Philip Fulmer a.k.a. Schreddy Kreuger

Toughness.

By the end of 2006, Tennessee head coach was heard to wonder whether his team had enough. If the Vols are to make it through a murderous 2007 schedule, they’re going to need gallons of it.

Coming off their fifth loss in seven postseason appearances following a thumping at the hands of a decent but not spectacular Penn State squad in the Outback Bowl, Fulmer put his players through the ringer in the spring. That is, those who were on the field.

The notable absence from spring practice was starting QB Erik Ainge, who finally decided that listening to noted QB guru and Vols offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe was a good idea and had a breakout year in ‘06. After noticing swelling in his right knee during the start of spring practice, an MRI revealed a partial tear of the signal-caller’s meniscus, an injury he may have sustained in high school. Doctors removed the meniscus (drastically reducing the recovery time) and Ainge resumed workouts in May and is expected to be the starter in week 1. If Ainge can stay out of his own head and keep that right knee out of harm’s way, he could be the SEC’s most consistent quarterback. With a fairly young offensive line, Ainge may have to make some plays on the run and that knee could become a problem. Vols’ fans could see backup Jonathan Crompton at some point during the season should Ainge’s knee become problematic.

108 yards per game. That was the season-long production of UT’s rushing triumvirate at running back that included Arian Foster, LaMarcus Coker and Montario Hardesty. Production that was good for 10th in the conference, 96th in the country and the Vols worst since 1964. Though plagued by injuries and off-the-field problems (Foster was arrested in November and Coker was banished from a week of bowl practice), the trio of running backs could have a big year in ‘07 and have to bump up their production if the Vols are to be a presence in the SEC East.

No unit on this team has more to prove that their receiving corps. Gone are Robert Meachem and Bret Smith and a significant portion of the Vols offensive production; the three combined for more than 2,400 receiving yards. Fulmer will need Lucas Taylor, Quintin Hancock and Austin Rogers to step up and fill those vacancies. Expect to see Juco transfer Kenny O’Neal and freshman Brent Vinson get some time in the slot as well.

The one thing that impressed me most about the Vols last season was their defense. Against Cal, the unit played fast and fearless and really made the highly-touted Golden Bears offense look soft and ineffective. Gaps in the defensive line (particularly at defensive tackle) could make the Vols a little vulnerable against the run and make the linebacking corps’ jobs a little more difficult if they have guards and tackles in their faces on 1st and 2nd down.

The success of John Chavis’ unit could rest solely on the production of his linebacking corps. If junior Jerod Mayo can get his knee healthy, he could very well find himself as a Butkus finalist at season’s end. Simply put, when healthy, Mayo is a monster, accounting for 83 tackles, 12.5 for loss and five sacks, including three in week one against Cal. Ryan Karl and Rico McCoy will have to continue to develop and the unit will need Adam Myers-White and even true freshman Chris Donald, who some considered to be the best high-school linebacker in the country, to work into the rotation and log some minutes.

The Smurf Patrol. The name affectionately given to senior corner Antonio Gaines (5-9, 180) and sophomore Marsalous Johnson (5-9, 180). Gaines and Johnson will split time at corner with senior Jonathan Hefney, the unit’s only returning starter, moving back to corner after playing last year at free safety. The trio (all of whom are under 5′10″) could have a difficult time matching up against the conference’s bigger receivers. With the departure of senior corner Roshaun Fellows in April for violating team rules, Vols fans could get a glimpse of the future if true freshman Eric Berry, Gatorade Player of the Year in Georgia, can work his way into the rotation as a nickel back. Berry could also see some time on the offensive side of the ball as well but there’s little doubt that Fulmer will need him in the secondary.

In the SEC it really is all about the schedule and Tennessee’s is as tough as any. They open the season at Cal, who will look to avenge that year’s throttling, and Jeff Tedford will field a team that is better than last year’s team, despite the loss of running back Marshawn Lynch to the NFL. All roads will run through Gainesville this year, if Tennessee can pull out a win at The Swamp, they can almost assuredly punch their tickets to Atlanta for the SEC Championship.

