NBA Heat Check - 3/30/10

With the depressing Final 4 and Yoder Madness results, let's turn our attention to the NBA with the season winding down. It's time for another NBA Heat Check. We'll tell you who's heating up, who's cooling down, and who is room temperature as the march to the postseason heats up! Get it... heats up? Heat Check is the name of the article. Heh.

ICE COLD

Hedo Turkoglu

-His Raptors have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season (5-15 in March) and cling to a one game lead for the 8th and final playoff spot in the East. However, if Turkoglu had been playing up to his large off-season deal (5 yr/$53 mil) the Raptors could be fighting for home court. Instead, Turkoglu was effectively benched after being seen partying at the same time he was sidelined with a "stomach bug". This season Turkoglu is averaging 5 less points and fewer rebounds and assists than last year with the Magic. Sadly, it looks like Toronto can join a long line of teams who've paid front-line money for a career second banana. Then again, maybe this should have been a warning...

Minnesota T-Wolves

-Ok, let's get a couple things out of the way. First, if not for the plethora of terrible teams in all sports, the T-Wolves would be in the discussion of one of the worst teams in any sport, let alone basketball. Lucky for them, their historic levels of stinkiness aren't even the worst in their own league this year, thanks to the Nets!...more on them later...Second, everyone knows GM David Kahn is a goofball...ask yourself T-Wolves fans...could you tell a difference if Kahn were replaced with a Tickle Me Elmo? All that aside, the record speaks for itself. They've lost 16 games in a row and sit only 30 1/2 games out of the playoffs. Major ouchie! And based on Kahn's drafting strategery last year, hope is not springing eternal in Minnesota.

GETTING COLDER

Denver Nuggets (48-27)

-As George Karl battles cancer, the Nuggets are battling a late season swoon. They're 1-5 in their last 6 and have fallen to 6th in the West. For a team once poised to be the main challenge to the Lakers throne, the Nuggets are looking more likely for a first round exit, especially if they don't get home court advantage. The Nuggets are a paltry 18-21 on the road this season. Add that to league's 22nd best defense, and the Nuggets playoff role looks more like a cameo than a headliner.

Labor Negotiations

-Why does it seem that so many professional sports leagues forget how badly the MLB strike affected baseball in this country? Only on the backs of juiced sluggers did the game even approach its pre-labor dispute popularity. And yet, every major sport has dealt with, or is dealing with their own labor crisis. We've already seen the NHL fall somewhere between poker reruns and bowling after its lockout. MLS (that's U.S. professional soccer) narrowly avoided a crippling work stoppage just days before its season opener last week. The NFL seems determined to drop a nuclear bomb on the most popular sports league in history after next season, and the NBA is following right behind. Just look at the quotes:

"I think you have to be worried, especially because everybody's been pointing to a lockout. Guys are worried and hopefully we can get the issue resolved. But you see what happened with the preliminary thing that the owners passed out, and they said we're pretty far off." -Deron Williams

"With their first proposal, they want to make some big changes. So we're telling all the players, 'Plan on saving money and be ready for [a lockout]. They [owners] want to make drastic changes, with every aspect of it besides pretty much getting rid of free agency. They're really taking a strong line." -Brad Miller

And these quotes were before an All-Star break where David Stern and the players' union failed to find any common ground. While the summer of 2010 gets all the attention, the lockout of 2011 should make all fans nervous. Might want to hold off on renewing those season tickets...just saying.

ROOM TEMPERATURE

Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers

-The two most famous teams in the league, and the 2008 finalists, are both limping into the playoffs at less than full strength. The Lakers are once again dealing with issues off-the-court, including the health of C Andrew Bynum, who has no timetable yet for a strained Achillies injury. And, as always, Ron Artest is, in scientific terms, a knucklehead. Still, the Lakers are at the top of the West, and look favorites to make the Finals for a 3rd straight year. Meanwhile the Celtics continue to be a roller coaster ride. Things seemed to be on the upswing after a nice 7-2 run, until they got beat at home by the Spurs last Sunday by 21 points, scoring a season-low 73. They're also struggling to get Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to full health while trying to find a consistent bench. And if Rasheed Wallace could replace the Rec League player who's been filling his jersey all season, that would be helpful too.

GETTING WARMER

Draft Stocks

-Part of the fun of the NCAA tournament is watching college stars elevate their draft stocks. The biggest winners of this year's tournament were the stars of the Game of the Year in basketball thus far - Jordan Crawford of Xavier and Jacob Pullen/Denny Clemente of Kansas State. Crawford especially could do everything that you would want to see from an NBA 2 Guard - including a ridiculous 35 footer with the game on the line. Other winners include Omar Samhan of St. Mary's and DeMarcus Cousins, now a likely Top 5 pick, as long as that psychological evaluation goes well.

John Salmons-G-Milwaukee Bucks

-The Bucks, yes, the Bucks, are now up to 5th in the East! Why you might ask? Well, rookie phenom Brandon Jennings has come back up after a shaky midseason. Andrew Bogut has established himself as a very good center. But, the difference maker has been John Salmons. What is this the Twilight Zone? It's so surprising that there isn't even an image of Salmons in a Bucks uniform! Look, John's as surprised as we are! Milwaukee is 16-4 since trading for the anonymous swingman. Salmons has averaged 20 PPG for the month of March, and if they draw an aging Celtic team in the East's 4/5 matchup, they could pull the upset.

Scoring Title Race

-LeBron James is averaging 29.8 PPG and Kevin Durant is averaging 29.6 PPG. Earlier in the week, The King came out and said that the scoring title would be his every year "if he really wanted it." Alas, LBJ said that the team is more important than individual goals. With the Cavs looking likely to clinch the overall #1 seed and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs again, James can afford to relax down the stretch and watch Durantula go for the scoring title with the Thunder fighting for positioning in the West. Expect Durant to go off the next two weeks and get the Thunder in the Top 4 while winning the scoring title.

ON FIRE!!!!!!!

The Wild, Wild West

-We've discussed the Lakers and Nuggets already, but as usual the rest of the West is head and shoulders above the East in terms of quality of play and competitiveness. Right now 4 teams are within a game and a half of 2nd (Dallas, Phoenix, Utah, Denver) and the other 3 teams in the playoffs currently (OKC, Portland, San Antonio) all are compelling, and talented teams quite capable of a first-round upset. Don't worry about staying up late when the playoffs come around, because even if you haven't followed the NBA closely, the Western Conference playoffs should be a treat.

Crazy Russian Billionaires...and the Nets!!!

-The good news, the Nets beat the Spurs to win their 10th game and avoid the league's all-time worse record! The even better news...or potentially much worse news, your new Russian owner seems like part Mark Cuban, part Hugh Heffner, part college frat boy, and part stereotypical Russian spy villain. If you missed his 60 Minutes interview, you can check it out here at CBS online. If your a Nets fan, maybe you should buckle your seatbelt during it, just to prepare!

