Nfl Football Gambling

2005-11-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

New-look Colts: Manning’s not alone
By Albert Breer/ MetroWest Daily News
Monday, November 7, 2005 - Updated: 06:59 AM EST

FOXBORO – For better or worse, fingers always are pointed at the quarterback. --football gambling--
As such, Peyton Manning has shouldered much of the blame for the Colts’ failure to get past the Patriots. And in both the 2003 AFC Championship Game and the ’04 divisional playoff, a lot of that criticism was fair. --football gambling--

But the outcome would’ve been much different for Manning if Edgerrin James had produced in big spots during the regular season. With the game on the line two years ago, the tailback failed to score on three runs from inside the Pats’ 2, and last year, he coughed up a golden opportunity by fumbling in the red zone.--football gambling--

Each time, a win would have given Indy home-field advantage in the playoffs, thus sparing Manning his snowshoeing trips to Foxboro. --football gambling--

This time around, James again will be the key, especially since yesterday’s MLS playoff match between the Revolution and Chicago turned the area between the hash marks at Gillette into a mud pit. The Colts have emphasized controlling the ball to aid their fourth-ranked defense, and James, a seventh-year back, came into Week 9 leading the NFL with 801 yards rushing on 163 carries and seven touchdowns. --football gambling--

“People are doing things to try to take our passing game away, and they have given us more of what we call ‘run looks’ that the quarterback is instructed to run the ball against,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “We have to run it more, and we’re running it well.”

The Indy offense also has been attacked by more teams playing cover-3 defenses and other off-looks to prevent the big play. After averaging 9.17 yards per attempt last fall, Manning is down to 7.60. --football gambling--

Still, the quarterback is on pace for his most accurate season, completing a stunning 68.1 percent of his passes while spreading the ball to wideouts Reggie Wayne (37 receptions for 437 yards) and Marvin Harrison (37-388), along with Brandon Stokley (21-237) out of the slot. All three have experienced drops in their yards-per-catch numbers, and that seems to be a product of what defenses are giving them.--football gambling--

“(Opponents) have taken away a lot of the play-action passes where we got big plays,” Dungy said. “They have taken away the deep throws down the middle and forced us into a different style.” --football gambling--

Indy’s style on the other side of the ball remains what it has been – a cover-2, one-gap, penetrating look – only now it’s much more effective. Dungy has finally found experienced players to fit the scheme. A smallish front features All-Pro end Dwight Freeney (seven sacks), who will stunt and shoot gaps to get to Pats quarterback Tom Brady. Nickel rusher Robert Mathis (eight) is the type of speedy player Dungy favors up front. And defensive tackle Corey Simon balances it out as a powerful run-stopping presence. --football gambling--

“They sack the quarterback, they (take the ball away), they have guys that make a lot of interceptions,” Brady said. “They do it all.” --football gambling--

Linebacker Cato June leads the Colts with five picks, two of which he’s brought back for scores. Gary Brackett has 56 tackles and two INTs. --football gambling--

Behind that duo is a physical secondary – like the one Dungy had at Tampa Bay – led by cornerbacks Jason David, Nick Harper and Marlin Jackson on the perimeter and hard-hitting safeties Mike Doss and Bob Sand. --football gambling--

2005-11-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

Roethlisberger may play Sunday

Steelers QB questionable after suffering knee injury

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger's left knee injury apparently isn't serious, but Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher wasn't ready to say if his quarterback will be ready to play Sunday in Green Bay. -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger underwent an MRI exam Tuesday, about 12 hours after the Steelers' 20-19 victory over Baltimore, and was given a preliminary diagnosis of a strained posterior capsule. The injury affects the range of motion of the knee and can be very painful. -NFL Football-

"All ligaments are fine, and we'll get a further update as the week goes on," Cowher said Tuesday. "There's nothing serious coming out of the game as we speak. ... Hopefully it's something he can continue to work through, and we'll rest him when we can and see where he is at the end of the week." -NFL Football-

The Steelers have a short week of practice before their first trip to Green Bay (1-6) in 10 years, but it is unlikely Roethlisberger will attempt to practice Wednesday. The Steelers (5-2) normally want a player to practice at least once by Friday in order to play Sunday. -NFL Football-

Cowher did not specify Roethlisberger's status -- either probable, questionable or doubtful -- and is not required to do so until Wednesday. -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger, 18-1 as an NFL regular season starter, injured the knee for the second time in four weeks in a Monday night game as he caught a cleat in the turf while being hit during the first quarter. Despite limping for several plays after being hit, Roethlisberger stayed in the game and led two touchdown drives and a fourth quarter drive that resulted in Jeff Reed's decisive 37-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining. -NFL Football-

Cowher said the injury clearly affected Roethlisberger's throwing and mobility, even though the second-year starter went 18-of-30 for 177 yards and two touchdowns to rookie tight end Heath Miller. -NFL Football-

"Sure it had some effect and no question he was hurting, but he gutted it out," Cowher said. "He told me at halftime he was getting it taped up and that 'I'm going to give it a shot, but if I'm hurting this team, I'm going to take myself out.' " -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger started the second half by leading a 10-play, 64-yard drive that resulted in his second scoring pass to Miller, an 8-yarder that put the Steelers up 17-10. Pittsburgh didn't score again until its final 60-yard drive that ended with Reed's second field goal of the game, and his second game-winner in four games. -NFL Football-

Cowher isn't surprised Roethlisberger remained effective despite the painful knee injury. Roethlisberger's 112.4 passer rating is the best in the league, and only he and Cincinnati's Carson Palmer have ratings above 100.0. -NFL Football-

"He's a very poised quarterback and he has a feel for the game," Cowher said. "He's a very competitive, confident individual, and you never sense him overreacting. He's like the guy in basketball who wants the ball in his hands at end of the game, he has those attributes. -NFL Football-

"He's a tough guy, and I have a lot of respect for Ben. He knew the risks involved with going back out there," Cowher said. -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger initially hurt the knee late in a 24-22 victory in San Diego on Oct. 10, sustaining a hypertension that caused him to sit out the following week's 23-17 overtime loss to Jacksonville. His replacement, Tommy Maddox, had four turnovers in that loss -- two in overtime, including an interception that was returned for the game-winning touchdown. -NFL Football-

Cowher played Maddox even though Roethlisberger all but begged Cowher to play him, pleading his case up until the final hours before the game. -NFL Football-

Maddox, the Steelers' starter for most of the 2002 season and in 2003, has since fallen to No. 3 on the depth chart behind Charlie Batch, and it seems likely Batch would start in Green Bay should Roethlisberger have a setback and not be ready. -NFL Football-

2005-10-31T12:24:00.000-08:00

NFL: Local in professional football

By Daily News staff
October 31, 2005

A rundown of how NFL players from Southwest Florida did on Sunday:

Phillip Buchanon (Lehigh), Houston Texans, cornerback, No. 31 — Buchanon had three tackles, three passes defensed and returned a punt 20 yards in the Texans' win over Cleveland on Sunday. He had seven tackles last week against Indianapolis. -NFL Football-

Earnest Graham (Cape Coral-Mariner), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, running back, No. 33 — Graham played, but didn't register any stats in Sunday's 15-10 loss at San Francisco. The Bucs had a bye last week. -NFL Football-

