Teeing Off: What exactly happened to Tiger Woods?

Welcome to Teeing Off, where Devil Ball editor Jay Busbee and head writer Shane Bacon take a day's topic and smack it all over the course. Suggest a future topic by writing jay.busbee@yahoo.com, or hit us on Twitter at @jaybusbee and @shanebacon. Today, we bring you a special edition of Teeing Off, focusing on Tiger Woods and his recent withdrawal at The Players Championship. Here we go ...

Bacon: Tiger Woods withdrew from The Players Championship for the second consecutive year. He now has as many WD's in 2011 as he does top 5s. The guy looks so far from his past self that it brings up the question, can Tiger even win anymore? I know we all expect him to, because he piled up the trophies by the dozen in the past, but like we saw with the Lakers this year, sometime expectations are just that, conclusions predicted by past experiences. I don't think Tiger is going to win this year, and I'm starting to think it may be years before he does. It's crazy, but why isn't it true?

Busbee: You're right, we're looking at Tiger and we're not seeing what's right in front of us. This is a guy who, right now, is middle-of-the-pack at best. Were he named, say, Tom Woods, he'd be utterly unmemorable. His story is what's so fascinating right now, not his game. I still think he's got wins in him, but it's looking like they'll be hang-around-and-take-advantage-late, not throttle-the-field-from-Thursday types. This isn't even about the relative strength of the rest of the field, it's just that Woods himself hasn't been anywhere close to 100 percent in years.

Bacon: Exactly. The proof is, dare I say, in the pudding, and everyone is looking back at what they ate four years ago. Names like Keegan Bradley and Kevin Chappell are ahead of him in the FedEx Cup rankings. Mark Wilson has more wins than Tiger does over his last two seasons. Matt Kuchar has become the consistent golfer that Tiger used to be. It's right there, but we continue to avoid the truth.

I can't argue with your thoughts that he'll win again, but I also don't see when, or where. At this point, he has just as many negative memories from golf courses and events as he does the positives ones, and the bad ones are fresher in his mind. He now has tanked when leading in majors, and failed to complete a comeback. He just isn't the same guy, and it seems the golf world is scared to totally grasp that. Is it Tiger's fault? No, not really, he's just a very, very old 35-years-old at this point.

Busbee: Let's take a moment to speculate on, really, just what the hell happened here. Is this a case where the mental and the physical are so completely intertwined that the decimation of one means the inevitable decline of the other? Perhaps Woods' strongest asset all along was his mind, his will, his self-assurance and self-confidence, and once that got shattered, everything that supported fell apart. He's had major injuries before, but he's never, ever looked as bad on the course as he has Post-Hydrant. It'd be a shame if Tiger 2.0 never even got off the ground, but everyone not blind with loyalty to Woods has to recognize that as a realistic possibility.

Bacon: Bravo, sir, I couldn't have said that better myself. I think back to the putt on the 72nd hole that Tiger made at Torrey Pines in 2008 to get into a playoff with Rocco Mediate; the putt was bouncing all the way to the hole, but it almost seemed like fate, and will, let it stay it's line just enough to go in. I was always amazed by that putt more than any other in his career, because it looked like while the green wasn't going to let it in, the gods, or the luck, or the fate of this game, opened the door.

Maybe that'll be his lasting image. Wincing his way to a win while injured, back when life was perfect, and now he's wincing his way to a WD when his life is, far as we can see, in shambles. The mind is a really, really delicate flower to golfers, and the moment negativity creeps in, you're done. I hate to think Tiger is "done," but I sure can't find any evidence to the contrary.

And now your turn ... what exactly can you make of Tiger right now?

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/Teeing-Off-What-exactly-happened-to-Tiger-Woods?urn=golf-wp1828

Johnny Unitas Josh Gibson Juan Manuel Fangio Julius Erving

This turtle has seen quite enough of The Players Championship

Saturday, The Players Championship wasn't just about golf. No, the day saw the debut of a new one-turtle performance entitled "The Career of Tiger Woods, 2009-2011: A One-Act Play":

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. A work of sublime, heartrending genius.

Broken putters, drivers in the drink, and now a turtle taking a dive. Man, this is turning out to be the goofiest golf tournament we've seen in years.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/This-turtle-has-seen-quite-enough-of-The-Players?urn=golf-wp1886

Rogers Hornsby Sam Snead Sammy Baugh Sandy Koufax

Evening Shade: After early sweep, Indians and Red Sox meet again

Some weekday evenings,�the�Stew�looks at a few approaching games that will be worth monitoring Feel free to discuss the night's happenings in the comments below.

Red Sox at Indians, 7:05 ET It wasn't that long ago ? April 5-7, to be exact ? when �a Cleveland sweep of Boston was considered an early season novelty. The Tribe, after all, couldn't really be�that good and the Red Sox couldn't really be�that bad.

About 40 games later, only one of those presuppositions are true. The 25-21 Red Sox have crawled their way back into the AL East race and a better showing against the league's best team �? yes, still those same Indians, who used that sweep as a springboard to early momentum ? would go a long way into helping them forget their early season stumbles.

It's also an interesting pitching matchup tonight as Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson once spent their lives in Boston's minor league system, shaking off rumors they'd be a prized piece in a trade somewhere else. Masterson eventually lost that battle, heading to Cleveland in the Victor Martinez trade. He (and John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka) has done his best to make the Red Sox regret that trade this season, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.42 ERA so far.

Rays at Tigers, 7:05 Two of Boston and Cleveland's closest competitors are squaring off just down the road and it's a fairly pivotal series for both squads. The Rays are trying to shake off the funk of a recent 2-6 skid while the 23-23 Tigers are looking to make a solid move past .500 with a 10-game homestand that starts tonight.

Reds at Phillies, 7:05 Chase Utley is back in Philly and so is Cincinnati for the first time since last fall's NLDS sweep. The Reds are looking to stop a five-game losing streak, but the signs are far from encouraging. Cole Hamels is a career 6-0 with a 1.07 ERA against the Reds, who have lost eight straight games at Citizens Bank Park.

White Sox at Rangers, 8:05 Chicago may be succeeding with a six-man pitching rotation, but John Danks points out that it's taking him�that much longer to record his first win of the season. The 0-6, 4.32 pitcher will get another chance against a Rangers lineup that is welcoming back�its two most powerful hitters.

