Carson's Corner

Vactation Time

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:00:35 +0000

I'm taking a much needed break after two solid years of working without interruption.

It's been long overdue.

My family and I are taking an extended vacation, we finally have the money to do it, so there will be no Monday Morning Quarterback or any other post for awhile.

I'll be back soon with a brand new edition of the MMQ and more opinions on the NFL, college football, and the like.

Enjoy your week and have a great Fourth of July.

Take care everyone. Talk to you soon.

Albert Haynesworth and the 10 Biggest Crybabies in NFL History

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:05:09 +0000

Back in the old days, a spoiled, crybaby athlete was a rarity.

There was no such thing as free agency and big, multi-million dollar contracts never happened—not even for elite athletes.

That all started to change in 1976.

As a youngster, I remember when Reggie Jackson got what was then a record deal to leave Baltimore and join the Yankees.

Jackson was going to make the unheard of salary of $600,000 a year for five years. The contract was for five years and $3 million dollars and it created a buzz throughout the world of sports.

Jackson opened the floodgates to bigger and bigger contracts and we all know what happened next.

Free agency came to the NBA, NHL, and NFL in the late 80s to early 90s and with it came the berth of what I like to call—Spoiled Athlete Syndrome, or S.A.S.

S.A.S begins when an athlete gets a big, fat contract and all the money turns him into a whiny, spoiled, crybaby.

Albert Haynesworth is the current poster boy for S.A.S. but sadly he's not alone.

Major League Baseball had the worst case of S.A.S. ever on record.

His name was Barry Bonds and he may go down in history, not just as a steroid abuser, but as the most hated man ever by his own teammates.

Haynesworth is the latest in a long line and he's doing a fine job of holding the mantle for future generations of spoiled athletes.

First he signs the richest contract ever by a defensive tackle—Seven years and $100 million with $32 million guaranteed.

How does he show his love for Washington?

By dogging it last year, criticizing teammates and coaches, and underperforming for all of 2009.

Sir Albert said he won't play in a 3-4 defense and wants to be traded. He threatened to be a no-show for training camp, but when the Redskins publicly stated they would ask for some of their money back, Haynesworth quickly changed his story and will be there.

Fun times ahead for Mike Shanahan in Washington.

Haynesworth has inspired me to make a list of the top 10 biggest crybabies in NFL history. It will actually be a top 11 since Sir Albert was included in this introduction.

The list could have been much bigger, but top 10 is a nice, neat figure.

The criteria is based on those who played from 1980 on. I chose that because the guys before played the game for different reasons than just money.

I had a hard time trying to find someone from the 70s on back who had S.A.S. If you have one, comment below and let me know.

Enough with the long intro, here are the top 10 biggest crybabies in NFL history.

10. Phillip Rivers

Despite his immense talent, Rivers is a whining, little crybaby.

He taunts opposing players, fights with his own teammates, and acts like you'd expect a spoiled, multi-millionaire quarterback should.

Rivers cleaned up his act a little last season and maybe he's finally starting to mature.

Only time will tell, but if he does, the Chargers could be even better than they have been the last few seasons.

9. Kellen Winslow Jr.

Ever since his "I'm a warrior" statement in college, Winslow had the early stages of S.A.S.

After he was drafted top 10 and got the big contract, it only got worse.

His immaturity and entitlement attitude have alienated him from his teammates and his plethora of injuries have limited a once promising career.

8. Jay Cutler

Look up the word arrogance in the dictionary and you just might find a picture of Cutler.

Cutler has a big arm and all the intangibles to be a great quarterback, but he hasn't put it together yet.

The problem is Cutler thinks he's already a superstar quarterback and his ego reflects that.

He couldn't win at Vanderbilt or Denver, and his first season in Chicago was a disaster.

Cutler will throw his teammates under the bus and blame them for some of his interceptions. Even if it's true it's something a real leader keeps quiet about.

Unfortunately for the Bears, Cutler isn't a leader and may never be one.

7. Randy Moss

Randy Moss has settled down quite a bit from his early days, especially in Minnesota.

He makes the list because of all the whining and complaining he did in the past.

Moss is one of the most gifted athletes to ever play in the NFL and he knows it.

For the longest time his ego was out of control and his demands and prima donna attitude hurt the team and alienated his teammates.

