Elite RB's: to have, or not to have

You don't need this guy to win a Super Bowl. You don't need a 1st round draft pick, stud, 6'3" 220 lb, 4.3 40 running beast to win one either. You can do just fine drafting one in the 3rd, 4th or even 5th round.

 

Before you get bent out of shape, let me first drop some knowledge. Yes, Adrian Peterson and LeSean McCoy are absolute BEASTS with the ball in their hands. They are the best RB's in the league right now, sell a ton of jerseys, make a lot of money, have the shoe deals, and the smiles franchises like. And they will NEVER win a Super Bowl.

 

Peterson has over 10,000 yards rushing, 1,600+ receiving in 7 seasons in the NFL. He's averaged 1,687 yds from scrimmage each season, which is ridiculous. McCoy, in only 5 seasons, has amassed a grand total of 7,600 yds, or 1,520 each per season. They are both electrifying, studs for fantasy football owners, and make there teams better. But again, they'll never win a Super Bowl.

 

Peterson was drafted in the 1st Rd, 7th overall out of OU. McCoy was drafted in the 2nd Rd, 53rd overall. And according to Spotrac (www.spotrac.com), Peterson will count $14.4M this year, McCoy $9.7M, towards their team's cap this year, by far #1 and #2 respectively in the league. This won't help them win a Super Bowl.

 

There has been 22 different RB's in the last 35 years (1978 season was the first with 16 game schedule) lead the NFL in rushing. In this same time frame, there has been a RB rush over 2,000 yards only 6 times. Those were magical, fun to watch, and climatic seasons. They didn't win anything other than a cool trophy and a extra add to their signature on a football helmet. From 1978 until 1992, running the ball to control the game, win games, and win big games....just didn't go together. The 80's were controlled by the aerial attacks of the 49ers, and teams that were well structured on both sides of the ball, and great QB play. The Bears did have Walter in the early 80's but didn't necessarily use him to win the famed '85 Super Bowl. I think we all know that was Buddy Ryan and that ridiculous 46 Defense.

 

That changed in the early 90's and teams followed the Bill Parcells way of controlling the line of scrimmage, using the clock to your team's advantage, and wearing down teams to win in the 4th quarter. No team had been as good as the Cowboys of '92-'96 at this. Emmitt Smith led the league in rushing in the '92 and '93 seasons and again in '95. The Cowboys won the Super Bowl. The trend stayed that way with Terrelle Davis and the Broncos for the '98 season and they won their 2nd SB in as many years. The 90's could be looked at as a "Golden Age" for RB's as you had starpower, tremendous seasons, and HOF's aplenty. Emmitt and Barry would fight for the title of "Best Back in the League"; and shared the NFL rushing title from the 1990-1997 season, each winning 4 times. Barry had his amazing 2,000 yd season in '97 and Davis followed that up with his 2,008 yd campaing the next season. The late 90's also gave us Marshall Faulk and Edgerrin James. Game changers, studs, beasts in many ways, and that would be the end of the "RB Era" as I like to call it. James led the league in rushing in '99 and since then, the rushing leader as not even made a SB. Since the 2000 season, 14 years now, there has been 12 different rushing champs. Why the drastic change? It's obvious that the change in defensive rules regarding passing, the 'wussyfied' changes to hitting the QB and the love and TV draw of the 5,000 yd passer. So this leaves me to my point, and "Jason's Rules for Drafting & Churning RB's."

1)NEVER draft a RB in the 1st Rd; especially if you run a team that is in Cleveland, Oakland, Jacksonville, Houston, Kansas City or Dallas. You have too many holes to fill and you will not EVER get a RB that will give you the extra 4-5 wins you need to get back to respectability.

2)ALWAYS draft a RB in odd years. Or even years. Just draft one every other year, in rounds 4, 5, or 6. You will find a stud, with whom has had carries and work in a nice college career and has enough left to have a decent 3-5 year career. You're not looking for a rushing champ remember, just someone who can get you 4.0-4.6 yds a carry.

