As we look for creative ways to mention our sister site, CollegeFootballTalk.com, without overtly mentioning CollegeFootballTalk.com (oops), a light bulb of low wattage began to flicker regarding the connection between first-year NFL players and the budding controversy at the University of Michigan.
At issue is whether certain practice rules were violated. Players still in the program have little or no incentive to admit to any violations, if violations were occurring. (Although, apparently, one or more current athletes might be willing to sing.) Players who transferred to other schools likely can’t be regarded as fully objective, since there’s a good chance they harbor hard feelings toward the year-old regime in Ann Arbor.
So, if Michigan plans to properly investigate the matter, the school needs to get in touch with every player whose eligibility expired after the 2008 season, Rich Rodriguez’s first with the Wolverines.
From the NFL’s perspective, the disruption would be minimal. Only two Michigan players were drafted in April: defensive tackle Terrance Taylor (Colts, round four) and cornerback Morgan Trent (Bengals, round six). And our review of the 2009 Record & Fact Book reveals that, as of the date on which the volume was printed and bound, five former Michigan players had signed as undrafted free agents: defensive lineman Will Johnson (Ravens), defensive back Brandon Harrison (Colts), defensive end Tim Jamison (Texans), tight end Carson Butler (Packers, now with the Lions), and cornerback Doug Dutch (Redskins).
So these seven NFL players should soon be getting a call from Michigan, if they plan to conduct a proper review of the situation.
As John Taylor of CFT points out, if practice-time violations occurred at Michigan, Michigan likely wasn’t the only college football engaged in such violations. But Rodriguez apparently has generated enough resentment to prompt men who otherwise would be good soldiers to blow the whistle.
Mike:
I don’t know if it’s available, but your ESPN pals were all over themselves bashing the Detroit Free Press about using “unnamed” sources for the story that ‘outed’ the coaching staff. You would have thought that Rich Rodriguez was now Hester Prynne, with the scarlet letter “C” (as in “cheater”) pinned on his chest. The hypocrisy of ESPN is overwhelming sometimes. How many times have those clowns used “unnamed” sources in their stories? As you know, it’s a legit tool used by journalists to get a story out. It has to be based in fact, as I think this is. The toads who croak about it forget that unless this technique is used, the story would never get out.
This is a fine example of why you shouldn’t cover sports or news THAT YOU’VE PAID BIG DOLLARS to get the rights to. They felt compelled, I’m sure, to defend the “product”, since an anemic Michigan is bad for ratings.
Have a nice day(unless you made other plans).
Question – what was Michigan’s record last year? 3-9? They should spend more time figuring out how to get better rather than crying about practice.
‘We’re talking about practice. right? Practice. Not a game. We’re talking about practice…’
It’s hard for me not to laugh at any Rich Rodriguez failures.
I know it’s bad. But still.
You’re actually posting a story about an extra hour or two of practice to get page views for that pathetic excuse for a website?
The trainwreck analogy is perfect here. You read this site knowing you’re going to see some really horrible things, yet you can’t look away due to the other 30% legit material. Mike I implore you to sell the site to someone else who will maintain some sort of credibility (albeit in a blogging nature).