Moss has done some growing up since he got to New England, but there's no denying his antics of the past make him one of the biggest crybabies in NFL history.

6. Simeon Rice

There is no "I" in team, but someone forgot to tell Simeon Rice.

Rice is one of the all-time great sack artists and at the same time, one of the all-time worst teammates in NFL history.

Rice is the only important thing to Rice.

He whined and complained constantly about his contract, his coaches, and how he was disrespected by the league.

Rice ended his career as one of the most unpopular players in NFL history.

5. Jeff George

Jeff George was bred to be a quarterback.

He was also bred to be a spoiled athlete.

A star in high school, George was involved in a heavy recruiting battle for his services.

George chose Purdue and left after only one season and finished his career at Illinois. That should have been the red flag for NFL teams.

A first-round pick by the Colts, George was trouble from day one. His arrogance turned off his teammates and he refused to listen to his coaches, sometimes calling his own plays in the huddle.

The low point of his career came in 1996 with the Falcons when he went after coach June Jones and physically tried to assault him.

George bounced around the NFL with four more teams before retiring, He tried to make a comeback in 2004 and 2006, but failed to latch on with any team.

Blessed with a world of ability, George couldn't grow up and put his tremendous talents to good use.

He could have had a great career in the NFL.

4. Brandon Marshall

An amazing athlete and arguably the best receiver in the league today, Marshall is also one of the biggest head cases around.

After four tumultuous years that saw Marshall criticize players, coaches, ownership, and fail to show up for meetings and training camps, the Broncos traded him to Miami this offseason.

Having a personality like Marshall in a city like Miami could be a recipe for disaster. It's a gamble the Dolphins are willing to take.

Tony Sparano better have a nice supply of Maalox on hand this season.

3. Ryan Leaf

Leaf is not only the biggest draft bust in NFL history, he's one of the biggest crybabies as well.

From the time he was drafted second overall in 1998 and handed a big, fat paycheck by the Chargers, the problems started.

Leaf's immaturity was on public display when he yelled and threatened a local reporter that became highlight real fodder on Sports Center.

It only got worse.

His poor attitude and inability to translate his talents to the NFL stage caused Leaf to call it a career after only five years.

On May 21, 2009, Leaf was indicted on burglary and controlled substance charges in Texas. He was sentenced to 10 years probation and fined $20,000.

2. LenDale White

One of the worst things about having Spoiled Athlete Syndrome is the one afflicted with it only feels his own pain. He can't see the reason for his problems are all on him and no one else.

He blames others instead of looking inward.

Case in point—LenDale White.

White habitually misses meetings and practices, consistently comes to training camp out of shape, and has a terrible attitude with coaches and teammates.

Yet nothing is ever his fault.

Jeff Fisher and the Titans were thrilled to see White go and traded him to Seattle during draft day.

Reuniting with college coach Pete Carroll was supposed to be just the thing White needed to turn his career around.

It only took Carroll a month to get sick of White's antics of missing meetings and dogging it during OTAs. He was released on May 28.

In typical White fashion, he couldn't understand why he was cut and said he felt disrespected by Carroll.

Unbelievable.

1. Terrell Owens

Who did you expect?

T.O. is the grand master of crybabies in NFL history. Hell, he actually did cry once. "He's my quarterback....(sob), (sob), he's my teammate...(sob), (sob)."

Only Barry Bonds had a bigger case of Spoiled Athlete Syndrome.

Owens has become the image he created. He can no longer distinguish himself from T.O. the person and T.O. the character.

At 36, his career is winding down, but the arrogance still hasn't.

T.O. isn't a number one receiver anymore, but he still wants the money of number one. A big reason why he's still unemployed.

That concludes my list of the top 10 biggest crybabies in NFL history. Some others were close to being on the list and they deserve mention as well.

Braylon Edwards, Jeremy Shockey, Andre Rison, Michael Vick (Ron Mexico), Michael Westbrook, Joe Horn, Vince Young, Plaxico Burress, Lawrence Phillips, David Boston, Larry Johnson, and Freddie Mitchell.

We salute you.

By the way, there is no known cure for S.A.S., except harsh reality.

Monday Morning Quarterback Episode 4

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:47:00 +0000

Welcome to episode four of the Monday Morning Quarterback podcast.

The show will feature news, analysis and commentary on the NFL and NCAA football, hosted by yours truly, Brian Carson. Each podcast will run from 10-30 minutes, or until I get sick of talking.

