DSRTSV - 11/22/08

Remember this one, when "The Dream" bitched John Starks to keep...well, the dream alive. Of course this led to back-to-back titles for the group before M.J. came back and taught 'em all who the champs really were...

Outdrafting Andy - Scorecard Update

Just a quick update about our Outdrafting Andy Reid Spectacular: I've still been toying with the draft scoring, but here's a basic outline (again, input is appreciated, Justin@badnewsbloggers.com):

• Players will be scored on quality or presumed quality (for players only in the league a few years)
• They'll be graded on a 5 point system, meaning that a 0 would be never playing an NFL game to a 5 being roughly a pro-bowler (multiple times). I may award bonuses to drafting of all-pros, potential hall of famers and the like.
• I've been debating the use of another score with respect to finding diamonds in the rough and draft busts. I may either apply this to the score of the player or make it a separate score (i.e. Tom Brady is worth more than say Richard Seymour because Brady was found in the 6th round. My issue with this is that judging coaches' drafting ability also needs to take in account the ability to hit on first rounders due to the cap/money implications).
• The same time period will be considered for each coach/regime
• Trades will be considered, but (most likely) judged on a case-by-case basis. For example, the Randy Moss for a 4th rounder trade may appear as though the Patriots hosed the Raiders, but let's be honest here, what were the Raiders going to do? Still, the Patriots certainly deserve some points for getting a potential hall of famer with a few gallons in the tank left to construct one of the best offenses ever.
• I'll do my best to maintain some consistency with my scoring, but if said player was a flash in the pan, but propelled his team to the title, his is indeed more valuable than a similar player suffering on a craptastic team.
• Scores per draft will be adjusted for number of picks and/or things out of his control (I might make the Patriots' loss of a pick in 07 a push). Again, trades will probably be taken as a total package (using the Moss example, I might simply grade the Raiders combined 4th rounders and average the score...though I have no intention of using the Raiders).
• I will utilize an average draft score so that we can compare coaches who didn't have similar lengths in tenure (for example, Tony Dungy's only been at Indy since 2002...its unfair to not give him three years, though we could count his Tampa time)
  
• And of course, I'm going to use an unbiased and fairly knowledgeable (equally knowledgeable) as a check to remove my possible bias.

So hopefully we'll have Big Andy's draft up shortly (I've been having lots of fun scouring draft boards and old trade articles). That being said, here's the list of regimes I will be pulling from:

• Philadelphia Eagles (Andy Reid)
• Seattle Seahawks (Mike Holmgren)
• New England Patriots (Bill Belichick)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (Jack Del Rio)
• Dallas Cowboys (Jerry Jones err Wade Phillips, though we'll be counting the Parcells years because of how involved Jones was regardless)
• Denver Broncos (Mike Shanahan)
• Chicago Bears (Lovie Smith)
• San Diego Charges (Norv Turner...but all the A.J. Smith era)

So hopefully it'll prove some point and we'll have a lot of fun.

Late Saturday Daily "Linkin' Logs" (11/22/08)

Admittedly, we think we need a weekend crew for BNB, but until we get one (again, hit us up if you're interested...we can talk about it), myself and a few fellow BNBers will try to fill the void.

With that in mind, I'll try to provide a few links and commentary for today:

• TheFightins and Deadspin give us an update on MVP Runner up Ryan Howard's love life...he's doin' ok.
• Ah there, there's the Terrell Owens we all know and love.
• No Choke needed, P.J. Carlesimo was shitcanned by the Thunder for plain suckitude.
• The Knicks recent moves appear to be a primer for the LeBron sweepstakes in 2010. Now, as a Knicks fan, I suppose you can be excited, but its got to be a little depressing, after being the punchline of the league for the last few years or so to be told to wait for (arguably) the best player in the league...to come next decade.
  
• Wait, A.J. Burnett is too rich for the Yankees? Too much? Really? Wow, the effect of Hal and fiscal responsibility is here.
  
• Philadelphia Eagles Fans of Boston, Unite! Actually, I've known about the group for years (though I've never attended). Its a great group (from what I've heard), if not a little overzealous. Good for them...and once again proving that Philly fans travel (or live, i guess) very well.
• And finally, Joey Porter will not shut the fuck up...
  

Can You Out-Draft Andy Reid?

If you haven't noticed, lately there's been a bit of contempt amongst Eagles fans over the fate of Andy Reid. Most notably, the fire Andy Reid movements have driven up a lot of interest, especially after last Sunday's debacle to the Bungles.

