Donte Whitner is lobbying for a quarterback that he’s very familiar with to be signed by the Bills.

In a series of recent twitter posts, Whitner states emphatically that restricted free agent QB Troy Smith would be a good mark.

DonteWhitner    I think we should get Troy Smith to be our Qb, please!  Troy is a proven winner and leader!  Joe Flacco is the franchise in B’ More its only right….I watched the guy sit behind Justin Zwick…..Troy can come in and compete with the guys we have and the BEST man will win the job! 

Now it should be noted that Whitner is biased having grown up in the same hometown as Smith and having attended the same high school (Glenville) and college (Ohio State) as Smith where they were teammates and Smith won the Heisman Trophy in 2006.

Smith if signed to an offer sheet would command compensation for Baltimore in the form of a 5th round pick were the Ravens to tender him at the low level, which is possible.

There has been widespread speculation that the Bills might add to their current crop of QB talent this offseason. Smith (6′0″ 225) has a good arm and is very mobile. Whether new head coach Chan Gailey, who made the most of Kordell Stewart’s talents in Pittsburgh, is interested however, is another story.

But Whitner is already playing the ’slash’ card for Smith (see below).

DonteWhitner Coach Gailey would make him so dangerous! He’s great I promise u! Something like never seen before!!!!

Guest columnist Blake Borron

I was expecting my first post in far too long to be a victory rant about the Texas Longhorns. In lieu of certain…occurrences, I have instead decided to give a taste of things to come for next season. As much as my heart wants me to crown UT as the preseason #1 team for 2010, my brain and last week’s game only allow one team to surface as the king of the first season of the new decade. Roll Tide!

1. Alabama Crimson Tide: Last year’s national champs are only getting stronger with monster recruiting class after monster recruiting class. Nick Saban is an arrogant tool who wouldn’t smile on his wedding day, but he’s one of the best recruiters and X’s and O’s guys in history.

Strengths: The stars on offense twinkle so brightly you need Oakleys to block out the glare. The running back tandem of Heisman winner Mark Ingram and the possibly even-more-talented Trent Richardson is the best college football has seen since Reggie Bush and LenDale White. Julio Jones will be possibly the nation’s most talented wide receiver, but Marquis Maze is the silent assassin that gives the passing game legitimacy.

Weaknesses: The defense loses massive defensive tackle Terrence Cody and playmaking cornerback Javier Arenas to graduation. Expect linebacker Rolando McClain, the leader of the defense, to follow them to the NFL a year early. The greatest deficiency may be the play of quarterback Greg McElroy. After a dismantling of Florida in the SEC Championship game, Texas returned the favor and embarrassed the first year starter in the National Championship. His play, as well as that of an offensive line that needs to give him better pass protection, will be counted on far more next year.

2. Texas Longhorns: All the momentum the Horns had at the beginning of the National Title Game went out the door when Colt McCoy went out of the game after only five offensive plays. Backup Garrett Gilbert, wide receiver Jordan Shipley, and the defense did their best to pull UT out of a big first-half deficit, but fell just short when Gilbert fumbled the ball inside his own ten.

Strengths: After a sluggish start, Gilbert showed flashes of brilliance against a fierce ‘Bama defense in spite of many miscues by his wide receivers and no semblance of a rushing attack. He will only get better after an off-season knowing he’s THE guy for next year. The team speed on offense, while raw, is matched only by Florida. The UT defense will be one of the best in the country as long as Will Muschamp is in town. The Horns return as much defensive talent as anybody in the country, including freakish lockdown cornerback Aaron Williams and defensive end Sam Acho, who led the team in sacks.

Weaknesses: There are a bunch on offense, most notably the need to improve an offensive line that can only be qualified as one of the worst in UT history. Consequently, that has led to the chronic degeneration of the running game since UT’s title in 2005. The graduation of Shipley, arguably the best wide receiver in UT history, leaves a group of young and/or inconsistent receivers that will now be counted on to make plays with regularity instead of deferring to Shipley. If they don’t step up, there are even younger guys behind them in what many are calling UT’s best receiver recruiting class ever. Injuries have decimated the tight end position the last two years, which has limited Texas’s ability to run. Star departing seniors Sergio Kindle, LaMarr Houston, and Rod Muckelroy, as well as early entry Earl Thomas, must be replaced on defense.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes: Few teams have been doubted more the past few seasons than the Buckeyes, but that seems to be a vanishing state of mind. After a dominant performance in the Rose Bowl over a talented Oregon team, tOSU returns all their skill position players and the majority of their offensive line. A home date with the talented and speedy Miami Hurricanes will go a long way to validating or erasing the perception that Ohio State can’t handle teams with superior fast-twitch muscles!

Strengths: Terrelle Pryor finally seems to be grasping the offense and coming into his own as a playmaker at quarterback. His performance, though far less awe-inspiring, mirrors Vince Young’s 2005 Rose Bowl victory. That led to a national title in the next season, and Pryor hopes to mimic Young’s success. All his weapons return, including favorite target DeVier Posey. The offensive line mauled Oregon’s less talented defensive front and four out of the five starters return. Jim Tressell is still one of the best defensive coaches in college football, so expect to see the usual toughness and strength out of the Buckeye defense.

Weaknesses: Tressell’s seeming lack of ingenuity on offense will plague the team until he unleashes Pryor like he did with Troy Smith in 2006. That will come with increased confidence in Pryor’s decision making, which was impressive in the Rose Bowl. At times the running backs were underwhelming, they need to be more explosive with such a strong offensive line and dual-threat QB like Pryor to take the pressure off of them. On defense, the line must be rebuilt and both standout safeties graduate. DE Cameron Heyward and CB Chimdi Chekwa are a good place to start, but they will need younger faces to step up and make plays if they are going to maintain the standard of play they’ve been at the past few years.

4. Florida Gators: Florida looked fantastic in the Sugar Bowl. Funny how much easier it is against a lackluster team like Cincinnati than, say, Alabama. Timothy Christ…err, I mean Tebow has finally graduated, meaning Urban Meyer (assuming he decides to return) will have to find a new boy toy to fawn over. Perhaps that will be likely starter John Brantley, a highly-touted recruit three years ago.

Strengths: As long as Meyer is at Florida, the recruiting juggernaut will be full steam ahead. That means the Gators will consistently have more talent than basically any other team in the nation, which is why I have them rated so highly despite such heavy losses. The offense is led by speedsters Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey at running back. Lightning-fast Deonte Thompson is the only returning receiver with any kind of experience. He will be joined by the also freakishly-fast Andre Debose, who missed last season with an injury. The offensive line is the best in the nation if Maurkice and Mike Pouncey return at guard and center respectively, but the Gators have some work to do if they both choose to enter the draft.

