Yeah, that’s what this weekends sporting events felt like – Dirty deeds done dirt cheap. 

MLB.  They say the month of October is for the color Orange, and in the case of MLB, that means you San Francisco Giants!  In the beginning and all the way to the end, I didn’t think you could do it, but boys you performed so well, it’s incredible.   Now let’s extend this party throughout the month!   Memo to Kung Fu Panda (AKA Pablo Sandoval), now would be a great time to find your bat big boy!   Either way, best of luck Giants!!!

Bobby Cox, you are a PHENOMINAL manager and I respect the hell out of you, but I want the Giants to layeth the smacketh down on your candy ass (no offense)!!!

Let me take this time to say GREAT JOB to the San Diego Padres.  Boys, you were far and away the surprise story of the 2010 season and if you had pulled it out, I would have rooted for you BIG TIME!!! 

As for the Oakland A’s, to end up at exactly .500 and come in second place after most predicted 100 losses was a great accomplishment.  Texas was the buzzsaw this year in the AL West, but now I have reason to believe that next year could be some fun for the boys in Oak-town!

NBA.   Training camps opened – SO FREAKING WHAT!!!  Hey ESPN, what the hell with broadcasting from the Heat training camp at an Air Force base in Pensacola?  What, are you writing off the two-time defending champs Lakers already?

Some a-holes posse played the race card because folks don’t like their meal ticket anymore?  May this team built on collusion fall apart and screw ESPN, ABC, and the NBA.  You all want to sell your souls for the extra dollar be my guest, but if this blows apart in your face, don’t look for sympathy.  Most sports fans are tired of the NBA and ESPN’s act anyway.  May posses rot in HELL!!!

Australian Rules Football.   Damn Collingwood kicked the holy hell out of St. Kilda, didn’t they?

CFL – Montreal @ Calgary .  Watching the Frenchies get lit up never gets old.    Nice job Calgary.  For those of you who like CFL action, here’s the highlight.  Enjoy it…

http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/14543?autostart=true

Beaver Report.   The Beavers had their three game win streak busted, but really they beat themselves.  “Not Smart” penalties, poor use of timeouts, ridiculous turnovers, and really bad offensive play calling (what would you call four consecutive nine yard down and out calls, when running the ball up the gut was working?) absolutely killed the Beavers.  They were winning 17-6 at half, were down 34-17 in the 4^th and came all the way back to tie the game, taking it into OT.  OT was three plays – the Beavers fumbled the first play and lost it, then Sierra threw a bomb to the left, got a 15 yard PI, then ran the exact same play – TOUCHDOWN SIERRA.  Final – Sierra 40, Beavers 34 (OT).  Not So Little Fan was the recipient of many chop blocks to the knee which pissed dear old dad right the hell off, but he’s a big boy and handled himself accordingly…

High School Report.  The Mustangs bounced back in a big way, beating their opponents 34-0.  The offense simply ran their double wing offense up the gut and dared the Indians to stop them, which they couldn’t – if the Mustangs didn’t gain 500 yards on the ground, I’d be shocked! 

Now let me tell you, I absolutely LOVE High School Football, but a game like this is just not fun for anybody, especially the fans of the visiting team who drove two hours to get here – I left early in the 4^th, but not before downing the traditional Italian Sausage with green peppers and onions.

NFL.    Before I rant, major props to the NFL for the Breast Cancer Awareness.  Great job!!!

Chuck Cecil (Titans Def. Coord) flipping of the ref was funny, but was it funny when Sheriff Goddell dropped the hammer on him for 40 Large?

Nate Clements, your team is 0-3 and you have the game winning interception, don’t advance the ball!  Thanks for giving Atlanta yet another chance you scrub!

Is there now any doubt about Indy’s defense when they give up 31 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars?   Heads need to roll in Indy.

Absolute props to the Detroit Lions, but Green Bay, it just might be time for you to pull your head out of your butt!  Giving up 26 to Shawn Hill makes me wonder just how good you really are.

Cincinnati – what the hell are you doing letting CLEVELAND beat you?  TO gets 200+ yards in receptions and that’s great, but that defense letting the Brownies get 23?   

Hey New Orleans, Winning by two over Carolina?  Really?  WTF?  Is there any fire in you boys? 

Tennessee.  Nice freaking job losing to the Donkeys.  Your defense had the game under control and you let KYLE ORTON go down the field on you? 

Seattle, you beat San Diego and lay an egg to the Lambs?  Uh, you suck, or are at best inconsistent.

Speaking of laying eggs, hey Philly you do that in front of your fighting, cheese steak lovin fans?  The boo birds should have come out.  

Nice job Miami, if your Special Teams coach is still employed Tuesday afternoon, you suck!!!

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/cnn_host_rick_sanchez_fired_over_47GKLwpTP4TRoY2j9GCj5K?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=

Rant of the Week –Rick Sanchez .  CNN firing Rick Sanchez for calling out the “Northeast liberal media establishment” was spot on and I have no problem with him bagging those a-holes, rock on my brother.  But calling Jon Stewart a racist goes too far.  What little I’ve seen of Stewart’s show and interviews – he seems to make sense and has given me no reason to believe that he’s racist. 