That does it for this week's look at the temperature around the NBA. Stay with us for our baseball preview and look at the Final 4! Until next time, it's bye for now!

5 Reasons Why It's OK To Hate Duke

We're now at the Final 4, but we have to address Duke advancing to the Final 4 today. For a lot of normal college basketball fans, yesterday was a sad day. Why? We hate Duke. So, for those of us out there that are looking forward to driving a burning Q-Tip into your ears this week while the media wets their pants talking about Coach K's Dukies, this article is for you!

1) The Bracket

Duke was the only #1 Seed to advance to the Final 4. Now that most of the tournament has played out, we can look back and see that in a way we were right about this year's version of March Madness. This is what we said before the tourney began before the madness began...

"The Group of TeleTubbies is the South, which in irony of ironies, is Duke's bracket!! Somewhere Dickie V is smiling. Duke has the weakest 2 (Nova), 3 (Baylor, yes, Baylor is a 3 seed), 4 (Purdue - without Robbie Hummel and coming off of an 11 pt 1st half in the Big 10 Semis), and 6 (ND). Glad to see the committee is doing all they can to get Coack K back to the Final 4. Only Duke's terrible recent tourney history can keep them from reaching Indy. Ridiculous."

In the end, we didn't give Baylor enough credit, but the rest of the bracket played out on schedule. In fact, Baylor should have beaten Duke yesterday (more on that in a little bit). But, from the beginning, it was clear that the powers that be were doing the Dukies a favor. Compare that to Kansas who was in the same bracket where very capable 5 and 6 Seeds (MSU/Tenn) WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE RANKED 13 AND 15 IN THE COUNTRY played in a great regional final. How convenient that we forgot about that whole S Curve thing this year...

2) Baylor Got Screwed

-I'm not going to use this space to complain that Baylor played 5 on 8 the entire game. For the most part, the refereeing was solid, but you hate to see one call change the course of a game. And isn't it something that that call usually goes the way of Duke. Let's set the scene...

4:37 left in the game, Baylor leads 59-57. Quincy Acy drives to the hoop and into a sliding and sideways Brian Zoubek. Acy scores and everybody in the building, including the Duke broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg thinks it's an And 1 opportunity and the 5th foul on Zoubek... but no! Of course not! It's an offensive foul! Duke then goes on a 10-2 run. Ball game over.

So, instead of being up 5 - you get a crushing call going against you. For Baylor, I can understand how the wheels came falling off from there. Even if that call didn't happen, it's not like Baylor would have strolled to victory... but it would have been nice to see if they could.

3) Dick Vitale

-For years, Dick Vitale's transparent love affair with all things Duke has sickened college basketball fans across the country. His endless spewing of praise and adoration along with his tired schtick turns off fans. Well, get ready for a long week America, this was Vitale this morning about the insanity of the Duke haters...

"What is there to hate about a bunch of kids that play hard, play with feeling, play with intensity, play the right way, go to class, get their degrees, do things with integrity. I totally get amazed by those out there that have such an anti-feeling... and there's a lot of jealousy involved about their success."

It's not that we hate the kids Dickie - we hate that you and your friends love Duke so darn much. Here are some facts for Dickie V -

1) Duke is not the only team that plays hard - see Virginia, West.

2) Duke is not the only team that plays with feeling - I guess John Wall or Evan Turner can't feel, what monsters.

3) Duke is not the only team with players that go to class - maybe Dickie V is there with the kids in class though, just to make sure they're doing their Calculus homework.

4) Duke is not the only team that gets their degree - in fact, Duke's Graduation Rate is 92%. 6 teams that made this year's tournament (BYU, Marquette, Notre Dame, Utah State, Wake Forest, and Wofford) all rank at 100%. And yet, I bet that Dickie, or anyone else at ESPN, isn't going to spend a second of air time talking about those programs. Here's the full list.

5) Duke hasn't been to a Final 4 since 2004 - In comparison, Michigan State is at their 3rd Final 4 since then and North Carolina has won 2 titles, you tell me who I should be jealous of...

OMG - now Colin Cowherd is talking about Duke's diversity. Let's just move on before I get angry.

***UPDATE - Let's add Duke fans to this one thanks to this great and hilarious article from our friends at Rumors & Rants where they interview actual Duke fans. Just be thankful that you aren't one of them.

4) Conspiracy Theory

-It's funny how the conspiracy theorists only come out for the NBA Playoffs. Waaahh... David Stern wants the Lakers and Celtics in the Finals.... waaahhh Lebron James always gets every call. Umm... did we just witness what happened yesterday and throughout the tournament? Let's take a trip to Crazy Town and let the conspiracy theorists have some fun!

*Refereeing in yesterday's game. It might not show up throughout, but look which way the biggest call of the game went - check.

*Easiest bracket - check.

*The NCAA can opt out of its TV deal with CBS after this year. Ratings = dollars. Duke = ratings. The question is, who picks up the red phone first to give Duke the best chance to make it - the NCAA or CBS? Seeing Nantz and Kellogg follow Duke's yellow brick road to Indy adds further spice to the whole network conspiracy. I can't believe I'm agreeing with Jason Whitlock here, but conspiracy theories make for strange bedfellows.

*Coach K is secretly a Communist Spy and was also the second gunman on the grassy knoll.

OK, I made that last one up, but I almost had you for a second!

5) Duke Colored Glasses

-When one program is shoved down your throats as all that is right with the world, you begin to ask questions. What makes Duke so much superior to other programs? Is it because they're smarter? Or their coach is a "good guy" and "respectable"? Is it because they have "good kids" who "play hard" and "play the right way"?

Does Duke tangibly play harder or righter than Michigan State, UNC, UK, or other top programs? No! Yet, they are lifted up as the holy grail of basketball programs. Don't get me wrong, it's great that they recruit good kids and that they graduate and all the rest. It is admirable. But Duke is not the only team in the country that does these things.

In an age where so many guys are out after a year, it is the programs and coaches that become the leading characters. Duke and Coach K don't recruit the one and done guys like Derrick Rose, John Wall, or DeMarcus Cousins. You rarely see guys at Duke with headbands and tattoos like DeMarcus Cousins. You see understated guys like Scheyer, Singler, and Smith. You see Duke recruit guys that will likely stay for 4 years in school. Yes, they can ball, but they won't make a lot of noise doing it.

Here's 2 takes about UK's talented big man - who might symbolize the Duke divide.

From CBS's Gary Parrish

No, the biggest threat to Kentucky's national title hopes is that DeMarcus Cousins seems a little unbalanced and capable of snapping at any time. Or, as Louisville's Edgar Sosa reportedly put it after the game, Cousins is a "nutcase." The guy is capable of getting 20 and 15 in the Final Four against Kansas or of throwing a punch at Sherron Collins before the first media timeout.

