All-Michigan NFL Team
Mood:  hungry

I couldn't sleep, so I decided to see if I could put together a NFL caliber team with only players that went to the University of Michigan.  The result is as follows:

QB: Tom Brady (NE), Brian Griese (CHI), Drew Henson (DAL)

RB: Chris Perry (CIN), Anthony Thomas (BUF)

FB: B.J. Askew (NYJ), Kevin Dudley (ATL)

WR: Braylon Edwards (CLE), Amani Toomer (NYG), David Terrell (DEN), Jason Avant (PHI), Marcus Knight (AFL)

TE: Bennie Joppru (HOU), Aaron Shea (SD), Mark Campbell (NO)

T: Jon Jansen (WAS), Jeff Backus (DET), Maurice Williams (JAC), Jon Runyan (PHI), Dave Pearson (DET)

G: Steve Hutchinson (MIN), Jonathan Goodwin (NO), Matt Lentz (NYG), Dave Petruziello (NE '03)

C: David Baas (SF), David Brandt (SD '05)

 

DE: James Hall (DET), Josh Williams (IND), Alain Kashama (SEA '05), Larry Stevens (CIN '05)

DT: Gabe Watson (ARI), Eric Wilson (MIA), Dan Rumishek (AFL)

LB: Ian Gold (DEN), Larry Foote (PIT), Victor Hobson (NYJ), Cato June (IND), Dhani Jones (PHI), Shantee Orr (HOU), Roy Manning (GB), Pierre Woods (NE)

CB: Ty Law (NYJ), Charles Woodson (GB), Brandon Williams (NYG), Grant Mason (NO), Todd Howard (AFL)

S: Marlin Jackson (IND), Ernest Shazor (ARI), Markus Curry (SD),  Jeremy Lesueur (NYJ '05)

K: Jay Feely (NYG), Remy Hamilton (STL)

P: Cory Sargent (GB '03)

 

Other Players Available: QB John Navarre (ARI), QB Todd Collins (WAS), TE Jerame Tuman (PIT), TE Tim Massaquoi (TB), WR Russell Shaw (AFL), QB Scott Dreisbach (AFL), FB Deitan Dubuc (CFL), WR Tai Streets (DET '04), S Julius Curry (GB '05), WR Ronald Bellamy (BAL '05), DT Norman Heuer (PHI '05), DT Grant Bowman (PIT '05)

*Current NFL players in bold. 

 

Players on roster include 44 current NFL players, 3 current AFL Players, and 6 former players (4 of which were on a NFL roster in 2005).  The other players available include 4 current NFL players, 2 current AFL players, 1 current CFL player, and 5 former players (4 of which were on a NFL roster in 2005).  The offensive squad is pretty solid, but could use an upgrade at backup for the G and C positions.  Another RB would help add depth to the backfield.  The defensive squad is full of All-Pro talent, but lacks at certain positions.  Add a solid S, DE, and DT and this unit would have no weakness.  The special team is great at K, but the P is suspect.  This team would run a west coast offense and a primary 3-4 defense.  Overall this team could contend, especially with trade possibilities.  Depth at T and LB could be traded to sure up weaker positions (S, DE, DT, or P).  I would project this team to make the playoffs and with the talent level, should make a successful playoff run.

World Cup All-Stars
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: World Cup Final
The world cup all-stars were named with the Italians claiming seven spots to lead all countries. For the most part I agreed with the choices, but thought a couple of players could have been choosen that were not. I would have choosen Ronaldo instead of Toni. Ronaldo was the one bright spot for a disappointing Brazil squad. The Swiss defense did not allow a goal in 4 games, but were not represented at all. At the very least Senderos should have been included. I also felt either Torres or Sanchez of spain should have made it. Finally I thought Makelele was worth giving a spot for his work at midfield for France.

All-Star squad:
GK Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
GK Jens Lehmann (Germany)
GK Ricardo (Portugal)
D Roberto Ayala (Argentina)
D John Terry (England)
D Lilian Thuram (France)
D Philipp Lahm (Germany)
D Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
D Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy)
D Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal)
MF Maniche (Portugal)
MF Patrick Vieira (France)
MF Gennaro Gattuso (Italy)
MF Michael Ballack (Germany)
AMF Zinedine Zidane (France)
AMF Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
AMF Ze Roberto (Brazil)
AMF Luis Figo (Portugal)
AMF Francesco Totti (Italy)
S Hernan Crespo (Argentina)
S Thierry Henry (France)
S Miroslav Klose (Germany
S Luca Toni (Italy)

Podolski was named "Best Young Player" beating out Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Luis Valencia of Ecuador, Tranquillo Barnetta of Switzerland and Cesc Fabregas of Spain.

