EARTH CITY, Mo. — Sam Bradford had some extreme ups (winning the Heisman Trophy) and some extreme downs (missing most of the ’09 season with a shoulder injury) during his college career. The former Oklahoma quarterback experienced a new high Thursday night when the Rams selected him with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Afterward, he talked to Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon and other reporters on a conference call from New York.
Rams make Sam Bradford first pick in 2010 draft.
Q. What was going through your mind when you got that call from (GM) Billy Devaney?
A: You have no idea how excited I am. Just to have the opportunity to come to St. Louis and start my NFL career there is a blessing. I can’t wait to get there and get to work.
Q. What was it like hearing your named called?
A: It was a dream come true. You grow up and you dream about playing in the NFL, and you dream about going in the first round. It just seems so far-fetched at the time. And then to be up there tonight and actually have it happen, it’s just an unbelievable feeling.
Q. What did Billy Devaney say when he called you on the phone?
A: He just asked me if I was ready to be a St. Louis Ram, and I told him there was no doubt in my mind that I was.
Q. What was it like going through the adversity of missing most of last season?
A: Obviously, last year was tough. It was not something I wanted to go through. But I feel like I made the most of the situation. I learned a lot about myself, how to deal with adversity, how to deal with things that don’t go right in your life. I feel like I matured mentally going through that situation, and I think I’ll be much more prepared to make this transition after going through an experience like I did last year.
Q. The Rams have learned a lot about you over the last four months. What have you learned about them?
A: I love the coaching staff. I love the attitude they have. They’re ready to start winning football games. When I was in St. Louis for my visit, it seemed like there was such a good group of guys in the locker room. I really enjoyed meeting them. It seemed like they all had a great attitude. They were working hard. They want to win, and hopefully I can come in and help them do that.
Q. Do you feel like you can step in right away?
A: That’s tough to say. Obviously, I haven’t looked at a playbook. I haven’t gone through any practices or anything like that. But I can tell you that I’m going to work as hard as I possibly can to get on the field as soon as possible.
Q. A lot of people second-guessed your decision to go back to Oklahoma (in ’09). Looking back, can you talk about how things have worked out for you?
A: I definitely heard a lot of criticism about my decision to go back to Oklahoma last year, but with all the information I had, I feel like I made the right decision. Even though I wasn’t on the field a lot last year, I was around the game for another year. I was able to mature mentally, I was able to mature physically. And I feel like this year, when I do make that transition to the NFL, I’ll be much more prepared than if I had tried to make that transition last year.
Q. What are your thoughts about coach Steve Spagnuolo, coordinator Pat Shurmur and quarterbacks coach Dick Curl?
A: I love those guys. I got a chance to spend time with all of them. Most recently, I was with Pat Shurmur and Dick Curl at my workout last Friday. We went through a couple of drills that they do at practice, talked about the things they would do in their offense. It was great, and I feel like those guys are very knowledgeable. You can just tell when you talk to them that they love football and they love coaching. And coach Spags, I got to spend quite a bit of time with him on my visit to St. Louis. I sat down with him for half an hour. I just think he’s a great man, a great coach, and I really look forward to playing for him.
Q. Sometimes the contract can be out of your hands, but how would you assess the upcoming negotiations, and do you see any circumstance where you wouldn’t be at training camp on time?
A: That’s totally out of my hands. I’m not worried about that. All I want to do is play football. The contract, that’s up to my agent; he’s going to handle the business side. And I cannot wait to get on the football field.
Q. Can you tell us more about what you know now as a football player and what you learned over the past year when you weren’t on the field?
A: When you’re not playing, you’re really able to look at the game from a different perspective. I feel that was what I was able to do. When you’re out there, especially in the no-huddle system we were playing in, things just happen. We get a play call, you make the call, you execute it. You obviously understand what you’re doing, but then sometimes, as you look back and watch the tape, you’re like, "Did we do that? Why did I do that?" When you’re not playing, you don’t have to make those split-second decisions, so you’re really able to analyze what we were doing as an offense, why we were doing things. You were able to look much more in detail at a defense in a game, see how they were playing, see their adjustments. I just feel like I was able to look at the game in much more detail from the sideline.
Q. At what point did you know your shoulder was OK?
A: It was about two weeks before my pro day. We were down in Pensacola (Fla.) throwing, and it was just one of those workouts where I was accurate, my ball was coming out quick, my arm strength felt good. After I went through that workout, I called one of my friends and it was like, "I think I’m back. The arm felt great today. It felt like a normal shoulder."
Q. There has been some talk that you take too many hits. What are your thoughts about your playing style and the physical side of it?
A: I’ve never heard that, but I’ve heard that one of my strengths is the ability to stand in the pocket as long as needed and deliver a ball accurately. I feel like I can do that outside the pocket as well. I really haven’t heard that, but it’s always good if you can eliminate hits and keep yourself healthy.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Sam Bradford had some extreme ups (winning the Heisman Trophy) and some extreme downs (missing most of the ’09 season with a shoulder injury) during his college career. The former Oklahoma quarterback experienced a new high Thursday night when the Rams selected him with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Afterward, he talked to Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon and other reporters on a conference call from New York.
Rams make Sam Bradford first pick in 2010 draft.
Q. What was going through your mind when you got that call from (GM) Billy Devaney?
A: You have no idea how excited I am. Just to have the opportunity to come to St. Louis and start my NFL career there is a blessing. I can’t wait to get there and get to work.
Q. What was it like hearing your named called?
A: It was a dream come true. You grow up and you dream about playing in the NFL, and you dream about going in the first round. It just seems so far-fetched at the time. And then to be up there tonight and actually have it happen, it’s just an unbelievable feeling.
Q. What did Billy Devaney say when he called you on the phone?
A: He just asked me if I was ready to be a St. Louis Ram, and I told him there was no doubt in my mind that I was.
Q. What was it like going through the adversity of missing most of last season?
A: Obviously, last year was tough. It was not something I wanted to go through. But I feel like I made the most of the situation. I learned a lot about myself, how to deal with adversity, how to deal with things that don’t go right in your life. I feel like I matured mentally going through that situation, and I think I’ll be much more prepared to make this transition after going through an experience like I did last year.
Q. The Rams have learned a lot about you over the last four months. What have you learned about them?
A: I love the coaching staff. I love the attitude they have. They’re ready to start winning football games. When I was in St. Louis for my visit, it seemed like there was such a good group of guys in the locker room. I really enjoyed meeting them. It seemed like they all had a great attitude. They were working hard. They want to win, and hopefully I can come in and help them do that.
Q. Do you feel like you can step in right away?
A: That’s tough to say. Obviously, I haven’t looked at a playbook. I haven’t gone through any practices or anything like that. But I can tell you that I’m going to work as hard as I possibly can to get on the field as soon as possible.
