McDaniels May Have The Credentials, But He Has Lots To Prove

Hot-shot young coaching prospects are the way NFL owners and general mangers are going. Gone are the days when coaches who have been in the business for 20 years and gradually worked their way up before becoming a head coach. While the practice has worked in some situations (Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who become the youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl last season), there have some examples of failure (Lane Kiffin with the Oakland Raiders).

The latest team to experiment with a young coach is the Denver Broncos, who hired 33-year-old Josh McDaniels, a former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots. Denver previously had Mike Shanahan as its head coach for 13 years before firing him after a disappointing end to the 2008 season. Shanahan was one of the best coaches in the league, an offensive guru who won two Super Bowls during his time with the team. Owner Pat Bowlen felt that a change was needed after the Broncos collapsed and lost their final three games of the season, blowing their division lead to the San Diego Chargers.

McDaniels was the man handed the job, to the surprise of many. During his time with the Patriots, McDaniels spent just three seasons as offensive coordinator, but all three of those seasons were special, most notably the 2007 season in which the Patriots went 16-0 during the regular season and broke multiple single-season offensive records. His best job, however, may have come in 2008, when quarterback Tom Brady went down with a torn ACL in the first game of the season. Most pundits wrote the Patriots off at that point, figuring there was no way the team could contend without Brady at the helm. McDaniels and head coach Bill Belichick had a plan, which was to play and succeed with backup Matt Cassel, who had not even started a game since high school. And succeed they did. The Patriots went on to finish the season 11-5, falling just short of making the playoffs. Off of the success the Patriots had without Brady, McDaniels become much of a commodity than expected, and Bowlen chose him to lead the Broncos franchise back to having winning seasons.

McDaniels is young, but he already compiled the résumé of someone who deserves a shot at being a head coach in the NFL. Especially considering that he spent seven years in New England learning under Belichick, arguably the best coach in the league, it made sense for Denver to take a chance. But just because McDaniels learned from a great organization doesn’t mean he’s not going to make mistakes. And that is the risk teams take by hiring young coaches.

Cassel may have ascended McDaniels all the way to being a head coach, but that ultimately to McDaniels’ first quibble as head coach of the Broncos. He like Cassel so much that he attempted to swing a trade to bring Cassel to Denver, which then-Broncos quarterback, Jay Cutler didn’t take kindly to. Cutler had been the man in Denver ever since he was drafted 11^th overall in 2006. Shanahan had tabbed Cutler as the team’s quarterback of the future, the player who was finally going to live up to the John Elway-level expectations fans in the Mile High city have. Cutler wasn’t happy that McDaniels was hired in the first place, and attempting to trade for Cassel only made Cutler angrier. Eventually, Cutler requested a trade, which the Broncos granted. He was traded to the Chicago Bears – along with a fifth-round pick – for fellow quarterback Kyle Orton, first-round draft picks in 2009 and 2010, as well as a third-round pick in 2009. Cutler is a top-10 quarterback in this league, and trading away a young franchise quarterback is virtually unheard of in the NFL.

McDaniels will have to prove to everyone around the NFL that he didn’t make a mistake in trading away Cutler, and that starts with developing Orton into more than a serviceable quarterback. Orton has always been solid – somewhat of a game manager who rarely makes mistakes – but the Broncos are going to need more than that. Cutler has arguably the best arm in football, as he is able to make all the throws imaginable. Nothing is off-limits for Cutler, and that gives offensive coordinators the ability to greatly expand the playbook. Orton, on the other hand, doesn’t have the strongest arm but is accurate, something Cutler struggled with at times. McDaniels believes Orton will do a good job of grasping the playbook, something that he believed Cutler wouldn’t have an easy time with. No matter what McDaniels says about Orton, football logic still says that Cutler is and always will be the better quarterback. McDaniels is going to have a chance in 2009 to immediately show just how good of a coach he is. If Orton plays well and the Broncos succeed, McDaniels will look like a genius. But if Orton fails, McDaniels will be on thin ice with Denver’s fan base. The Orton era hasn’t gotten off to a good start, as he threw three interceptions in the team’s preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers.

