This is a great film video on Vince Young, set to the music of The Gap Band. If you've never seen Vince Young, and didn't know he could catch as well as throw and run, look at this:
Friday, May 05, 2006
Titans Still Treating Steve McNair Stupidly - Hearing Set For May 16th
McNair grievance to be heard May 16
QB's plea: Let me work out or cut me
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer - The Tennesean
An arbitrator is scheduled to hear the NFL Players Association's grievance against the Titans on May 16, and the outcome could bring quarterback Steve McNair's playing future into focus a little sooner.
The NFLPA filed the grievance on behalf of McNair after the Titans barred him from working out at Baptist Sports Park last month.
If the arbitrator rules in McNair's favor, the Titans would have to let him work out at their facility or release him. Recently, the Titans have discussed trading McNair to the Ravens.
"It is a situation that cries out for fairness, and we define fairness as he's either a Tennessee Titan or he should be allowed to play with another team,'' NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Tuesday.
Arbitrator John Feerick is scheduled to hear the case on May 16, Berthelsen said. Cases are normally heard in the NFL team's city.
McNair is scheduled to make $9 million in base salary and count $23.46 million against the salary cap this season. The Titans want to lower those figures, but negotiations with Mc Nair's agent about a restructured contract have been stagnant for weeks.
The Titans asked McNair to train elsewhere because they would be liable for those amounts if he is injured on team property. The NFLPA considers that a breach of contract, Berthelsen said.
On Sunday the Titans gave McNair's agent, Bus Cook, permission to try to facilitate a trade with the Ravens, but the two sides couldn't agree on compensation. Indications are the Titans might be willing to wait until July to release McNair if they can't agree to a new contract or trade him by them.
Cook and the NFLPA say it's not fair to keep McNair in limbo.
"He has the right to be with the other players to prepare for the upcoming season, to get into football shape and get in a routine with the new receivers and young receivers on the club,'' Berthelsen said. "If they don't want to do that, then he should be able to go elsewhere.''
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said Tuesday he's spoken with Cook since the end of the NFL Draft on Sunday and hopes to sit down with him at some point. As for a trade with the Ravens, little has changed since the two sides broke off talks Sunday, Reese said.
"The first thing we need to do is sit down with them, throw some thoughts out and see exactly where we are,'' Reese said. "The Baltimore thing, in my mind, is dead. I haven't talked to them in a few days so I assume it was a one-shot deal. Now could that change? Sure. We'll just have to see what happens." •
QB's plea: Let me work out or cut me
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer - The Tennesean
An arbitrator is scheduled to hear the NFL Players Association's grievance against the Titans on May 16, and the outcome could bring quarterback Steve McNair's playing future into focus a little sooner.
The NFLPA filed the grievance on behalf of McNair after the Titans barred him from working out at Baptist Sports Park last month.
If the arbitrator rules in McNair's favor, the Titans would have to let him work out at their facility or release him. Recently, the Titans have discussed trading McNair to the Ravens.
"It is a situation that cries out for fairness, and we define fairness as he's either a Tennessee Titan or he should be allowed to play with another team,'' NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Tuesday.
Arbitrator John Feerick is scheduled to hear the case on May 16, Berthelsen said. Cases are normally heard in the NFL team's city.
McNair is scheduled to make $9 million in base salary and count $23.46 million against the salary cap this season. The Titans want to lower those figures, but negotiations with Mc Nair's agent about a restructured contract have been stagnant for weeks.
The Titans asked McNair to train elsewhere because they would be liable for those amounts if he is injured on team property. The NFLPA considers that a breach of contract, Berthelsen said.
On Sunday the Titans gave McNair's agent, Bus Cook, permission to try to facilitate a trade with the Ravens, but the two sides couldn't agree on compensation. Indications are the Titans might be willing to wait until July to release McNair if they can't agree to a new contract or trade him by them.
Cook and the NFLPA say it's not fair to keep McNair in limbo.