Weaknesses: It obviously starts at QB, where Tebow leaves to the imminent obscurity of his NFL career and whatever other potential football institutions spring up during his tenure as a professional football player. The man nigh unanimously deemed the greatest player in the history of competition by ESPN, CBS, and, of course, Urban Meyer leaves a gaping hole in the Florida backfield with consequent expectations that Peyton Manning, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Jesus Christ, and, certainly John Brantley would not live up to. The defense loses stud linebackers Brandon Spikes and Ryan Stamper to graduation, and shutdown CB Joe Haden to the draft. Freakishly talented defensive end Carlos Dunlap may accompany him. It’s not an issue of talent with the Gators, it’s an issue of getting that talent ready to play week in and week out in the grueling SEC.

5. Oregon Ducks: The other half of the Rose Bowl game returns all but three starters, including proven stars QB Jeremiah Masoli and RB LaMichael James. Oregon has a rare opportunity–the chance to take over the Pac 10 conference. Pete Carroll is Seattle bound and USC is not the team or program it was over the past decade. West coast primacy is shifting north to Eugene in a hurry!

Strengths: It all starts with the multifaceted attack of Masoli and James. Masoli runs the zone read to perfection, and he has good speed in the open field. James, on the other hand, has elite speed and will be one of the top tailbacks in the country after only his freshman year. Backup Kenjon Barner is another speedster in the same mold as James. Oregon loves to get him on the edge and he is a special teams demon. The defense returns all but two starters from a solid unit. Perhaps Oregon’s greatest asset is head coach Chip Kelly, one of the brightest minds in college football.

Weaknesses: Just take a look at the Rose Bowl and you’ll see why I was hesitant to put the Ducks this high on my list. Ohio State out-toughed, out-physicaled, and out-hustled Oregon all afternoon. Oregon just didn’t have the attitude to play in that game, and it resulted in them getting their butts kicked up and down the field for much of the game. Too much finesse, or, to put it simply, they were “soft.” They also don’t have the defensive talent that the top three teams possess. Their defensive line loses both the starters on the defensive side of the ball, which may be a positive because they got absolutely worked by the Buckeyes.

* It is being reported that the new Cleveland Browns Director of Football Operations (Team Czar) Mike Holmgren has decided to keep Eric Mangini as the head coach for the 2010 Cleveland Browns.

* Cleveland Browns (WR/KR)Joshua Cribbs will now formally request a trade from the team after they only offered him a slap-in-face offer of $1.4 Million a year as a “reward” for basically being the best all around player on their team. He is insulted, as he very well should be after breaking the NFL record this season for 8 kickoff returns for touchdowns. Not too mentioned he racked up 516 combined yards receiving and rushing on a offense that was flat out terrible. He also added 1 rushing TD, and 1 receiving TD. That’s fine though….just trade him so he can help a football team that could really utilize his talents, and pay him respectably for them. Two teams with reported interest are the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

*It seems as though the relationship between the Broncos and (WR)Brandon Marshall has finally ran its course. I have a feeling that he will be playing for a new team in 2010.

* Something to keep an eye out for, is if the Jets decide to extend (WR)Braylon Edwards, whom they acquired from the Browns in 2009. If no collective bargaining agreement is reached, instead of becoming a unrestricted free agent, he would become a restricted free agent, meaning the Jets would have the right to match any offer another team(s) would put in for him.

* Rams (QB)Marc Bulger is considering retirement.

* Former Bills Head Coach Perry Fewell, has interviews lined up with the Chicago Bears, and New York Giants for the position of defensive coordinator.

* The Buffalo Bills head coaching vacany has brought up the names of Brian Billick, Bill Cowher, Brian Schottenheimer, Marty Schottenheimer, and others. First they will be interviewing with the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

* Now that Mike Shanahan is the new Redskins head coach, will we see him try to pull the trigger on a trade for his former Wide Receiver in Denver, Brandon Marshall? Just a thought!

* Reportedly Mike Shanahan isn’t too high on his (RB)Clinton Portis. He needs to see him have a big offseason, in terms of conditioning and team activities to remain a member of the Redskins. If not, then a trade or release, I imagine would be likely.

* There are some reports that the Titans are going to purge many familiar faces on their roster before the 2010 season.

* It is rumored that Arizona Cardinals back-up (QB)Matt Leinart will be replaced this offseason, and the Cardinals will look to find a new “franchise” QB.

* Last week, Baltimore Ravens back-up (QB)Troy Smith requested he be traded in the offseason because he wants to be a starter in the NFL. He said he will do his job to try to help the Ravens get back to the Super Bowl in any way he can, but unless (QB)Joe Flacco gets injured, their isn’t much Troy Smith will be able to do. He may draw interest around the league though, and with (QB)John Beck already on the roster, it seems very possible the Ravens could get something in return for (QB)Troy Smith. He is an intriguing option.

* Cleveland Browns new team president / director of football operations may look to trade for a familiar friend this offseason, in Seattle Seahawks (QB)Matt Hasselbeck.

* Former Saints and Rams head coach Jim Haslett may end up on the Washington Redskins staff.

* Former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel reportedly has interest in the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator positions.

* The front runners for the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator position are Mike Martz, Perry Fewell, and Jeremy Bates.

* Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan reportedly would like to keep around (QB)Jason Campbell for the 2010 season.

Shown below are my selections for the hottest/sexiest/most attractive Ravens in 2009. All images were obtained from baltimoreravens.com:

TOP, L-R: Demetrius Williams, WR; Ray Lewis, LB; Todd Heap, TE; Derrick Mason, WR.

BOTTOM, L-R: Troy Smith, QB; Paul Kruger, LB/DE; Dawan Landry, S; Tom Zbikowski, S.

I have a few final thoughts about the end-of-year ‘Hot Ones’ lists. As noted in the first ‘Hot Ones’ post, I thought these lists would bring a little fun to the site, and my friends agreed. I’m not departing from the overall serious nature of “TEAM RAVENS,” I just took a minor detour down Good-Looking Road to close out the year. 

Finally, if you have a blog and ever plan to do any sort of “Top List” of anything, here are a few things to consider:

1. Take it from me: make sure you gather your pictures and/or information FAR ahead of time. It will undoubtedly take you longer than expected to ensure that the pictures have a degree of continuity; additionally, there’s a strong chance you won’t find information as easily as you think.
2. Make sure that you note where you obtained any and all pictures and always give credit. I tried to gather all pictures for each list from a single location, which made it easier to give credit, but harder than I thought to obtain the best shots.
3. Remember to have fun. Again, it’s great to be serious, but we must not forget that football is entertainment. As such, it should be enjoyed in all aspects, not just for numbers and stats.
4. Remind yourself that it’s your blog and you have final say. When you do “Best of..”, “Top 5…”, or “Hot Ones…” types of lists, your selections—unless based on statistics of some kind—will always be subjective. Not everyone will agree, which is why it’s great that blogs here are free and dissenters can create their own blogs with their own lists.
5. Revisiting #1, give yourself enough time. These lists were all supposed to be done by year end. But with work, unexpected internet connectivity issues, and more required time on the posts than anticipated, you see that the last 2 lists didnt’ make the 2009 cutoff. All jokes aside, start planning lists early, to save yourself time later.