Bottom Line prediction: 10-2. While I think it’s possible that the Vols go into The Swamp and beat the Gators at home, I don’t think it’s likely. Another loss could come in week 1 at Berkeley against Cal or in Tuscaloosa against Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. I think in his first year, Saban will be looking for a banner win. He won’t get it against LSU, he could get it against UT. 

No, seriously…

Bringing new meaning to meals on wheels.

A woman who hates spiders is saved by them.

Jon Lovitz and Andy Dick threw down.. yes, they’re both still alive. Who knew?

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USAToday on quarterbacks who need to have a big ‘07.

The NFL is officially back. That is, if you care about the Jets rookies reporting to Hofstra for orientation.

It is likely all three of the Browns top draft picks will hold out. Seriously, the NFL needs to step in and do something about this. I’m so tired of rookies holding out of training camp. Get in camp, be a professional. They ought to structure rookie salaries the way the NBA does and quit letting rookie holdouts dominate NFL training camp news.

A fun story from the Purdue student newspaper (Trust me, I’m as shocked as you are.. who knew they knew how to write cohesive sentences up there) about a group of Purdue football players waiting in line at Wal-Mart for the new NCAA Football 2008.

Wilbon on Becks.

It looks as though Chiefs fans are siding with Larry Johnson on his contract dispute with the franchise.

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Mandatory Vick News…

The AJC’s Mark Bradley says there’s no easy way out for Falcons.

ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli says the NFL and the Falcons may ask the quarterback to take a paid leave of absence.

Nice cartoon in today’s AJC by political cartoonist Mike Luckovich.

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Well-Rounded News…

Lighters will be allowed back on airplanes. Unreal.

New CEO of Revision3, parent company of Diggnation, talks about the company’s future.

A smaller, cheaper iPhone may be in the works. And in related news, I still don’t care.

CNET teaches you how to ghost hunt.

Young adults and teens aren’t reading the news. Wow, great stuff, guys! Really!

You’re less likely to die in a plane crash if you’re sitting in the back.

This guy is the new Green Hornet:

Huffington Post’s Tony Sachs talks about losing his wife to Harry Potter.

Top 10 things you can do with your time before reading the new Harry Potter.

The New York Post’s Top 100 cover songs of all-time.

Newsweek’s Devin Gordon on the Emmy nominations.

With the start of college football season about a month away, the Bottom Line will be looking at and previewing all of the teams in the SEC to determine which has the best change of winning the league and possibly the conference’s second consecutive BCS Championship.

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FLORIDA 

I wonder if Urban Meyer took a look at his depth chart after the national championship game and starting crossing off names. And when he was done, do you think he took a look at what was left of his defense, which was arguably the stalwart of that championship squad, and said, “Oh crap?”

Offensively, the Gators will dynamic and explosive. No surprise. This is going to be Tim Tebow’s team but some have to be worried when Meyer says things like this:

“I’d like two quarterbacks,” Meyer said. “Dan (Mullen) and I have talked about it. In this conference, with the style of offense we play and the styles of defense, the quarterback will get hit.”

He can’t be serious. And if he is, who is the foil to Tebow? Will it be Cameron Newton? Or Gatorade National Player of the Year John Brantley? Or what about juco transfer Bryan Waggener? If I were Urban Meyer, I’d be careful not to overthink last year’s success. At some point, your offense needs a proven signal caller to provide consistency and continuity to the unit. The Gators are not deep at running back and they haven’t been in Meyer’s tenure in Gainesville and expect that trend to continue. Tebow will have no shortage of weapons with Percy Harvin, Andre Caldwell and Louis Murphy lined up wide and with four of five offensive lineman returning, he should have plenty of time to chuck the ball around. He will have the opportunity to win or lose a lot of games for this team.