Mariners at Twins, 8:10 Seattle trails first-place Texas by 1.5 games in the AL West standings. Minnesota, meanwhile, trails Seattle by 6.5 games in the overall AL standings. Can't decide which I would have considered more unlikely at the start of the season.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Evening-Shade-After-early-sweep-Indians-and-Re?urn=mlb-wp7446

Larry Bird Lawrence Taylor Lou Gehrig Magic Johnson

With Posada struggling, griping, let’s check on Jesus Montero

We can probably all agree that Jorge Posada has not been a productive hitter this season. His OPS is just .621, his batting average is .165, he hasn't had an extra-base hit in his last 33 at-bats. He's had no luck on balls in play, that's true (.164 BABIP), but he also hasn't hit the ball with any authority (11.4 line drive percentage).

It's not entirely clear that Posada, who turns 40 in August, will ever again be a useful hitter for the Yankees. Right now, this is the most pressing question: From which lineup spot should Posada continue his no-hitting? On Saturday, manager Joe Girardi decided the answer was ninth, which reportedly left Posada feeling disrespected. An hour before first-pitch, he asked out of a lineup that he was barely in. And because this is a New York story, everyone is talking about it. And Buster Olney is talking about it non-stop, to anyone who will listen, in the most dire terms.

If you're a competitive fantasy owner, you probably addressed the Posada situation long before Girardi took action. For you, the issue now on the table is whether Jesus Montero will get the call to New York. Whenever the 21-year-old Montero is promoted, it will be an actionable fantasy event. He's an elite young hitter and he's catcher-eligibile. Baseball America ranked Montero as the game's No. 3 overall prospect entering 2011, so expectations are clearly high.

If you only read the shorthand accounts of Montero's year-to-date performance, you'd think he was absolutely destroying Triple-A pitching. He's hitting .336 over 119 at-bats, and he went 3-for-5 on Saturday with a double and an RBI. But Montero has drawn only five walks this year, so his on-base percentage (.365) isn't actually much higher than his average. That's a small concern, and he hasn't displayed much power over the opening month, either. He's homered twice, doubled six times, and his slugging percentage is a fairly modest .437.

So Montero has been good, but not Hosmer-good. No one seriously doubts that he'll clear a few fences, though, since he finished with 58 extra-base hits and 21 home runs at Triple-A in 2010, over 453 at-bats. He's owned in just five percent of Yahoo! leagues at the moment and makes for a nice spec add, considering the Posada drama. The Yankees, of all teams, should not find it terribly difficult to replace a .165/.272/.349-hitting DH, even if he happens to be a franchise demi-legend.

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Photo via AP Images (Posada/Girardi), Getty Images (Montero)

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/With-Posada-struggling-griping-let-s-check-on-?urn=fantasy-wp2399

Otto Graham Paavo Nurmi Pele Pete Rose

Tito Ortiz bails out accused suspect in murder-for-hire case

Las Vegas is buzzing about what sounds like a wacky real-life movie plot and now it's reached another level with the inclusion of UFC star Tito Ortiz.

Keith Harriman is facing 12 felony counts connected to a plot to have his 27-year-old son killed. He'd complained of not having the money to hire sufficient legal representation, so putting up the money to cover his $500,000 bond was out of the question. That was until Ortiz came into the picture.

The former UFC light heavyweight champ posted the necessary money on the down low, but because of Harriman's claims that he's indigent, a district judge forced him to reveal who posted the bail.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Ortiz and Harriman, 49, have a relationship through Harriman's brother.

Ortiz, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion, apparently has a relationship with Keith Harriman's brother, Wayne Harriman, a used car dealer in Las Vegas.

According to published reports, Wayne Harriman helped bridge a rift between Ortiz and UFC chairman Dana White that led to a six-fight contract.

Ortiz has gotten himself involved in a wild story.

At a preliminary hearing in February, Dominick Harriman testified his father wanted him dead because he told insurance fraud investigators his father's $160,000 burglary loss claim was a scam to feed a crack cocaine addiction. Dominick Harriman also said his father was angry because he had slept with both his dad's ex-girlfriend and his ex-wife.

Dominick Harriman was shot at least nine times Aug. 27 at the used car dealership where he worked for his uncle, Wayne Harriman, at Nice Cars of Nevada, 3401 S. Decatur Blvd. The shooter has not been identified.

Ortiz spent a few days in Las Vegas last week around the UFC's Fighter Summit at the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Tito-Ortiz-bails-out-accused-suspect-in-murder-f?urn=mma-wp2303

Josh Johnson Althea Gibson Arnold Palmer Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Auburn coach Gene Chizik to release a memoir in July

Auburn coach Gene Chizik, the man, the myth, the legend, won an improbable national championship last year, and on July 5, he's going to tell the world exactly how he did it in a book titled: All In: What It Takes to Be the Best.

No, sorry, this will not be an tell-all book about the scandal surrounding quarterback Cam Newton -- at least we don't think so -- but rather a tale of faith and perseverance that only Chizik, the man who called Auburn's national championship run "a God thing," can accurately tell.

I know, we're disappointed, too.

The book is set to hit the shelves of your local Barnes and Noble on July 5 and while the book probably won't answer any of the questions about boosters, money or any of the other improprieties that surrounded the Auburn football program all year, it does promise unique insight into Chizik's coaching career from the time he left Iowa State. We're sure this will be a bestseller in Ames.

According to the publisher Tyndale House, the book will be:

"…filled with never-before-told stories from Chizik's controversial coaching career ? from his highly contentious departure from Iowa State and his heavily criticized appointment at Auburn, to his historic 2010 championship run, and all of the extraordinary twists and turns along the way. Coach Chizik opens up about the pivotal role his faith has played in his life and career and shares his time-tested secrets to success, both on and off the field."

I gotta admit, it sounds like it has potential, but at $24.99 some readers might be left craving more meat with their helpings of success and faith.

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Curtsy (the female version of the hat tip) to the war eagle reader

Graham Watson is a regular contributor to Dr. Saturday. Follow her on Twitter: @Yahoo_Graham

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Auburn-coach-Gene-Chizik-to-release-a-memoir-in-?urn=ncaaf-wp1423

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Hall of Fame profile: President George H.W. Bush

This week, the World Golf Hall of Fame is recognizing six people in the world of golf that have made substantial contributions to the game. We will be profiling all six, giving you relevant information about them and why they're a part of the new Hall of Fame class.

Considering everything President George H.W. Bush has done for our country, it shouldn't come as any surprise that the man who did so much for our country is getting honored for something that's near and dear to his heart -- that of course being his love and dedication to growing the game of golf.