"He has the right to be with the other players to prepare for the upcoming season, to get into football shape and get in a routine with the new receivers and young receivers on the club,'' Berthelsen said. "If they don't want to do that, then he should be able to go elsewhere.''
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said Tuesday he's spoken with Cook since the end of the NFL Draft on Sunday and hopes to sit down with him at some point. As for a trade with the Ravens, little has changed since the two sides broke off talks Sunday, Reese said.
"The first thing we need to do is sit down with them, throw some thoughts out and see exactly where we are,'' Reese said. "The Baltimore thing, in my mind, is dead. I haven't talked to them in a few days so I assume it was a one-shot deal. Now could that change? Sure. We'll just have to see what happens." •
Vince Young Behind Only Reggie Bush In Post-NFL Draft Apparel Sales - The Tennesean
You can even get his Jersey here!
Young jerseys No. 2 in NFL apparel sales
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennesean
Only Saints running back Reggie Bush has been a hotter post-NFL Draft property than Titans quarterback Vince Young, an official with the NFL's official apparel company said Wednesday.
According to Eddie White, vice president of team properties for Reebok, the company had 15,000 orders for Bush jerseys and 14,500 for Young jerseys as of early this week.
White also said that Saints and Titans hats were among the top five sellers at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the draft was held Saturday and Sunday.
Bush was the second overall pick by the New Orleans Saints and Young went third to the Titans.
"The buzz around town has been great," said Don MacLachlan, vice president of administration and facilities for the Titans.
"For them to have gotten that many orders for jerseys in that short amount of time, that indicates he'll be quite a marketing fixture, not only for us, but for the NFL, for a long time."
The Titans Pro Shop sent out an e-mail 12 minutes after Young was drafted on Saturday, making fans aware his jersey was could be ordered online at a price of $74.99.
The Titans Pro Shop at the Coliseum expects to have Young jerseys in stock and on sale Friday.
Young jerseys No. 2 in NFL apparel sales
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennesean
Only Saints running back Reggie Bush has been a hotter post-NFL Draft property than Titans quarterback Vince Young, an official with the NFL's official apparel company said Wednesday.
According to Eddie White, vice president of team properties for Reebok, the company had 15,000 orders for Bush jerseys and 14,500 for Young jerseys as of early this week.
White also said that Saints and Titans hats were among the top five sellers at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the draft was held Saturday and Sunday.
Bush was the second overall pick by the New Orleans Saints and Young went third to the Titans.
"The buzz around town has been great," said Don MacLachlan, vice president of administration and facilities for the Titans.
"For them to have gotten that many orders for jerseys in that short amount of time, that indicates he'll be quite a marketing fixture, not only for us, but for the NFL, for a long time."
The Titans Pro Shop sent out an e-mail 12 minutes after Young was drafted on Saturday, making fans aware his jersey was could be ordered online at a price of $74.99.
The Titans Pro Shop at the Coliseum expects to have Young jerseys in stock and on sale Friday.
Tennessee Titans To Bring Vince Young Along Slowly - The Tennessean
Titans to set a slow pace for Young
Deliberate plan helped McNair
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennessean
Along with the rest of the Titans' new rookies, Young was expected to arrive in Nashville last night. This morning they begin a two-day rookie orientation that includes two practice sessions.
Young will be asked to start digesting and learning the Titans' playbook, though the team has no intention of rushing him into the lineup on opening day when the Titans face the Jets on Sept. 10.
That's the same plan the team had for Steve McNair when he was drafted third in 1995. The Houston Oilers offensive coordinator at the time, Jerry Rhome, worked with Young as a private coach preparing him for the combine and his pro day leading up to the draft.
''I know back in '95 Coach Fisher had a plan for him; we wanted to bring Steve along,'' Rhome said. ''I think the way the Oilers handled him back in '95-96 was very smart. We brought him along slowly, gave him a little action.
''Then he and I worked together four days a week, probably two and a half hours each day in the offseason after his rookie year, inside and outside. He was a great student and learned quickly, and I think it helped him have a great career.''
