Chris Graham: SnyderMania
Lots of buzz over the news that the Washington Redskins are preparing to trade away their next several drafts – actually, just three first-rounders and a second-rounder – for the right to pick whichever quarterback the Indianapolis Colts leave on the table in next month’s NFL Draft.
Ostensibly, then, the ‘Skins will end up with RGIII, otherwise known as Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III from Baylor, expected to go second after Indy takes Andrew Luck from Stanford with the first pick. Read more
Chris Graham: Week One
So Tiki Barber’s agent is “flabbergasted” that the former UVa. star didn’t get a sniff from the NFL after his five-year absence from the game.
I don’t know about “flabbergasted,” but yeah, I was surprised, if only because I don’t think you look at Barber as a 36-year-old running back given the time he spent away from the game. By all accounts, Barber had worked himself back into football shape, and given the way most teams handle backs these days, preferring to go not with one featured back but rotations of two or more, I guess I just assumed that Barber would pick up somewhere.
And I think he probably still will. Running backs are a precious commodity, and their expiration dates come with a carry-to-carry date. …
It’s hard to get too excited about a butt-whupping of William and Mary, but then UVa. had lost its last matchup with the Tribe in 2009, so the 40-3 smackdown that the ‘Hoos handed to W&M on Saturday might mean more than meets the eye.
Quarterback Michael Rocco, in his first career start, looked solid, hitting on 21-of-29 passes and doing well in the proverbial manage-the-game role that he was asked to play.
The defense was what impressed me the most, harassing Michael Paulus into a 5-for-22 passing performance and keeping the Tribe off the scoreboard into garbage time.
Again, it’s too early to get too excited, but maybe this team is poised to take a step up in the ACC this year.
I think the Washington Redskins did the right thing in going with Rex Grossman as its opening-day starter over the untested John Beck. Both looked good in the preseason, but all things being equal, tie should go to the guy who has a conference championship under his belt. Sure, Grossman has his faults, but at least he knows what they are. Beck will still get his chance one day.
Weekend Watchdog: At the world’s fastest half-mile
NASCAR spends an exciting weekend in Bristol, with thousands of fans converging on the high-banked half-mile track.
It’s the 50th anniversary of the small track just across the border from Virginia, which draws thousands to the area and packs all hotels within miles.
The Sprint Cup teams pack the infield for their race Saturday night on ABC. The Nationwide racers get their chance to bang around the track Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Across the country, the Indy Cars are in Sonoma Sunday at 4 p.m. on Versus.
Little League baseball crowns its champion this weekend. The International final will be set after Thursday’s 4 p.m. game on ESPN, then the local Pennsylvania team battles California at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
ABC has the International final Saturday at noon, followed by the United States final at 3 p.m. The consolation game will be Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPN, with the title game on ABC at 3 p.m.
FOX offers the choice of four games Saturday afternoon, as the Tigers face the Twins along with three National League contests – Pirates at Cardinals, Braves-Mets and Rockies taking on the Dodgers. ESPN has the Angels meeting the Rangers Sunday night.
Pending Irene’s path, the Orioles will meet the Yankees on TBS Sunday afternoon and MASN. Prior to that, they have a Thursday afternoon game at Minnesota on MASN and games Friday and Saturday on MASN. The Nationals take on Arizona Thursday on MASN, then head to Cincinnati for the weekend on MASN2.
The third week of the NFL preseason opens with the Redskins taking on the Ravens Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. CBS offers a pair of contests – Packers at Colts Friday and Patriots visiting Detroit Saturday – before NBC closes the weekend with the Saints taking on Oakland.
The PGA tour starts its playoff run this weekend at the Barclays. CBS has coverage Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
It’s almost time for the U.S. Open, and top players prepare at the New Haven Open and Winston-Salem Open. ESPN2 heads to New Haven Thursday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 2 p.m., with the final showing Saturday at 5 p.m. CBS has the final from Winston-Salem Saturday at 12:30 p.m., after ESPN2 goes with Friday’s play at 12:30 p.m.
