Playmakers: Our NFL mid-season, MVP watch

November 2, 2018

We’re eight weeks into the 2018 NFL campaign and there’s been some great football. Huge numbers have posted weekly. With all the rule changes in favor of the offense, records will surely be broken. To that end, SportsRadioAmerica.com examines the top MVP mid-season performers.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

The second-year pro has been close to flawless in Reid’s spread West Coast offense. When the designed play breaks down, he’s capable of moving out of the pocket and picking up yardage with his legs. There’s almost no way to game plan to stop Patrick Mahomes, especially with the talent he has around him. In the opener, he went for 256 yards and four scores in the Chiefs’ season opener against the Chargers. Since then, Mahomes has reeled off seven, straight, 300-yard efforts. He’s guided the Chiefs to a 7-1 record. His 2,526 passing yards lead the league. So do his 26 touchdown passes. Those 26 scores over the first nine starts of his career are the most by a NFL quarterback. He has four touchdown passes in each of his last three games. Right now, he’s on pace for more than 5,000 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

After leading the NFL in yards and touchdowns from scrimmage with 2,093 and 19 TD’s in 2017, Todd Gurley’s on pace to blow those numbers out of the water. Through the first half of the season, he has 1,151 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns. He leads the league with 169 carries, 800 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. The best player on the best team will always be in the MVP debate. He’s also provided value as a receiver out of the backfield. It’s Gurley’s combination of vision, speed and power that sets him apart from other running backs. And, in a quarterback-driven league, it’s Gurley who has been that one, transcendent player. In an era where the running back is seen as devalued, he’s also been as valuable to his team as any non-quarterback can be.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

The old vet is still up to his old tricks. Drew Brees has shown few signs of decline this season. As the catalyst behind the Saints’ best start in five years at 6-1, he leads the NFL in passing efficiency (121.3) and completion percentage (77.3). He’d be a sentimental favorite as one of the greatest players in NFL history to never win the MVP award, yet he’s having one of the best seasons of his career. He has a personal-best passer rating of 118.2. He just threw his first interception of the season Sunday night, compared with 14 touchdown passes. Brees is on pace for 4,549 yards, 32 touchdowns, two interceptions and an astonishing completion percentage of 77.4. He just set the NFL record for single-season completion percentage last year at 72.0. For him to bring that up 5% is outstanding. That’s almost 8/10 on his passes.

Big showdowns ahead for college football playoff teams

Stephen Patrick

November 1, 2018

Now that the college football playoffs have been revealed and played out as anticipated, we’re now deep into conference play. Going into the stretch run of the season, SportsRadioAmerica.com examines the toughest games left that could ruin the top four teams’ playoff connections.

NO. 1 ALABAMA: AT NO. 3 LSU (NOV. 3)

It’s finally time for Alabama to play worthy competition. The Roll Tide haven’t been challenged thus far en route to an 8–0 record. They haven’t had quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throw a fourth-quarter pass as he seems like a lock for the Heisman. Looking at LSU’s defense, that’s surely to change. LSU has the playmakers at all three level of the defense, as safeties Grant Delpit and John Battle have combined for eight interceptions. They should make Tagovailoa’s life somewhat difficult. LSU is coming off impressive wins over Georgia and Mississippi State. Both teams have been preparing for this game for two weeks. It’ll be rocking in Death Valley under the primetime lights.

NO. 2 CLEMSON: AT NO. 22 BOSTON COLLEGE (NOV. 10)

The unbeaten Clemson Tigers haven’t been untouchable in 2018 as they’ve been in the past. The Crimson Tide’s lone win by fewer than four touchdowns was a 22-point victory over a Texas A&M team Clemson beat by two. Clemson also narrowly escaped Syracuse at home on an afternoon when quarterback Trevor Lawrence left with an injury. The Boston College Eagles are in the College Football Playoff Rankings for the first time in the current era. They have a dominating defense that leads the league in sacks and interceptions. Boston College has a powerful running game highlighted by A.J. Dillon, the ACC’s leading rusher.

NO. 3 LSU: AT NO. 20 TEXAS A&M (NOV. 24)

Obviously, Alabama is LSU’s toughest opponent. We’ve already discussed LSU vs Alabama, so we turn to LSU’s second toughest game. Regardless of what happens on Saturday, the Tigers should have no problem with Arkansas and Rice. Texas A&M is 4–1 at home with that loss coming on a failed, two-point conversion against the Clemson Tigers. Quarterback Kellen Mond and running back Trayveon Williams are a potent duo for Jimbo Fisher. Also, Kellen Mond has Jace Sternberger, who might be the nation’s best tight end.