Resisting the temptation to use Young before he's ready will be a big theme for Jeff Fisher and his current offensive coordinator, Norm Chow.
Because Fisher has seen the patient plan payoff before, he is more likely to stick with the long-term vision than other coaches around the league who talk of plans to wait on a quarterback but wind up turning to rookies in times of trouble.
McNair missed the early part of his first training camp while his contract was ironed out. The Titans, Young and his agent, Major Adams, have pledged to work diligently to ensure that this quarterback is under contract by the time camp opens in late July.
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese talks often about how damaging playing too early can be to a young quarterback's psyche. While Fisher and his staff will decide if and when Young plays, they are unlikely to hear any whispers from Reese pushing to see him.
"I think the key is that in spite of what you want, he will get there when he gets there,'' Reese said. "And if I want him to be ready for the second preseason game and he says, 'No, I will be ready for the 10th regular-season game,' then there's not much you can do about it.
"The thing that happens with so many of these young quarterbacks is they get thrown out there and end up getting hurt. They're confused. They loose their confidence. When you're done with the whole experiment, you end up with a shipwreck. We're going to make sure that doesn't happen with this kid. If it takes a little bit longer, then it takes a little bit longer, but that's the process.''
Rhome said McNair circa 1995 and Young now are comparable in that they both had a knack in college for leading their teams to comebacks and they both arrived in the NFL with a need for polish.
But McNair's experience in the small program at Alcorn State was certainly different than Young's at Texas, where he led the Longhorns to consecutive Rose Bowls.
''I think Vince is probably a little bit ahead of Steve because Steve came out of a little bit of a smaller school and Vince was playing for the national champions,'' Rhome said with a laugh. ''That might be a little bit different there.''
Rhome said despite his strong rapport with Fisher and Reese left over from his two seasons as the Oilers coordinator in 1995 and 1996, there was no special insight for them to gain from him about Young as they prepared for the draft.
"I visited with them,'' he said. "I think Vince is a good player who's ready. But it wasn't a matter of Jeff or Floyd trying to pick my brain. They knew what they were looking for.''
Said Fisher: "I spoke with Jerry at the (Young's) workout. He's spent a lot of time with Vince, and they have a good relationship. He's very excited for Vince's future and the potential.''
Rhome said he'll watch Young carefully and expects to have fun doing so. He said he hopes to talk to Young periodically but not in any way that would interfere with the Titans coaching.
"If (Fisher) chooses to put Vince out there early, there will be a good reason for it,'' Rhome said. "You never know. I don't know how quickly Vince will progress or what they plan on doing. But I think that the Titans will make good decisions all the way down the line with him. They know they got a great athlete, they know what they'll have to do to work with him.
"He's just like any other rookie coming in. It's the NFL, and he's going to have to develop. He's not going to be any different than all those other No. 1 draft choices coming in. They all want to play.'' n
Deliberate plan helped McNair
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennessean
Along with the rest of the Titans' new rookies, Young was expected to arrive in Nashville last night. This morning they begin a two-day rookie orientation that includes two practice sessions.
Young will be asked to start digesting and learning the Titans' playbook, though the team has no intention of rushing him into the lineup on opening day when the Titans face the Jets on Sept. 10.
That's the same plan the team had for Steve McNair when he was drafted third in 1995. The Houston Oilers offensive coordinator at the time, Jerry Rhome, worked with Young as a private coach preparing him for the combine and his pro day leading up to the draft.
''I know back in '95 Coach Fisher had a plan for him; we wanted to bring Steve along,'' Rhome said. ''I think the way the Oilers handled him back in '95-96 was very smart. We brought him along slowly, gave him a little action.
''Then he and I worked together four days a week, probably two and a half hours each day in the offseason after his rookie year, inside and outside. He was a great student and learned quickly, and I think it helped him have a great career.''
Resisting the temptation to use Young before he's ready will be a big theme for Jeff Fisher and his current offensive coordinator, Norm Chow.