Tony Kornheiser, L; Michael Wilbon, R. Image from espn.go.com.

Any regular viewer of ESPN is familiar with the staple Pardon the Interruption which features sports reporters-turned-analysts Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser. The show has aired for years and its success can be directly attributed to the fact that Wilbon and Kornheiser offer actual opinions, not just rehashed commentary on the day’s events in sports. However, the funny thing about opinions is that not everyone agrees with them, and I wholeheartedly disagreed with comments the duo made on today’s show.

Yesterday, the Ravens beat the Lions 48-3. It was a rainy, miserable day, and somewhere along the line, the Lions simply gave up. Unfortunately, there were 3 quarters left to play when they did. The Ravens essentially scored at will, and it didn’t appear all that hard to do. When the game was well in hand, backup quarterback Troy Smith—who rarely gets an opportunity to play—ran for a touchdown and followed it with a celebratory dance in the endzone (a dance that I quite enjoyed, by the way).

Michael and Tony received an e-mail from a viewer who asked whether Troy’s dance was “fair or foul” in light of the large margin by which the Ravens were leading. Both pundits promptly cried “foul”: Wilbon called the dance “dumb”, noting that he’s grown tired of “all the dancing” throughout the league in general. Kornheiser took his displeasure to a far higher and more ridiculous level, calling Smith’s celebration “despicable” and unbecoming of a former Heisman trophy winner.

I’m going to simply say that the differing views of endzone celebrations are the result of a generation gap. Some older NFL fans—”purists” if you will—denounce such celebrations as detracting from the game. Many younger fans tend to love such celebrations, feeling that they add a little flash to an otherwise dull landscape.

As I’m in my late 30s, I can’t exactly place myself in the “younger” group, but I am of the younger mindset with regard to football celebrations. I love to see what players will do when they score; for me, it’s just fun. I think that Wilbon and Kornheiser made a mountain out of a molehill in their reaction to Troy’s dance. I certainly am not going to begrudge a player who rarely gets on the field during the regular season the opportunity to do a little dance when he’s fortunate enough to score a TD.

I am quite tired of hearing about how it’s unsportsmanlike to run up the score in a professional environment. Every Lions player got paid for yesterday’s game, just like all of the Ravens did. Why is it the Ravens’ fault that the Lions quit? The Ravens are a good team this year: they are not great. The lopsided nature of the victory was equal parts surrender by the Lions and determination by the Ravens.

So, I cry *overreaction* by Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser and I say to Troy Smith, your dance was *tight* and it put a smile on my face. Thanks for playing with some fire on a nasty, blustery day.

****EARLY GAMES****

1ST QUARTER :
- Texans (QB)Matt Schaub passes to (WR)Andre Johnson for TD
- Packers (RB)Ryan Grant rushes for TD
- Jets (K)Jay Feely kicks 40 Yd. FG
- Falcons (K)Matt Bryant kicks 36 Yd. FG
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (WR)Austin Collie for TD
- Texans (K)Kris Brown kicks 29 Yd. FG
- Saints (K)Garrett Hartley kicks 33 Yd. FG
- Jets (K)Jay Feely 24 Yd. FG
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (TE)Dallas Clark for TD
- Packers (K)Mason Crosby kicks 33 Yd. FG
- Dolphins (RB)Ricky Williams rushes for TD
- Falcons (K)Matt Bryant kicks 30 Yd. FG
- Texans (RB)Ryan Moats rushes for TD
- Bills (QB)Ryan Fitzpatrick passes to (WR)Terrell Owens for TD
- Panthers (QB)Matt Moore passes to (WR)Steve Smith for TD
- Ravens (K)Billy Cundiff kicks 38 Yd. FG

2ND QUARTER :
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees passes to (RB)Reggie Bush for TD
- Texans (QB)Matt Schaub passes to (WR)Andre Johnson for TD
- Dolphins (QB)Chad Henne rushes for TD
- Vikings (K)Ryan Longwell kicks 40 Yd. FG
- Packers (K)Mason Crosby kicks 26 Yd. FG
- Chiefs (K)Ryan Succop kicks 21 Yd. FG
- Ravens (QB)Joe Flacco passes to (WR)Derrick Mason for TD
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (TE)Dallas Clark for TD
- Vikings (QB)Brett Favre passes to (WR)Sidney Rice for TD
- Jets (K)Jay Feely kicks 49 Yd. FG
- Jaguars (RB)Maurice Jones-Drew rushes for TD
- Lions (K)Jason Hanson kicks 22 Yd. FG
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees passes to (WR)Marques Colston for TD
- Jets (RB)Thomas Jones rushes for TD
- Seahawks (QB)Matt Hasselbeck passes to (TE)John Carlson for TD
- Bengals (QB)Carson Palmer passes to (WR)Chad Ochocinco for TD
- Ravens (RB)Ray Rice rushes for TD
- Broncos (QB)Kyle Orton passes to (WR)Brandon Marshall for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (WR)Johnny Knox for TD
- Bills (K)Rian Lindell kicks 41 Yd. FG
- Patriots (RB)Kevin Faulk rushes for TD
- Falcons (K)Matt Bryant kicks 27 Yd. FG
- Ravens (K)Billy Cundiff kicks 25 Yd. FG
- Vikings (K)Ryan Longwell kicks 23 Yd. FG
- Vikings (K)Ryan Longwell kicks 44 Yd. FG

3RD QUARTER :
- Saints (QB)Drew Brees passes to (RB)Reggie Bush for TD
- Bears (QB)Jay Cutler passes to (WR)Devin Aromashodu for TD
- Falcons (QB)Chris Redman passes to (WR)Michael Jenkins for TD
- Texans (K)Kris Brown kicks 31 Yd. FG
- Vikings (RB)Adrian Peterson rushes for TD
- Ravens (FB)LeRon McClain rushes for TD
- Jaguars (K)Josh Scobee kicks 25 Yd. FG
- Bills (K)Rian Lindell kicks 24 Yd. FG
- Chiefs (RB)Jamaal Charles rushes for TD
- Texans(D/ST) Texans (S)Bernard Pollard returns 70 Yd. Interception for TD
- Buccaneers (K)Connor Barth kicks 43 Yd. FG
- Patriots (QB)Tom Brady passes to (TE)Ben Watson for TD
- Ravens (RB)Willis McGahee rushes for TD
- Ravens (RB)Willis McGahee rushes for TD

4TH QUARTER :
- Falcons (RB)Jason Snelling rushes for TD
- Packers (RB)Ryan Grant rushes for TD
- Packers (QB)Aaron Rodgers passes to (WR)Greg Jennings for 2-Point Conversion
- Panthers (K)John Kasay kicks 36 Yd. FG
- Saints (K)Garrett Hartley kicks 38 Yd. FG
- Broncos (K)Matt Prater kicks 28 Yd. FG
- Bills (K)Rian Lindell kicks 36 Yd. FG
- Bengals (K)Shayne Graham kicks 22 Yd. FG
- Patriots (K)Stephen Gostkowski kicks 48 Yd. FG
- Jets (RB)Thomas Jones rushes for TD
- Broncos (QB)Kyle Orton passes to (WR)Brandon Marshall for TD
- Patriots (K)Stephen Gostkowski kicks 47 Yd. FG
- Vikings (RB)Adrian Peterson rushes for TD
- Colts (QB)Peyton Manning passes to (TE)Dallas Clark for TD
- Ravens (QB)Troy Smith rushes for TD

Jack Frost nipping at your nose? Wrong. Mad Adam gnawing on your face.