It may have been another case of “the man trying to keep you down”, but don’t dog out Jon Stewart because CNN is stupid – that’s on them!  Perhaps if you want to call somebody a racist, how ‘bout the liberal media establishment that you worked for and supported.  I don’t see much diversity there…

Before I go…  While catching the end of CBS Sunday Morning, I caught the ending nature scape and thought of my man Harvey D./Big Toke.  Take it away Charles…

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6902372n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Peace and ranting forever!!!

Well, the boys at TSN did it – they finally pulled the plug on the blogs, or at least they’re out of my line of peripheral vision.  RIP to what was once a great place to hang out.  Ah screw the sentiment, it’s time to move on…

MLB.  NL West has three teams separated by 1.5 games with two weeks left to go?  Can it get any better? 

Now we all like to rail on ESPiN, but this is one time I have to prop them up.  They finally listened to the fans and got away from all Boston/NYC on their Sunday Night games.  Nice job boys, way to present other teams in the league.

CFL – Calgary @ Saskatchewan.  Now this is what I’ve come to expect out of the CFL.

http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/14157?autostart=true

College Football.  Hey Wisky, thank that one dude who didn’t give up on that last play of the first-half because your lethargic asses almost got punked by Arizona State, a school only known for hot chicks making out with each other!

Guess Nebraska’s back, eh?  Or does Washington just suck? 

Hey Beeze, come down off the ledge my man!  A fake field goal in OT?  Brass balls!  Sparty finally got some cool unis too!  The heart attack was a definite downer. 

Michigan, what the hell?  Screwing with and almost losing to UMASS? 

Florida and Texas still struggling? 

Let me have my fun with U$C.  Struggling with Hawaii, Virginia, and now Minnesota?  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Lane Kiffin is the wrong coach at the wrong time for the Trojans.  

No, this pic isn't USC vs. Penn State, it's the -

Beaver Report.  Well, the game went real well Saturday and the boys dominated their home opener by winning 37-3.  Not-so-little fan got two tackles today, but the defense used different defensive packages today, so there was frequent substitutions.  The “Beavs” are 2-0 and facing a stiff test next Saturday at the #6 ranked team in Northern California.     

High School Report.  A slight bit of chill hit the air late in this game and boy did it feel good. 

The boys here at the local high school did some damage against a visiting team from the Modesto area 30-19.  Game should have been much worse, as there were just too many mistakes, as two touchdowns were called back and the one touchdown the visitors scored was on a returned interception.  C’mon boys, clean it up because it just gets tougher next week, their homecoming week playing the Fighting Zebras (yes, I said Zebras). 

While the game was good, the food was even better.  This year, the Quarterback Club added Italian Sausage with sautéed onions and green peppers to the menu, which has included marinated tri-tip sandwiches, steak sandwiches with garlic butter, and the regular standard fare, burgers and dogs.  Fellas, hit the High School games (even if you don’t have a kid to root for), the cost is cheap, the food is good, and the excitement both on and off the field is infectious.

NFL.  Hey NBA, this is why the NFL is far better than your league – you just don’t know what the hell is gonna happen from week to week, especially this season.  You see NBA, the NFL is a league of 32 teams, not just two – ah forget it, David Stern just wouldn’t understand.

Was it me or was there just some spectacular catches on Sunday???

Nice Job Revis.  You called Randy Moss a slouch, he punks you by grabbing a Tom Brady pass with one hand only in the end zone, then all of a sudden you come up lame?  Yeah right.  I’m not big on Moss’ attitude, but never disrespect his ability to play the game.  Oh and Revis, this ain’t the NBA where phantom injuries are accepted, own up that you got punked and come back to fight another day you sissy!

Hey Minnesota Drama Queens and Dallas Cow-sissies – how did you like that?  All I can say is HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Was there some pad popping in that Steeler/Titan game or what???  Damn, VY got smacked around.  Guess reports of Pittsburgh’s demise were greatly exaggerated (wait, a Mark Twain reference here at the Gab?  Oh hell no!!!)…

I was at work, but I heard that there was a Colt defensive sighting.  Is that true?  They’re kinda like UFO’s – rarely seen.

Speaking of that game, it was funny that the only thing they could hype that game with was “the brother bowl”.  Uh NBC, try hyping the Colts/Giants as teams.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m rapidly becoming tired of the name “Manning”.

We here at the Gab don’t like Ray Lewis, but he said something yesterday that is so true.  He said there’s just too much crying in the NFL.  You know what, that murderer (err, alleged murder) is right.  Buckle your chin straps and STFU boys.

Hey guys, the Lions may not have won a game yet, but the roar is back!  Teams had better not check this off as an automatic win. 

Michael Vick says he’s OK with Kevin Kolb being the starter.  Now that was something that I would NEVER have expected.

San Diego wants to trade for Fat Albert?  A. J. Smith, just how stupid are you?

