Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Another 2007 QB draft pick cast aside
The 2007 draft of quarterbacks has to be one of the worst ever QB class in the league. With the failures of JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn (lucky to be on a team), John Beck (where is he now?), add Trent Edwards to the list. On Monday, Bills released Edwards the day after Ryan Fitzpatrick took his starting spot and kept up with New England Patriots in a 38-30 loss. A big fall for Edwards after showing promise in his rookie season which he started nine games. The next two seasons he regressed with him missing half the season in his third year due to injury. Despite winning the starting job in training camp, he played poorly in the first two games causing the team to make moves last week and to finally cut him after the third game of the season. While Jaguars snapped him up he will likely be backup QB. This leaves Kevin Kolb as the last hope to be regular QB starter from that year draft, but its been put in the backburner when Michael Vick took over his spot when he was KO'd in the first game of the season. None of the QBs drafted in that year have done anything special from Drew Stanton (6 games), Jeff Rowe (0 games, 0 passes), Troy Smith (14 games, mostly used for Wildcat plays), Jordan Palmer (3 games), and Tyler Thigpen (started 11 games in 2008; now a backup in Miami). With Edwards cut it puts the exclamation mark on the 2007 QB draft class as the most disappointing, horrendous, and quickest flame out from a position ever.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Bobby Cramer made it
Here's another player that finally made it to the big leagues: Bobby Cramer. The picture on the left taken when he was at Double-A A's affiliate Midland Rockhounds in 2007. For Cramer he came in the hard way. Originally drafted by Seattle Mariners in 2001 he didn't play til 2003 when he signed with Tampa Bay Rays. After two seasons in their minor league system they released him. He was out of baseball for two years working jobs as a substitute teacher and pipeline maintenance. Oakland brought him back to baseball in 2007 which pitched the season through their A and AA club. A's released him in 2008 and he spent the year playing in the independent Golden Baseball League. In 2009 A's signed him back playing through all through all levels of their minor league system with various success including battling a fatigue arm. This year he played through the club's Mexican and Pacific league putting up impressive resumé for the A's to give him a September call-up. Cramer got the call at age 30 (and soon to be 31) and the start in his first major league game. He pitched 5 1/3 inning giving up 4 hits and a run in a win against the Royals. Cramer long way to the majors showed you can never give up if you have the mentality to play the game. Great job well done Bobby Cramer on making it to the majors and getting your first win.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Matt Leinart lays a rotten egg
When Matt Leinart landed at no. 10 in 2006 draft Arizona Cardinals thought they got a steal. Turns out being a bust after four seasons with the team becoming the first player chosen from the top 10 of that year's "heralded" draft released from a team. What's strange that the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner was projected as first player chosen in 2005 if he left USC early. Alex Smith got chosen first overall of 2005 draft by the 49ers and is STILL with the team. For Leinart he lasted four mediocre seasons with the Cardinals. What was his downfall? His relax carefree attitude questioning his dedication? Was it the timing of his broken collarbone allowing Kurt Warner to take over as starter and never relinquish it? Did Warner set the bar too high with the team that Leinart couldn't able to leap over it? It's possibly be all three happenings. When Warner retired it was Leinart turn to take the starting role. Turns out Leinart looked average on the field struggling at times as starter during preseason despite a somewhat high completion rate, but with low passing yards. His play caused a concern for coach Ken Wisenhunt look into Derek Anderson as possible starter. After final two preseason games which Anderson played fairly well as starter while Leinart play was up and down coming off the bench, Anderson manage to squeak in as starter. It was enough for Cardinals to cut Matt Leinart blowing his chance as a starting quarterback. What thought to be laying a golden egg turns out to be a rotten one four seasons later.
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