Because Fisher has seen the patient plan payoff before, he is more likely to stick with the long-term vision than other coaches around the league who talk of plans to wait on a quarterback but wind up turning to rookies in times of trouble.
McNair missed the early part of his first training camp while his contract was ironed out. The Titans, Young and his agent, Major Adams, have pledged to work diligently to ensure that this quarterback is under contract by the time camp opens in late July.
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese talks often about how damaging playing too early can be to a young quarterback's psyche. While Fisher and his staff will decide if and when Young plays, they are unlikely to hear any whispers from Reese pushing to see him.
"I think the key is that in spite of what you want, he will get there when he gets there,'' Reese said. "And if I want him to be ready for the second preseason game and he says, 'No, I will be ready for the 10th regular-season game,' then there's not much you can do about it.
"The thing that happens with so many of these young quarterbacks is they get thrown out there and end up getting hurt. They're confused. They loose their confidence. When you're done with the whole experiment, you end up with a shipwreck. We're going to make sure that doesn't happen with this kid. If it takes a little bit longer, then it takes a little bit longer, but that's the process.''
Rhome said McNair circa 1995 and Young now are comparable in that they both had a knack in college for leading their teams to comebacks and they both arrived in the NFL with a need for polish.
But McNair's experience in the small program at Alcorn State was certainly different than Young's at Texas, where he led the Longhorns to consecutive Rose Bowls.
''I think Vince is probably a little bit ahead of Steve because Steve came out of a little bit of a smaller school and Vince was playing for the national champions,'' Rhome said with a laugh. ''That might be a little bit different there.''
Rhome said despite his strong rapport with Fisher and Reese left over from his two seasons as the Oilers coordinator in 1995 and 1996, there was no special insight for them to gain from him about Young as they prepared for the draft.
"I visited with them,'' he said. "I think Vince is a good player who's ready. But it wasn't a matter of Jeff or Floyd trying to pick my brain. They knew what they were looking for.''
Said Fisher: "I spoke with Jerry at the (Young's) workout. He's spent a lot of time with Vince, and they have a good relationship. He's very excited for Vince's future and the potential.''
Rhome said he'll watch Young carefully and expects to have fun doing so. He said he hopes to talk to Young periodically but not in any way that would interfere with the Titans coaching.
"If (Fisher) chooses to put Vince out there early, there will be a good reason for it,'' Rhome said. "You never know. I don't know how quickly Vince will progress or what they plan on doing. But I think that the Titans will make good decisions all the way down the line with him. They know they got a great athlete, they know what they'll have to do to work with him.
"He's just like any other rookie coming in. It's the NFL, and he's going to have to develop. He's not going to be any different than all those other No. 1 draft choices coming in. They all want to play.'' n
Niners Trade Ken Dorsey -- Their Only Effective Quarterback -- For Trent Dilfer.
Last year, he was the first 49ers Quarterback to throw a touchdown pass.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers acquired a proven backup quarterback for Alex Smith, getting Trent Dilfer from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in a trade for quarterback Ken Dorsey and an undisclosed 2007 draft pick.
Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2001, will give the 49ers depth behind Smith, who struggled as a rookie last season after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
"Trent was a player we had interest in last season," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said in a statement. "We were looking for a veteran quarterback with experience that could help mentor Alex Smith. Trent fits the bill on both counts and we are excited to have him with the 49ers."
Dilfer signed a four-year deal with the Browns last year after stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. He went 4-7 as a Browns starter before losing the job to rookie Charlie Frye. Dilfer completed 59.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,321 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
"Trent Dilfer played an important role in the making over of our football team last year," Browns general manager Phil Savage said in a statement. "At this point, to add Ken Dorsey and to give Trent the opportunity to go back home to California is a win-win for all parties."
Dilfer, who played in college at Fresno State, has started 107 career games, throwing for 106 touchdowns and 117 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl with Tampa Bay in 1997 after passing for 2,555 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Dorsey started 10 games in his three years in San Francisco, including three last season. He completed 48 of 90 passes for 481 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2005.