Oh shit, Beeze will be rare form, that schmuck Jimmy Clausen seems to be the odds on favorite to get the next start for Carolina.  News flash, old douchey boy ain't all that!

Rant of the week – Paris Hilton.  So Grand-daddy’s money got her off of a felony rap in Nevada, and she got some dumb shit to cop to a sticky icky charge in South Africa.  I was sure that the Silver State wasn’t gonna let her get away with that, but boy was I wrong.  At least Steve Wynn kicked her skank-ass to the curb as she isn’t allowed at two of his resorts.  I said two weeks ago that this particularly rancid piece of trailer trash is going to be in charge of a corporation eventually and man is that corporation going to sink faster than her head in a motel room or car, or anywhere else for that matter. 

This is particularly vile to say, but if the bitch wants to burn the candle at both ends, let her.  Maybe she’ll OD and we’ll be free of having to hear about her. 

Peace and ranting forever!!!

Jay Berwanger was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, but declined to play. The Chicago Bears traded for his rights after hiring Berwanger's college coach, Clark Shaughnessy, to improve the T-formation offense that had made Berwanger a star at the University of Chicago. 

 

Of the nine players drafted in the first round in 1936, only Berwanger and Notre Dame legend Bill Shakespeare decided not to play. Five players careers did not last past 1939, and the remaining two players careers lasted until 1944.

 

One was Bears Hall of Famer Joe Stydahar. 

 

Other famous facts was that future College Football Hall of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant was drafted in the fourth round by the Brooklyn Dodgers, but Bryant immediately chose to be an assistant at Alabama University instead.

 

Bears Hall of Famer  Danny Fortmann was the fourth from last player drafted that year. 

 

This is a recollection of some of the biggest busts in NFL history, proving the memory of a Jamarcus Russell will fade over time.

 

Berwanger, however, does not belong in this category. 

 

Here is a list of the first picks of NFL drafts that did not play the way their teams and fans expected.

 

 

Tom Harmon

 

Harmon won both the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award after a legendary career at Michigan University. The Chicago Bears made him the first pick of the 1941 draft, but he opted to play for the New York Americans of the second installment of the American Football League instead. 

 

Harmon was also making movies, which paved the way for his children to be actors. Mark Harmon may the most famous, though one daughter starred in Tic-Tac candy commercials in the 80's and another married Ricky Nelson. 

 

He then joined the Army as a pilot and flew several missions in World War II. He was shot down once, and flew a plane into a storm where he was the only surviving member of the crew. These incidents caused leg injuries, but Harmon joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1946. 

 

He played just two years before retiring from the injuries he sustained as a soldier. He scored nine times as a part-time player, including a league leading 84 yard run his rookie season and a league leading 88 yard punt return in his last year. He also picked off 11 passes, scoring once each year. One was returned for a league leading 85 yards as a rookie. 

 

Though the war ravaged his career, his impact in the AFL then is mostly unknown due to poorly kept records and statistics.He had impact in his two years in the NFL, but it came about six seasons after he was drafted by another team.

 

He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, but he could have had more gridiron success in other circumstances.

 

 

 

Angelo Bertelli

 

"The Springfield Rifle" won the 1943 Heisman despite playing just six games for Notre Dame University before joining the Marines because of WWII.

 

That did not stop the Boston Yanks from making him the first pick of the 1944 draft.  He never played for the Yanks, opting to play in the All-American Football Conference for a few years.

 

He joined the Los Angeles Dons in 1946, starting in three games. He spent the next two years as a backup with the Chicago Rockets before retiring with eight touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in his career. 

 

Perhaps he was destined for greater professional gridiron achievements if it were not for the war.

 

His is also the father of ex-Sonic Youth drummer Bob Bert.

 

 

 

Boley Dancewicz

 

 

The first pick of the 1946 draft by the Boston Yanks, this Notre Dame great lasted three years with the team as a reserve before retiring.

 

He started in two games, and ended up with 12 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. The highlight of his career was in 1947, where he led the NFL in yards gained per pass completion.

 

He is the grandfather of quarterback Chris Pizzotti, who has bounced around several NFL training camps the past few years.

 

 

 

 

Bob Fenimore

 

 

The "Blonde Bomber" was a legendary two-time All-American halfback at Oklamhoma A&M, which is now known as Oklahoma State University.

 

A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, he did not play much in his senior year because of injuries. 

 

The Chicago Bears made him the first pick of the 1947 draft.

 

He lasted one season in the league, scoring three times and intercepting two passes in the ten games he appeared in.

 

Fenimore then walked away from the NFL forever.

 

 

 

 

Harry Babcock

 

 

He was a wide receiver taken by the San Francisco 49ers with the first pick of the 1953 draft, which had one of the worst first rounds in NFL history. 

 

Including Babcock, seven of the 13 first round selections were out of the league by 1957 with little contribution. Two others never played in the league. 

 

Babcock's three seasons saw him catch just 16 balls for 181 yards and no scores. He was out of the game after 1955.

 

 

 

 

Bobby Garrett

Garrett was the guy that made teams start doing their homework better before the drafts.

He was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the first pick in 1954. When the quarterback showed up, Cleveland quickly learned he had a severe stutter. 