Hopefully, I'll get some guest hosts once in a while, but for now, this is a solo show.

One word of warning: My mouth sometimes gets the better of me and I have a tendency to curse, so if foul language offends you, please forgive me or just don't listen.

This week we look at the strange, misguided world of Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth.

Just click on the button below to listen in.

The 10 Biggest Coaching Decisions For 2010

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:19:10 +0000

You need more than just Xs and Os To be a successful coach in the National Football League.

While strategy and tactics are very important parts of a coach's arsenal, other qualities are needed to make a complete football coach.

You need characteristics like persistence, confidence and—perhaps most important of all—decisiveness.

The ability to make quick decisions, and the confidence to stand by them, are the main differences between players' success and failure on the field.

Making the right decisions regarding personnel is right up there with play-calling and goes a long way in determining the success or failure of an organization.

With training camps looming on the horizon, we're going to take a look at the 10 toughest decisions some coaches are facing heading into 2010.

10. Who Will Be the Starting QB in Buffalo?

New Bills coach Chan Gailey wants to make an impressive start in Buffalo.

The problem is: who will lead this team in 2010?

Gailey has Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Brian Brohm to choose from, and the choices don't have Buffalo fans all that excited.

Edwards is the most NFL-ready of the bunch, but inconsistency and injuries have derailed his career.

Fitzpatrick is a gritty quarterback who performs better as a backup than a starter.

Brohm was drafted by the Packers in the second round in 2008, and despite a lot of hype coming out of college, hasn't shown much value in the NFL.

Gailey's new so he'll be given time even if the Bills struggle out of the gate. Look for the experience of Edwards to win the job in the end.

9. Who Will Win the Right Guard Battle in Pittsburgh?

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has two important decisions to make, and both are on this list.

The first involves the three-headed battle for the starting right guard spot.

Incumbent Trai Essex will try and fend off top draft pick Maurkice Pouncey, and second-year pro Ramon Foster for the job.

This is a very big decision for Tomlin.

Only the Rams have given up more sacks over the last three seasons than Pittsburgh. The interior of the offensive line has been inconsistent in both run and pass blocking.

Protecting the quarterback is of critical importance. Even more so now that the league is so pass happy.

Look for Pouncey to win the job. He's big, strong, intelligent and very athletic for his size. He has all the intangibles to be a star.

8. How Will Bill Belichick Fix the Tom Brady Situation?

Tom Brady has been very vocal this offseason.

Which is very surprising in and of itself, and not good news for New England.

Brady is a private guy, cut from the same cloth as Bill Belichick, so when he emerged this offseason criticizing some of his teammates, it made headlines.

Brady called out some of the younger guys on the team, saying they didn't listen to Belichick and were mentally lazy.

Word around New England mini-camp is that Brady isn't happy anymore and has become disillusioned with the Patriots organization.

How Belichick can heal this rift could be more important than anything he does all season.

Brady is the heart and soul of the Patriots team, and if he's unhappy, New England could be in trouble in 2010.

7. What Team Will Pull the Trigger and Sign Terrell Owens?

Which coach will ask management to make the move and sign Terrell Owens?

We all know it's going to happen, we just don't know who it's going to be.

T.O. is on the downward side of his career, but the guy can still be a very effective number two receiver.

The problem is, he still thinks he's a number one.

He'll also be a huge distraction to the team that does get him.

Owens behaved himself in Buffalo last year. Maybe now he realizes he won't get the big multi-million dollar deal anymore and will sign soon.

Trust me on this.

Some coach, maybe Pete Carroll in Seattle, will roll the dice and give Owens another opportunity.

6. Are the Cowboys Comfortable with Doug Free at LT?

The Dallas Cowboys are positioning themselves for another Super Bowl run.

With the addition of rookie wideout Dez Bryant, the Cowboys have a plethora of talent at the skill positions.

Add a defense that is one of the best in the business, and it's easy to see why Cowboys fans are smiling as 2010 approaches.

But (and it's a big but), there is one position that should have Cowboy fans apprehensive—left tackle.

Dallas let veteran Flozell Adams go in the offseason, and will go with Doug Free.

This is a huge gamble that may come back and bite Jerry Jones.

Adams is 35 and starting to wear down, but even at his advanced football age, he is one of the best left tackles in the NFC.

