2012 NFL Mock Draft

~Anthony Constantino

After many requests, I have decided to put my mock draft online. My mock draft does not account for draft day trades nor silly decisions made by teams. Let's see just how well I do this year! The picks will be listed at the top for those who just want to see names. I will have a comment for each pick beneath that. Thanks for taking a look!

1. (IND) Andrew Luck            2. (WAS) Robert Griffin III    3. (MIN) Morris Claiborne    
4. (CLE) Trent Richardson       5. (TB) Matt Kalil                  6. (STL) Justin Blackmon
7. (JAX) Melvin Ingram           8. (MIA) Ryan Tannehill         9. (CAR) Michael Floyd
10. (BUF) Luke Kuechly        11. (KC) Mark Barron         12. (SEA) Quinton Coples
13. (ARI) David DeCastro     14. (DAL) Fletcher Cox        15. (PHI) Dont'a Hightower
16. (NYJ) Montari Poe          17. (CIN) Stephen Hill          18. (SD) Riley Reiff
19. (CHI) Cordy Glenn          20. (TEN) Stephon Gilmore  21. (CIN) Kevin Zeitler
22. (CLE) Kendall Wright      23. (DET) Dre Kirkpatrick    24. (PIT) Shea Mcclellin
25. (DEN) Michael Brockers  26. (HOU) Chandler Jones   27. (NE) Courtney Upshaw
28. (GB) Harrison Smith         29. (BAL) Mike Adams        30. (SF) Whitney Mercilus
31. (NE) Johnathan Martin     32. (NYG) Jerel Worthy

1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford)- The Colts won the "Suck for Luck" competition last season. The Colts shipped out Peyton Manning and will replace him with another quarterback that looks to have the same characteristics. Colts have already told the world, Luck is the top pick this year.

2. Washington Redskins- Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor)- The Redskins have not had a franchise quarterback in my liftetime (20+ years). They traded away three 1st round picks and a 2nd round pick to the St. Louis Rams for this draft pick. It is hard to believe that Washington would give up so much to draft any other player in a quarterback driven league like the NFL. RG3 should start shopping for property in the DC area now.

3. Minnesota Vikings- Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU)- The Vikings could go many different directions here. The signing of WR Jerome Simpson tells me that Justin Blackmon is not the pick here. It makes sense to draft the best cornerback prospect in the draft with quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford in your division. Claiborne is the best available at his position so this is where the Vikings should go if they are unable/unwilling to trade down.

4. Cleveland Browns- Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama)- With the departure of Peyton Hillis to Kansas City this seems like the best pick for their organization. The Browns can't possibly pencil in Montario Hardesty as their starter Week 1 can they? The Browns need playmakers and reports say they are not impressed by Justin Blackmon. Trent Richardson will help the Browns play ball control football for years to come, if he can stay healthy.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Matt Kalil (OT, USC)- The Buccaneers are in a unique position to let the draft come to them. This is another likely spot for a trade to take place, especially if Morris Claiborne or Trent Richardson do not fall to them. I look at this as an opportunity to have one of the best offensive lines in football for Legarrette Blount to run behind. This in turn helps Josh Freeman bounce back from a tough season and that would be fantastic news for Tampa Bay.

6. St. Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma St.)- The Rams offense struggled last season and one big reason was the lack of weapons on the outside. Head coach Jeff Fisher has been known to value defense over offense, so DT Fletcher Cox could be the selection. Both options are a good fit for the Rams as they look to head in a new direction.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Melvin Ingram (DE, South Carolina)- This team has a tremendous amount of holes. This pick could be a linebacker, a cornerback, a lineman on either side of the ball. I'm sure if Blackmon was there they would take him to help out Blaine Gabbert, but I can't see Blackmon lasting. I have a good feeling about Ingram here.

8. Miami Dolphins- Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M)- The Fins missed out on every quarterback they pursued in free agency. No doubt Tannehill will be available, I also have little doubt the Miami will overdraft him.