 

They quickly traded him to the Green Bay Packers, where he lasted one season.

 

He completed 15 of 30 passes for 143 yards and an interception before walking away from the game. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Shaw

The Baltimore Colts made him the first pick in 1955.

 

He started all 12 games as a rookie, but soon found himself on the bench behind undrafted free agent, and future Hal of Famer, Johnny Unitas after breaking a leg in 1956. 

 

He stayed mostly on the Colts bench until 1958, where the Colts won the championship.

He then bounced around as a backup for the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, and the Denver Broncos of the AFL before retiring at the end of the 1962 season.

 

He won 11 of the 29 games he started, and had 41 touchdown passes versus 63 interceptions. 

 

Though there have been bigger busts than Shaw, and it wasn't his fault maybe the games greatest quarterback ever ended up on his team, he certainly did not quite enjoy the career expected of him.

 

 

 

 

King Hill

 

It might be hard to call a guy with a 12 year career a bust, but it wasn't one hoped for when the Chicago Cardinals made him the first pick in 1958.

 

The Cardinals also had the second pick that year, and got great value when they snagged halfback John David Crow. 

 

Hill started out as a quarterback, but barely played as a rookie. He was handed the staring job the next year, and won just two of 11 games.

 

He fumbled the ball a league high 13 times, which was tied with Hall of Famer Bobby Layne as the second most ever, one less than Bobby Wade's 14, at the time. 

 

The Cardinals moved to Saint Louis in 1960, and Hill was moved to punter.

 

He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles the next year and lasted eight years with them as a punter and seldom used quarterback. He rejoined the Cardinals in 1969 as a punter before retiring. 

 

One reason for his longevity was the fact he averaged 41.3 yards per punt on 368 attempts, and never had a kick blocked until his final season.

 

He also was an important man in the players union, holding the title of Vice President of the Players Association in 1968. The league was on strike then, and Hill helped sign the first collective bargaining agreement in NFL history. 

 

Hill immediately stepped into coaching in 1970 as the offensive coordinator of the Houston Oilers, where he stayed until 1980. He then took the same job with the New Orleans Saints from 1981 to 1986 before returning to the Eagles as a scout for six years. 

 

Though he has a fine career as a punter, no one drafts a punter with the first pick of the draft.

 

He threw 48 touchdown passes, but he also tossed 71 interceptions and won just seven of the 30 games he started.

 

 

 

 

 

Randy Duncan

 

The Green Bay Packers made this quarterback the first pick of the 1959 draft after a legendary career at Iowa University, where he was the 1958 Big Ten MVP, Walter Camp and Helms Foundation Player of the Year, and finished second in the Heisman vote. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

 

Not liking the contract offer of the Packers, he bolted to the Canadian Football League to be a member of the BC Lions. He lasted two years there before deciding to join the Dallas Texans of the AFL in 1961. 

 

He spent most of the year as a backup to Pro Bowler Cotton Davidson, though he did start twice himself and won once. He threw one touchdown pass that year, then retired from the game to become a lawyer.

 

 

 

 

Terry Baker

 

Baker was an exciting athlete drafted by the Los Angeles Rams first overall in 1963.

He won the 1962 Heisman at Oregon State University, and also excelled at basketball. His team made it to the Final Four that year, making him the only Heisman winner to accomplish this feat.

 

Sports Illustrated named him their Sportsman of the Year and he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

 

He was a running quarterback, but the Rams ran a system that asked for a pocket passer. He played sparingly over his three years in the NFL, mostly lining up at running back.

 

Baker threw 21 career passes, completing 11. He also caught 30 passes and ran for 219 yards on 58 carries with one touchdown. 

 

Unhappy with the Rams, he went to the CFL and joined the Edmonton Eskimos.

He retired after one season.

 

His selection has to be one of the most curious, because the Rams seemed intent on making him something he was not instead of adjusting some of their playbook to his style.

 

 

 

 

Walt Patulski

The Buffalo Bills made him the first selection in 1972.

A big defensive end with good speed, the former Notre Dame standout had finished ninth in the 1971 Heisman voting.

 

When he arrived in Buffalo, big things were expected. After five quarterback sacks as a rookie, he improved to seven the following year and was named Defensive Player of the Week after the 11th game.

 

He then got nine and a half sacks over the next two years. 

 

Buffalo then decided to trade him to the Saint Louis Cardinals before the 1976 season, but he hurt his knee and missed the entire year. He returned in 1977, then retired at seasons end. 

 

Though Patulski had some success, it wasn't what both he and the Bills had expected and hoped for.

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Sims

 

The New England Patriots tabbed this defensive end with the first pick of the 1982 draft.

It was a strike year that season, so Sims had three sacks over nine games. He played in just five contests the next year because of injuries. 

 

His best season as a pro was in 1985, when he had a career high five and a half sacks as New England made it to Super Bowl XX before losing.

 

He spent three of his last four years injured mostly. He played four total games over two seasons.  

 

In 1980, he was caught with drugs and the Patriots released him, thus ending his career.