Q. A lot of people second-guessed your decision to go back to Oklahoma (in ’09). Looking back, can you talk about how things have worked out for you?
A: I definitely heard a lot of criticism about my decision to go back to Oklahoma last year, but with all the information I had, I feel like I made the right decision. Even though I wasn’t on the field a lot last year, I was around the game for another year. I was able to mature mentally, I was able to mature physically. And I feel like this year, when I do make that transition to the NFL, I’ll be much more prepared than if I had tried to make that transition last year.
Q. What are your thoughts about coach Steve Spagnuolo, coordinator Pat Shurmur and quarterbacks coach Dick Curl?
A: I love those guys. I got a chance to spend time with all of them. Most recently, I was with Pat Shurmur and Dick Curl at my workout last Friday. We went through a couple of drills that they do at practice, talked about the things they would do in their offense. It was great, and I feel like those guys are very knowledgeable. You can just tell when you talk to them that they love football and they love coaching. And coach Spags, I got to spend quite a bit of time with him on my visit to St. Louis. I sat down with him for half an hour. I just think he’s a great man, a great coach, and I really look forward to playing for him.
Q. Sometimes the contract can be out of your hands, but how would you assess the upcoming negotiations, and do you see any circumstance where you wouldn’t be at training camp on time?
A: That’s totally out of my hands. I’m not worried about that. All I want to do is play football. The contract, that’s up to my agent; he’s going to handle the business side. And I cannot wait to get on the football field.
Q. Can you tell us more about what you know now as a football player and what you learned over the past year when you weren’t on the field?
A: When you’re not playing, you’re really able to look at the game from a different perspective. I feel that was what I was able to do. When you’re out there, especially in the no-huddle system we were playing in, things just happen. We get a play call, you make the call, you execute it. You obviously understand what you’re doing, but then sometimes, as you look back and watch the tape, you’re like, "Did we do that? Why did I do that?" When you’re not playing, you don’t have to make those split-second decisions, so you’re really able to analyze what we were doing as an offense, why we were doing things. You were able to look much more in detail at a defense in a game, see how they were playing, see their adjustments. I just feel like I was able to look at the game in much more detail from the sideline.
Q. At what point did you know your shoulder was OK?
A: It was about two weeks before my pro day. We were down in Pensacola (Fla.) throwing, and it was just one of those workouts where I was accurate, my ball was coming out quick, my arm strength felt good. After I went through that workout, I called one of my friends and it was like, "I think I’m back. The arm felt great today. It felt like a normal shoulder."
Q. There has been some talk that you take too many hits. What are your thoughts about your playing style and the physical side of it?
A: I’ve never heard that, but I’ve heard that one of my strengths is the ability to stand in the pocket as long as needed and deliver a ball accurately. I feel like I can do that outside the pocket as well. I really haven’t heard that, but it’s always good if you can eliminate hits and keep yourself healthy.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
To erase the disappointment of a lousy 2009, Mets righthander Mike Pelfrey had to do something.
"Last year got to the point where baseball stopped being fun," says Pelfrey, who had a 5.03 ERA and averaged fewer than six innings in 31 starts. "When the offseason came, my response was, ‘I can’t go through that again. What do I have to do to get better?’ "
First step: "I told myself I was going to lose 20 pounds." At 6-7, 250, Pelfrey wasn’t exactly Pablo Sandoval-like, but after a season in which "I didn’t achieve any of my goals," he viewed losing weight as a goal as much as a way to improve his fitness.
"To set your mind to something and be able to achieve it builds confidence," he says.
Mike Pelfrey lost more than 20 pounds during the offseason.
After taking off a month, Pelfrey headed to the YMCA near his home in Wichita, Kan. Two months of pickup basketball and twice-weekly, hour-long swims, along with "eating right for the first time in my life," helped drop his weight below 230. One goal was met. The real objective of turning around his season — his career, really — awaited.
Three weeks into the 2010 season, he is meeting his other goal, too. Pelfrey is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA and will take a 19-inning scoreless streak into his next start (Sunday against the Braves). The last-place Mets have had a multitude of problems, but Pelfrey hasn’t been one of them.
"He’s confident and in control," manager Jerry Manuel told reporters after Pelfrey beat the Cubs in his most recent outing. Manuel added that Pelfrey, 26, is pitching his best since running off a 17-inning scoreless streak in July 2008.
The early success has been about more than a successful diet. Pelfrey also devoted his offseason to improving his secondary pitches, including a split-finger fastball that has come a long way in a short time. "That’s the secondary pitch I’ve been missing," he says. "I owe (pitching coach) Dan Warthen a lot of credit for that."
Before spring training, Pelfrey tested the splitter on players at his old school, Wichita State, and left for Florida feeling good about it. He was not deterred even though he was banged around in spring training for 37 hits, including eight homers, in 26 1/3 innings.
"Everybody was making a big deal out of it, but I threw my secondary stuff (which also includes a slider and curve) more than I threw my fastball at times, which I had never done," says Pelfrey, whose best pitch remains a power sinker. "I felt the ball was coming out of my hand great and I could feel my confidence in the secondary pitches growing."
Another change in Pelfrey has been as obvious as his improved numbers. He is working with a purpose, not wandering around the mound between pitches like he’d rather be shooting hoops in Wichita.
"Last year was not the kind of year I wanted to have, but it happened," he says. "After going through that, I’m better prepared to handle adversity. I feel like I’m a lot more in control when I’m on the mound. I have a clear head and that allows me to execute a pitch and worry about that instead of something else."
While Pelfrey clearly is pleased with his April, 30-plus starts remain on his docket if all goes well. How he handles a bad outing also will determine how much he has changed. He took his struggles home in the past to the point where "I would not talk to my wife if I had a bad game because it ate me up inside."
After having a son last August, Pelfrey says he leaves the park these days with a new perspective. "When I go home, it’s family time," he says. "I’m going to sit and play with him after a bad game or a good game. He doesn’t care what happened. He’s smiling."
Dad has had just as much reason to smile so far this season.
THREE STRIKES
STRIKE 1: Carlos Zambrano wasn’t the only one surprised when Cubs manager Lou Piniella sent him to the bullpen. Said one scout: "Over (Tom) Gorzelanny? Hmm. That’s their decision. We’ll see how long it lasts."
STRIKE 2: After Zack Greinke’s first four starts last season, he was 4-0 with two complete games and a 0.00 ERA. After four this season: 0-2 with no complete games and a 3.28 ERA. But don’t worry. "His stuff is the same," says a scout who has seen him pitch. "I just don’t look for him to have that kind of dominating season this year. That’s not easy to do." One thing that hasn’t changed is Greinke’s lack of support. He left both of his no-decisions with a lead.