Anthony Henry (Estero), Dallas Cowboys, cornerback, No. 42 — Henry had six tackles and returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown in the Cowboys' win over Arizona on Sunday. Henry had four tackles and a pass defensed last week at Seattle. -NFL Football-

Anthony Herrera (Barron Collier), Minnesota Vikings, offensive lineman, No. 64 — Herrera was inactive for Sunday's game with Carolina and last week's game with Green Bay. -NFL Football-

Edgerrin James (Immokalee), Indianapolis Colts, running back, No. 32 — The Colts had a bye this week. James rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries last week against Houston. -NFL Football-

Jevon Kearse (North Fort Myers), Philadelphia Eagles, defensive end, No. 93 — Kearse had a tackle and a sack in Philadelphia's loss at Denver. Kearse had one tackle, one sack and two passes defensed last week against San Diego. -NFL Football-

Fred McCrary (Naples), Atlanta Falcons, running back, No. 44 — The Falcons had a bye this week. McCrary caught an 11-yard pass last week against the Jets. -NFL Football-

Deion Sanders (North Fort Myers), Baltimore Ravens, cornerback, No. 37 — The Ravens play at Pittsburgh tonight. Sanders played, but didn't register any stats last week against Chicago. -NFL Football-

Greg Spires (Cape Coral-Mariner), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive lineman, No. 94 — Spires had six tackles in Sunday's 15-10 win at San Francisco. The Bucs had a bye last week. -NFL Football-

2005-10-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

Week Seven game previews

By PFW staff Oct. 20, 2005
--- nfl ---

Green Bay at Minnesota
--- nfl ---
If the Packers are going to go on a winning streak, now is the time. Green Bay is 1-4 out of the gate for the second year in a row. The Packers turned it on at this point a year ago by opening up the offense. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
The Vikings have allowed 24 or more points in four of five games and might be just the catalyst the Packers need. Green Bay was on bye last week, affording the team an opportunity to get RB Ahman Green (thigh) and others healthy. Green is 17th in the NFC in rushing (3.4-yard average) and has not scored a touchdown this year. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
The Vikings’ ship is a wayward vessel in more ways than one. QB Daunte Culpepper has been lost without WR Randy Moss, who set the tone and created a lot of room for the offense to operate since 1998. Without Moss, teams are playing the run with seven defenders and begging Culpepper to throw into traffic. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
The Packers don’t blitz much and have only one pass-rushing threat, DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. WR Nate Burleson has resumed physical activity after sitting out since Week Two with a knee injury. Burleson’s return might be a positive for Culpepper.--- nfl ---

2005-10-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

Seahawks step up to beat Rams 37-31

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 9, 2005) -- The toughest part of Joe Jurevicius ' biggest day in the NFL had nothing to do with filling in as a starting wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. It was the bus ride past the hospital where his son died that was tough to take. - NFL Football -

Jurevicius caught a career-best nine passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's 37-31 victory over St. Louis. On the way to the game, the Seahawks drove past the hospital where Jurevicius' young son, Michael William, died of a neurodegenerative disease in 2003.

And the memories flooded back.

"This is a hard place for me to play," said Jurevicius, who helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl a few weeks before. - NFL Football -

On Oct. 9, Jurevicius -- who vaulted to the top of Seattle's depth chart because of injuries to Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram -- had his son in mind when he scored.

"On my touchdown, I wrote a little 'M' in the grass and threw the ball up to him," he said. "So psychologically, I've been through worse but it's rewarding."

The Seahawks snapped a four-game losing streak against the Rams that included a first-round playoff loss last season. Shaun Alexander ran for 119 yards a pair of scores, and Matt Hasselbeck threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, and Seattle (3-2) moved into first place in the NFC west. - NFL Football -

"This is not being said with any disrespect, but we expected to win this game," Hasselbeck said. "That's what we expected to do."

Steven Jackson had 79 yards rushing and a touchdown and 62 yards receiving for the Rams (2-3), who couldn't keep pace due to a porous defense that has surrendered 81 points the last two games. Chris Johnson returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a Rams touchdown, the team's first runback in five seasons, but it was all downhill from there for St. Louis.

Rams coach Mike Martz was on the sideline calling plays after missing two practices last week while undergoing tests for a bacterial infection of a heart valve, and began taking antibiotics Oct. 7. In retrospect, Martz said he should have allowed offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild to run the show. - NFL Football -

"I wasn't myself this week, the game plan wasn't clear for me," Martz said. "It's over with now but I just feel what happened to me has affected this team, and that breaks my heart."

The Seahawks totaled 433 yards in total offense to hand the Rams a rare home loss. St. Louis is 40-10 at home since 1999, the best in the NFL.

Seattle clinched the win when Rams punt returner Shaun McDonald fumbled with 2:51 to go, and J.P. Darche recovered it for Seattle at the St. Louis 37. The Seahawks drove to the 8 at the two-minute warning and, with the Rams out of timeouts, ran out the clock.

Terry Fair had been returning punts in his first game of the season, but had asked out because he was winded from playing defense. - NFL Football -

"I was just thinking maybe I should have stayed in there," Fair said. "Maybe I let my teammates down a little bit."

Jurevicius entered the game with seven catches but had no trouble finding openings. D.J. Hackett, the other replacement wide receiver, had five catches for 43 yards.

"He's just a veteran, he's a pro, he gets it," Hasselbeck said of Jurevicius. "You're out there and it's loud and he's recognizing the defense along with you." - NFL Football -

Jurevicius' previous receiving best came with the Bucs, an eight-catch performance for 100 yards on Dec. 8, 2002 against the Falcons.

Seattle was turnover-free and got a 3 for 3 day from kicker Josh Brown, who banged a 28-yarder off the left upright that put the Seahawks ahead 37-28 with 7:32 to go. Alexander had 119 yards on 25 carries and touchdowns of 1 and 18 yards, and Hasselbeck was 27 for 38 for 316 yards and two touchdowns. - NFL Football -

Marc Bulger was 26 for 40 for 336 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Rams. But St. Louis was also stymied by poor field position and a shaky game from rookie punter Reggie Hodges, who averaged 33 yards on five attempts. The Rams began drives at the 21 or worse on eight occasions. - NFL Football -

2005-10-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

UA Football: Punter kicks into high gear

JOHN MOREDICH
Tucson Citizen

BERKELEY, Calif. - Punter Danny Baugher kicked himself as much as the football last season.

For every five punts he nailed in 2004, he would shank the next.

So the University of Arizona senior studied visualization techniques in the offseason and worked on his footwork.

The results have been "phenomenal," said special teams coach Joe Robinson.

Baugher heads into today's 4 p.m. game at No. 12-ranked California as the nation's leading punter with a 52-yard average - and 4.5 seconds of hang time to boot.

Those numbers have attracted NFL scouts, who are inquiring about the former USA TODAY High School All-America punter from Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix.

"The ability was always there," UA's Robinson said. "A number of NFL scouts are calling and asking if ... he (can) do it all the time."

Baugher thinks he can.

"I feel like I am starting to put everything together," the 5-foot-10, 202-pound punter said. "I am really concentrating on each kick like it is my last. There is a higher focus and concentration level than any time."

UA hopes Baugher is focused today. Putting Cal's high-octane offensive attack in poor field position would help the Wildcats' chances of an upset.

But it won't be easy. Cal's Tim Mixon is the nation's fourth-best punt returner at 24.7 yards per attempt.