Sims is considered by many as squandered talent.

 

He was called "Game Day" because he preferred not to practice during the week.

 

 

 

 

Steve Emtman

 

The Indianapolis Colts had the first two draft picks of the 1992 draft. Emtman was the first, linebacker Quenton Coryatt was the second.

 

Coryatt lasted six years with the team, getting eight and a half sacks and three interceptions before playing four games for the Dallas Cowboys in 1999 and retiring at seasons end. 

 

Emtman was an athletic defensive tackle with a "cant miss" tag on him.

 

He came out as a junior after finishing fourth in the Heisman voting. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

 

He got off to a fast start as a rookie, getting three sacks and intercepting a ball, returning it 90 yards for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. Two weeks later, he blew out his left knee against the Dolphins and was out for the year.

 

He then blew out his other knee in the fifth game of the following year, shelving him again. He came back again the next year, but ruptured a disc in the first game. 

 

Emtman continued to play three more games before the pain became unbearable and his season was shut down early for the third consecutive season. 

 

He joined the Dolphins in 1995, playing all 16 games for the only time of his career as a reserve.

 

After playing in 13 the next year, he joined the Washington Redskins for four games in 1997 before retiring. 

 

Obvious bad luck derailed a very promising career, but Emtman's toughness was undeniable in his ability to come back for more yearly.

 

 

 

 

Ki-Jana Carter

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

The National Football League has a wasteland of first round draft picks who never did much if or when they played. Many players are on ever draft board every year with lackluster numbers few expected at the time they were chosen. 

In 1936, the NFL created a draft. There were nine teams in the league at that time, so they held a nine round draft.

The league was not very popular at the time, taking a distant backseat to Major League Baseball and college football.  Many of the players drafted eschewed the opportunity to play in the NFL, a practice that continued into the 1950's, because they could earn much more money working elsewhere.

This includes the first player ever drafted, who happened to also be the first winner of the Heisman Trophy.

 

Steve Emtman

The Indianapolis Colts had the first two draft picks of the 1992 draft. Emtman was the first, linebacker Quenton Coryatt was the second.

Coryatt lasted six years with the team, getting eight and a half sacks and three interceptions before playing four games for the Dallas Cowboys in 1999 and retiring at seasons end. 

Emtman was an athletic defensive tackle with a "cant miss" tag on him.

He came out as a junior after finishing fourth in the Heisman voting. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

He got off to a fast start as a rookie, getting three sacks and intercepting a ball, returning it 90 yards for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. Two weeks later, he blew out his left knee against the Dolphins and was out for the year.

He then blew out his other knee in the fifth game of the following year, shelving him again. He came back again the next year, but ruptured a disc in the first game. 

Emtman continued to play three more games before the pain became unbearable and his season was shut down early for the third consecutive season. 

He joined the Dolphins in 1995, playing all 16 games for the only time of his career as a reserve.

After playing in 13 the next year, he joined the Washington Redskins for four games in 1997 before retiring. 

Obvious bad luck derailed a very promising career, but Emtman's toughness was undeniable in his ability to come back for more yearly.

 

Bad luck met Carter early in his career, a few weeks after the Cincinnati Bengals made the running back the first selection in 1995.

 

He blew out his knee the third time he ever touched the ball in an exhibition game, putting him on the sideline for the year. 

 

He came back the next season and scored 15 touchdowns over two years before injury struck him again. After appearing in just four games over two seasons, Cincinnati cut him.

 

The Washington Redskins picked him up for one season before he moved onto the New Orleans Saints and played in ten games over two years before retiring. 

 

He lasted seven years in the NFL, gaining just 1,144 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns.

 

Yahoo Sports named him as the worst number-one draft pick since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, though injuries had a great part as to the reason why he struggled.

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Couch

This quarterback was the first selection of the 1999 draft by the Cleveland Browns, who were an expansion team.

 

Both he and the team struggled to two wins that year, though Couch did show promise.

 

He was hurt the next year, appearing in seven games, then seemed to regress each season even though the team was improving with more victories.

 

After a mediocre 2003 season bereft with injury, Cleveland parted ways with him. 

 

Couch spent several years talking about playing again, but he never made a roster and struggled with rotator cuff issues.

 

Too bad the UFL wasn't out then for him.

 

 

 

 

Courtney Brown

 

The first pick of the 2000 draft by the Cleveland Browns, this defensive end stayed in the NFL until 2005 with inconsistent play in between injuries. 

 

His rookie season was the only time he played all 16 games, and he got four and a half sacks. He duplicated that sack total in just five games the next year, as well as scoring his only touchdown off a fumble recovery, before he was befell by injury. 

 

He had a career best six sacks in 13 games during 2003, but played in just two games the next year. Cleveland cut him, and he signed with the Denver Broncos.

 

He lasted one year with them before retiring after 2005. 

 

Blessed with good size and athleticism, his critics felt he lacked the inner drive to be the best player he possibly could be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Carr

 

This quarterback was the first pick ever by the expansion Houston Texans in 2002.

 

Playing behind a porous offensive line, Carr was hit virtually every time he attempted a pass.

