Why we will have football next season

                The NFL and the Players Union are currently in a lock out. The previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expired March 3^rd. Neither parties have agreed on another CBA for this upcoming or future seasons. Due to this, there is currently a lockout where NFL players and teams have no ties to one another. This is a very general breakdown of the situation, but basically, both sides cannot come up with an agreement on how the $9 billion NFL industry should spend its money. Obviously, the players want more than what the NFL is willing to part with, and vice versa. Since both sides say that they want an NFL season next year (even though there is a lot of evidence to argue that), the parties have agreed to a mediator to resolve these problems. Using a mediator did not work as well as planned, and the players have taken the case to a federal judge to “oversee the case.” March 6^th was the day both parties defended their case. It was a five hour session and the judge requested “a couple of weeks” to evaluate and make a decision.

The sole purpose of this first meeting was for the judge to have “the lockout be immediately lifted on the grounds that their careers [players] are being irreparably harmed.” Unfortunately, little was resolved during this five hour meeting. When the judge does make her decision, the “winner would have leverage whenever talks resume on a new CBA.” This of course would be appealed, so on and so forth, wasting a lot of time. This current system is will not be effective in getting both sides to agree to a new CBA is a timely manner.

I personally find this whole situation to be a tad ridiculous. I completely understand both sides of the argument, and I will not take one side or the other because important information was never released to the public. But what I can say is that both sides have agreed to certain contracts in the past. Both sides have to be flexible on their demands, losing some battles while gaining ground in other areas. The general feel from these meetings is that both parties are holding strong toward their case.

I personally believe that if neither side can reach an agreement by this summer, the government will ultimately step in and make both sides cooperate. The NFL and the Players Association are fighting over the rights of the $9 billion industry, but that does not include the billions of other dollars affected by this decision. Our current economy is in a recession, meaning people are not spending money, therefore halting money flow. If there was no NFL, businesses like local restaurants, sports bars, and television sports packages would all lose business. And these are just a few; there are hundreds of other jobs that would lose money with no NFL season.  Our current economy needs money to be spent to help the US get out of the recession it is currently facing. The NFL is such a large business, that it could seriously affect the future growth of the US economy.

So while both the NFL and the Players Association are arguing over who gets what and at what price, there is such a larger factor that is being affected. Us sports fans must hope that the two sides come to an agreement before things get out of hand.

2011 NFL Mock Draft (Round 1)

ROUND 1:

1. Carolina (2-14) - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri

Carolina has many problems. With a new head coach and a lowered rookie salary cap, Gabbert is sure to go #1. Gabbert is a safe pick and a great QB to build a franchise around.

2. Denver (4-12) – Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Peterson is considered the best overall prospect in this draft. He is also the best CB prospect since Charles Woodson. Just imagine the shut down secondary Denver will have with Champ Bailey on one side and Patrick Peterson on the other.

3. Buffalo (4-12) - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

This pick is more of a luxury and less of a need, but Green is worth it. He is the best receiving prospect since Calvin Johnson and will be a future Pro Bowler for years to come.

4. Cincinnati (4-12) – Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

So Carson Palmer refuses to play another game for Cincinnati? I believe that the Bengals will fall to his bluff and trade him away. With his departure, there is a huge hole at quarterback. And then there is Cam Newton. I personally don’t like Cam Newton, but he does have an extremely high ceiling.

5. Arizona (5-11) - Von Miller, OLB, Texas A&M

Arizona needs a new quarterback, but the top two are off the board. Arizona needs a veteran QB, not a rookie. With that, they draft Von Miller. Miller is a beast who had a great combine and Senior Bowl.

6. Cleveland (5-11) – Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

Cleveland would love to draft A.J. Green, but he is already off the board. So they take the best Defensive Linemen in Marcell Dareus. Dareus had a great Combine and will have an instant impact as a rookie.

7. San Francisco (6-10) - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

San Francisco could use help in their secondary and luckily Amukamara is still available. Even though Amukamara is considered the second best CB in the draft, it is very close. He will be a future shut down corner in the NFL.

8. Tennessee (6-10) - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

Tennessee makes me laugh. They have so many holes in their team, and they are only moving in the wrong direction. They could get a steal at pick eight with Bowers, but his knee issues and one year wonder status could draw a red flag. He does have potential to be very good.

