Thursday, April 28, 2011

2011 NFL Draft: Should the First-Round Running Back Be Extinct?

The last time the NFL Draft's first round passed with only one running back being chosen was 1984. Greg Bell was chosen to begin a career that ended after seven seasons with 6,266 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns.

Since then, the likes of Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas, Jerome Bettis, Barry Sanders, and Marshall Faulk have all been chosen in the first round.

Of course, those drafts have also blessed the league with immortal names like Reggie Dupard, Tim Worley, Tony Smith, Lawrence Phillips, and Curtis Enis. Those five guys combined for 5,775 rushing yards, or about 800 yards more than Greg Bell.

Tonight's draft leans much more toward the 1984 model than 1987, which saw seven backs taken in the first (which only had 28 picks, mind you), only one of whom was still getting paid to play football in 1993.

Mark Ingram is expected to be the only back picked tonight, and depending on who you talk to, even that's not a cinch. He and his Heisman and the balky knee that kept him from repeating the award have been projected almost everywhere in the second half of the round.

This is a good thing. Here's why.

From the 2000 draft through last year's, 35 running backs were selected in the first round. Of those 35, 13 averaged fewer than 600 yards per season over the course of their careers. 21 of the 35 never recorded a season of 1,200 rushing yards or more (an average of 75 yards per game).

In the same time period, 24 running backs chosen in Rounds 2 through 7 (or not drafted at all) managed to either average 700 yards per season or record at least one 1,200-yard year.

The first-rounders averaged 780 yards per season per player, the later picks 787.

First-round picks produced 39 seasons of 1,200 yards, but the non-firsts accumulated 35.

Six first-rounders have averaged over 1,000 yards per season for their careers, but the same number of non-first-rounders have equaled the feat.

Translation? At a position that boasts an average career length of 2.6 years, first-round draft picks pack a tremendous amount of risk, especially considering similar production can be found later. Of course, that's true for every draft pick, right?

The changes in the game today are beginning to make the rewards much less commensurate with that risk. As teams veer farther from the conventional "workhorse running back" system, more players will see their rookie seasons look more like Knowshon Moreno's 947 yards and 7 touchdowns than Adrian Peterson's 1,341 yards and 12 scores.

The pounding inherent in the position means that running backs face a double-edged sword. Every player wants to be the featured guy, racking up the large numbers so he can eventually rack the large bank. The tradeoff is the short shelf life that reduces the number of contracts a player has time to sign.

A running back is almost better off in today's game if he's not the featured guy, but a general manager is forced to think long and hard about using one of those valuable first-round chips on a player who will only play a part-time role.

It's hard to write this as a guy who grew up idolizing Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, and Marshall Faulk. Barring the occasional Chris Johnsonesque explosion, however, it's hard to see today's game making a lot of running backs worth the first-round price.

It's hard to bank on finding a Willie Parker, Fred Jackson, or Ahmad Bradshaw in the late rounds or off the street. Not hitting the lottery in the seventh round, though, is a much cheaper ticket than spending a first-round pick on a Chris Perry or Trung Canidate.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

4 Quarters Radio: April 22 4th Quarter


The fourth-quarter curriculum for April 22:
--Scott and Mack move into the NBA Playoffs, and Mack starts by getting plenty torqued over the Bulls' lackluster showings against the Pacers. Both guys ponder how the Bulls have been able to escape.
--Mack sounds like he's cooling off on his pick of Oklahoma City for the NBA Finals, while Scott is beginning to warm up to the idea.
--Mack is prepared to go out on one other limb in the Western Conference, while Scott appears worried that the team's star is more capable of shooting his team out of the playoffs.
--A national radio host's "surprise pick" gets debunked by that team's one-man-band appearance.
--In the Epic Fails, Mack piles on a pitcher committing the Balk From Hell, while Scott shakes his head at a popular cliche taken way too literally.

Featured music: "Prayin'" by Plan B.