9. Carolina Panthers- Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame)- There has been much talk about the Panthers as another potential landing place for DT Fletcher Cox. I just don't see it. The Panthers have a glaring hole at wide receiver. Steve Smith is their only viable option on the outside, and Floyd grades out well enough to be a top 10 pick. In this situation, I see Floyd as the hands down best option.

10. Buffalo Bills- Luke Kuechly (LB, Boston College)- The Bills have a tendency to go against the grain year after year. The biggest weakness for the Bills last season was defense. To be more specific, their run defense was atrocious. Kuechly looks to be the real deal. He can do anything you ask of him at his position and should be a pro bowler in no time. Buffalo could eye safety mark Barron here, or even one of the cornerback prospects available at pick 10. To me Kuechly is the safe pick and the easy pick, I'm not sure the Bills will see it this way.

11. Kansas City Chiefs- Mark Barron (S, Alabama)- With Romeo Crennel at the helm for the Chiefs, it is common knowledge that defense will get more serious consideration with this 1st round selection. Having said that Barron looks like a Crennel type guy. He is a smart football player that can tackle and make plays on the ball in flight. Putting Barron next to safety Eric Berry would be a nightmare for opposing offenses.

12. Seattle Seahawks- Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina)- One thing that Seattle did not have last season is a pass rush. Adding a versatile player like Coples would certainly help in that department. This is the most sensible choice for the Hawks.

13. Arizona Cardinals- David DeCastro (OG, Stanford)- The Cardinals biggest need is any player on the offensive line. Last year their offensive line resembled a 1500lb turnstyle. It is hard to imagine any quarterback having success behind that. I hope for the health of Kevin Kolb and John Skelton that they draft a lineman here, DeCastro is the best on the board.

14. Dallas Cowboys- Fletcher Cox (DT, Miss. St.)- For Cox, the wait will be over at this selection. The Cowboys could use a big defensive tackle to take up space. If Cox hasn't been chosen by now, the Cowboys likely won't hesitate. If Cox is off the board I could see OT Reilly Reiff as an option or even DT Dontari Poe.

15. Philadelphia Eagles- Dont'a Hightower (LB, Alabama)- It is extremely likely that this pick will be traded. For days there has been talk of the Eagles trying to move out of this spot. If they stay at 15, a player like Dont'a Hightower could only help the Eagles. He can play any linebacker position as well as defensive end. Hightower will make an impact no matter where he goes.

16. New York Jets- Dontari Poe (DT, Memphis)- Rex Ryan's defense has not been the same without big Kris Jenkins at the nose. If the Jets are looking to bolster their 3-4 defense, no pick would make more sense than a space eating 350 lb manchild like Poe.

17. Cincinnati Bengals- Stephen Hill (WR, Georgia Tech)- Their biggest need in Cincy is likely at guard. The fact that they have two 1st round selections that are 4 picks apart (thanks Oakland), makes this even harder. The loss of Jerome Simpson at WR adds a new weakness to the Bengals. Wide receiver should be a major concern, since Andy Dalton needs weapons to be successful. Mark me down for a wide receiver at one of their two picks.

18. San Diego Chargers- Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa)- No more Marcus McNeill? No problem. At the 18th selection Reiff would be an absolute steal. This is a tackle that projects as a 10 year starter at left tackle. It wold be hard to say that San Diego would hold onto him for all ten of those years, but he is worthy of this pick and the pick make sense. The Chargers should be very interested in protecting Phillip Rivers.

19. Chicago Bears- Cordy Glenn (OT, Goergia)- The Bears have had the worst offensive line in football for several years. I cannot believe what little they have done to address this issue. Glenn could start at 4 out of the 5 spots on the line, with experience everywhere except center. This would be a fantastic pick for the Bears and anything other than offensive line is a terrible pick for them. I'm on the record.

20. Tennessee Titans- Stephon Gilmore (CB, South Carolina)- Most teams in the NFL don't have a player like Cortland Finnegan, so losing a player like that means something. Cornerback is the top priority for the Titans in my eyes. Gilmore is a fantastic talent that would thrive in Tennessee.

