Derrick Morgan tops the list of juniors who say they will examine their draft options after Georgia Tech's bowl game. Morgan was a first-team All-America pick by The Associated Press on Tuesday. Receiver Demaryius Thomas, a third-team All-America selection, running back Jonathan Dwyer and safety Morgan Burnett also are possibilities to enter the draft. Morgan and Dwyer are widely regarded as possible first-round picks. The juniors are expected to submit their names to the NFL Draft Advisory Board this week. The board advises underclassmen on where they might be rated for the draft. Dwyer said "it's pretty weird" to see so many Georgia Tech juniors included in NFL mock drafts on the Internet. Morgan said he is curious to see what the other juniors will do. And Thomas confirmed he's still considering his options despite telling a reporter recently he had decided to return for his senior season.
ESPN reports that Illinois wide receiver Arrelious Benn will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. "This is a dream for me. I've proven myself on the college level and I've proven I can make plays," Benn said Wednesday. Benn is the third-ranked receiver by Todd McShay of Scouts Inc., behind Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant and Notre Dame's Golden Tate. Benn is ranked No. 33 overall on Scouts' list of draft prospects. "I can do returns, but I also consider myself a pure receiver. I've got the size advantage and I have a real hunger to prove myself," Benn said. Been saiid at a news conference Wednesday he thinks he is ready for the National Football League and wants to take care of his family. Benn is considered a top prospect and high-round pick even after a disappointing junior season at Illinois. Draft expert and former NFL general manager Gil Brandt believes Benn will be a second-round pick. His mom Denise wants him to stay at Illinois but that does not look like it is going to happen.
Last year NFL champions not only ride a five-game losing streak, they look like a team that has lost its will after stunning defeats at the hands of Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland. The players failed to back up Tomlin's promises of "Redemption Sunday" in Baltimore and to "unleash hell in December." Then the coach himself failed to back up his promises to make lineup and schematic changes in Cleveland. If the losing does not stop, their five-game skid could turn into eight, the longest by the Steelers since 1969. That was Chuck Noll's first season as coach of a dreadful team with a long history of losing. The Steelers remain technically in the race for a playoff spot, as remote as it may be, but their real battle is to regain their footing over their final three games.
In what was supposed to be a heavyweight bout pitting the NFL's top two rushers, Tennessee's Chris Johnson won a lopsided decision. But to be fair, the Rams' Steven Jackson wasn't in fighting shape. Playing for the third consecutive Sunday despite not practicing during the week because of a back injury that a source close to the situation said is a herniated disc, Jackson finally ran out of juice. He gutted out 89 yards two weeks ago against Seattle, followed by 112 last week at Chicago. But against the Titans' eighth-ranked run defense, Jackson was limited to 47 yards on 19 carries, a meager 2.5 yards per attempt. He caught two passes for 6 yards, finishing with a total of 53 yards from scrimmage. Johnson carried 28 times for 117 yards and latched on to three passes for 69 yards. That adds up to 186 yards of total offense. Johnson also scored three touchdowns, on runs of 39 and 3 yards, and a screen pass with which he dashed 66 yards, zigzagging between defenders to the end zone. Johnson, a second-year pro out of East Carolina, is an unusual blend of power, quickness and raw speed.Johnson boosted his league-leading rushing total to 1,626 yards, a pace that would put him at just over 2,000 for the season. The NFL record is 2,105, set by Eric Dickerson of the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. "Gaining 2,000 yards and breaking the record, it's not going to be easy," Johnson said. "It's a tough job, so I don't expect to go out there and have it be easy for me."