McDaniels didn’t get off to a good start in handling disgruntled players, but he has another chance with Brandon Marshall, the team’s star wide receiver. Marshall, one of the most talented receivers in the game, wants a new contract. His numbers say that he clearly deserves a dramatic pay raise, but his off-the-field actions complicate the situations. Marshall has had various domestic violence disputes, one of which got him suspended for the first game of the season in 2008. And just last week, Marshall was found not guilty on misdemeanor battery charges. He and his agent, Kennard McGuire, have asked for a trade if no contract extension can be worked out, but McDaniels and the Broncos have refused to comply with either request. Marshall has refused to practice in the meantime, claiming he is still suffering pain due to offseason hip surgery. Marshall is clearly unhappy and reportedly has “trust issues” with the organization. McDaniels likely isn’t helping matters, either, as he is often vague in his responses to the media and refuses to even begin to broach the subject of a contract extension for Marshall. McDaniels must prove that he knows what is doing, because if he trades Marshall after trading away Cutler, it will appear that he has no concept of how to run a football team.

The easiest way to erase the memories of a tumultuous offseason will be to win games, but that will be no easy task for a team with a shaky defense, running game and now passing game as well. McDaniels will have to prove himself right away.

Favre: “I’m in it for the right reasons”

In classic Brett Favre-fashion, a press conference originally scheduled for 6:00pm EST didn’t begin until nearly a quarter-till seven. The delay for the start is not known, but it did enhance the anticipation for Favre to discuss the reasoning behind his decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Between helicopters flying over the Vikings practice facility this morning and traffic being stalled as fans flooded the area, it was certainly a wild day in St. Paul for everyone involved. Favre, who had just finished his first practice, seemed genuinely excited to be a member of the Vikings. “I’m in it for the right reasons,” he said.

Favre admitted that it was a long process to get to this point, and much of it was due to his surgically repaired biceps tendon. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews — one of the most respected  surgeons in the country — sometime between May and June. From there, Favre went through a rehabilitation period in order to see if his arm was healed enough to play football. “For me, I had to be reassured from Dr. Andrews and the doctors here as well that this [the injury] wouldn’t be an issue,” Favre said.

There has certainly been concern about Favre’s arm and whether it will be able to withstand a 16-game NFL season. Favre, for his part, sounded adamant that his arm would be fine. “My arm has felt pretty good – good enough for me to feel confident in making the throws I need to make.”

Last season, Favre and the New York Jets started the season with a record of 8-3 and appeared to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders, especially after two stirring road victories over the New England Patriots and Tennesee Titans. The wheels came after late in the season, as Favre struggled to make the necessary throws and ultimately cost the Jets a playoff spot. Favre admitted that he can no longer make the throws that made him so great earlier in his career. “I don’t think I’m capable of doing some of the plays I used to make. I understand my limitations and how it pertains to what we’re trying to do,” he said.

The Jets had an extremely talented roster, but it wasn’t as good as what the Vikings have put together for 2009. Minnesota was arguably the best team in the NFC North before Favre’s arrival, but expectations have now been raised enormously. Favre himself has high expectations for the upcoming season. “My expectations are high. This team is a good football team. I didn’t come here to lose. I think we can be as good as we want to be.”

Speaking of the NFC North, Favre will now get to play two games against his former team, the Green Bay Packers. Many have speculated that Favre is simply coming out of retirement to defeat the Packers, but he denies anything to that effect. “This is not about revenge, believe me. They’ve moved on, I’ve moved on.”

“If you’re coming back for those two games, it’ll be a long year,” Favre said. “If it was about revenge, I would have signed on the dotted line the first day.”

Favre is right in that he can’t spend the whole season thinking about the Packers. While that seemed to play somewhat of a role in his return to the NFL, it wouldn’t be fair to the Vikings for Favre to think about nothing but playing Green Bay when their are 14 other games on the schedule.

With expectations so high for the team, preparation will be key in the coming weeks. Favre will have a lot of work to get done before the start of the regular season, but working to his advantage is the fact that Minnesota runs a similar offense to what he ran in Green Bay. “The system is what I’m used to — calling the plays was easy.”

Seeing Favre run onto the field at Lambeau Field in a Vikings uniform will be strange, to say the least. “16 years playing in Green Bay were great years and that was home to me,” said Favre.

The legacy of Favre as a Packer may be tainted because of his decision to play for the hated Vikings, and it may not be. Only time will tell, but no matter what happens this upcoming season, Favre’s No.4 jersey will be retired by the Packers at some point. Favre believes his legacy will be defined be what he thinks of it, not what others think. ”First of all, when people start talking about my legacy, it’s mine, he said. “It’s what I think of it. I know the way I played the game. I know the way I handled myself as a teammate and leader, in the public.

That is the future. The present is what Favre and the Vikings are solely focused on. Favre will need as many reps as possible with the first-team before the regular season. The Vikings still have three preseason games remaining, and that is where the process of developing chemistry will take place. Though Favre hasn’t had much time to get a feel for how his teammates play football, he may start on Friday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. “Obviously I’m behind the 8- ball a little bit,” Favre said. “I don’t think it’s smart to go out and play a whole half. As much as I’ve played my career, there’s a difference year to year.”