Cody Pickett is San Francisco's third-string quarterback and the team also drafted Michael Robinson in the fourth round last month. Robinson, a quarterback in college at Penn State, is expected to mostly be used as a running back, receiver or kick returner in San Francisco.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers acquired a proven backup quarterback for Alex Smith, getting Trent Dilfer from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in a trade for quarterback Ken Dorsey and an undisclosed 2007 draft pick.
Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2001, will give the 49ers depth behind Smith, who struggled as a rookie last season after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
"Trent was a player we had interest in last season," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said in a statement. "We were looking for a veteran quarterback with experience that could help mentor Alex Smith. Trent fits the bill on both counts and we are excited to have him with the 49ers."
Dilfer signed a four-year deal with the Browns last year after stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. He went 4-7 as a Browns starter before losing the job to rookie Charlie Frye. Dilfer completed 59.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,321 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
"Trent Dilfer played an important role in the making over of our football team last year," Browns general manager Phil Savage said in a statement. "At this point, to add Ken Dorsey and to give Trent the opportunity to go back home to California is a win-win for all parties."
Dilfer, who played in college at Fresno State, has started 107 career games, throwing for 106 touchdowns and 117 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl with Tampa Bay in 1997 after passing for 2,555 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Dorsey started 10 games in his three years in San Francisco, including three last season. He completed 48 of 90 passes for 481 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2005.
Cody Pickett is San Francisco's third-string quarterback and the team also drafted Michael Robinson in the fourth round last month. Robinson, a quarterback in college at Penn State, is expected to mostly be used as a running back, receiver or kick returner in San Francisco.
Bills Sign Nate Clemons To A One-Year Deal
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Nate Clements re-signed with the Bills on Friday, accepting the one-year, $7.2 million contract Buffalo offered the star cornerback after designating him the team's franchise player in February.
The deal was struck in time for Clements to attend the start of a three-day minicamp. Clements, who missed a voluntary minicamp session last month, took the field Friday afternoon.
Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Clements is a five-year starter who leads the team with 20 interceptions, four of which he's returned for touchdowns.
He was a 2004 Pro Bowl selection and considered a key member of a defense that is rebuilding under new coach Dick Jauron.
The deal was struck in time for Clements to attend the start of a three-day minicamp. Clements, who missed a voluntary minicamp session last month, took the field Friday afternoon.
Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Clements is a five-year starter who leads the team with 20 interceptions, four of which he's returned for touchdowns.
He was a 2004 Pro Bowl selection and considered a key member of a defense that is rebuilding under new coach Dick Jauron.
Six Penn State Nitany Lions Selected In 2006 NFL Draft
This was sent to me via Penn State Sports News:
Defensive end Tamba Hali, a consensus 2005 All-American for the
Nittany Lions, was selected Saturday by the Kansas City Chiefs in the
first round of the National Football League Draft.
In addition, Penn State standouts Michael Robinson, Calvin Lowry and Alan Zemaitis were selected in the fourth round of the National Football League Draft,
Tyler Reed was taken in round six and Ethan Kilmer was drafted in the
seventh round.
Hali is Penn State's fourth defensive lineman to be
selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in the last seven years,
joining Courtney Brown (2000), Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Haynes
(2003). Hali is the 33rd Penn Stater to be chosen in the first round
of the NFL Draft, 30 of whom have played for legendary coach Joe
Paterno. Hali is the 222nd Nittany Lion to be drafted under Paterno
and more than 300 of his players have signed NFL contracts.
Defensive end Tamba Hali, a consensus 2005 All-American for the
Nittany Lions, was selected Saturday by the Kansas City Chiefs in the
first round of the National Football League Draft.
In addition, Penn State standouts Michael Robinson, Calvin Lowry and Alan Zemaitis were selected in the fourth round of the National Football League Draft,
Tyler Reed was taken in round six and Ethan Kilmer was drafted in the
seventh round.