Alabama tailback Mark Ingram made history tonight, winning "the closest race ever" to claim the 2009 Heisman Trophy. Ingram beat out Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Nebraska defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow (in that order). Ingram won with 227 first-place votes and 1,304 overall points. Gerhart finished with 222 first-place votes and 1,276 points. In doing so, Ingram becomes the first player ever in Alabama's storied program to win the Heisman. Before tonight, the best finish was David Palmer (third place) in 1993. He is only the second running back in the last 10 years to win the award and the first since Southern Cal's Reggie Bush in 2005. Below is the video if you missed it:
Man I swear if the ACC don't have at least a .500 record in their bowl game then they should be stripped of their BCS spot. No questions asked either. I mean the Iowa-GT game, GT should have a field day personally I feel. Unless something funky happens like last year vs LSU, I see GT by at least two TDs. I know that's crazy since the ACC can't win the BCS games, but I feel they will make it back to back years. VT vs Tennessee, I have VT winning in maybe a blowout or a field goal. Have yet to make up my mind. For VT to win the players: Ryan Williams and Tyrod Taylor will have to come ready to play. I mean if Ryan Williams goes off like he did the last time he was on the field, it will be a long night for the Kiffins. Now here is where we get to the first toss-up matchup for the ACC. Florida State against WVU. Bobby Bowden coaching for and against both his teams in his last game. I mean you would think FSU would win but there in lies the problem. I have seen FSU this year and they are not the same. It seems like every game they lose the just get worse and worse. So I think I will give this win to WVU by under a touchdown. If Ponder was playing I would go FSU but Noel has a stellar day. Next game should be the UM all day. I mean I am not taking anything from Wisconsin but the year the U is having you would think they would finish it off with them starting their bid for a Nat'l Championship hopes for next season. Um, for the next game no comment is needed just one name: CJ SPILLER. You wish nothing but for this guy to go out on top and even do better than his ACC Championship performance. Will it happen? Odds say no but he will have a decent game. The next two games I have different opinions on. I think I will get one of them out of the way by saying, you would BELIEVE that the Trojans will finish the season with a huge win. This year though, this USC team has been unpredictable. For "common sense" sake, we'll just say this is one game the ACC will definitely lose and should be BIG. Personally, I won't watch the game just watch highlights on ESPN. The last game is a toss-up and is just like the FSU-WVU game. The match up is between UNC and Pitt. A pair of teams that lost to N.C. State in a bowl? Imagine where these two would be without the Wolfpack lost? UNC lost in this game last year. UNC's D usually thrives against running teams and that's Pitt but they are facing a running back that is one of the best. I will not pick that game as of right now. So by the look of this, the ACC should only lose 1 game and they have 2 toss ups but that still puts them at 4-3. Not a bad record from last season where you had 10 and only won 4 of them (which was embarrassing considering Conf USA did better than them).
Tonight I checked out the two-hour documentary called "The U". It should catch the eye of many football fans especially those that appreciate Miami. Director Billy Corben takes an in-depth look at the Hurricanes' teams during the 1980s and early 90s. It begins with the rise under coach Howard Schnellenberger, continues with the flamboyant Jimmy Johnson teams and ends with the Dennis Erickson era. The film portrays the good: the national titles. It also focuses on the bad: the brash and off-the-field problems. I won't spill too many beans about it but it is a must see. The next time it comes on is Sunday at 11 p.m. on ESPN2. You definitely need to DVR TiVO or what ever it is you want to call it.
They called him the “savior,” and Will Korn was promised he would compete to be the Tigers' starting quarterback right out of high school, to Charlie Whitehurst. Korn struggled to gain traction, and he announced he would graduate in May and leave the football program. Korn will have two years of eligibility remaining. With two years of eligibility remaining he wants to go where he can contribute as a starter. So he plans to transfer to another school in hopes of earning the starting quarterback position. Korn did not identify any possible destinations. Although he will continue to practice with the team and would be available to play in the Music City Bowl against Kentucky if needed.
When Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about the possibility of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade playing on the same NBA team beginning in the 2010-11 season he said that it was fantasy basketball to wish that. But when the question was asked to Dwyane, there was a more optimistic outlook claiming it's something we've talked about," Wade said. "He's one of my good friends and we both decided at the same time to sign the same contract to give ourselves the ability to be able to control our own destiny. And if we want to, we could team up." The whole thing may be the point of view of each player regarding where he thinks he'll have the best opportunity to win championships. James might be satisfied that the Cavs and Wade might be dissatisfied with his evaluation of the Heat's potential. If it does happened my only question is who would get top billing? Would the Heat be a Wade-James or a James-Wade production?
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen have welcomed a baby boy. Brady announced the birth today . He said the boy was born Tuesday and that he and Bundchen had not chosen a name. He called it “a wonderful experience in my life.” Brady also has a 2-year-old son, Jack, with actress Bridget Moynahan. Bundchen is a mother for the first time. The birth was first reported by people.com. This is a congrats to the ''Brady Bunch''.
