Illinois first hired Lovie Smith The draft is in a few days so I figured that I would do some catch up before the annual NFL draft update (aka The Lions just don’t get the Draft extravaganza).
There was a very late breaking add to the Coaching Carousel and it took over a full season to complete. Illinois HC Tim Beckman was on the Hot Seat coming into the 2015 season. Prior to the season even starting, they fired him over allegations of playing injured players and hurting their feelings. Seeing a way to rid themselves of Beckman and being cheap bastards they fired him “for cause”. For cause means Illinois did not have to payout the remainder of Beckman’s contract. Beckman promptly sued.
Illinois then promoted OC Bill Cubit to interim HC. Cubit was the former HC at Western and was fired at the end of the 2012 season after going 4-8 and a season ending loss to Eastern Michigan. He did about the same at Illinois going 2-6 in the Big Ten and 5-7 overall.
This being Illinois, that earned him a two year extension. Or so it seemed...
A new AD was hired in February - 37 year old Josh Whitman a former Tight End for the Illini. Whitman wasted no time. Shortly after learning where the men’s room was and how to refill the coffee pot he cut Cubit loose and hired former Bears HC Lovie Smith.
For once, Illinois made a great move. Lovie is an excellent hire. He 81-63 while claiming three NFC North titles and reaching two NFC Championship games for the home town Bears. In 2006, he went all the way to the Super Bowl where they fell to Peyton and the Colts.
I have no idea if he can recruit but the name recognition alone is generating tons of interest on the recruiting trail. His teams will be well coached and have a nasty demeanor. Illinois is no longer going to be an easy out in the Big Ten West.
There was a very late breaking add to the Coaching Carousel and it took over a full season to complete. Illinois HC Tim Beckman was on the Hot Seat coming into the 2015 season. Prior to the season even starting, they fired him over allegations of playing injured players and hurting their feelings. Seeing a way to rid themselves of Beckman and being cheap bastards they fired him “for cause”. For cause means Illinois did not have to payout the remainder of Beckman’s contract. Beckman promptly sued.
Illinois then promoted OC Bill Cubit to interim HC. Cubit was the former HC at Western and was fired at the end of the 2012 season after going 4-8 and a season ending loss to Eastern Michigan. He did about the same at Illinois going 2-6 in the Big Ten and 5-7 overall.
This being Illinois, that earned him a two year extension. Or so it seemed...
A new AD was hired in February - 37 year old Josh Whitman a former Tight End for the Illini. Whitman wasted no time. Shortly after learning where the men’s room was and how to refill the coffee pot he cut Cubit loose and hired former Bears HC Lovie Smith.
For once, Illinois made a great move. Lovie is an excellent hire. He 81-63 while claiming three NFC North titles and reaching two NFC Championship games for the home town Bears. In 2006, he went all the way to the Super Bowl where they fell to Peyton and the Colts.
I have no idea if he can recruit but the name recognition alone is generating tons of interest on the recruiting trail. His teams will be well coached and have a nasty demeanor. Illinois is no longer going to be an easy out in the Big Ten West.
And then let Tim Beckman say nice things about himself to settle a lawsuit With Lovie in the fold, all that was left was to settle the Beckman lawsuit. This week U of I reached a settlement paying Beckman a one-time lump sum payment of $250,000 (he was owed $1.8 million per year).
And in a press release that only a lawyer (and Dobby) could love, Illinois said that they still fired Beckman for cause but then proceeded to say lots of nice things about Beckman including that he was nice to his players, treated them well, improved the grade point average and shoots unicorns out his butt.
All in all, it was sneaky and underhanded. I like sneaky and underhanded. Well done Illinois.
And in a press release that only a lawyer (and Dobby) could love, Illinois said that they still fired Beckman for cause but then proceeded to say lots of nice things about Beckman including that he was nice to his players, treated them well, improved the grade point average and shoots unicorns out his butt.
All in all, it was sneaky and underhanded. I like sneaky and underhanded. Well done Illinois.
After getting over the funk from State getting bounced in the Tourney, I’ve been spending a lot of time updating the College and NFL schedules. They are now complete. The Div 1A games can be downloaded here
| 2016 Div 1A schedule.xlsx |
And the NFL here
| 2016 NFL Schedule.xlsx |
The Rams mortgaged their future for the right to draft Jared Goff The schedules include the dates (no times yet), previous year score and records against each other against the spread for the last 11 years.
Of course, that means the schedule for the GO JUMBO trip is ready to go. I’ll have an overview after the draft update. Some nice games on tap this year.
Speaking of the draft, a couple of teams took some lessons from the Lions on how to pooch the draft. First, The Los Angeles Rams (that is going to take some time to get used to) traded up for the overall #1 pick by giving their first-round pick (#15), two second-round selections (#43 and #45) and a third-round pick (#76) in 2016. The Titans also will get the Rams' first- and third-round picks in 2017. The Rams also got the Titans fourth round pick (#113) and sixth round pick (#177).
Granted, the Rams needed a QB with a roster of Nick Foles and Case Keenum but this was far too much for the overall first pick. The QBs in this years draft are not as good as last years (Jameis and Mariotta) and maybe not as good as next year (DeShaun Watson).
Depth is just as important as a franchise QB and the rRams just gave it all away.
