Geno Smith and Matt Barkley are amazing college quarterbacks who had no business falling out of the 1st Round of The 2013 NFL Draft.

At one point there was talk that Smith, the best passer not just in West Virginia history, but one of the top 30 all-time in college football, was going to be the number one pick in the NFL Draft.

Didn’t happen. Oh, here’s Mr. Smith’s press conference after being selected by the NY Jets in the 2nd Round:

In 2012, USC’s Matt Barkley, the all-time-leading passer in USC history and in Pac-12 history, was told he should come out that year, but even if he played an extra year, he would still be drafted in the 1st Round.

Not even close.

The reason that Geno Smith and Matt Barkley, along with all of the other QB’s not named EJ Manuel, fell out of the 1st Round is simply that NFL team owners and bean-counters have determined that with NFL attendance falling for five straight years, the giant-sized rookie salaries we’re used to seeing, especially for quarterbacks, can’t be sustained.

I call it the NFL’s version of an austerity policy.

Why?

Well, the bottom line is that even in an era of billion-dollar TV contracts, gate ticket sales and season ticket sales still comprise a significant percentage of NFL team revenue. Thus, if attendance is dropping consistently, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that revenues have to follow. That’s just, as Mr. Spock would observe, logical.

The NFL Draft rule is the top offensive player drafted as the first pick dictates what every other player gets for that year. That player picked first gets the highest contract and signing bonus, the player picked second gets the second highest, and so on down the line. Thus, Geno Smith lost a good $35 million in his slide down, and Matt Barkley lost a good $50 million in his massive drop to the fourth round.

Meanwhile there’s no way in Heaven or Hell that Eric Fischer and Luke Joechel, who were drafted 1 and 2 respectively, are going to clear what Andrew Luck and RG3 got the year before because that would defy the accepted rule that offensive linemen don’t make what quarterbacks take in.

Just doesn’t happen.

So consider this draft in that context as being a massive game changer. But considering the NFL’s ticket sales problems, it had to happen.

Now, here’s the question: did ESPN and the NFL Network elect to help create a narrative that the linemen were that much better than Geno Smith and Matt Barkley? Does that explain why ESPN’s Todd McShay went off on TV, but off camera believed EJ Manuel was a good pick for Buffalo?

Hmmm…..

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Jason Collins ex-fiance Carolyn Moos just learned he was gay.

Jason Collins saying he’s gay’s bringing out some strange behavior in media types. Take ESPN, who’s sportscaster Chris Broussard said Collins is “openly living in unrepentant sin” and blasted Collins, saying “I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I don’t think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.”

Contrast that to ESPN’s now former analyst Rob Parker, who said this:

“I’ve talked to some people in Washington, D.C. Some people in [Griffin's] press conferences. Some people I’ve known for a long time. My question, which is just a straight, honest question, is … is he a ‘brother,’ or is he a cornball ‘brother?’ He’s not really … he’s black, but he’s not really down with the cause. He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really like the guy you’d want to hang out with. I just want to find out about him. I don’t know, because I keep hearing these things. He has a white fiancé, people talking about that he’s a Republican … there’s no information at all. I’m just trying to dig deeper into why he has an issue. Tiger Woods was like, ‘I have black skin, but don’t call me black.’ People wondered about Tiger Woods early on — about him.”

Parker got a suspension, and then a firing.

By contrast, this is what Parker said in a statement to clarify his point:

“Today on OTL, as part of a larger, wide-ranging discussion on today’s news, I offered my personal opinion as it relates to Christianity, a point of view that I have expressed publicly before. I realize that some people disagree with my opinion and I accept and respect that. As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement today and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA.”

ESPN also released this statement on Monday:

“We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news. ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement.”

What’s the difference? I think if Chris Broussard were an analyst, ESPN may, may have let him go. But then, the difference is that Rob Parker made a statement that was self-hating racism, which is just as bad as racism. But still, as Parker does reflect what’s happening on the street, to a degree, ESPN blew a chance to have a great conversation.

That’s what I was trying to do here:

But some don’t want to have thoughtful conversations about the meaning of a life changing set of actions, just say “We agree” and go on forward to something else. That’s sad. No one should be shut down for asking questions that reflect a response to dramatic cultural change. But that seems to be happening here in some cases. I hope Chris Broussard keeps his job, and it looks like he will. But Rob Parker should be brought back too.

Stay tuned.

Baylor quarterback, Robert Griffin III, signing autographs at the 2009 Meet the Bears scrimmage (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Anthony “Mini-Kiper” Carillo-Football Reporters Online Contributing Writer/Radio Host)

1)    Andrew Luck-Stanford University/6’4’’/234 Lbs./4.67 40/Senior

Andrew Luck is the most complete and NFL ready player in this year’s NFL draft. He is projected to go first overall to the Indianapolis Colts to replace Peyton Manning. He is a tough, durable quarterback with great pocket awareness, and his release is quick and effective. He has the necessary speed to take off and run if necessary, and he makes few mistakes on the field. If he does go to the Colts at number 1, he will have big shoes to fill, but over time we will watch him develop into the franchise quarterback we all think he will become.