9. Dallas (6-10) - Tyron Smith, OT, USC

Dallas needs more help in the trenches to protect Tony Romo. Tyron Smith is a beast and has a very high ceiling. He can play both RT and LT.

10. Washington (6-10) - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Julio Jones had such a great combine that he forced himself into the Top 10 of this draft. Jones is a great receiver with blazing fast speed. Last year’s #1 receiver for Washington was Santana Moss, who is now a free agent.

11. Houston (6-10) – Robert Quinn, DE, Carolina

Quinn is a very special player and could be a Top 5 talent had he played this season. Instead he missed out on his whole season. If he reaches his potential, Houston will be getting an excellent pass rusher.  

12. Minnesota (6-10) – Jake Locker, QB, Washington

Minnesota needs a quarterback. The best available QB is Jake Locker. Pick #12 might be a reach for Jake Locker, so I strongly see Minnesota trading down ten or so spots and then drafting Locker.

13. Detroit (6-10) – Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

Detroit FINALLY selections someone who can protect Matthew Stafford. Stafford could be a good NFL player if he was never hurt. Solder can provide great protection for years to come. This is not a sexy pick, but it is the smart one….But I wouldn’t be shocked if Detroit screws this pick up.

14. St. Louis (7-9) - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois

All the Rams wanted were either Green or Jones, but they missed out on both. Sam Bradford needs a #1 option at receiver. Since they missed out, they will strengthen their D-Line and pair someone up with Chris Long.

15. Miami (7-9) - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

This is the most obvious pick in the draft. Both of Miami’s running backs are free agents, so a replacement is needed. Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy last season and will instantly be able to come in and help the Dolphins.

16. Jacksonville (8-8) – Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

The Jaguars need help rushing the passer. Ryan Kerrigan is a defensive leader who would help fill that void. This is a win-win for both parties.

17. New England - from Oakland (8-8) - Cameron Jordan, DE, California

New England is a pretty stacked team as well, so their plethora or draft picks is not fair. They have 2 first rounders, 2 second rounders, and 2 third rounders. They draft Jordan with this pick to put pressure on the other teams quarterback.

18. San Diego (9-7) - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College

San Diego has several great players on both sides of the ball, but there is always room to improve an offensive line. Anthony Castonzo is a great athlete who will protect Philip Rivers for many seasons.

19. New York Giants (10-6) – Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame

Rudolph is the most complete and best Tight end in the draft. Another passing weapon for Manning, plus another up front blocker would be perfect for the Giants.

20. Tampa Bay (10-6) – Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State

This draft is extremely deep with Defensive Ends with the talent to go in the first round. In jumps Cameron Heyward. He was a beast of Ohio State and could help solidify the Bucs.

21. Kansas City (10-6) - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

Kansas City has a few great centerpieces, but they have nobody opposite of Dwayne Bowe. Bowe had a break out year last season with over 1100 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Torrey Smith offers another threat so Bowe is not always double teamed.

22. Indianapolis (10-6) – Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

The Colts are the most quarterback dependant team in the NFL. Without Payton Manning, this team would be drafting in the Top 10. Since Manning is your best asset, protecting him is a must. Drafting a solid offensive tackle to beef up their O-Line is a very smart move.

23. Philadelphia (10-6) - Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida

The Eagles allowed the most sacks out of any team in the NFL in 2010. They also just put the franchise tag on Michael Vick, which means he will earn about $20 million next season. Getting someone upfront to help out is a must. Pouncey is a beast that can help protect the QB and push the defense to help the run game.

24. New Orleans (11-5) - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

The Saints have a pretty stacked team with not very many holes, but more depth on the defensive line would be the best. Saints are also projected as one of the better teams in the league next season that have a solid chance at making the Super Bowl. Clayborn would help get them there.

25. Seattle (7-9) - Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado

As a Seahawks fan, it’s hard to project what they will do. They have so many holes on their team that they could draft any position. I believe that they draft Jimmy Smith, who is a big, yet quick cornerback. With Kelly Jennings a free agent and Marcus Trufant nothing like what he once was, Smith is a great pick.