NO. 4 NOTRE DAME: AT NORTHWESTERN (NOV. 3)

The Fighting Irish must win to secure a playoff spot. They’re one slip-up away from likely being on the outside. Notre Dame has tough games coming up against Northwestern and USC. The Trojans have more talent than Northwestern, but aren’t living up to that talent. They’re reeling with two, straight losses and a play-calling change. Several factors make Northwestern the choice here. The Wildcats have won four in a row heading into Saturday, including wins over Michigan State and Wisconsin. This team, especially their defense, is improving as the year progresses, which bodes well for NU’s Big Ten West aspirations.

Turf War: Battle for the SEC mounts

Stephen Patrick

October 30, 2018

The battle for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will likely be decided this weekend, with a most anticipated meeting Saturday between Alabama and Louisiana State University.

The skirmish in Death Valley between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 LSU will directly impact the college football playoffs. While LSU is the 2-2, all-time favorite in this match-up, Alabama opens as the two-touchdown favorite on the road. In Lexington, No. 6 Georgia is also a double-digit road favorite over No. 11 Kentucky. It’s the biggest game in UK football history!

Alabama analyzed

Alabama finally has an efficient passing game to complement their run game and defense. The Tide’s been rolling with lopsided scores. They lead the nation in passing efficiency (226.29) and yards-per-pass attempt (13.11) ranked fifth with 2,779 yards.

The scariest part of their offense is the fact they rarely need to utilize the passing game at all. Heisman Trophy leader QB Tua Tagovailoa has played only minimally in the 4th quarter. Tagovailoa has thrown 25 touchdown passes and zero interceptions.

That school called “DBU”

Alabama’s offense takes aim at “Defensive Back University” (a.k.a. Louisiana State University). DBU is so nicknamed due to the numerous NFL talent they produce from that position. Their current class is on par with the greats of the program. Cornerback Greedy Williams is projected to be a high first-round draft choice if he leaves DBU early to go pro after this season.

Safety Grant Delpit is arguably the best player on LSU’s defense this season. The biggest sidebar story is linebacker Devin White, who was suspended Oct. 20 following a questionable targeting call. He won’t be playing the first two quarters of Saturday’s game, but against this Alabama offense, LSU needs every advantage they can get.

A purrfect storm

In the most consequential football game ever played at Kroger Field, the University of Kentucky faces Georgia with SEC East Division title and a berth in the SEC Championship Game on the line.

UK has never won the East or played in the SEC title game. The Wildcats are looking to make what would be their first-ever trip to the Big Dance. Head Coach Mark Stoops has finally fulfilled the potential he believed the program could have when he signed the dotted line.

After a poor game (16-of-34, two interceptions, three sacks) in Georgia’s loss against LSU, quarterback Jake Fromm bounced back with 240 passing yards in what was described as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”

LSU beat then No. 9 Florida last Saturday in Jacksonville. Fromm, a sophomore, is now 19-3 as Georgia’s starting QB.

UK’s main factor is Benny Snell, Jr. He leads the SEC in rushing (935 yards), but has been held below 100 yards in two of the past three games. From the Florida game and South Carolina in the first half, the UK offensive front controlled the line of scrimmage.

In the second half, Kentucky’s running attack has not been able to consistently open holes for Snell and the Cats offense has suffered. To upset Georgia, the UK offensive line must give Snell more room to run.

Connecting People by Connecting Brands

Jeremy Evans

October 30, 2018

Whether you are building a brand, business, or practice, here are the five rules to success of connecting people by connecting brands.

Increase your reach through distribution deals

Unless you are paying for advertising through a social media push or traditional model, you are only going to reach the people that you know. Where the list of people that you know is limited especially for non-celebrities and non-influencers, you will need help distributing your content. Information is content and it needs to have assistance moving across the web and social media. This is why engagement is so important, i.e., people liking, sharing, and commenting on your posts (content, information, etc.).

To reach more people, find a partner with a larger audience than you and utilize their distribution list to share content and to drive engagement.