Arizona, as a team, is averaging only 5.4 yards per return.

"Our coverage team will have to cover well," UA coach Mike Stoops said. "It is not so much about yardage, but if you get the hang time. It is important to give our kids a chance to cover the punts."

Baugher worked on his consistency by watching film of good punts and bad ones.

"It's mechanics, the length of his first step, the length of his second step and where the ball is dropped," Robinson said of past problems. "You want to see the mechanics be the same all the time."

Baugher is already the school's leader in punt attempts - UA's offense ranked near the bottom in 2003 and 2004 - but he is more proud of breaking a pair of Pac-10 records.

His 59.7-yard average against Northern Arizona set a conference and school record for a single game. A week later, his 57.6-yard average broke a team high for average with a minimum of five attempts. His kicks against Purdue included boots of 76, 68, 63, 61 and 51 yards.

2005-09-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Applying many lessons learned on football field

From the Ivy League to the NFL to the small private college environment to his present stop at a small, but growing Greater Waterbury prep school.

Such is the ever-changing life of Roger Caron, a 1985 draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, just months removed from leaving an established job in Pomona, Calif.

As a member of the Harvard Crimson, he was a two-time All-Ivy League selection and played against the likes of two-way performer and Heisman Trophy candidate Gordie Lockbaum of the College of the Holy Cross, and was in the 100th game between Yale and Harvard at Yale Bowl.

He would bounce around the NFL, with stints with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints for three years before hanging up the cleats, and moving on to the college coaching ranks as an assistantfootball and wrestling coach at Williams College in his native Massachusetts.

Now, after 11 years as a teacher and head football coach at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Roger Caron moved his family across the country to one of the nine prep schools in Greater Waterbury and Litchfield -- Cheshire Academy.

He applied for three prep jobs in all last spring, one at Rivers in Massachusetts and the other at Taft School in Watertown. But the 43-year-old chose Cheshire Academy, where he teaches history, because he felt that it was the best location for his son, Jake, to further his education. Caron lives in a campus dormitory with his wife and son, the starting junior quarterback.

2005-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Former kicker Fritsch dead at 60

VIENNA, Austria (Sept. 13, 2005) -- Toni Fritsch, who went from Austrian soccer player to place-kicker for the Dallas Cowboys, died at 60. - NFL Football -

Peter Klingelmueller, a spokesman for Rapid Vienna, the soccer club on which Fritsch played for 14 years, confirmed Fritsch's death. The Austria Press Agency reported that Fritsch collapsed and died of heart failure in Vienna after eating at a restaurant.

Fritsch played in nine matches for the Austrian national soccer team and, in 1965, scored two goals for Austria as it defeated England 3-2 in London. Six years later, soccer-style kickers were becoming popular in the NFL and the Cowboys sent scouts to Europe in search of strong-legged soccer players who could be taught to boot footballs. - NFL Football -

"The first place we went was Vienna, and the first player we tried out was Toni Fritsch," then-Cowboys personnel director Gil Brandt recalled in Dallas. "He had a hard time speaking English at first, but he did master it."

Brandt recalled that Fritsch kicked the winning field goal in his NFL debut. It was a 26-yarder with 1:53 left that gave Dallas a 16-13 victory against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

"It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen," Brandt said. "A linebacker for the Cardinals was hollering, 'Choke, Fritsch, choke!' and Dave Edwards, our upback on the protection team, said, 'He can't understand English.' " - NFL Football -

Fritsch, a gregarious guy who was popular with teammates, shared kicking duties in Dallas in 1971, then had the job pretty much to himself for the 1972, '73 and '75 seasons. He led the NFC with 22 field goals in 1975. The Cowboys beat Miami in the Super Bowl after the 1971 season and lost the title game to Pittsburgh after the '75 season.

After kicking for San Diego for part of the 1976 season, Fritsch settled in with the Houston Oilers from 1977-81 and was part of their "Luv Ya Blue" heyday under Earl Campbell and coach Bum Phillips. He finished his NFL career kicking for Phillips on the New Orleans Saints in 1982.

Fritsch still holds an NFL record by having kicked a field goal in 13 consecutive playoff games. New England's Adam Vinatieri has an ongoing streak of 12 games. - NFL Football -

Fritsch lived in Houston for many years after he retired. Brandt recalled Fritsch attending a Cowboys reunion in June 2004.

2005-09-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

Scouting the NFL

Trying to predict which teams are going to do well during football season is often an entertaining — but difficult — task.
The first week of high school football is in the books, as is the first weekend of college football. There were a few surprises along the way.
Some of the more noticeable shockers included young Class AAAA foe Morrilton having its way with Russellville, the margin (40-7) of Hector’s win over Dover last Friday and, in the college ranks, the No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners dropping their season opener to TCU (at home, no less).
Many of the outcomes of the high school and college games give indication for a wild ride ahead in terms of determining who the favorites are.
Maybe even more puzzling is trying to predict who will win in the NFL. The professional football season starts Thursday night with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders.
The remainder of the NFL teams will be in action Sunday. With that in mind, the following is my feeble attempt at trying to predict who will be the division winners:
AFC
East Division: The Patriots have been the team to beat the last two seasons. I don’t see that changing this year.
The New York Jets have been in the hunt in recent years, and the Buffalo Bills return one of the top defenses from last season.
However, the Bills’ offense will have a sluggish start with rookie J.P. Losman getting the quarterback job, and the Jets won’t be able to beat New England.
The Patriots will repeat as division champions.
South Division: The Indianapolis Colts return one of the league’s most potent offenses. Peyton Manning set several passing records last year, including most touchdowns in a season with 49. Adding Corey Simon to the defensive side will give Indy a boost.
Not even Matt Jones can help the Jacksonville Jaguars outscore the Colts. Indianapolis wins the division again.
North Division: This one is a toss-up. Last season, The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the season with the best record in the NFL at 15-1 behind rookie phenom Ben Roethlisberger.
The loss of receiver Plaxico Burress and injuries to running backs Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis will most likely cause the Steelers to get off to a slow start.
Defense wins championships, and the Baltimore Ravens are very strong in that area. With the acquisition of receivers Derek Mason and Mark Clayton, along with the running game of Jamal Lewis, the Ravens have enough to edge Pittsburgh and win the division.
The only question is, will they put all their tools to use? I think they will.
West Division: Last season, the San Diego Chargers were probably one of the biggest surprises in the NFL. With Ladanian Tomlinson consistently finishing as one of the league’s top running backs, and the emergence of tight end Antonio Gates and quarterback Drew Brees into top-notch players, the Chargers have plenty of weapons on offense.
The Raiders added Randy Moss, and Kansas City beefed up its defense to go along with its high-powered offense. However, the Chargers should finish on top once again when it’s all said and done.
NFC
East Division: Terrell Owens has dominated most of the news from the NFL this offseason with his off-the-field antics. His attitude will be somewhat of a distraction for the Philadelphia Eagles, and losing receiver Todd Pinkston will be a factor as well.
The Eagle defense, though, can make up for the offense’s slack. The offense, by the way, is still no slouch, and that combination should give Philly another division title.
Watch out for the Dallas Cowboys, though, as they appear poised to make a strong run this season.
South Division: Everyone knows Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick is the leader of the Falcons. Vick missed most of last season with a leg injury, causing Atlanta’s season to go down the drain.
However, the Falcon defense helped carry the team last season and recorded an NFL-best 48 sacks. That strong defensive group and a high-powered offense will give Atlanta a good shot at repeating as division champions.
Standing in the way, though, is the Carolina Panthers, who were bothered by injury last season. With a healthy staff and one of the league’s top defenses, the Panthers should edge the Falcons this season.
North Division: Randy Moss is gone, but the Minnesota Vikings still have a strong offense. Daunte Culpepper will probably not have as good of numbers without Moss on the field, but the Vikings retooled their defense and that will help them keep Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers from claiming the division title.
The Vikings should win the division and make some noise in the NFC playoffs.
West Division: This has to be one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. With the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers turning into perennial losing teams, the NFC West has lost a lot of its luster.
The Seattle Seahawks and Saint Louis Rams, on the other hand, present very strong offensive attacks and should be considered dangerous come playoff time.
Either one could win the division. Whatever happens, the race should be tight down to the end. I’m going to say the Seahawks win the division, though.
All of this may sound far-fetched, and there are certainly many other factors to consider. Another thing to consider is that many times the expected never actually takes place, so anything can happen. Regardless, this should be an excitingNFL season.