THE HEISMAN TROPHY IS A JOKE

This Saturday a throng of media, past football greats and other luminaries will gather at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square (wasn’t it cooler when it was at the Downtown Athletic Club) in order to give one lucky collegiate athlete the coveted Heisman Trophy.  You know, that 25 pound cast bronze statute that is supposed to be given to the “outstanding player in college football.”  Will that in fact happen?  Hell no.

You ask, why so skeptical of the process Mad Adam?  And I reply, because over the years this award has become a de facto “MVP” that is given to the best skill player (usually a QB or RB) on the best team in America.

Alternatively, the Heisman is handed out as a “lifetime achievement” award, never mind that the “lifetime” consists of four years of playing college football. Just ask Ron Dayne.  The Great Dayne did not win the Heisman in 2001 because he was the best in college football.  He won it because voters felt compelled to honor the man who had eclipsed the doobie smoking and socially awkward Ricky Williams as the Division I-A career rushing leader with 6,397 yards.

Still don’t believe me?  Check this out.  Here is the last 10 years of winners and their team’s respective records and overall success:

2008 – Sam Bradford, OU.  OU finished 12-2, with the mop-headed Bradford losing to the “anointed one” in the BCS National Championship game.  Amazingly Tebow won the game while also performing circumcisions for third world orphans at half-time.  What a guy….

2007 – Tim Tebow, Florida.  God’s chosen one played on a 9-4 Gators team, which was not spectacular.  However, the Gators were one year removed from a national championship and the voters clearly wanted to vote for Tebow in order to avoid the wrath of God for denying the prophet from Gainesville a chance at Heisman glory.

2006 – Troy Smith, Ohio State.  Ohio State finished 12-1 and got their asses handed to them in the BCS National Championship game after Heisman voters had already given Troy the ultimate NCAA football honor.

2005 – Reggie Bush, USC. When he wasn’t busying enjoying the (illegal) comforts afforded to him and his family by USC, Reggie played on a 12-1 team that lost to Texas in the BCS National Championship game to a Texas team led by one Vince Young.

2004 – Matt Leinart, USC.  The undefeated Trojans won the BCS National Championship with the man who never passed up an embarrassing party pic at the helm.

2003 – Jason White, OU.  The kid from Tuttle a played on a 12-2 team that lost to LSU in the BCS National Championship game.

2002 – Carson Palmer, USC.  Palmer’s team went 11-2, won the Orange Bowl and finished No. 4 in the AP’s final poll.

2001 – Eric Crouch, Nebraska.  Crouch and the Huskers posted 11 wins and 2 losses, with the last loss coming to Miami in the National Championship game.

2000 – Chris Weinke, Florida State.  Weinke popped a few Geritol and cast aside his walker long enough to advance his 11-2 Seminoles to the BCS National Championship where he was thumped by the OU Sooners.

1999 – Ron Dayne, Wisconsin.  The 10-2 Badgers finished No. 4 in the polls and beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

1998 – Ricky Williams, Texas.  In Mack Brown’s first year Darth Williams and the Shorthorns went 9-3 and featured in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Not a bad list of winners, right?  Maybe.  But what about the following list of those who were left behind?  Vince Young, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Larry Fitzgerald, Philip Rivers, Darren McFadden, Joey Harrington (just kidding), Josh Heupel, LaDainian Tomlinson, Michel Vick, Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb.

All of these guys had as good of a case, if not better, for winning the Heisman. But most of them were judged to either be playing for a team that was not good enough (Rodgers, Fitzgerald, Rivers, McFadden, Tomlinson, Vick, Brees and McNabb), or for a team that was outshone by some other team that particular year (Young and Heupel who both went on to beat their tormentors, USC and Florida State respectively) or was too young (Peterson).

With that history in mind, let’s look at this year.  In no particular order, here are your candidates, Colt McCoy, Mark Ingram, Tim Tebow, Toby Gerhart and Ndamukong Suh.

Let’s rule out a couple right of the bat.  Suh and Gerhart have no chance.  First, Heisman frowns on defensive players getting the award.  Sure, Charles Woodson won, but he also returned kicks and that was over a decade ago.  Second, Suh and Gerhart play on teams that are good, but not nearly good enough.  Stanford will spend New Year’s Eve in balmy El Paso Texas at the Sun Bowl, and Nebraska is in the respectable, but again not great, Holiday Bowl.

So throw out those two.  Too bad seeing as how Gerhart has about 200 more yards rushing and 8 more TD’s than Ingram.  But, Ingram plays for BCS Championship bound Alabama.  So….no dice.

And Suh?  He is the most dominant defensive tackle in about a quarter of a century.  82 tackles, 12 sacks and an INT all while being quintuple-teamed.  He is an ABSOLUTE BEAST.  By far the best player in college football.  And yet, if he had not made Colt McCoy his personal bitch for the night of the Big 12 Championship game, his year of dominance probably does not even earn him an invite to the ceremony.  Ridiculous.

That leaves Tebow, McCoy and Ingram.  Teabag, I mean Tebow (sorry Lord, I slip sometimes), has been good but not great.  Guess that happens when you lose a guy like Percy Harvin.  I suppose he still has a chance for another Heisman only because the media is still enjoying deep-throating this guy as often as possible. Personally, I prefer to remember him this way.

“Opie” McCoy is next up.  Like Teabag (there I go again) his numbers are down from last year.  More INT’s, less rushing and overall less panache.  And how about the big games?  Against OU he chucked an interception in the final minutes that nearly cost the Shorthorns their season.  His best play in that game?  Tackling the sprinting defender before he crushed Opie’s dreams at the Cotton Bowl.

Just an aberration you say?  What about the Big 12 Championship game when McCoy sauntered up to the line with less than 10 seconds to go, took the snap and threw a lazy air ball down the sidelines as the clock struck zero?  If not for instant replay and Mack Brown’s incessant whining (diarrhea of the mouth), TCU would be playing Bama for the championship.