Diversify your audience through existing and new partners

Again, you only know who you know, or in social media language, you only engage will who follows you. If you want more types of people, industries, locations, opinions, backgrounds, etc., you need existing and new partners to increase you reach. A distribution, event, limited, or full partner might do the trick. Before making a decision, know your business, the industry, but also be honest, transparent, and cherish relationships. This article via The Hollywood Reporter, although a different topic, has some great insight and points regarding partnership-relationships.

Consistency in distributing and sharing

A “flash in the pan” is defined as a thing or person whose sudden, but brief success is not repeated or repeatable. Do not be that person or business. During the California Gold Rush, being shiny and new was great, but fleeting and often fool’s gold. Rather, be consistent and steady, but innovative. The story is long for success and follows years of hard work. This author consistently has to be reminded that patience is a virtue. People will connect and follow you when they see consistency.

Realize what the customer needs and wants

Sometimes the price is too high. Sometime people do not like what you are selling. Sometimes you need to “pivot,” as the business folks say, to find where your customers are, what they want, when they want it, how it arrives, and why they need or want it. Analytics, data, and customer information and trends can help with the aforementioned; Google Analytics and Nielsen are great resources and are generally free. Be willing to change, but again realize that sustainable business is built over time, not created immediately.

Learn from your mistakes

Connecting brands to reach people can be a powerful tool. However, like all relationships, there are growing pains. Learn from your mistakes and grow with your partners and make sure your partners make sense as partners. Then, negotiate a good deal by knowing where your leverage is strongest and weakest.

Southern Comfort: Alabama could have the best team in NCAA history

J.T. Clifton

October 29, 2018

It’s just too easy this year.

Alabama already has a couple of the best college football teams of all time. They rank up there with the 2001 Miami Hurricanes, 2005 Texas Longhorns and 2008 Florida Gators. But, this year’s team is a different animal altogether. The reason? Tua Tagovailoa.

Under Nick Saban, Alabama has always had a sled-full of defensive players who are going to make it to the next level. Most years, they’ve bolstered some of the best defensive lines and secondaries in the country. Their linebackers aren’t too shabby, either, with players like Rueben Foster and Rashad Evans. They’ve produced running back after running back with T.J. Yeldon, Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry to name a few. The receivers have held their own with Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, and Julio Jones. The one thing they’ve never had is a true NFL quarterback.

Welcome to 2018. I was in attendance for the Alabama vs. Tennessee game, and Tua is better in person than on TV, and that’s hard to do. Start with the fact he’s a lot bigger than he looks on TV. He has a NFL quarterback’s frame. He carries himself with composure, no matter how pressure-filled the situation (I’m going back to the National Championship game of 2017, since he hasn’t played in the 4th quarter yet this year). And, the throws he makes are unbelievable.

For instance, there was a play in the Tennessee game where he was chased to his left, turned his shoulders and delivered a perfect ball to a receiver almost on the far right sideline about 25 yards downfield in between two defenders. At that point, what can the defense do? The answer is, nothing, save hopefully sack him.

Tagovailoa makes Alabama a different team. He finishes each team off by early in the 3rd quarter and most of the time, they’re realistically done by the 2nd. He doesn’t let the team start slow. They’ve scored on 7 of 7 1st drives.

This week could be the first real test for the Tide all year as they go into Baton Rouge and play a red-hot LSU team. The Tigers smoked what appeared to be Alabama’s only competition (Georgia) earlier this season.

For the Tigers to pull off this upset, they’ll need to start fast. This team is not built to play from behind, especially against the Tide who’ll eat them if they know their opponent is forced to pass the ball. If Alabama gets through this game easily, I don’t see any team challenging them all year, including the National Championship Game. This team will go down as the greatest team of all time!

Brown Going Down: Steelers’ game kiss of death for Browns’ coaches

J.T. Clifton

October 29, 2018

Just like the last six.

On Monday, the Browns parted ways with Hue Jackson. Jackson had been head coach since 2016 and boasted a 3 – 36 record. It comes as no shock, though, because this is the sixth, straight Cleveland Browns coach who’s been let go after the second game of the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With a record of 2-5-1, Cleveland has been more competitive this year, but not competitive enough for the Browns’ brass. It’s reported owner Jimmy Haslam wanted to cut bait with offensive coordinator Todd Haley which would have saved Jackson’s job for now, but GM John Dorsey wanted to move on. In the end, they both got their wish as Todd Haley has also been fired. However, Jackson was under contract until 2019, so the Browns owe him through the 2019 season.