21. Cincinnati Bengals- Kevin Zeitler (OG, Wisconsin)- The two first round selections for Cincy will likely be spent on WR and OG, the trick is to figure out who and when they will pick these positions. Zeitler is the next man in line if the Bengals miss out on Stanford's David DeCastro. The same line of thought applies at receiver. If Stephen Hill is off the board, Kendall Wright is the next man down the line.

22. Cleveland Browns- Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor)- Wright's stock is likely a product of what Robert Griffin III did in Waco. However, the Browns have a serious need at receiver. After missing on Braylon Edwards (save the one productive year he had), it makes sense for Cleveland to be gunshy on picking Justin Blackmon. They can't pass on WR twice in the first round, at least not with Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs as your best players at the position.

23. Detroit Lions- Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama)- The Lions have a solid offense through and through. This pick should be spent on defense and likely will be. Some say pass rusher, which wouldn't be a bad idea. If the Lions are choosing a DE, look for Chandler Jones or Courtney Upshaw at 23. Kirkpatrick could be a steal at 23, and the Lions need to build their defense anywhere possible.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers- Shea Mcclellin (LB/DE, Boise State)- Pittsburgh figures to add some youth to the defensive side of the ball. A difference making hybrid player is their usual course of action. Mcclellin can play all over the front 7 for the Steelers, espcially in their exotic 3-4 scheme. This pick would be dynamite.

25. Denver Broncos- Michael Brockers (DT, LSU)- This would be a fantastic landing spot for Brockers. The Broncos are in serious need of help at DT. Brockers would have an endless leash in Denver to succeed at DT. The reason for this is that there is nobody behind him to threaten for his job. Not one DT on the Broncos roster is a capable starter. If Brockers is gone, DT Jerel Worthy out of Michigan St. will likely be the pick.

26. Houston Texans- Chandler Jones (DE, Syracuse)- Losing a player like Mario Williams is never good. However, the Texans seemed to get by just fine without him. Defensive end J.J. Watt is almost unblockable by himself. Adding in another athlete on the defensive line could make that Texans defense look a lot better. Chandler Jones could be that guy for Houston.     

27. New England Patriots- Courtney Upshaw (LB/DE, Alabama)- The Patriots have become synonymous with trading down and stockpiling draft picks. Here they are again with two first round picks. Of course trading down is always an option, but let's say they actually use this draft pick. Defensive end is the top need for the Pats. Upshaw played linebacker at Alabama and looked great doing it. He is projected to play defensive end and his versatility can only excite Bill Belichick if that is even possible.

28. Green Bay Packers- Harrison Smith (S, Notre Dame)- Last year the Packers gave up more yards than any team in the history of the NFL. Wow. It is easy to say that defense should be addressed. With the release of Nick Collins it appears that safety is the biggest hole for the Packers, who are not very deep at that position. This pick could also be a defensive end like Andre Branch or a linebacker like LaVonte David. Lots of options here for the Packers, but the biggest need are all on one side of the ball.

29. Baltimore Ravens- Mike Adams (OT, Ohio State)- The window is quickly closing for Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to win another championship. Joe Flacco needs time to make decisions in the passing game. He is not very effective when pressured, and gets nervous too easily. This pick would help shore up an offensive line that spent a lot of time hanging its collective head last year, despite making a deep playoff run.

30. San Francisco 49ers- Whitney Mercilus (DE, Illinois)- Go ask the New York Giants how nice it is to have a 5 premier pass rushers. I'll bet they tell you it is the best luxury in the world. Their last two Super Bowl titles have been won mainly because of their defensive line and not their QB. The 49ers are extremely deep as a team and adding Randy Moss gives them a  respectable group of wide receivers. Almost every other position is solid and defensive line is crucial. Look for San Fran to grab a player that adds depth and can produce right from the start of the season.

31. New England Patriots- Johnathan Martin (OT, Stanford)- If teams don't overdraft Martin, he is a late 1st or early 2nd round talent. This plays right into the hand of the Patriots. Longtime left tackle Matt Light is at the end of his career and strongly considering retirement. The Patriots drafted Nate Solder out of Colorado last April and have been grooming him as Light's replacement. This pick would solidify the right tackle spot for the Patriots and give them two young and talented 1st round picks at each OT spot.