Copyright © 2005, Russellville Newspapers, Inc.

2005-08-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Iowa football: Ferentz has commitment to excellence

By STEVE BATTERSON, For The Globe Gazette

OWA CITY — In a self-service world, Kirk Ferentz tries to run a full-service operation.

The Iowa football coach believes a commitment extends beyond the time when the final seconds of a player’s career have ticked off of the Kinnick Stadium scoreboard.

‘"We aren’t about shoving people out the door and herding the next recruiting class in," Ferentz said. "We’re here for them, even when they’ve used up their eligibility."

In many respects, that ties the program together, bonding former players with current, and providing a road map to the future. - College Football -

"It helps for our guys to be around players like Robert Gallery, Brad Banks and Bob Sanders when they come through," Ferentz said. "When they return, it lets our current players know that what they do now is important to the guys who came before them.

"We want an atmosphere where one class is encouraged to build on the success of the past, to work to take it one step further and that what you accomplish will be remembered."

That’s one reason the Iowa weight room remains a busy place even during the offseason.

Strength and conditioning coordinator Chris Doyle works with a number of seniors after their final college season ends, preparing them for a chance to realize their NFL dreams.

"In a lot of programs, guys rush to Arizona or Florida to work out with trainers before the NFL Combine, but our guys stay here and work with Chris," Ferentz said. "We have guys come back and work with him. Dallas Clark was through earlier this summer. That says something about their experience here."

Ferentz considered the hiring of Doyle in 1999 as important as his selection of Ken O’Keefe as his offensive coordinator and Norm Parker as his defensive coordinator. - College Football -

Doyle came to Iowa from Utah, where he worked in a similar capacity.

"It’s a critical position because that nobody in our program spends more time around the kids than Chris does by rule. He’s with the team 12 months a year and fortunately our administration realizes how important he is to our success," Ferentz said. ‘’Our players just embrace him."

Clark, originally a walk-on at Iowa who now lines up at tight end for the Indianapolis Colts, credits Doyle with creating a welcoming atmosphere.

"He has a way to make training both interesting and enjoyable, which isn’t always the case," Clark said. "He produces results and that’s why I think guys like to go back and work in his room. They know they’ll find some help there, and they know that they are welcome."

The welcome mat doesn’t only sit by the door of the weight room.

"Coach cares and I think he’s created a situation where people want to go back and visit. It’s not just the fact they’ve been winning, it’s like going back to see family and that starts with coach Ferentz," Clark said. - College Football -

The roots run deep.

Ferentz instituted an honorary captain program during the 2000 season, bringing one former Hawkeye back to Iowa City for each home game.

Typically, the honorary captain joins the team at its Friday practice and attends meetings with the team that day.

In addition to speaking to the team, the individual also participates in all team activities leading up to Saturday’s game and takes the field with Iowa’s game captains to participate in the pregame coin toss. - College Football -

"We want our players to have a connection with the players who have come before them," Ferentz said. "And, we want our former players to know that they are still very important to our program and are welcome here anytime. It’s a part of building tradition."

Clark said that makes a difference.

"Coach Ferentz has created the atmosphere here and he cares as much about the guys he coached here in the 1980s and on his first team when he came back here as he does about the guys who played on championship teams," Clark said. - College Football -

"I saw that when I played for Iowa, and I see it now when I go back. We’re all a part of the family."

Steve Batterson is a sportswriter for the Quad-City Times, a Lee Enterprises newspaper.