STRIKE 3: What do Prince Fielder, Carlos Lee, David Ortiz, Jason Bay, Brandon Inge, Ben Zobrist and Adam LaRoche have in common? Each hit at least 25 homers last season but went into Thursday’s action still looking for No. 1 this season.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
To erase the disappointment of a lousy 2009, Mets righthander Mike Pelfrey had to do something.
"Last year got to the point where baseball stopped being fun," says Pelfrey, who had a 5.03 ERA and averaged fewer than six innings in 31 starts. "When the offseason came, my response was, ‘I can’t go through that again. What do I have to do to get better?’ "
First step: "I told myself I was going to lose 20 pounds." At 6-7, 250, Pelfrey wasn’t exactly Pablo Sandoval-like, but after a season in which "I didn’t achieve any of my goals," he viewed losing weight as a goal as much as a way to improve his fitness.
"To set your mind to something and be able to achieve it builds confidence," he says.
Mike Pelfrey lost more than 20 pounds during the offseason.
After taking off a month, Pelfrey headed to the YMCA near his home in Wichita, Kan. Two months of pickup basketball and twice-weekly, hour-long swims, along with "eating right for the first time in my life," helped drop his weight below 230. One goal was met. The real objective of turning around his season — his career, really — awaited.
Three weeks into the 2010 season, he is meeting his other goal, too. Pelfrey is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA and will take a 19-inning scoreless streak into his next start (Sunday against the Braves). The last-place Mets have had a multitude of problems, but Pelfrey hasn’t been one of them.
"He’s confident and in control," manager Jerry Manuel told reporters after Pelfrey beat the Cubs in his most recent outing. Manuel added that Pelfrey, 26, is pitching his best since running off a 17-inning scoreless streak in July 2008.
The early success has been about more than a successful diet. Pelfrey also devoted his offseason to improving his secondary pitches, including a split-finger fastball that has come a long way in a short time. "That’s the secondary pitch I’ve been missing," he says. "I owe (pitching coach) Dan Warthen a lot of credit for that."
Before spring training, Pelfrey tested the splitter on players at his old school, Wichita State, and left for Florida feeling good about it. He was not deterred even though he was banged around in spring training for 37 hits, including eight homers, in 26 1/3 innings.
"Everybody was making a big deal out of it, but I threw my secondary stuff (which also includes a slider and curve) more than I threw my fastball at times, which I had never done," says Pelfrey, whose best pitch remains a power sinker. "I felt the ball was coming out of my hand great and I could feel my confidence in the secondary pitches growing."
Another change in Pelfrey has been as obvious as his improved numbers. He is working with a purpose, not wandering around the mound between pitches like he’d rather be shooting hoops in Wichita.
"Last year was not the kind of year I wanted to have, but it happened," he says. "After going through that, I’m better prepared to handle adversity. I feel like I’m a lot more in control when I’m on the mound. I have a clear head and that allows me to execute a pitch and worry about that instead of something else."
While Pelfrey clearly is pleased with his April, 30-plus starts remain on his docket if all goes well. How he handles a bad outing also will determine how much he has changed. He took his struggles home in the past to the point where "I would not talk to my wife if I had a bad game because it ate me up inside."
After having a son last August, Pelfrey says he leaves the park these days with a new perspective. "When I go home, it’s family time," he says. "I’m going to sit and play with him after a bad game or a good game. He doesn’t care what happened. He’s smiling."
Dad has had just as much reason to smile so far this season.
THREE STRIKES
STRIKE 1: Carlos Zambrano wasn’t the only one surprised when Cubs manager Lou Piniella sent him to the bullpen. Said one scout: "Over (Tom) Gorzelanny? Hmm. That’s their decision. We’ll see how long it lasts."
STRIKE 2: After Zack Greinke’s first four starts last season, he was 4-0 with two complete games and a 0.00 ERA. After four this season: 0-2 with no complete games and a 3.28 ERA. But don’t worry. "His stuff is the same," says a scout who has seen him pitch. "I just don’t look for him to have that kind of dominating season this year. That’s not easy to do." One thing that hasn’t changed is Greinke’s lack of support. He left both of his no-decisions with a lead.
STRIKE 3: What do Prince Fielder, Carlos Lee, David Ortiz, Jason Bay, Brandon Inge, Ben Zobrist and Adam LaRoche have in common? Each hit at least 25 homers last season but went into Thursday’s action still looking for No. 1 this season.
Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.
Hall of Famer and 311-game winner Tom Seaver visited Citi Field Wednesday as part of the Mets’ Alumni Association Presented by Citi — the franchise’s ongoing commitment to honor its history and serve the community. Seaver was among the Mets greats who joined 25 U.S. military veterans and the Wounded Warrior Project for a tour of the new Mets Hall of Fame and Museum. During the game, Mets alumni worked alongside Citi’s Veterans Employee Network and staffers from the New York City Military Network to encourage fans at Citi Field to make a card for service members recovering from injuries sustained in battle or preparing for deployment. Seaver spoke with Sporting News’ Chris Bahr about his involvement with the alumni and military, as well as his career and the game.
‘The Mets have a pretty good record of things to be proud of,’ Tom Seaver says.
Sporting News: As far as the Mets Alumni Association, how enjoyable has it been reconnecting with some of the team’s all-time greats?
Tom Seaver: Any friendships — inside or outside the game — being able to reconnect and tell all those war stories about the game that we love, it’s fun to do. It’s rewarding to do. It takes us back to our youth. It’s just good memories, and it’s fun to share all of that stuff.
SN: How special is the Wounded Warrior Project that you are associated with and participated in today?
TS: It gets me because I’m very proud to say that I’m a Marine as well. I’m not a Marine that saw active duty in a situation where someone was shooting bullets at me, but there is a Marine Corps spirit, and we had a lot of Marines here today. One of the young Marines asked me, "What’s your service number," and I said, "1972265, sir." And he goes, "Yeah, you’re a Marine." You always end it with a ‘sir.’
SN: How often do you think you’ll be back to Citi Field this season?
TS: I work for the Mets about 10 days, so I make three or four trips. I’m in California now. … (The travel’s) not that big a deal, non-stop it’s not that big a deal.
SN: Having played in Shea Stadium, what are your thoughts about Citi Field and the museum?
TS: The professional tour (of the museum today), I think a lot of guys were seeing it for the first time. I’d never been in there, but there are a couple of articles of mine that are on the wall. One of the things that’s really been important about the Met organization is the realization that, yes, it’s relatively a short baseball history they have compared to the National League and American League clubs that were here. But the Mets have a pretty good record of things to be proud of — two world championships. They should relish that, show that stuff off. For a relatively young franchise, it’s a wonderful history.
