FROM MICHAEL LOMBARDI:
QUOTE/STORY OF THE WEEK...
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
Washington Irving, American writer called the first American man of letters. Best known for the short stories “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” (1783-1859).
A loving daughter from West Virginia, Anna Jarvis is recognized as a “Founder of Mothers Day” and “Mother of Mothers Day.” Anna kept the word of her activist mother, Mrs. Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, who once expressed a wish that someone should strive to provide mothers their due recognition. After her mother’s death in 1905, Anna's determination became strong, and she, along with several supporters, started lobbying for the official holiday of Mother’s Day by writing letters to people in power. To celebrate Mothers Day, Anna began to send her mother’s favorite flowers, carnations, to her local church, requesting that people wear them in honor of their mothers. The idea gained immense popularity over the years, and in 1910, West Virginia became the first state to recognize a Mother’s Day holiday. On May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY...
THINGS WE LEARNED LAST WEEK IN THE NFL...
1. The Brett Favre Saga continues. We learned that Favre might come back, and he might not come back. We learned that this story is not going to go away now or in the near future. We learned that poor Scott Hansen of NFL Network and Rachel Nichols of ESPN might be spending more time at the Hattiesburg, Miss., airport. We learned that, in all likelihood, there has not been a decision by either the Vikings or Brett. In every communication I’ve had with people close to Favre, I get same answer: “He’s retired”.
2. Marvin Harrison was in the news last week when a report came out that he was going to retire. However, his agent has gone on the record saying he’s not going to retire and would still love to play. Unfortunately for Harrison, there are not many teams interested in bringing him back right now, if at all. Harrison will be on every team’s emergency list this fall. After the first game of the 2009 season, NFL teams will no longer have to guarantee a full year’s salary for any veteran player on the roster, at which point some teams might consider him. If he doesn’t play this year, Harrison can always reflect on the fact he had a tremendous career and leaves the game with the No. 1 prize of all -- a Super Bowl ring.
3. A small trade took place between the Rams and the Bengals last week. The Rams sent former second-round pick Brian Leonard to the Bengals for Orien Harris, a defensive tackle the Bengals acquired last year off the waiver wire. I’m not sure either team benefited from this trade, as Leonard is the kind of back who doesn’t have a position. He’s is not physical enough to be a fullback nor athletic enough to be a runner. Harris will provide depth for the Rams’ defensive front if he can make the team. His skill set will fit with their new defensive scheme, but he will need to step up his game. This trade, along with the release of Pisa Tinoisamoa, reminds Rams fans of the poor drafting they’ve done the past three years and why they’ve picked second overall the last two years. The 2006 draft is killing the Rams right now. They had three No. 3s along with a first and second. However, none of those players is a quality starter and some are not even on the team right now. Here are the names and draft rounds: 1. CB Tye Hill, Clemson; 2. TE Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado; 3. DT Claude Wroten, LSU; 3. LB Jon Alston, Stanford; 3. TE Dominique Byrd, USC. That’s five picks that might have produced five starters had they been used correctly. If the Rams had been better at the draft, they might not be in this mess.
4. This is really a tragic story concerning Lions defensive tackle Grady Jackson involving his brother and the shooting death of the brother’s girlfriend when they visited Grady in Detroit last week. Javorris Jackson was arrested in the woman’s shooting death at a hotel early last Sunday morning. Jackson, 28, allegedly shot Courtney Solomon, 26, before turning the gun on himself at an extended-stay hotel in Dearborn, Mich., where Grady was staying during the Lions’ mini -camp. Jackson is charged with first-degree murder and a felony firearms offense. He remained hospitalized Thursday, receiving treatment for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest, police said.
5. Drew Rosenhaus can Twitter. With the whole world immersed in the Twitter sensation, Rosenhaus is now giving updates on Twitter in the same manner he used to send multi-faxes to NFL teams. Being an agent is all about being able to communicate and get your players’ names in front of teams to help them gain employment. Join his Twitter page and learn firsthand whom he’s promoting to NFL teams. And while you’re at it, join us at the Post on our Twitter pages and, of course, on Facebook.
THINGS I HEARD AROUND THE NFL...
1. My phone was on fire last week with information about mini-camps and what players looked great, especially the draft picks. Not sure I’m buying this positively or negatively. The camps are just that -- camps -- and they’re a fresh look at the players, but to make a clear determination right now would be premature. However, one person I respect greatly who knows pro football inside and out, having played the game, told me that Mark Sanchez is the real deal -- the real deal.