4 Quarters Radio: April 22 3rd Quarter


The third-quarter curriculum for April 22:
--Scott and Mack break down a group of baseball's top rookies, most of whom are performing well early on in the season. A couple of weeks late, the fellas also discuss their Rookie of the Year picks, a few of which need to go back to the drawing board.
--Young guns in Baltimore and Tampa appear to be paper tigers, while Seattle and Toronto may have some bright futures ahead.
--Being the kind, considerate boss that he is, Scott allows Mack to make new ROY picks. He almost gets through it.

Featured music: "Basketball Jones" by Cheech and Chong feat. Tyrone Shoelaces.

4 Quarters Radio: April 22 2nd Quarter


The second-quarter curriculum for April 22:
--Before Logan goes off to chase extra credit points, he gets to share his thoughts on Scott and Blaize both agreeing on the Titans picking Nick Fairley.
--4Q Hockey Correspondent Jimi Russell checks in for the second straight week to talk Stanley Cup Playoffs.
--Scott ponders why the Preds-Ducks series is the only one with suspensions and why goaltenders are getting biblically pimp-smacked.
--Jimi also admits that he'd be perfectly okay with one of his Stanley Cup finalists being poleaxed in the first round.
--Mack laments the collapse of his Rangers, and Scott asks Jimi to forecast some "upsets."
--In Whodaman, Mack applauds disruptive fans, but only as long as Mark Cuban gets clocked in the process. Jimi shouts out to an entire city, with particular love to two magnificent bastards who play there. Scott goes to high school baseball and college softball for his honors.

Featured music: "Pit Stop (Take Me Home)" by Nathaniel Merriweather.

4 Quarters Radio: April 22 1st Quarter


The first-quarter curriculum for April 22:
--Scott and Mack are joined in the studio by TitansTouchdown.com co-editor Blaize Pennington, comparing his mock draft with Scott's.
--A few picks agree, but the discussion highlights several disagreements, as well. Topics include why the Vikings need a PR pick, where Da'Quan Bowers' stock will finally bottom out, and why the Dolphins are better off avoiding Mark Ingram.

Featured music: "Destroy Everything You Touch" by Ladytron. Stick around at the end for a brief snippet of the track, and help the show out by purchasing the full download if you like it.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The 2011 4 Quarters Mock Draft

We did this last year, remember? Out of the 32 picks in 2010, I cruised to a dominant, prescient...7 picks within one spot of their actual selection. Only four were correct, and they were four of the top five.

The good news is that this year's draft should be unpredictable. The bad news is...well, yeah, since we're trying to predict here, it should be obvious.

But let's try it again anyway, shall we?

1. Carolina Panthers--QB Cam Newton, Auburn
Is he going to be Big Pussy Russell? Most likely not. But he's already a guy who gives every indication that he's not prepared to do the grinding that has made guys like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady great, or even the dirty work that Mike Vick has been allegedly doing since taking over in Philly.

Of course, this isn't about who the Panthers should take, it's about who we think they will take. And this team wants a big name with a sizeable highlight reel to shake off their vanilla, lunchpail, John Fox-induced reputation. Having someone who can keep Steve Smith excited will also help.

Is Cam going to be a star? Most likely not. But he may put butts in seats.

2. Denver Broncos--DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
Congratulations, Denver fans, now you've inherited Mr. Vanilla Lunchpail himself. John Fox got sold to this team on the promise that he could do something about a defense whose one solid season in 2009 gave way to a unit that rolled over like basset hounds looking for a belly rub. (Either that or he's got photos involving John Elway, a group of hookers, and three tons of Jell-O. Not sure which.)

John Elway's talk about trying to snag a quarterback may come to fruition, but it'd be a real head-scratcher if he's willing to pay two QB's first-round money simultaneously. Dareus offers the promise of defensive impact, and the fan base isn't as quick to renounce Timmy Christ as Elway seems to be.

3. Buffalo Bills--QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
Defense is undoubtedly a bigger need, but the Bills want to put that third Triplet in place with Steve Johnson and C.J. Spiller. It's a good situation for Gabbert, since Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the worst stopgap measure for Gabbert to wait behind.

