SNT: Former PSU DT Ed Johnson's Second Chance

Ed Johnson had his share of problems at Penn State. The much maligned DT was temporarily expelled from Penn State in 2005 and was suspended from participating in the Outback Bowl following the 2006 season. During the 2007 draft the very talented player was undrafted because of character concerns. He landed a UDFA contract with the Colts and immediately became a force in the middle and Indianapolis' best run stuffer. He started all 16 games as a rookie and the first game in 2008. Then the bad stuff found him again. During a traffic stop for speeding, police found marijuana in Johnson's car. The next day he was released, despite the Colts huge hole at the position.

Sporting News Today has a more in depth look at the life of Johnson after the most recent incident in today's issue. Check it out below.

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SNT: Dolphins Look to Expand Wildcat

Teams have latched on to the "wildcat" offense, introduced to the NFL by the Dolphins in 2008. Other teams, such as the Vikings and Ravens, are working with packages this offseason. The Dolphins, however, look to broaden the scheme in year two of the package. The addition of Pat White will help. Sporting News Today's Clifton Brown addresses the "wildcat" and Miami's plans for 2009 in his daily NFL feature, along with four other burning stories.

Also, I'm special. See for yourself.

Yeah, that's my name.

The Dolphins want me, me, to buy season tickets. And I'd get a personalized photo for free! Wow, I am truly honored. Wait, everyone on their mailing list gets this? Ah, shucks.

SNT: Instant Impact Ibanez

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All of Philadelphia believes that LF Raul Ibanez was the best free agent pick up of the year. Now Sporting News Today agrees. Check out the article above.

And please help not only send Ibanez to the All-Star Game, but make him a starter!

SNT: Q&A with Bills Rookie DE Aaron Maybin

Today was a good day for articles in Sporting News Today. Shortly after the Top 50 Players in Major League Baseball article (which featured four Phillies) came a short interview with former Penn State football player - and Buffalo Bills draft pick - Aaron Maybin.

Sporting News Radio: Did you really run a 4.6-second 40-yard dash?
Aaron Maybin: I ran a 4.58 at my Pro Day.

SNR: I'm sorry, a 4.58. You're freakishly fast aren't you?
AM: That's always been a gift that I've been blessed with. I guess all those days of chasing my shadows when I was a kid paid off.

For the full interview click the image below.

Sporting News Radio posed nine questions to Bills rookie DE Aaron Maybin in a recent interview. The transcript made its way into today's issue of the digital magazine.

Phillies Land 4 on SNTs Top 50 MLB Players List

Sporting News Today has been chock full of Phillies goodness recently and in today's issue released the results of a recent poll on Major League Baseball's best players. According to the daily news item, 100 Hall of Famers, major award winners, and other personalities voted. Everyone can probably guess #1 (Albert Pujols, duh). To the delight of Philadelphia fans, the Phillies were well represented. Four made the cut. It's probably pretty easy to guess who. Click the picture to find out. I highlighted them so you can find them quickly.

Sporting News Today published a poll on the Top 50 players in MLB. Four Phillies made the cut.

For those of you allergic to clicking, the Phillies voted on the list are 2B Chase Utley (6th), 1B Ryan Howard (11th), SS Jimmy Rollins (15th), and SP Cole Hamels (49th). That's right, the Phillie have three of the 15 best players in MLB right now. Thank God they won the World Series last year or they'd definitely be seen as underachievers. Two of these rankings surprised me. First, even after a down 2008 season (and a crappy start to '09) Rollins is still mentioned, and in the first half. Second, Hamels at 49? That seems low after an amazing fall run. I think between 33-39 was more appropriate. To me, he's as valuable (or as good) as Dan Haren (33rd) and Jake Peavy (38) and I'd definitely take Hamels over Chad Billingsley (42), Cliff Lee (43), Roy Oswalt (46), and Carlos Zambrano (48). I know positionally they arent't the same, but how much longer is Carlos Delgado going to be overrated? Is he really the 47th best player right now?

If I can count correctly, then (surprise, surprise) the two New York teams lead the way. The Mets somehow manage to get six players in the Top 50. I think some people would take issue with that, based on on-the-field results. As in, there haven't been any since a N.L. East Title in 2006. Here are your "amazing" Mets: Johan Santana (#3), David Wright (#13), Jose Reyes (#22), Carlos Beltran (#23), Francisco Rodriguez (#34), and Delgado. The Yankees have five players listed: Alex Rodriguez (#2), Derek Jeter (#8), Mariano Rivera (#9), Mark Teixeira (#17), and C.C. Sabathia (#29). Those two teams along should prove that (A) baseball is a team game and you don't need a plethora of superstars to win and (B) some of these players may be overrated because of the city (team) they play in (for).