It seems like a never-ending cycle for the Browns. Annually, it seems, they either have a new quarterback or new coach. There’s no stability in the organization and that makes it very, very risky for free agents to sign with them. Jarvis Landry took a leap of faith and signed on, but that’s really the only big free agent they’ve landed in a while. Their only other big FA acquisition, Carlos Hyde, was surprisingly traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

It’s time for the Browns to stick with someone for four years at the quarterback and head coach positions. They have their man in Baker Mayfield, so they need to go out and get a head coach and stick with those two for at least four years. The constant change in the organization is becoming laughable. What QB will the Browns ruin next? How long until the head coach is fired? The Browns are a running joke in the NFL.

The season is over for them already, so now it’s time to look to the draft. They appear to have hit on Baker and fellow first round pick Denzel Ward. The trade of Hyde appears they’re clearing the path for Nick Chubb, so now it’s time to get another weapon and shore up the line. They need a big time wide receiver. Landry is a good possession receiver, but he’s not the guy to go to when you need a big play.

Baker is the quarterback of the future, so protect him. I say draft a OL in the first round. The Browns have Chubb, so draft a back who complements him. Duke Johnson is obviously not going to get that done, so they should part ways with him, too. They have a young defense led by Ward and Garrett. A linebacker would fit in nicely, improving an already stout defense.

Yes, it’s time for stability in Cleveland; even if that means being down for a while.

Heisman Hopefuls: Here’s who to watch this year

Stephen Patrick

October 24, 2018

The battle for Heisman glory is rapidly narrowing to three hopefuls. Here are Sports Radio America’s picks.

1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

Any concerns by Crimson Tide fans Tua Tagovailoa’s play might be hindered by his sprained right knee were quickly put to rest after Alabama’s 58-21 beatdown on Tennesseee Saturday.

Last week saw another Heisman-worthy performance from Tagovailoa. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns. He’s up to 25 touchdown passes on the year without tossing a single interception. That’s not a typo, the man has zero interceptions.

Tagovailoa is on a record-setting pace for efficiency held prior by last year’s Heisman Trophy Award winner Baker Mayfield. Through eight starts, his rating is 238.8, nearly 40 points higher than Mayfield. Tagovailoa hasn’t played in a fourth quarter all year but his services might finally be needed for a full game. Alabama travels to No. 4 LSU after its bye that has college football implications.

2. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners bounced back from their only loss of the season with a blowout of TCU 52-27 in Fort Worth. Kyler Murray lead the effort in the victory with 213 yards and four touchdown passes. During the game, he completed 19 of 24 passing attempts, increasing his completion percentage on the year to 72.3 percent, which 4th best in the country.

If Tagovailoa wasn’t playing, Murray’s efficiency would be on par to his predecessor, Mayfield. Murray still put up huge numbers in the loss against Texas. Like Tagovailoa, Murray (224.9) is well ahead of Mayfield’s record for QB rating in a season (198.9). Murray is tied with Tagovailoa for No. 3 nationally with 25 touchdown passes. His 428 rushing yards are 13th-most among QBs. There is still a shot for Murray if we wins out and Alabama has trouble against LSU and the SEC Championship.

3. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

Ohio State still has a chance at the college football playoffs, but their defense let them down Saturday. Dwayne Haskins completed 49 passes for 470 yards, but it wasn’t enough for Ohio State to get past Purdue. The Buckeyes inability to run the football were exposed in the 49-20 loss and the defense without defensive end Nick Bosa showed flaws. Other than a bad interception, it was no fault of Haskins. He set OSU records for completions and passing yards while topping the 400 yard mark for the third straight game.

Haskins threw the ball a ridiculous 73 times. But, he couldn’t make plays in the red zone. OSU made five trips to the red zone and the Buckeyes came away with just six points. His two touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter with Purdue maintaining a comfortable advantage.

Those two scores gave him 30 for the season. That total, like his 2,801 yards, is No. 1 in the country. His 71.1 completion percentage (on 315 attempts), ranks sixth. But, with a bad loss to Purdue, his Heisman campaign looks shut even with the great overall year he’s had.

Westward Expansion: Cowboys trade first-rounder for Amari Cooper

Stephen Patrick

October 23, 2018

By: S.K. Patrick

The annual circus that is the Dallas Cowboys has given the NFL world another show. One week prior to the NFL trade deadline, the Cowboys acquired Oakland Raiders two-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper for a first-round draft pick.