2005-08-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

2005 Unit Rankings: Offense

1. USCFind the weakness. USC has a Heisman winning quarterback returning (Matt Leinart), a Heisman finalist running back (Reggie Bush) and top workhorse in the backfield (LenDale White), one of the nation's best 1-2 receiving punches in Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith and a line that has six players with starting experience returning. There's only one thing missing: Norm Chow. The star offensive coordinator left for the Tennessee Titans, meaning Lane Kiffin and former BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian will be in a no-win situation. If the offense is the best in the country, everyone will say it's because of the talent. If it slips, the coaches will get the blame. Don't expect any problems with good backups everywhere in case injuries strike.
- NFL Football -
2. LSUEvery offensive starter, whatever the depth chart turns out to be, will be on an NFL roster, or at least be in NFL camp. Not only that, every second teamer, whatever the depth chart turns out to be, will likely be on an NFL roster, or at least be in an NFL camp. That's how loaded the LSU offense is with talent. Now it all has to come together and produce more than the 28.67 points and 396 yards per game it chalked up last year. With few exceptions, this was an inconsistent attack hurt most by average quarterback production. Now, there's a three man race between JaMarcus Russell, Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux for the right to direct all the stars. If one of those three isn't sharp, the offense will be one of the nation's most disappointing, considering all the elite players it boasts. If one of the quarterbacks shines with a huge season, the team could be headed to Pasadena.
- NFL Football -
3. TennesseeThe Tennessee offense was impressive last year, considering the concerns at quarterback and the question marks at receiver. The freshmen quarterbacks came through with huge seasons, the receiving corps grew into a strength and the offense got better and more explosive as the year went on. Now, the attack should be downright nasty with one of the best groups of receivers the Vols have ever had, a burgeoning star quarterback in Erik Ainge, another great quarterback option in Rick Clausen and a back in Gerald Riggs Jr. who will put up huge numbers. The line is a concern if injuries hit, but the starting five should be strong.
- NFL Football -
4. FloridaUrban Meyer has always produced big-time offenses, but the NFL isn't exactly stocked with former Utah Utes (other than Alex Smith) and Bowling Green Falcons. Now he has some big-time talents to work with, and the results are expected to be nothing less than incredible. QB Chris Leak appears to be ready to handle the responsibility of leading the new spread attack, even if he's not the perfect fit for it. The receiving corps should explode with Dallas Baker, Andre Caldwell and Chad Jackson — all home run hitters. If RB DeShawn Wynn can play up to his talent level, the backfield will be a strength. The starting five on the line will be great.
- NFL Football -
5. MichiganOn straight talent, it'll be hard to beat the Wolverines if QB Chad Henne and RB Mike Hart improve at all on their fantastic freshman years. The loss of all-everything receiver Braylon Edwards will hurt worse than many will have you believe. However, Jason Avant and Steve Breaston are very, very good. The line will have three All-Big Ten performers in guard Matt Lentz and tackles Adam Stenavich and Jake Long. Now, the pass protection has to be better.
- NFL Football -
6. MinnesotaIf all the parts stay healthy and QB Bryan Cupito improves on his consistency and accuracy, the offense will be one of the top 10 in America. The left side of the line, along with center Greg Eslinger, will dominate. The receiving corps looks like an NBA backcourt with size, speed and athleticism. Of course, the star of the show will be junior Laurence Maroney — who should be a lock for at least 1,500 yards.
- NFL Football -
7. GeorgiaFor all of last year's talent, Georgia's offense wasn't nearly as dominant as it should've been. That should change this year with an interesting mix of players. The running game will be one of the nation's best as long as the passing attack can be merely adequate. D.J. Shockley takes over the quarterbacking job, providing experience and plenty of mobility and excitement. What he doesn't have is Fred Gibson or Reggie Brown to throw to as the receiving corps was less than stellar in spring ball. Fortunately, the backfield is five-deep in great runners, while the line, led by Max Jean-Gilles, will be among the nation's best.
- NFL Football -
8. LouisvilleTalk about reloading. Louisville loses all-star quarterback Stefan LeFors, NFL-caliber, 20-touchdown running back Eric Shelton and 73-catch receiver J.R. Russell, but should be just as strong as the offense that was the nation's best last year. There's plenty of talent returning and several great options among the reserves to keep the party rolling. QB Brian Brohm will instantly become one of the nation's top quarterbacks now that he's the full-time starter. The Cards are loaded with talented running backs and receivers and blessed with one of the nation's deepest and most athletic lines. However, the party could crash if Brohm gets hurt with no experience behind him.
- NFL Football -
9. Virginia TechThe offense was efficient last year, but it didn't move the ball much, averaging almost 31 points per game despite only averaging 366 yards. However, the Hokies should have a devastating attack as long as Marcus Vick plays like he's supposed to. There are two great quarterback prospects (Sean Glennon and Cory Holt) also in the mix, but Vick is the type of player who can make this loaded attack special. There's too much talent at running back and receiver for one football, and the line is big and will be fine in time. Expect big, explosive numbers, but the question is whether or not someone can pick up the leadership slack left by Bryan Randall.
- NFL Football -
10. TexasAll of the focus is on Vince Young's passing abilities as everyone is looking for him to take another step in his development to become more than just a superstar runner. While improving the air attack is nice, don't look for too much of a change from a rushing offense that averaged close to 300 yards per game and finished No. 2 in the nation. There isn't a Cedric Benson, but Selvin Young, Ramonce Taylor and Chris Ogbonnaya will be more than fine running behind one of the nation's best offensive lines. Limas Sweed and Nate Jones are talented young receivers who have to come through in a big way to take the heat off Young and the ground game.

CollegeFootballNews.com

2005-08-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

A QB's story

Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko thought about enrolling in college early in 2002 but ultimately decided against it. Like King and Williams, he had an opportunity to play early.
But, when Palko and his family investigated the possibility, they found out it would have been too difficult. West Allegheny has four nine-week grading periods, instead of semesters. For Palko to have graduated early, he would have had to take two English courses, two Social Studies courses and two physical education classes during the fall of his senior year.
Plus, he wanted to experience his senior year with the rest of his classmates and play in the Big 33 All-Star Game, a goal of his from early childhood. Under NCAA rules, any player who enrolls in college early cannot play in high school all-star games. - NFL Football -
"Looking back, I definitely would have regretted not playing in the Big 33 and everything I learned from that experience," Palko said. "That helped me prepare for college football in a lot of ways." - NFL Football -
Palko was a lot like King and Williams in another respect, though. He wanted to immerse himself in college football. So Palko attended many of Pitt's spring practices in 2002 and learned Walt Harris' offense. He worked out with his new team during the summer and got to know them.
In training camp, Palko lost a quarterback competition with Rod Rutherford, but only after an injury retarded his progress. He served as the top backup that season.
"I think I had the best of both worlds," Palko said. "I was able to stay close to home. I was able to go to a lot of the spring practices. I learned the offense. - NFL Football -
"I wanted to do senior things, but, in the end, I didn't really do much. I didn't go on the senior trip. I wanted to get ready for football season. I owed that to the University of Pittsburgh as someone who was going to be on scholarship. I was all about football the second half of my senior year." - NFL Football -
More and more, early enrollment or not, high school seniors are leaving the present behind and marching toward the future.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

2005-08-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

Marino leads four quarterbacks into Pro Football Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio - Dan Marino capped his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the best way possible: with a long completion.
He licked his fingers, a trademark of his 17 seasons as the NFL's most prolific quarterback, then turned to one of his favorite receivers, Mark Clayton, in the audience.
"Go deep, Mark," Marino commanded. - NFL Football -
Clayton sauntered up the aisle, turned and latched onto - what else? - a perfect spiral.
"Of course, in the end, every quarterback wants one more Sunday with a football in his hands and going deep," Marino said.
Thousands of fans clad in No. 13 Dolphins jerseys shook Fawcett Stadium with cheers, remembering how sweet it was to see Marino setting all his records.
"I'll remember this day for the rest of my life," Marino said. - NFL Football -
Marino joined Steve Young, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman in the shrine.
Paying tribute to his Western Pennsylvania roots, Marino noted that John Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly all came from the region. All are Hall of Famers.
"When I was younger, there's no doubt I thought about being Joe Namath," Marino said, adding that joining them in the Hall "definitely makes an impact on you. - NFL Football -
"I've accomplished many things, but what I cherish more than any record I hold, fourth-quarter comebacks or any wins I was involved in, is the relationships."
That, of course, also included his family, and his oldest son, 20-year-old Daniel, presented Marino for induction. It was then that he was betrayed by the eyes that stared down so many defenses - they were wet with tears as he took his place among the legends of football.
Marino suspected he might break down during his acceptance speech, but did so even before then after Daniel's speech. None of that on-field stoicism for the Miami Dolphins great, at least not on this sun-splashed day amid chants of "Danny!" - NFL Football -
"This is a proud day not only for me but the entire Marino family, and I'm blessed you are all here," he said.
Young suggested it was the first time only quarterbacks entered the Hall in one class, and he was partly right. Pollard was a running back who sometimes played QB.
"I'm proud to be part of this with Dan and the Pollard and Friedman families," Young said. "We are quarterbacks and that's what is neat about this position."
While Marino and Young had diverse styles, they both spent years at the top of their profession. Marino set NFL marks of 4,967 completions, 8,358 passes, 61,361 yards (nearly 35 miles) and 420 touchdowns. His record of 48 TD passes in the 1984 season, when he was MVP, was broken by Peyton Manning last year. - NFL Football -
He also owned 21 NFL marks when he retired, including most seasons with 3,000 yards or more passing (13); most yards passing in one season (5,084 in '84, the only year he won a conference championship); and most games with 300 yards or more passing (63).
"I know individually you get the honor of being inducted in the Hall of Fame," Marino said, "but you see coach (Don) Shula up onstage and teammates and family and friends - my mom and dad and wife and kids - this day is for them." - NFL Football -
The only achievement Marino didn't reach that Young did was winning a title. Young, the 1992 and '94 league MVP after taking over for Montana in San Francisco, and the career passing efficiency leader, guided the 49ers to the '94 championship. He also is the first left-handed QB in the Hall.
"I can taste the pride I felt to be able to put on a 49ers jersey and represent the great city of San Francisco," Young said. "In San Francisco, I found football in its newly enlightened form. I found heaven on Earth for football." - NFL Football -
Young began his career in the USFL with the Los Angeles Express, followed by two seasons with the Buccaneers before Bill Walsh acquired him in 1987. It wasn't until Montana was injured in 1991 that Young became the starter.
He never looked back.
"I'm not sure where a Hall of Fame career starts," Young said. "I've been the recipient of the best coaching one individual has ever had," mentioning LaVell Edwards, John Hadl, Sid Gillman, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan and, of course, Walsh.
"Football is the rarest of sports in that you cannot do it alone," Young added. "The celebration is so much richer when you do it with a group of others. That feeling when you do something great together is like nothing other. When one of the guy's say, 'I've got your back,' it is not figurative."
Pollard, like Friedman, was a pro football pioneer and the first black NFL head coach. After a sensational college career at Brown, where he became the first black to play in the Rose Bowl, the running back led the Akron Pros to the 1920 championship. They went undefeated.
He later organized the Chicago Brown Bombers, an independent team of black players that barnstormed the country from 1927-33. - NFL Football -
Pollard is among the most important minority figures in football history, a man who seemed to open the door for black athletes in his sport, only to see it slammed shut from 1934 until 1946.
His grandson, Stephen Towns, and other family members, have campaigned for decades to get him elected to the Hall. - NFL Football -
"Fritz Pollard was a 5-foot-9, 165-pound running back who had the speed of Tony Dorsett, the elusiveness of Barry Sanders and the tenacity of Walter Payton," Towns said in his acceptance speech. "My grandfather and Jim Thorpe were the highest-paid players of their times. Jim Thorpe became the first commissioner of pro football and was inducted into the first class of the Hall of Fame in 1963. My grandfather became a footnote.
"After today, everyone will know the gifts you have given to football. Rest in peace, Grandpa."
Friedman, who died in 1982, probably was the first great pro passer, and his 20 TD throws in 1929 were considered phenomenal because the ball he threw barely resembled the modern football. The record stood for 14 years. - NFL Football -
He played for four teams from 1927-34 and was a strong draw at the box office, even helping the New York Giants become a solvent operation in those early NFL days.
"If Uncle Benny was here today, he would tell you it was all about family, friends, teammates and teamwork," said his nephew, David Friedman. "Proud yet unpretentious, that was the essence of my uncle.
"His example of excellence will survive for as long as there is a Hall of Fame."