Defensively is where it gets really shaky for the Gators. The only defensive lineman the Gators are returning from last year’s squad is Derrick Harvey, who lead the Gators in sacks, tackles for loss and fumble recoveries. They’ll have to find an end on the other side to prevent Harvey from being consistently double-teamed every down. Gone are Brandon Siler, Earl Everett, Reggie Nelson, Reggie Lewis and Ryan Nelson. The Gators are horribly shallow at the defensive back and linebacker positions and they’re one injury to a starter away from being as porous as a fish net. Florida isn’t going to be grinding out any games this year.

The Gators play the weakest road schedule in the SEC (LSU, Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina) and play host to Auburn, Tennessee and Florida State. If Florida makes it through their visit to Death Valley on Oct. 6 undefeated, Urban Meyer could be looking at another run at the BCS title. But with a defense like they one they’ve got, I wouldn’t bet on it.

Bottom Line Prediction:  10-2. I don’t see the Gators having the defense to make it out of Death Valley with a win and I think they drop a game to either Tennessee or Auburn but not both.

With all of the Michael Vick news that is abounding, I don’t have much room in my head for anything else. Hopefully, tomorrow my news reader will be free of any and all Vick and dogfighting related stories and I’ll have my blogging life back.

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No, seriously…

Don’t let firefighters from Braintree, Mass. into your house.

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Though he’s not playing, the focus of MLS fans is very much on David Beckham — and if you read the quote at the bottom of this article, it appears not everyone is stoked about it.

The opening of Madden 2008 features Eagles safety Brian Dawkins (a.k.a. “Dawk,” “Weapon X) and makes me want to run through a brick wall.

Steelers guard Alan Faneca says this will be his last year with the Steelers. Is this guy as irreplaceable as he seems to think he is?

The NHL ways from being a mainstream success says paper in a city without an NHL team.

The Tennessean takes a fun look at the mascots of the SEC.

The AJC’s Tony Barnhart ranks the SEC’s best new assistants.

Pro athletes see degrees as key to life after sports.

Apparently Hollywood is pretty excited about having Becks in town.

The Denver Post’s John Henderson: Beckham’s talent gets lost in the circus that is the player’s life.

Apparently, everyone and their brother is reviewing NCAA Football 2008. Personally, I love the game on the 360. I realize it’s not perfect but I think the graphics are great, the game does play a little slow but all of the interfaces are great, recruiting is a blast and the dynasty mode with ESPN.com is pretty amazing.

Is Barry Bonds boycotting the Worldwide Leader?

Japanese reporter gets baseball writers association membership stripped after getting Clemens’ autograph.

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Well-rounded news…

The latest on two upcoming Kevin Smith films.

Some stills and video from the shoot of “Dark Knight” the sequel to Batman Begins have gotten out. I think I peed a little when I saw these.

Entertainment Weekly has listed its top 10 “small roles with a big impact” for actors who played small parts in movies that made the films they were in. A notable abscence from this list is Kevin Spacey as John Doe from David Fincher’s classic “Se7en.” Oh yeah and Coldplay’s cameo at the end of Shaun of the Death. Where can I get my tickets to ZombAid?

Bottom Line fave, Arctic Monkeys, are hitting the US this fall. My girlfriend will be happy to know that while she may have dodged an evening with Bloc Party, she’ll be accompanying me to the Monkeys gig in New Orleans. Put on your dancin’ shoes!

Harry Potter fans everywhere are pissed at the New York Times for reviewing the last Harry Potter book before it hit store shelves.

Drew Carey to be the new host of the Price is Right? What else does he have to do besides listen to Wayne Brady sing and count money?

Imagine all the fake legs you could buy for $40 million!

Everything you ever needed to know about life, you can learn from watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Brian Williams loves Interpol and Feist and She Wants Revenge (who sound exactly like Interpol).