The 2019 first-rounder now gives Jon Gruden’s team three selections in the opening round of next year’s draft after defensive end Khalil Mack was also traded. Clearly, the Raiders are looking to 2019 and beyond as this is a lost season, yet it’s also a sign the Cowboys believe they can compete now.

Cooper was an absolute beast coming out of Alabama. Since the Raiders selected him fourth overall in the 2015, he’s showed flashes as one of the league’s best young wide-outs. He made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons, posting more than 1,000 yards and 11 total touchdowns. Cooper was the biggest offensive threat in helping Oakland end a 13-year playoff drought in 2016.

At 6’1″, the 210-pound receiver had a down season in 2017 as did Oakland. He posted 48 catches for 680 yards. He also missed two games due to a concussion and ankle injury. Cooper again was on track for a down year, notching only 22 catches for 280 yards and a touchdown through the Raiders’ first six games. Even so, this seems like more to do with bad QB play than anything else.

The Cowboys have lacked talent at the wide receiver slot since their controversial decision to release veteran Dez Bryant while future Hall-of-Famer tight end Jason Witten retired. They replaced him with wide receivers by committee containing free agents (Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson), underwhelming first-round pick (Tavon Austin) and project (Michael Gallup). Austin and Gallup have combined for 17 catches; Hurns has caught less than half the ball targeted his way; and Thompson is averaging just 8.6 yards per reception with no touchdowns.

It’s safe to say the Cowboys have already lost faith in that quartet. Slot stud Cole Beasley is carrying too much of the load. Beasley should continue to get plenty of action inside. Cooper’s arrival likely means fewer opportunities for every other active receiver on the roster.

Even so, the 24-year-old Cooper could still become a special player after a down year. He’s also cheap for now and is the most talented wide receiver the Cowboys have. They’re currently slated to land a top-10 pick in April’s draft.

But, did the Cowboys give up too much for one player? Sitting at 3-4 and 2 games out of first place, will Cooper put the team over the top in 2017? They suddenly don’t have a reasonable shot at beating the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints or Minnesota Vikings come January.

And, if that doesn’t happen, this trade will start to look worse in the 2019 off-season.

5 Things You May Not Know About the Dodgers vs. Red Sox World Series

Jeremy Evans

October 21, 2018

Babe Ruth, Dodgers, Red Sox — Images courtesy of the Associated Press or Public Domain

The last time they played each OTHER in the World Series

Once, in 1916. The Dodgers were the Robins and played in Brooklyn, New York. The Red Sox were the Americans and still play in Boston, Massachusetts.

The 1916 World Series was NOT played at Fenway Park

Fenway Park, completed on April 20, 1912, was and is still is the home of the Boston Red Sox, but the 1916 World Series was played at the Boston Braves home field to hold more fans. However, the Dodgers and Red Sox will square off 102 years later in Fenway Park. Simply fascinating. The Dodgers played in Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York, which was completed in 1913. The Dodgers as you know now play 2,793.5 miles away from Brooklyn in Los Angeles, California, at Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine.

There was a second Boston-based team in 1916

The Boston Braves. There were eight teams in the Senior Circuit National League. The Braves finished in third place that season 4 games back of the Brooklyn Robins.

The iconic Vin Scully once called a football game from the rooftop of Fenway Park

Per an article from this author: “In the late 1940s before landing the Dodgers job, he called a college football game from atop Fenway Park in frigid weather, but was too humble and concentrated to call a good game for the fans to complain. He impressed the bosses with his class and professionalism. The rest is history.”

The legendary Babe Ruth has ties to the Dodgers and the Red Sox

Ruth coached for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Per Insider: “In June 1938, the Dodgers signed Ruth as a coach for the balance of the season. He received $15,000, and team president Larry MacPhail said he signed Ruth for his ‘inspirational value’ to the seventh-place Dodgers . . . As a coach with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938, Ruth did not wear his famous uniform №3. Instead, he wore №35. Infielder Pete Coscarart wore №3 with Brooklyn in 1938. Ruth’s Brooklyn Dodger uniform is currently on display as part of a baseball exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley [40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California].”