32. New York Giants- Jerel Worthy (DT, Michigan St.)- The age old expression "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind when the Giants step up to draft. They have stockpiled exceptional talent in their defensive line; it is the strength of the team. Adding a player like Worthy only provides another force on that front, creating more opportunities for Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul to get to opposing quarterbacks.

Consistency – The Difference between Men and Women

~Mike Wolcott

        The other day I went to Kohl’s to buy a pair of sneakers. I didn’t have to look around at all because I knew exactly what I wanted before stepping through the door. The last three times I’ve purchased sneakers it’s been this exact same Adidas model. I love the model for its versatility. You could wear these sneakers to a party and then turn around and wear them while jogging. They are stylish, comfortable, and offer good support. There aren’t too many situations where you couldn’t wear these sneakers, just a great all around shoe. Before I started wearing this particular Adidas model, I was on a streak of buying the same Nike model five straight times. The reason the Nike streak came to an end was that the model was discontinued. I was devastated when that happened, but life goes on.

        Some people would call it boring to always buy the same sneakers, but I call it consistency. I’m very "consistent" with most things in life. Ninety out of the last one hundred times I’ve gotten a drink at a bar it’s been one of three things: a Labatt Blue Light, a shot of Rumplimintz, or a gin and tonic. I’m the same way with ice cream. Ninety out of the last one hundred times I’ve gotten ice cream it’s been a medium chocolate cone or a Mexican sundae (if I’m feeling crazy). Anyway, the point that I’m trying to make is that I’m very consistent, and I think this is true of most men. Men like structure and order in their lives. In my opinion, consistency is a very masculine trait.

         Conversely, inconsistency seems to be a very feminine trait. Most women have seventy-five different pairs of shoes and will order "Wild Coconut" ice cream when it’s a special at Kone King. Women change their hairstyle/hair color seemingly every month. I on the other hand have gotten the same Lloyd Christmas haircut the last 816 times I’ve gone to Supercuts. How about the transience of a woman’s wardrobe? I’ve had the same "go-to" shirts for years now; a woman wears an outfit once and throws it away. Anyway, please understand that I’m not stating that "inconsistency" is always a bad thing. This article is simply an observation that I’ve made about a major difference between men and women. As I see it, both inconsistency and consistency have their pros and cons. On a personal note, perhaps it would benefit me to venture out of my comfort zone. There’s an old saying: "variety is the spice of life." This may be true, but the fact of the matter is that I enjoy my gin and tonics, medium chocolate cones, and Adidas sneakers. You can call it boring, but you can’t call it inconsistent.



P.S. Next time you’re at Kone King and hear a woman complaining about the "Candied Bacon" flavored ice cream she ordered, think A&M blog.



**NOTE: There was a point recently where my parents bought me FILA sneakers for my birthday. Multiple people told me that they looked like golf shoes.

NFL Draft: Consider All Options

~Anthony Constantino

Last season ended with disappointment for the Buffalo Bills. They lost 7 straight games en route to a 6-10 finish, which landed the Bills the 10th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. 2011 marked the 7th straight losing season for the Bills, which would be a tough pill for any NFL fan to swallow.  Superbowl winning Head Coach Bill Parcells once said, "You are what your record says you are." This is certainly true of the 6-10 Buffalo Bills team in 2011. The Bills and their fans experienced tremendous highs and agonizing lows throughout this past season. The Bills look to turn it all around in 2012.  Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey made noise early on in free agency in March. The Bills' brass flew down to North Carolina to pay a visit to the top defensive free agent of the 2012 offseason. The plane came back to Buffalo with defensive end/linebacker Mario Williams, former 1st overall pick of the Houston Texans. Williams had visits scheduled  with other teams, but skipped out on those visits to negotiate with Buffalo. Williams stayed in Buffalo and inked a 6 year, 96 million dollar contract. The Bills followed up the Williams signing with another splash. Defensive end Mark Anderson, who had 10 sacks with the Patriots last season, signed a 4 year 19.5 million dollar deal days later.