SN: You’re a 311-game winner. Jamie Moyer has 259 wins, and Andy Pettitte has 231. No other active pitcher has more than 200 wins. Is 300 wins a plateau that we might not see many more pitchers reach?
TS: It would be a real aberration if somebody reaches it. There are two factors to that. First is the economics of the game. If you have that much invested in somebody, you’re not going to take the chance of letting them get hurt (from overuse). Longevity is the other. You’re going to have to pitch 20 years at least. And if you get that far, you will have made X amount of dollars, so why do I have to play anymore? That’s as big an issue as any.
SN: What’s your take on the Mets’ rotation this year?
TS: The thing I’d like to see is the guys pitch a little bit longer. But that’s probably true across the board. And one thing the older players forget, we always say, "Oh, I always pitched 7 2/3 (innings)." That wasn’t the reality of it. I think the economics of it is a big issue. They have so much money tied up, and they just can’t afford to have somebody hurt. … I look for a reason to keep a pitcher in the game, not take him out. A guy like Johan Santana has that foxhole mentality.
SN: What’s your take on pitch counts?
TS: I had a pitch count, too. It was my pitch count. People assume, "Oh, you didn’t have a pitch count." But I most certainly did. … It didn’t come about in my first year. It’s something you develop. My pitch count was between 125 and 135. After 135 — that doesn’t mean I never pitched beyond that point because I’m sure I did — but that’s when I began to run out of gas. (Jerry) Koosman was probably 145, Nolan (Ryan) was probably 155. It’s not a blanket pitch count; it’s an individual pitch count. I got to a point where I knew how many pitches I had going into the last nine outs. To remind myself, "Don’t throw nine pitches to the No. 8 hitter." You’re gonna need them for the No. 3. Pitch count was an issue; it just wasn’t spit out by a computer.
SN: Put yourself in your prime. Who are some of today’s hitters you’d like to face? How would you pitch to them?
TS: You’d have to give me (Albert) Pujols. (Derek) Jeter would be good. I’d go to my strength and say, "Can you hit the sinking fastball at the belt buckle?" If you prove to me that you can hit that one, then I’ve got to do something else. If you can’t prove to me that you can hit it, you’re not going to see much else.
SN: What do you miss most about the game now that you’re retired?
TS: A 3-2 pitch, bases loaded, and a fastball that you throw through the eye of the needle down and away on the outside corner. The execution and the thought process to get there.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Mets tickets available
Hall of Famer and 311-game winner Tom Seaver visited Citi Field Wednesday as part of the Mets’ Alumni Association Presented by Citi — the franchise’s ongoing commitment to honor its history and serve the community. Seaver was among the Mets greats who joined 25 U.S. military veterans and the Wounded Warrior Project for a tour of the new Mets Hall of Fame and Museum. During the game, Mets alumni worked alongside Citi’s Veterans Employee Network and staffers from the New York City Military Network to encourage fans at Citi Field to make a card for service members recovering from injuries sustained in battle or preparing for deployment. Seaver spoke with Sporting News’ Chris Bahr about his involvement with the alumni and military, as well as his career and the game.
‘The Mets have a pretty good record of things to be proud of,’ Tom Seaver says.
Sporting News: As far as the Mets Alumni Association, how enjoyable has it been reconnecting with some of the team’s all-time greats?
Tom Seaver: Any friendships — inside or outside the game — being able to reconnect and tell all those war stories about the game that we love, it’s fun to do. It’s rewarding to do. It takes us back to our youth. It’s just good memories, and it’s fun to share all of that stuff.
SN: How special is the Wounded Warrior Project that you are associated with and participated in today?
TS: It gets me because I’m very proud to say that I’m a Marine as well. I’m not a Marine that saw active duty in a situation where someone was shooting bullets at me, but there is a Marine Corps spirit, and we had a lot of Marines here today. One of the young Marines asked me, "What’s your service number," and I said, "1972265, sir." And he goes, "Yeah, you’re a Marine." You always end it with a ‘sir.’
SN: How often do you think you’ll be back to Citi Field this season?
TS: I work for the Mets about 10 days, so I make three or four trips. I’m in California now. … (The travel’s) not that big a deal, non-stop it’s not that big a deal.
SN: Having played in Shea Stadium, what are your thoughts about Citi Field and the museum?
TS: The professional tour (of the museum today), I think a lot of guys were seeing it for the first time. I’d never been in there, but there are a couple of articles of mine that are on the wall. One of the things that’s really been important about the Met organization is the realization that, yes, it’s relatively a short baseball history they have compared to the National League and American League clubs that were here. But the Mets have a pretty good record of things to be proud of — two world championships. They should relish that, show that stuff off. For a relatively young franchise, it’s a wonderful history.
SN: You’re a 311-game winner. Jamie Moyer has 259 wins, and Andy Pettitte has 231. No other active pitcher has more than 200 wins. Is 300 wins a plateau that we might not see many more pitchers reach?
TS: It would be a real aberration if somebody reaches it. There are two factors to that. First is the economics of the game. If you have that much invested in somebody, you’re not going to take the chance of letting them get hurt (from overuse). Longevity is the other. You’re going to have to pitch 20 years at least. And if you get that far, you will have made X amount of dollars, so why do I have to play anymore? That’s as big an issue as any.
SN: What’s your take on the Mets’ rotation this year?
TS: The thing I’d like to see is the guys pitch a little bit longer. But that’s probably true across the board. And one thing the older players forget, we always say, "Oh, I always pitched 7 2/3 (innings)." That wasn’t the reality of it. I think the economics of it is a big issue. They have so much money tied up, and they just can’t afford to have somebody hurt. … I look for a reason to keep a pitcher in the game, not take him out. A guy like Johan Santana has that foxhole mentality.
SN: What’s your take on pitch counts?
TS: I had a pitch count, too. It was my pitch count. People assume, "Oh, you didn’t have a pitch count." But I most certainly did. … It didn’t come about in my first year. It’s something you develop. My pitch count was between 125 and 135. After 135 — that doesn’t mean I never pitched beyond that point because I’m sure I did — but that’s when I began to run out of gas. (Jerry) Koosman was probably 145, Nolan (Ryan) was probably 155. It’s not a blanket pitch count; it’s an individual pitch count. I got to a point where I knew how many pitches I had going into the last nine outs. To remind myself, "Don’t throw nine pitches to the No. 8 hitter." You’re gonna need them for the No. 3. Pitch count was an issue; it just wasn’t spit out by a computer.
SN: Put yourself in your prime. Who are some of today’s hitters you’d like to face? How would you pitch to them?
TS: You’d have to give me (Albert) Pujols. (Derek) Jeter would be good. I’d go to my strength and say, "Can you hit the sinking fastball at the belt buckle?" If you prove to me that you can hit that one, then I’ve got to do something else. If you can’t prove to me that you can hit it, you’re not going to see much else.