While he may or not play on Friday night, he can already start to help the Vikings in different ways. Favre said he spoke with the team’s other quarterbacks — Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson and John David Booty — and said he would offer his help if any of the three had questions. Favre’s veteran presence can certainly help the development of the Jackson and Booty, who are still in the elementary stages of their careers.

His leadership is another aspect where he can help the Vikings. “I felt like all along I could offer some experience and leadership,” he said.

Leadership is something that a quarterback should always have, but first Favre must gain the trust of his teammates.. “Even though I’ve played a long time, you still have to earn the respect of this team,” Favre said.

Favre makes his regular season debut on September 13, when the Vikings travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns.

Brett Favre Is Back…. Are You At All Suprised?

It’s official. Brett Favre is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

Rumors ran wild this morning of Favre and his wife boarding a private plane that was heading for St. Paul, and the situation escalated from there. Vikings head coach Brad Childress confirmed earlier today that the Vikings will sign Favre, and No.4 arrived in St. Paularound 1:00pm EST.

The contract is reportedly a 2-year deal worth $10-12 million for the first season. The second year of the deal is likely there for salary cap reasons rather than it being a commitment from Favre that he will also play in 2010. Prior to the signing of Favre, Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson were engaged in a competition to see who would earn the right to become the Vikings starting quarterback. R0senfels looked to have the best shot at becoming a starter, especially after completing 10-of-13 passes for 93 yards in the team’s first preseason game, against the Indianapolis Colts. With Favre’s arrival, Rosenfels likely will become the No.2 quarterback, withJackson as the No.3.

The Vikings had been courting Favre for weeks, only to find out that he was going to stay retired. But now that he has decided to return, it’s entirely possible that the Vikings had a deal “under the table” with Favre so that he could become a member of the team after training camp. After all, Favre has never displayed a love for camp. Now that the Vikings have broken camp and the preseason is underway, Favre is now a member of the team.

According to ESPN’s Cris Carter, Favre will start for the Vikings on Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game will be played inMinnesota, where the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome is sure to be filled with loads of anticipation. The Vikings have one of the best rosters in all of football, but the quarterback was always a question mark. That question has now been answered, as Favre is expected to produce big time for the Vikings. Minnesota runs the West Coast offense, a system Favre thrived in while playing with the Green Bay Packers.

Much of the reason Favre is returning to the NFL likely has to do with getting revenge on the Packers, who didn’t want Favre to return to the team in the summer of 2008 after Favre had first retired. He ultimately was traded to the New York Jets, where the team failed to make the playoffs. Reports emerged after Favre retired again that he never established a chemistry with teammates and separated himself from the group. There likely won’t be any problems in Minnesota, however, because the Vikings players apparently had been begging Favre to come and play for the team.

Since the learning curve for Favre in Minnesota doesn’t appear to be great, the biggest obstacle will be quickly establishing chemistry with teammates. That effort is already underway, as Favre has stepped onto the practice field with the Vikings.

While questions still remain about Favre’s health, it is hard to imagine he would return unless he was fully healthy. ESPN’s Ed Werder reported earlier today that Favre has a torn rotator cuff and the Vikings are aware of the injury, but it appears to be only a minor injury.

Should Favre stay healthy, one reason the signing could pay dividends is the fact that he won’t have to carry the load for the Vikings offense. Running back Adrian Peterson is arguably the best in the league at his position, and the bulk  of the offense will center around him. Favre will also have a talented group of skills players to work with besides Peterson, including receivers Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin, as well as tight end Visanthe Shiancoe.

Minnesota was already a favorite to win the NFC North, and those odds have increased with the addition of Favre. Conveniently for Favre, the Vikings toughest divisional opponent will be the Packers. Both of those games will be appointment viewing, especially when Favre and the Vikings travel to Lambeau Field in Week 8, a game that will take place November 1. The kind of reception Favre receives will be fascinating to watch. When Favre was traded to Jets last summer, some Packers fans bought Favre’s Jets jersey to show their love. But the fact that he is now a member of one of the Packers’ rivals undoubtedly changes everything. Scouring Packers blogs on the internet, there is a portion of fans who will always love No.4 because of how much he meant to Green Bay. There are also those who believe he has now tarnished his legacy as a Packer.

The Vikings first game against the Packers come at Week 5, a Monday Night Football game on October 5. Tickets for that game will be at a premium. On StubHub.com, the cheapest ticket available is currently $179, which is well above face value.

A press conference announcing the move is scheduled for 6:00pm EST. I’ll be posting some comments from Favre afterwards.