From RealGM

He undoubtedly doesn’t have the maturity of a Blake Griffin in 2009, or Oden/Durant in 2007, but he has a great sense of the game, plays extremely hard within a team concept and is genuinely well-liked and well-respected by his teammates... Ultimately in Cousins, I see a pretty decent guy who plays with a lot of emotion. I might need a longer vetting process if my future unborn daughter brought him home instead of someone like Evan Turner, but he shouldn’t have any serious problems to override his talent.

And yet, the stigma of Cousins is that he is a nutcase and unbalanced. By the way, don't tell me Cousins lost his cool and cost UK against WVU - Cousins didn't shoot 4/32 from downtown. And yet, he plays as hard or harder than any of Duke's big guys - however that judgment is made. Compare that to glowing articles about Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler. Here's a great line about Singler from Bleacher Report:

He is willing to play the entire game without a break, grab rebounds, make hustle plays, and hit big baskets without receiving any credit on the national level... It's true—no one in the nation works harder and more efficiently for his team than Singler does for Duke.

Is it the tattoos and the headband and the showing of emotion that scares us? If DeMarcus Cousins put on a Duke uniform would we see more clearly the big man with the high basketball IQ with the skills to be a future All-Star - I bet we would. If Singler didn't play for Duke would folks say he's the hardest working player in the nation? Of course not - he'd be Jon Diebler. In the end, that's my biggest problem with the love affair with Duke. Nobody sees past the uniform.

NCAA Sunday Elite 8 Picks and Saturday Recap

Well, that was fun while it lasted. With Kentucky's loss to Huggy Bear yesterday, RSS is officially 0 for 12 in our Final 4 picks. That's right. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Squadoosh. ZERO. That's the first time that I can remember going 0 for in the Final 4, but we told you from the beginning it was going to be a weird tournament, and it has. Now, let's just all pray for a Duke loss today. Or maybe for a Duke win... let's just recap Saturday's action first!

1) Biggest Winner - Bob Huggins & Brad Stevens

-The biggest winners from yesterday are 2 coaches making their first Final 4 appearances after taking two completely different paths to college bball's showcase event. Huggy Bear is making his first Final 4 appearance in 26 years of coaching including 15 previous NCAA Tourney births. He has had some great players before at Cincy, K State, and now WVU, but this Mountaineer club might be his best all-around team. Although they aren't as flashy, they get it done with his trademark rough and tough style.

In contrast, Brad Stevens was one of the youngest coaches in college bball when he was hired in 2007. He's in his 3rd year of coaching and he looks like he belongs on the 7th grade JV team. His career record in those three years is a remarkable 88-14! Sure, his team plays in the Horizon League, but Butler is now firmly entrenched as one of the top programs in the country. Perhaps even more so than Gonzaga, Butler has shredded the mid-major tag and it has been their boy wonder coach that has taken them back home to the promised land.

2) Biggest Loser - Kentucky

-And my bracket along with the brackets of the millions that had either UK or KU cutting down the nets in Indy. Wow. Kentucky wasn't just bad, they were shockingly bad! John Wall (more on him later) shot poorly, turned the ball over, and made bad decisions. DeMarcus Cousins got himself in foul trouble, and anybody in a white uniform shot 3's like Ben Wallace shoots free throws - oh, and they were terrible at the foul line too. When you go 4/32 from downtown and 16/29 at the foul line, you don't deserve to make the Final 4 - let alone the NIT. Simply atrocious.

3) Best Performance - Joe Mazzula

-The WVU backup point guard who has battled injuries throughout his entire career, including a debilitating shoulder condition, outplayed his opposition who was only the unanimous 1st Team All-American Point Guard. Mazzula hit his first 3 of the season as a part of a remarkable first half where WVU didn't make a single 2 pointer yet shot the lights out from beyond the arc. Mazzula led the Mountaineers excellently and got to the rack several times against UK's defense. It will be interesting to see how Bob Huggins, now in his first Final 4, handles Mazzula and Truck Bryant returning from injury at the PG spot.

4) Best Game - Butler 63 Kansas State 56

-Neither game was a classic, but at least this game was somewhat competitive down the stretch. Give a tired K State team credit for fighting back to take the lead with under 5 minutes left to play, but Butler was too tough and too ruthless in their execution to let a history-making Final 4 appearance fall by the wayside.

5) Biggest Escape - None

-But, there is someone that needs called out...

6) Biggest Choke Job - John Wall

-You know, John Wall gets a lot of hype and praise, but he was the most disappointing player in this tournament. Wall never took over a game as his own. Wall never became the IT guy for the tourney ala Carmelo Anthony or Derrick Rose. Yes, he's super talented and aggressive, and will probably make a great NBA point guard. But in this tournament, and especially yesterday, you didn't get the feeling that John Wall could put Big Blue on his back. You didn't get the feeling that John Wall would just say no to losing. Kentucky could have sang My Old Kentucky Home and waltzed to an easy national title in this field... but Calipari's freshmen had an absolutely terrible shooting day and their star was subpar.

7) Highlight of the Day - Dick Enberg Pregame Fail

-Sadly, I can't find a clip of this, but Dick Enberg's pregame as West Virginia and Kentucky came on air was about the most brutal and awkward 2 minutes of a nationally televised sports broadcast I can remember. From the best of my recollection, here it is...

"Welcome to Syracuse for the East Regional Final between West Virginia and top seed Kentucky. *show Elite 8 bracket* Congratulations to the Butler Bulldogs as they advance to their first Final 4 where they will face the winner of Michigan State and Baylor" come to Dick & a puzzled Jay Bilas

FYI, Michigan State is playing Tennessee, Baylor is playing Duke, but wait it gets better...

"And the winner of this game will play Duke... or... (awkward pause and Jay Bilas looking horrified like he just got a B+ on his most recent English paper)... who does Duke play? Oh, yes, Baylor. (Loooooonger awkward pause, more awkward staring from Bilas) *now in excited voice after awakening from short catnap* AND BUTLER.... *pause, Jay forcing a smirk* will, uhhh go home to uhh play in the Final 4 in Indianapolis *we've now set a record for dramatic pauses in a TV pregame* Well, let's get to this game here...

This was just painful. What made it worse was the halftime schtick proclaiming it Dick Enberg day in Syracuse. I thought he was retiring, darn. Enberg is a sports broadcasting legend, but he got scores, names, and pretty much everything wrong yesterday. He confused DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson about 19 times yesterday. I think it's time to hang it up Dick. But hey, at least he's not as bad as Dick Stockton.

8) One Shining Thought - Is Butler A Cinderella?