Other teams of note include the Red Sox (four on the list), Braves (two), Marlins (one), and Nationals (zero). Poor Washington.

SNT Publishes Spring Football Attendance Numbers

While I mentioned this a few weeks back, Sporting News Today released the spring football game attendance numbers in their May 18th, 2009 issue. I'm not sure if there were any new teams added or numbers restructured. However, it does include comparison numbers for 2008 as well as a change in attendance %. Check it out below.

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SNT: Gimme 5 with Phillies RP Chad Durbin

Sporting News Today sat down with Phillies relief pitcher Chad Durbin for a round of five questions, published in today's issue. About a week ago SNT caught up with Shane Victorino.

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The best quote from Durbin? How about this, after SNT asked him about his World Series ring...

I plan to wear it on most road trips, when we're dressed in our suits or dressed nice. And any time we're in New York playing the Mets.

Emphasis mine. Zing!

SNT: Q&A with Shane Victorino

Click to enlarge the Q&A with Phillies CF Shane Victorino, which ran in the Mat 9th, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today.

Kalas Write Up in SNT

I'm trying to archive as many stories about legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, who passed away on Monday at the age of 73. Here is yesterday's (April 14, 2009) tribute to the man by Sporting News Today.

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PENN STATE - 2009 NIT CHAMPS

CONGRATULATIONS!

Buy the CHAMPS t-shirt

Aaron Maybin a 4th Round Prospect?

According to Sporting News' Russ Lande, yes. Well, technically a third or fourth rounder. Yes, I'm serious. See for yourself.

That is taken from today's issue of Sporting News Today. On page 6, Lande (and his team of former NFL scouts) ranks this years top 10 DE prospects. Maybin is 10th - a 3rd or 4th round pick. Let's take a look at how other "experts" have Maybin ranked.

• Scott Wright - 4th best DE, 25th best overall
• Draft Tek - 4th best OLB, 25th best overall
• Mel Kiper - 2nd best DE, 11th best overall
• Todd McShay/Scouts, Inc. - 2nd best DE, 11th best overall
• The Football Expert - 4th best DE, 18th best overall
• Russ Lande (and former scouts) - 10th best DE, 100th best overall*
  

Cough. Maybe he thinks no one reads SNT? Of course, to see all of Lande's analysis you have to pay to see it. Not gonna happen, especially after crap like this. Maybin is a consensus first round pick and could go as high as #11 to Buffalo. No way he drops out of the first round. Look at him!

Aaron Maybin - only the 10th best DE available in the 2009 draft?

Of course I've ripped on Lande before. I need to start writing about all the weird stuff Lande puts out. This is at least the fifth time he's made may say WTF - out loud.

*The 100th selection would be end of 3rd/early 4th dependent on compensatory selections.

SNT's Phillies Preview

The folks at Sporting News Today are doing a division-by-division preview of all the MLB teams prior to the start of the regular season. Below is what they had to say about the defending World Series Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies. Wow writing that feels amazing. I'm going to say it again. Below is what they had to say about the defending World Series Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies. Damn straight.

Click to read SNT's Phillies preview.

UPDATE: For those of you that are too lazy to click and read the preview, SNT says the Phillies will win their 3rd straight NL East Division Championship.

Really? You're former NFL scouts?

Click to see a crappy mock draft.

I know I'm not a professional. And I have no scouting experience at any level. Well, in person experience. Anyone can watch videos on YouTube. But anyway, yeah, this mock draft by Russ Lande and former NFL scouts absolutely blows.

I'm not going to get onto my QB rant. I pretty much covered that - and every positions success in the Top 5 - before. While I don't agree that the Lions are dumb enough to take Matthew Stafford at #1, it is a possibility. As is Mark Sanchez going at pick 10. Feasible but would not be good for that franchise either. Some of the other picks have me saying "they took him when?".