Press Coverage: 8/17/09

As the NFL’s regular season approaches, more and more stories emerge every day. Whether it be about a quarterback controversy, a team’s chances to succeed or a potential problems down the road, there is seemingly always something to talk about when it comes to the NFL. Twice a week, this post will look at the three biggest headlines of the day. I’ll give some background on the story and also provide my opinion. Here we go for August 17:

1. Donovan McNabb addressed the Philadelphia media today after practice, and discussed candidly the signing of quarterback Michael Vick. McNabb had lots to say on the subject, the most interesting of which is that he first broached the subject of the Eagles signing Vick in July. There had been some reports in the days after Vick was signed that McNabb was not happy with the move and felt threatened by Vick’s presence. McNabb seemed to debunk those rumors today:

“I’ve been through many situations here throughout my career when they’ve cheered for the backup,” McNabb said. “It happened with Garcia. It happened with (Kevin) Kolb. It happened with A.J. (Feeley). I’m used to that.”

McNabb certainly has been through a lot during his career in Philly. Fans have never seemed to appreciate all he has accomplished, and the presence of Vick won’t provide a dynamic that he hasn’t experienced before.

For the most part, McNabb was focused more on Vick’s personal well-being than what he can contribute to the Eagles on the football field. “I believe in second chances and I have strong faith in God that he forgives our sins,” said McNabb, a dog lover who owns two American bulldogs and a Belgian Malinois. “Yes, it was a bad thing and a malicious act, but somewhere in your heart, you have to have forgiveness.”

“I kind of can be a mentor to him, give him an opportunity to get his feet under him, get his life together,” McNabb said.

From a football perspective, how Vick is used will be interesting to watch. Since McNabb is entrenched as the team’s starting quarterback, Vick likely will be used in a wildcat role. Vick is one of the best athletes to have ever put on a football jersey, and even though he has missed two seasons, he still should have the ability to be a threat in certain situations.

2. Is Brett Fave coming back? Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com seems to think so. Glazer spoke with several unnamed Vikings players, one of whom thinks that the deal is “already done.”

When Favre told the Vikings a few weeks ago that he was staying retired, many believed him. He told ESPN that he couldn’t handle the mental and physical grind of an entire season, and people believed him. Favre has fooled fans before, and now he could be making yet another return to the league. It’s not a surprising development considering the Vikings still need a quarterback that can take them to the next level. In Friday’s preseason game against the Colts, Sage Rosenfels got the start and went 10-of-13 for 91 yards. Yes, he was accurate, but he couldn’t convert on the deep plays that change the momentum in football games. Favre can do that, which is why the Vikings still want him.

Even though Favre has missed vital training camp time, it’s not like he needs to learn a new offense. The Vikings run a similar offense to the one Favre ran for the bulk of his career in Green Bay, so there wouldn’t be a steep learning curve. The main thing that hurt Favre when he came to the Jets last year was that he didn’t know the offense. That won’t be a problem in Minnesota.

While the Vikings have been chastised in some ways for their continued pursuit of Favre, you can’t blame Brad Childress for trying to make the team better. After all, aren’t coaches supposed to do all in their power to improve their football team? If Childress feels this is the move that will take the Vikings deep in the playoffs, he should do it.

Hopefully, Favre will address his intentions shortly. If he plans on playing for the Vikings this season, it would be best for him to let everyone know, because I don’t know if I can take much more of the Favre drama.

3. According to FanHouse.com, Tom Cable punched an assistant on August 5. Randy Hanson, a defensive coach for the Raiders, was the man on the receiving end of the punch. Hanson reportedly didn’t see the punch coming, as he was in engaged in a conversation with defensive coordinator John Marshall when it occurred. The National Football Post first had the report, but did not name the coach who punched Hanson.

Hanson had to go to the hospital because his jaw was injured, and a police report was subsequently filed. Hanson refused to name the man who punched him, but FanHouse’s sources say that Cable was the man who delivered the blow.

The circumstances behind the punch are not yet known, but Cable could be facing criminal charges if Hanson tells the truth to police. Whether he does is in doubt, because he may fear that his job will be in jeopardy if he gives Cable up.

If this report turns out to be accurate, Cable should face some sort of punishment from the league and/or the Raiders. Punching an assistant coach is out-of-line, to say the least, and Cable must be made an example of. While I don’t think he should be suspended, I do think Cable should be fined for his actions.The Raiders almost have an obligation to punish Cable, because when a player punches a fellow player, a fine or suspension always seems to follow. Steve Smith of the Panthers punched teammate Ken Lucas during training camp last year, and Smith was subsequently suspended for the first two games of the season by the team. Coaches shouldn’t receive special treatment, and as a result Cable deserves to reprimanded for his conduct.