The Bills had the 14th offense (351.5 yards/game) and 26th defense (371.1 yards/game) in the NFL last season. With the 15th passing offense (231.4 yards/game) and the 13th rushing offense (120.1 yards/game), the offense was the strength of the team. The Bills defense struggled mightily last season, giving up 232.1 yards per game in the air (19th in the NFL) and 139 yards on the ground (28th in the NFL).

By now the front office should know those numbers forwards and backwards. Statistics should not dictate what a team does, but rather provide a guideline that can help to generate a focal point prior to entering the draft. The defense had 29 sacks last season, which tied for 27th in the NFL. Couple that with a rush defense that showed little resistance, and that explains the flight to North Carolina . The Bills have already turned their biggest weakness into a potential strength.

So the Buffalo Bills bigwigs will sit in the "war room" on draft day, draft boards in hand, with the 10th overall pick. At least two quarterbacks will be gone (Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III). The Colts have reportedly informed Andrew Luck that he will be their 1st overall pick in the draft. The Washington Redskins traded their future away to have the second pick in the draft. It is safe to assume they did so to acquire what they perceive to be a franchise quarterback. That means Robert Griffin III should be preparing to work with Mike Shanahan this summer. That would leave 7 other players to be chosen before the Bills are on the clock.

The popular belief is that offensive tackle Matt Kalil will be the third pick to the Minnesota Vikings, so there is a slim chance that he lasts until the 10th pick. Trent Richardson has been looked at by nearly every team in the top 10 and it is safe to say he will be gone before the Bills pick. Richardson could be drafted by Cleveland to replace Peyton Hillis or by Tampa Bay to split time with Legarrette Blount in the backfield. 5 more picks...

Morris Claiborne looks to be the best prospect at cornerback in the draft this year. In the pass-happy league that the NFL has become, a player like Claiborne is a sure fire top 10 pick and should also be gone before the Bills have a chance to draft him. The same goes for Justin Blackmon, as he is an exceptionally talented wide receiver that has the look of a superstar in the NFL. He will not make it past the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the 7th overall pick. Somewhere in between picks 4 and 7 will likely be a defensive end. Both Quinton Coples and Melvin Ingram are highly rated and proven talents. Expect to see Jacksonville draft one of them if they miss out on Justin Blackmon. 3 picks to go...

With no starting quarterback to speak of, it is hard to believe that the Miami Dolphins would want to have Matt Moore start even one more game for the Fins, barring injury. Although Ryan Tannehill is the third best quarterback in the 2012 Draft, it needs to be very clear that the gap between Tannehill and Robert Griffin III is enormous. Out of sheer need the Dolphins will likely overdraft Tannehill with the 8th pick, hoping he can channel his inner Tom Brady and prove the world wrong. The Bills are on deck...

It is hard to decipher what the Panthers will do with the 9th overall selection. Most experts have them selecting a defensive lineman, which would be good for them. They recently re-signed linebacker Jordan Senn, which locks in their three starting linebackers. The Panthers could look to draft a second receiver to give Cam Newton more weapons on the outside, which they lacked last season. Outside of Steve Smith Cam Newton was throwing to Brandon LaFell and Legedu Naanee. Defensive line is always a good place to build through the draft, but if I was selecting 9th, wide receiver Michael Floyd is the selection 100 out of 100 times.

The wait is over! The Bills are now on the clock and have a chance to add a big time playmaker to their roster. What to do? So many great players have been taken and the clock is ticking. Assuming they don't let the clock run out like the Vikings did in 2003, the Bills will have to choose someone. Some have suggested an offensive tackle. To that I say why try to change an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL last season (23)? In reviewing the 2011 season, I noticed one glaring weakness above them all; the back 7 on defense. The Bills linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks did make some plays on the ball last year. However, they gave up more than their share of big plays and this is unacceptable. The Patriots, Packers, and Saints proved last season that offense cannot win a championship by itself. The defense plays a significant role. Ask the New York Giants.