President Bush will be inducted on Monday via lifetime achievement category. You don't need to look any further than the family's golf history to see the game was in his blood from the moment he first picked up a club.

His maternal grandfather, G.H. Walker, was president of the U.S. Golf Association in the 1920's and is credited with coming up with the idea for the Walker Cup, the Ryder Cup-style matches between the best collegiate players from the U.S., Great Britain and Ireland.

Bush sports a 15 handicap and plays a quick round of golf, so for those of you out there with pace-of-play complaints, President Bush is definitely a guy you'd like to have in your foursome on a Saturday�morning. �His support for the game of golf, the PGA Tour and countless other tournaments gave him the HoF nod.�Congrats, Mr. President.

�

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/Hall-of-Fame-profile-President-George-H-W-Bush?urn=golf-wp1730

Albert Pujols Ryan Howard David Wright Ryan Braun

Power Rankings: Where second gets you to first

Time for our latest round of power rankings. Each week throughout the season, we'll size up who's rising and who's falling, based on current standings, behind-the-scenes changes, expected staying power, recent history and general gut feelings. And, yep, we flip-flop again at the top.

1. Carl Edwards. Edwards has been the straight man to the two biggest upsets of the season: Trevor Bayne at Daytona and Regan Smith at Darlington. Even so, if you think Edwards is content with being the bridesmaid, you don't know Carl. He looks terrible in a bridesmaid's dress. Really. Last week's ranking: 2.

2. Kyle Busch. People say that Kyle is a crybaby and a chicken for not fighting Harvick, and on one hand I can see that. On the other, he made a tactical error by not getting out of the car before Harvick did. At that point, he's only got two choices: drive away or get the pinata treatment as he tries to clamber through the window.� Last week's ranking: 1.

3. Jimmie Johnson. Two spins generally means you're out of the race, but in the case of Jimmie Johnson, it's just a chance to make things a little tougher on yourself. Johnson is definitely going for the degree-of-difficulty style this season. Five bucks says he Ricky Bobbys it at Dover and reverses across the finish line. Last week's ranking: 3.

4. Kevin Harvick. Dude. Parking brake. PARKING BRAKE! Harvick was like the teenager who forgets to set the parking brake and then watches in horror as his car slides down the driveway into the neighbor's picket fence, though it would've been�cooler�had his car been pushed into�somebody's gas grill. Last week's ranking: 4.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hmm. We want to see Junior do more to justify his high rank, but at the moment he's kind of in this weird netherverse between the top 4 guys, who are in a class by themselves, and the pursuing pack, all of whom have ugly finishes in their recent history. It'll be a tough stretch for Junior until Daytona. Last week's ranking: 5.

6. Ryan Newman. Maybe everybody needs to have an alleged fistfight in the NASCAR hauler before every race. Certainly seemed to work OK for Newman, who piloted the No. 39 to a fifth-place finish, far away from Juan Pablo Montoya. By the way, JPM finished two laps back, which surely broke Newman's heart. Last week's ranking: 8.

7. Tony Stewart. As reliable as setting the watch. It's getting warm, and yet again Smoke is heating up. Two weeks in a row, he's snuck his way up into the top 10. This time around, an ill-timed caution cost him a chance at a great finish, but Smoke is quietly (really) working his way up through the rankings. Last week's ranking: 9.

8. Matt Kenseth. Yep, he's right here with Stewart, Newman and Clint Bowyer, one of the guys who's not quite running well enough to challenge for the top spots but more than good enough to drive into the Chase. One more win and Kenseth is a guaranteed in, so he can relax. Even more than usual, you know.�Last week's ranking: 6.

9. Clint Bowyer. Yeah, yeah, he was collateral damage in the great Kyle/Harvick Battle of Darlington County. But sometimes life stinks that way. He had the classic "I know I have to do this, so I'll say my peace and get the hell off camera before any followup questions come up" postrace interview. Plus, the man can sling a HANS device. Last week's ranking: 7.

10. Kasey Kahne. All right, Kahneiacs, stop emailing me; your boy has made the cut. A pole position, a laps-led win and a top-5 finish will do that for you. He's got a ways to go before he's a serious threat this year; if he can make it through a season without having one godawful month, he might just be a contendah. Last week's ranking: NR.

11. Denny Hamlin. Who's this kid who's run well the last couple weeks? Seems familiar, but I can't remember...oh, wait, right, Mr. Will-Dethrone-Johnson 2010. Hamlin has run well at the last two tracks, but then he's supposed to do that. He's the best bet to get into the Chase on wins, but in order to do that, he has to, you know, win.� Last week's ranking: NR.

12. Greg Biffle. Another quality run here from Biffle, who continues to creep upward and is in a good position to work his way back into the top 10. (So sorry, Paul Menard.) One or two more good runs, and he's there. Nice job, Biffster. Last week's ranking: N/A.

Lucky Dog: Regan Smith. How about that for a nice little evening? And here's the thing: this suddenly makes the rest of the season that much more interesting for Smith. One more win, and a top-20 berth, and we're looking at the unlikeliest Chase competitor ever. Hail Mary every weekend for the Furniture Row boys?

DNF: Jeff Burton. It's painful to watch what happens to the 31 car every week. It's probably time for Burton to just take a mulligan on this season. Can you do that? If you can, he should.

Dropping out of the rankings: Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger

Charging upward: Nobody. Everybody not in the top 12 lost positions. Get moving, lads.

Next up: Dover! Send comments to us Twitter at @jaybusbee, email by clicking here, and via Facebook at The Marbles page.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/from_the_marbles/post/Power-Rankings-Where-second-gets-you-to-first?urn=nascar-wp1100

Bronco Nagurski Cal Ripken Jr Carl Lewis Chris Evert

Former Kansas coach Mark Mangino finally talks to media

After a year and a half of silence, former Kansas coach Mark Mangino finally opened up about his time at Kansas to a paper where very few could find the article.

Mangino resigned at Kansas after allegations surfaced that that he was being insensitive and using humiliating remarks toward his players. Mangino told the New Castle News of Pennsylvania, the local paper from Mangino's hometown, that leaving Kansas actually brought him closer to his family.

"In some ways, Kansas did me a favor," Mangino told the paper. "For the first time in 30 years, I've gotten to spend time with my family. My wife and I have been able to travel for the first time ever; we've made three trips back to New Castle in the past year to see our families. I got to see five of my son's junior college games and love every minute of watching him coach. I feel like I cheated my kids out of my time over the year, so it seems right that I'm getting to spend time with both them and my grandkids now."