-My brother might argue that Cinderella is dead, as he did in this space yesterday. But with Butler now going home for their first Final 4 appearance - we have to ask, is Butler a Cinderella? Well, they will fill the shoes of the media darlings and the underdogs that most fans will root for. But, heck, they have to be favored to make the national title game and defeat either Tennessee or Michigan State.

This isn't a true Cinderella in the form of George Mason - an 11 seed from the Patriot League that downed UNC and UConn on the way to the Final 4. Butler was ranked in the Preseason Top 10 and hasn't been out of the Top 20 all season long. They have NBA prospects in Gordon Hayward and maybe Shelvin Mack. So, they aren't a true Cinderella. In fact, it's kinda insulting to what Butler has done this past decade to call them a Cinderella. But, make no mistake, Butler is indeed a Cinderella. Even though they are better than that, they still represent the little guys everywhere. They're still not from a BCS conference. And they'll wear the slipper come next Saturday.

Saturday PICKS

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Michigan State (5) vs. Tennessee (6)

-You know, I'm going to try something different that might be a little bit more successful than actually trying to break down these games and think and analyze. Green is my favorite color.

Pick: Michigan State

SOUTH REGIONAL

Duke (1) vs. Baylor (3)

-See above.

Pick: Baylor

*Seriously though, my biggest regret from this whole bracket is underselling Baylor and the triumvirate of Udoh, Dunn, and Carter. Even though Baylor was picked 10th in the preseason Big XII standings, this is a talented bunch. How could they be picked 10th out of 12??? I'm still not sold on Duke - they beat Purdue by mere size more than anything. If Baylor ups the tempo they will have a good chance.

Today's early game is a pure toss-up. Tennessee might be playing a little better ball without the injury concerns and they have the rallying aspect of coming together after the dismissal of several players earlier in the season. In all honesty, that helped this Tennessee group grow up and find themselves - losing Tyler Smith might have been the perfect example of addition by subtraction. Then again, never pick against Tom Izzo in the tourney. Ah, who knows... just watch the games. I better go before I start rambling like Dick Enberg...

2010 NFL Draft Preview - Secondary

Well loyal readers, the last installment of my 2010 NFL Draft Preview Series is upon us and we conclude with the secondary. There is sure to be some gems to be found when teams are looking to upgrade their secondary so let us find out who is the cream of the crop. Let's Get
It On!

1. Eric Berry (Tenn)

Eric Berry is the best defensive player in this year's draft next to Ndamukong Suh. He was explosive and a playmaker for Lane Kiffin's Vol defense in 2009. He was all over the SEC gridiron making tackles, deflecting passes and picking off
passes. Berry has the allure of a great safety and may become the highest picked safety since one of my personal favorite Cleveland Browns, Eric Turner (2nd overall) and should produce for the lucky team (fingers crossed for the Browns).
Berry has been known to be reckless on the field and may have injury troubles but that wouldn't shy me away a bit from taking him. Berry is a can't miss, diamond, blue chip prospect.

Projection: Top 5

2. Joe Haden (UF)

Haden is the most complete cornerback and is the closest thing to a shut-down corner in this class. He was a ball-hawk at Florida and showed great reaction time when defending receivers. His moves were smooth and he was very polished in his technique so the transition to a pro-style defense shouldn't be too big of an impairment. His 40-time however (4.50 + at the combine) is going to take some teams out of the running for fear he won't be able to keep up with speedy receivers in the NFL. I've never been a big fan of the 40 yard dash and wouldn't be angry with Haden for my Brownies (see a trend here with who I'd want to see in Orange and Brown).

Projection: 7-15 overall

3. Earl Thomas (Texas)

Some pundits have Thomas ranked ahead of Berry at the Safety position but not me. Thomas is versatile and showed at Texas he had the instincts to dissect plays at the line. Thomas played the ball in the air like a cornerback and was able to take on receivers one-on-one, unlike many safeties. Thomas could be converted to cornerback he is so good. However, looking at game film Thomas had trouble back against Michael Crabtree as well as Alabama in the National Title Game. That may make some teams cautious but shouldn't hurt his stock that much.

Projection: Top 25

4. Taylor Mays (USC)

Mays is ranked 4th for me but he could just as well be 2nd in my Top 5. Mays is a unique combination of size (6'3" and 230+lbs) and speed (40-time reported as low as 4.3) and is going to make some coaches drool at his potential. Mays was a great player for Carroll and his great defensive schemes and should translate well to the NFL. There is some concern in his ability to be in position. Mays took bad angles sometimes at plays and was only really reliable when the play was right in front of him. He is going to have to look at was of improving his ball playing abilities to excel in the NFL.

Projection: Top 15-30

5. Devin McCourty (Rutgers)

McCourty could be the most cerebral CB in this year's draft. He is able to read plays before they are ran and decide how to best attack the play to make the stop. His athletic ability allowed him to stand out against the offenses of the Big East and round out my rankings. McCourty will have to work on his focus and ability to play proper distancing from receivers to keep them in front of him to pounce.

Projection: Middle 2nd

Sleeper: Myron Rolle (FSU)

A Rhodes Scholer, Rolle left his last year at FSU to go study at Oxford. Rolle was thought to have lost some of his ability but when he worked out at the Combine he did quite well and ensured his chances of being drafted. Although he won't get his name called until around the 4th round he has a great chance to play well for any NFL team.

Well folks, it has been a pleasure to divulge my top NFL prospects heading toward the April 22 draft. No matter what the pundits want you to believe remember what I have told thee and you will not be misled. Be careful out there!!

Yoders' Ones To Watch

Larry Asante (S) - Nebraska

-Asante is a 3 year starter for the Cornhuskers, and along with Ndamukong Suh, he was a major driving force behind the rebirth of the blackshirts. He ran a disappointing 40 time at the combine, but got into the 4.5 range at Nebraska's Pro Day. He might be able to play either safety position in the NFL, but might fit at SS the best. If Asante is available for the first pick of Da Bears in Round 3, he could follow Mike Brown as another great Bears safety from Nebraska and solve one of their biggest problems.

Kurt Coleman (S) - Ohio St.

-Living in BuckNut land, Kurt Coleman was always one of the guys that caused the most discussion and debate for the Rose Bowl Champs. The hard hitting SS played on the edge (including being suspended for one game earlier this year), and seemed to give up the big play as frequently as he made the big play. His role as the passionate leader of one of the best defenses in the country can't be underestimated though. I'm not the biggest fan of Coleman's game - he's a little too aggressive from his safety position and misses some tackles. But, as a late round pick, if he can get on a team with a good defense around him, he can become a solid pro.

We hope you've enjoyed our NFL positional rankings. We'll be back as April rolls around with our first ever RSS Mock Draft! Bye for now...