The Bills need to take a long look at five guys at the 10th pick. Linebackers Luke Kuechly and Dont'a Hightower, cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Dre Kirkpatrick, and safety Mark Barron. Any of these five players would help to improve an abysmal back 7 on defense. With the additions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson, a third defensive starter from the draft might give the Bills defense a chance at being a top 10 defense. That would surely help their chances at making the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

With the 10th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select ___________.

The Effects of "One-and-Done"

-Anthony Constantino-

College basketball might be the most difficult sport for a fan to follow. There are few superstars that play more than one season before they leave school early and declare for the NBA Draft. The “one-and-done” rule for NBA Eligibility (established in 2006) is responsible for this situation. The NBA requires that players are one full year removed from high school and at least 19 years of age before they are eligible to be drafted into the league. The rule prior to “one-and-done” gave players eligibility for the draft directly out of high school.

From 1995-2005, 39 players were drafted out of high school. Out of these 39 players, seven of them have had potential Hall of Fame careers. For every Kobe Bryant, there is a Jonathan Bender. That is why drafting players directly out of high school had to be abolished. Unfortunately, the current system has put college basketball on life support. Take a look at this year’s NCAA Tournament.

The Men’s NCAA Tournament came to a close and left many fans and critics unfulfilled. Some have gone as far as to call the 2012 Men’s NCAA Tournament the worst tournament since 2000. The first thing that stands out to most about this year’s tournament is the fact that there was not one buzzer beater. College basketball thrives on madness, which is mainly comprised of upsets and buzzer beaters. Three double digit seeds advanced to the Sweet 16, and none advance to the Elite 8. The upsets had little impact on the tournament, and those underdogs did not have any real memorable run to speak of.

This year the NCAA Tournament showcased noticeably poor play as well. Alabama passed up an open shot to beat Creighton and instead opted for a timeout to set up a play. This resulted in poor execution and the Crimson Tide rolling out of the tournament. In their game against Syracuse, Wisconsin decided to take a two point jump shot while down three in the closing seconds, resulting in a one point loss. Texas shot 16% in the first half against Cincinnati, which was their undoing. Those are just some of the blunders I observed during the NCAA Tournament.

The average margin of victory throughout the entire tournament was 9.8 points. There were more snoozers for games than Cinderella stories in the tournament. There was no stand out play that will live to be told through the annals of time. The number one overall seed, Kentucky, stampeded through the bracket and even when they played their worst game, they were still unbeatable. The AP player of the year, Anthony Davis, shot 1 for 10 from the field against Kansas in the National Championship game. Despite his lackluster performance, it was Davis and the Kentucky Wildcats who claimed an 8 point victory and cut down the nets in New Orleans.

Something clearly needs to be done to revive college basketball. More and more freshmen declare for the draft each year and continue to water down college basketball. Here one year and gone the next: wash, rinse, repeat. Let’s look at one college that thrives on “one-and-done” talent, Kentucky.

 Since John Calipari took over as head coach in 2009, Wildcats Men’s basketball has become an NBA factory. The 2010 NBA draft featured five Kentucky Wildcats: John Wall (Fr, 1^st overall), DeMarcus Cousins (Fr, 5^th overall), Patrick Patterson (Jr, 14^th overall), Eric Bledsoe (Fr, 18^th overall), and Daniel Orton (Fr, 29^th overall). All of these players were selected in the first round, which is an NBA record for the most players drafted in the first round from the same school.

The 2011 NBA Draft brought four more Wildcats into the league: Enes Kanter (Fr, 3^rd overall), Brandon Knight (Fr, 8^th overall), Josh Harrellson (Sr, 45^th overall), and DeAndre Liggins (Jr, 53^rd overall). Although Kanter never played for Kentucky, he did attend the college for one year prior to being drafted. He was declared ineligible by the NCAA and was a student assistant with the team during his year as a Wildcat. This year experts say that Kentucky Wildcats Anthony Davis (Fr), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Fr), Terrance Jones (So), Doron Lamb (So), Darius Miller (Sr), and Marquis Teague (Fr) might all declare for the 2012 NBA Draft.

That is a look at just one team in college basketball that “rents” players for a year and then sends them off to the NBA. This hurts college basketball tremendously. The solution I would look at is having the NBA change the eligibility standard to be similar to what the NFL has in place. Players should have to wait 3 years before entering the NBA. This would benefit college basketball, the NBA, and student athletes.