But Mangino didn't just have positive comments about the experience. During the 2007 season opener, Mangino was filmed chastising Raimond Pendleton, who received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after leaping into the end zone following a 77-yard punt return. The video clip of Mangino yelling at Pendeleton is still on YouTube and was cited as one of the many instances where Mangino would publicly berate players.

(As an aside, I think we all know what former Colorado coach Dan Hawkins would say about that.)

"That should never even have been an issue," Mangino said of the video. "The conversation was between me and the player. It is an unwritten rule in college football that video is fair game in the coaches' box, but audio is absolutely off limits. An ambitious young TV reporter from Topeka (Kan.) trying to make a name for himself stood in the end zone and put the audio on the coaches' box without the knowledge of me or our university. He caught heck from our sports information department, but by then it already was out there."

Two years later, six other players spoke out about abuse from Mangino dating back to 1996.

Mangino has not lost his love of coaching. He visited spring practices at Oklahoma, Akron, Delaware and Robert Morris ,and BYU offensive coaches visited him for tips. He also spent some time consulting with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mangino hopes someone is willing to take a chance on him in the near future.

"I think it was wise for me to take a step back, but I also feel like I have some unfinished business," he said. "Obviously, I'd like to be a head coach, but if that is not in the cards, then I will be the best assistant coach I can be.

"The juices are still flowing. I'm getting the itch."

Mangino stayed in Kansas for a year after his resignation fending off media at his door before he and his wife, Mary Jane, moved to Naples, Fla. His house is still unsold in Lawrence, Kan.

"Hopefully, by this time next year, someone will have decided that they would like to make use of my services," Mangino said. "I'm 54 years old, I definitely feel that I've got some games left in me to coach. And if not, then I will concentrate on having fun as a grandfather. Either way, it's been an awfully good life."

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Curtsy (the female version of the hat tip) to the Sporting News

Graham Watson is a regular contributor to Dr. Saturday. Follow her on Twitter: @Yahoo_Graham

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Former-Kansas-coach-Mark-Mangino-finally-talks-t?urn=ncaaf-wp1417

Stan Musial Steffi Graf Sugar Ray Leonard Sugar Ray Robinson

Recruiting cheat sheet: Meet the top of the class of 2012 (yes, already)

Recruiting aficionados are always working well in advance of the average fan, poring over grainy videos and dubious message board threads for the drop on still-developing teenagers who are two or three years away from paying off as college players —�by which time, of course, they'll be yesterday's news to the recruitniks, who will already be on to the next crop. So while sane adults may still be waiting to see how the stars of the class of 2011 pan out beginning this fall, the hype is already in full swing for the class of 2012.

The countdown to February begins in earnest today with the ceremonial release of Rivals' annual list of the top 100 prospects in the country, its first, oft-revised attempt to judge soon-to-be high school seniors as ruthlessly as possible. For the non-recruiting obsessed, a short primer:

? Your "obvious" No. 1 prospect is Springfield, Mo., wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who may sound like a floppy-haired soccer player but is in fact a 6-foot-6, 220-pound high-wire act who also led his high school to a state basketball championship as a sophomore and runs track and has already drawn explicit comparisons to the likes of Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones and A.J. Green. Green-Beckham's numbers over the past two seasons: 144 catches for 3,322 yards and 38 touchdowns, none of them from the arm of a fellow Division I prospect.

? Hurry up and wait. Good luck sussing out a favorite for Green-Beckham's signature: Like most of the top prospects at this stage, his offer sheet is already a mile long, and each of the last four top-ranked prospects (Terrelle Pryor, Bryce Brown, Seantrel Henderson and Jadeveon Clowney) has dragged out his decision well beyond signing day for maximum drama. Of the 17 players bearing five stars at this stage, only four have made verbal commitments: Denton, Texas defensive end Mario Edwards (Florida State); St. Petersburg, Fla., defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. (also Florida State); unfortunately-named Atwater, Calif., defensive tackle Aziz Shittu (Stanford); and Aledo, Texas, running back Johnathan Gray (Texas).

Altogether, 30 of the top 100 already carry commitments next to their name, led by five top-100 pledges apiece to both Florida State and Texas. The only other schools with more than one so far are LSU, Notre Dame and Stanford (with two apiece) and USC (with three). But again: It is very, very early.

? Where have all the overhyped QBs gone? Once again, no quarterback on the initial list is afforded five-star status, though 6-4, 220-pound slinger Gunner Kiel of Columbus, Ind., is close at No. 19 overall — just two slots behind the lowest-ranked five-star, Louisiana defensive back Landon Collins — and will get a fifth star if he holds that position throughout the season. (Presumably it was withheld at this point based on Gunner's uncanny resemblance to Dwight Schrute.) If he does, he'll be the first Indianan to obtain five-star status since Rivals started keeping track in 2002, and the first five-star quarterback since current USC starter Matt Barkley, current Texas starter Garrett Gilbert and current LSU wide receiver Russell Shepard topped the charts back in 2009.

Behind Kiel, though, only one other quarterback (Zach Kline of Danville, Calif., an early Cal commit) comes in among the top 50. That's not as uninspiring as it was in 2010, when only one QB (Alabama signee Phillip Sims at No. 67) made the cut for the final top 100, or even last year, when no quarterback was afforded five-star status and only two (Florida signee Jeff Driskel and Ohio State signee Braxton Miller) finished among Rivals' top 70 overall. But compared to the classes of 2002-09 — which all included multiple five-star quarterbacks, at least one of whom ranked among the top 10 overall, and three of whom (Vince Young, Jimmy Clausen and Terrelle Pryor) ranked No. 1 —�we do seem to be in the middle of a drought. Maybe all the overhyped young quarterbacks these days are still in junior high?

? Extremities. The resident behemoth of the 2012 class is uncommitted Encino, Calif., offensive lineman Jordan Simmons, who comes thudding in at 6-foot-5, 333 pounds —�and, according to his Rivals profile, a sub-5-second 40-yard dash, which is dubious bordering on physically impossible. Only nine members of the class are listed as 300-pounders, and Simmons is the only one above 315.

By contrast, there are twice as many backs and receivers listed below 200 pounds, the relative shrimp of the class being Memphis, Tenn., running back Brian Kimbrow, who tips the scales at all of 5-9, 165, and still has offers from just about everyone in the South.

