With March finally upon us, we have a fantastic convergence of all the major sports. Baseball is gearing up. College basketball is about to peak. The NFL is in a free agent frenzy, with college football in the spotlight as everybody looks toward next month's draft. The NBA is heading toward the playoffs. So is hockey. Even the UFC got in the action, with Randy Couture taking Tim Sylvia's belt and setting the stage for a new generation of heavyweights. I don't watch golf or bowling, but I'm sure there's something going on there, too.
It's been a whirlwind, and keeping up with it all has been a challenge. Here are 20 thoughts I had over the past week.
NFL
20. NFL moves I loved: New England getting Adalius Thomas and trading for Wes Welker, Texas signing Andre Johnson to a fat extension (and not trading David Carr), Cleveland signing guard Eric Steinbach (even though $49 million over seven years is absurd for a guard), New Orleans re-signing Hollis Thomas, Buffalo re-signing Chris Kelsey, St. Louis signing Drew Bennett (ensures a solid 1-2 with Torry Holt after Isaac Bruce retires), Jacksonville signing Dennis Northcutt, St. Louis getting James Hall from the Lions for a fifth-rounder, Dallas signing Brad Johnson, Jets trading for Thomas Jones, Saints signing Brian Simmons.
19. NFL moves I did not love: San Francisco paying $80 million over eight years for a corner (Nate Clements is good, but not highest-paid-defensive-player-in-the-league good), Dallas giving Leonard Davis $49.6 million over seven years (B-U-S-T), Washington giving London Fletcher crazy money (five-year, $25 million contract that includes $10.5 million in bonuses and nearly $13 million in the first two seasons), Houston signing Ahman Green for four years and $23 million (because 30+ RBs have such a great track record), Seattle signing Patrick Kerney for $40 million over six years, Miami releasing Randy McMichael and giving Joey Porter stupid money (five-years, $32 million with $20 million in guarantees), Bears trading Thomas Jones.
18. After running a 4.6 40 at the combine, I can see Penn State LB Paul Posluszny dropping into the second round of the draft. He's going to be a steal for whoever grabs him. He and USC WR Dwayne Jarrett appear to be this year's co-winners of the "college stud who is getting pushed down the pecking order by the insanity of the NFL scouting process" award.
17. Five under-the-radar NFL free agents you should be happy to see your team sign: S Terrance Holt (Detroit), RB Musa Smith (Baltimore), LB Carlos Polk (San Diego), WR Kelley Washington (Cincinnati), LB Niko Koutouvides (Seattle).
16. The always-dreaded (from a fantasy perspective) RB-platoon has spread to Detroit, with Tatum Bell sure to steal a ton of carries from Kevin Jones. Not ready to give fantasy drafters a break, Mike Shanahan went and signed Travis Henry to compete with Mike Bell. One RB whose fantasy stock has jumped considerably is LenDale White of Tennessee. With Chris Brown a free agent and Henry now a Bronco, White is taking over the backfield duties with Vince Young. He could be in store for a monster year. Second year backs Lawrence Maroney (Pats) and Cedrick Benson (Bears) have also gotten rid of the competition for carries.
NCAA
15. Depending on the mindset of the Selection Committee, we could be looking at one, two, or three bids from the Colonial. VCU won the regular season and tournament titles. Old Dominion and Drexel both had fairly impressive resumes.
14. Speaking of uncertainty, this is going to be a long week for Bradley and Missouri State. Neither is an at-large lock, and after Saturday's near miss by Bradley (53-51 to Southern Illinois) and no-show by Missouri State (75-58 to Creighton), I honestly couldn't say who I think has the better shot. Both? Neither?
13. Could there really be five at-larges combined from the Colonial and Missouri Valley? (Depends on how Syracuse, DePaul, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Purdue, Illinois, San Diego State, and Stanford perform over the next five days.)
12. It's been a tough few days for the Missouri Valley have-nots. The three bottom teams now have coaching vacancies. Evansville head coach Steve Merfeld "resigned," while Royce Waltman and Porter Moser were fired from Indiana State and Illinois State, respectively. It will be interesting to see how these coaching searches go. With the MVC's recent success, the pressure is certainly on the AD's to make a quality hire.
11. Bucknell took out both Army and Navy on their way to Friday's Patriot League tournament final against Holy Cross. While that game (and the auto bid that goes to the winner) will garner the most attention nationally, don't forget Navy senior Calvin White and Army seniors Matt Bell, Cory Sinning, Jimmy Sewell, and Marshall Jackson. Graduating from college for these kids means potentially going to war. Good luck wherever you end up stationed. Thanks. Stay safe.
MLB
10. As a Cardinals fan, I highly recommend targeting Adam Wainwright and Anthony Reyes in any fantasy baseball draft.
9. Bet on first manager to be fired: Seattle's Mike Hargrove. Not only has the team bombed in his first two seasons (30 games under .500), but Hargrove hasn't led a winning team since his final year in Cleveland in 1999 (he was 98 games under .500 in four seasons in Baltimore). GM Bill Bavasi should be fired, as well (like, two years ago).
8. I like Texas in the AL West. Hank Blalock is going to have a monster season under first-year manager Ron Washington.
7. I do not like the Mets in the NL East. Good offense, crazy-old pitching. The division goes to Philly or Atlanta.
6. One of these ten teams will win the World Series: Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Twins, Rangers, Angels, Phillies, Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers.
(I'm probably wrong.)
POLITICS
5. I can see South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham making a highly effective GOP VP candidate. He would give John McCain instant credibility in the South, and a McCain/Graham ticket would present a very solid choice for center-right Midwestern voters not ready to buy into Hillary Clinton (because of her blatant ambition) or Barack Obama (because of his extreme lack of experience). Graham has been front and center an awful lot since the State of the Union, so this could already be in the works. He's also an unabashed McCain supporter.
4. Stupid Ann Coulter. Regardless of your politics, you have to admit the lady has lost her freaking mind.
NBA
3. I don't watch the NBA, but I would definitely watch every game of a Mavs/Suns series.
NHL
2. I really like what the Blues did last week. They collected a bunch of picks and young talent for guys they have a legit chance at re-signing this offseason. In year one of the Dave Checketts Era, things are looking way up.
UFC
1. UFC 68 on Saturday was great all around. With Couture back as the heavyweight champ, the division gets a whole new look. I was talking about it with my buddy Quan, and we couldn't decide who would get the shot first. I think Mirko Cro Cop should fight Andrei Arlovski, with the winner getting the title shot. Both are on the UFC 70 card (Arlovski against Cro Cop training partner Fabricio Werdum and Cro Cop against Gabriel Gonzaga). Brandon Vera will be heard from in this division eventually, but he's reportedly in a contract stalemate right now.
Seth Doria is a communications specialist in St. Louis. He writes about stuff at the The Left Calf.
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