Strasburg Holdout Is Strange, And Both Sides Are To Blame

In the NFL, first-round draft selections holding out is the norm. There’s no true rookie pay scale, so team’s are left trying to figure out on their own what a player who hasn’t proven anything as a pro deserves to make right away. Agents think their players deserve tons of money, while teams tend to differ on just how much they actually deserve.

MLB is much different. For one, there’s a general pay scale that teams usually refer to for draft picks. This makes the process easy and allows for draft picks to sign quickly and even pitch for their respective teams after September call-ups.

This year, however, a high-profile hold-out is occurring in Washington. The Nationals had the good — or bad, depending on how you look at things — fortune of having the No.1 overall selection in the 2009 draft. The team took San Diego State phenom Stephen Strasburg, who was widely regarded as the best player available, bar none. When looking at his stats in college, it is easy to see why the Nationals jumped at the chance to draft him. In 2008, Strasburg had 133 strikeouts, which was second in the country. His ERA was third in the country. He is a pitcher with incredible velocity and great location. For his entire career, he gave up just one home run. His ERA against Mountain West conference opponents was 0.63, setting the all-time record.

Some regard Strasburg as a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Because of that, he is demanding a great deal of money from the Nationals. Making the process difficult between the two sides is that Strasburg is represent by MLB super-agent, Scott Boras. Boras represents the best players in baseball, including Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixera. All Boras seems to do is negotiate the biggest and best deals for his clients. Rodriguez, of course, is playing under the biggest contract in MLB history, while Teixera was able to ink a deal worth around a not-too-shabby $181 million. Strasburg was likely drawn to Boras because of his high-profile and ability to negotiate huge contracts. Boras is a high-profile agent who will stop at nothing in order to get great contracts for his clients. Boras is ruthless and will threaten to do anything necessary in order to force the team to pay up. Basically, Boras gets what he wants.

For Strasburg, Boras wants a record-breaking rookie contract. He reportedly wants $50 million in guaranteed money, which is an incredibly high number for a player who has proven nothing as a pro. The Nationals, however, have reportedly offered a contract of $12.5 million. While the offer is record-breaking, it appears that Strasburg will want much more than that to come to D.C.

The question regarding who is at fault is an interesting one. Frankly, it seems to be a combination of both.

Boras is out-of-line in requesting so much guaranteed money for a pitcher who has done nothing for the Nationals. The fact that Strasburg was great at San Diego State means virtually nothing. The Mountain West Conference, last time I checked, is not a college baseball powerhouse conference. Though it’s easy to see Strasburg has great pitches, you can’t know how that will translate to the big leagues. Moreover, he struggled in his last start as a collegiate pitcher in the college baseball regionals. While I don’t think that is necessarily a sign of things to come, it does raise some questions.

Look, there have been a countless number of first-round draft choices who have flamed out in MLB. It’s amazing how many first-round draft picks there are that the majority of fans have never heard of. Plus, it is particularly hard in baseball to project how good a player will be once he enters the next level, because everything about the game gets harder in the big leagues. Boras wants big money for Strasburg, but he doesn’t deserve $50 guaranteed, yet. When he proves he is a great pitcher in MLB, then he can get a CC Sabathia-style deal.

The Nationals, on the other hand, also deserve some of the blame. The hype surrounding Strasburg coming into the draft should have let the franchise know that he was going to demand a large contract. If they weren’t prepared to offer a big contract, the franchise could have selected someone else. But they decided to draft Strasburg, and now it is their duty to sign him and get him ready to play in the big leagues. $50 million in guaranteed money is a lot to give to a college star, and the Nationals appear to be right in not giving him that much. Whether the franchise likes it or not, they have a responsibility to their fanbase to try their best to win baseball games. If they fail to sign Strasburg, it will be a clear sign that the franchise isn’t interested in winning games.

The franchise needs to come up with a solution quickly, since the deadline is approaching fast. Strasburg has to make his decision by midnight tonight as to whether he will sign with Washington. That means the Nationals now have less than 12 hours to come up with a deal that makes sense for both sides. It won’t be easy, but it’s a deal that needs to be done.  And if a deal for some reason isn’t agreed upon by the deadline, Strasburg may choose to go and play in the Independent League. How would the Nationals look if Strasburg is playing in the Independent League while they continue to struggle and have the worst record in all of baseball.

Surely, a compromised will be worked out. The Nationals would look terrible if Strasburg doesn’t get signed, and so will Strasburg. He would come off as incredibly foolish and greedy, when he hasn’t proven a thing in the big leagues. A compromise is likely the best solution, possibly somewhere in the $30 million-range.