After reading this article making Gabbert sound like Rain Man in shoulder pads, the Bills should be interested enough to let him commit their offense to memory. Should take him all of 45 minutes.

4. Cincinnati Bengals--WR A.J. Green, Alabama
Green's not likely to ever even meet Carson Palmer, but whoever ends up calling the signals in Cincy (Kolb, McNabb, some rookie, maybe Ken Anderson ponders comeback), Green's the kind of guy who can make any passer look good.

...

Well, okay, within reason. I mean, even Larry Fitz (to whom Green gets compared every now and then) looked mortal when he had John Skelton and Max Hall throwing at him.

5. Arizona Cardinals--LB Von Miller, Texas A&M
The Cards will have a hard choice here between Miller and Nick Fairley. It all depends on whether they think the interior line or the aging linebacker group is a bigger area of need. With Miller providing pass rush from the edge, it could lead to more hurried ducks floating toward the dangerous Kerry Rhodes and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

6. Cleveland Browns--WR Julio Jones, Alabama
Colt McCoy wasn't a complete embarrassment last season, but it's hard for a QB to contribute positively when half his passing game runs through the Mack truck with legs that we call Peyton Hillis. Chansi Stuckey and Mohamed Massaquoi aren't going to cut it as primary receiving options. Jones should be the first receiver to bring serious noise in Cleveland since Braylon Edwards (who was the first since...who, Webster Slaughter?).

7. San Francisco 49ers--CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
The Niners should do a dance of joy that would make Balki and Larry blush if Peterson slides. Personally, I'd be pushing hard for him if I were in Cleveland, because a Joe Haden/Peterson duo would be killer.

As it is, San Francisco is dying to get secondary help. The good news for them is that if Peterson's already gone, Prince Amukamara will likely still be available. Either would work just fine. Still, Peterson's probably the best overall player in this draft, and getting him at seven is a great deal.

8. Tennessee Titans--DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
This is the team that employed Albert Haynesworth and watched him play well enough to hold up some poor sucker for $100 mil. Fairley's considered to have similar upside, and also a similar flaky streak.

The difference is that Fairley's more of a goofball than a goon, and with his college line coach and a surly trench veteran like Mike Munchak guiding his development, he should avoid the worst developments that derailed Haynesworth...well, at least until some poor sucker comes offering $100 mil. Guy gets paid like that and all bets are off.

9. Dallas Cowboys--OT Tyron Smith, USC
If Jerry hangs around and actually makes this pick, I'll be shocked. The Cowboys were built off the back of hoarding picks and Jerry likes his selections to be sexy. An offensive tackle at number nine isn't setting anyone's shorts ablaze in Big D.

That said, the line is what they seriously need if they want to keep Tony Romo pretty and walking, not to mention salvage what's left of Marion Barber and maximize Felix Jones. We all know Jerry likes his offense explosive, but the skill positions aren't a problem anymore.

10. Washington Redskins--DE/OLB Robert Quinn, North Carolina
Rolling the dice on a guy who didn't play a college down last season is risky, but this is the team that decided Rex Grossman was a worthwhile quarterback. Risky is what they do. Put Quinn opposite Brian Orakpo and it might help put some beer goggles on the Skins' dog-ugly secondary.

11. Houston Texans--CB Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Oh, and speaking of dog-ugly secondaries...

The Texans simply can't keep any kind of nucleus around Mario Williams, and it's holding back both him and a highly entertaining offense. Prince could be an improved do-over after letting Dunta Robinson walk.

12. Minnesota Vikings--DE Cameron Jordan, California
Da'Quan Bowers is still on the board, but the last time the Vikings used a first-rounder on a defensive end with injury concerns, it turned into 30 tackles and five sacks in three years of Erasmus James. Jordan's a legacy pick, since his dad Steve was a longtime Vikings TE. A team that had to endure two years of Childress-Favre soap operas (and unseemly stories about Favre's special purpose) could use a little PR.