It looks as if the NFL is going to let the legal proceedings play themselves out (something they didn’t do for Pacman Jones) but I’m slowly becoming tired of this story. None the less, here’s more stories if you’re not as tired as I am.

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The Vick story has put the underground world of dogfighting in the public light.

Vick’s future and marketability are very much in jeopardy.

Michael Vick could still face charges in Virginia.

The New York Daily News’ Lisa Olson says the Vick case has helped shed light on an inhumane sub-culture.

With indictment, Vick has put the NFL in a real tight spot.

NFL to let legal proceedings determine the facts.

Baltimore Sun’s Mark Schmuck says commish has enough facts to suspend Vick indefinitely.

The Kansas City Star’s Jason Whitlock says Michael Vick can evolve from the hip-hop, prison culture.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said based on previous cases, Michael Vick has a good chance of beating the rap.

The AJC talks to Falcons fans about the indictment.

The AJC’s Jeff Schultz wonders if there is any conceivable way that Michael Vick didn’t know what was going on at his home in Virginia.

Furman Bisher’s open letter to Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

Michael Vick lands ‘no-nonsense’ judge.

NFL should bench Michael Vick now, says Dallas Morning News columnist.

Ditto, says Denver Post.

Vick is league’s latest PR nightmare, LA Times says.

AJC’s Mark Bradley says Vick’s image damaged — but not beyond repair.

Vick story crashes Humane Society website.

Baltimore Sun’s David Steele says Michael Vick deserves everything he gets, guilty or not.

With all of the Michael Vick news, you could ever want below, Today’s Line will be (thankfully) free of any Vick-related stories.

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No, seriously…

Dressing monkeys in diapers with the beautification of a city in mind.

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The phenomenon of 7-0n-7.

The wife of troubled Devil Ray Elijah Dukes makes some very strong accusations in the couple’s divorce proceedings.

Duke football turns to the university’s business school for help with program.

The Baltimore Sun’s Rick Maese thinks Beckham’s arrival will have little effect on the perception of the MLS stateside.

A Virginia Tech golfer uses tragedy as motivation to win British Amateur.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association has no plans to test the state’s high school athletes for steroids. I think this is a huge mistake. As someone who played high school football in the state of Indiana I can tell you that some kids are looking for anyway to get a competitive advantage and get noticed by college scouts. What you don’t want is kids taking these easy-to-get OTC supplements and playing drugstore cowboy and taking whatever they want, however they want. It’s a shame that the state has opted not to join Florida, New Jersey and Texas on the forefront of this issue.

The State (Columbia, S.C.) looks at the effect the Confederate flag has on the state’s athletes.

Former Houston Oilers remember their first training camp in Nashville.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Tony Barnhart says Arkansas has the SEC’s easiest schedule.

LeBron James will host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live in the fall.

ESPN’s Steve Davis says the competition in the MLS is tougher than most people think.

USAToday’s takes a pre-season look at the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Boston Globe’s Peter May is not too impressed with the Magic signing forward Rashard Lewis.

The Worldwide Leader’s Gene Wojciechowski talks about the Beckham press conference last Friday.

Former Worldwide Leader talking head, and one of the Bottom Line’s most self-important people in sports, Dan Patrick to be brought to you in every way, shape and form.

The NFL has officially lost it.

Minnesota coach Tim Brewster has dismissed four Golden Gophers from the team in connection to an ongoing sexual assault case. Hmm, no one’s been convicted but the coach still had the integrity to kick them off the team. Getting any ideas, Arthur Blank?

Gary Player says there is steroid use in golf.

Cell phones have been banned from this year’s British Open.

CBS Sportsline’s Mike Freeman ranks the top 10 dirtiest college football programs.

Minnesota Wild goon Derek Boogaard teaches little kids how to properly throw down on the ice. What a complete moron this guy is. Any parent of a young hockey player with a functioning brain wouldn’t think of taking their kids to this stupid thing.