Flozell is still unsigned and there is a possibility he returns to the Lone Star State.

Free is an unknown commodity, and Wade Phillips is counting on him to protect Tony Romo?

5. Who Starts at QB for Carolina?

John Fox is on thin ice in Carolina, despite leading the team to a Super Bowl and becoming the most successful coach in franchise history.

The decision on who will be his starting quarterback this season, and how the team performs, will determine whether he stays or goes.

Jake Delhomme has gone to Cleveland, leaving Matt Moore as the favorite heading into training camp.

He's not guaranteed a job by any means though, especially after Carolina drafted Jimmy Clausen in the second round.

Moore goes into camp as the starter, but Clausen will be given every opportunity to win the job.

If Fox chooses wrong, it could mean the end fo his career in Carolina.

4. Who Will the Steelers Start in Place of Ben Roethlisberger?

The Steelers missed the playoffs last season after winning the Super Bowl the year before.

It was a very unhappy time for the Steel City.

Just when Pittsburgh fans thought it couldn't get any worse, the Big Ben Show caused a huge problem in the spring when he was accused of another sexual assault and suspended 4-6 games by commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Steelers quickly picked up Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay, and now it looks as if he'll be the man to replace Roethlisberger for at least four games.

This is a big decision for Mike Tomlin. Maybe even a career decision.

He has only one year left on his current deal and management is not even considering an extension.

Nothing is guaranteed right now.

Tomlin says the position is open, with Leftwich, Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch in the mix.

In reality it's between Leftwich and Dixon, with the veteran clearly in the front.

It's a decision that will not only impact the Steelers in 2010, but could decide Tomlin's future with the franchise.

If the Steelers start out in a funk, the season could be over before Big Ben gets back.

3. Will the Rams Start Sam Bradford or A.J. Feeley at QB?

The Rams were 1-15 in Steve Spagnuolo's first season.

Not a good way to start, but also not unexpected.

Spagnuolo inherited a team without much talent, and when the injury bug bit hard last season, the results were obvious.

With the first pick in the draft, St. Louis selected QB Sam Bradford, who they hope will be the franchise quarterback that they've longed for since Kurt Warner left town.

The debate began almost immediately after the draft: should Spagnuolo start him or sit him his rookie season?

The Rams brought in veteran A.J. Feeley, and he's been working with the first team all through OTAs.

This is a decision the Rams coaching staff needs to address in training camp.

Bradford has been working with the second squad during mini-camp and OTAs.

The Rams fan base is already frustrated, and fans are staying away from the Ed Jones Dome. The ownership situation is in flux and the fans need something to cling to.

Keeping Bradford on the bench doesn't make much sense to me. He would immediately ramp up attendance and inspire hope, something the city of St. Louis desperately needs.

2. Who Comes Out On Top In the Cardinals QB Race?

The Cardinals franchise has lived through two of their best seasons in its history: two playoff appearances and the first Super Bowl berth in Arizona history.

The offseason has been anything but rosy for Bill Bidwell's bunch.

First, Kurt Warner retires. Then, Anquan Boldin gets traded, and the Cardinals lose a ton of quality in free agency.

Now coach Ken Whisenhunt must make a decision that will decide the future course of this team: who will replace Warner at quarterback?

The battle is between Matt Leinert, a first-round disappointment so far, and Derek Anderson, an inconsistent performer at best.

Look for free agent Marc Bulger to be considered if Leinert and Anderson struggle in preseason.

Good luck picking a starter from that group coach.

1. What Will the Redskins Do with Albert Haynesworth?

Albert Haynesworth signed a huge deal to come to the Redskins last season and all he's done is under perform and act like a two-year-old.

Washington, and new coach Mike Shanahan, must find a way to deal with this problem before it gets any worse.

It's already become a major headache and distraction for the franchise.

Haynesworth feels underappreciated, despite that fact the Redskins guaranteed him $28 million dollars.

Haynesworth's actions have alienated him from the coaching staff and his teammates. The unmitigated selfishness Haynesworth has displayed is appalling.

Coach Shanahan, if you're listening, get rid of this idiot, and do it now.

Monday Morning Quarterback Episode 3

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:19:58 +0000

Welcome to episode three of the Monday Morning Quarterback podcast.

The show will feature news, analysis and commentary on the NFL and NCAA football, hosted by yours truly, Brian Carson. Each podcast will run from 10-30 minutes, or until I get sick of talking.