So why is Opie even still in the running.  Easy.  He has more wins as a starting QB than any other.  Lifetime achievement award anyone?  Gimme a break.

Finally, we have Ingram. Solid player on a solid team.  Not the leading rusher in the NCAA.  Not the most explosive either.  But, he will be your winner.  Why?  He is the best player on the best team.  In other words, he is your MVP.

So, enjoy the awards ceremony on Saturday.  Tell me how it turns out, because I won’t be watching.  I already know that Ingram the MVP or Opie the Lifetime Achievement Winner will be accepting the trophy.  Meanwhile, my boy Ndamukong will go away empty handed.

Don’t like my opinions?  Suh me.  Later chumps.

Over the next several weeks, we’re going to look at several different positions (I can’t yet promise all) to identify the best players wearing each jersey number at each position. If this goes as planned, we’ll then compile a list of the best player wearing each jersey number in the league.

If you have quibbles, or want to add someone I forgot, leave a comment and we’ll update this post. And please have patience – this is a big job.

We started this project with wide receivers in this post and then with tight ends in this post. Now we move to quarterbacks, who wear numbers between 1 and 19.

1 – None – Sorry Warren Moon and Jeff George, but no significant quarterback in the NFL is currently wearing No. 1.

2 – Matt Ryan, Falcons – Two young quarterbacks wear No. 2, and Ryan, who is the future of the franchise in Atlanta, is an easy choice over JaMarcus Russell, who apparently cannot be the future of the franchise in Oakland. Other notable 2s: Brian St. Pierre, Cardinals; Chris Simms, Broncos, Sage Rosenfels, Vikings

3 – Derek Anderson, Browns – Anderson is no good and is having an even worse year, but he’s the only quarterback who has seen the field this season that wears No. 3, so he wins this by default. But you can go ahead and expect Anderson to lose to a kicker or punter in the final jersey number comparison. Other notable 3: Matt Moore, Panthers

4 – Brett Favre, Vikings – There’s no question that Favre is not only the most significant No. 4 currently playing now; he may be the best No. 4 in the history of the league. Part of that is that 4 was never a popular number before Favre, and part of it is of course Favre’s longevity and production. Other notable 4: Kevin Kolb, Eagles

5 – Donovan McNabb, Eagles – When McNabb first started wearing No. 5, it seemed like a bit of a novelty for a quarterback. But now this is a popular number. Still, McNabb remains the standard-bearer, both for his current play and his long and storied career. But it’ll be interesting to see how long McNabb can hold off up-and-coming Joe Flacco to keep the claim on 5. Other notable 5s: Kerry Collins, Titans; Trent Edwards, Bills, Josh Freeman, Buccaneers; Bruce Gradkowski, Raiders

6 – Jay Cutler, Bears – Cutler narrowly wins this number’s honors over rookie Mark Sanchez, simply because Cutler has a little longer pedigree. At the end of the year or next year, the decision could be different. Other notable 6: Pat White, Dolphins

7 – Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers – Big Ben wears 7 in honor of John Elway, one of the greatest 7s of all time. Now Roethlisberger is writing his legacy at the number with two Super Bowl titles very early in his career. The fact that Big Ben seems to be emerging as a passer is a sign that his career may actually be starting an upswing just now. Other notable 7s: Matt Cassel, Chiefs; Chad Henne, Dolphins; Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers; Matt Leinart, Cardinals; Tarvaris Jackson, Vikings; Michael Vick, Eagles

8 – Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks – This was a tough call. Matt Schaub of the Texans is having by far a better year than Hasselbeck, but Hasselbeck has a much better career at this point. So we’ll side with experience over the present, knowing full well that we might want to flip the tables on this number very soon. Other notable 8s: Kyle Orton, Broncos; David Carr, Giants; Brian Hoyer, Patriots

9 – Drew Brees, Saints – Brees may be for the early 2010s what Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were for most of this decade. He’s at the top of his game, piling up numbers with great accuracy and providing great leadership to boot. And if he can get a Super Bowl ring this year, his status will only grow. As good as Dallas’ Tony Romo, Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer, and Jacksonville’s David Garrard are, they aren’t in Brees’ league. Other notable 9: Matthew Stafford, Lions

10 – Eli Manning, Giants – Manning isn’t a perfect quarterback, but he’s good and he’s won his share of games and then some. That’s enough to earn him the 10 spot over declining players like Marc Bulger of St. Louis and Chad Pennington of Miami. Other notable 10s: Matt Flynn, Packers; Brady Quinn, Browns; Vince Young, Titans; Troy Smith, Ravens

11 – Daunte Culpepper, Lions – There are no current star quarterbacks wearing 11, so we’ll give this honor to a former star in Culpepper who has started a couple of games this year. Other notable 11s: Josh Johnson, Buccaneers; Alex Smith, 49ers; Mark Brunell, Saints; Kellen Clemens, Jets

12 – Tom Brady, Patriots – It’s an easy call to give the honors at 12 to Brady, who’s already got the resume of an all-time great. Plus, Brady continues to perform at the highest of levels. He remains the real deal. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers is a good quarterback, but he’s outside Brady’s echelon. Other notable 12s: Brodie Croyle, Chiefs; Kyle Boller, Rams; Josh McCown, Panthers; Jim Sorgi, Colts

13 – Kurt Warner, Cardinals – This is another easy call, as Warner is playing at a high level 10 years after he burst on the scene in St. Louis. His career has been a little up and down, but at his best there are few better than Warner. Other notable 13: Shaun Hill, 49ers

14 – Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills – Fitzpatrick isn’t great, but he’s the only QB wearing 14 who has even played this year. Dan Fouts must be ashamed.

15 – Seneca Wallace, Seahawks – This is another slow number, as Wallace and Washington backup Todd Collins are the only quarterbacks wearing 15. We almost gave this to Tim Tebow in advance, but we’ll stick with NFL players for now.

16 – Charlie Batch, Steelers – At least we had a choice at 16 between Batch, the former Lions starter who’s now Big Ben’s backup, and Tyler Thigpen, who had some good games in K.C. last year before going to the Dolphins via trade this year.

17 - Philip Rivers, Chargers – Rivers isn’t on the Brees-Manning-Brady level, but he may be the best of the next batch of quarterbacks. He’s productive and continuing to grow as a leader and late-game threat. Other notable 17s: Jason Campbell, Redskins; Jake Delhomme, Panthers

18 - Peyton Manning, Colts – There’s no question here that Manning is by far the best 18 not only at quarterback but at any position in the league. No player is doing more to elevate his team this season than Manning, who is carrying his team to the top of the pack once again.

19 – NONE – No quarterbacks are wearing 19 this year either. Apparently young QBs need to see more Johnny Unitas highlights.