? Geography. And finally, the cartographic portion of our program shows pretty much what it always shows, i.e. the undeniable dominance of Sun Belt hotbeds in Southern California, East Texas and Florida:

In all, almost fully half of the top 100 comes from those three states alone: 14 from Texas, 16 from California and 18 from Florida. Georgia and Ohio are next with seven apiece, which concentrates 62 percent of the top players in five states. But such is the way of the recruiting world.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Recruiting-cheat-sheet-Meet-the-top-of-the-clas?urn=ncaaf-wp1318

Trevor Cahill Fausto Carmona Neftali Feliz Phil Hughes

Headlinin’: Lloyd Carr may or may not have told Ryan Mallett to leave Michigan

Making the morning rounds.

? Now that we've exhumed this horse in order to thoroughly demolish it again, can't we just move on? Certain Maize-and-Blue partisans will tell you ex-Wolverine quarterback (and recent draft pick) Ryan Mallett was on his way out of Michigan at the end of his freshman season regardless of the coaching situation or the direction of the offense. But his dad, Jim, told New England Patriots beat reporter Ian Rapoport this week that Mallett was still mulling his options when Rich Rodriguez was hired to bring his spread offense to Ann Arbor in December 2007, until outgoing coach Lloyd Carr told him to get out of there. "At the Capital One Bowl, we were trying to smooth things out, and we talked to Coach Carr," the elder Mallett said. "I asked him, 'Coach, next to my dad, you're the classiest person I've ever been around. What would you do if Ryan was your son?' He said, 'If I was in that situation, with a different offense, he needs to leave.'"

Spread offense or not, Mallett's departure for Arkansas ? along with seven senior starters and two early exits for the draft ? left the Wolverine offense for dead in Rodriguez's first season, and the actual result in 2008 was even worse than that.

Of course, Jim Mallett says, it didn't help that Rodriguez made no attempt to keep the Family Arm in the family. "Ryan's the one who called (Rich Rod)," Jim said. "He said, 'Can I talk about the offense?' And then he told me, 'Daddy, (Rodriguez) never looked me in the eye.' He never visited with the family, he didn't talk to us. I never met the man. But hey, it wasn't a fit. Let's move on." Of course, Jim Mallett also vows "payback" at the Miami Dolphins for failing to draft his son in the first round, so, you know, consider the source. [Boston Herald, USA Today]

? We're here to help. The SEC will donate $500,000 to the University of Alabama to assist students, faculty and staff affected by the deadly tornado that left much of Tuscaloosa and other areas of the South in ruin last week. "I've heard a lot of people say words don't describe what happened, and words don't describe it," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, who toured some of the hardest-hit areas of the city last Sunday with Alabama athletic director Mal Moore. "The devastation is so complete that in a sense it's mind-numbing. You keep seeing it and it's almost as if your eyes are trying to send a message to your mind that this is really what you're seeing." You can still donate to the effort through the Alabama Red Cross, or text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to donate $10. [Birmingham News, Tuscaloosa News]

? That's what Nick Saban calls walkin' around money. Of course, the real money in the SEC still goes to the football coaches, and if you were wondering just how much it took Florida to lure Will Muschamp from his coveted coach-in-waiting position at Texas, you have your answer: Muschamp will make $13.75 million over five years, according to a finalized contract released by the university on Thursday. At $2.75 million per year, Muschamp's salary is just $100,000 shy of Gator legend Steve Spurrier's annual cut from South Carolina before the former has coached a single game as a college head coach. [Gainesville Sun]

? Let me guess: There's a chip on your shoulder? This year's most baffling draft-day snub was probably Clemson safety DeAndre McDaniel, a two-time All-ACC pick projected to go as high as the third round, who said Thursday he felt "disbelief and despair" when he wasn't picked at all due to a meh 40-yard dash time and concerns over a fractured wrist that he played with throughout his senior season. "They felt like I was going to need surgery and miss (2011)," McDaniel said. "I was real shocked. It was something I never expected. It was a humbling experience." [Charleston Post and Courier]

? Warm up the tractor. If you enjoyed this earlier this week, this is about to blow your mind, man:

Yes, Ron Prince, we will follow you. [catlab]

Quickly… Oregon and Oregon State have already spent most of the windfall from the Pac-12's blockbuster new television deal. ... Maybe trading five picks for Julio Jones probably wasn't such a great idea. … Florida lands a verbal commitment from a Pennsylvanian giant. … Kansas State moves its Farmageddon showdown with Iowa State to the first weekend in December. … Notre Dame outsources the concession stand. … Come on, the Pac-12's bowl lineup is not that bad. … And your college football vocabulary word of the day: Blueshirting.

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Headlinin-Lloyd-Carr-may-or-may-not-have-told-?urn=ncaaf-wp1253

Althea Gibson Arnold Palmer Babe Didrikson Zaharias Babe Ruth

Lucas Glover holes a six-story putt, and other shots of the week

You don't normally see cavemen wandering around North Carolina, unless you're at a NASCAR track, but in this case a caveman took home the title at Quail Hollow. Lucas Glover nailed down the Wells Fargo Championship with a Sunday stretch run, starting with this putt, the shot that gave him the lead: a looooong eagle putt on the 10th:

More follows.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Byrd didn't give up easily, going clutch with a birdie on the exceedingly tough 18th:

Earlier in the round, Steve Marino nailed this 80-foot eagle chip on the 15th, just like I do weekly:

And finally, we don't usually double up on players, but when you hole a putt that's the equivalent of a six-story-high building, you're in:

Congrats to Glover on the win, and to Byrd and Marino for the fine shots. The rest of you, step up your game.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/golf_experts/post/Lucas-Glover-holes-a-six-story-putt-and-other-s?urn=golf-wp1681

Justin Morneau Dustin Pedroia Ian Kinsler Ty Wigginton

Fiesta Bowl will be judged by a jury of its old golfing buddies

So the NCAA has a minor problem when it comes to the Fiesta Bowl. On one hand, it can't ignore the widespread corruption under ousted bowl CEO John Junker, whose outrageous expense account, fishy campaign contributions and weepy admission that the bowl openly courted politicians' favor with tickets, trips, gifts, fundraisers and other boondoggles command a longer look. There's some not insignificant chance that there won't be a Fiesta Bowl soon if the NCAA decides to pull its license.