Hopefully, I'll get some guest hosts once in a while, but for now, this is a solo show.

One word of warning: My mouth sometimes gets the better of me and I have a tendency to curse, so if foul language offends you, please forgive me or just don't listen.

This week we look at the major shakeups rippling through college football.

Just click on the button below to listen in.

The Big 12 Conference: RIP 1996-2010

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:00:11 +0000

On this day the Big 12 Conference, once considered to be the ultimate super conference, took its last breath.

With Nebraska waving goodbye to tradition by officially bolting to the Big Ten, the Big 12 won't be able to pick up the pieces.

As Yeats famously said, "things fall apart, the center cannot hold."

The Cornhuskers have left the building possibly bringing independent Notre Dame with them into the Big 10.

Like a shark smelling blood on a wounded prey, the Pac-10 has jumped into the foray by landing Colorado last Thursday. The conference will extend invitations to Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State.

If all of them to go, it will create a real super conference - the Pac-16.

The Pac-16 will include an Eastern Division featuring the six newcomers, along with Arizona and Arizona State. The West Division will have the original Pac-8 schools: UCLA, USC, California, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, and Oregon State.

Pretty impressive to say the least.

Not to be out-done, word has it that the SEC may pursue Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.

The Big 12 could stay together and try to add two teams, but if Texas leaves, and it's looking more and more like it will, the conference is toast.

The Big Ten is making tons of money, but the idea of a 12-or-14-team conference with all the glitz, glamor, and mega-bucks from a championship game appealed to everyone in the conference.

Expansion has been on their minds for quite some time.

With Nebraska in the fold, the Big Ten gets one of the all-time great football schools, and with it, hopes to put the pressure on Notre Dame to swallow its pride and come on in.

Despite its TV contract with NBC, Notre Dame will eventually cave and join the Big Ten. They have to. This isn't the Fighting Irish of the past. Their muscle and clout is at its lowest. They'll have no choice but to align themselves with a major conference as soon as possible.

All of this is happening because of one overriding reason - money, or the lack thereof for the Big 12 programs.

With the Big Ten and SEC creating their own TV networks, the revenues generated have been astounding.

The Big Ten schools made about $20 million each last season from television revenue. The SEC made around $17.5 million per institution.

Compare those figures with the $7-8 million each school received in the Big 12 and the reason why the conference will be no more after 2010 are pretty clear.

Coaches and athletic directors may try to dress it up, but it's all about the money.

The Pac-10 understands this and made the move to expand so they can get more revenue from TV contracts that end in 2011. Now the conference can have a championship game, which will bring top dollar. In addition, the soon-to-be Pac-12 or Pac-16 cable channel is in the works.

If the conference loses out on gaining the four Big 12 schools, look for them to offer an invite to Utah, making it a 12-team league.

Other so-called power conferences like the ACC and the Big East should be afraid, very afraid. What's to stop the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-10 from going after their teams?

The Big East in particular is vulnerable.

West Virginia and Pittsburgh would be very attractive to the Big Ten, if they decide to expand to 16 teams.

Another interesting topic of discussion is where Kansas and Kansas State will end up should the Big 12 crumble? Everyone is looking at the conference shakeups from just a football standpoint, but what about college basketball?

The Jayhawks are a legit basketball powerhouse and the Wildcats are on the verge of being a national power. What conference will step up and make a play for them?

The landscape of college football is changing drastically. With so much money on the line and recruiting being so dog-eat-dog, the raiding of conferences is just beginning.

No one is safe. Money talks and schools and conferences will follow the greenbacks.

Case in point is Memphis State, a long-time hoops power, with not much going for it in other sports.

Fred Smith, CEO of Fed Ex, is offering $10 million a year to any major conference if they let the Tigers join. His son Chase plays on the Memphis football team.

Forget about earning it through on the field play, like a Boise State. Heck no, we'll buy our way into a power conference.

For better or worse, this is the future of not only college football, but all of collegiate athletics.

Welcome to the era of the super conferences where only those with money and prestige, but mostly money, need apply.

Ranking the Bill Parcells Coaching Tree

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:06:02 +0000

Bill Parcells is not only one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, he's also one of the most influential as well.

Parcells' track record speaks for itself: two Super Bowl victories with the New York Giants, a Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots, and an AFC Championship Game berth with the New York Jets.