SN: What do you miss most about the game now that you’re retired?
TS: A 3-2 pitch, bases loaded, and a fastball that you throw through the eye of the needle down and away on the outside corner. The execution and the thought process to get there.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
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Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect Sam Bradford.
Sam Bradford enters the 2010 draft as the top prospect and likely No. 1 pick.
NFL position: QB
Height: 6-4 1/4
Weight: 236
40 time: 4.90
Current projection: First-round pick
NFL comparison: Tom Brady, Patriots
Arm strength: Has deceptive arm strength. Has a bad habit of sometimes throwing flat-footed on quick-hit passes. When striding into throws, gets good zip on the ball. The intermediate and deep passes in Oklahoma’s offense also typically required touch passes and thus he doesn’t throw the ball with as much zip.
Accuracy/release: Shows excellent accuracy when striding into throws, but will need more zip on intermediate and downfield routes in the NFL. On quick-hit routes, consistently puts the ball in the right spot and through tight windows. Sets up quickly, and shows a quick and efficient release but it looks at times as if he’s pushing the ball a bit, a la the Chargers’ Philip Rivers.
Field vision: Consistently reads the defense well, both at the line pre-snap and during the play. Sees the field well from shotgun alignment, goes through progressions quickly and correctly identifies the open man. Must learn to do all these things while dropping back from center to be as effective — a real challenge and underrated aspect.
Running ability: Lacks elite quickness, speed or athleticism, but is good enough to extend a play or perhaps gain a first down with his feet. Senses pressure well up the middle but does struggle to feel the blindside pressure.
Intangibles: Has great intangibles. Is smart, and adjusts easily to changes based on the defense from shotgun alignment. Shows good leadership skills. Shows good poise in the pocket, willing to take a big hit to deliver the ball. Does not force passes into bad spots, and is willing to throw the ball away to avoid a sack.
Bottom line: Bradford is tall and athletic and proved his shoulder healthy during NFL physicals after missing several games last season with a sprain. The bigger question, though, is how well he’ll adjust to lining up under center to play in a traditional NFL offense. Still, he is the most accurate QB we ever have graded and seems like a lock to be the No. 1-overall pick.
Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect Sam Bradford.
Sam Bradford enters the 2010 draft as the top prospect and likely No. 1 pick.
NFL position: QB
Height: 6-4 1/4
Weight: 236
40 time: 4.90
Current projection: First-round pick
NFL comparison: Tom Brady, Patriots
Arm strength: Has deceptive arm strength. Has a bad habit of sometimes throwing flat-footed on quick-hit passes. When striding into throws, gets good zip on the ball. The intermediate and deep passes in Oklahoma’s offense also typically required touch passes and thus he doesn’t throw the ball with as much zip.
Accuracy/release: Shows excellent accuracy when striding into throws, but will need more zip on intermediate and downfield routes in the NFL. On quick-hit routes, consistently puts the ball in the right spot and through tight windows. Sets up quickly, and shows a quick and efficient release but it looks at times as if he’s pushing the ball a bit, a la the Chargers’ Philip Rivers.
Field vision: Consistently reads the defense well, both at the line pre-snap and during the play. Sees the field well from shotgun alignment, goes through progressions quickly and correctly identifies the open man. Must learn to do all these things while dropping back from center to be as effective — a real challenge and underrated aspect.
Running ability: Lacks elite quickness, speed or athleticism, but is good enough to extend a play or perhaps gain a first down with his feet. Senses pressure well up the middle but does struggle to feel the blindside pressure.
Intangibles: Has great intangibles. Is smart, and adjusts easily to changes based on the defense from shotgun alignment. Shows good leadership skills. Shows good poise in the pocket, willing to take a big hit to deliver the ball. Does not force passes into bad spots, and is willing to throw the ball away to avoid a sack.
Bottom line: Bradford is tall and athletic and proved his shoulder healthy during NFL physicals after missing several games last season with a sprain. The bigger question, though, is how well he’ll adjust to lining up under center to play in a traditional NFL offense. Still, he is the most accurate QB we ever have graded and seems like a lock to be the No. 1-overall pick.
Draft day is here, and it’s time to dispense with the evaluations and make some bold predictions:
• Texas safety Earl Thomas, not Tennessee safety Eric Berry, will be the first defensive back selected. Though Berry received hype throughout the college season as the best safety and possibly the best defensive prospect, his play on the field did not back that up. In many draft rooms, there was a lot of disappointment in his play, which has led to many questions about his ability to become a productive starting safety.
When Thomas declared for the draft, he was not expected to be a top 10 pick or challenge Berry in any way. However, he is a much more consistent, productive player than Berry and is right there with Berry when it comes to natural athleticism. That’s why we expect Thomas to go first. Berry is one of the most overrated players in the draft and has bust written all over him.
• Iowa TE Tony Moeaki did not receive much media attention leading up to the draft. Nevertheless, we have had rated him No. 2 on our tight end list since October — and now the word is getting out that some teams like him as much as we do.
His ability as a blocker and receiver make him the second-best all-around tight end behind Arizona’s
Rob Gronkowski. Though Moeaki won’t be a top-20 pick, we are hearing he could be selected between picks 25 to 50, which is much higher than he was expected to go a month ago.
• Although the debate over which of the top offensive tackle prospects — Oklahoma State’s
Russell Okung or Oklahoma’s
Trent Williams — will be drafted first has been the focus of much attention, the rise of Iowa’s
Bryan Bulaga has also been a big story.
However, many people around the league are confused about Bulaga’s ascent because he is not an elite athlete or player. Many have commented that Bulaga’s rise can be traced to his status as a "safe" pick. Don’t be surprised if he ends up sliding on draft day and isn’t the third tackle selected after Okung and Williams.
• Fordham QB John Skelton will be drafted significantly higher than his on-field production warrants, and he will struggle to justify being drafted that high. After seeing Skelton live and observing him on game film, it is clear that he does not consistently see the field well. He also forces throws, and his deliberate throwing style allows defenders to get a good break on his passes.
There is no doubt his physical tools are excellent, which will likely get him drafted in the third or fourth round, but don’t expect him to develop.
• Florida MLB Brandon Spikes, who put up a bad 40 time in offseason testing, will be another example of teams putting too much stock in a player’s workout while ignoring his on-field play and playing speed. We don’t believe Spikes will become a superstar because he lacks top-end speed, but his excellent instincts allow him to constantly make plays between the tackles.
He can be a good middle ‘backer in a 4-3 scheme, but he would be a real standout in a 3-4 scheme like New England’s or Cleveland’s.
