Over the Middle
Here's an entry in what I'm going to call, "Over the Middle". Just some quick news and notes with my initial reactions.
NFL Football
Pre-Season
The second week of the NFL Preseason got underway last night as the Philadelphia Eagles traveled to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. The Steelers won 24-14 as the Eagles committed five turnovers, three of them being interceptions from Michael Vick. Ben Roethlisberger looked efficient throwing for 2 TDs and the most impressive QB on the Eagles was third stringer Mike Kafka who threw for 160 yards and 2TDs of his own.
My reaction: Hmmm...the Philadelphia Dream Team lost a pre-season game to the team that was in the Super Bowl last season, they must suck now. If my sarcasm isn't coming through clear enough, it's a preseason game and Michael Vick eyes his receivers like a hawk. This couldn't matter less.
Supplemental Draft
Terrell Pryor was declared eligible for the Supplemental Draft that will take place on Monday. The big news was that in declaring Pryor eligible, NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell decided to enforce the five game suspension that Pryor would have had to have served had he stayed at Ohio State.
My reaction: This has received far more coverage than it should, it's truly a non-story. Pryor isn't going to be an NFL starter for any extended or perhaps even consecutive amount of time and if he ever does start it won't be anytime soon. Much ado about nothing. What was more interesting for me, being the life-long learner that I am, was I learned how the supplemental draft works. Teams offer up a draft pick for a player and the team that offers the highest pick gets that player. There's only six available players, you don't have to bid and the whole process lasts about 45 minutes max. The catch is, if you offered say, a fourth round pick for Pryor, in next season's draft, you lose your fourth round pick. Frankly, after learning that, I wouldn't be completely shocked if no one drafts Pryor. I heard the Bengals might be interested in him and thought it would be interesting to watch them take a flyer on him, but after learning an actual draft pick is forfeited for this supplemental draft, I immediately said aloud, "No". Others will too.
Association Football
MLS
Columbus Crew face the Philadelphia Union tomorrow in Columbus with the Crew holding a three point advantage at the top of the Eastern table over the Union.
My reaction: No reason the Crew shouldn't win. Sadly they've been too inconsistent to make an accurate prediction. It appears Emillio Renteria should return for the Crew and they won both meetings agains the Union last season but the Crew have had a history of coming up short in big games.
NASCAR
Greg Biffle starts on the pole for Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Matt Kenseth has the outside pole with Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin rounding out the top 5. Denny Hamlin won the previous race at MIS in June. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who's last win was three years ago at MIS, starts 8th.
My reaction: Hamlin should be the favorite, after a hard wreck last week he really needs a win. It would be great to see Dale Jr win, but it would be great to see him win anywhere. Don't count out Kyle Busch who have been consistent all year but is really driving hard coming up to the Chase. Carl Edwards comes into this weekend out of first place for the first time in months so a strong showing from him should be on tap as well.
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