First and foremost, these student athletes would have to actually become students. Since most college basketball players are not going to the NBA, this would help those who don’t make it to the pros have a future in something else. Student athletes in the past have declared for the draft as freshmen and hired agents. This makes the player ineligible to return to their school, leaving them out in the cold. The next benefit would be that college basketball would have a much better game. Teams would be much easier to follow and might even have recognizable players for 90 games as opposed to 30 games. The play of college basketball would improve as even the most talented players would be able to mature at the college level. Honestly, there is only so much a player can learn in one year of college basketball under a new coach and with unfamiliar teammates. Lastly, the NBA would have more polished rookies entering the league. These players would be more prepared for the NBA and would make a much bigger impact.

Hopefully NBA officials take a look at their eligibility standard and consider the health of college basketball. If they do so, there is no doubt in my mind they will come to the same conclusion I have arrived at. Every student athlete does not become a professional athlete. The NBA needs to be responsible and protect these young people from leaving college with no degree, and no shot at the NBA. At the same time they would be helping themselves, and helping college basketball.

Top Five Sabres to Blame in the 2011-2012 Season

~ Mike Wolcott

The 2011-2012 season is over for our beloved Buffalo Sabres, and what a disappointing season it was.  Here at A&M blog we tell it like it is, and I blame the following list of players/people most for this year’s failure.

5. Ville Leino-  Leino is under contract for another 5 years.  When all is said and done he could go down as one of the biggest free agent busts in the history of the team.  If I had a nickel for every time I saw him get knocked off the puck, or a dollar for every open net he missed, I would be as rich as Taylor Swift.  Leino finished with a paltry 25 points in 71 games this season. Words can’t describe how pathetic that is, especially for a player who made 6 million dollars this year.

4.  Lindy Ruff- It hurts to put Lindy on this list because I like the guy.  Sports are about results though, and Lindy has simply not produced.  In his tenure as Sabres head coach, the team has made the playoffs just 8 of 14 years.  Lindy’s overuse of Ryan Miller hurt the team down the stretch in the most critical games of the season.  Also, I question why it took Ruff so long to recognize that Tyler Ennis could play center.

3.  Brad Boyes – I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about how pitiful Boyes was this year.  It’s unbelievable to think that he had 43 goals for the Blues in 2007.  What the hell happened to this guy?  He’s not even thirty so age can’t be to blame.  He made 4 million dollars this season and scored 8 goals in 65 games.  The Sabres could’ve gotten similar production from a Saint Francis High School player.

2.  Ryan Miller-  He’s the third highest paid goaltender in the NHL.  He finished with a .916 save percentage (22^nd in the league) and a 2.55 GAA (25^th in the league).  Miller’s backup Jhonas Enroth faced 716 shots this season and finished with an identical save percentage.  It is my belief that the difference between goalies in this league is negligible, and the aforementioned statistic seems to substantiate that claim.  Why pay a guy like Miller 6 million dollars when you can get similar statistics from a lesser paid goaltender?  Hell, this year’s save percentage leader was former Ottawa scrub Bryan Elliott!  Anyway, the bottom line is that in 2012 the Sabres did not get what they paid for in 6 million dollar man Ryan Miller (Moneyball anyone?).

1.  Darcy Regier- Regier has been the General Manager of the team now for 14 seasons and there have been no Stanley Cups to speak of.  Frankly, the guy sucks at assessing talent.  In recent years he’s traded for Bob Corkum, Dainius Zubrus, Dominic Moore, Steve Bernier and Brad Boyes.  What a laughable list of players that is.  In the past we’ve excused Regier for being handcuffed by a cheap owner, but at this point he’s run out of excuses. Owner Terry Pegula allowed Regier to spend to the cap this offseason and the result was an underwhelming 9^th place finish.  Regier is responsible for each and every player on this roster and for that reason he tops my list as the most blameworthy.

Others to blame:  Derek Roy, Drew Stafford, Thomas Vanek, Kevin Sylvester