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Well-rounded news…

The last installment of the Harry Potter series hits eyeballs a week early.

You might want to re-think taking that homemade iPod charger through airport security.

Wired’s Epicenter blog wonders if Digg will shut down posts and comments with the address to the pirated copy of the last Harry Potter book.

iPhones shut down Duke University wi-fi.

The New York Daily News’ Jack Mathews lists his favorite flicks of ‘07 so far.

A nice look at VH1’s weekly skankfest “Rock of Love.”

Tim Russert would love to have Bruce Springteen on “Meet the Press”.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is saying there are no Facebook IPO plans — yet.

Zach Braff and creator Bill Lawrence has confirmed that this will be the last season of Bottom Line fave ‘Scrubs’.

Fox’s ‘House’ is getting some new blood for season four.

Michael Vick’s in trouble.

Following the announcement that the Falcons quarterback had been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to his alleged involvement with a dogfighting ring run out of a home he owned in Virginia, many are wondering what the quarterback’s future will be.

I was watching Mike & Mike this morning over my morning bowl of Cheerios and Greeny, possibly still riding the high of the pair’s Letterman appearance last night, said he didn’t think the NFL should suspend Michael Vick and then when posed with the obvious Pacman Jones comparison, Greeny kind of stumbled through an answer and didn’t know what to say.

Michael Vick should be suspended for at least half of the season, in keeping with the NFL’s new personal conduct policy.

The last thing the NFL and commish Roger Goodell need at this point is to perpetuate a perception that the league’s stars are above the law. They suspended Pacman Jones for all of 2007 and I’m fine with that, I’ve said before that Jones is a certifiable menace to society and I firmly believe that to be the case. But let’s remember that Pacman Jones, while having numerous run-ins with the law, has not been convicted of anything. He’s been charged with a crime, just like Vick has, and thusly the Falcons quarterback should receive a similar punishment.

Since coming into the league, the NFL has sort of tied its wagon to Vick in the hopes that the freakishly athletic (but certainly underwhelming as a quarterback) Vick and now it needs to take a stand. Being indicted by a federal grand jury is nothing to take lightly and given the evidence and allegations that I’ve read, the league would do well to suspend Vick and send a very clear, unmistakable message to its players that playing in the NFL is a privilege and not a right.

What frustrates me most about Michael Vick is that the league has made him a face of their product and the Falcons have certainly banked a lot of their future on Vick despite the fact that he has NEVER shown the maturity or leadership qualities necessary to lead a Fourth of July parade, let alone an NFL franchise or the league itself.

After watching an interview a couple weeks ago, Vick claimed that Atlanta loved Michael Vick and that he wasn’t worried about any of this. He may very well think he’s untouchable — the NFL has to show him that he’s not.

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Of course coverage of this story is everywhere but here are some of the highlights that I’ve found.

Straight ahead story in USAToday about the indictment, including a link to a PDF of the document itself.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Steve Wyche said Vick has put the Falcons in a very precarious situation.

What Atlantans and Falcons fans are saying about Michael Vick.

Yahoo! Sports’ Jason Cole says Vick’s indictment will translate into a suspension.

The Washington Post’s Michael Wilbon says this is one problem that Michael Vick can’t elude.

The Fanhouse wonders if Michael Vick didn’t also break the NFL’s no-gambling policy by throwing huge sums of money down on dogfights.

The New York Daily News’ Gary Myers says Goodell must immediately suspend Michael Vick.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Mark Bradley says the Falcons’ quarterback is no longer the face of the franchise or the league, he’s just another fallen star.

The Houston Chronicle’s Jerome Solomon wonders what Vick’s legacy will be.

Dallas Morning News’ Rick Gosselin says it’s too early for Goodell to take what some deem as the necessary action.

MSNBC’s Michael Ventre says the league can’t wait for the verdict and that Vick deserves a lifetime ban.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Bob Lipper says Michael Vick is done.

