Just My Thoughts on Cam and other Things...

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Cam is #1!

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I can see the logic in the Panthers naming Cam Newton as starter day on. It will create some excitement, they are paying him a lot of money, and no one on the team has looked a lot better than Cam(which is sad). I have been very public that I have my doubts about Cam ever being a top notch NFL quarterback, but this move may really hurt Cam's progress. Newton is not Peyton Manning or Matt Rayn, Cam is a project, at best. Cam needs time to develop his raw ability. I keep hearing some voices from the ESPN hype machine talking about how great Newton looks. I can't figure out what games they are watching. Last game Cam completed only 50% of his passes, 7-14. Five of those completions were to tight ends and the other two were dump offs. Cam Newton has played two halves of NFL football and has yet to get the Panthers into the end zone. Cam has shown some raw ability, stands tall in the pocket, has a cannon of an arm, and a million dollar smile. Cam flashed this smile after his helmet was knocked off by a Miami Dolphins defender. Cam did not get a first down on that run, but maybe he learned a lesson that running QBs don't get the job done in the NFL. Cam also has looked very stiff and mechanical in the pocket. With all that said, I think it is a bad idea to bring along Cam so quickly, and if he ever had a shot for success this may kill it. I remember another athletically gifted quarterback who started a lot early on named David Carr, and we know how that worked out.

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Today is the supplemental draft and there has been a lot of noise about another athletic QB, Terrelle Pryor. If a team is looking for value Michael McAdoo should get a look. McAdoo was forced to leave UNC this year, because of academic violations. He missed his senior year and because of that hurt his draft stock, but McAdoo is 6-7 and 250 lbs.. That is a pro-type defensive end and that should turn some heads in the NFL. If you could get him in the 6th of 7th round, McAdoo could be a real steal. The Carolina Panthers should take a hard look a McAdoo since their defensive line looked terrible last game. No matter how good or bad Cam Newton plays, NFL teams do not win many games with weak D-lines who allow running backs to dash them at the line of scrimmage.

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What if he isn't?

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Much has been made about how many awesome weapons have been placed around Michael Vick. I don't want to make too many predictions, but what will happen to a 31 year old Vick if he fails. Let me paint a picture of the situation. Now preseason football doesn't count for much, but even so Vick looked more than terrible in his last outing. He didn't even look like a 3rd string NFL quarterback. Vick threw for 47 yards, completed less than 50% of his passes, 3.9 yards a completion, no TDs, and three picks. With Kevin Kolb being shipped out to Arizona Cardinals, if you don't think Philly fans will watch Kolb from now on and compare the two, you are crazy. If Vick doesn't play well this season how long of a rope does he get? It will not take long for rabid Eagle fans to begin to chant for Vince Young and throw batteries. If that happens will we see the dirty birdie from the new and improved Michael Vick? Vick will have all eyes on him this year and while he has lots of help in the play making department the offensive line is another question. They did look really bad last game and that will make Vick or any quarterback's life tough. Vick has never really been that good of a QB(he has been an exciting player) and last year he was really good for only 10 games most of that against bad competition. If Vick fails this year it could be a devastating blow to his career and comeback. If Vick doesn't deliver the "Dreamteam" to the playoff it will not only be Vick's head on the block, but Andy Reed's and other team personnel, as well.

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Some people in life just make bad decisions. You see this in sports and it is magnified by millions and the bright spot light. We all know the story going on at Miami University and the bad decisions that a lot of people around and in this program have made, but I have a side story that I remembered as all the rumors of corruption began to ooze from Miami's pores. Seantrel Henderson is a 6-8, 340-pound Left Tackle who plays for Miami. Henderson was one of the most highly sought after high school O-lineman in a decade. His gigantic size and ability is enough to make scouts on any level salivate, but here is where the bad decisions come into play. You just can't make this stuff up. Henderson first verbally committed on live TV to the University of Southern California. Henderson did not sign his letter of intent, because he was worried about the sanctions that might be placed on USC. Henderson then, at the last minute, decides to play it safe and go to the historically squeaky clean university known as the U. His father had a large role in Henderson's decision. I guess some guys just know how to pick them.