Out of this came a debate between myself, some friends and a resulting message board conversation amongst some Eagles fans. Many of them believe Andy Reid should be fired. I'm not an apologist, but amongst the reasons for firing him: He can't draft, he's a terrible game day coach, his game plan sucks and he cannot adjust. This may or may not be true, but if he can't do any of those, then I fail to understand how he's a mediocre coach (his record is 1 game above .500 since the Super Bowl run of 2004). Assuming that between the seasons of 1999 (his first year) and 2004 (his best year) he was only partially responsible (between the Ray Rhodes Era and the Tom Modrak era, the latter of which ended in 2001 and left Reid essentially in total control) for the quality of players on his team.

Now the debate has shifted to Donovan McNabb, who didn't know you could tie an NFL game. The Eagles front office appears to be exacting revenge on McNabb and setting him up as the scape goat and even some fans have turned on him. But who's really to blame? After all, Reid called the plays, kept his quarterback in, prepared the game plan, so on and so forth.

So after much debate, I'm curious as to how good of a drafter Andy Reid and Company really is. And while its easy to point strike down the drafting of the likes of Quinton Caver or Jerome McDougal, its unfair to say that he missed without comparing it to the hit rates of other long term, successful head coaches.

So over the next week or so, BNB will be examining the drafts of certain comparable NFL regimes over the last decade or so. We will be scoring them based on quality of player, hit rate of draft position and value. We're still considering certain NFL regimes to compare but the following could be considered an incomplete list:

• New England Patriots
• Denver Broncos
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Dallas Cowboys
• Chicago Bears
• Atlanta Falcons
  

I'm still tweaking a scoring system, so your input is appreciated if you'd like to have a say (Justin@badnewsbloggers.com). We'll try to score one draft per day and provide a composite comparison sometime next week. Who knows, maybe we can even discover the true "Gold Standard" of draft experts.

Hammerin' Hank's Daily "Linkin' Logs" (11/21/08)

If you didn't already know, Hammerin' Hank...wait, no Hal Steinbrenner will be taking (officially) the place of George (or perhaps simply Larry David) as Yankees Chairman (and partial owner).

Hal has actually been more involved with the team, namely from a financial aspect (he's got the brains), while brother Hank has been more focused on the baseball side of things. There's no doubt that Hank will take the place as family "Boss" when his father passes.

And it's almost a sad day for baseball. And in a Charles Wilson-esque utterence (former GM CEO), George once declared "What's good for the Yankees is good for baseball." And to some extent that's true (and perhaps the Red Sox too). George hasn't passed yet, but you can sense, between Hank and Hal, that his fate is sealed and Baseball will lose another figure. But what Steinbrenner has done, overseen baseball's most powerful franchise reach a climax in popularity, both in the city and the game, is something that may in fact be "Hall of Fame" worthy.

And it didn't take Hal long to act. After offering C.C. Sabathia a contract (projected to be upwards of $137.5 million), Hal threatened not to take flack from anyone:

"We've made him an offer. It's not going to be there forever," - Hal Steinbrenner

And with that, the new Yankees era seems an awful lot like the old one. The Yankees won't play second fiddle (or 2nd choice) to the Dodgers or anybody.

• Another ding in the Dallas armor, Felix Jones is done for the year. All of the sudden, letting Julius walk doesn't seem so smart and I really can't see Marion Barber III capably handling (his style of play and) a full load through the playoffs. Of course Dallas has to get there first...
• After the "Bunk at the Bank," Allen Huber "Bud" Selig has moved to change the rule. All World Series games will soon be required to go the full 9. I can't imagine a scenario where this doesn't get approved.
• Was Bill Simmons flying your plane? Seriously, how does this happen?
• Tracer Bullet of EC wants the McNabb hating to stop.
• So? Should the Pistons have also tried to get KG suspended?
• The whole Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco...whatever) thing has really gotten out of hand and overblown. The Orlando Sentinal's blog has the scoop. Apparently Cinco was late to a meeting, and when he finally came, he was very "laid back" to say the least. The result was arguments between him, a staffer and eventually Marvin Lewis. Chad was punished by not playing last night...end of story
• Miami pwned on almost 500 yard of rushing by GT...wow
• And finally, at this point, if you're a Lions fan, is this what you're thinking...really? Well, if you need something, I guess this is it...
  

DSRTSV - 11/20/08

Indeed, what happens if you push yourself this hard. Runners, that's dedication...

and a little gross...

Seattle Seahawks Regional Announcing Review 2008 Pt. 1

Last year I said Dick Stockton was good and got player identification right, and Jason Sehorn irritated me out of my skin. Only 1 out of 2 things changed in that time span, take a guess. It’s time for your regional announcing reviews for your 2-8 Seattle Seahawks!!

Game 1 - @ Buffalo

Ron Pitts and Tony Boselli

Pitts is a good announcer provided he pretends to sound interested in some games. Boselli aggravated me last season but he provided decent insight in this one. I was too busy getting angry to get riled up about them, they were decent enough.