The Tuna was named AP Coach of the Year twice, and is the only coach in NFL history to lead four different teams to the playoffs.

His influence has also spread beyond the playing field and into the coaching ranks as well.

Seven former assistants are currently head coaches in college or the NFL, and five others previously served as head coaches at the NCAA or pro level.

It's quite an impressive coaching tree to say the least.

The following is a ranking of all the Tuna's assistants who have gone on to become head coaches in college or the pros.

12. Mike MacIntyre

MacIntyre served under Parcells as defensive backs coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003-06.

He was named the new head coach at San Jose State in December after the retirement of Dick Toomey.

With his hiring, MacIntyre became the 12th assistant from the Bill Parcells coaching tree to become a head coach.

11. Chris Palmer

Palmer served under Parcells in New England, first coaching the wide receivers and then quarterbacks.

He became the first head coach of the new Cleveland Browns in 1999, and struggled to get the franchise on the winning track. Palmer went 5-27 in two seasons before being fired.

Palmer went on to win a Super Bowl ring during the 2007 season as quarterbacks coach with the Giants.

He is currently the president and general manager of the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.

10. Ray Handley

Ray Handley was an assistant to Parcells during the glory days of the Giants in the 1980s.

As a matter of fact, Handley and Parcells were assistants at Army back in 1968.

After serving as running backs coach, and then offensive coordinator for seven years under Parcells, Handley was named head coach of the Giants in 1991.

Handley lasted only two seasons, compiling a 14-18 record.

9. Todd Haley

Haley worked with Parcells with the Jets and Cowboys before leaving to become offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals.

After the Cardinals Super Bowl appearance in 2008, Haley left to become the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs finished 4-12 in his first season as coach.

In the offseason, Haley went back to his Parcells roots and hired Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator and Romeo Crennel as defensive coordinator.

8. Romeo Crennel

The roots of the relationship between Romeo Crennel and Parcells go all the way back to 1975, when both were assistants at Texas Tech.

Crennel spent time with Parcells in New York and New England, serving as special teams and then defensive line coach.

After a stint as defensive coordinator for the Patriots, Crennel was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

He coached the Browns for four seasons (2005-08) and finished with a 24-40 record.

Crennel is now defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.

7. Al Groh

Groh came up through the college ranks with Parcells and eventually followed him into the NFL.

He was an assistant under Parcells with the Giants, Patriots, and Jets before becoming the head coach of the Jets in 2000.

Groh had a 9-7 record in his only season with New York, resigning the position to become head coach at his alma mater, Virginia.

It was his second stint as a head coach in college (Groh coached Wake Forest from 1981-86), and the Cavaliers flourished.

Groh led Virginia to a 59-53 record and five bowl berths in nine seasons before being fired last season.

He is currently the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech.

6. Eric Mangini

Mangini got his start as a defensive assistant under Parcells with the New York Jets in 1999.

He eventually became defensive coordinator with New England in 2005 under Bill Belichick.

Mangini left the Patriots to become head coach of the New York Jets, where he compiled a 23-25 record in three seasons with one playoff berth.

After being fired in New York, Mangini became head coach of the Browns last season.

He finished his first season in Cleveland with a 5-11 mark and despite widespread rumors of being fired, new GM Mike Holmgren retained Mangini as head coach.

5. Charlie Weis

Weis served under the Tuna with the Giants, Patriots, and Jets.

He was the offensive coordinator in New York from 1997-99 before leaving to take the same position with New England from 2000-04.

After developing Tom Brady into a star, Weis left the Patriots to become head coach at Notre Dame.

The first two years of Weis' tenure with the Irish were golden. He put together a 19-6 mark with two Top 20 finishes.

After that, it was all downhill.

His next three years saw Notre Dame go 15-21, which eventually led to his dismissal.

He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs.

4. Tony Sparano

When Parcells took over as the Dolphins boss, the first hire he made was Tony Sparano as his head coach.

Sparano served under Parcells in Dallas as his offensive line coach.

Critics thought the hiring of Sparano was a bad one with so many big name coaches available.

Once again, Parcells proved everyone wrong.

In his first season, Sparano led the Dolphins to an 11–5 record and the AFC East division title, securing the franchise's first playoff berth in eight seasons before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in a Wild Card game.