SI’s Peter King says the league will proceed very cautiously.

Fresh off a trip to Africa, the AJC is reporting that Falcons owner Arthur Blank will meet with league officials to determine the franchise’s next course of action.

The New York Times ponders what happens next in the Vick saga.

Newsweek’s Mark Starr says Vick has the criminal right to remain innocent until proven guilty but he doesn’t have the right to remains the Falcons QB.

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Few have done a better job of covering this national story like the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where Vick has remained a divisive figure almost since his arrival in A-Town. The front page of today’s AJC sums up the local importance of this story.

In the absence of football or any other sport that I care about, my weekday television viewing has been.. let’s just say subpar. Last night for example, the girlfriend and I watched the Rock of Love premiere (which is kind of like a really skanky, drunken trainwreck you can’t help but watch), the finale of America’s Next Top Model (not sure which circuit, not sure it’s a good sign that I know that the seasons on ANTM are actually called “circuits”) and then watched Making the (not to be be mistaken with Da) Band 4, where Diddy’s theatrics are starting to wear me out. I like how every time he pulls up to the band’s apartment in his Phantom, they play some really awesome hip-hop song to announce him. I think I’d like that same service for myself. I’m going to hire a band to follow me around and play AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” for me every time I walk into a room or maybe Bloc Party’s “Helicopter.”

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No, seriously…

More than 500 people are reporting symptoms of food poisoning after Taste of Chicago.

A Florida man called 911 because he was surrounded by police and needed help.

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The Titans are finding that replacing a felonious defensive back is harder than it might seem.

The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Fry examines the idiocy of the NFL’s new 45-second rule.

Is there beef between Matt Leinart and Ben Roethlisberger?

With the Bobcats trading for Jason Richardson and re-signing Gerald Wallace, the Fanhouse wonders if there’s room for Adam Morrison in Charlotte?

After signing defensive tackle Cory Redding to a contract that doesn’t make sense, the Lions will likely be facing a holdout from its top pick Calvin Johnson.

Edgerrin James is ditching his gold teeth.

In 14 months, at least six Baltimore-area high school athletes were KIA in Iraq.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Kathleen Nelson looks at some possible NFL reality shows to hold you over until Week 1.

Has Barry Bonds caused a riff on Fox’s baseball telecasts?

Great story in the Kansas City Star about how fans punctuate milestone moments in their lives in stadiums.

The Oklahoman’s John Rohde on what he thinks will keep him entertained until the start of football season.

Fun story in the Denver Post today about celebrity golf tournaments.

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Well-rounded news…

Apple has filed a patent for a backlit trackpad.

Broadband speed in the U.S. stinks.

The first four episodes of fourth season of The Office will be an hour long.

Is NBC revamping American Gladiators?

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has a unique way of dealing with the paparazzi.

Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters

After reading Grant Wahl’s SI cover story on the stateside arrival of English megalostar David Beckham, I had some more thoughs on Beckham’s arrival but more specifically on Major League Soccer and how it could be successful in the states.

The reality of the MLS is that it will never be able to compete for the world’s best talent with the European clubs. Financially, it just won’t work, there isn’t enough money in the league. That’d be like the Lansing Lugnuts getting into a bidding war over A-Rod with the Yankees. Where the MLS may be able to become successful is as a sort of farewell tour for Europe’s best players who may be entering the twilight of their career.

Imagine Major League Soccer with the likes of Beckham, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Zidane and German keeper extraordinaire Oliver Kahn. Interested? Maybe not but it will certainly attract the attention of the passive America soccer fan who is not currently watching MLS and that’s who the league needs to target. It needs to target the high school kid in Chicago who loves soccer but opts to watch the EPL or La Liga because the product in his own backyard isn’t any good. There will be very few complete MLS converts just because David Beckham is playing in LA. What this league needs is more star power. Beckham is a good start but the league has to continue to recruit and sign the world’s best talent if it is to survive in this country.