First up is Everette Brown. The dynamic pass rusher from Florida State is a hybrid DE/OLB. He is currently seen as (before the combine and pro day workouts) a Top 15 pick that could sneak as high as 5. But 3? I don't know about that. Brown is an underclassmen and may need another year or two to add more strength. The Chiefs need impact players that can play immediately. I don't think Brown is that guy. Yes they need someone to replace Jason Allen but an OT is a better pick. Aaron Curry would be too.

Next is Chris Wells. Wells at 5? He has durability issues, much like current Brown Jamal Lewis. RBs make the easiest transition to the NFL so why waste a 1st round pick on a guy that could be available in the middle of the 1st or someone with comparable talent in the 2nd? Kevin Smith and Matt Forte were solid last season. The Browns would be foolish passing on a LB at 5. Wells is a luxury they don't need now. Don't see this happening.

Some may think Crabtree falling to 8 is nuts, it is possible. Crabtree won't run the 40 at the combine and that is always a huge negative... even if the player does so at his pro da workout. Crabtree could fall to 10.

Now Aaron Curry falling to 11 is crazy. Curry is viewed by many to be the most polished and NFL-ready player in the entire draft. He could make an immediate impact like Patrick Willis in '07. Curry drops to 11, the same place as Willis? I don't think so. Teams won't pass on a player like him again. Curry shouldn't drop out of the Top 5.

Larry English as high as 13? What? English is a fringe 1st-2nd rounder... at best right now. 13? No way. The Redskins aren't that desperate for a pass rusher. I know they don't have a second rounder but there will be plenty of DEs available in rounds 3 and 4. Reaching for English here would be ridiculous, especially if Brian Orakpo or Aaron Maybin are still available.

Malcolm Jenkins all the way down at 14? He was a Top 10 talent last year. He's probably Top 5 this year. He won't drop past #9.

I know Kenny Britt has been rising of late but 18? WRs are always undervalued by NFL organizations. Why would Britt be any different. He is a great pick in round 2 and could sneak into the bottom of round 1. 18 is too high though.

Fili Moala in round 1? Negative. Moala isn't a second rounder, according to some draft sites. I don't see him raising his stock enough to tempt teams in round one. Two, sure. Not one.

And here is the big reason why I call bullshit on Lande and Co. The Dolphins taking Jeremy Maclin? The 6-1, 200 WR from Missouri is not seen as a feature guy. He has speed but is a little small. He wouldn't compliment Ginn, Bess, and Camarillo well. The Dolphins need a guy like Britt or Hakeem Nicks. Not Maclin. Chance of this happening is 0.01%. You can do better Lande.

Maybe this is what they think will happen in April based on what they think will happen at the combine and pro day workouts. OK. Fine. But common sense tells you to go with what you have available. That's the 2008 season and bowl games plus senior and all star games. We don't have everyone's measurable or times. Why pretend we do and forecast these guys places that aren't possible at this moment. Maybe Lande and Co. will come out on top after the next 6 weeks of endless workouts. Or maybe they'll crash and burn.

My money is on the latter.

NOTE: My second mock draft - and first since September - will be out tomorrow by Friday afternoon. Then you can criticize me!

What a Beautiful Site!

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Baseball is almost back... and the Phillies are the DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!

I've Always Liked You Lee Roy Selmon

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In today's issue of Sporting News Today, four football legends were asked their opinion on a few offseason questions and to predict a few things for the 2009 season. Two of those questions were "What are your very early picks for Super Bowl 44?" and "Do you have a dark horse candidate (a la the Cardinals) for Super Bowl 44?". Miami was actually mentioned twice, once in each question. Lee Roy Selmon - the former #1 pick of the Buccaneers and a Pro and College Football Hall of Fame member - chose Miami as his AFC representative in Super Bowl 44... to be played in Miami! Former coach Dan Reeves selected the Dolphins as his Super Bowl 44 "dark horse".

I have my doubts about Miami's season in 2009, especially because they have the hardest schedule in the league. But it is very nice to see the franchise getting some respect, barely a year after being completely humiliated by their 1-15 mark (thank you, 2008 Detroit Lions, for making that a moot point now).

Surname In the Headlines

It has nothing to do with me but my last name made the "Draft Dish" section of Sporting News Today. Of course, one was a mistake (one of many I notcied in the online magazine today). USC's Taylor Mays has decided to stay at USC and not enter the 2009 NFL Draft. Penn State's Aaron Maybin, stated as "Mays", has decided to leave, previously pointed out on this site.

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Yeah, it's been slow around here. So slow that I decided to point this out. So sad.