The 10-win turnaround tied an NFL record, and Sparano finished one vote behind Atlanta Falcons first-year head coach Mike Smith in balloting for the AP Coach of the Year award.

Injuries limited the Dolphins to a 7-9 mark last season, but with the growth of Chad Henne and the signing of Brandon Marshall, Sparano believes Miami will bounce back in 2010.

3. Sean Payton

The head coach of the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, Payton served as Parcells' quarterbacks coach in Dallas from 2003-05.

Payton became the Saints head coach in 2006, and has led the team to a 42-27 record during his tenure.

He was voted AP Coach of the Year in 2006 and is one of the brightest of the new breed in the NFL.

2. Tom Coughlin

Coughlin was wide receivers coach for Parcells with the New York Giants from 1988-90.

He left to become head coach at Boston College, where he was 21-13-1 in three seasons before leaving to become the first head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars.

In Jacksonville, Coughlin took the fledgling franchise to the AFC Championship Game in only its second season of existence in 1996.

Coughlin spent eight season with the Jaguars, and left with a 72-64 record and four playoff appearances.

He was hired as head coach of the Giants in 2004, and quickly turned them into a winner.

In 2007, Coughlin led New York to an upset of the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

Coughlin begins his seventh season in New York with a 59-44 mark. He owns a career record of 131-108 in the NFL.

Monday Morning Quarterback Episode 2

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:19:19 +0000

Welcome to episode two of the Monday Morning Quarterback podcast.

The show will feature news, analysis and commentary on the NFL and NCAA football, hosted by yours truly, Brian Carson. Each podcast will run from 10-30 minutes, or until I get sick of talking.

Hopefully, I'll get some guest hosts once in a while, but for now, this is a solo show.

One word of warning: My mouth sometimes gets the better of me and I have a tendency to curse, so if foul language offends you, please forgive me or just don't listen.

This week we look at two men who have delusions of grandeur: LenDale White and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.

Just click on the button below to listen in.

Friday Fan Poll: Will the Big 12 Survive?

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:15:07 +0000

Welcome to the Friday Fan Poll.

The fan poll is just what you think - it's about you. I want to hear your opinions on the NFL and college football, so each week we'll have a poll set up to see what you think.

In the future, once we get the site established, we'll be giving away random prizes to those who take part in the Friday Fan Poll.

The polls will remain active for you to voice your opinion. There will be a new poll released every Friday.

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The NFL’s Best Players Over 35

admin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:00:01 +0000

Hall of Famer George Blanda set the standard in the NFL for playing solid football past what's considered one's prime.

For those not in the know, Blanda was a quarterback and kicker who played until the age of 48, retiring in 1975 after 26 years in the league.

He was the rarity back then. Today, playing football beyond 35, and doing it at a high level, is not uncommon.

With advances in exercises science and sports nutrition, many players with the proper motivation and dedication can maintain outstanding careers, even into their 40s.

The following is a Baker's Dozen list of NFL players who have stopped Father Time and are still playing solid football past the age of 35.

Note: Players like Isaac Bruce who are retiring, but haven't officially announced it yet, are not on this list.

13. Adam Vinatieri, K, 37

One of the greatest clutch kickers in NFL history.

Vinatieri has been to two Pro Bowls and owns four Super Bowl rings. The highlight of his career was the game-winning field goal in Super Bowl XXXVI against the Rams.

He has scored 1,530 points and made 338 field goals in his stellar career.

Vinatieri missed all of last season with a injury and is looking to bounce back in 2010.

12. Jason Hanson, K, 39

Hanson has been the one consistent on a Detroit Lions franchise that has struggled for so long.

The 18-year veteran is fifth all-time in scoring (1,835 points) and owns or shares six NFL kicking records, including most field goals beyond 50 yards (42).

Hanson still has a strong leg from 49 yards on in and he even made a 50-yarder last season.

11. Matt Stover, K, 41

Stover, the all-time leading scorer in Ravens history, came in last season when Adam Vinatieri went down and helped the Colts reach the Super Bowl.

He's the fourth leading scoring in NFL history (2,004 points) and one of only five kickers to score 2,000 or more points.

Stover holds NFL records for most consecutive field goals (38) and most consecutive extra points (469). He was also the oldest person to play and score in a Super Bowl.

He is currently a free agent, but has no plans of retiring just yet. look for him to land with someone once training camp starts.