I feel the need to sort of blow one perception completely out of the water. As you may have been aware, ESPN aired its psuedo-award show, the ESPYs, last night (I was aware but was watched Rock of Love with Bret Michaels anyway). I just heard one of its talking heads on the radio, patting the network on the back and suggesting that the ESPYs had finally arrived and was “The Oscars or the Emmys of Sports.”

No notion could possibly be more preposterous. To suggest that the ESPYs mean serve any other function than to further exalt ESPN to its rightful place as the Worldwide Leaders in Sports is completely ridiculous. Say some punt returner wins an ESPY for Play of the Year. If that same player were to go to his respective team when his contracted expired and say, “Hey, I think I deserve to make this much as an ESPY winner.” Chances are he’d get laughed out of the room. Now if an actor won an Oscar or an Emmy, their value to studios or networks increases exponentially and it can be used as a bargaining chip. The ESPYs are nothing more than a completely contrived product of ESPN and should not be taken seriously in any way, shape or form.

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No, seriously…

You should really get rid of any drugs on your person before asking the cops for a ride home.

A Florida woman complained to a cop that a man had sold her bad crack.

A man crashed into a South Carolina police officer with 43 pounds of marijuana in his car.

Telemarketing isn’t for everyone.

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Newsweek’s Devin Gordon questions the role ESPN plays in today’s sports landscape.

Carson Palmer points out some of Ed Reed’s weaknesses as a safety.

NFL commish Roger Goodell reduced the 4-game suspension of Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen to just two games to match his two drunk driving arrests.

New Orleans is trying to convince the NFL to move the NFL Draft to the Big Easy.

South Carolina freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia is real close to getting himself kicked off the team. This kid can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble and as far as character issues are concerned, he has to raise about every red flag there is. I guess if you can throw a football 60 yards on the fly, it doesn’t matter if you key a professor’s car.

The finale of the Fanhouse’s best quarterbacks of the SEC.. guess who’s number 1?

On the night of the NBA draft, the New Jersey Nets reportedly passed on a deal that would have sent Jermaine O’Neal to the Nets for Richard Jefferson, Nenad Krstic and Jason Collins.

Madden champions might be awarded championship rings.

The Baton Rouge Advocate’s Scott Rabalais warns not to expect any changes to the BCS anytime soon.

A nice story about Deion Sanders in today’s Dallas Morning News.

The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is expecting 800 to 1,000 corporate jets to descend on area airports when the Super Bowl is played in February.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who hates ESPN’s stupid ‘Who’s Now?’ tournament.

Sports blog Awful Announcing explains why so many people hate ESPN.

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Well-rounded news…

Slate questions Toyota’s “Little Deviants” ad campaign. I felt the same way the author of this piece does when I first saw this spot. It was before a movie and I was sitting there thinking, “Wow, this is really violent and inappropriate.” I think whoever greenlighted this campaign could end up paying for it with their job.

Robert De Niro’s next foray into directing will be a depiction of the 1949 Chinese Revolution.

Fox is keeping a very tight lid on the new Simpsons Movie and most critics won’t see the film until three days before it hits movie theatres everywhere. I’ll be very interested to see how this film does. I don’t think that anyone I know watches the Simpsons with any regularity but I still think the popularity of the series is undeniable and I think the movie will do very well… not Harry Potter well.. but it will rake in some box office bucks..

Johanna Bennett, ex-girlfriend of Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner, talks about how the pair co-wrote the band’s infectious “Fluorescent Adolescent.”

The fourth season of Bottom Line fav Top Chef will be shot in Chicago.

Bravo will premiere eight, one-hour episodes of “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style,” starting in September. They’ve ordered another season of Project Runway but last I’d heard it was not certain that Gunn would return for a fourth season. Just a memo to Bravo, no more Shear Genius or Top Design, no one’s watching and those shows are garbage.

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