The Sheriff is OK with the trade though. It’s almost certain that Los Angeles will take former Cal QB Jared Goff.
Of course, that means the schedule for the GO JUMBO trip is ready to go. I’ll have an overview after the draft update. Some nice games on tap this year.
Speaking of the draft, a couple of teams took some lessons from the Lions on how to pooch the draft. First, The Los Angeles Rams (that is going to take some time to get used to) traded up for the overall #1 pick by giving their first-round pick (#15), two second-round selections (#43 and #45) and a third-round pick (#76) in 2016. The Titans also will get the Rams' first- and third-round picks in 2017. The Rams also got the Titans fourth round pick (#113) and sixth round pick (#177).
Granted, the Rams needed a QB with a roster of Nick Foles and Case Keenum but this was far too much for the overall first pick. The QBs in this years draft are not as good as last years (Jameis and Mariotta) and maybe not as good as next year (DeShaun Watson).
Depth is just as important as a franchise QB and the rRams just gave it all away.
The Sheriff is OK with the trade though. It’s almost certain that Los Angeles will take former Cal QB Jared Goff.
The Eagles soon followed suit and moved to #2 to get Carson Wentz Not to be outdone, the Eagles, after missing out trading up for the #1 pick, traded up for the #2 pick.
To get the pick, The Eagles sent five draft picks to the Browns: their 1st round pick (#8 overall), third-round pick (77th overall) and fourth-round pick (100th overall) in this year's draft. They also had to give up their first-round pick in 2017 and a second-round pick in 2018. The Eagles get the Browns fourth-round pick in 2017.
The Eagles QB situation has been a huge mess. In the past two years, they've rallied behind Nick Foles, then traded Foles for Sam Bradford, re-upped Bradford with a bigger contract than anybody expected, and now invested a large portion of the franchise's future in a quarterback to replace Bradford while Bradford is still under contract. And they can’t be sure which QB will be available at #2. And, oh yeah, they also paid too much to grab back up QB Chase Daniels in free agency. Make sense to you? Me neither.
Some teams just don’t get the draft. The Washington Post did an analysis of how well teams have drafted since 1996. Surprisingly, the Lions weren’t the worst. The dishonor belongs to the Browns. The Rams were also worst then Detroit too. Looks like they will continue to finish near the bottom.
Here’s the article and the rankings.
The Lions aren't the worst?
To get the pick, The Eagles sent five draft picks to the Browns: their 1st round pick (#8 overall), third-round pick (77th overall) and fourth-round pick (100th overall) in this year's draft. They also had to give up their first-round pick in 2017 and a second-round pick in 2018. The Eagles get the Browns fourth-round pick in 2017.
The Eagles QB situation has been a huge mess. In the past two years, they've rallied behind Nick Foles, then traded Foles for Sam Bradford, re-upped Bradford with a bigger contract than anybody expected, and now invested a large portion of the franchise's future in a quarterback to replace Bradford while Bradford is still under contract. And they can’t be sure which QB will be available at #2. And, oh yeah, they also paid too much to grab back up QB Chase Daniels in free agency. Make sense to you? Me neither.
Some teams just don’t get the draft. The Washington Post did an analysis of how well teams have drafted since 1996. Surprisingly, the Lions weren’t the worst. The dishonor belongs to the Browns. The Rams were also worst then Detroit too. Looks like they will continue to finish near the bottom.
Here’s the article and the rankings.
The Lions aren't the worst?
And finally there are, not one, but two moments of silence
The first one is for Prince. A brilliant musician he created his own unique sound. Energetic and creative he often played all the instruments and singing all the vocals. The Doofus Mix tape includes several of his songs including 1999 and Little Red Corvette.
But he takes a back seat to one of my all time favorite artists - the late great Merle Haggard.
Merle burst onto the scene in the 60's and along with Buck Owens created the Bakersfield sound.
Haggard didn't just sing about the life described in country songs. He lived it.
His father died when Haggard was a child, He ran away from home, later serving time in San Quentin where he watched Johnny Cash perform. He drank. Boy did he drink -- one of his best-known songs is called "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink"
And at a time when it seemed that everyone was running this great country Merle came out with Okie from Muskogee
The first one is for Prince. A brilliant musician he created his own unique sound. Energetic and creative he often played all the instruments and singing all the vocals. The Doofus Mix tape includes several of his songs including 1999 and Little Red Corvette.
But he takes a back seat to one of my all time favorite artists - the late great Merle Haggard.
Merle burst onto the scene in the 60's and along with Buck Owens created the Bakersfield sound.
Haggard didn't just sing about the life described in country songs. He lived it.
His father died when Haggard was a child, He ran away from home, later serving time in San Quentin where he watched Johnny Cash perform. He drank. Boy did he drink -- one of his best-known songs is called "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink"
And at a time when it seemed that everyone was running this great country Merle came out with Okie from Muskogee
and The Fightin Side of Me
"We were in a wonderful time in America and music was in a wonderful place," he said. "America was at its peak and what the hell did these kids have to complain about? These soldiers were giving up their freedom and lives to make sure others could stay free. I wrote the song to support those soldiers."
Well said Merle
And with Willie Nerlson he recorded one of my favorite songs of all time - Pancho and Lefty
RIP gentlemen. Your music will live on forever