10. Tony Richardson, FB, 38

Richardson is a blue collar player.

A devastating blocker with good hands, he is still one of the best fullbacks in the game today.

The three-time Pro Bowler was the lead blocker for a Jets team that was tops in the league in rushing last season.

His 215 career receptions and power-running style make Richardson more than just a one-dimensional fullback. He is a key piece of the Jets offense.

9. Kerry Collins, QB, 37

Collins has had an up-and-down career in the NFL, but there's no denying his leadership ability.

The former Penn State star has lead three different teams (Panthers, Giants, and Titans) to the playoffs. He took New York all the way to the Super Bowl during the 2000 season.

Collins, a two-time Pro Bowler, has thrown for 38,618 yards and 192 touchdowns in a 16-year career.

He's taken a backseat to Vince Young in Tennessee, but Jeff Fisher likes having him around just in case.

8. Joey Galloway, WR, 38

Galloway battled injury problems last season and only played in three games last season.

He's back healthy and signed with the Redskins in April.

Despite his age, Galloway is still a speed-burner and a legit deep threat. His career stats stand at 689 receptions for 10,777 yards and 77 TDs.

7. Mushin Muhammad, WR, 37

The all-time leading receiver in Carolina Panthers history, Muhammad has had a solid NFL career despite playing second fiddle to the more flamboyant Steve Smith.

The two-time Pro Bowler caught 53 passes for 581 yards last season and has career totals of 860 catches for 11,438 yards with 62 touchdowns.

Muhammad is currently a free agent, but should be signed soon.

6. Terrell Owens, WR, 37

The mouth that roared is starting to slow down, but T.O. still can be a productive receiver in the NFL, provided some team gives him a chance.

Owens was released by Buffalo after one season in which he produced 55 catches for 829 yards and five scores.

It looks like a down year for Owens until you take a gander at the quarterbacks he had throwing to him.

Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick don't exactly produce fear in the hearts of NFL defenses.

Like him or not, there's no denying his ability on the field.

The six-time Pro Bowler has 1,006 career receptions for 14,954 yards and 144 touchdowns.

Look for him to sign before training camp gets underway.

5. Kevin Mawae, C, 39

Mawae is an eight-time Pro Bowler, including an appearance this past January at the age of 39.

He has been outspoken about being an unsigned free agent, claiming he's being blackballed because of his position as president of the NFLPA .

Mawae was named to the All-Decade Team of the 2000s and is one of the games all-time greatest centers.

4. Derrick Mason, WR, 36

Derrick Mason is like a vintage wine, he gets better with age.

The three-time Pro Bowler had an excellent 2010 campaign - hauling down 73 passes for 1,028 yards with seven scores.

His career stats are even more impressive: 863 catches for 11,089 yards and 59 touchdowns.

Look for an even bigger year in 2010 for Mason with Anquan Boldin joining the fold in Baltimore, and Joe Flacco another year older and wiser.

3. Brian Dawkins, S, 36

One of the saddest days in history for an Eagles fan was February 28, 2009.

That was the day Brian Dawkins signed a contract with the Denver Broncos after Philadelphia didn't make an offer for him.

Dawkins immediately made the Denver defense better with his intensity and leadership.

He was rewarded with his eighth Pro Bowl selection after a 95-tackle, two interception performance in 2009.

A member of the 2000s All-Decade team, Dawkins is one of the best to ever play his position and a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

2. Pat Williams, DT, 37

Even at 37, Williams is the best run-stuffing tackle in the game.

Paired with teammate Kevin Williams, the Vikings have led the league in rushing defense three of the past four seasons. In 2009, Minnesota was second.

Williams has gone to three Pro Bowls and shows no signs of wearing down. Another solid year should be in the works.

1. Brett Favre, QB, 40

Who else did you expect?

Just when you thought the ageless wonder couldn't top himself, Favre silenced the critics last year by having perhaps the best season of his amazing career.

The all-time NFL passing leader capped a marvelous season by leading Minnesota to the NFC Championship game before losing to New Orleans in overtime.

Favre's stats in 2009 were incredible: 363-of-531, for 4,202 yards, and 33 touchdowns. He was voted to his 11th Pro Bowl.

He recently had ankle surgery giving every indication he's coming back for season number 20.

With Favre back, look for the Vikings to make another Super Bowl run.