Ruth also threw for 14 innings in the 1916 World Series game 2 matchup (a record), while the Brooklyn pitcher Sherry Smith threw for 13.1 innings. The Robins lost the game by a score of 2-1, and eventually lost the series 4 games to 1. This was of course before Ruth became an all-time great power hitter and before he was traded to the Yankees. Between Ruth and Smith, they threw for a combined 27.1 innings in the game, 3.2 fewer innings than the entire Dodgers bullpen during the 2018 National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Five Hall of Fame players appeared in the 1916 World Series: Two for Boston, Harry Hooper and Babe Ruth, and three for Brooklyn, Zach Wheat, Rube Marquard, and Casey Stengel, yes that Casey Stengel.

Bonus: How could anyone forget Dodgers manager Dave Roberts 2004 stolen base and run scored for the Boston Red Sox during the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. Red Sox manager Alex Cora played on the same Dodgers team as Roberts during the 2004 regular season before being traded. The Dodgers played the Red Sox during interleague regular season play in 2004 and took one of three games scoring 14 runs in the victory. Boston went on to win the 2004 World Series Championship, their first in 86 years. Last night, on October 20, 2018, was the 30th anniversary of the Dodgers last World Series Championship.

Baseball history is a beautiful thing. Its history is alive and well in the 2018 iteration of the Fall Classic. It also goes beyond the similarity of the “B’s” represented on both the Boston and formerly Brooklyn ball caps.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

Dollars, Incensed: NBA G-League sets a dangerous precedent

J.T. Clifton

October 19, 2018

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced Thursday their G-League will start offering “select” $125,000 contracts to players who are 18 years old, but not eligible to enter the NBA draft.

That statement, dumbed down, essentially says the NBA will begin playing top high school players who want money now, instead of going to college for a year.

This is dangerous, in my opinion, especially with everything that’s going on with the FBI probe into college basketball.

Here’s the problem; a NCAA National Championship is worth more to a school than $125,000. Ask Auburn. They allegedly paid Cam Newton $275,000 for their national championship. That’s for a football player who doesn’t control a game nearly as much as a basketball player with only ten players on a court at a time.

Just last year, DeAndre Ayton was accused of taking $100,000 from Sean Miller and agent Christian Dawkins in order for Ayton to sign with Arizona. The future first overall NBA draft pick eventually did choose Arizona over Kentucky and Kansas, who were also both named in the a recent Yahoo! Sports report about bribery.

Christian Dawkins was also linked to Cynthia Bridges, the mother of Miles Bridges in a Yahoo! report. It’s no coincidence these top players are named in these reports.

When it comes to giving players benefits, college basketball is even dirtier than college football Here’s the problem; you can’t blame the athletes.

Kids start at a very young age getting benefits for playing. I coached a 7-year-old football team in Knoxville, TN, home of the Tennessee Vols. I had one of the best running backs in the league and the following year, he went to another team because they bought him a Ps4, gloves and a helmet visor. So, if an 8-year-old is getting a video gaming console valued at $400 bucks or so, what does an 18-year-old expect?

Also, most of the kids who are top players don’t come from ideal socio-economic situations. Take Miles Bridges. He came from Flint, MI where residents don’t have access to safe drinking water. Do you think he’s going to turn down $100 grand? Absolutely not, and I wouldn’t expect him to.

So, the NBA has now created a bidding war for top college teams with the floor being $125,000. None of the smaller schools will be able to get a top player anymore and it will create more disparity in a sport that’s spectacular because of March Madness. The top revenue teams will get a few super stars and the rest will go to the G-League.

I am all for players receiving pay to play, because athletes create more revenue for schools than most of the other students combined. It’s a billion dollar industry and the players see none of that (legally). Doing things illegally creates a bidding war and bidding wars create many other social and ethical dilemmas.

The solution: Let high school standouts test the draft. If they do not hire an agent, they can come back to school. Players like LeBron, Kobe and KG had no business in college. They were built for the NBA. There will be players like those three in the future, and they have no need to go to the G-league or college. They’ll be ready to step into the limelight right away.

The mantra is no longer, “let the kids play!” It’s, “let the kids get paid!”

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NO. 1 ALABAMA: AT NO. 3 LSU (NOV. 3)

NO. 3 LSU: AT NO. 20 TEXAS A&M (NOV. 24)

NO. 4 NOTRE DAME: AT NORTHWESTERN (NOV. 3)

Alabama analyzed

That school called “DBU”

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1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

3. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

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