from typing at roughly 8,135 words per minute) while keeping an eye on the Rams of tomorrow playing today...sounds a bit like Colbert Super PAC...

After the jump, the info on the four early bowls. (and I'm working to catch up the watchlist to real time, but it's not looking good. Nevertheless, I've had just about every team playing today on there at some point this season so it's still a worthwhile reference.)

Continue reading this post »

Five bowls. One day. This should be fun.

Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (Texas A&M v. Northwestern), 12:00pm - ESPN

Well this sets up an odd contest. A&M has more talent, and more offense. They would have finished as one of the best teams in the country if they had better defense or a couple breaks. 1 point loss to Oklahoma St. 4 point loss to Arkansas. Overtime loss to Missouri. a 4-overtime loss to Kansas St. And a 2-point loss to Texas. Sometimes, you just can't get the breaks to go your way. Despite the record, the Aggies have plenty of prospects worth checking out. WR Jeff Fuller's had a down season, but in his last game against Texas, he was back in form. Another good show and he might be able to regain some of the luster he had going into the season. Both RBs, Cyrus Gray (who's hurt but will play) and Christine Michael (who's hurt and won't play) will make it to the next level. OLB Sean Porter has filled in nicely after Von Miller's departure. And Coryell Judie might be considered one of the top corners in college if he could have stayed healthy.

Northwestern on the other hand is your standard Big 10 mediocre team. Solid, yet unassuming QB in Dan Persa. Disciplined, though limited, white WR in Jeremy Ebert. Little to no NFL-caliber talent. HC Pat Fitzgerald is finding it tough going on the recruiting trails. He could use a win today to help resuscitate the program.

Rams player of interest: Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M RB (Sr.)

Final score: Texas A&M 45, Northwestern 24

Hyundai Sun Bowl (Ga. Tech v. Utah) info after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Now we're getting somewhere. The scouting tonight is top notch. Dozens of prospects, plenty of day one candidates, top programs and (what should be) a good game on the menu.

It sets up well right now, so I'm trying to temper my expectations ahead of time as not to be disappointed by a sloppily played 14-10 game. Damn you, Washington and Baylor for setting the bar way too high.

Your open thread for a highly entertaining (unless it's not) 2011 Insight Bowl after the jump.

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Do you like teams who win half their games? How about if one went 2-6 in SEC play? I knew we could be friends.

Now that we're cool, why not join me in this open thread while we watch football? I'll bring the queso, you bring the emotional baggage.

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