Hali is Penn State's fourth defensive lineman to be
selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in the last seven years,
joining Courtney Brown (2000), Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Haynes
(2003). Hali is the 33rd Penn Stater to be chosen in the first round
of the NFL Draft, 30 of whom have played for legendary coach Joe
Paterno. Hali is the 222nd Nittany Lion to be drafted under Paterno
and more than 300 of his players have signed NFL contracts.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Matt Leinart Parties With Paris Hilton -- And 200 Others -- In Las Vegas
Well, I can say I ordered him a free cocktail last week. We -- just the two of us -- were at the bar at Gustavino's in NYC last Thursday and I said "I'll never get the chance to say this, so 'Buy the bar a round?"
I just hope Matt can focus on the field once training camp starts, but I think he can. It's a new level. Still, it's like he's turning 21 again -- what's one more big bash?
Thing is, he's a very nice person, so those 200 people who were in attendance were not there just for his name.
Paris Hilton & Matt Leinart: Cozy in Vegas
Thursday May 04, 2006 3:50pm EST
By Stephen M. Silverman
Hilton and Leinart on May 1
CREDIT: ALPHAX / X17
Matt Leinart celebrated being drafted into the NFL by partying at a Las Vegas nightclub on Tuesday with Paris Hilton.
For the record, Leinart was joined at the club PURE by more than 200 of his closest friends, including Nick Lachey, Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson – but he spent the better part of the evening with the newly single Hilton, a source tells PEOPLE.
On his way into the bash, the 22-year-old, 6'5", Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, who was recently drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, told PEOPLE, "After this, it's all business, all NFL."
Inside, he danced with Hilton, 25, on the club's VIP beds. She called him "baby" and rested her head on his back, sometimes holding his hand, says the source.
The pair danced the night away – and at one point disappeared together behind closed doors in the club's private suite.
Later, Hilton treated the crowd to an impromptu concert, jumping on top of the DJ booth and belting out several songs from her upcoming album, including a rendition of Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy" – which she dedicated to Leinart.
When not on the dance floor, the pair nestled themselves into the corner of a VIP bed, where they kissed and hugged before leaving around 3:30 a.m.
Hilton and Leinart have been spotted together several times recently. On May 1, Hilton, wearing a brunette wig, shopped at the Grove in Los Angeles with Leinart, PEOPLE reports. That night, they partied together at L.A. club Shag. "They seemed really into each other," said one witness. "He was very touchy-feely."
Leinart's rep denies that they're dating, and Hilton's publicist, Elliot Mintz, says, "She knows Matt, she likes Matt. They are friends. I don't want to go any further than that. They have known each other a while."
Oakland Raiders Legend Michael Dotterer's Advice To The New Raider Draftees - Video
Oakland Raiders running back Michael Dotterer -- who was also on the Stanford team that lost to Cal because of "The Play" in the 1982 Big Game -- has been my friend for about 11 years now. He played for the Silver and Black during their LA years and was part of the 1984 Super Bowl Championship Team. He is also one of only 24 two-sport all stars in Stanford University history.
During my trip to the NFL Draft, I asked Mike if I could do a kind of walking interview of him and his advice for the Raiders newest draftees on the eve of the NFL Draft. He was more than happy to allow this. The result is a talk and walk through Midtown Manhattan on the way to dinner at The 21 Club restaurant. My favorite.
Along the way, Mike reveals that his Raiders roommate was none other than the legendary Lyle Alzado, a true character and so much in the Raider mold it's easy to forget he played for the Denver Broncos. Mike also instructs rookies to listen.
We covered a lot of ground and in more ways than one.
Here's my conversation with Michael Dotterer:
During my trip to the NFL Draft, I asked Mike if I could do a kind of walking interview of him and his advice for the Raiders newest draftees on the eve of the NFL Draft. He was more than happy to allow this. The result is a talk and walk through Midtown Manhattan on the way to dinner at The 21 Club restaurant. My favorite.
Along the way, Mike reveals that his Raiders roommate was none other than the legendary Lyle Alzado, a true character and so much in the Raider mold it's easy to forget he played for the Denver Broncos. Mike also instructs rookies to listen.
