Here are some quick news and notes on my top stories in the NFL since the draft.
Geno Smith
I'm trying to give this young man the benefit of the doubt, but he's having an offseason that's becoming more and more worrisome. Didn't handle the draft all that well, fired his agent, got signed by a terrible franchise (not his fault), and has now chosen Jay-Z's firm to represent him. Haven't we seen this before with Master P? Now, to be fair, Jay-Z is probably a better business man than Master P, but both are still hip-hop entrepreneurs trying to make it big in another business. Remember MJ and Prime Time as baseball players? Maybe this move by Geno turns to gold, but rarely does some much controversy precede greatness. Players that go on to be great don't have rookie offseasons like this.
Michael Crabtree
Hate to see something like this. Crabtree is very talented and had had the breakout season before a contract year. This injury is more about Crabtree than it is about the 49ers. The team will miss him, but they've got the players in place to fill his gap. Boldin won't put up the regular season numbers Crabtree would have, but he'll be money in the postseason. 2nd year receiver A.J. Jenkins now has to step up and LaMichael James will likely be featured more. The fascinating question becomes what will the 49ers do with Crabtree at the end of the season? He's not a star number 1 receiver, those guys perform at a high level no matter who their QB is. But Crabtree is a difference maker and a valuable starter for any team. If the 9ers win the superbowl this year and do it without a significant contribution from Crabtree then his leverage is next to nothing. If they don't win a championship then he's got a better case to be signed to a big contract. Personally, I wouldn't pay Crabtree top receiver money. He's not A.J. Green or even Percy Harvin. Those guys are special while Crabtree is really good. Special guys find a way to come down with that fourth down pass in the super bowl (not banging on the guy, just an illustration of his limitations as a player). Really good receivers are much more common than special guys so I'd be reluctant to pay big bucks for Crabtree. It's going to be a fascinating subject to keep an eye on during the offseason.
Titus Young
We treat mental health issues poorly in this country. Titus Young is another example of this fact and another example of how human potential is wasted when the larger community and society fails to take care of each other. Titus Young is clearly not well and he and his family need help to make him better. There are many fingers to point at those responsible for his current state and behavior, but what I find most interesting and sad is how poorly we as a society are equipped to deal with folks that struggle with mental health issues. Let's hope Mr. Young gets the help he needs and that we're all a little more conscious of ways we can care for those in our community better.
HGH Testing
If HGH testing in football comes to the NFL then prepare yourself for a less exciting league. I have to believe that HGH is rampant in the NFL simply because the benefits to using it currently outweigh the downsides, which are next to nothing. Right or wrong, HGH is partially responsible for the excitement that is the NFL.
RGIII in in week one
I think RGIII starts week one. His injury was not as severe as Adrian Peterson's and the young QB sensation appears to have the same healing abilities as AD (it's not AP like so many people like to call him). Whether or not RGIII is on the field this September means next to nothing to me. What matters to me is whether or not RGIII is capable of tweaking his game so that he doesn't take those vicious hits. Griffin is Michael Vick, a slightly taller/heavier, much better mental make-up version of Vick. The two biggest weaknesses in Vick's game are the inability to stay healthy and an average football IQ. It's too late for the older QB to significantly change either trait, he's simply too small and too stuck in his ways to make the progress he needs to be a star QB ever again (not to mention all of the off the field troubles he's had). RGIII has an opportunity to change now that he's seen the limitations of his game, but he'll have to do something that I think is nearly impossible, he'll have to forgo the use of one of his most prized assets in order to continue playing a game he loves. That's not an easy thing for any professional to do, but unfortunately it'll be the only way he plays long enough to be considered an all time great. Before watching how RGIII reacts to getting hit for the first time, I'll be watching how he reacts to the first unblocked defender or completely covered passing play.
Geno Smith
I'm trying to give this young man the benefit of the doubt, but he's having an offseason that's becoming more and more worrisome. Didn't handle the draft all that well, fired his agent, got signed by a terrible franchise (not his fault), and has now chosen Jay-Z's firm to represent him. Haven't we seen this before with Master P? Now, to be fair, Jay-Z is probably a better business man than Master P, but both are still hip-hop entrepreneurs trying to make it big in another business. Remember MJ and Prime Time as baseball players? Maybe this move by Geno turns to gold, but rarely does some much controversy precede greatness. Players that go on to be great don't have rookie offseasons like this.
Michael Crabtree
Hate to see something like this. Crabtree is very talented and had had the breakout season before a contract year. This injury is more about Crabtree than it is about the 49ers. The team will miss him, but they've got the players in place to fill his gap. Boldin won't put up the regular season numbers Crabtree would have, but he'll be money in the postseason. 2nd year receiver A.J. Jenkins now has to step up and LaMichael James will likely be featured more. The fascinating question becomes what will the 49ers do with Crabtree at the end of the season? He's not a star number 1 receiver, those guys perform at a high level no matter who their QB is. But Crabtree is a difference maker and a valuable starter for any team. If the 9ers win the superbowl this year and do it without a significant contribution from Crabtree then his leverage is next to nothing. If they don't win a championship then he's got a better case to be signed to a big contract. Personally, I wouldn't pay Crabtree top receiver money. He's not A.J. Green or even Percy Harvin. Those guys are special while Crabtree is really good. Special guys find a way to come down with that fourth down pass in the super bowl (not banging on the guy, just an illustration of his limitations as a player). Really good receivers are much more common than special guys so I'd be reluctant to pay big bucks for Crabtree. It's going to be a fascinating subject to keep an eye on during the offseason.
Titus Young
We treat mental health issues poorly in this country. Titus Young is another example of this fact and another example of how human potential is wasted when the larger community and society fails to take care of each other. Titus Young is clearly not well and he and his family need help to make him better. There are many fingers to point at those responsible for his current state and behavior, but what I find most interesting and sad is how poorly we as a society are equipped to deal with folks that struggle with mental health issues. Let's hope Mr. Young gets the help he needs and that we're all a little more conscious of ways we can care for those in our community better.
HGH Testing
If HGH testing in football comes to the NFL then prepare yourself for a less exciting league. I have to believe that HGH is rampant in the NFL simply because the benefits to using it currently outweigh the downsides, which are next to nothing. Right or wrong, HGH is partially responsible for the excitement that is the NFL.
RGIII in in week one
I think RGIII starts week one. His injury was not as severe as Adrian Peterson's and the young QB sensation appears to have the same healing abilities as AD (it's not AP like so many people like to call him). Whether or not RGIII is on the field this September means next to nothing to me. What matters to me is whether or not RGIII is capable of tweaking his game so that he doesn't take those vicious hits. Griffin is Michael Vick, a slightly taller/heavier, much better mental make-up version of Vick. The two biggest weaknesses in Vick's game are the inability to stay healthy and an average football IQ. It's too late for the older QB to significantly change either trait, he's simply too small and too stuck in his ways to make the progress he needs to be a star QB ever again (not to mention all of the off the field troubles he's had). RGIII has an opportunity to change now that he's seen the limitations of his game, but he'll have to do something that I think is nearly impossible, he'll have to forgo the use of one of his most prized assets in order to continue playing a game he loves. That's not an easy thing for any professional to do, but unfortunately it'll be the only way he plays long enough to be considered an all time great. Before watching how RGIII reacts to getting hit for the first time, I'll be watching how he reacts to the first unblocked defender or completely covered passing play.
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