BARRY WILNER
Associated Press

2005-07-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

Without NFL star power, Blitz gets down and dirty

This year's National Football League season is shaping up as the least competitive in years-- if you're a computer gamer. That's because there's only one official league-sanctioned video game this year -- the 2006 edition of Electronic Arts' popular football simulator, Madden NFL. Thanks to some hard bargaining between the league and the world's largest computer game company, EA Sports now has an exclusive lock on NFL gaming titles.
That's bad news for gaming rival Take 2, which finally broke Madden's hold on the pro football gaming market last year with its superb NFL 2K5 game. Take 2's game was as good as Madden, at half the price, and sold millions of copies. EA responded with the nuclear option -- an NFL licensing deal that bars Take 2 from the market. Rumor has it that the company may try to re-enter through the backdoor, by creating a game that would feature retired NFL superstars. But not this year. The 2006 NFL season will be all Madden.
That's fine with the folks at Midway Games, which is odd when you consider that Midway also makes pro football video games. Unlike Take 2, Midway has no intention of bailing out of the business. Nor does the company plan to challenge EA's exclusive deal with the NFL. Instead, Midway is developing a different kind of football video game. Blitz: The League, which debuts in October, will combine sports action with seamy off-the-field drama, a combo that'll probably have executives of the image-obsessed stocking up on aspirin and Prozac.
Mike Bilder, the game's executive producer, said that Midway had planned to drop its licensing deal with the NFL even before the EA lock-down. ''Over the years, the NFL has gotten more restrictive," Bilder said. Blitz has never been a straight-up sports simulator like Madden. Born as a coin-operated arcade game in 1997, it featured exaggerated athletic moves and exceptionally violent tackling. ''It kind of bent the laws of physics and the general laws of football," said Bilder. The Blitz tradition continued as the title moved onto home video-game platforms.
But the NFL was uneasy about the game's outlaw aura, and resisted efforts to make Blitz a darker, edgier game. The league ordered the removal of some of the game's signature cheap-shot plays, like grabbing an opponent's face mask and slamming him into the ground. Bilder said the NFL didn't even want the game's digital players to suffer injuries. ''It was becoming very difficult for us to innovate," he said.
There'll be plenty of innovation in this year's Blitz. The game offers an entirely fictional football league, with teams like the Chicago Marauders and the New York Nightmare. In addition, ''this is the first football game with a story mode in it," said Bilder. Along with the hard-hitting games, players follow the lives of the team's manager and key players throughout the season.

Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff

2005-07-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

Labor dispute threatens D-II football season

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) - College football season is six weeks away and workouts start early next month, but a contract dispute at Pennsylvania's 14 state-owned universities threatens to sideline all fall sports - potentially paralyzing the Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Labor disputes are all-too-common in professional sports, but union negotiators, school system administrators and PSAC and NCAA officials say they know of no other such situation in the country involving colleges. The coaches' bargaining unit is thought to be the only such union representing college coaches. - NFL Football -
"It's very new territory for everybody," said PSAC commissioner Steve Murray, who is based in Lock Haven. "There's nobody we can go to ask for ideas on how to best handle this situation."
Last month, nearly 94 percent of the union's roughly 360 non-faculty coaches voted to authorize a strike. That gives the union's executive council the ability to call a strike if recommended by the coaches' negotiating team. - NFL Football -
The coaches have been working without a deal since June 2004. No deadline has been set, though some coaches see mid-to-late August as a possible target date for a strike. Murray said he is optimistic a deal between the union and state officials soon can be worked out. The PSAC and NCAA say they are monitoring talks, but have steered clear of the negotiations.
Penn State and Pitt garner far more attention during college football season in Pennsylvania, but PSAC football still attracts a loyal following. The schools are scattered mostly in small towns across the state. - NFL Football -
Pennsylvania's four state-related universities - Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln - are not in the PSAC system and are not affected by the contract dispute.
"Just like any sport, when you have a strike, the only people that would suffer are the fans and players," said Tim Payne, owner of a sporting goods store in Mansfield, home of the conference's Mansfield Mountaineers. "Nothing good ever comes out of it."
The league has produced several NFL players, including New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett and former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed.
PSAC teams have excelled in other sports as well. Last year, Bloomsburg won its third straight NCAA Division II field hockey championship, and California University of Pennsylvania won the women's basketball crown. - NFL Football -
Several coaches say they don't think administrators realize the amount of time coaches spend on the job, especially while teams aren't playing.
For instance, practice times and travel schedules must be coordinated, not to mention the actual coaching during games. Then there are duties such as monitoring academic progress and acting as a parental figure that go beyond a 9-to-5 day, said Lock Haven softball coach Kelley Green.
"I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck anymore. I don't think that's fair," Green said. "It's just a little bit, and I feel that coaches deserve a lot more for what we put into the university."
Meanwhile, coaches are running summer camps, recruiting and performing other duties with the expectation there will be a season. Officials from both sides say there has been progress in recent weeks. - NFL Football -
"I'm more optimistic now ... but we still have to plan to take a job action," said Shippensburg football coach Rocky Rees, a top union negotiator. "Hopefully, it will be a waste of time."
System spokesman Tom Gluck said the union's strike vote was expected. The coaches' union also represents teachers at the universities, who have threatened to strike in the past.
Health care costs are one of the biggest stumbling blocks in negotiations. Administrators originally proposed a 10 percent medical copay similar to the one in the faculty contract, but union officials have said the copay could eat up the entire raise for some coaches making less than $40,000 a year. - NFL Football -
The system now is asking the coaches to pay one-half of 1 percent of their gross salary to cover health costs, with the share increasing to 1 percent in 2007.
"We have had tough negotiations because of a very tight budget situation facing state universities," Gluck said. The system faces a $20 million increase in paying for health care costs next year, though it is expected to only get a $10 million budget increase from the state, he added. - NFL Football -
Pay raises and performance evaluations are other key issues. Coaches have issued a counterproposal, Rees said.
Caught in the middle are student-athletes such as Jahri Evans, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound left tackle at Bloomsburg with dreams of a pro career.
Evans says he will back his head coach, union member Danny Hale, even if it means losing his last year of eligibility. - NFL Football -
"It will be totally difficult for me. I will be highly disappointed," Evans said after bench pressing 225 pounds without breaking a sweat inside a desolate Bloomsburg weight room.
But Evans said he is trying to stay positive.
"I think it will be settled," he said. "I think there's a whole bunch of politics and stuff like that."