D.C. United takes on Portland Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast. The women’s soccer league holds its championship game Saturday at 4 p.m. on Comcast.
In the WNBA, the Mystics host Phoenix Sunday at 4 p.m. on Comcast.
Weekend Watchdog: Are you ready for some football?
No more legal pads. Time for shoulder pads.
The NFL preseason kicks off Thursday when the Baltimore Ravens visit Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast. The Redskins take their turn Friday at 7:30 p.m., hosting the Steelers on Comcast.
ESPN begins its coverage Thursday at 8 p.m. when the Seahawks visit San Diego. Friday, FOX has Tampa Bay heading to Kansas City at 8 p.m. and the Jets take on the Texans Monday at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
No more lawyers and lockouts. Now it’s time for linebackers and blockers to take center stage.
The PGA tour has its final major of the season this weekend, with the PGA championship from outside Atlanta. TNT has coverage of the first two rounds, starting at 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Early birds can catch the start of the final two rounds at 11 a.m., while CBS takes over at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Pirates are on national TV this weekend, facing the Brewers on FOX. Other Saturday afternoon games are Rays at Yankees and the Rangers taking on Oakland. TBS shows the Rays-Yankees Sunday afternoon, while ESPN offers Colorado at St. Louis on Sunday night.
The Orioles close out a series with the White Sox Thursday on MASN, then host Detroit for the weekend on MASN2. The Nationals take on the Cubs Thursday at 2 p.m before heading home to meet the Phillies for a weekend series on MASN.
Like your baseball with younger players? The road to the Little League World Series begins this weekend, with a Midwest semifinal Thursday at 2 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN2 has the second Midwest final at 6 p.m., along with the Southwest final at 8 p.m. and Northwest finals at 4 and 10 p.m.
The Mid-Atlantic semifinals are on Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., then the Southeast final goes Friday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN2 heads West for semifinals at 5 and 11.
Four regions have their finals on ESPN Saturday, starting with the Great Lakes at 11 a.m. At 5 p.m., the Northwest crowns its champion followed by the Midwest and West. New England’s representative to the Little League World Series comes out of the 1 p.m. game on ESPN2. The Mid-Atlantic title game is Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
NASCAR heads to upstate New York for the Sour Cream Dips race at Watkins Glen. NASCAR coverage starts Sunday at 1 p.m, while the Nationwide racers hit the track Saturday at 2 p.m.
The IndyCar racers are in New Hampshire Sunday at 3:30 p.m., with ABC at the Move that block.com 225.
D.C. United hosts Vancouver Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Comcast.
The road to the U.S. Open continues with the Rogers Cup on ESPN2. Play begins Thursday and Friday at noon, then 3 p.m. on Saturday. The finals go Sunday at 1 p.m.
NBC has skateboarding from Portland as the Dew Tour offers the Skateboard Street finals Saturday and BMX Dirt finals Sunday.
Sports Roundup: #1 ‘Hoos lose at UNC
Embarrassment of (lack of) riches
Mike Shanahan, we hardly knew ya. The genius is being exposed as a guy who was simply along for the ride at the twilight of John Elway’s NFL career, his reputation as an offensive guru now offensive in retrospect.
“I basically say, Screw the awkwardness. I’m trying to be the starting quarterback,” said John Beck, the four-year veteran who hasn’t played since his rookie season in Miami, and is yet somehow going around telling everybody who will listen that he thinks he will be the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins next fall. Read more
Winners and Losers
Posted by afp on January 2, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Ugh. Outside of Duke, what do we have? Eleven dwarfs. North Carolina and Virginia Tech were supposed to contend for #2, but both are weak 9-4s. Traditional powers Georgia Tech and Wake Forest are 7-5 and 6-8, respectively, with losses to the likes of Kennesaw State, Stetson, Winthrop, UNC-Wilmington and Siena.
The league might get two NCAA bids. Three seems a stretch right now.
I repeat: ugh. Read more
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with acc basketball, bcs, donovan mcnabb, mike shanahan, nfl playoffs, rex grossman, tcu, washington redskins