Like most Ravens fans, I spent a fair amount of time this week moaning, groaning, griping, and complaining. The reason for our collective angst? With the exceptions of Lardarius Webb, Sam Koch, and Ray Rice, the whole team looked bad in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals.

I’m a solutions-oriented person generally, so now that I’m done whining, I’d like to offer some suggestions for the second-half of the year. They’re pretty simple, and are all directed at the coaching staff (all images from baltimoresun.com):

Head Coach John Harbaugh: Last year, you did a phenomenal job of bringing in seasoned coaching professionals to maximize the available talent. Unfortunately, that set up ridiculously high expectations for this year. ***For the remainder of the season, I would ask that you put friendships with your coordinators aside and take an objective look at the players. Some current starters should not be, and some current backups should be starting. If we the fans see this, you can too. Challenging your coordinators to shake up the roster now might save your reputation later.

Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron: It’s clear that you like to go with “the hot hand.” That’s all well and good, but what happens when other teams key in on those *hot* players? They get shut down and then we lose. The offense clearly worked better earlier in the season when more people got the ball, not just Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, and Ray Rice. There are several other seemingly healthy players who need to be much bigger parts of the regular game plan including Kelley Washington, L. J. Smith, Le’Ron McClain, Willis McGahee, Troy Smith, David Tyree, and Demetrius Williams. ***For the remainder of the season, please don’t forget these guys: they can make plays. More importantly, their inclusion can help keep opposing defenses guessing.

Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison: As far as most fans are concerned, the jury is still out with regard to your contribution to the Ravens. It is crystal clear, however, that the defense this year is the single biggest disappointment. ***For the remainder of the season, PLEASE give some of the younger players and *backups* more chances in the starting defensive rotations. The current starters simply are not getting it done. We might very well lose with some of the younger guys, but at least we’ll know what we need going forward. We need more Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Tom Zbikowski, and Lardarius Webb. We need MUCH less of Frank Walker, Fabian Washington, and Chris Carr. And, though it pains me to say it, until he gets healthier, we need to see a little less of Ed Reed as well.

Read the debate intro and Sports Geek’s argument that the struggles of Terrelle Pryor are due to his underperformance.

Have you ever tried running with a left shoe on your right foot? Sure, you can still accomplish the basic goal of getting from here to there, and the shoe will protect your foot from sharp steps along the road. The problem, though, is that it prevents you from maximizing your true potential. Ideally, you would like to find a shoe that fits properly, which enables you to truly perform at the highest possible levels.

When you do find that shoe that fits comfortably magic starts to happen. The right fit brings comfort, and with comfort comes reliability and consistency of performance. Instead of pain, tension, and stress you are able to move more naturally, and focus on improving the finer points of performance.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor must know exactly how that feels.

After being very heavily recruited out of high school, Pryor came into Ohio State amidst very high expectations. At 6 feet 6 inches, weighing 227 pounds, Pryor was compared to Vince Young. Like Young, Pryor has the raw athletic ability of a “dual-threat” quarterback who can run for 20 yards just as easily as he could can throw for it.

For a player who has been compared to one of the most exciting and successful college quarterbacks of this decade, Pryor’s career has not started out so great for Pryor at Ohio State. Pryor, who has shown glimpses of the superstar that he can be, has been responsible for several very costly errors, most of which appeared to be the result of poor decision making. And if you play football in Ohio, errors are very quickly followed by criticism.

Critics seem to forget that Vince Young was not always the quarterback pictured in a cloud of confetti after having just upset the favored Southern Cal Trojans in the BCS National Championship. In fact, during Young’s first season at the helm for the Texas Longhorns he threw almost as many interceptions (11) as he did touchdowns (12), and only accounted for 1,848 passing yards. It took time for Young, who was 21-years-old when he took his first snaps as a starter in Texas, to develop with his team into a quarterback capable of national success.

Now compare Young to Pryor, who was thrust into the limelight at age 18 and asked to lead a national contender into the BCS before he had even finished his first semester of college! Yes, Pryor made mistakes, but many of those mistakes were the result of poor strategy on the field.

What makes Pryor most dangerous is his running ability. Like Young, or former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, Pryor has an amazing ability to extend plays because he is elusive and possesses amazing speed (despite his larger frame). The difference for Pryor is that he does not have the same supporting cast around him as Young and Smith had. Consider Young’s offensive teammates. Names like Selvin Young, Bo Scaife, Cedric Benson, and Limas Sweed come to mind. For Smith, names like Chris “Beanie” Wells, Teddy Ginn Jr., and Anthony Gonzalez come to mind. Both rosters were LOADED with NFL caliber talent, and both rosters required opposing defenses to split their focus, freeing up Young and Smith respectively to take advantage of their natural play-making abilities.

Who does Terrelle Pryor have? Beanie Wells was injured for some of the 2008 season with Pryor, so his play cannot be weighted very heavily. Instead, Pryor has a supporting cast of Daniel Herron, Dane Sanzenbacher, Brandon Saine, and Brian Hartline – all of whom are good players, but not quite the same caliber of his predecessor’s supporting cast. Opposing defenses are now able to use one of Pryor’s biggest strengths against him. The primary reason that Pryor was so highly recruited out of high school was because of his improvisational style and ability to make plays under pressure. That style can be very easy when the opponent is a bunch of 15 and 16 year-olds from Anywhere-Pennsylvania High. When an 18-year-old boy is being pressured by the defenses of USC, Penn State, or Texas… improvisation is a little more difficult to pull off.

Pryor’s mistakes have all come at times where he has tried to improvise or extend a play – every single one of them. The problem is that he cannot be expected to do it all by himself. I am not criticizing the rest of the Buckeye’s, but the offense around Pryor is not designed to support a quarterback with his unique talents. It is that simple. Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel coaches in a style that prizes special teams and field position play. Tressel’s coaching style would have him classified as a game manager, taking few chances and relying heavily on solid defense and consistent play to dominate the game by the clock (something the Buckeyes have not been able to do lately). What Pryor needs is an explosive running back that draws all of the attention up front, combined with speedy wide receivers to help him stretch the field. Most importantly, he needs the time to let plays develop. If his wide receivers are unable to get open downfield, it does not matter how long he extends the play, success will never come.

There has to be allowance for a learning curve, not only for Terrelle Pryor but for the whole Ohio State Buckeyes program. The aforementioned Troy Smith (who won the Heisman Trophy his senior year) was actually BENCHED in 2004 because he was unable to succeed under the Buckeye’s game plan. Once the team (and the coach) was able to develop an offense that complemented Smith’s style the coaches could finally maximize Smith’s talents, and saw wild success. If Pryor is going to have that same success then Tressel and the Buckeyes are going to have to figure out a way to truly maximize his talents.

Read the debate intro and Bleacher Fan’s argument that Terrelle Pryor is not being properly used by the Ohio State coaching staff.