 

He fumbled 21 times as a rookie, leading the league with 12 recoveries while being sacked an NFL record 76 times. 

 

He led the league in times sacked his third and fourth seasons as well, though he showed some improvements. He led the NFL in completion percentage in 2006, but the Texans cut him anyways. 

 

After a one year stop with the Carolina Panthers in 2007, where he won one of four starts, he joined the New York Giants for two years as a backup. He then signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a reserve for 2010. 

 

Though his career may not yet be done, few quarterbacks took the pounding Carr did in his first five years.

 

 

 

 

 

JaMarcus Russell

 

The first pick of the 2007 draft by the Oakland Raiders, his career might be a lesson as to what can happen when you toss a quarterback onto the field before he is ready.

 

Undeveloped talent might be the best term for Russell so far, but his work ethic is widely regarded as terrible. 

 

Russell was recently cut by the Raiders and is unemployed.

 

A year or two in the UFL would do him good, but there has yet to be a story of his interest in the upstart league. 

 

Blessed with enormous size for a quarterback, and rare arm strength, the knock of him is what is in his head and heart.

 

A story circulated around Raiders headquarters that a coach asked Russell to study a DVD. When asked about it the next day Russell reportedly said he learned a lot. Problem was, he way handed a blank DVD, which further exposed his work ethic and interest in football. 

 

Only 25-years old, it is fathomable he can one day return to the NFL and salvage his career. It is looking like a long shot at best right now, because many feel he will never put in the required work.

 

 

 

Honorable Mention

 

Alex Smith was the first pick of the 2005 draft and has mostly been unimpressive thus far. He might be running out of chances to get off this list.  

 

The AAFC held drafts from 1947 to 1949. Many of their drafted players elected to play in the NFL instead. 

 

Frank Aschenbrenner was the first ever player drafted. He lasted one year with the Buffalo Bills, carrying the ball eight times for 14 yards before retiring. 

 

Clyde Scott was the first pick in 1948 by the Buffalo Bills, but he was also the eighth overall selection by the Philadelphia Eagles. He joined the Eagles for just over three years, before finishing his career with the Detroit Lions. He won a championship with each team. 

 

Abe Gibron was the last number-one draft pick of the AAFC, also by the Bills. He played ten games in Buffalo, then the league went defunct.

 

He joined the Cleveland Bowns for over 6 years, making the Pro Bowl four times. He was traded to the Philadephia Eagles late in 1956, then joined the Chicago Bears in 1958. He retired after the 1959 season, having won three championships with Cleveland. 

 

He later became a head coach of the Chicago Bears for three years, then one year for the Chicago Winds of the World Football League. He later joined the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was beloved for his sense of humor and love of food. 

 

The fourth installment of the American Football League held drafts from 1960 to 1966.

Like the AAFC, many drafted players went to the NFL, though the AFL was much more aggressive and signed more players.

 

This aggressiveness led to better play than what the NFL was producing, forcing a merger between the two leagues. 

 

The 1960 draft was a territorial draft, though officially the Oakland Raiders selected a player in a supplemental draft who never played for them. 

 

The first pick of the 1961 draft was Bob Gaiters by the Denver Broncos, but he opted to play with the New York Giants instead.

 

Roman Gabriel was the first pick in 1962 by the Raiders, but he too chose the NFL. 

 

Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan was the first selection in 1963 by the Kansas City Chiefs, and he became the first to actually play in the AFL. Amazingly, the New York Giants waited until the 19th round to draft him in the NFL, and 264 players were chosen before him. 

 

Buchanan led the Chiefs to two Super Bowls, winning one, in a 13-year career that saw him named to eight Pro Bowls and four First Team All-Pro honors. 

 

Jack Concannon was the first pick in 1964 by the Boston Patriots. The NFL Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the second round, so he chose to go there. He lasted ten years, promarily as a reserve. 

 

"Broadway" Joe Namath was the first pick of the 1965 AFL draft by the New York Jets.

 

He is widely regarded as the man who saved that franchise from extinction.

 

He became the first man to throw for over 4,000 yards, quite a feat in the ten-yard chuck rule era. He lasted 12 years with the Jets and one with the Los Angeles Rams.

 

He led the league in passing yards three times, as well as interceptions. He went to five Pro Bowls, but the Hall of Famer is best remembered for the "Guarantee". 

 

His Jets upset a favored Oakland Raiders in the AFL Champoionship, a team that handled them just five weeks earlier, that enabled them to oppose the heavily favored NFL Champion Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

 

New York won 16-7, shaking up the world of professional football and bringing respect to the AFL and helped force the eventual merger in 1970. 

 

The 1966 season was the last AFL Draft before the leagues merged their drafts.

The Miami Dolphins selected Jim Grabowski, but he elected to join the Green Bay Packers. They had selected him ninth overall that season. 

 

Though Buchanan and Namath were the only first overall picks to play in the AFL, their impact is historic.

 

Both brought the AFL their only Super Bowl trophies,proving to all their league wasn't as inferior as the NFL loved to claim.