And he can play a bit, as well. That always helps.

13. Detroit Lions--OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
Speaking of quarterbacks who need to be kept upright (see Dallas), Matt Stafford is cultivating a rep as this generation's Chris Chandler, a guy who's solid when healthy but is not often healthy. The Lions currently have the ancient Jeff Backus and the brittle Gosder Cherilus at the tackle positions, and some help would allow Stafford to sleep better at night. (Those hospital beds aren't very comfortable, you know.) Castonzo has the added bonus of being able to play guard until Backus hangs it up or if Cherilus gets an adamantium skeleton implanted.

14. St. Louis Rams--DE Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
Steve Spagnuolo made his name with a Giants defense that seemed to rotate 20 defensive linemen in and out. The Rams have Chris Long beginning to establish himself and got a solid season from 33-year-old James Hall in 2010. Bowers' knee is a prevailing concern, otherwise this guy would have been gone 10 picks ago. In St. Louis, Bowers has a place where he can rotate in and out and prove that the knee is sound before replacing Hall in a year or two.

15. Miami Dolphins--C/G Mike Pouncey, Florida
Most experts have Mark Ingram here, but using a first on a running back who's struggled with recent knee injuries sounds like a recipe for heartache, especially when the second round may yield other, lower-profile runners with less baggage (or even Ingram himself for less money, if the Fins decide to make an aggressive deal).

To aid a running back's shelf life, the Dolphins could stand to help their line keep bodies off the backs in the first place. Mike could step right in and be the kind of rock that his brother Maurkice has been in Pittsburgh. In the process, he could make some second-or-third-round back look like a first-rounder.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars--DE Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
The Jags will probably be hoping Cameron Jordan shows up here so he can be slotted right in next to college teammate Tyson Alualu. No dice here, but Kerrigan's a nice fall-back plan. He'll put some heat on opposing quarterbacks while serving an apprenticeship under Aaron Kampman. (Of course, that was probably also the plan with Derrick Harvey, and we saw how well that worked out.)

17. New England Patriots--DE J.J. Watt, Wisconsin
The Pats have been so intent on getting the back seven back in shape that they've neglected the line, trying to plug in guys like Gerard Warren to fill holes. With recent picks like Mayo, Meriweather, Chung, and McCourty panning out well, it's time to replenish the unit that used to boast names like Richard Seymour and Ty Warren alongside the last man standing, Vince Wilfork.

Watt's one of the few guys on the board being given credit for being able to play 3-4 end from day one. On this team, he'll have to be, since the Patriots aren't given to keeping guys around for sentimental reasons.

18. San Diego Chargers--OLB Akeem Ayers, UCLA
The Chargers could use help all over the front seven, but it seems like all the defensive linemen available (Aldon Smith, Muhammad Wilkerson) would have a little transitioning to do. Wilkerson's an interesting pick, but the Chargers are still shaking their heads over the low production from their last Mid-American Conference first-round pick, Larry English.

Ayers is known to California fans, he's played solid college comp, and he was productive in doing so. Add the fact that A.J. Smith isn't keen on drafting projects with early picks and it puts Ayers in a very strong position here.

19. New York Giants--OT Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
With Castonzo gone, there are some solid O-linemen who seem like they could use a year or two of seasoning. Then, there's Carimi. He could start immediately and let the Giants slide David Diehl back to guard. He's got contract escalators for each season he plays tackle, so Carimi could pay for himself pretty quickly.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--DE Aldon Smith, Missouri
Last year, the Bucs went D-line early twice. Gerald McCoy was decent, but Brian Price's injury issues leave him on the bubble. Either way, a team led in sacks by the immortal Stylez G. White needs help on the rush. Smith has been getting looked at by teams who would convert him to a 3-4 OLB, but in Tampa, he could keep a hand down and devote himself to hunting quarterbacks.