Craig Krenzel and Troy Smith. What do these two former Ohio State quarterbacks have in common? Well, the common trait is NOT finesse, grace, smarts, or speed. The common trait is that the coaching staff – led by head coach/chief play caller/chief vest wearer Jim Tressel – squeezed every last droplet of ability out of both players. Are fans and observers really supposed to believe the Tressel simply forgot how to coach, misdiagnosed a player’s ability, or benefited from existing talent in Krenzel and Smith?

Loyal Homer asks Bleacher Fan and I to ponder why supposed phenom quarterback Terrelle Pryor is struggling so visibly as quarterback of the Buckeyes. It is easy to blame the coaches, the schemes, the strategies, the opposing defenses, and any number of excuses. However, excuses do not excuse, as my Dad used to say. The only person to blame for the struggles of Terrelle Pryor in Columbus is Terrelle Pryor.

Terrelle Pryor’s game, for all of the preseason/pre-career accolades the youngster received, is not dynamic. The promised dual threat QB has been decidedly solitary in his game plan execution. Pryor so believes in being a drop back passer – knowing that his greatest potential upside in the NFL comes from being a good pocket quarterback – that he refuses to tuck the ball and run when that is the best outcome for his current team, The Ohio State Buckeyes. The statistics belie Pryor’s focus:

• Navy: Pryor rushes just six times for 30 yards.
• Southern Cal: Pryor rushes ten times for 36 yards.
• Toledo: Pryor rushes 12 times for 110 yards (though the opponent IS Toledo).
• Illinois: Pryor rushes 11 times for 59 yards.
• Indiana: Pryor rushes 16 times for 63 yards.
• Wisconsin: Pryor rushes ten times for 35 yards.
• Purdue: Pryor rushes 21 times for 34 yards.

See the trend? As the season wears on Tressel has called more quarterback running and option plays because Pryor has chosen to stand in the pocket rather than use his legs to pick up yards and important first downs. The called running plays are also much less effective and more predictable than Pryor simply taking what the defense gives him. See the 3.5 yards per carry against Wisconsin and the 1.6 yards per carry against Purdue.

Pryor should be running the ball whenever he has an easy opportunity to pick up yards. That easy opportunity comes more than six or even 16 times a game when considering the increasing number of called runs from Tressel. Somehow a player with Pryor’s running ability and strength has been sacked 13 times this season with a total loss of yards exceeding 100! Too often Pryor is trying to out maneuver defenders in the backfield in a futile attempt to create time when the better play is to step up in the pocket and take the few yards available.

The irony to Pryor’s talent dichotomy is the more he runs when the defense gives him space, the more open receivers will open up downfield. The current approach has yielded just over seven yards per throw and a whopping nine interceptions. Better recognition of the defense and situations combined with improved decision making is can reverse the trend. The problem is that for Pryor a major disconnect exists between his perception of a situation and reality.

In a recent interview with Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Doug Lesmerises Pryor said,”Some offensive teams, they don’t get to their peak until midseason. Sometimes you get down, but you’ve got to jump back up and get confident again. I feel real comfortable this week. I think we can light up the scoreboard.”

Confidence is good. Misplaced confidence is dangerous. Terrelle Pryor needs a dose of reality – he is underperforming.

Perhaps his personally dismal performance against Purdue – 17-31 for 221 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs and 21 rushes for 34 yards – was the wakeup call Pryor needed. He played much better in the next game against Minnesota, and even delivered an uncharacteristically vulnerable – and therefore inspiring – speech to his team. During a meeting for the offense prior to the Minnesota game Pryor took the floor and said, “I’m sorry for not approaching things the way I should.” A dose of reality?

Now, back to the list of Pryor’s rushing stats, since the team’s most recent game against Minnesota is not yet listed:

• Minnesota: Pryor rushes 15 times for 104 yards.

The Minnesota game featured fewer called running plays for Pryor and more comfort in taking advantage of the gaps in the defensive coverage to pick up easy yards with his feet.

One of the big lessons from Pryor’s struggles is that confidence is earned… or it is empty. Empty confidence is how American Idol stays in business with those terrible, delusional singers at the beginning of each season. Earned confidence results from studying and making smart decisions. If Pryor simply studies and makes smart decisions he will never have to worry about performing up to expectations and “being” a leader. He will showcase his immense physical gifts and the team will simply follow.

For any quarterback, everything boils down to choices. Does Pryor choose to be Ohio State’s quarterback and use the fullness of his gifts? Or does Pryor choose to be an NFL prospect at the expense of his teammates and the fans? Time will tell if Pryor has actually turned an important attitude corner. One fact is certain – the only thing holding back Terrelle Pryor is Terrelle Pryor.

We had a feeling that this was going to happen.  But it doesn’t make it any less disappointing.

The other shoe finally dropped as the NCAA ruled yesterday that Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant will remain suspended for the remainder of the football season for violating the organization’s ethics policy when he lied to NCAA investigators about having dinner at Deion Sanders’ house.  We talked about this a couple of weeks ago when the suspension was originally announced.  As way of review,  Bryant’s suspension comes as result of an investigation the NCAA was conducting regarding a meeting between Bryant and former N.F.L. star Deion Sanders.  Apparently the two met up at an athletic facility outside Dallas this past summer, where they  worked out for a little while.  After the workout, Sanders invited Bryant to his house for dinner, and Bryant accepted, bringing his girlfriend along.  And according to these reports, that is all that happened.  But the NCAA’s rules are so cryptic that many working in university athletic departments don’t know what constitutes a violation, let alone the players themselves.  Bryant was questioned by NCAA investigators, who told him they were there to look into possible rules violations that could affect Bryant’s eligibility.  The investigators then asked Bryant if he had ever been to Deion Sanders’ house.  In a panic, he said no, but Sanders had already told the NCAA that Bryant and his girlfriend had come to dinner the previous summer.  Now accepting an invitation to dinner at Sanders’ house was not an NCAA rules violation, but Bryant has been suspended for the lie.

Perhaps some punishment was in order, but suspending Bryant for the rest of the season strikes us as being patently unfair. Especially when you look at the way the NCAA has handled these situations in the past.

– In August of this season, Alabama university officials and the NCAA investigated whether linebacker Jerrell Harris, received a laptop computer from a man named Curtis Anderson, who claims that he is not a fan or a booster for the Crimson Tide. Crimson Tide teammates Julio Jones and Mark Ingram were also involved with Anderson, as the businessman paid for a fishing trip that all three players took part in.  Jones and Ingram, according to reports, were truthful with investigators, and the two were ordered to pay back the amount of the benefits to charity.  Harris was less than truthful, and also took the laptop computer.  Harris was suspended for six weeks, and was back in action for the Tide last weekend against Tennessee.