On the other hand, when it comes to assembling the actual committee to look into the operation, apparently it's impossible to find a dozen people affiliated with big-time college football who haven't been wined and dined by the Fiesta Bowl:

WASHINGTON (AP)?Nine of the 11 members of an NCAA panel that will help decide the Fiesta Bowl's fate attended a bowl-sponsored retreat that included free meals, resort rooms and golf outings.

The nine names all showed up on a 2008 "Fiesta Frolic" attendee list obtained by Playoff PAC in a public records request. The group provided the list to The Associated Press.
[…]
"Those types of things are typical in any kind of business," said [subcommittee chairman Nick] Carparelli, who is also senior associate commissioner at the Big East Conference. "I don't see those being a conflict of interest in any way for our committee members. I do think we should be more sensitive to those issues in the future, and the committee is going to be reviewing the issue moving forward … and make sure that all the members understand the possible conflicts of interest."

Specifically, the 2008 edition of the annual junket included — on the Fiesta Bowl's dime — a weekend hotel stay at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix; free rounds of golf at both the Biltmore course and the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale; two dinners; spa certificates; and gift baskets for attendees and their spouses. (The bowl didn't pay for travel.) According to the 284-page internal report released by the bowl, the whole business was such an obvious boondoggle that some attendees suggested changing the name to "Valley of the Sun Experience & Fiesta Bowl Seminars," because "Fiesta Frolic" just sounded like too much of a boondoggle.("Boondoggle" being their word, for the record, as quoted in the report.)

Other subcommittee names on the list of invitees include Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn and ADs from Central Michigan, Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico, Oregon State and San Jose State; the only members of the subcommittee who haven't attended a Fiesta Bowl junket are Duke coach David Cutcliffe and Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini, who happened to enjoy a similar excursion courtesy of the Orange Bowl last year. (Maybe this is why a former Fiesta employee once needed to expense $13,000 worth of golf balls.) All have denied any improper dealings of conflict of interest, naturally, but that hasn't stopped BCS haters from labeling them "freeloaders," "morally bankrupt," "on the take" and doppelg�ngers of the debased International Olympic Committee. And they're still not scheduled to meet with Fiesta Bowl reps until later this week.

Speaking of the BCS, its own seven-man "task force" that met with bowl officials in Chicago over the weekend to review the Fiesta's big-money status included a pair of "Fiesta Frolic" vets, executive director Bill Hancock and Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters. I suppose it would be inappropriate if they started trying to make it square now, wouldn't it?

- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Fiesta-Bowl-will-be-judged-by-a-jury-of-its-old-?urn=ncaaf-wp968

Elvis Andrus Adrian Beltre Alex Rodriguez Jose Bautista

Headlinin’: Michigan finally declares victory over Jim Tressel, via billboard

Making the morning rounds.

? If you can't beat 'em, taunt 'em. A group of Michigan fans, still suffering from more than 2,700 days since the Wolverines' last victory over Ohio State, have purchased a "LIAR LIAR, VEST ON FIRE!" billboard on I-94 in Michigan to taunt Buckeye coach Jim Tressel as he endures allegations that he led to NCAA investigators. Preaching to the choir, perhaps, but an effective message nonetheless. [Detroit Free Press]

? The Rap Sheet. Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso, a likely starter coming off a season-long suspension in the wake of a drunk driving arrest last February, was arrested Sunday on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief. No details were available, but a second major offense in two years could very well be the end of Alonso's career as a Duck. [Eugene Register-Guard]

? Happy trails, Part One. Ohio State linebacker Dorian Bell, a former five-star recruit, has been suspended for the entire 2011 season, per coach Jim Tressel, likely a result of multiple failed drug tests over the course of his career. [Columbus Dispatch]

? Happy trails, Part Two. Elsewhere, the NCAA has ruled Washington State cornerback Aire Justin ineligible for a full calendar year for violating its banned substance policy, likely ending his college career. Justin started four games over the second half of last season and picked off two passes in November. [Seattle Times]

? Cowboy in the crossfire. Former Oklahoma State and NFL cornerback R.W. McQuarters suffered gunshot wounds early Saturday morning while leaving a friend's house in Tulsa. McQuarters, a Tulsa native, told police he saw a man in a ski mask after walking outside the friend's residence on Saturday morning, and was shot while trying to drive away a few minutes later, suffering non-life-threatening injuries in the process. [Tulsa World]

Quickly… Backup quarterback Beau Sweeney is transferring from Cal in search of playing time. … Michigan fans ponder Jim Tressel as Todd McNair. … A bit of John Heisman bulletin board material, circa 1922. … Tim Tebow's time as Dever's savior has already passed. … Charlie Sheen shows up in Tuscaloosa wearing an Alabama hat. … Alabama claims the anti-terrorism national championship. … And Oregon picked the right weekend to introduce stars-and-stripes gloves at the spring game.

- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

Source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Headlinin-Michigan-finally-declares-victory-ov?urn=ncaaf-wp1129

Evan Longoria Joe Mauer Robinson Cano Carl Crawford

Quickish NFL Draft Round 1 commentary

Quickish is a new quick-hit, real-time service that tracks the best analysis of the biggest stories in sports. From Quickish's editors, here is a selection of the best proclamations and exclamations, via Twitter, from the first round of the NFL Draft:

1. Carolina: Cam Newton, QB (Auburn)

"Every situation is different. But QBs drafted for their arm strength first have failed so frequently that it beggars belief"
-- Grantland's Bill Barnwell

"No matter what you think about Cam Newton and his father, it seems like they are getting the last laugh. National Title, Heisman and #1 Pick"
-- Goodwin Sport's Nate Jones

"With Cam Newton going #1, QBs now have been selected with the 1st overall pick 11 times in the last 14 drafts."
-- ESPN's Adam Schefter

2. Denver: Von Miller, LB (Texas A&M)

"Biggest warning I heard on Miller: You better let him just rush, and not get too crazy with his role. That'd mean he's likely a DE with Fox."
-- NFL Network's Albert Breer

"On third downs, Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil will be bookend pass-rushers for John Fox."
-- SI's Peter King

"So the Broncos drafted a linebacker in the 1st Round two years in a row. Only last year they had the guy play quarterback."
-- Sports Pickle

3. Buffalo: Marcell Dareus, DT, (Alabama)

"Dareus, Kyle Williams will be a load for the Pats' rebuilding interior OL to block."
-- SI's Peter King

"The Buffalo Bills welcome DT Marcell Dareus to the AFC East. Certainly will help a terrible run defense. Like the pick a lot."
-- Boston Globe's Greg A. Bedard