21. Kansas City Chiefs--G Danny Watkins, Baylor
He can play guard and take over for aging Brian Waters or kick out to tackle. As long as the Chiefs' line holds up, their offense could be very strong for years to come.

22. Indianapolis Colts--OT Nate Solder, Colorado
Hopefully, the Colts can finally get an offensive line pick right. Mike Pollak's been inconsistent, Tony Ugoh's already washed out. The ones that they get right (Jake Scott, Ryan Diem) are usually mid-round picks, but there's usually limited ceilings for those guys.

Solder's a giant who'll require a $20 cab ride for pass rushers to get to Peyton Manning. Plus, he's got the sheer bulk (6'8", 320, with a frame to add more) to finally allow Joseph Addai and Donald Brown to see what daylight looks like. Last year, I told the Colts they needed Rodger Saffold. They took Jerry Hughes. Saffold was a good LT for the Rams, protecting Sam Bradford's blind side. Hughes racked six tackles and left Bill Polian muttering that he should have taken Saffold. Just saying.
 
23. Philadelphia Eagles--CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado
Back-to-back Buffaloes here. Off-field concerns appear to be scaring a lot of teams off of Smith, but the Eagles are the franchise that took a shot at a convicted felon at quarterback. At 6'2" and 211, he's monstrous for a corner and can run with most receivers. Put him opposite Asante Samuel, and he'll get tested early and often. At least if a number-two corner is going to wash out, you get shown his flaws quickly, eh?

24. New Orleans Saints--RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
The Saints could go with Corey Liuget to pump up the run defense, but last season, the run D was middle of the pack. The run O was fifth-worst. Pierre Thomas is having issues making it through a season, Reggie Bush might be let go, and Chris Ivory could use some heavy competition to stay motivated. There may be interesting DT's like Stephen Paea, Marvin Austin, or Drake Nevis available on Friday.

25. Seattle Seahawks--QB Jake Locker, Washington
He's local, Pete Carroll's seen him first-hand, and Matt Hasselbeck's just a week or two younger than dirt. Their playoff run may actually do them more harm than good, as picking this low isn't all that good for a team coming off a 7-9 season, one that has this many needs.

26. Baltimore Ravens--DT Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple
Liuget or Wilkerson? It depends on: 1) whether the Ravens want a straight-up tackle to succeed Kelly Gregg and hedge their bet on Terrence "The Black Bob Paulson" Cody; or b) a player with the potential to line up at the end opposite Haloti Ngata. Wilkerson has that extra versatility that could give him the edge here.

27. Atlanta Falcons--DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
There are some medical concerns about Clayborn, just like there are about Bowers. This is another situation where the rookie gets some time to prove that he's in good health and capable of playing in the league before having to step in and start. Clayborn could eventually be a good successor to John Abraham.


28. New England Patriots--OLB Justin Houston, Georgia
He could be a dangerous pass rusher in Bill Belichick's defense. Between him and Watt, the Pats have opportunities to make their defense a lot fiercer... or they could peddle this pick to someone chasing a quarterback.

29. Chicago Bears--DT Corey Liuget, Illinois
If Liuget gets this far, the Bears will be dancing a jig all over their war room. He'll make a natural replacement for the released Tommie Harris. He could go anywhere from 14th to here, but there's no way he makes it past the Bears.

30. New York Jets--DE Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
The Jets need a pass rusher on their front three, someone who can actually pressure a quarterback without having to blitz extensively. Heyward shouldn't embarrass himself against the run, either.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers--CB Aaron Williams, Texas
Scouts are split as to whether Williams can be a corner or a free safety in the League. Ike Taylor's about to be a free agent and Ryan Clark could tear himself up at anytime smashing a receiver over the middle. If Williams can fill either spot, he's a fine pick here.

32. Green Bay Packers--OLB Brooks Reed, Arizona
The Pack had to get yeoman contributions from guys like Erik Walden, Frank Zombo, and Brad Jones once Nick Barnett got hurt last season. Reed could offer one more pass-rushing threat on a defense that already knows how to generate a little pressure.