We covered a lot of ground and in more ways than one.
Here's my conversation with Michael Dotterer:
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
2006 NFL Draft - Sights And Sounds Before The Start Of The Draft
I took my camcorder on a kind of tour around the main theater of Radio City Music Hall just before the start of the NFL Draft. It was kind of like the crew of the Starship Enterprise preparing the big vessel before it leaves drydock. A cool scene.
During my rounds I reconnected with Todd Barnes, who, with Jerry Andersen formed the plans for the use of the Oakland / Alameda County Coliseum for the 2005 Super Bowl in1999-2000. He's a very nice person, who's landed well as the architect for the NFL. The segment where I almost ran into him wasn't fake -- it really happened.
I also feature Bill Chachkes, who as you know if you regularly read this has attended more NFL drafts than perhaps all but a handful of people in the room. I also catch ESPN's Mike Golic, who at the 2005 NFL Draft was tossing his cookies to the audience. No kidding. (He later told me that security really got on him for that, so he didn't do it this time.)
I also met Jerry Davis, Al Davis brother, whom I refered to earlier. You can see how much he's really like the man who runs the Oakland Raiders.
You also see both ESPN's crew and the NFL Network's hosts getting ready to go into action.
Along the tour one can gain a keen idea of the complexity of this massive production.
Here's the video:
During my rounds I reconnected with Todd Barnes, who, with Jerry Andersen formed the plans for the use of the Oakland / Alameda County Coliseum for the 2005 Super Bowl in1999-2000. He's a very nice person, who's landed well as the architect for the NFL. The segment where I almost ran into him wasn't fake -- it really happened.
I also feature Bill Chachkes, who as you know if you regularly read this has attended more NFL drafts than perhaps all but a handful of people in the room. I also catch ESPN's Mike Golic, who at the 2005 NFL Draft was tossing his cookies to the audience. No kidding. (He later told me that security really got on him for that, so he didn't do it this time.)
I also met Jerry Davis, Al Davis brother, whom I refered to earlier. You can see how much he's really like the man who runs the Oakland Raiders.
You also see both ESPN's crew and the NFL Network's hosts getting ready to go into action.
Along the tour one can gain a keen idea of the complexity of this massive production.
Here's the video:
2006 NFL Draft - "From A White Game To A Black Game" - S.I.'s Paul Zimmerman On The NFL Draft, Pro Football, and Katie Couric - Video
I had the pleasure of conducting an interview with the legendary Sports Illiustrated writer, Paul Zimmerman at the 2006 NFL Draft. While our conversation was short -- we were all getting ready for the drama that was to unfold after the Houston Texans officially annouced their selection of defensive lineman Mario Williams -- it was blunt, honest, illuminating, and fun.
Some of the highlight of our conversation: "If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available, and busted my hump to sign him. Maybe they did that...Football has changed from a white game to a black game. It's a speed game... If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available. Maybe they did that. Time will tell... You tell me. What has Katie Couric done for $15 million?"
Well, you get the idea. This was totally off the cuff. Paul didn't know this guy was going to come with with a camcorder and ask for an interview. We didn't go over exactly what was going to be asked. I just filmed our conversation. It was that simple.
For those of you who don't know who "Dr. Z" is, here's his bio from S.I.com:
"Paul Zimmerman, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated since 1979, videotapes and charts as many as eight NFL games a week from his home. It's safe to say that Dr. Z has watched more NFL games than any other person on the planet. In addition to his regular columns for SI, he contributes Insider, Power Rankings and Mailbag columns to SI.com.
Dr. Z is the author of seven books on the NFL, including The Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football. His inside analysis and opinions are rooted in more than 50 years of playing and watching football.
As a 15-year-old, Zimmerman sparred with Ernest Hemingway in a Manhattan gym. He sustained four broken noses as an offensive lineman in high school (Horace Mann High in the Bronx, N.Y.), at two colleges (Stanford and Columbia) and for his Army team (the Western Area Command Rhinos, in Germany). He also played semi-professionally in New Jersey for the Paterson Pioneers and the Morristown Colonials.