"i said "typically" 3-4 ends aren't impact guys. the ones who have been are built completely different from dareus."
-- SI.com's Jim Trotter

4. Cincinnati: AJ Green, WR (Georgia)

"Is it me, or did AJ Green not look thrilled to be picked by the Bengals?"
-- Columbus Dispatch's Ken Gordon

"AJ to Cinci? Let us be the first to congratulate OchoCinco as the newest Jet receiever."
-- The Jets Blog's Brian Bassett

"Worse punishment for AJ Green: Missing 4 games for selling jersey or playing 4 years for the Bengals?"
-- SI.com's Stewart Mandel

5. Arizona: Patrick Peterson, CB (LSU)

"Arizona to Philly: 'There's your cornerback. We like your quarterback. Maybe meet for a milkshake, coffee? Just hang out?'"
-- ESPN's Chris Sprow

"Patrick Peterson makes 4 of 5 picks from SEC."
-- ESPN's Pat Forde

"interesting pick.. remember all the losses on defense in FA last yr for AZ? dansby, antrel rolle? and the Texans hearts are broken at #5"
-- ESPN's Trey Wingo

6. Atlanta (from Cleveland via Trade): Julio Jones, WR (Alabama)

"Holy crap did Atlanta give up a lot of picks. I wonder if Mike Smith and Julio Jones will don the wedding garb for an ESPN Mag shoot ..."
-- Former AOL FanHouse NFL Blogger Bruce Ciskie

"Falcons needed to get more explosive. Done. Dimitroff's work building that roster -- few holes left -- gives them flexibility to do it."
-- NFL Network's Albert Breer

"I love this trade for the Browns. An extra 1, 2, & two 4's? That's how bad teams get better."
-- SI's Ross Tucker

7. San Francisco: Aldon Smith, DE (Missouri)

"First surprise of the top of the round: Niners take Missouri DE Aldon Smith. Blaine Gabbert has fallen a bit here."
-- Newsday's Bob Glauner

"One of ESPN's Areas of Concern for Missouri DE Aldon Smith (selected by 49ers at 7): 'Just a puppy.'"
Daily News' Manish Mehta

8. Tennessee: Jake Locker, QB (Washington)

"Jake Locker? When did the Titans become the Redskins?"
-- Yahoo! Sports' Maggie Hendricks

"Jake Locker to Titans... and the world rips up their mock drafts. Guess Locker didn't lose so much by staying in school"
-- Boston Herald's Ian Rapoport

9. Dallas: Tyron Smith, OT (USC)

"Dallas selects Tyron Smith; Dallas hadn't selected an OT in the first 2 rounds since 1999"
-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen

"Tyron Smith looks the part & is a physical phenom but he's not mean enough for me. I like guys that want to really punish people."
-- SI's Ross Tucker

10. Jacksonville (from Washington via Trade): Blaine Gabbert, QB (Missouri)

"Bet the #Jaguars are shocked Gabbert was available here. Someone here told me weeks ago he thought Gabbert would go No. 1 overall"
-- Florida Times-Union's Tiana Ganguli

"For the second straight year, Jags shock the world at number 10 (2010: Alualu)."
-- SI's Peter King

"Jags taking Gabbert. This has unfolded beautifully for Shanahan and Co. Ther QB will still be there. Curious to see what they get."
-- Washington Post's Rick Mease

11. Houston: J.J. Watt, DE (Wisconsin)

"Houston drafts some real power by picking Watt! #Imsosorry"
-- SB Nation's Spencer Hall

"on watt: transferred cuz he wanted to play defense. sat out a year and delivered pizza to pay for school: hardcore"
-- ESPN's Trey Wingo

12. Minnesota: Christian Ponder, QB (Florida State)

"Christian Ponder to Minnesota draws huge gasps from the Radio City Music Hall crowd."
-- SB Nation

"And Christian Ponder's stock has SOARED. I said first rounder earlier today... but I meant his girlfriend"
-- Boston Herald's Ian Rapoport

"When @DannyOBrien5 told me Christian Ponder would be a top 15 pick this afternoon I laughed in his face...I apologize bro"
-- Maryland Terrapins D-Lineman A.J. Francis

13. Detroit: Nick Fairley, DT (Auburn)

"Suh and Fairley on the same D-line. That is unfair and I believe illegal in a couple dozen states."
-- NBCSports.com's College Football Talk

"With Suh and Fairley, Lions should lead the league in fines for illegal hits. Which the fans will love"
-- Yahoo! Sports Dan Wetzel

"Jay Cutler just retired."
-- CBSSports.com's Adam Jacobi

14. St. Louis: Robert Quinn, DE (North Carolina)

"Like Robert Quinn. Explosive. Former state wrestling champ. Battled back from a brain tumor. think he's a steal."
-- ESPN's Bruce Feldman

"robert quinn make sense. remember all the DE's that spags had in NYG as the Giants Defensive Coordinator"
-- ESPN's Trey Wingo

15. Miami: Mike Pouncey (OL), Florida

"The Dolphins have selected Mike Pouncey -- safe pick even if also a slight reach (in my opinion). Miami desperately needs interior linemen."
-- Miami Herald's Jeff Darlington

16. Redskins (From Jacksonville via Trade): Ryan Kerrigan, DE (Purdue)

"Redskins pass on QB and get a pass-rusher, selecting Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan, it appears"
-- Washington Post's Rick Maese

"#Redskins are taking Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan at #16 and will move him to OLB opposite two-time Pro Bowl pick Brian Orakpo."
-- Former Pro Football Writers of America President David Eflin

"Predicting my mom's reaction to Kerrigan pick: 'I like him. He looks nice.' "
-- Yahoo! Sports' Chris Chase

17. New England (From Oakland via Trade): Nate Solder, OT (Colorado)

"Multiple teams really liked Patriots first-round pick Nate Solder, some as the draft's top OT."
-- ESPN's Adam Schefter

"once again, the patriots take a player no one connected them to. later matt light?"
-- ProFootballTalk's Gregg Rosenthal

"I can see Solder as an extra OT catching those goalline TDs that used to be Vrabel's special."
-- ESPN's Seth Wickersham

18. San Diego: Corey Liuget, DT (Illinois)

"One scout told me he likes Liuget better than Gerald McCoy, the 3rd overall pick last season."
-- Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs

"Was impressed with Corey Liuget against OSU last yr. One of the reasons that game was close. Buckeyes struggled to block him."
-- Columbus Dispatch's Ken Gordon

19. New York Giants: Prince Amukamara, CB (Nebraska)

"Terrell Thomas, Aaron Ross, Corey Webster and Prince Amukamara -- no team in league has more CB depth."
-- ESPN's Adam Schefter

"NY headline writers ecstatic with Giants pick. Makes their job easy."
- ESPN's Wayne Drehs

"Tom Coughlin points out the need to cover so many 3-4 WR sets. Remember, last year veteran S Deon Grant was their nickelback, mostly."
-- Daily News' Ralph Vacciano

20. Tampa Bay: Adrian Clayborn, DL (Iowa)

"I remember Clayborn's mom swaddling a sack of flour with a pic of her son's face on it. "Baby Adrian," she told me last year."