This draft is going to draw a lot of "wow"s and probably a few "huh?"s. Let's see if El Profesor can make a power move on his draft prognostications. Eight picks within one spot is probably not all that far off from what Kiper and McShay manage, anyway.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

4 Quarters Radio: April 15 4th Quarter


The fourth-quarter curriculum for April 15:
--4Q's hockey correspondent Jimi Russell checks in to discuss some Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jimi goes in a surprising direction when asked what Game 1 was the best for him.
--Mack wants Jimi's thoughts on the Rangers-Capitals series, and Scott has to offer a boo.
--Scott springs one on Jimi, asking him what his day with the Stanley Cup would entail if he had been able to make it to the League.
--Jimi stays with one of his previous Finals picks, but is a bit shaky on the other one.
--Jimi offers an Epic Fail before hitting the road, throwing Kobe under the bus for gay-bashing a ref. Bobby finally disowns his favorite team's would-be savior and Mack reminds a Celtic to keep his eye on the ball. Logan ponders the wisdom of running from the cops, Drew wonders when Ozzie Guillen went off his medication, and Scott notes some ill-chosen words from a pitcher's wife. Logan also offers some words of wisdom for wives everywhere.

Featured music: "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" by Panic at the Disco.

4 Quarters Radio: April 15 3rd Quarter


The third-quarter curriculum for April 15:
--The fellas return to the NBA Playoffs talk, covering the rest of the first-round series and getting into the teams they expect to see in the Finals. Mack has an early start to the ascent of a new power in the West, while Andrew sees one last shot at glory for the league's oldest team.
--The trumpets herald a rousing game of Medal Stand, and Los Guys ponder their top candidates for NBA Coach of the Year. Mack works hard to be different, and presents a very worthy alternative candidate.

Featured music: "Goin' Down" by The Pretty Reckless.

4 Quarters Radio: April 15 2nd Quarter


The second-quarter curriculum for April 15:
--While the fellas wait for the call from MTSU football coach Rick Stockstill, they move into handicapping some of the NBA playoff series. Scott's despondent over the Pacers having to face the Bulls, and there's a surprising undercurrent of excitement for Philly against Miami.
--Once Coach Stock calls, Scott gets the questions right into spring practice. Stockstill discusses the quarterback competition and how the offense is improving in terms of ball security from last season's turnover-prone mess.
--Scott hounds the coach until he actually names a few guys who thrust themselves into discussion for starting spots. Also, Stock offers a possible successor for MTSU's ongoing line of dangerous pass rushers.
--New coordinators Willie Simmons and Steve Ellis get discussed in terms of their impact on their first spring in their positions.
--Finally, Scott asks the coach's opinion about his former receiver Garrett Andrews suing the NFL.
--The fellas skip the 10-minute warning and head straight into Whodaman. Bobby stays local, giving props to the MTSU baseball team for hanging tough against the top team in America. Mack shouts out to the MTSU lacrosse team (who knew?) while the others head to the pros. Andrew honors skill in cream-pie application and Logan gives love to a pitcher who can rip, while Scott gives respect to a coach who improved his team after losing a big name.

Featured music: "Will Do" by TV on the Radio.

4 Quarters Radio: April 15 1st Quarter


The first-quarter curriculum for April 15:
--Scott and Mack are joined by MTSU head men's basketball coach Kermit Davis. They discuss new recruits like forward Jacquez Rozier and the potential for other newcomers to change the team's offensive focus.
--Scott asks the coach to compare the size of next year's roster to any other he's coached over his career.
--New assistant coach Monte Towe is brought up for discussion, and Coach Davis breaks down what Towe's experience will bring to the staff.
--Davis discusses how this season will resonate in his mind, noting missed opportunities and the youth of the squad.
--Coach Davis discusses a NCAA-or-nothing mentality among the fan base and how they need to put less stock in what they read online.
--Once the coach is off the line, Scott and Mack stroll into baseball talk. Josh Hamilton's broken arm is the Injury of the Week, and the Prof and the Intern disagree on who's to blame for the overaggressive play.
--Finally, the discussion concludes with rankings of the top up-the-middle groups in baseball. Scott has a surprising reaction to the Braves being in the conversation, and Mack's equally surprising about Boston being out of the top 9.

