Notes From Lombardi: "They Said It"

FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:

THEY SAID IT TODAY.....

FROM A.J. SMITH.... He does not like what he sees there, either. "I'm not very pleased with my own contributions over the last two years," Smith said.  "Personally, I critique myself like I do every year.  I need to do a better job."

You have to love the honesty expressed here by Smith, the Chargers GM.  I always thought when a team lost, or failed to meet the goals of the organization, that everyone needed to improve at their jobs.  If an organization gets a 10-percent improvement from everyone -- players, coaches, scouts, front office executives -- the organization will improve and overcome its problems.  The only way to improve is to admit a mistake and learn from it.  Hard to do for some in the NFL. 

FROM DAN LEONE..."I apologized for it," Leone said, according to the paper. "I apologized 20 million times.  I never bad-mouthed the organization before.  I made one mistake and they terminate me?  And they couldn't even bring me into the office to talk to me?  They had to do it over the phone.  At least look me in the eye.  To get done dirty like this, I can't believe it.  I'm devastated."

I read this story twice since I wasn’t sure really what happened.  At first, I thought the papers were just trying to sensationalize a non-story.  Dan Leone bad-mouthed the Eagles on a Facebook post for not re-signing Brian Dawkins and it cost him his job as a part-time worker.  To me, that seems harsh, but I guess you have to respect the rights and actions of the people paying your bills, or at least supplying income to your household.  Tough lesson for Dan to learn, but in his next job, he has to follow the golden rule: Two ears, one mouth, use them in proportion. 

FROM RUSS BRANDON... "From our standpoint,' Brandon said, "everything we do is a risk. I was criticized for the Marcus Stroud trade last year, but it turned out to be a pretty good deal for us. Some people have been asleep for the past 10 years. We haven't made the playoffs. We owe it to our fans, and I owe it to the owner, to try to improve our team to finally get back into the playoffs. We needed another playmaker on offense, and we think this opportunity gives us the chance to be more explosive than we are right now. You roll the dice in this business sometimes. We think it's an acceptable risk.'

Bills COO Russ Brandon has let everyone know he’s the man in charge in Buffalo.  I would offer him the greatest advice someone once gave me.  As I sat on the set of “The NFL Today,” getting ready to do my segment with Jim Nantz on what was going on in the NFL, I had a ton of gossip about what GM was getting fired and what GM might be going to other teams. And my man said to me, “Michael, this is all great stuff and really important to you and the people in your world.  However, to most Americans, they do not care who their GM might be.  They only care who the coach and quarterback are.”  Well said. 

FROM TRA THOMAS... "Hopefully, I'm one of the key positions that's going to come in and help turn this team around," Thomas said.  “I have several years left in the tank. I take good care of myself. I'm always in the weight room training. ... I put in a goal to play 20 years, so I want to come in and play as long as I possibly can. I feel like if I continue to take care of myself it can definitely happen."

The Jags must have been very unhappy with Kalif Barnes.  They got older at a position and have no interest in bringing Barnes back.  Barnes was suppose to sign with the Raiders, as head coach Tom Cable was working hard to get him in the building, but someone put a big halt to that idea.  As for the Jags and Thomas, I see this move as protection in case they’re not able to draft an offensive tackle in the first round.  Thomas has seen better days as a player, and to think he might be able to start 16 games is a stretch.  I believe that no matter what comes from the Jacksonville PR machine, it has to draft a tackle in the first round, even with the signing of Thomas. 

FROM OZZIE NEWSOME... ”We're not done yet. I can tell you that," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "The phones are still hot."

No fan must lose sight that this is the time when most personnel men can find the right players and improve the roster.  This is the most fruitful time to find players that can fit your system and play a role on the team.  If you are good at knowing the talent level of the league, you can really make your mark.  Don’t forget, it takes talent to evaluate talent.  It’s not a guessing game.  The Ravens will keep working and finding players to enhance their roster before the draft.  

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