-- ESPN's Wayne Drehs

"Clayborn overcame some long odds to become a football player, let alone an NFL draft pick. Doctors did not want Clayborn to play contact sports in high school because of nerve damage suffered in his neck and right arm during the birthing process,�a condition referred to as Erb's or brachial palsy."

-- St. Peterseburg Times' Rick Stroud

21. Cleveland (From Kansas City via Trade): Phil Taylor, NT (Baylor)

"Browns fans: Phil Taylor really is the only true borderline elite 3-4 DT anchor in this whole draft."
ESPN's Chris Sprow

22. Indianapolis: Anthony Costanzo, OL (Boston College)

"Really smart. It took Polian about 4 seconds to make this pick after passing on Saffold last year."
-- SI's Peter King

"Colts take OT Anthony Castonzo; He had no offers coming out of high school and went to Pork Union Academy; He's a bio-chemistry major and has aspirations to open up a cancer research center"
-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen

"Excellent pick by Bill Polian. And it appears Peyton Manning and Tom Brady now each have the left tackles for the rest of their careers."
-- NFL Network's Albert Breer

23. Philadelphia: Danny Watkins, OL (Baylor)

"Firefighters at Radio City Music Hall giving Eagles first-round pick Danny Watkins, a firefighter himself, a standing ovation."
-- ESPN's Adam Schefter

"In talking to NFL coaches, Baylor OL Danny Watkins (Eagles) was one of their favorite players in this draft. Played well vs. Von Miller."
-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen

"Watkins could be good, but for a franchise that likes to dump guys after 30, tough to explain picking a 26 year old."
-- Philly.com's Sheil Kapadia

24. New Orleans: Cameron Jordan, DE (California)

"Cameron Jordan offers a lot of value. And bloodlines. Dad Steve went to six straight Pro Bowls. More importantly, was in WWE."
-- ESPN's Chris Sprow

"Well the Saints went with a pass rusher, at least. Hard to pass up a guy initially pegged for the top five at No. 24 though."
-- Yahoo! Sports' Matt Hinton

"Cameron Jordan at 24 is the definition of value in the pick. steal for the saints"
-- ESPN's Trey Wingo

25. Seattle: James Carpenter, OT (Alabama)

"Probably starting RT for 'Hawks, who obviously thought him better than Carimi. Surprising, obviously."
-- SI's Peter King

"Seattle goes with a bit of surprise taking Alabama's James Carpenter; All-SEC tackle last two years"
-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen

"Shock RT @fbgchase: Nick Saban's reaction to James Carpenter being selected = highlight of the night"
-- Smart Football's Chris Brown & Pro Football Reference's Chase Stuart

26. Chiefs (From Falcons Thorough Browns): Jonathan Baldwin, WR (Pittsburgh)

"Baltimore passes the 26th pick; KC chooses Jonathan Baldwin and Ravens Jimmy Smith with the 27th"
-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen

27. Ravens: Jimmy Smith, CB (Colorado)

"Ravens were ready to make a deal with the Bears, then Chicago balked and clock ran out, causing Baltimore to miss its turn."
-- Adam Schefter

"Given the leadership on the Ravens defense, could there be a better program for Jimmy Smith? Dude's elite."
-- ESPN's Chris Sprow

28. Saints (From New England via Trade): Mark Ingram, RB (Alabama)

"Mark Ingram is a #saints player. Could this be the end of Reggie Bush!"
-- Boston Globe's Gregory H. Lee Jr.

"Can't believe Saints would deal 2+1 for Ingram with Ivory and Thomas already around."
-- Grantland's Bill Barnwell

"Touching acknowledgement by Ingram, about being taken 28th overall, same exact spot as his jailed father Mark got picked by Jints."
-- SI's Peter King

29. Chicago: Gabe Carimi, OL (Wisconsin)

"Nice pick for Chicago with Gabe Carimi. This was a guy that some thought could be a top 10 pick one year ago."
-- Yahoo! Sports' Charles Robinson

30. New York Jets:

#Jets take DT Muhammad Wilkerson. No doubt they need depth on the defensive line, especially inside. Lots of options there, though.
-- New York Times' Greg Bishop

"So, for the second straight year, appears as though the Jets take a Jersey product with their first-round pick."
-- Star-Ledger's Jenny Vrentas

"Hard to get fired up about a dude I've never heard of, but now that I'm aware of his existence, I like this Wilkerson dude"
-- Sports Nation Web Producer Gabe Goodwin

31. Pittsburgh: Cam Heyward, DT (Ohio State)

"IMO, he makes a Super Bowl team better. Hard worker, great effort, first-class person, and oh by the way, very talented."
-- Columbus Dispatch's Ken Gordon

32. Green Bay: Derek Sherrod, (OL) Mississippi State

"Derek Sherrod's shoulders appear very broad. As he will use them to hurt people, I am okay with that."
-- SB Nation's Andy Hutchins

For more -- both from the first round and throughout the NFL Draft, along with all the other big topics every day -- check out Quickish for quick-hit commentary from all the best sources.

Analysis of the top 10 NFL Draft picks
? 1. Cam Newton -- Carolina Panthers
? 2. Von Miller -- Denver Broncos
? 3. Marcell Dareus -- Buffalo Bills
? 4. A.J. Green -- Cincinnati Bengals
? 5. Patrick Peterson -- Arizona Cardinals
? 6. Julio Jones -- Atlanta Falcons
? 7. Aldon Smith -- San Francisco 49ers
? 8. Jake Locker -- Tennessee Titans
? 9. Tyron Smith -- Dallas Cowboys
? 10. Blaine Gabbert -- Jacksonville Jaguars

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Quickish-NFL-Draft-Round-1-commentary?urn=nfl-wp1573

Oscar Robertson Otto Graham Paavo Nurmi Pele