Washington has good reason to be somewhat concerned that Strasburg won’t turn out to be a great pitcher in the big leagues — there are countless examples of that happening. But if the franchise didn’t want to be stuck with the responsibility of trying to sign the No.1 overall draft choice, they shouldn’t have come in last place.

Y.E. Yang Wins PGA Championship

Tiger Woods has always seemed invincible. Over his career, Woods has made clutch putt after clutch putt, and has struck fear in his opponents in the process. When he has a lead on the final day of a major championship, he doesn’t blow it. Going into Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship at Hazeltine, Woods had a two-stroke lead at -8. History seemed to say it was over, because Woods was 14-for-14 in majors when having at least a share of the lead after 54-holes. But never before had he run into Y.E. Yang.

Yang played with Woods in the final pairing of the tournament, and not many gave him a chance to pull out a win over Tiger. It was hard to make a case for Yang, the 110th-ranked golfer in the world, when Woods was No.1. Clearly, no one had any idea just how tough Yang could be.

Yang proved the world wrong and gave a riveting performance in the process. Behind incredible shot-making and a fearless attitude, Yang came out on top of Woods, going 2-under par to finish at -8. Woods, meanwhile, finished at -5.

Early, Yang stayed on track behind Woods, matching him par-for-par through the first two holes. From the beginning, it was obvious Woods was playing conservatively, something we’re not used to seeing from him. Usually when Woods has a lead on Sunday, he becomes extremely aggressive and tries to extend that lead as much as possible. On this Sunday, however, Woods had a different mentality. That mentality played a part in Woods’ mishaps through the first nine holes, as he was shooting two-over par heading into the back nine. Yang, meanwhile, was even and appeared to be in great shape, as he was tied with Woods.

Though Yang was tied, it certainly didn’t feel like it. He was playing well, but he missed numerous birdie opportunities that could have put him in the lead early. Those are the kind of blunders that Woods always finds a way to take advantage of at some point, but Sunday was different. Woods failed to take advantage of those mistakes, but there were still nine more holes remaining. At some point, it appeared Woods would break out of his conservative mode and start playing like he usually does when he has a lead and a major is at stake. For some reason, though, he never broke away from his new mentality.

Woods may have felt nervous because he hadn’t won a major all year long, and since this was his final opportunity, he would play it safe and make sure that he secured the championship. But once it was evident that Yang wasn’t going to fold, Woods should have changed his strategy and gone for the win. He didn’t, and it’s likely a good reason as to why he came in second. Yang, however, was the biggest reason.

When most people crack under the pressure that is playing with Tiger Woods, Yang flourished. Yang made a slew of big putts on the back nine, but nothing was bigger than what happened at the par-4, 14th hole. The whole was playing short at 313 yards and as a result the green was reachable. Yang’s drive fell just short of the green, as his ball found its way into the rough, right next to the bunker. He had a good lie, but in his position, a par would have been acceptable. Instead, Yang chipped the shot in, giving him an eagle. The shot gave him a one-shot lead, but the momentum gained from the chip is what arguably propelled Yang to the victory.

Yang’s performance was great, but it wasn’t flawless. On the 17th hole, a par-3, Yang had a long birdie putt that could have helped seal the deal. Maybe it was the gravity of the moment, but Yang left the shot short and went on to bogey the hole. Woods did the same, but Yang missed out on an opportunity to possibly win the championship right then and there. Yang didn’t flinch on the 18th, though. With a 3-wood hybrid, Yang’s second shot came within feet of the cup, sealing the victory.

It was a remarkable effort on Yang’s part, and it also has historic proportions. With the victory, Yang became the first ever Asian-born golfer to win a major championship. Asia has produced some great golfers in the past, but no one had ever been able to come through and win when it counted most. Yang changed that, and he did it against the greatest golfer in the world. The fact that Yang is now the face of Asian golf will make many people happy. Throughout the day Sunday, he seemed to truly enjoy the chance to be on golf’s biggest stage. Whenever the camera was on him, he would wave and have a big smile on his face, as if he was thinking, “nothing could be better.” Yang even interacted with the crowd, as he threw a ball into the gallery late in his round. He played with a care-free attitude and in the process displayed how golf should always be played.

Yang’s 8-under championship at Hazeltine this week wasn’t the greatest of all-time, but he’ll go in the history books forever, and that’s certainly not a bad thing.

Pitino Isn’t Going Anywhere

[Editor's Note: For a complete rundown of the Rick Pitino scandal, click here to view Alan's recent piece.]