26. Baltimore (12-4) - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

Baltimore has always been known for their shut down defense, but their defense is getting old. Watt is a beast on the end and if he falls this far, the Ravens will be stupid to pass on him.

27. Atlanta (13-3) - Justin Houston, DE, Georgia

Atlanta has one of the best offenses in the NFL. They have a great young quarterback, amazing receivers, and a beast of a running back. Since this draft is loaded with great defensive ends, the Falcons will select Houston to help stop the other team.

28. New England (14-2) - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA

The Patriots will most likely trade this pick away. But if they don’t, defense is the way to go. They already drafted a defensive end with the 17^th pick, now they add depth to the linebacker core.

29. Chicago (11-5) - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State

Chicago needs to protect Jake Cutler. They gave Denver so many draft picks for Cutler, so protecting him is a must. With Cutler protect, the Bears are a playoff team. If Cutler gets hurt, they have serious problems.

30. New York Jets (11-5) - Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor

Rex Ryan is a defensive guy and he is always looking to add talent. Phil Taylor could jump in and make that defense even more deadly.

31. Pittsburgh (12-4) - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami

Pittsburgh had the best run defense in the league, but their pass defense was slightly above average. Adding a player like Brandon Harris would help improve the secondary.

32. Green Bay (10-6) – Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon

The Super Bowl Champs. They already have a great offense and a great defense. I believe they will select Paea to help stop the opponents run game. Paea also holds the record for the most bench presses in the Combine, so he has proven to have a great work ethic.

Quick notes in sports

Hey guys,

I have not written a blog in about a week (this last week of school has been hell) so I thought I would give a quick shout out of some of the big news in sports that we saw this week.

• The NFL and CBA have not reached an agreement, so there is still questions on whether there will be a NFL football season. Some good notes, the current CBA agreement has been extended twice since it was first supposed to expire. There has also been some strong strides in the right direction. We now know that there will NOT be an 18-game season in the NFL. The NFL players do not want this because of the high risk of getting injured. We also know that the pay scale for NFL rookies drafted in the first round has decreased greatly (Which I strongly support.) The current deadline for the extended CBA is this Friday, so lets hope that a deal can get done by then or another extension is agreed upon.
• The Mariners are currently 6-4 in the preseason Cactus League. 6-4 puts them with the fourth best record in this league. But do not take too much from this stat, it is only spring training. All the players are just loosening up their bodies for the regular season. Unfortunately, it still seems like the Mariners will struggle with scoring runs this season.
• For the NBA- There is a HUGE game on tomorrow on TNT. The Los Angels Lakers will take on the Miami Heat in Miami. The Lakers are currently on an eight game win streak with the Heat have lost five in a row. (And being a Lakers fan, this is awesome!!!) It shall be an interesting game and I have a feeling that whoever grabs the most rebounds, will win. GO LAKERS

That is all I have to say right now. Hopefully some bigger news comes up.

Seattle Mariners Opening Day Lineup/Pitching Rotation

Lineup

Ichiro- He is one of the best leadoff hitters of all time. There is no reason why he should lose his leadoff position.

Chone Figgins- So the Mariners will try this speed duo one more time this year. Figgins had one of his worst years offensively last season, so there is strong reason to believe in a bounce back year. Figgins has advanced on the learning curve (evidence from a strong second half of the season last year) and will be much better. Having two guys who can steal you 40 bases a season and get on base 36% of the time is something special.

Jack Cust- Jack Cust was brought in to bring some offense to this team. Luckily for the Mariners, Jack Cust is a fastball hitter. The pretty thing about this situation is that pitchers will throw mostly fastballs to try and hold either Ichiro or Figgins from stealing bases. This could work out perfectly. Here is a fun fact about Cust- he lead the MLB in strikeout and walks in 2008.

Justin Smoak- The Texas Rangers rushed Justin Smoak too fast and it showed last year. He was just not ready for the professional level at the beginning of last season.  After being send back down to AAA, Justin Smoak came back and showed the Mariners he still has a huge potential to be an impact bat. Though his projected numbers won’t be at an All-Star level, he will have made huge strides compared to last year’s averages.