3)If you have a RB that makes over $8M a season, time to cut bait (see Titans and CJ2K). Sure he'll sell a few jerseys and help your daytime talk radio shows, but he won't help you make the playoffs consistently. Instead, use that money to sure up your OL and get a nice, serviceable back.

4)If you can find a steal in the 2nd  Rd, then go for it. But never, and I repeat, never, ever, give them a deal like the ones you saw Foster get in Houston, CJ2K get in Tennessee, or even McCoy in Philadelphia. You just can't win games like that anymore.

5)If you don't listen and draft a RB in the 1st Rd and something happens be it injury or bust, you could be set back 1-3 years (ex. Browns-Richardson; Cowboys-Jones; Dolphins-Brown).

NHL Hockey-why we love/hate it

Right around this time each year, in every office, grocery store, school, and even in church...we sports fans discuss why we love playoff hockey, and why we can't stand the sport. I'm what you would call an "In Betweener" on the sport, as I just don't feel it's caught on as it should have. There's many reasons to blame, many people to blame. But in short, the 4 labor disputes in the last 22 years have not helped. The greedy players, overpaid players, and abnormal ticket prices have pushed a lot of people away. Now I know most hockey fans are up in arms right now and are saying "this is true for any sport!" And you are correct. However, Hockey is the #4 sport in America, and quickly becoming #5 behind Soccer/MLS. That is due to many reasons and most have not even been viewed by the NHL owners, front office execs in Hockeytowns, and the brass that run the league. From an "Average Joe" sportsfan, I have came up with a few quick fixes. Will this fix the game and help it become the #1 sport in America? Not even close. But it will help a new generation of hockey fans and create an identity for a sport that other than people living north of the Whiskey/Bourbon Territory...is really non-existent.

1)There are 30 teams in pro hockey. 2 have got to go. I think the "Two Teams in Florida" trick have failed. The Florida Panthers and Phoenix Coyotes have GOT TO GO! This would help the talent pool, and create a stronger system of players. Those two teams have struggled in attendance, and financials for too many years, and they will not be missed.

2)16 teams out of 30 is ridiculous making the playoffs. It's finally time to address this and make it more meaningful. Enough said. 14 teams get playoff bids in my 28 team league, and the Conference winners get byes. The 1st round is a Best of 5 series, with the first 3 games at the higher seed's home arena.

3)Better marketability for their star players. If you asked most kids, aged 10-18, NOT living in PA, NY or Canada to pick Sid the Kid out of a lineup? You'd probably have a better success rate teaching them to roller blade. You have star power in this league. Take advantage of that and a page from the NBA of the 80's and put these guys out there for the country to see, to be amazed at, and to know about.

4)Shorten the regular season from 82 games to 70. This will create a "sense of urgency" and a more meaningful full regular season for all teams. The rivalries will intensify, the games have more meaning (especially in March-April). With this, you can actually have the playoffs start in late March, and the NHL Finals ending in May possibly. Summer hockey gets no one excited except Canadians.

5)Create a better minor league system, along with better youth programs. The biggest issue facing yough hockey right now is the availability, and cost. Most kids/parents cannot afford the ice time, the equipment, and therefore, you lose out on the next generation of players/fans/followers. Give them a chance to enjoy the game, to follow the game, and learn to LOVE the game.

6)Game Atmosphere-NHL teams need to do a better job with game experience. Some fans who go are going for the first time, and it's a chance to wow them, and bring them back. I've been to a few hockey games and actually love the surroundings. But it never 'wowed' me and that is why I cannot watch it at home on TV. They need to do a better job of reaching a new mass of fans, and creating excitement from Game 1 in October, to the Finals Game 7 in May.

Just a few suggestions. In 2004-2005 there was no NHL season. I can remember how many SportsCenter fans actually loved it as it gave more time for basketball and baseball highlights. Hockey is really fun sport, and amazing to watch. But I feel if they don't make changes soon, they will find the sport going down...again.

With the NBA Playoffs starting on Saturday, 4/19, who is your favorite to take home the trophy, and why? What does it take nowadays to win the NBA championship? And will we start seeing more and more players "team up" like the Heat to win a title?