Featured music: "The Afterlife" by Paul Simon. Stick around at the end for a brief snippet of the track, and help the show out by purchasing the full download if you like it.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

4 Quarters Radio: April 8 4th Quarter


The fourth-quarter curriculum for April 8:
--The fellas play a little game of "Who Said It" between Charlie Sheen and a backup tight end. The quotes alone are worth the price of admission.
--In further NFL comedy, Ben Roethlisberger's "religious beliefs" are examined. Bobby ponders whether or not Ben's fiancee is one of the 12 people on Earth who completely ignores the Internet.
--The fellas ponder a Sports Illustrated survey asking fans what they would do without football. Logan has an interesting theory about the distinction between "yard work" and "time with significant other."
--The lawsuit filed against the NFL by MTSU wide receiver Garrett Andrews draws a look. The guys examine whether they would do the same in his shoes.
--The Denver Broncos are said to be looking to draft a quarterback...or are they? The fellas weigh the possibility.
--In the Epic Fails, Bobby shouts out to one angry mother. Mack reminds folks not to step to Dominique Wilkins, while Logan gets political. Scott points out one of Bobby's Raiders coming up limp in the clutch.

Excised music: "My Peoples" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and Raheem DeVaughn.

4 Quarters Radio: April 8 3rd Quarter


The third-quarter curriculum for April 8:
--Scott asks Bobby who he'd book to replace Jon Fitch against B.J. Penn. Surprisingly, Bobby's most fearful for B.J.'s job. Also, Bobby expresses little surprise that ex-WEC fighters are getting headline slots, but he's also got an opinion on how those PPV's will sell. He gets himself into a bit of trouble along the way...you'll have to listen to find out how.
--Moving on to MLB, Scott and Mack ponder which teams are having meaningless starts to the season and which ones are actually signs of things to come. Of course, Mack's anxious to defend his Sox.

Excised music: "Future Starts Slow" by The Kills.

4 Quarters Radio: April 8 2nd Quarter


The second-quarter curriculum for April 8:
--NBA Players' Association head Billy Hunter and Commissioner David Stern stop by to give their respective sides in their looming labor dispute. David Stern's place among great dictators in history is also discussed.
--The twin lockouts, NBA and NFL, get compared to see which league will have a longer work stoppage.
--The Basketball Hall of Fame class got announced, and Scott quizzes Logan to see how many the casual fan recognizes. Spoiler: not many. Scott, for his part, has made peace with Dennis Rodman's enshrinement, but there is another candidate who got in at the expense of someone more deserving.
--Bobby and Mack wander in late and get their chance to weigh in on the dueling lockouts.
--In Whodaman, Bobby gives props to a vilified NBA star who is diversifying his portfolio. Logan gives it to a 10-year-old who made an NFL legend happy, and Scott offers respect to EA Sports for its teaching techniques.

Excised music: "Dig a Little Deeper" by Peter, Bjorn and John.

4 Quarters Radio: April 8 1st Quarter


The first-quarter curriculum for April 8:
--Scott's happy to be back on air after taking a week off for illness, and also happy to discuss his plans for the summer.
--With that out of the way, Scott and Logan get into the NCAA Tournament's ending, having mercifully little to say about the fugly title game. But there were a lot of great things to enjoy, and they're happy to throw those around.
--When they get to the worst game of the tournament, the guys hash out a difficult memory for Logan, but Scott mans up and admits that there was a topic on which he was wrong and Logan was right.
--With UConn winning the title, the question of whether or not the Big East got validated gets discussed.
--Logan is somewhat ambivalent over Cuonzo Martin getting hired to coach his Vols, and Scott offers facts to help cheer him up.

Excised music: "All You Need is Now" by Duran Duran.