• We are Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton‘s biggest supporters, but now it seems people around the NFL agree with us. We are hearing he could be a third- to fifth-round pick, which is amazing considering he was not invited to the Combine and was viewed by many in the league as a non-prospect as recently as January.
Not only are we confident he will be drafted much higher than people expected a few months ago, we believe he can become a productive starting quarterback in the NFL.
• Penn State LB Navorro Bowman will not be a high pick, although some said he would be a first-round pick. Bowman is not viewed as an upper-echelon athlete or player and will likely slide to the third or fourth round.
• Arizona State RB Dimitri Nance is another player who has not received much attention. But we believe once NFL games start, that will change. Many scouts have been expressing to us what we thought all along: Nance will become a good starting running back. Though he will not be a high pick, he should be a fourth- or fifth-rounder.
• Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews will likely be a first-round pick, but you can be sure that
Lonyae Miller, who backed up Mathews, will also be drafted. It is uncommon for a backup back to be drafted unless he had at least one big season of production while filling in, but Miller did not have that.
Miller helped himself a lot with a very good week at the Senior Bowl and teams have been impressed evaluating his film. So don’t be shocked when he gets drafted in the fifth or sixth round.
For more than 665 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated Mock Draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
Draft day is here, and it’s time to dispense with the evaluations and make some bold predictions:
• Texas safety Earl Thomas, not Tennessee safety Eric Berry, will be the first defensive back selected. Though Berry received hype throughout the college season as the best safety and possibly the best defensive prospect, his play on the field did not back that up. In many draft rooms, there was a lot of disappointment in his play, which has led to many questions about his ability to become a productive starting safety.
When Thomas declared for the draft, he was not expected to be a top 10 pick or challenge Berry in any way. However, he is a much more consistent, productive player than Berry and is right there with Berry when it comes to natural athleticism. That’s why we expect Thomas to go first. Berry is one of the most overrated players in the draft and has bust written all over him.
• Iowa TE Tony Moeaki did not receive much media attention leading up to the draft. Nevertheless, we have had rated him No. 2 on our tight end list since October — and now the word is getting out that some teams like him as much as we do.
His ability as a blocker and receiver make him the second-best all-around tight end behind Arizona’s
Rob Gronkowski. Though Moeaki won’t be a top-20 pick, we are hearing he could be selected between picks 25 to 50, which is much higher than he was expected to go a month ago.
• Although the debate over which of the top offensive tackle prospects — Oklahoma State’s
Russell Okung or Oklahoma’s
Trent Williams — will be drafted first has been the focus of much attention, the rise of Iowa’s
Bryan Bulaga has also been a big story.
However, many people around the league are confused about Bulaga’s ascent because he is not an elite athlete or player. Many have commented that Bulaga’s rise can be traced to his status as a "safe" pick. Don’t be surprised if he ends up sliding on draft day and isn’t the third tackle selected after Okung and Williams.
• Fordham QB John Skelton will be drafted significantly higher than his on-field production warrants, and he will struggle to justify being drafted that high. After seeing Skelton live and observing him on game film, it is clear that he does not consistently see the field well. He also forces throws, and his deliberate throwing style allows defenders to get a good break on his passes.
There is no doubt his physical tools are excellent, which will likely get him drafted in the third or fourth round, but don’t expect him to develop.
• Florida MLB Brandon Spikes, who put up a bad 40 time in offseason testing, will be another example of teams putting too much stock in a player’s workout while ignoring his on-field play and playing speed. We don’t believe Spikes will become a superstar because he lacks top-end speed, but his excellent instincts allow him to constantly make plays between the tackles.
He can be a good middle ‘backer in a 4-3 scheme, but he would be a real standout in a 3-4 scheme like New England’s or Cleveland’s.
• We are Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton‘s biggest supporters, but now it seems people around the NFL agree with us. We are hearing he could be a third- to fifth-round pick, which is amazing considering he was not invited to the Combine and was viewed by many in the league as a non-prospect as recently as January.
Not only are we confident he will be drafted much higher than people expected a few months ago, we believe he can become a productive starting quarterback in the NFL.
• Penn State LB Navorro Bowman will not be a high pick, although some said he would be a first-round pick. Bowman is not viewed as an upper-echelon athlete or player and will likely slide to the third or fourth round.
• Arizona State RB Dimitri Nance is another player who has not received much attention. But we believe once NFL games start, that will change. Many scouts have been expressing to us what we thought all along: Nance will become a good starting running back. Though he will not be a high pick, he should be a fourth- or fifth-rounder.
• Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews will likely be a first-round pick, but you can be sure that
Lonyae Miller, who backed up Mathews, will also be drafted. It is uncommon for a backup back to be drafted unless he had at least one big season of production while filling in, but Miller did not have that.
Miller helped himself a lot with a very good week at the Senior Bowl and teams have been impressed evaluating his film. So don’t be shocked when he gets drafted in the fifth or sixth round.
For more than 665 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated Mock Draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
NEW YORK — Get ready for an unpredictable NFL draft. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, suspended Wednesday by the NFL for up to six games, has gone from untouchable to tradable. Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford is expected to be the No. 1 pick, but the Rams are being coy. Meanwhile, several top prospects are in danger of big slides, such as Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant and Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen.
For the first time, the draft will be in prime time and Thursday’s show (7:30 p.m. ET) will be loaded with intrigue. Prepare your mock drafts — but write all names in pencil.
"It has a chance to be the wildest first round in recent history," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "There are all kinds of rumors."
Here is a look at five decisions that will determine how dramatic the 2010 draft becomes:
1. What will the Rams do at No. 1?
Taking Bradford is the logical and likely move, but Rams officials will consider trade options up to that moment and beyond.
"I think St. Louis is open for business," Mayock said. "They have so many needs, if they could parley that No. 1 pick into multiple players, I think they’d be really happy. I think they’re looking for people that need a defensive tackle to come up and talk to them, as well as people who need a quarterback."
And the suspense is killing Bradford.
"My heart’s going to be going non-stop until I hear my name," Bradford said Wednesday.
Unless the Rams are offered a blockbuster deal — an unlike scenario — odds favor them keeping the pick and taking Bradford, instead one of the top two defensive tackles, Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh or Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy.
"Historically, it’s too expensive to go up and get No. 1, and the Rams need a quarterback," Mayock said.
2. What will the Steelers do with Roethlisberger?
Despite the suspension, the odds are against the Steelers trading a 28-year-old quarterback who has led the franchise to two Super Bowl titles.
However, several teams with high picks need a QB, like the Rams (No. 1), Browns (No. 7), Raiders (No. 8) and Bills (No. 9). During an offseason that already has seen the Eagles trade their franchise QB, Donovan McNabb, to a division rival, Roethlisberger should at least be nervous.