 

They made football better then, which in turn made the future of professional football better off.

 

 

 

Week 2 Picks (8-7 Last Week) :

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans

Dennis Dixon wasn't great in his start last week, but the defense was. This unit realizes they need to carry the team right now.

Steelers 20 Titans 13





Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys

Dallas was horrible last week, a far cry from the team expected to win their division. If they do not beat a team that had no business defeating the Detroit Lions last week, they may as well go home now.

Cowboys 23 Bears 21





Buffalo Bills @ Green Bay Packers

Green Bay handled the Philadelphia Eagles last week, but lost star running back Ryan Grant for the year. We will see how they will look without him this week.

Packers 24 Bills 21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers

Tampa Bay outlasted Cleveland last week, even though their quarterback has an injured thumb on his throwing hand. Carolina's quarterback, Matt Moore, needs to play better than he did last week, and I expect him to.

Panthers 27 Buccaneers 17






Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns

While Kansas City provided a nice surprise last week in their upset victory over the San Diego Chargers, the Browns frustrated a few by dropping their game to Tampa Bay. Though neither team will get to the playoffs this year, but it will be an interesting battle of rebuilding teams.

Chiefs 31 Browns 24






Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings

Both teams like to pound their opponents into the turf, so this will be a real smash mouth grind. Both have good running games, but less than stellar passing attacks. This could go into overtime.

Vikings 23 Dolphins 20







Arizona Cardinals @ Atlanta Falcons

Arizona squeaked by the Saint Louis Rams last week, while the Falcons went toe-to-toe with Pittsburgh into overtime before losing. Though the Cardinals have a good defense, it isn't quite as good as the Steelers, so Atlanta should be more productive.

Falcons 34 Cardinals 21







Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals
Game of the Week

Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho Cinco's egos will be the downfall of Cincinnati this year. Both cry for the ball every play, but are obviously on the downsides of their careers. Owens seems to have a foot in his career's grave.

Tight end Jermaine Greshem and the running game are more dangerous weapons, but we won't see enough of it because of the two babbling divas. This was seen last week when the New England Patriots thrashed them.

Baltimore was amped up last week, so critics expect a let down in a short week to prepare. This is a veteran team, so their Super Bowl candidacy will broadcast their intentions this weekend. The great teams win these games.

Ravens 30 Bengals 28





Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions

While the Lions were robbed last week, the Eagles started their season flat footed. Both teams will be playing their backup quarterbacks this week. Philadelphia's Michael Vick is now getting the chance he once thought he'd never get again. He has a good chance of running and throwing for over 100 yards.

Eagles 34 Lions 17






Saint Louis Rams @ Oakland Raiders

While the Rams played fairly well in their loss last week, the Raiders played poorly. Oakland needs to bounce back this week.

Raiders 27 Rams 21






Seattle Seahawks @ Denver Broncos

While the Seahawks surprised many in their blow out victory over the 49ers, the Broncos dropped a game some thought they would win. While neither team is looking very strong right now, this should be a game that goes to the wire.

Broncos 24 Seahawks 23







Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins

The Redskins benefited from poor play calling by the Dallas Cowboys last week. Their top two running backs averaged almost five yards a carry, but the team decided to throw too much.

 

Houston will not make this same mistake, especially after Arian Foster had the second most productive ground game of any player in NFL history. Washington is expected to show more offensive punch than last week.

Texans 26 Redskins 21
 

New England Patriots @ New York Jets

While the Patriots proved themselves to be a serious Super Bowl contender last week, the Jets showed they are further away than they expected. New England will widen the gap further.

Patriots 27 Jets 13




Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are coming off a crushing loss last Monday, and they need to rebound quickly. Jacksonville looked solid last week, and will try to build off that momentum.

Chargers 34 Jaguars 24





New York Giants @ Indianapolis Colts

Neither team was very impressive last week. While the Giants defense destroyed the Carolina Panthers, their offense made way too many mistakes. The Colts tiny defensive line might just what New York needs in this battle of the Manning brothers.

Giants 27 Colts 26




New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers

This is not how the Niners wanted to start this season. They got blown out by Seattle, a team most did not expect a lot of this year. Now they face the defending champions, who are coming off an impressive win and had a few extra days to prepare as well.

Saints 37 49ers 20  

Why this picture?  Because I'm dedicating this blog to pimpin' Football!!!  First and foremost, I have to be the proud papa:

Beaver Report.  Work sucks as I had to miss my son’s junior college debut, and of course what a game to miss.  The Beavers won 36-33.  The Beavs were up big, and it would have finished that way, except for some crazy tips of the oblong.  Not-so-little fan was named one of the team captains, only the second “freshman” ever to have that honor.  He promptly went out and got a sack as well as a few tackles.

Son, if you're trolling around on here, great job and in case you didn't freaking know, I'm one proud Dad!      

CFL – Sasky @ Winnepeg.  Pablo and Ark have got to be pissed because the Bombers dropped a Nuke on Big Green!   What the hell happened to the Riders?  Now I know that Winnipeg can play good ball at times, but that?  At least my BC Lions are coming up. 

 http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/14031?autostart=true

By the way, do they really call this rivalry the “Banjo Bowl”?  Insert “Deliverance” crack-backs here!

