NFL | Thoughts from a fat white guy

Why I Love Brady Quinn

// April 2nd, 2009 // 4 Comments » // Uncategorized

Recently I have been getting “fan” mail, telling me I’ve taken that nasty turn to negative town (with a short rest stop at bitter-bed-and-breakfast). Well I am here to finally build someone up, instead of breaking him down.
So here it is: Why I Love Brady Quinn
I have been writing this post in my head for a while now, I’d say since the 2007 NFL Draft. When a poor, helpless Quinn looked like the prom queen with no one to dance with. As he fell to the 22nd pick, Quinn showed excellent composure as he got a taste of “the last kid to be picked in gym class” –with his girlfriend and family the focus of ESPN camera crews Quinn held his own until the time came. And was subsequently drafted by the worst team in the NFL (with the second best fans).
The other reason I love Brady Quinn is that, as 1 of 4 children, (3 sisters and the FWG)–I know what it’s like when sisters bring home potential male suitors to the dinner table. As if Quinn’s life hasn’t been tough enough (NFL Draft Day disaster, Cleveland Browns, Charlie Weiss, etc) his sister is married to A.J. Hawk. My disdain for offensive players is well documented, and I love any linebacker in the mold of Mr. Hawk– who looks more like a professional wrestler (think Ultimate Warrior or Hacksaw Jim Duggan on this one) –then he does NFL linebacker. So every Thanksgiving, Quinn must sit across the table knowing that this monster of a man has his way with his sister. I can see it now: as A.J. tosses his blonde locks over his shoulder, grazing the deep maroon of his turtle neck, he eye’s Brady, eyes his sister, winks and says “B-Dog…pass the gravy.”
Its almost too good to be true.

As a former collegiate athlete, a guy with 3 sisters, and a Buffalo Bills fan–I can identify with Quinn’s struggle. And I love him for it.

UConn Pro Day

// March 26th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

The 2009 UConn Pro day was held yesterday at “The Shenk” training facility. Workouts were, in a word: OUTSTANDING.
Darius Butler again proved that he can move his hips, and has the kind of speed that can kill.
Will Beatty, performing well in the bench, makes him a discussion topic, as he might be one of the top 5 offensive linemen in this years draft. However there are three stories I want to touch on, after speaking with Cody Brown (DE/OLB), and his pro-day work out.
Cody drastically improved on his 40 time from the combine, running in the 4.5-4.6 ranger, compared to his 4.82 performance at the NFL Combine.
Julius Williams (another one of my brothers on the D-Line) comes out of no where, with a verticle jump over 41inches, and benching 225lbs 36 times. That is simply outstanding. For those of you who dont know, Julius Williams has a back that could block out the sun, a true physical specimen, with an outstanding work ethic.
And then there is Dahna Deleston. What can I say about Dahna. How about “quiet storm?” in 5 years playing with the guy I probably heard him say about 10 words—total.
He weighed in at pro day at 217lbs, ran a sub 4.5 40, and absolutely blew scouts away.
It really is a testament to work ethic, and to the character of these young men, all of which flew under the radar of major college recruiting.

Donny Brown: Combine Standout

// February 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Donny Brown is going to make some NFL franchise very happy in the years to come (insert What Can Brown Do For You?-comment here). His senior season he absolutely annihilated opposing defenses. Even when teams were putting eight or nine bodies in the box to stop the run he would still rip off 200 yard performances. He worked hard, rarely got the credit he deserved (not sure the guys at ESPN even knew his name), and he kept on plugging. He led the nation in rushing and put on an absolute show at this years combine.
What do I mean by absolute show? How about being the top performer in 6 of 7 categories?
The highest vertical jump (an astounding 41.5 inches). You know what I’m seeing below him? A lot of guys that got the “big press” throughout the season. Donny has done one thing here, left me saying “Knowsh0n Moreno Who?”

40-yard dash		Vertical Jump		Broad Jump
Name	Time	Name	Height	Name	Distance
Peerman, Cedric	4.45	Brown, Donald	41.5″	Wells, Beanie	10′8″
Johnson, Ian	4.46	Peerman, Cedric	40″	Brown, Donald	10′5″
Sheets, Kory	4.47	Goodson, Mike	39.5″	Scott, Bernard	10′5″
Brown, Andre	4.49	Southerland, Brannan	38″	Kimble, Anthony	10′2″
Brown, Donald	4.51	Brown, Andre	37″	Coffee, Glen	10′1″
Williams, Javarris	4.52	Greene, Shonn	37″	Greene, Shonn	10′1″
Goodson, Mike	4.54	Sheets, Kory	37″	Sheets, Kory	10′1″
Scott, Bernard	4.56	Coffee, Glen	36″	Jennings, Rashad	10′0″
Coffee, Glen	4.58	Kimble, Anthony	36″	Southerland, Brannan	10′0″
Lucky, Marlon	4.59	Ore, Branden	36″	Goodson, Mike	9′10″
Wells, Beanie	4.59	Scott, Bernard	36″	-
-
3 Cone Drill		20-yard Shuttle		60-yard Shuttle
Name	Time	Name	Time	Name	Time
Scott, Bernard	6.82	Scott, Bernard	4.08	Brown, Donald	11.30
Moreno, Knowshon	6.84	Brown, Donald	4.10	Jennings, Rashad	11.46
Ogbonnaya, Chris	6.85	Ringer, Javon	4.11	Bell, Kahlil	11.55
Jennings, Rashad	6.86	Johnson, Ian	4.18	Moreno, Knowshon	11.63
Ringer, Javon	6.87	Jennings, Rashad	4.20	Johnson, Ian	11.63
Bell, Kahlil	6.87	Bell, Kahlil	4.20	Sheets, Kory	11.70
Goodson, Mike	6.89	Goodson, Mike	4.22	-
Brown, Donald	6.93	Moreno, Knowshon	4.27
Johnson, Ian	6.93	Peerman, Cedric	4.29
Sutton, Tyrell	6.94	Ogbonnaya, Chris	4.

NFL COMBINE STANDOUT: WILL BEATTY

// February 22nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I was watching some of the combine today, keeping an eye out for the guys I knew or had played against. All of a sudden the big uglie is on the screen. Mr,. Goofy himself Will Beatty. The immediate reactions from those around me were: “Holy shit, he’s huge.” Not that I want to sound “above it all” (I’m not) but to me Beatty isn’t that big. I mean sure he’s 6′8 and 300+lbs, but I’ve known the kid for 5 years. To me he’s not “huge” he’s just Will. Well, actually I lied, he’s not exactly “just Will.” I’ve known him better as “you big son of a bitch stop holding.” Thats right, like most O-linemen William Beatty (the son of two preachers) is a known cheater. Don’t take that the wrong way, I love the kid, but he will hold, spit, and generally cheat to protect his quarterback. I guess its better than if he didn’t care. But I know he has been the victim of several tongue lashings by defenseive ends, not to mention yellow flags on Saturday afternoons. Watch the video of Will at the combine. Commentary/analysis below.

Will Beatty
by beisbolct

“His lack of punch“–I can see why this would be a concern for coaches and scouts. Will has never been “weight-room strong” but his athleticism far surpasses even most of the top talent in this years draft, especially at the offensive tackle position. You can put strength on that athleticism, but you can’t put athleticism on strength (Thats why you don’t see a lot of World’s Strongest Man competitors in the NFL). Teams may be looking for someone in the mold of Jake Long who can be plugged into a system and start in his first year. But it would not be a waste of first or second round money to invest into someone like Beatty. Even if he couldn’t step in and play right now, there aren’t alot of defensive ends that will be able to beat him around the edge in a straight speed-rush. Something becoming more common in the NFL, with the onslaught of OLB/DE hybrids. (see Demarcus Ware) Some people have questioned his motivation, or his future motivation once he gets that first NFL sized pay check.
The kid has done more 6 am punishments, recieved more verbal assaults from Edsall than anyone in the entire history of UConn Football. Trust me, if he didn’t quit then he won’t quit now.