NCAA Saturday Elite 8 Picks and Friday Recap

While Friday night spelled the end of some Cinderella runs, there was still some good basketball on display. So who were the winners and losers? What moments will we remember last night for years to come? For all your NCAA Tournament needs, you came to the right place!

1) Biggest Winner - Tennessee

-Clearly, the biggest winner last night was the Volunteers, who beat Ohio State to make their first Elite 8 in school history. While coach Bruce Pearl gets more attention for his body painting escapades, the guy is actually a pretty good coach. And, the way he's rallied his team after an off-court scandal earlier this season, Tennessee finally seems to be playing up to their potential on a consistent basis. Against a depleted Michigan St. team, there's no reason the Vols can't set a new school mark by reaching their first Final Four.

2) Biggest Loser - Cinderella's Ball

-Many fans across the country were hoping that at least one of the 3 remaining Cinderella's (Cornell, St. Mary's, or Northern Iowa) would win one more game to make the Elite 8. Alas, the prince turned back into a frog! While Cornell never looked the part on Thursday, it seemed Northern Iowa or St. Mary's would at least have a better chance. But, St. Mary's seemed like they were down 30 before the game even started. And the most disappointing, Northern Iowa, had a 7 point halftime lead, but then didn't hit from the field in the last 10 minutes against Michigan St. If the current trends continue, it won't take long for another Cinderella to make it to the Final Four, just not this year.

3) Best Performance - Tom Izzo

-A lot of the credit for stopping Northern Iowa's run has to go to Tom Izzo. Playing without Kalin Lucas, the Spartans seemingly didn't miss a beat. There second half performance was absolutely clinical in every aspect of the game (shooting, passing, defense, and on and on). It's almost like Tom Izzo could take 5 guys from a racquetball class at Michigan St and still make the Final Four. Unfortunately for Izzo, he's like that drunk Uncle who makes the grand appearance at your family reunion. Sure, everyone notices how he got there, but he usually makes a quiet exit on the big stage. And for Michigan St., even if they make it to Indy, the odds aren't in their favor of going further.

4) Best Game - Tennessee 76 Ohio State 73

-It was the closest, most dramatic game of the night. But, watching it last night, it never seemed like the game had a rhythm because of over-officiating. A lot of touch fouls on dunks and reach-ins ground the game to a halt. But, give credit to Tennessee for dominating the offensive glass and making life difficult for Ohio State's supporting cast.

5) Biggest Escape - The Right Half of the Bracket

-After seeing Ohio State and Syracuse, the two best teams in the Midwest and West regions, go down in flames, I don't think anybody left on the right side of the bracket (UK, WVU, Baylor, Duke) would be fearful of any team on the other side of the bracket. Except for maybe Kansas State, would either of those 4 teams fear Michigan St. without their best player, or Tennessee or Butler making their first Final Four? Yeah, I thought not. This could be one of those years where one of the National Semifinals is the de facto title game.

6) Biggest Choke Job - Thad Matta

-For years, I've doubted Thad Matta's in-game coaching skills. Sure, the guy is an outstanding recruiter, but his adjustments to the flow of the game have been erratic at best. Take into account when he was at Xavier and made the Elite 8 in 2004. Matta allowed his best player, Anthony Myles, to foul out with over 12 minutes left in the 2nd half, ultimately losing by 3 to Duke. Last night, Matta had several opportunities to call a timeout in the final 40 seconds, either to settle his team, or set up his defense. Instead, after an Evan Turner 3 with 40 seconds left, Tennessee scored the game's last 4 points while Ohio State couldn't find a good look at the rim with two hands and a flashlight. Until Matta gets more in tune with necessary in-game coaching, it will be difficult for the Buckeyes to break through on the national stage.

7) Highlight of the Day - Final 40 Seconds of Tenn/OSU

-Speaking of which, here's those last 40 seconds! Sorry for the quality, but it's the best I can do on a Saturday morning. Notice at the end of the game, much to BuckNuts chagrin, Evan Turner was not fouled by J.P. Prince. Also, going back to Thad Matta...doesn't everyone in the gym know your going to try to get the ball in the hands of Jon Diebler? Evan Turner running to the corner is the best play you can come up with?

8) One Shining Thought - The Worst Final Four Ever?

-Ok, for the last week the country has been reveling in the most parity-filled tournament in our lifetime. All the thrilling games and surprising upsets have been great for the buildup to the Final Four. What people aren't talking about now, is that one of the worst Final Fours in history could be upon us. There are basically 3 types of Final Four:

1) The All-Chalk Special

-This is when the Final Four is made up of all #1s and #2s, maybe a #3 seed just for fun. Sure, it's easy to complain about the lack of upsets, but at least we're getting to see the best teams in the game on the grandest stage competing against each other. Aren't those usually the best games anyway?

2) One Cinderella Makes It

-Another attractive Final Four is when one Cinderella crashes the party. A fresh face nobody expected who can really embrace the underdog role against the long established powers of college hoops. Can Cinderella actually go on to win it all (Villanova in the 80s)? Can Cinderella keep the game within 50 (George Mason a few years ago)? Or anywhere in between, at least it's interesting.

Both of these options provide compelling television. The one that doesn't is behind door #3, where this year's Final Four may be heading

3) The Middle of the Road Final 4

-This is the worst case scenario. No great teams (#1 seeds), but also no Cinderella stories. No historic basketball programs to bring prestige and casual fans, no elite players to get eyeballs to tune in to the games. Just a bunch of eh, that's nice that team finally made it, but I wouldn't watch if they were playing in my backyard. Consider this scenario this weekend, let's say Tennessee, Baylor, and West Virginia all pull the upset, heck we'll even throw Kansas State in there too. Isn't that one of the most unappealing Final Fours in history? Who's worth watching? Sure March Madness is fantastic, sure the upsets and buzzer beaters are unbelievable. But, if the Final Four is saturated with teams who don't stoke passion across the country, it could be one to forget.

Saturday PICKS

EAST REGIONAL

Kentucky (1) vs. West Virginia (2)

-As Y1 said yesterday, that West Virginia/Washington game felt like the Heat/Knicks struggles of the 90's in terms of offensive basketball. Still, WVU will have a chance because they play excellent defense. And, Kentucky's youth did finally show in the tourney on Thursday when they basically mailed in the 2nd half against Cornell thinking they'd won. But, in this game, they shouldn't have that problem. If they play a consistent 40 minutes, run it at WVU, and avoid falling in love with the 3 they should win. Against UK's defense, the loss of Truck Bryant will finally affect the Mountaineers.

Pick: Kentucky

WEST REGIONAL

Kansas St. (2) vs. Butler (5)

-Although Butler was ranked in the Top 20 basically all season, they are the last mid-major left. So, all of the pressure of Cinderella, and the chance to go home to Indy for the Final 4 will be on their shoulders. Usually Cinderella is the team who can play without anything to lose, but I don't think that's the case. Plus, I don't think K-State's backcourt of Pullen and Clemente have ever felt pressure...they have ice water in their veins. Even after a grueling double OT win, K-State simply has too much talent and athleticism. Their stifling defense will lead the way, don't be surprised if Butler struggles to crack 50 points.