College Football.   Watching James Madison do VaTech like that, my thoughts ran back to a friend of mine.  He has a story to tell!  You have to stretch it awhile, but if you think about it, you can apply his story to Boise State and College Football…

Here’s to Boise State kicking in the door and sticking it to the man!!!

If I’m West Virginia, I’m pissed!  What the hell is the benefit of staying in the Big East, a trip to the Orange Bowl year after year?  There will be no chance for them to contend for a national championship if they stay in the Big Least.  They need to go very public about moving out of the Big East. 

U$C BARELY gets by Virginia?  Trojan Boy seems to have gotten a break from the refs on an illegal block call by a ref who admitted later it was wrong.  Of course, if anybody not named Kiffin had been coaching these guys, U$C would have been blowing out Virginia by the half.  Seriously, Pat Haden needs to clean house.  He can’t be happy with what he sees coming out of Rocky Top. 

Hey Little Ten, Penn State?  Yeah right, about what I expected – no competition for ‘Bama, Wisconsin has no killer instinct.  Minnesota needs to stay the hell away from the Dakotas.  That’s the second recent loss to a team from the Dakotas. 

Pac-10 Time.  Hey Seattle Flannel, good to see that the Cougs pulled one off.  A win is a win I guess, but a one point squeaker over Montana State?  Colorado, welcome to the Pac-10, did you like you’re first visit before moving into the neighborhood?  Your sisters in liberal thinking over in Bezerkeley whooped your candy asses!  Oh, and Stanford ROLLING the Gambler and UCLA didn’t suck either!

Damn, Montana lost to Cal Poly SLO?

Navy, I’m getting real worried about you.  Barely beating Georgia Southern? 

Florida State, I haven’t forgot about you taking that ass-whooping from the Okies.  That sure as hell wasn't cool.  In fact, it pretty much sucked. 

 NFL. 

Hey Dallas, how’d that taste?  You bought the hype, now live with it.  The O-Line sucks, but don’t blame this on them, bad coaching and poor execution got your asses!!!  Oh, and only scoring 7 points against the Dead-skins?  What’s left to say?  Uh, how ‘bout…

Speaking of buying the hype, hey Jets can you:

While we’re on the subject of hype, hey 49ers did you spend the entire off-season believing yours?  Somebody, anybody wake Alex Smith up and tell him that his receivers aren’t 12 feet tall.  You’re welcome Seahawk fan…

And while I’m ranting, hey Joe Flacco, you have some real quality receivers.  How ‘bout getting the ball to them rather than living off of defensive penalties.  B-more should give the game ball to the Zebras!

I have a problem with the touchdown that was disallowed costing Detroit the game in Chi-town.  I'm disappointed in the NFL for this, but I highly respect Swartz for his measured comments.  He’s right, but at the same time, you’ve got a team FINALLY headed in the right direction only for this to happen?   Let’s see how the Lions handle the adversity.  I suspect that they just might show some character.  Time for Suh to really kick some ass!  Hey IHM, you've got a great asset in Shaun Hill.  He's gonna win ya some games, I promise!

Damn, I wanna bust a cap into Indy.  Colts fans had better take their defensive problems far more seriously now.

Hey Ocho Cinco, you just got your asses kicked by the Pats, and the very next night your ass is hosting Monday Night Raw?  You’re kidding right?

Did I just see Kansas City punk out the Bolts?  Gotta say that I’m starting to see some talent in Kansas City.  It might take two years or so, but we may just be seeing a new power rising in the NFL – provided the douches don’t go on lockout/strike.

On the other side, San Dawg didn’t heed my warning and get rid of Norv Turner.  Dumb, REALLY DUMB!  Rivers looked horrible tonight.

Rant of the week – MTV Video Music Awards.  Those who know me know I love my music, but today I’m seriously considering what’s become of music.  Unfortunately, my niece was watching this abomination and I was forced to listen to this drivel.   The day where Lady Gaga is recognized as the best performer in music is the day music dies.  This show was despicable at best!

Toasting Douche-bags, assholes, scumbags?  Kanye West, what the hell was that?   What were you trying to say?  Your lyrics made no sense, and those idiots masquerading as spectators are stupid. 

Now I know that we here at the Gab get a little “salty” at times, but usually when we do it has a point to it.  The stupid twit of a hostess (who the hell is Chelsea Handler anyway?) of this “show” was just throwing shit on the wall to see what would stick.  Hey Chelsea, begging for cock on allegedly national TV doesn’t make you funny, it makes you a desperate slut!

Oh and MTV, are you that desperate for viewership that you have to get 64 year old skank Cher to come out in a thong?  That’s probably the most disturbing thing in like EVER. 

Final Rant – Floyd Mayweather.  He may be a sissified alleged racist, but to go so far as to threaten to make the mother of your child and her new boyfriend disappear?  You are a coward, probably having your posse do your dirty work! 

Peace and ranting forever!!!