Franklin Gutierrez- Franklin started off the season on fire, but quickly died down and ended the season with horrible numbers. If his bat could repeat his 2009 numbers, the Mariners would be very happy.

Miguel Olivo- Miguel played for the Mariners a few seasons ago and was absolutely terrible. Since then, he has improved his offensive game. If he could repeat his numbers from the last few seasons, Seattle would be pumped.

Michael Saunders- This is believed to be Michael Saunders year to prove whether he deserves to play professionally or in the minor leagues. He is still young and has tons of potential, but putting it all together will be key. Look for a strong showing from Saunders because he knows his job is on the line.

Brendan Ryan- Brendan Ryan will be the opening day second baseman for the Mariners. He is just holding this spot until Dustin Ackley is ready to be called up. There is not too much to say about Ryan, he is an average offensive player but a solid defensive player.

Jack Wilson- Jack Wilson will be the opening day short stop, but will likely get injured and someone will have to take over his position. Wilson changed his diet this offseason and lost a lot of weight, while also gaining a lot of muscle in his legs. We can always hope that these changes can make him more durable. Jack Wilson is just like Brendan Ryan. About average offensively for their position, yet above average on defense.

Pitching Rotation

Felix Hernandez- This is a no brainer. This is King Felix’s team and he is the true ace. He is considered to be one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Hopefully this lineup can score more runs and get Felix some more run support to work with.

Jason Vargas- Vargas had a breakout year last year. Though he does not have the stuff to be considered a number 2 starter, he is the best option the Mariners have. Hopefully he will be able to keep improving his game.

Doug Fister- Fister also had a break out year last season. He was dominant in the first few months of the regular season until he injured his throwing arm and had to be placed on the DL. He was never the same pitcher after that. Hopefully he can bounce back and be a solid #3 pitcher.

Eric Bedard- Oh Eric Bedard. The people of Seattle had such high hopes for you and you could never stay healthy. When you were pitching, you were brilliant, but you were just always injured. Rumor has it that he is finally, FINALLY healthy. If he can pitch to his level of excellence, the Mariners could trade him in July for some good prospects. He owes us that.

David Pauley- David Pauley is just an average pitcher. There is nothing great about him, and he would fill in as the 5^th starting pitcher until Michael Pineda is ready to play on the major league level.

So there is my rough breakdown of the starting line up on opening day for the Mariners. Things could easily change due to injuries or young prospects winning a roster spot, but I believe this is how it will look.

2011-2012 Seattle Seahawks Schedule

Now that football is finally over, we can have an idea of what the Seahawks schedule will look like next season.  Since the Seahawks won their division and advanced to the playoffs, they will face a much more difficult schedule than if they were to not get in. The exact dates and times of the games will not be determined until late spring, but we now know who the Seahawks will face.

There will be the typical games against the other teams in the NFC West. So expect a home and away game against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and St. Louis Rams.

Now for the other 10 games. At home, the Seahawks will host the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Atlanta Falcons. For their road schedule, they we square off against the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and the Chicago Bears. This is going to be a much harder schedule than we saw last year. Hopefully it won’t be a miserable season….

Seattle Seahawks Draft (Part 3 of 3)

This is the last installment of my sports blog regarding who the Seattle Seahawks should select in this upcoming NFL Draft. Just to recap, I said the largest holes in the team were their offensive line, secondary, defensive line, and quarterback. Personally, the two largest holes which I think should be filled are the offensive line and the secondary. Seattle had one of the worst starting offensive lines in the league last year. And to make matters worse, both Sean Locklear and Chris Spencer are free agents. Chris Spencer is one of the worst starting centers, so an upgrade would be needed. Sean Locklear is actually pretty good in pass protection, only allowing five sacks all year (including playoffs), but is below average in rushing plays. Locklear is also very injury prone.  We need someone who is young and talented to help revamp this line. As for Seattle’s secondary, they were considered one of the worst in the NFL as well. Clearly you can see the trend. My strategy, as simple as it is, is to fix the biggest problems on the team first. For my projections, I tried my hardest to find players who will be available at that pick and which of those players would be best of the Seahawks. So with that, here are my selections for the first and second round of the NFL Draft for the Seattle Seahawks:

First Round: Pick #25:

The Seattle Seahawks will select Jimmy Smith, cornerback, out of Colorado. Smith has been climbing up the Mock Drafts, and for good reason. He is a big cornerback, 6’2 and 210 pounds, and can also run a 4.4, 40 yard dash. Someone with that size and speed is very rare. His stats might not be as impressive as you might think, but that is a good thing. Smith blanketed his opponents and the quarterback never threw his way. Smith has a very high ceiling and can end up being a great starting corner in the NFL. He is often compared to Antonio Cromartie of the New York Jets because of his height, weight, and athletic skill set, but is also considered a safer pick with less bust potential. He would work perfectly alongside Marcus Trufant until Smith was ready to take over as the #1 corner.

Second Round: Pick #57:

The Seattle Seahawks will select Marcus Cannon, Offensive Tackle, from TCU. Cannon is a big lineman, at 6’6 and 350 pounds. Cannon would step in immediately at Right Tackle to help secure a weak offensive line. Cannon has experience playing both right and left tackle, so if Russell Okung get injured and misses a game or two, Cannon can step in at the blind side. Another interesting fact, Cannon never allowed a sack during the 2009 season. Cannon has massive size and superb strength. He also is very agile for his size, making him a great run blocker. He would be an amazing upgrade on our roaster.

The reasons why I choose these two players:

Some of you are probably questioning my reasons for selecting a corner in the first round and a right tackle in the second. Question all you want, I am always open for criticism or a debate. The first argument I will most likely hear is why the Seahawks didn’t select a quarterback. It is true, the Seahawks need an upgrade. At this very moment, Charlie Whitehurst is our starting QB (scary). But I strongly believe that we will resign Matt Hasselbeck for one or two more seasons. Secondly, I do not think the quarterbacks who will still be around when the Seahawks draft will transition very well in the NFL. I could be wrong, and I am not claiming to be an NFL scout, but from what I have read, the remaining QB’s have serious issues. And third, and most important reason, look at the quarterbacks who will be in the draft next year. You have Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, and Landry Jones. All three of those quarterbacks are projected to be drafted in the top 10 and are considered better than any quarterback in this year’s draft. That is a whole lot of greatness knocking at the door. Also, since the Seahawks advanced to the playoffs, they will automatically be given a harder schedule next year. This will cause another losing season. BUT, if you look at the players I recommended we draft this year, you will see that none of them are instant playmakers. Both will need a year to settle in and learn what it is like to play in the NFL. By the 2012 season, the Seahawks will have a pretty good offensive line, and a pretty good secondary. A solid QB could jump right in and make the team his. 

Another argument might be why we ignored upgrading the defensive life. This draft is very deep with extremely talented defensive linemen, BUT our D-Line is actually not that bad. I believe that during the fourth or fifth week, the Seahawks actually had the second best run defensive in the NFL. But that injury bug made a stop in Seattle, and it hit hard. At the beginning of the 2010 NFL Season, the defensive line was built around Red Bryant, a huge (6’4, 323 pound) defensive end. He would require a double team, freeing up our other linemen and linebackers to plug the holes. It worked perfectly until he had season ending surgery in week seven. Next season, the D-Line will have its main guy back, and they will continue to stuff the running game from the other team. 

One last point people could question about my Seahawks mock draft is why a cornerback in the first round and not an offensive linemen. The first reason, I think Jimmy Smith will transition into a great cornerback. His type of talent would not be available in the second round. Secondly, I believe that the first round should be reserved for left tackle, and we drafted one last year. Not to say it’s a bad thing to have too many first round talented offensive linemen, but it is a good thing to spread out draft picks to both sides of the ball. Most of the offensive tackles selected in the first round will be forced to transition towards the left side of the ball, because that position is more valuable. It’s the same with quarterbacks; many NFL teams will reach too early for a offensive tackle (whether he is better on the right side or left). I just feel that it was better to address the secondary with the first round, and still get a solid right tackle in the second round.

Well there you have it, my ideal picks for the first and second round of this upcoming NFL Draft. Please feel free to give feedback or question my choices. Also note, it was extremely depressing doing all this research and seeing the level of talent available if the Seahawks missed out on the playoffs.