GENARO C. ARMAS / Associated Press

2005-07-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

Crosby, once a two-sport hope, focuses on NFL

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Sitting on the porch four years ago, grinning about his high selection by the Kansas City Royals months after signing to play receiver at Clemson, Roscoe Crosby's path seemed clear - Major League Baseball success during the summer and football stardom each fall.
Now, Crosby lifts weights and trains in a gym hours away from that front porch, hopeful that after handling injuries, two withdrawals from Clemson, a harsh separation from the Royals and the tragic deaths of friends and family members, he can finally live up to the potential everyone saw at Union High School.
"I don't think I've ever been this focused in the last five years," Crosby said.
Crosby hopes the intense training gets him selected in the NFL's supplemental draft on July 14. If not, the 22-year-old Crosby thinks he's flashed enough form to hook on as a free agent before pro training camps start.
"He has story of the year written all over him, from where he's come from to where he's at now," said Shaun King, a former NFL quarterback working with Crosby.
"The only thing I'm looking for is an opportunity," Crosby said, "To show that I am hard worker and I can play the game of football."
That was never a question. Crosby, at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, was a Parade All-American and had the combination of size, speed and strength that brought college recruiters from throughout the country to watch his high school games. Crosby, voted "Mr. Football" as the Palmetto State's top player his senior year, eventually picked the Tigers over Florida State, Georgia Tech, Auburn and South Carolina.
About the only thing clouding the NFL dream was Crosby's baseball skills. He was a strong-armed, big-hitting outfielder who once had 47 scouts at a playoff game to watch. He was a guaranteed top-10 pick in just about everyone's eyes in June 2001 - if only he'd drop his football plans.
Crosby wouldn't do it and the Royals selected him 53rd overall that spring, agreeing to pay his tuition at Clemson and indulge his football desires. The sides signed a $1.75 million contract, several million off what Crosby was likely to make if he was picked as high as projected.
Crosby and his family felt certain the Royals would support his goals. However, misfortune and bad situations soon picked away at Crosby's perfect two-sport plans.
A lingering elbow ligament injury kept him from much baseball that first summer. Then Crosby had several injuries with Clemson, including a broken nose from a post-game celebration at Georgia Tech. Still, he set a Tiger freshman receiving record with 27 catches for 465 yards and was confident things would only get better.
However, Crosby's physical and emotional struggles continued. In May 2002, three of Crosby's close friends were killed in a car accident as they traveled to see him play baseball in Florida. About a month later, Crosby had surgery to reattach an elbow ligament that ended his baseball and football seasons. Effected by his friends' death and his time away from the field, Crosby withdrew from Clemson to rehab and get himself together.
It was that summer when Crosby took classes to stay eligible at Clemson - and missed several Kansas City workouts - that he first thought the Royals wanted him to abandon football.
But in 2003, Crosby sought a medical waiver from the Atlantic Coast Conference and rejoined Clemson. His return lasted one game before he left again to concentrate on baseball. Crosby says he faced some personal problems and thought he needed to take care of his family.
State Rep. Mike Anthony, D-Union, was Crosby's high school coach. He remembers sitting with Crosby soon after his second withdrawal and hearing the emotional anguish the young man felt.
"I left there worrying more about Roscoe Crosby as a person than about him being a baseball player or a football player," Anthony said.
The next year, Crosby's brother Nathaniel Hill, drowned in Lake Hartwell.
By this time on the field, the Royals had become disenchanted with Crosby. The team told him he was in breech of contract and could not return to the club in 2004 until arbitration settled the issue. The decision finally came this past February with an arbitrator ruling against Crosby and costing him $750,000.
Anthony didn't think Crosby got a fair hearing in arbitration, characterizing as a "kangaroo court of baseball people dealing with baseball people."
Crosby says the Royals saw his football goals as a way out of the deal.
"Everybody in the major leagues knew that I wasn't prepared to give up football," Crosby said. "That's what came about in (2003). I still wasn't prepared to give up football. The Royals seen a way to get out of the contract and they challenged me."
By the time the arbitrator ruled, it was too late for Crosby to enter the NFL draft. So he concentrated on the supplemental draft, which typically features special-case players or those who have lost eligibility.
He has met with several NFL teams the past few weeks. However, the biggest questions of Crosby's mental makeup and decisiveness have been answered by how he's responded after the arbitration ruling, said Crosby's adviser Kevin Parker.
"He understands now it's a business. But when you're 18 you're not thinking about that," Parker said. "When it slaps you in the face, you either have to lay down and weep, or get up and do what he's doing."
There were scouts from at least 17 NFL teams who attended Crosby's workout in Columbia on July 1 - a session cut short when Crosby began cramping up in the Southern heat and trainers thought best to postpone pass-catching drills until July 12. Crosby had two 40-yard dash times in the 4.4-second range.
"You see the hunger in his eyes again," said Anthony, Crosby's high school coach.
King, who quarterbacked at Tulane for Tommy Bowden, who signed Crosby at Clemson, says the young receiver didn't get to showcase his strengths - his strong, powerful routes that NFL coaches will love. "Somebody's going to take a chance on him and they're going to be happy they did," King said.
The most difficult things for Crosby these days might be people at home who see him as flawed because he didn't bat cleanup for the Royals or catch 30 touchdowns for the Tigers. Or those who lump him in with other Palmetto State prospects like Derek Watson or Demetris Summers - both high school phenoms who were each kicked off South Carolina's football team - who had a hand in their own troubles.
"I kind of think people see me as a bad guy because they kind of had me on that pedestal, I was a household name," Crosby said. "I had a lot of people who were upset at me because I wasn't running touchdowns."
Crosby holds no bitterness for those detractors or the Royals. He understands they needed major leaguers and didn't have to time to develop him on his two-sport schedule.
He also won't spend time looking back and wondering if he should've chosen one sport or the other on his family's front steps years ago.
"I'm pleased that I gave it a try at both," Crosby said. "A lot of people told me I should go baseball, a lot of people told me I should go football, but ... I went on my own. That's what I'm proud about, I'm my own person."