What Louisville head coach Rick Pitino did six years ago was horrible, out of line and in most cases, inexcusable. Pitino’s admission to having sex with a woman after-hours at a restaurant reflects poorly on Pitino, the woman involved and the University.

This story has been boiling for months, when it was reported that the woman, Karen Sypher, was being federally charged with trying to extort millions of dollars from Pitino. For months, there have been rumors upon rumors about the case, but nothing groundbreaking had come about — until Tuesday. That is when The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that Pitino told authorities he had sex with Sypher and gave her money for an abortion. Pitino has since said that the money was actually for insurance, but the story still remains out for everyone to see.

On Wednesday, Pitino apologized for his “indiscretion.” The pain that he has caused his family is undoubtedly great, and that is something that will take to heal. Because of this serious misconduct from Pitino, many have called for Louisville to force him to resign, and fire him if he refuses. Under many circumstances, Pitino’s actions would warrant a resignation. He is the basketball coach of a school university, coaching young men who are extremely impressionable. His job is not only to win basketball games, but to young mold men into functioning men in our society. Not only his kids produce on the court, they must also produce in the classroom and in all walks of life. Pitino’s actions have set a terrible example for all of his players, which is why people around the program and outside of it are justifiably upset. People can jump up and down all they want about this story, but Pitino isn’t going anywhere.

Pitino is someone who is held to a very high standard, and he clearly made a big mistake. But the people who want him removed appear to be out-of-touch with the state of college athletics.

Standards are something that few programs in college basketball have at this point. Programs take on one-and-done players who constantly break the rules because they know they won’t suffer the consequences. Programs hire coaches with shady recruiting practices, and rarely do anything about the rule-breaking until the NCAA steps in — like the USC and Tim Floyd scandal. Universities have put winning above moral standards and practices, which is also why college basketball has flourished over the past decade. These practices have led to many programs abandoning the academic side of things and focusing solely on basketball. Obviously, not all programs do this, as there are still many programs that set and live up to their standards and don’t stand for anything else. But clearly, the state of college basketball is not great.

Everything in college basketball is based on winning games, selling tickets and making loads of money. Pitino is one of the best at doing all three. Pitino has turned Louisville back into a perennial contender in the Big East, the toughest conference in all of college basketball. Last season, Pitino’s Cardinals won the Big East regular season championship and the Big East tournament. They were the No.1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and came just one game away from reaching the Final Four. Pitino knows what he is doing, and is one of the best coaches in college basketball.

If he weren’t winning games, though, he probably would be gone. If a coach who isn’t winning games and therefore isn’t impressing fans commits an “indiscretion” like Pitino did, he likely wouldn’t last. It’s much easier to get rid of a coach who isn’t winning than one who is.

The only way Pitino could potentially get fired is if his actions affect recruiting. When Pitino speaks with parents of recruits, he will have to work extra hard to convince them that he will never do anything so stupid again. Parents want to send their kids off to a coach they can trust, and Pitino’s actions won’t help him on the recruiting trail. But his track record of graduating players and turning out good players and even better men is solid, which is why he shouldn’t be hurt too bad in terms of getting players to play for him at Louisville.

On Wednesday, Dr. James Ramsey, Louisville’s president, released a statement:

“Rick Pitino is the University of Louisville’s basketball coach,” the statement read. “He has been a role model for countless young people and a positive influence on this community.

“Regardless of the truth or falsehood of specific actions that have been attributed to the coach, he’s clearly made errors in judgment that have come under intense public scrutiny. We can’t ignore these errors in judgment, and they have saddened and disappointed me. As we try to teach our students, when you make a mistake, you admit it and right it as best you can. Coach has done that today.”

That’s all that was required from Pitino. A simple apology and everything is good. Louisville will act like this never happened, and the program can go back to trying to win basketball games. The actions of Pitino will never be forgotten by his family, who will need some time to get over something that had to be very painful.

No one is saying that Pitino’s actions are acceptable, because they are not. He should have used better judgement on a night in August of 2003. He should have thought about the potential consequences and made the right decision, but he didn’t.

Still, he didn’t commit a crime, can’t go to jail and he has otherwise been great for the University of Louisville. That is why, unless he starts losing games, Rick Pitino isn’t going anywhere.

The Jaguars Could Make Some Noise This Season

Two years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars were a team on the rise. Their quarterback, David Garrard (pictured, right), was developing into a one of the most accurate passers in the league and was proving to be more than capable of leading the team. Byron Leftwich had been released prior to the season, re-affirming the team’s faifth in Garrard. As a thank you, Garrard rewarded the team with a playoff run. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor were forming one of the best running back tandems in the league. Everything was going right for the Jaguars, but the fun ride stopped after the team’s loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional round.