– In December 2004 an attorney for a Columbus-area health-care company had notified Ohio State that a Buckeyes football player, later identified as quarterback Troy Smith, had visited its offices the previous spring and walked out with an envelope from owner Robert Baker, a Buckeyes’ booster. According to a subsequent NCAA report, Smith came to the company seeking part-time employment. Baker allegedly advanced him $500 but never required him to work, a violation of the NCAA’s extra benefits rule. Smith was suspended for two games. He went on to win the Heisman Trophy.

As we said before, we are not condoning lying.  But is it too much to ask that the NCAA be consistent when the mete out punishment?  Bryant received no illegal benefits.  He broke no NCAA rules by having dinner with Sanders.  He got sacred when asked about it, and he panicked.  And for that he lost the remainder of his junior season, while other players who have broken the rules received far less in the way of punishment. The NCAA’s unnecessarily harsh ruling will label Bryant, one of the best players in the country, as a problem case.  Plus, he will be  unable to improve his draft stock by playing this season. This isn’t justice.  This isn’t close to justice. This is making an example of a 21-year-old kid for no apparent reason. A completely unnecessary show of force.  This is hypocrisy. And that’s all that it is.

History has always been a favorite subject of mine. In light of college football season gearing up, and the fact that I am a University of Florida alum (Gators…Not! I repeat NOT Seminoles), I’m remembering the 2006 National Championship game where Florida dismantled the Ohio State Buckeyes.

During the game, Ohio State QB Troy Smith was continuously pressured and one memorable sack by a helmetless Earl Everett has caused a cult following.

Here’s the video –

The chase has been depicted in many memorable scenes through the wonders of Photoshop. It’s funny if you’re a Florida fan…not so much if you went to Ohio State.

Here’s a nice collection of the photoshops…
http://homepage.mac.com/kirk_pitts/sackoftroy/

Can’t wait for football!

Read Sports Geek and Loyal Homer’s arguments about which college football teams of the past decade were the best that did NOT win a championship.

On Saturday, September 10th in Columbus, Ohio, The Ohio State Buckeyes were on the verge of defeating the Texas Longhorns, led by quarterback Vince Young. Despite a dropped touchdown pass by Buckeyes tight end Ryan Hamby in the third quarter, and a missed field goal late in the fourth quarter by Buckeyes kicker Josh Huston, Ohio State still carried a six-point lead into the final five minutes of the game. What followed became the prelude to a story that would conclude months later in one of the most exciting college football games in history.

With less than five minutes on the clock, Young led Texas downfield to a game-winning score that officially put Texas on the map as being a BCS contender that year. Young and his Longhorns would go on to an undefeated season, a Big 12 Championship, and a national championship against the reigning 2004 champions, the favored USC Trojans.

But what about the Buckeyes?

After the loss against Texas, they finished 2005 with a record of 10-2 – including a 34-20 victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl – ending the season ranked fourth in the nation. Many programs would consider that a WILDLY successful year, but that was not the case for the Buckeyes. What started as a year with championship expectations ended with the Buckeyes watching from home as a team they SHOULD HAVE beaten hoisted the trophy above their heads.

Many fans (and I am sure many players) watched the ’05 national championship and thought “It should’ve been us.”

When the 2006 preseason rankings came out, and Ohio State was ranked number one, the Buckeyes realized they had an opportunity for redemption. Many talented players returned on offense, including quarterback Troy Smith, wide receivers Ted Ginn, Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, and running back Antonio Pittman. Their defense was led by defensive end Vernon Gholston and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. They also had some exciting young talent on their team in running back Chris (Beanie) Wells and linebacker James Laurinaitis.

Smith and Ginn were both considered Heisman favorites, and Ohio State, a team normally lauded for its dominant defense, was actually favored because of their explosive offensive potential.

Their schedule in 2006 was no cakewalk. Early in the season they would have to travel into Austin for a rematch against Texas (preseason #3). Also on the horizon were games against Penn State (preseason #19), Iowa (preseason #16), and Michigan (preseason #14). Despite that schedule, the Buckeyes were riding high on talent and expectations.

Following the first week of the season, Texas leapt ahead of Notre Dame in the national rankings, which set the stage for an early-season #1 vs #2 matchup. Ohio State, with bad memories of the 2005 season still on their minds, traveled to Texas for their first test as the top team in the nation, and they left Texas with a 24-7 victory.

Two weeks later, the Buckeyes trounced #24 Penn State by a score of 28-6, and the following week travelled to Iowa, where they handed the #13 Hawkeyes their first loss of the season 38-17. Over the next six games, Ohio State outscored their opponents 232-37, and were rolling toward a BCS Title invitation.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Wolverines had managed to climb their way up the rankings thanks to an 11-0 season, setting the stage for one of the biggest rivalry games ever to be played. When Ohio State hosted Michigan on November 18th, it became the first time in the storied history of the greatest rivalry in college football that both teams would take the field undefeated, ranked as #1 and #2 in the country. This would also be the second time that the Buckeyes had to put their record on the line against the number two ranked team. In a game which lived up to all of the pre-game hype, Ohio State emerged victorious by a score of 42-39.

In the weeks that followed, Florida emerged as the team that would compete against Ohio State for the BCS crown, but most discussion about the game centered on how much the Buckeyes would win by, rather than IF they would win (except in Florida, of course). Expectations increased once again when quarterback Troy Smith was named the Heisman winner for 2006.

Then came the kickoff for the championship. Ted Ginn, Jr. ran the kickoff all the way downfield for a touchdown, which appeared to seal the deal on the inevitable outcome of the game. But, during the touchdown celebration, Ginn injured his ankle and was unable to finish. Without Ginn at receiver, the previously explosive Buckeye offense suddenly became impotent. The end result was a devastating 27-point Florida victory. Since the Gators no longer had to worry about the threat of speedy Ginn, their defense was able to hold a team that averaged more than 35 points per game over the season to only one touchdown in the entire game.

The 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes were the best team in college football. They defeated four top-25 teams, including Texas and Michigan both of which were ranked second in the nation at one time. They were led by a Heisman winning quarterback, and 18 players on that roster have since gone on to the NFL. The performance during that game left little doubt that Florida played the better game, but Ohio State in 2006 was still the better team. Who knows what would have transpired if Ginn had not injured his ankle, but the 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes are the best team of the past decade to not win a championship.

The Baltimore Ravens pounded Washington last night 23-0.

Ravens QB Troy Smith took most of the snaps and threw for exactly 200 yards and a touchdown pass. On the receiving end of the pass was Justin Harper. Harper had four receptions for 57 yards on the night.

Starter Joe Flacco attempted fifteen passes and completed nine for a rousing 103 yards.

Washington did not score in this ball game.

Washington featured quarterbacks Jason Campbell, Colt Brennan and Todd Collins in the game. Campbell was only on for one series and threw six passes, completing three. Brennan 4/12 for 43 yards and threw and interception. Todd Collins threw for 70 yards on 8/11.

Rock Cartwright took six rushes for 24 yards.

Washington only had the ball for 24:!6 while Baltimore had the ball for 35:44.