Before joining SI, Zimmerman worked for the New York Journal-American and the New York World-Telegram & Sun, and spent 13 years at the New York Post, where he covered pro football and three Olympic Games. He was one of the few journalists to get close to the Israeli compound during the 1972 hostage-taking in Munich; he bucked two lines of security guards and took a rifle butt to the head.
Zimmerman and his wife, to whom he often refers in his columns on CNNSI.com, live in Mountain Lakes, N.J.
Dr. Z refered to his wife in our conversation, too.
Here's the video of my conversation with Paul Zimmerman:
Some of the highlight of our conversation: "If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available, and busted my hump to sign him. Maybe they did that...Football has changed from a white game to a black game. It's a speed game... If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available. Maybe they did that. Time will tell... You tell me. What has Katie Couric done for $15 million?"
Well, you get the idea. This was totally off the cuff. Paul didn't know this guy was going to come with with a camcorder and ask for an interview. We didn't go over exactly what was going to be asked. I just filmed our conversation. It was that simple.
For those of you who don't know who "Dr. Z" is, here's his bio from S.I.com:
"Paul Zimmerman, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated since 1979, videotapes and charts as many as eight NFL games a week from his home. It's safe to say that Dr. Z has watched more NFL games than any other person on the planet. In addition to his regular columns for SI, he contributes Insider, Power Rankings and Mailbag columns to SI.com.
Dr. Z is the author of seven books on the NFL, including The Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football. His inside analysis and opinions are rooted in more than 50 years of playing and watching football.
As a 15-year-old, Zimmerman sparred with Ernest Hemingway in a Manhattan gym. He sustained four broken noses as an offensive lineman in high school (Horace Mann High in the Bronx, N.Y.), at two colleges (Stanford and Columbia) and for his Army team (the Western Area Command Rhinos, in Germany). He also played semi-professionally in New Jersey for the Paterson Pioneers and the Morristown Colonials.
Before joining SI, Zimmerman worked for the New York Journal-American and the New York World-Telegram & Sun, and spent 13 years at the New York Post, where he covered pro football and three Olympic Games. He was one of the few journalists to get close to the Israeli compound during the 1972 hostage-taking in Munich; he bucked two lines of security guards and took a rifle butt to the head.
Zimmerman and his wife, to whom he often refers in his columns on CNNSI.com, live in Mountain Lakes, N.J.
Dr. Z refered to his wife in our conversation, too.
Here's the video of my conversation with Paul Zimmerman:
2006 NFL Draft - A Neat Sign-Off: Bill Chachkes Takes Us Out, NFL Network's Pat Kirwan and NLS John Murphy Give Views
While it's not the last video from the NFL Draft you'll see on this blog, it was the last one taken there. It's a sign off, and starts with Bill Chachkes of www.nextlevelscoutinginc.com and Fieldposition.com and now nflbusinessblog.com signing off, Mel Kiper giving an opinion just as he's called away by someone at ESPN, NFL Network's Pat Kirwan providing his views, and John Murphy of www.nextlevelscoutinginc.com chiming in as well.
In this, you'll not only get a view of Radio City Music Hall, but also an idea of just how many people are required to put on what really is a TV production. Also notice how fast everyone was working. That's because Radio City's security people kept coming by and asking us to pack up. It was a little much, especially considering that we had not received the on-paper results from the 7th and final round. Some draft attendees write down each pick. I did that last year; not this year and because the NFL's going to give them to us, and I figured I needed the time to produce video and blog content.
Here's the video:
In this, you'll not only get a view of Radio City Music Hall, but also an idea of just how many people are required to put on what really is a TV production. Also notice how fast everyone was working. That's because Radio City's security people kept coming by and asking us to pack up. It was a little much, especially considering that we had not received the on-paper results from the 7th and final round. Some draft attendees write down each pick. I did that last year; not this year and because the NFL's going to give them to us, and I figured I needed the time to produce video and blog content.
Here's the video:
