13
Mar
2011
TheDarkHorse’s 2011 Mock Draft – Picks 6-10
Colt McCoy needs a dance partner. A.J. Green will do. (Source: BCSknowhow.com)
For picks 1 through 5, go here.
Let’s continue with picks 6 through 10.
6. Cleveland Browns – A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: Cleveland’s in a terrible spot. They’re moving to the 4-3, but have nothing along the defensive line. They have a promising young quarterback in Colt McCoy — and they’re moving to the West Coast Offense — but he’s got almost nobody to throw to. They just cut NT Shaun Rogers along with a flock of grizzled defensive veterans — a fiscally sound move, but one that’s left Browns fans wondering who will take the field next season. Changing offensive and defensive philosophies during a lockout-hampered offseason in which coaches cannot communicate with players is tougher. The free-agency window possibly opening for mere weeks, if at all, is tougher. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have stayed the course. This draft is critical for the Browns, forced to address needs all over the place. Pat Shurmur was brought in to groom McCoy and flip the switch on offense — and Green is the kind of sizzling wideout the team’s been missing since Braylon Edwards broke free in 2007 — and before that, since Webster Slaughter. Still, many could question the Browns passing up one of the blue-chip defensive linemen — but how do you meet two needs at once?
7. San Francisco 49ers – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson: This is a tough one for me. In a mock with trades, I see Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers pressing for a quarterback, or possibly even trading down into a spot where they can gather picks and select Florida’s Christian Ponder late in the first. Honestly, how many more coaches can call Alex Smith their starter? That experiment needs to cease. With Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert off the board, the 49ers select Bowers, a defensive end who comes with question marks around the health of his knee, but, if ruled healthy, could serve as defensive stronghold while Harbaugh seeks a quarterback elsewhere. Moroever, there are some promising young passers to be had later in the draft, such as Washngton’s Jake Locker and Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick – not to mention the polarizing Ryan Mallett out of Arkansas.
Picks 8-10 after the jump.
22
Nov
2010
Vince Young throws tantrum after loss to ‘Skins, out as Titans starter
(Photo: Getty Images via Zimbio)
Nobody has ever claimed that Vince Young is the brightest bulb in the box (his Wonderlic score took care of that forever). But there had been hope – at least in Tennessee – in recent years that he had matured to a point where he could handle the role of NFL Quarterback. Well yesterday, Young showed the world that he is still as immature as ever, throwing a temper tantrum after Tennesee’s OT loss to the Redskins. According to reports, Young has lost his starting job with the Titans, and may have permanently damaged his relationship with head coach Jeff Fisher.
The story goes something like this: Young hurt his right thumb in the 3rd quarter of the game, and was replaced by rookie QB Rusty Smith. Apparently Young thought he could return to the game and was seen taking snaps on the sideline during the 4th quarter. Afterwards, Young – who had been booed during the game by the home fans – threw his shoulder pads and jersey into the stands and returned to the locker room. And that, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, is when things got good:
According to sources, Young was talking under his breath, uttering expletives, as Fisher prepared to address the team. When Fisher told him to keep quiet, Young finished dressing and started to leave. Fisher told Young to stop, saying not to “run out on your teammates.”
Young then told Fisher “I’m not running out on my teammates, I’m running out on you,’’ sources said. More words were exchanged and Young left.
3
Nov
2010
Titans Claim Randy Moss After 21 Other Teams Pass
(Photo via Yahoo!)
The Tennessee Titans claimed Randy Moss off of waivers on Wednesday, and were the only team to put in a claim for the unruly WR after the Vikings officially released him yesterday. Tennessee was 22nd in the waiver order, which means that 21 other teams saw the same thing the Patriots and Vikings saw from Moss this season: a self-centered brat who simply can’t put the goals of a team ahead of his own childish ego.
But Jeff Fisher apparently thinks Moss can help his ball club, who are 5-3, and lost Kenny Britt for an undetermined time to a hamstring injury last weekend. The Titans have a bye this week, but hope Moss will give Vince Young another weapon on offense for their run at the playoffs. And All-Pro RB Chris Johnson certainly believes Moss’ presence will help his chances on the ground:
“Why do we need Randy Moss?” Johnson said Wednesday, before the move was announced. “You can’t put eight in a box if you got Randy Moss out there on the outside. If you’ve got Randy Moss out there, you just can’t play him one-on-one. I feel like Randy would be a great addition to this team, be a great addition to our receiving group and really help us go deep in the playoffs.”
That, of course, is assuming that Moss decides to actually run his routes full speed and play until the whistle. When he does that, Randy is an undeniable talent … the problem is, he only seems to really make an effort when it’s beneficial for himself, personally. And if Moss isn’t feeling it, he half-asses it, and makes sure the rest of the team knows about it. So far this season, Randy clearly hasn’t been feeling it.
But Jeff Fisher runs a tight ship and has a strong personality, so he should be able to handle Moss’ ego. At least for a few weeks, I mean. Think about this: the Titans become Moss’s third team in less than half a season. It’s pretty clear he’s going for some kind of demented record here. How many teams do you think he can he tear through in 17 weeks?!? We’ll set the over/under at 5.
19
Aug
2010
VIDEO: LeGarrette Blount still punchy in the NFL
Falcon Punch!!! (Image: ESPN.com)
You probably remember Titants rookie RB LeGarrette Blount from the above image, when Blount punched a helmet-less Idaho State player after a game last season, resulting in his suspension from the team. Most NFL teams remembered it too, as Blount went undrafted out of Oregon due to attitude concerns. But Blount was signed as a FA by Tennessee, hoping that he would be able to put his troubled past behind him.
Well, it looks like you can take the kid out of Oregon, but you can’t take the fight out of the kid. At least, when the kid in question is LeGarrette Blount. On Wendesday, Blount took a swing at Titans defensive end Eric Bakhtiari at the end of practice, after having his own helmet ripped off by the defense and both units getting chippy with each other throughout the session.
Watch as Blount – who is ironically not wearing his own helmet this time around – unleashes his now patented Falcon Punch on Bahktiari, who was wearing a helmet (around the :20 mark):
Blount immediately apologized to head coach Jeff Fisher after the incident, saying he promised to “put it behind him”. He also claimed that the defense had been consistently egging him during practice on by pulling off his helmet before he snapped. Fisher not only accepted Blount’s apology, but went further in defending his rookie RB:
“I am not disappointed whatsoever,’’ Fisher said of Blount, who’d miss practices on Monday and Tuesday following the death of his grandmother. “His past is his past. Is that the first punch you’ve seen at camp this year? No. OK. I am not disappointed whatsoever. I have great confidence in the young man that he has learned from his mistake and is very competitive.’’
All I know is if Blount ever squares off against me, I’m covering up. This guy has a vicious right hand, and if Blount doesn’t make it in the NFL, I’m sure the MMA will have a home for him.
29
Nov
2009
VIDEO: Vince Young defeats Matt Leinart once again
In the most exciting ball game of the afternoon, Vince Young delivered the Tennessee Titans a victory over Matt Leinart (starting in place of an injured Kurt Warner) and the Arizona Cardinals. Young led the Titans on an impressive 18-play, 99-yd drive to score the go-ahead TD. The drive ended with this last-second 10-yd strike to rookie Kenny Britt:
You may recall Young’s last-minute Rose Bowl-winning drive against Leinart when the two were in college at Texas and USC, respectively. That ending looked a little something like this:
So, I guess you could say that Jeff Fisher’s decision to bench Kerry Collins in favor of Vince Young was a good one, huh?
CONTINUE AFTER THE JUMP FOR COMPLETE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GAME-WINNING DRIVE
22
Oct
2009
OVERHEARD: Steve Rodgers and DarkHorse discuss Tom, Gisele, AD&D—and Zombies!
Thank you to ReadAndReact Administrative Assistant Isabella Zapp for transcribing and posting this conversation.
Steve Rodgers: DarkHorse, as a long-suffering Browns fan, do you see anything that gives you hope? I think if I were a Browns fan, I might start looking for another team?
DarkHorse: There is a plague on the Browns. At this hour, twelve Browns players are out with the flu–and we just lost D’Qwell Jackson for the season. Team secretaries and accountants will lineup vs. the Packers this Sunday–which may be a potential improvement. The season feels out of control and dangerous from a PR angle–will any free agent sign with the Browns again? I like Mangini, in theory, but Sundays feel like this to me.
So, what will Trent Edwards do with his newly discovered free time?
Steve Rodgers: I kind of like Mangenius, as well. The Browns feel like a Biblical curse that you would send on the enemies of God or something. If the secretaries line up, I hope Janice from HR is on the field. She fills out a pantsuit. Trent Edwards is spending his free time making highlight tapes for his accountant and taking a real estate correspondence course. He is also happily eating huge meals prepared by his wonderful and beautiful girlfriend. He feels lost without football but is looking forward to a brighter future.
What are some of the things in the LEAGUE right now that have you feeling the power?
DarkHorse: Well, I have a comfortable seat on the McDaniels/Orton Open-Bar Bandwagon Express–we love when a hot mess becomes a lovable team. I was digging the New York Giants until they were “pantsed” by the Saints. They’re dead to me this week. ITEM: I found this want-ad in a Nashville paper: “NEEDED: Large, burly men to play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons with other husky men from Mon-Sat (NOTE: also have to play a football game on Sunday—must LOOK the part, but playing experience not required). Extensive D&D campaign experience IS required–Level 22 and above ONLY. Please send your D&D resume to: J. Fisher / One Titans Way / Nashville, TN 37213. PS – Special consideration given to those with large figurine collections.”
The Tennessee Titans have moved past the gridiron -- to the Borderlands.
Steve Rodgers: I think the emphasis on figurines was very smart on Fisher’s part. It shows that those who apply will have attention to detail but, also, as the ad states, must be “burly.” I saw an ad like that in The Advocate in San Francisco, but it might have been for something completely different. Burly. The NFL: Where burly men run about in tight pants. Feel the Power!
DarkHorse: Three predictions you can TAKE TO THE BANK: (1) Drew Brees goes down for the season in Week 15 and the Saints lose in the first round of the playoffs. (2) Kyle Orton leads Denver to the AFC Championship, where they lose to… (2) Pittsburgh, and (the incredibly annoying) Big Ben, who will win another Super Bowl. Give me three LOCKS, Steve Rodgers.
Is there more to life than Gisele? (Source: WeeklyDrop.com)
Steve Rodgers: Three locks: (1) The Browns dig up the remains of Otto Graham, then preform devil voodoo on him, and he becomes the starting QB–he is a zombie. They slowly feed him Eric Rhett, who is kept in a meat locker under the Berea compound. (2) Tom Brady wakes up one morning, looks at Gisele, looks at his Super Bowl rings and his paycheck, and says, “Is this all there is?” (3) Jeff Fisher watches his team get pounded 32-0. After the game, he shaves his mustache, and hooks up with the CIA to become a handler of foreign agents in the field for a black ops division outside the goverment budget line. He never watches the NFL again.
DarkHorse: Does Zombie Otto Graham complete more than two passes a game vs. Buffalo? If so, I’m in.