Athletes or Role Models
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: Mike Doughty

Profesional athletes need a reality check. There should be more players like Darrell Green and Dan Marino and less like Terrell Owens and Jamal Lewis. When did athletes in the NFL stop being our heros? The NFL and its fans should start forcing players to be the role models that our young athletes need. It's not uncommon to hear about run ins with the police, holdouts, and drug problems. The NFL needs to deliver some lifetime bans from the game. If you commit a felony maybe you don't deserve your multi million dollar contract. If you hold out because you don't think your making enough, just realize that it's just a game. The fact that you make more than fireman, policemen, teachers, doctors, and other actually important professions is ridiculous, but insult us more by telling us your worth even more. I am one of the biggest football fans out there, but in the end it is just a game. The Eagles should be able to suspend Owens. If I disrespected my boss and made comments about my co-workers that caused problems then I would be fired, so should he. There is plenty of athletes to replace these players that actualy care about the game.

Miami's future is looking bright
Mood:  happy
With the Jets QB situation, the Patriots loss of key players, and the current play of the Bill's J.P. Losman, Miami is in an interesting spot. Almost every predictor at the beginning of the season had Miami at the bottom of the NFL food chain, but things are looking up. With Ricky Williams due to return to the lineup addind depth at running back, a recieving corp including WR's Chambers, Booker, and Boston, and a great TE in McMicheal, and better than expected play from Gus Frerotte, the 2-1 Dolphins season is looking much more promising. With a solid defense they could win the AFC East. Coach Saban deserves alot of credit. It's good to be out of the Wannstadt Era.

Good news from Pittsburgh
Mood:  happy
Finally the Pittsburgh Penquins are getting some good news. After almost leaving town with no ownership, a horrible season, and the loss of last season, finally things are starting to look up. First winning the draft lottery to be able to pick Sidney Crosby. Then the signing of a top flight defensemen in Sergei Gonchar. Things are starting to come together. With the veteran leadership of Mario Lemiuex and others such as Mark Recchi, Ric Jackman, and Dick Tarnstrom the talented youth of the franchise should flourish. Prospects including Crosby as well as Kris Beech, Evgeni Malkin, Michal Sivek, Guillaume Lefebvre, Tomas Surovy, Aleksey Morozov and Ross Lupaschuk represent the bright future possible for the franchise. The goalie position is still relatively inexperienced, but is talented with Sebastien Caron, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Andy Chiodo. The penquins will be contenders soon, maybe not this year but soon.

Rosenhaus must go....
Mood:  irritated
Every player entering the draft should have a degree from college, specifically a finance degree. If your on your way to make NFL money, you should now how to invest it wisely instead of depending on others. Just ask Mike Tyson. This will not only give players a degree to fall back on, but will also remove the cancer of contact negotiations, the Agent. Drew rosenhaus leads the charge of useless middle men. Players should never hold out and he and others not only condone hold-outs, but convince their clients to hold out. They don't care about the player, just about how big their cut is going to be. With rising salaries teams have had to raise ticket and merchandise prices. So this trend affects the most important part of sports, the fan. One client of Rosenhaus, Terrell Owens, signed a contract worth $48 million and included a $10 million signing bonus. He is now holding out on Rosenhaus' advice. Since when is $48 million not enough money? I can't stop paying my mortgage to negotiate a lower monthly payment, so why can athletes back out of their signed contracts.

Why are they so afaid of women?
Mood:  irritated
Male golfers (mainly V.J.) were afaid of Anika and now are scared of a 15 year old girl. The new threat to thier manhood is Michele Wie. In auto racing they fear Danica Patrick. Led by the moronic Robbie Gordon the field would be happier with Danica on the sideline than beating them on the track. If a woman could make a run at the NHL, girls are making thier high school football teams, and women sports emerging in many sports at the professional level, than why can't they play with the boys. Patrick is drawing attention to auto racing and Wie will prove to be the female counterpart of Tiger Woods, by generating interest in young girls to play golf. Face it auto racing is driving a car, it does take skill, but females can drive too and golf isn't exactly the most physical sport out there. If these woman can prove they belong than the men are just gonna have to deal with it. If you can't stand being beat by a women than maybe you don't belong. So shut up Robbie, V.J., and company and prove you belong.