3. Where does Clausen go?
Most scouts rate him the second-best QB, but Clausen could go anywhere between No. 4 and No. 30.
If the Browns, Raiders and Bills all pass on Clausen in the top 10, or nobody trades up for him, it will show that there are concerns about his ability to lead a team and be a franchise quarterback, despite being coached in college by Charlie Weis, now the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
4. What do the Raiders do at No. 8?
They shocked everybody by reaching for wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey at No. 7 last year, and nobody can read the mind of owner/G.M. Al Davis.
A host of players could be on the Raiders’ radar, including Clausen, Idaho guard Mike Iupati, South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson. The Raiders might grab one of five offensive tackles — Russell Okung of Oklahoma State, Trent Williams of Oklahoma, Anthony Davis of Rutgers, Bryan Bulaga of Iowa or Bruce Campbell of Maryland.
"I can’t fathom they would take Campbell," Mayock said. "He’s not a first-round pick. Campbell’s a hope. But we’re dealing with a height/weight/speed thing with the Raiders. If Trent Williams or Okung slip through, I think they’d take them. But I don’t think either will."
5. What happens to Tim Tebow?
On Thursday night, we will learn if any NFL general manager really thinks Tebow is first-round worthy.
"With Tim, I’ve heard anything from first to fourth round," said Joe Haden, a Tebow teammate at Florida who might be the first cornerback drafted. "We’re all about to find out."
If Clausen goes early, it could help the chances of Tebow and/or Texas’ Colt McCoy being picked in Round 1.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the teams drafting early in the second round looked to get ahead of Minnesota (No. 30) to get a quarterback," Mayock said. "Whether it’s Tebow or McCoy, I think there’s going to be some action late in the first round on those guys."
This story appears in April 22’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
NEW YORK — Get ready for an unpredictable NFL draft. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, suspended Wednesday by the NFL for up to six games, has gone from untouchable to tradable. Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford is expected to be the No. 1 pick, but the Rams are being coy. Meanwhile, several top prospects are in danger of big slides, such as Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant and Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen.
For the first time, the draft will be in prime time and Thursday’s show (7:30 p.m. ET) will be loaded with intrigue. Prepare your mock drafts — but write all names in pencil.
"It has a chance to be the wildest first round in recent history," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. "There are all kinds of rumors."
Here is a look at five decisions that will determine how dramatic the 2010 draft becomes:
1. What will the Rams do at No. 1?
Taking Bradford is the logical and likely move, but Rams officials will consider trade options up to that moment and beyond.
"I think St. Louis is open for business," Mayock said. "They have so many needs, if they could parley that No. 1 pick into multiple players, I think they’d be really happy. I think they’re looking for people that need a defensive tackle to come up and talk to them, as well as people who need a quarterback."
And the suspense is killing Bradford.
"My heart’s going to be going non-stop until I hear my name," Bradford said Wednesday.
Unless the Rams are offered a blockbuster deal — an unlike scenario — odds favor them keeping the pick and taking Bradford, instead one of the top two defensive tackles, Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh or Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy.
"Historically, it’s too expensive to go up and get No. 1, and the Rams need a quarterback," Mayock said.
2. What will the Steelers do with Roethlisberger?
Despite the suspension, the odds are against the Steelers trading a 28-year-old quarterback who has led the franchise to two Super Bowl titles.
However, several teams with high picks need a QB, like the Rams (No. 1), Browns (No. 7), Raiders (No. 8) and Bills (No. 9). During an offseason that already has seen the Eagles trade their franchise QB, Donovan McNabb, to a division rival, Roethlisberger should at least be nervous.
3. Where does Clausen go?
Most scouts rate him the second-best QB, but Clausen could go anywhere between No. 4 and No. 30.
If the Browns, Raiders and Bills all pass on Clausen in the top 10, or nobody trades up for him, it will show that there are concerns about his ability to lead a team and be a franchise quarterback, despite being coached in college by Charlie Weis, now the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator.
4. What do the Raiders do at No. 8?
They shocked everybody by reaching for wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey at No. 7 last year, and nobody can read the mind of owner/G.M. Al Davis.
A host of players could be on the Raiders’ radar, including Clausen, Idaho guard Mike Iupati, South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson. The Raiders might grab one of five offensive tackles — Russell Okung of Oklahoma State, Trent Williams of Oklahoma, Anthony Davis of Rutgers, Bryan Bulaga of Iowa or Bruce Campbell of Maryland.
"I can’t fathom they would take Campbell," Mayock said. "He’s not a first-round pick. Campbell’s a hope. But we’re dealing with a height/weight/speed thing with the Raiders. If Trent Williams or Okung slip through, I think they’d take them. But I don’t think either will."
5. What happens to Tim Tebow?
On Thursday night, we will learn if any NFL general manager really thinks Tebow is first-round worthy.
"With Tim, I’ve heard anything from first to fourth round," said Joe Haden, a Tebow teammate at Florida who might be the first cornerback drafted. "We’re all about to find out."
If Clausen goes early, it could help the chances of Tebow and/or Texas’ Colt McCoy being picked in Round 1.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the teams drafting early in the second round looked to get ahead of Minnesota (No. 30) to get a quarterback," Mayock said. "Whether it’s Tebow or McCoy, I think there’s going to be some action late in the first round on those guys."
This story appears in April 22’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.
The verdict is in. NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell has suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first six games of the 2010 season and ordered him to undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation.
This development will have wide-ranging consequences, even if Goodell decides to reduce the suspension to four games after taking the temperature of Roethlisberger’s progress before the season:
• On Roethlisberger: He was barred from participating in any more offseason activity with the Steelers until he completes the behavioral evaluation. Although Roethlisberger wasn’t charged after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Georgia nightclub on March 5, Goodell found him guilty of violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
This will hurt Roethlisberger in the wallet, too. He stands to lose close to $2.85 million in salary for next season if he misses six games.
• On the Steelers: Without the quarterback that helped lead them to two Super Bowl championships, they could struggle out of the gate. Although their first six games includes only one playoff team from the ’09 season (Baltimore), that early schedule may be more challenging than it looks.
The Steelers open at home against the Falcons, whose third-year quarterback Matt Ryan is one of the league’s rising stars. Their second game is on the road against the Titans, who made a late surge last season after Vince Young was reinstalled at quarterback. And Baltimore, their Week 4 opponent, is a division rival that is always tough.
• On Roethlisberger’s backup: The Steelers already had Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon on their roster before acquiring Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay for a seventh-round draft pick on Tuesday night. Although Batch has started in place of Roethlisberger before and Dixon started a game last year in his second season, Leftwich likely will get the call to start the 2010 season.