PETE IACOBELLI
Associated Press

2005-07-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

SEC ready to experiment with instant replay

The SEC is joining the ranks of college football conferences that have adopted instant replay and will begin using it this coming season.
Coaches wouldn't be able to throw a flag to demand a replay, like in the NFL. Instead, a replay official will be in the booth at all SEC games using a nine-panel replay screen between plays to analyze whether the game needs to be stopped and a play changed.
Conferences decided to give replay a try after the Big Ten used it in 28 of 57 games last season and had relatively good success. Of 43 calls that were questioned, 21 were overturned. Games were only about three minutes longer in which replay was used, so concerns about it making games too long were eased and leagues got more excited about giving the strategy a try themselves.
"I think it's a wonderful idea and I like how they do it with a technician up top and a head referee making the call," said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, notorious for his protests of calls when he was coach at Florida. "It keeps it out of the coaches hands and lets those guys handle it."
Bobby Gaston, the SEC's coordinator of football officials, says TV partners with the SEC are being encouraged to go to a commercial break while they are reviewing plays rather than wind and rewind plays for viewing audiences.
Other coaches with NFL experience, like Mike Shula of Alabama and Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom, agree with Spurrier, a former NFL coach. They prefer that officials decide which plays to look at, rather than put the pressure on coaches and charge timeouts when they're wrong - like the NFL does.
"I think for college football, it is probably as good as you could come up with," Croom said. "It still gives the officials another tool to make good decisions with and it doesn't put a lot of pressure on our coaches. And it's probably the most economical way as well."
The league will pay about $20,000 per school on equipment upgrades that will be completed this summer. The SEC will hire TV crews for games not televised, so all games can have the same advantages. But Croom is skeptical that college games will have the proper coverage to ensure replay is always right.
It's "critical that you have to have sufficient enough TV angles in every stadium to do that," Croom said. "And there's no way to get that done in college football. It's going to be different in every conference, every stadium. There's no way the technology is going to be equitable in every stadium."
There are roughly 14 seconds between the end of each play until the football is placed and the 25-second game clock begins. Florida coach Urban Meyer, whose team runs a no-huddle attack, sees how instant replay could affect his team more than some others.
He doesn't want to slow down the momentum his team has by allowing the defense more time to prepare for a new play. But there may be times when he'll have to slow his offense down - or even call time out - to make sure replay officials get a call right.
"I think you've got to really be aware that there's strategy involved, which I think is being overlooked," Meyer said. "If you burn a timeout, then they can catch that mistake a lot easier. ... That's the thing that's of concern to me.''
Of course, in the eyes of the schools, at least having the chance to correct some mistakes is a good thing.
"I'm a proponent of instant replay," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley said. "If they get the call right, I think that's good.''
I understand it may slow the game down a little bit, but there's so much at stake and there's no playoff in (college) football. If they can correct a mistake to help a team get the right call then I think any system would be good there."
Instant replay in the SEC
How instant replay will work in the SEC:
The SEC is spending $20,000 per school to upgrade replay equipment in the press boxes.
A nine-panel replay screen similar to the NFL will be used. The league will pay for TV cameras at games not already televised.
An extra official in the press box will decide if a play needs to be reviewed by buzzing the officials on the field.
Coaches cannot request a replay.
Reviewable plays: Touchdowns, out of bounds, receptions, fumbles.
Leagues using replay: Pac-10, Big East, Mountain West, ACC, Big Ten and SEC.

David Jones Gannett
News Service

2005-06-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Cards QB Warner Named NFL's "#1 Good Guy" By Sporting News

Cardinals quarterback KURT WARNER has been selected as the NFL’s “No. 1 Good Guy” by Sporting News in its annual presentation of “Good Guy” awards to athletes from the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NASCAR.

Nominated by their individual teams and leagues and chosen by the staff of the Sporting News, the “Good Guys” awards honor those athletes who serve and improve their communities by donating their time, energy, and money.

Sporting News recognized Warner for the quality and quantity of his various services to the community. Each year, Kurt takes up to 10 kids faced with life-threatening illnesses and their families to Disney World for a week. He visited tsunami victims in February, adopted a group home for foster kids in December, taking them all to Christmas Eve dinner, and handed out game tickets to kids touched by faith-based social services outreach agencies. Last month, Warner participated in the opening ceremonies of the Arizona Special Olympics 2005 Summer Games and also represented the Cardinals at the 45th Annual Pop Warner Scholar All-American Banquet in Anaheim, CA.

“Kurt Warner does an impressive number of community-based activities, serving a wide range of needs,” says senior writer Paul Attner, who writes the “Good Guys” stories. “His dedication and commitment to helping others shows in his hands-on approach to his charity work.”

Atlanta Falcons running back WARRICK DUNN was chosen as Sporting News’ overall “No. 1 Good Guy in Sports,” out of a record 500-plus nominations. In addition to Dunn and Warner, the “No.1 Good Guy” for MLB is JIM THOME of the Philadelphia Phillies and for the NBA, SHAQUILLE O’NEAL of the Miami Heat took top honors.

Sporting News has also recognized 94 other professional athletes for their off-field dedication to community activities and charitable causes.

The entire list of “Good Guys” is revealed in the July 8th issue of the Sporting News, which hits newsstands June 29th.

NFL FOOTBALL GAMBLING

2005-06-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

Publicist fined for theft of $557,604

A Honolulu sports and business promoter was fined $25,000 and ordered to perform 250 hours of community service for failing to pay the National Football League more than half a million dollars from Pro Bowl ticket sales.
But Manuel A. Sanchez also was granted a chance to have a felony theft charge against him dropped if he pays the fine, performs the community service and abides by conditions similar to probation for five years. Sanchez has paid the NFL $557,604 since being charged.
Sanchez, 54, earlier chose not to challenge the charge that he stole the money in 2002 and 2003. He pleaded no contest to the charge, which carries a prison term of up to 10 years.
But Circuit Judge Richard Pollack yesterday granted Sanchez's request to defer accepting the no contest plea, clearing the way for the dismissal of the case.
City Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Van Marter opposed the deferral request and asked that Sanchez be placed on probation and serve up to a year in jail.
Van Marter said Sanchez paid the NFL money that didn't belong to him and said the granting of Sanchez's request sends "the wrong message to the community."
"The court, in effect, tells the community that you can steal a half million dollars and the worst that will happen is you'll get a deferral," Van Marter said.
But Michael Green, Sanchez's lawyer, said the judge's ruling "sends exactly the right message."
Green said the message is that repeat offenders will get prison, but the criminal offense is the first for Sanchez, who has led an "exemplary life" by helping the disadvantaged and raising money for community causes.
He said his client realizes he made a mistake, is remorseful and apologized to the prosecution, the NFL and the judge.
"If you balance the scales, your good deeds have to count for something," Green said.

By Ken Kobayashi Advertiser Courts Writer