Grade: B-

Game 2 - San Francisco

Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa

I really don’t mind Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston is still one of the few analysts I can tolerate from FOX……Siragusa, sure I commented about him talking about the game most of the time, but this season they have made him like a comedy sideshow. I’d rather have Goose up in the booth analyzing plays (which he does well), then telling me for the umpteenth time that “It’s getting really loud in here”. One thing really struck me though. When Leonard Weaver was trying to chase down Patrick Willis on that interception return for a touchdown, I swear I heard Daryl say “GO GET HIM LEONARD!!!” (he didn’t get him). I understand you’re a former fullback and love to see fullbacks hustling to make a play, but keep it professional.

Grade: B+

Game 3 - St. Louis

Matt Vasgersian and JC Pearson

Vasgersian has to be paired with someone else. JC Pearson is not exactly someone who will bring insight and info to add to what I already know. Not a bad game, but not a good one from either man. I think Vasgersian needs more football games so his voice can stop running behind the flow of the gameplay.

Grade: C+

Game 4 - @ Giants

Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa

I’m giving a no-grade because I seriously stopped watching after halftime.

Game 5 - Green Bay

Chris Rose and JC Pearson

Rose regressed from his first year and I find to be…..not funny. Him and Pearson made a commentating nightmare.

Grade: D

Game 7 (Game 6 on NBC): @ San Francisco

Ron Pitts and Tony Boselli

Leonard Weaver’s shoes are green. I think they discussed that for almost an entire quarter. Pitts has a horrible habit of calling possible touchdowns way too early. Patrick Kerney is not going to run 90 yards for a touchdown with players chasing him, so don’t say “and this one may go for 6″.

Grade: C-

Game 8 - Philadelphia

Dick Stockton and Brian Baldinger

Who is Olindo MAH-RAYYYY, Stockton? Even HE doesn’t pronounce his name like that! Mah-Ray? Is he married to Pah-Ray? Since when is Arizona 2-6? Baldinger is Emmitt Smith and John Madden combined, and that makes for a horrible analyst. I’m unaware of Julius Peterson and D.J Duckett. That was a trainwreck of a broadcast, and NOW I know why Stockton was demoted. He has gotten progressively worse in his commentaries…..you were right FOX, and I was WAY wrong for questioning you.

Grade: D-

Game 9 - @ Miami

Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan

When calling a kickoff return for a touchdown, PLEASE check to see if there are flags. It took him until after they scored to do this. Other than that, this team did not make me cringe like last season with “Kevin Butler” and “Tim Hasselbeck” and “the Saints are 0-8″.

Grade: B

Game 10 - Arizona

Dick Stockton and Brian Baldinger

This is the clincher. I am calling for Stockton to retire before the end of the season before I have to deal with this even more down the road. Seattle’s punter is JON RUNYAN? It’s like neither one of them was trying, Baldinger is hopeless trying to articulate a simple timeout situation, and Stockton has gotten so many player names wrong in the past few weeks that I would be horrified to see how he could mangle Danny Shittu.

Grade: F

I was pretty generous in part 1, not a lot of bad grades save for Stockton, Baldinger, Rose, and Pearson. Look forward to the Z-teams in part 2.

Daily "Linkin' Logs" - Ode to Mussina (11/20/08)

Fear not, Daily "Linkin' Logs" will make an appearance.

Mike Mussina, coming off a 20 wins season, will retire. We at BNB would like to formerly bid adieu to the Orioles great (and...ugh...Yankee pitcher) who is well over 100 games above .500 in career record and should (deservingly) earn a spot in the Hall soon enough.

• Chase Utley will have Hip Surgery next week. If, like me, you're a Phillies fan, you knew Chutley was hurt, but he sucked it up and still produced above the level of an average second baseman in the second half. Given his previous history with his wrist injury in 2007, I believe Utley will be back by May, baring no issues.
  
• As we mentioned in a previous "Linkin' Logs;" Warren Sapp has now apologized to "She-Shawn"...pussy...
• One of our favorite AA posts is their announcing schedules (and maps) for the upcoming weekend in the NFL. While they do steal them from another site, we'll link to AA...because they make it funny!
• Another day, another sale of an MLB player to Japan (like cattle). Reminds me of this classic Phillies youtube video. Now I'm actually kind of annoyed it didn't really happen...
• Now Brady Quinn has a bwoken ittle fingey?
• Oh how Edgerran James has fallen.
• Sox and Dawgs says goodbye to Coveli Crisp. And I say goodbye to the opportunity to listen to Carl Beane say his name..."Co...Co...Ccccrrrriiiisssspppp"
• LandTheives gets us ready for the TT-OU showdown.
• And finally, At the movies with Tony Romo and a homeless dude. Whoever Romo's PR person is...they need a fuckin' raise.