In 2008, big results were expected from the Jaguars. The team signed Garrard to a seven-year, $60 million contract. Garrard, who threw just three interceptions in ’07, was going to be counted on to perform even better in ’08. But before the season began, the Jaguars streak of terrible luck began. Offensive lineman Richard Collier, who figured to be an important role player, was shot 14 times outside of an apartment building on September 2nd, paralyzing him from the waste down. The shooting was the first of many injuries for the offensive lineman. The Jaguars couldn’t put together a formidable line, and as a result the team struggled mightily. Garrard threw 13 interceptions, the receiving corps was weak and the defense was mediocre at best. It all added up to a 5-11 season for the Jags, and the team was in need of a revamping heading into this season.

Coach Jack Del Rio knew changes needed to be made, and it started by getting rid of the team’s top three wide receivers in Matt Jones, Dennis Northcutt and Reggie Williams. The team also released Javon Walker, possibly one of the biggest free agent busts in franchise history. Long-time St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt was signed, and he still has some games left in his system. But the biggest move made was the toughest to actually do. Fred Taylor, who had been with the Jaguars his entire career was released. Taylor has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but he was a leader for Jones-Drew and still a solid player. The team felt it was time to move on.

Defensively, former Philadelphia Eagles safety Sean Considine was signed, and defensive back Tyron Brackenride was claimed off waivers.

With a rebuilt roster, the Jaguars now have a chance to be much better than 5-11 in 2009, but lots will have to go right, and little can go wrong.

How the offensive line performs is likely to tell a good part of the team’s story in 2009. Monroe, who is currently holding out of training camp, needs to get into training camp quickly. Rookie offensive lineman have a lot to learn, and the longer he holds out, the less likely his is to contribute right away. Britton, who is under contract, is expected to immediately make an impact. Being a quick understudy will be important, because the team can’t survive with both rookie tackles failing to make an impact this season. Signing Thomas, who will likely begin the season as the starting left tackle, was a great move, because his 12 years of NFL experience will be extremely valuable to this team. Not only will he be important on the field, he’ll also contribute off it. Thomas can show Britton and Monroe the ropes and give them constant instruction on how to play tackle in the NFL. That’s the kind of instruction that rookies should always have the luxury of receiving from veterans. The key for this unit will be staying healthy. If it suffers an unfortunate amount of injuries like it did last season, the Jaguars will not be able to succeed. Garrard needs time to throw the football, and he’ll only be able to do that should the line protect him.

Of course, the offensive line will also be key for the running game, which should be a big part of Jacksonville’s offense this year. With the release of Taylor, the Jaguars have handed Jones-Drew the keys to the car. Jones-Drew, even in a committee role, has been one of the best all-around running backs in the league. He’s quick, can burst through seems created by the line, and doesn’t get tackled easily. He also has great hands, which has helped him develop into an excellent receiver. Jones-Drew will be counted on to do most of the work this season, with Greg Jones and rookie Rashad Jennings also contributing.

For Jones-Drew and the running game to be affective, Garrard will have to look for like the ’07 version of himself. Last year was a disaster on all fronts, though the team’s health played a big part in that. Assuming the team stays relatively healthy this season, it will be left up to Garrard to put up good enough numbers to win football games. He doesn’t have to produce like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning — he didn’t do that in ’07 — but he has to minimize his mistakes and make the big plays when necessary. Basically, he has to manage the game. Garrard can’t do it on his own, though, and that is where his wide receivers will come in. Holt clearly needed a change of scenery after losing so many games in St. Louis over the past two seasons, and Jacksonville could give him a new lease on his football life. Second-year wideout Mike Walker will be counted on to play well, as will rookie Mike Thomas. Marcedes Lewis will finally have to develop into the players the Jaguars thought he would be when they drafted him with their first-round pick in 2006.

The Jaguars have a talented roster, but can they put it all together to form a winning season?

Staying healthy is the biggest priority, because that was what really hurt the team last season. Garrar needs to regain his form and be a confident leader for the team. How Jones-Drew performs as the No.1 back will also be interesting to watch. Del Rio knows this team has potential, and he also likely realizes that fans won’t be too happy if the team falters. Jacksonville is a small-market and the team will have trouble selling tickets unless they start winning. The team has been mentioned in potential moves to Los Angeles, and this could be an important season for the Jaguars to see how much support they can get from their fans.

Playing in the AFC South will not make it easy to reach the playoffs, but it is possible for the Jaguars. If the pieces fall the right way, this team has the opportunity to make some serious noise this season.