2)    Robert Griffin III-Baylor University/6’2’’/223 Lbs./4.41 40/Junior

Griffin is one of those players that teams will have wished they would have taken in this year’s draft. RG3 has blazing speed, as well as a very accurate arm. At one point during his 2011 Heisman trophy season he had more touchdowns than incompletions, and that was 5 games into the season. Just like Luck, Griffin has excellent pocket awareness, he can throw on the run, and he also has a very strong arm to complete the deep passes. Griffin is someone that will make an immediate impact on whatever teams he goes too, and if he can stay healthy in the league, look for him to be one of those once in a decade type playmakers.

3)    Brandon Weeden-Oklahoma State University/6’4’’/218 Lbs./Senior

Most people would have put Ryan Tannehill as their number 3 quarterback for this year’s draft, but not me. Weeden led Oklahoma State to a 11-1 season, and caped it off by beating Andrew Luck’s Stanford team in the fiesta bowl. Weeden is 28 years old, which will raise questions about his longevity in the NFL, but never the less he still is a great quarterback. He has a strong, accurate arm, as well as great decision makings. This past season he completed 72.3% of his passes and throwing 37 touchdowns to only 13 interceptions. I believe that Weeden may sneak into the first round, but he will definitely be off the board in the second round.

Read the rest of this entry →

Image via Wikipedia

By Anthony “mini-Kiper” Carillo-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online

1)     Robert Griffin III-Quarterback Baylor

RG3 has been the most outstanding player this season by far. His team has had 6,810 total yards throughout this season, and Griffin has accounted for 4,653 of those yards, almost 68% of his team’s total. That number would be higher but he did not play 3 quarters when Baylor played Texas Tech in an absolute shootout. If you take Griffin off the Baylor offense, the Bears would be a below average team. Baylor’s signature wins over Oklahoma and Texas showed how Griffin can put a team on his back and carry them to victory. Griffin should win the Heisman, because after all the trophy is given to the most outstanding player of the year, and that is exactly what Griffin has been.

2)     Trent Richardson-Running Back Alabama

Not playing in the SEC Championship game really hurt Richardson, as he watched Griffin tear up Texas on championship Saturday. Richardson’s stats this year qualify him to be in the top 3 of my Heisman ballot. He rushed for 1,583 yards and 20 touchdowns, and also caught 27 passes for 327 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 203 yards against Auburn was very impressive, and if it was in the SEC championship game, I would have him number 1 on my list without a doubt.

3)     Andrew Luck-Quarterback Stanford

Will Andrew Luck be the number 1 pick in this years’ NFL Draft? Yes. Will Andrew Luck win the Heisman trophy? No. All season Luck has been the front runner, but after a 23 point loss to Oregon, that all changed. Luck is a great quarterback, and scouts will be storming the stadium for a chance to watch him play in the Fiesta Bowl, but this is not the year that he takes home the Heisman.

Noteables-RB Montee Ball, CB Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu, QB Brandon Weeden, QB Case Keenum, QB Matt Barkley

Image via Wikipedia

By Anthony “Mini Kiper” Carillo

1)     Andrew Luck-Quarterback Stanford

He has done nothing but prove to us why NFL teams are pondering the idea to tank the season to pick him 1^st overall. Against Colorado Luck showed ex-Stanford great John Elway why he is the front runner for the Heisman. Luck threw for 370 yards and 3 touchdowns, and he did not even play the last ten minutes of the game. The one interception that he threw was a tipped pass. He is completing 73.1% of his passes, and he is leading the Stanford Cardinal team to the top of the Pac-12.

2)     Russell Wilson-Quarterback Wisconsin

The Badgers had a bye last week, and now they play an Indiana team that in just on the tracks that this Wisconsin train is driving down. The conductor of that train is Wilson, who is off to his best year ever as a collegiate quarterback. He has a passer rating of 216.9, has thrown for 1391 yards, 13 touchdowns and only 1 interception, while also completing 74.8% of his passes. Wilson showed all of us that this Wisconsin team is not a fluke, and they proved that by dismantling the #8 Nebraska Cornhuskers 48-17. Look for Wilson to continue to put up psychotic numbers this week.

3)     Robert Griffin III-Quarterback Baylor

This quarterback is on pace to SHATTER the completion percentage record this season. He has completed 80.3% of his passes, thrown for 1520 yards, 19 touchdowns and only 1 interception. Against Iowa State he proved to us that he is a real duel threat quarterback, by throwing for 212 yards and 1 touchdown, as well as carrying the ball 24 times for 107 yards and another score.  The schedule does not get any easier for RG3 and the Baylor Bears; this weekend they travel to Texas A&M, then Oct. 29 they travel to Oklahoma State. If Griffin can stay healthy and pull off these upsets and have good games while he does it, look for him to shoot up peoples Heisman lists.

OTHER NOTEABLES-QB Kellen Moore, RB Trent Richardson, QB Landry Jones, QB Denard Robinson, RB LaMichael james, CB Tyrann Mathieu.