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I know this is almost un-American to say, but I just can't watch the Little League World Series. I like amateur sports. I have been reporting on the NC Pro Am, I love college sports, and I plan to report on some star high school athletes in the Triangle area this year. With that said, I just can't watch ten year olds playing a sport at such a low level. I know I will catch a lot of heat from people, but I am tired of seeing coverage on ESPN of little kids who can't play. ESPN loves to try and sell some crap to us. The same reason I will never watch the WNBA is why I will never watch the Little League World Series, its sub par product and I can watch MEN do it on a high and exciting level just about anytime.

Is This The End For "The U"?

Did Nevin Shapiro destroy The U?

I don't think new head coach Al Golden signed up for this.

The talk of college football is once again turned away from the fields to another NCAA investigation, this time at the University of Miami.  If you haven't heard the jaw-dropping allegations, you can read the Yahoo! Sports breaking news column HERE.

I know NCAA president Mark Emmert and crew have a lot on their plates right now, but the allegations made by former super-booster Nevin Shapiro will turn anyone's head.  Money, booze and prostitutes...if the NCAA finds any truth to these statements by Shapiro, the hammer is going to drop on the Canes, and it will drop HARD.

I'm sure Miami administration will try a smear campaign against Shapiro, asking the NCAA and fans not to believe a felon serving a 20 year sentence for running a $930 million dollar Ponzi scheme.  The only problem is there is evidence everywhere.  Yahoo! Sports has done a great job uncovering the case, and there are many pictures of Shapiro with former Hurricanes in clubs and bars and on party yachts.  The photo evidence is there, and that's bad news for Miami.  Ask Bruce Pearl about the NCAA and photo evidence!

In my opinion, as Shapiro continued to cut checks to the Miami Athletic Department, it gave cause for school officials to turn a blind eye to the possibilities of behind the scenes improprieties.  I'm sure they will try to use plausible deniability, just like Ohio State is trying to do with Jim Tressel, but the fact that no coaches are still around to take the fall is again, bad news for The U.  Football coaches Larry Coker and Randy Shannon have been fired, basketball coach Frank Haith is now at Missouri and former AD Kirby Hocutt is now at Texas Tech.  The only ones left to hold the bag are the UM administration.

Here are some key questions to keep in mind:

How much of Shapiro's allegations are true?  That's what the NCAA will be looking for in their investigation.  The normal statue of limitations for allegations is four years, but President Emmert has just announced that the NCAA will be invoking the "willful violators" law, which will allow them to investigate back to the beginning of the allegations around 2002.  That's even more bad news for Miami.  If the NCAA gets to look at EIGHT YEARS worth of allegations, they're coming back with something,  I guarantee it.

Is this big enough for the NCAA to consider bringing back the Death Penalty?  Since SMU was given a 2 year death sentence in the 80's, the NCAA has not considered handing that down since, after seeing how badly it crippled SMU and led to the demolition of the old Southwest Conference.  If most of what Shapiro alleges is true, The U will be hammered unlike any other program since SMU.  The death penalty is certainly a possibility, but still unlikely, seeing as how the Miami brand is very profitable for the NCAA's pockets, and we know they are all about the money.

Who takes the fall?  As mentioned above, none of the athletic administrators on duty during the time of the allegations are still around.  I don't see how UM president Donna Shalala can keep her job, as she has always been outspoken about refuting the rogue label that has been around the Miami program for the last 20+ years.  It would be too hypocritical to let her stay around with all of this going down, ultimately, under her watch.  The current and future players will be the ones who bear the brunt of the punishment, even though most all of them had nothing to do with this.

Why did Nevin Shapiro have to spill the beans now?  Bottom line is the Nevin Shapiro acted as a jilted lover, seeking revenge when no one came to his rescue.  While he supplied dozens of former Canes with improper benefits, he expected to be shown the same love when he was in need as his Ponzi scheme crumbled.  He thought these current NFL stars would help a "friend" in need, only to find out there were no friends, only a bunch of guys who had their hands out while in college.  This is similar to what Jose Canseco did when he was blackballed from Major League Baseball, then ratted out his former friends when he went down for steroids.  Don't get me wrong though, Shapiro shares just as much, if not more blame than the players for this mess. He's the one tha started handing out money, Heat tickets and free televisions.

Auburn had Ohio State to thank for taking the Cam Newton saga away form the national spotlight, but Ohio State has the most to be thankful for this fall, as all eyes turn to Miami.  Will it still be "All About The U?"  Will Sport Illustrated reprint this cover from 20 years ago?

Sadly, if the NCAA so chooses, this could be the end of Miami football...