Pick: K-State

NCAA Friday Sweet 16 Picks & Thursday Recap

Wow. We hoped that the second weekend would be just as good as the first, and thanks to the Instant Classic between Kansas State and Xavier, it looks like going that way. What an unbelievable game with some of the best and longest clutch shotmaking in recent memory. But, there were 3 other games last night and 4 more tonight. Let's roll!

1) Biggest Winner - College Basketball

-When you watch a game like Xavier and Kansas State played last night, college basketball is the winner. Sports is the winner! My Lord. You can test the significance of a game like that because random people become totally invested. When your Facebook and Twitter feeds are blowing up over a game between Xavier and Kansas State, you know you are watching something special. Where else in the world could a game between a bunch of college kids captivate an entire country? It's a shame either team had to lose, but everyone won last night.

2) Biggest Loser - Offensive Basketball in Syracuse

-Yup, it's time to call out Cornell and the Wash/WVU game. The first half especially in the Wash/WVU game was some atrocious offense and there were 44 total TO's. On one possession, Washington had 6 shots at the basket and couldn't make one! West Virginia really struggled without Truck Bryant but Washington couldn't capitalize. Then... everyone's favorite Ivy League team went out and scored 45 points including 6 in the final 15 minutes of the 1st half! Cornell and Washington had great chances to get upsets, but they might as well have been shooting from where Jordan Crawford was in Salt Lake City last night with their offensive ineptitude.

3) Best Performance - Jacob Pullen, Denis Clemente, Terrell Holloway & Jordan Crawford... and Gus Johnson

-The 4 guards in the classic combined for 111 points! Crawford had 32, Holloway 26, Pullen 28, and Clemente 25. Unbelievable. This game was so special because of the insane shots these guards made down the stretch. Holloway made 3 out of 3 FT's to get the game to OT. Clemente scored 21 points after the 1st Half. Pullen scored 15 points in the final minute of regulation and the 2 OT's including a clutch shot at the end of every period. His game-winning shot at the end of the second OT was fantastic basketball IQ running to the top of the key and fooling the defense. And, what can you say about the 30+ footer of Jordan Crawford... yes, it was waaaaay better than his dunk over LeBron James.

All of these guys were stars. It's a shame that Xavier had to lose another close NCAA tourney game. It seems like they are always on the short end of these classics. But, all of these guys had such epic performances that it made for an unforgettable night. Especially, when Gus Johnson had the call. Is there a better marriage in the universe than Gus Johnson and March Madness? Why is he not announcing the Final 4?!?! Below are the highlights with Screamin' Gus at his best last night, but why the heck not show the Gus Johnson tribute video right now!

4) Best Game - DUH!

-Of course the game of the day was the KSt/Xav showdown, so we'll use this space to rank where that game places amongst the Top 5 Tourney Games of the last 10 years...

1) Kansas/Memphis - Nat'l Title '08

2) KSt/Xavier - Sweet 16 '10

3) Illinois/Arizona - Elite 8 '05

4) George Mason/UConn - Elite 8 '06

5) UCLA/Gonzaga - Elite 8 ''06

Yes, Kansas State and Xavier places right behind the '08 title game, and could maybe even go above it. These are some great games on this list, but what set K State and Xavier apart last night was the incredible long-range clutch shooting. While Crawford and Holloway were going nuts on one end, Jacob Pullen was the epitome of clutch for the Cats. Xavier ran out of miraculous shots at the end of 2OT in an absolute thriller.

5) Biggest Escape - Kentucky

-UK escaped because they clearly played their worst offensive game they will play this tournament. John Wall was inconsequential, Eric Bledsoe was invisible, and Patrick Patterson thinks he's Dirk Nowitzki all of a sudden. However, it was the muscle of DeMarcus Cousins down low that enabled Big Blue to win ugly. UK's defense led the way, but they escaped because Cornell's 3 PT shooting didn't arrive in the Carrier Dome. Cornell had a big chance last night to get a legendary upset. The rest of the field won't be so lucky on the road to Indy.

6) Biggest Choke Job - Andy Rautins & Scoop Jardine (Syracuse)

-My goodness. I could spend an entire article chronicling Syracuse's choke job last night. They trailed most of the game, and found themselves up 4 with 5 minutes to play. This is Syracuse's play by play in the final 5 minutes. Hide your eyes if you are an Orange fan. Remember, the score is 54-50 when this madness begins.

4:25 Scoop Jardine missed 3 pointer

4:03 Kris Joseph Steal

4:22 Foul on Andy Rautins

3:44 Andy Rautins Turnover

2:58 Scoop Jardine missed 2 pointer

2:22 Andy Rautins Turnover

1:37 Andy Rautins missed 3 pointer

:45 Scoop Jardine missed 3 pointer

:37 Foul on Scoop Jardine

:34 Scoop Jardine makes 3 pointer

When this version of March Madness ends... the score was 61-56 Butler. The Bulldogs went on an 11-0 run while Syracuse's backcourt peed down their legs. 0-5 with 2 turnovers in 7 possessions and Wes Johnson, your best player, didn't touch the ball once! Just an amazing choke job. We wondered if Syracuse's backcourt could get it done in a crunch time situation and support Johnson... and they couldn't. Jim Boeheim should thank Xavier and K State for taking the attention off of the Orange being crushed last night.

7) Highlight of the Day - Come on, right?

-The only downer was our own yelling drowned out Gus Johnson. The greatest announcing call in NCAA Tournament history happens at the 1:25 mark.

8) One Shining Thought - Sports Is Fun... So Why Not Scream?

-Allow me to dwell on this announcing theme one more time. As Bill Simmons said last night, any game that makes Gus Johnson a trending topic on Twitter is a good thing. But, for all of the fans of Gus's style, there are many detractors. They don't like the screaming and the schtick. I couldn't disagree more. Sports isn't Larry King Live. Sports is about having fun and yelling and screaming when something amazing happens and losing control when a dude nails a 30 footer to tie the game in OT. Gus Johnson was doing what millions across the country were last night. As someone that does play by play on the small college level, I try to do 2 things - tell the story, and have fun. If you ain't having fun announcing or watching sports, you are in the wrong place - go watch truTV. Gus Johnson is everything that is right about sports and March Madness in particular.

There are some that enjoy Jim Nantz saying "Hello Friends" in his calm demeanor and Clark Kellogg trying his best to make up terrible random euphemisms for things. I like Kellogg, but ever since he became the #1 broadcaster for CBS he is trying way too hard with his nonsensical analogies and lingo *FYI - sounds like a great idea for a running diary*. There are critics that argue Gus is too over the top.. are you kidding? Give me excitement! Give me drama! Don't give me drawn out, complicated analogies that nobody understands and boring play by play. This is March Madness, not March Professional Broadcast Journalism School! I want Gus Johnson announcing the Final 4 and my drive to work every day, make it happen CBS!

FRIDAY PICKS

MIDWEST REGIONAL

Ohio State (2) vs Tennessee (6)

-The Bucks are quietly a heavy favorite to reach Indy. UT has made a great run to make it to the Sweet 16 after all of the early season turmoil, but the run stops here. The Bucks are playing with such amazing chemistry, partly because they only play 6 guys. Nevertheless, if Evan Turner keeps the turnovers down and Jonny Diebler keeps hitting bullseyes from downtown, OSU will advance.

Pick: OSU

Northern Iowa (9) vs. Michigan State (5)

-This game was a toss up before we found out Kalin Lucas would be out. Now, one has to wonder whether Michigan State will have the composure in the half court to play UNI's style. This isn't your older brother's MSU team - this is a group that likes to get out and run. With Ali F and the rest of the Panthers still riding high, they are the favorite to go through. Also, since I have MSU in the Elite 8 in my pool, I'm going with a little reverse psychology here since my picking record is you know... awful.

Pick: UNI

SOUTH REGIONAL

Baylor (3) vs. St. Mary's (10)

-The Gaels are the most under the radar upset bid, but they may have the best chance of any team left against Baylor. The Bears have finally convinced me that they belong in the Sweet 16, but that doesn't mean they will easily run by St. Mary's. SMU big man Omar Samhan makes any All-Tourney team thus far averaging over 30 PPG through the first 2. The Gaels firmly outplayed a reeling Nova team in Round 2, and present matchup issues for almost anyone. On the other hand, Baylor is a team that is solid all the way around and has 3 legit scorers in Dunn, Carter, and Udoh. They haven't been overly impressive, but they've got the job done. I've undersold Baylor so long that I know by picking them now they will lose. Oh, well.

Pick: Baylor

Duke (1) vs. Purdue (4)

-Let me be the first to tell you - these are the games that Duke loses. Michigan State, LSU, West Virginia, Villanova. They all have in common that they beat Duke in the Sweet 16 or earlier in the last several years... and they all beat the Dukies by playing physically dominating basketball. For some reason, Coach K has had soft as tissue paper teams in the latter half of the last decade. Purdue, even without Robbie Hummel, is capable of winning by playing the same type of rugged style.

Chris Kramer (every girl's dream evidently?) can shut down Jon Scheyer and is providing bonus points on offense. He even hit the game-winning shot in OT against A&M. JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore will have to get buckets to win this game... and they will. Everyone, including me, counted out Purdue at the start of this tournament. But, give credit to Matt Painter for rallying his club and finding them ways to win. Yes, maybe this is more hopeful than anything, but the Boilers will shock this Madness-loving world again tonight.

Pick: Purdue

NCAA Thursday Sweet 16 Picks & Preview

Well, now we're into the business end of the tournament. The Sweet 16 is upon us. Will one of the most memorable and exciting tournaments in recent memory provide us more great games and classic moments? Let's hope so... as long as I walk home with the money. Let's get it on!

West Regional

(1) Syracuse vs (5) Butler

-Syracuse has been perhaps the most surprisingly dominant team through their first 2 games in the NCAA tournament without Arinze Onuaku. Against Gonzaga, Orange superstar Wes Johnson scored 31, and the supporting guard play of Andy Rautins and Scoop Jardine has boosted the Cuse offense in the postseason. Butler meanwhile had more of a struggle getting by fellow mid-majors UTEP and then Murray State in a low scoring game.

Ironically, it may be the offense of Syracuse that sees them home here. Unlike most Butler teams, this group outside of Shelvin Mack aren't great 3 point shooters, which will hurt against the 2-3 zone. Unless Butler can really slow it down and make it a half court game, Syracuse can run and gun past the Bulldogs. I just don't see enough on offense for Butler to finally get past the Sweet 16. PICK - SYRACUSE

(6) Xavier vs (2) Kansas State

-This might be the one Sweet 16 matchup that nobody is talking about, but is very compelling. Did you know this is Xavier's 3rd straight Sweet 16? And that they're only 1 of 2 teams to accomplish that feat? (The other is Michigan State... yea, no Big East or ACC teams, hmm) Evidently there is some history here too with the teams with the teams trading big victories on their home courts the last 2 seasons, so it could be physical and intense.

This game comes down to the matchup in the backcourt - Jordan Crawford and Terrell Holloway for Xavier vs Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente for K State. This game might feature two of the best guard tandems in the NCAA Tournament. Both duos are explosive scorers and playmakers. But, Clemente and Pullen might just be a bit more dynamic, and play a little bit more defense... which could offset Xavier's previous tourney experience. It'll be close, but the pick is Kansas State.

East Regional

(11) Washington vs (2) West Virginia

-Poor Washington. They're not mid-major enough to be grouped in with the other Cinderellas as an 11 seed, but they're not good enough to be grouped in with the favorites from the big conferences either. They're almost like the Brady Quinn of NCAA Tournament teams... sorry Browns fans, too soon? West Virginia is another team added to the list of ones that have to deal with injuries, losing PG Truck Bryant this week in practice.

Washington will play similarly to Missouri and try to speed up the game against West Virginia. The difference is that Washington has an experienced and established scorer - Quincy Pondexter. Mizzou would have beat the Neers if they had any sort of consistent shooting. The WVU offense, which isn't exactly a Picasso to begin with, will feel the loss of Bryant and become discombobulated. Bob Huggins' teams never strike me as ones that have the poise to deal with adversity. Yes, somehow, Washington makes it to the Elite 8. PICK - WASHINGTON

(1) Kentucky vs (12) Cornell

-Who would have ever thunk that the most intriguing matchup in the Sweet 16 would ever feature the Big Red of the Nard Dog! A year ago, Cornell was just another nerd patrol team losing in the NCAA Tourney... and Kentucky was trying to pretend like the Billie Gillespie Era didn't exist. And yet, here we are, with two of the most explosive offenses in the country meeting in the Sweet 16. Cornell the ruthless, veteran executioners... UK the young, brash, explosive Showtime style.

Honestly, seeing Cornell in the Sweet 16 is no surprise. Temple and Wisconsin might have been the absolute perfect matchup for the Big Red. Cornell could play their style of basketball -outexecute, and outshoot those teams without fear of being dominated physically or athletically. Kentucky is a different story. Everyone says that we will see Kentucky falter because of their youth and immaturity, much like Memphis was finally exposed 2 years ago with Derrick Rose and co. They say that a team of freshmen can't win it all. Well, this UK team looks anything but a team of freshmen.

The key for UK is that John Wall isn't doing it himself anymore. Cousins and Patterson on the inside, and perhaps more importantly - Eric Bledsoe in the backcourt are giving Wall more than enough support. Kentucky will out run and out gun Cornell while having enough defensive muscle to push them around in the half-court defense. Now, Cornell is good enough at what they do that they will score their points and keep up with Big Blue for the most part. But, unless they shoot some ungodly percentage tonight, UK marches on. PICK - KENTUCKY

2010 NFL Draft Preview - Linebackers

Linebacker tends to be one of the "make or break" decisions for a team and is the one position where there is so much altering and changing. Many prospects have made the change from down lineman to linebacker in the NFL and there are a few this year who will have that chance. Any of them in my top 5? Read on to find out. Let's get it on!

1. Rolando McClain ('Bama)

McClain was the leader of the National Championship defense this past season and really flourished under the watchful eye of Coach Saban. He was the Ray Lewis of their defense this year and should transition to the NFL nicely. The only concern that some may have would be his demeanor during his combine interviews as being quiet and reserved. Although hes quiet as a mouse his play should roar like a lion.

Projection: Top 15

2. Sergio Kindle (Texas)

Sergio Kindle was, without a shadow of a doubt, the best LB in the Big 12 this season. He streaked across the field to make tackles in pursuit and was able to stop offenses at the point of attack. Deemed an athletic freak he will be tantalizing for any coach to get and mold into the prototypical LB. However, Kindle has a history of injuries and an incident of texting while driving that gave him a concussion. Harnessing him will be key and I'll chalk up the texting to young ignorance.

Projection: Top 20

3. Sean Weatherspoon (Mizzou)

Mr. Yoder I should love this shout out to what has to be one of his favorite Tiger's this past season. Weatherspoon showed flashes of greatness this season leading the Big 12 in many statistical categories and earning Alamo Bowl MVP. He is intelligent and will be a great cerebral LB in the mold of Singletary, except on the outside most likely. His size, at only 239 will make some wonder if his body will be able to take the pounding; some weight room visits and eating should fix that.

Projection: Late 1st

4. Ricky Sapp (Clemson)

Sapp was a bright spot on the Clemson Tiger's season showing the NFL potential he has. His playmaking ability as well as toughness (played much of the season with a knee injury) will make him look worthy of a selection to any team. However, his knee injury as well as raw ability from moving from the line to the linebacker position will make some wonder; he may be better suited in pass-rushing situations and not an every down linebacker.

Projection: First 1/3 of 2nd round

5. Daryl Washington (TCU)

Washington was an integral part of the Hornfrog success this past season, leading his team to the Fiesta Bowl vs. Boise State. He had over 100 tackles and showed great potential to NFL scouts. However, his short time playing LB and his lack of instincts and ability to execute assignments may relegate him to rushing downs.

Projection: Later 1/3 of 2nd round

Sleeper: Thaddeus Gibson (Ohio State)

Gibson has the size to be a great LB, more than likely ILB given he doesn't have the optimal speed to rush from the side. Gibson had great gap recognition and ability to stay home on the Buckeye line and should be able to do the same in the pros. He will be raw in moving to LB but the right coaching will workout well for him. Look for Gibson to go mid-3rd round at the earliest and not to last too far into the 4th round.

The Yoders' Ones to Watch

Y1: Jerry Hughes of TCU was one of the stars of the combine. The OLB out of TCU shined in every drill and ran a sub-4.6 40 time. Hughes is more of a 3-4 pass rushing OLB, but if he's there at the end of Round 1 for the New Orleans Saints and Sean Weatherspoon is gone, Hughes would look very nice in the black and gold. Plus, he played for one of the consistently best defenses in college football at TCU.

Y2: Brandon Spikes is one of the most decorated linebackers in this year's draft. He played for a National Champion at Florida. But, his 40 time north of 5 seconds has teams running away from Spikes at even faster speeds. Before the 40 time, he was a 2nd round pick and now he's projected in the 4th or 5th round. Yes, that time is atrocious, but anyone who watched the Gators play knows this guy can play football.

Quick Hits: The NFL's Overtime Change

Today the NFL went through with a surprising vote to alter the rules for overtime in the postseason. The final tally was 28-4 to go ahead with the new plan away from sudden death and towards some sort of complicated, conveluted plan that would only apply in postseason games and you need a doctorate in chemistry to figure out. Why all of the fuss and change you might ask?

Because it wasn't fair to Brett Favre.

Yes, the changing of the rule is in direct response to the NFL's golden child not getting a chance to touch the ball as the Saints went marching to the Super Bowl.

Did it bother anyone when the same situation happened to Peyton Manning the year before? Eh, not really.

But for the love of God... if Brett Favre is treated injustly then something must happen to make sure such a grave mistake will never happen again.

*Notice all of the camera shots, promo material, highlights, etc. associated with the rule are from this year's NFC Championship Game. Brett Favre solemnly walking off the field without even a chance to touch the ball. THE OUTRAGE! HOW DARE A COIN FLIP DECIDE THE FATE OF THE GREATEST MAN WHO HAS EVER LIVED*

Just don't mention his epic choke job and we'll be ok.

Ok, seriously, let's look at these OT rules and try to put them in layman's terms.

1) If Team A gets the ball first and gets a TD they win.

2) If Team A gets a FG, Team B gets a possession to tie with a FG, or get a TD to win.

3) If both teams remain tied after their first possessions, then we go to sudden death.

Easy right?

Except when you ask tough questions like - what happens in case of an onside kick? Or a special teams score? Or a safety? Or doesn't Team B get an extra down on their possession to match a FG? You know, all those questions that don't appear when it's sudden death.

Call me a traditionalist, but sudden death is the way to go. It adds more drama and the stakes are raised. Especially in the playoffs when an entire can season can hinge on one play. Would the '58 Championship game be the same if it were played under these inane rules? If any change needs to be made, move the kickoff back to the 35 and make teams start from the 20 for OT. Or, if you want to go the fairness route... make it be the first to 6 points wins or have 1 10 minute quarter decide things. You know, a system that doesn't make these guys any more confused...

Yes, I understand the statistics point in this direction, and we're tired of having FG's decide games. But how is this crazy system any better than sudden death? The same arguments apply that one team still might not get a chance to touch the ball if Team A gets a TD. How is that any more or less fair than sudden death? So, really, we're not making any progress here, are we.

Maybe if Favre lost by a TD, the team that got the first possession would need 2 scores to win. That would be better than what exists now.

This OT situation is another example of using a chainsaw to fix something that needed a scalpel at best. Good luck next postseason when you are watching your favorite team in a dramatic OT game... and have no clue what is going on. But hey, at least it'll be fair to Favre... if he plays.