Leftwich backed up Roethlisberger in 2008, when he completed 21 of 36 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns in five games. He is familiar with the Steelers offensive system and most of the personnel, and he’s the best candidate to step in as the starter until Roethlisberger returns.
• On Roethlisberger’s advocacy: Although his teammates have outwardly expressed support for their quarterback, they may be starting to get weary of all the off-field distractions. First, there was the motorcycle accident in which Roethlisberger suffered serious injuries. Then, there was a similar assault accusation made against him last year by a woman who worked at a casino in Nevada.
• And what about Steeler Nation? Most Pittsburgh fans put the team first. They aren’t likely to support a player — premier quarterback or not — whose behavior continues to taint the franchise. Don’t be surprised if Big Ben gets a cold reception when he returns, whether it’s five or seven weeks into the season.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
The verdict is in. NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell has suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first six games of the 2010 season and ordered him to undergo a comprehensive behavioral evaluation.
This development will have wide-ranging consequences, even if Goodell decides to reduce the suspension to four games after taking the temperature of Roethlisberger’s progress before the season:
• On Roethlisberger: He was barred from participating in any more offseason activity with the Steelers until he completes the behavioral evaluation. Although Roethlisberger wasn’t charged after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Georgia nightclub on March 5, Goodell found him guilty of violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
This will hurt Roethlisberger in the wallet, too. He stands to lose close to $2.85 million in salary for next season if he misses six games.
• On the Steelers: Without the quarterback that helped lead them to two Super Bowl championships, they could struggle out of the gate. Although their first six games includes only one playoff team from the ’09 season (Baltimore), that early schedule may be more challenging than it looks.
The Steelers open at home against the Falcons, whose third-year quarterback Matt Ryan is one of the league’s rising stars. Their second game is on the road against the Titans, who made a late surge last season after Vince Young was reinstalled at quarterback. And Baltimore, their Week 4 opponent, is a division rival that is always tough.
• On Roethlisberger’s backup: The Steelers already had Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon on their roster before acquiring Byron Leftwich from Tampa Bay for a seventh-round draft pick on Tuesday night. Although Batch has started in place of Roethlisberger before and Dixon started a game last year in his second season, Leftwich likely will get the call to start the 2010 season.
Leftwich backed up Roethlisberger in 2008, when he completed 21 of 36 passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns in five games. He is familiar with the Steelers offensive system and most of the personnel, and he’s the best candidate to step in as the starter until Roethlisberger returns.
• On Roethlisberger’s advocacy: Although his teammates have outwardly expressed support for their quarterback, they may be starting to get weary of all the off-field distractions. First, there was the motorcycle accident in which Roethlisberger suffered serious injuries. Then, there was a similar assault accusation made against him last year by a woman who worked at a casino in Nevada.
• And what about Steeler Nation? Most Pittsburgh fans put the team first. They aren’t likely to support a player — premier quarterback or not — whose behavior continues to taint the franchise. Don’t be surprised if Big Ben gets a cold reception when he returns, whether it’s five or seven weeks into the season.
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect C.J. Spiller.
NFL position: RB
Height: 5-10 5⁄8
Weight: 194
40 time: 4.36
Current projection: First-round pick
NFL comparison: Chris Johnson, Titans
Inside running: Can be a dangerous, but is inconsistent. Is quick to identify a crease and explode into it. Shows the balance, agility and strength to run through arm tackles, but doesn’t break many tackles. Is a bit of an upright runner, leaving body susceptible to hard hits. Doesn’t lower shoulders to deliver blows to defenders. Is a dangerous cutback runner, showing a sharp "jump cut" to explode through holes. Can freeze defenders in the hole and explode past them. Grade: 7.5
Outside running: Is a threat to score on every touch because of rare athleticism, speed, balance and strength. Is patient waiting for blockers to open a hole or seal the edge. Is an explosive cutback runner. Keeps legs churning, and fights for every yard. Grade: 8.5
Blocking: Lacks experience. Wasn’t asked to lead block on any running plays in the games we evaluated. In pass protection, gives a solid effort and shows enough strength to be effective. Must be more aggressive and use better technique. Grade: 5.5
Hands/routes: Is not polished, but has all the tools. Is quick and explosive down the sideline and when aligned in the slot. Shows the quickness, explosiveness and speed to consistently separate from defenders. Shows good hands, and catches the ball well; twists body nicely to adjust to off-target passes. Grade: 6.5
Durability: Is the issue that could keep him from becoming an elite NFL back. Is strong and well built, but had trouble staying healthy in college. Shared the workload until senior season. Grade: 5.5
Bottom line: Spiller surprised us by returning to Clemson for his senior season because players with his rare big-play ability usually jump at the chance to enter the draft. He would’ve been a firstround pick in ’09 but improved his stock as a senior, showing improved inside running and receiving skills. Spiller gets personnel men excited because he has all the tools to be an NFL star, someone who makes big plays from a variety of alignments.
For more than 665 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect C.J. Spiller.
NFL position: RB
Height: 5-10 5⁄8
Weight: 194
40 time: 4.36
Current projection: First-round pick
NFL comparison: Chris Johnson, Titans
Inside running: Can be a dangerous, but is inconsistent. Is quick to identify a crease and explode into it. Shows the balance, agility and strength to run through arm tackles, but doesn’t break many tackles. Is a bit of an upright runner, leaving body susceptible to hard hits. Doesn’t lower shoulders to deliver blows to defenders. Is a dangerous cutback runner, showing a sharp "jump cut" to explode through holes. Can freeze defenders in the hole and explode past them. Grade: 7.5
Outside running: Is a threat to score on every touch because of rare athleticism, speed, balance and strength. Is patient waiting for blockers to open a hole or seal the edge. Is an explosive cutback runner. Keeps legs churning, and fights for every yard. Grade: 8.5
Blocking: Lacks experience. Wasn’t asked to lead block on any running plays in the games we evaluated. In pass protection, gives a solid effort and shows enough strength to be effective. Must be more aggressive and use better technique. Grade: 5.5
Hands/routes: Is not polished, but has all the tools. Is quick and explosive down the sideline and when aligned in the slot. Shows the quickness, explosiveness and speed to consistently separate from defenders. Shows good hands, and catches the ball well; twists body nicely to adjust to off-target passes. Grade: 6.5
Durability: Is the issue that could keep him from becoming an elite NFL back. Is strong and well built, but had trouble staying healthy in college. Shared the workload until senior season. Grade: 5.5
Bottom line: Spiller surprised us by returning to Clemson for his senior season because players with his rare big-play ability usually jump at the chance to enter the draft. He would’ve been a firstround pick in ’09 but improved his stock as a senior, showing improved inside running and receiving skills. Spiller gets personnel men excited because he has all the tools to be an NFL star, someone who makes big plays from a variety of alignments.
For more than 665 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