2. The pension issue in the NFL is a great and growing concern in coaching circles. Colts offensive line coach Howard Mudd has retired, and now friends of Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore are telling me that he will make it official this week and announce his retirement. Moore wants to work through the problem with the Colts, and they’ve allowed him the time he needs, but the problem is bigger than just the Colts and Moore. Moore is eligible to take his full pension in a lump-sum payment now, but that option may not exist after this year because the value of the fund has decreased.
3. Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News is one of the best football writers covering the NFL. He does a great analysis of special teams rankings at the end of each season that all special team coaches covet. His analysis of the draft is also outstanding, and he always uncovers great nuggets. This year, while we were discussing the draft, Rick had a great observation. This year, 43 players were drafted who did not get invited to the NFL Combine – the highest number ever. The Bears and the Patriots drafted the most, selecting four each, and the Patriots picked the first non-Combine player, Sebastian Vollmer, an offensive tackle from the University of Houston, in the second. In the past, players like Patriots wideout Wes Welker and Giants defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora were not invited. One of the best players I was involved in drafting, and who belongs in the Hall of Fame, was 49ers defensive end Charles Haley (see “Remember When” below), who was not invited in 1986. Each year, this happens more often than NFL teams would like. If you’re a player and don’t get invited to the Combine, don’t worry. There are plenty of them in the NFL.
4. Based on my conversations, the Kansas City Chiefs’ draft has many league executives curious – not about the quality of the draft, as that will take some time to determine, but about the character element, a signature and requirement of the building of the New England Patriots. The fact that the Chiefs selected some players with off-the-field issues has executives asking me, “How does character fit in Kansas City now?”
5. My good friend Dom Anile is leaving the NFL and will no longer work with the Indy Colts as a senior consultant on player personnel. He’s one of the very good people in the NFL who did a great job and chose to remain behind the scenes, never sharing the spotlight. Bill Polian, the Colts president, said in a statement, “He played a major role in our success and in the development of an outstanding department and staff. We will miss him greatly. On a personal level, I will miss him greatly as well. He is one of my closest friends in football." I wish Dom all the best. One of my best memories of Dom does not come from working with him but from being a player on a team Dom’s CW Post teams played. While I was at Hofstra, we played Post all the time. But as Post got better and Hofstra began downsizing, we took some major beatings. Eventually, the series was called off, and we played the men from Post in the last game of our series. It was a Friday night, and it was going to be an easy win for them, but for some inexplicable reason, we played our best first half and kept the game competitive. At halftime, we went into our locker room, which had a very thin wall separating the visiting room. We could all hear Dom going nuts on his team and reading them the riot act, which in some part felt like a victory for all of us. But we proceeded to go out and lay an egg in the second half and were soundly beaten. The sounds of Dom I would hear up close and personal, but that memory never left me. Enjoy retirement, Dom. It’s well deserved.
BOOK OF THE WEEK...
This book is a great read for people who love to use events in history as a learning tool. In April 1961, President John F. Kennedy made the decision to authorize U.S. government assistance for the Bay of Pigs invasion -- an attempt by 1,400 Cuban exiles to overthrow the Castro regime. Three days after the brigade of rebels landed on the coast of Cuba, nearly all of them had been killed or captured by Castro's troops. As Kennedy recognized the dreadful consequences of his decision to support the invasion, he asked his advisors, "How could I have been so stupid to let them go ahead?" The president and his advisers certainly didn't lack brains, but the Bay of Pigs decision-making process had many flaws. Veteran officials from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) argued forcefully for the invasion, and they filtered the information and analysis presented to Kennedy. The proponents of the invasion also excluded lower-level State Department officials from the deliberations for fear they might expose their plan's weaknesses and risks. Throughout the discussions, the president and his Cabinet members often deferred to the CIA officials, who appeared to be the experts on the matter, and chose to downplay their own reservations about the invasion. Arthur Schlesinger, an historian serving as an adviser to the president, later wrote that the discussion seemed to take place amidst "a curious atmosphere of assumed consensus."
VIDEO OF THE WEEK...
For many of us who used to watch ESPN SportsCenter with Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann, this is an excellent story of how Olbermann went from sports to politics, as his career took some interesting twists and turns.
I talked about Uncle Junior last week in a column and it reminded me of this story of Stevie Van Zandt on CBS Sunday Morning. He’s another talent like Olbermann who can continue to re-define himself.
LEADERSHIP IMPROVEMENT IDEA...
JOHN MAXWELL ON LEADERS
1. CHARACTER: Be a piece of the rock
2. CHARISMA: The first impression can seal the deal
3. COMMITMENT: It separates doers from dreamers
4. COMMUNICATION: Without it you travel alone
5. COMPETENCE: If you build it, they will come
6. COURAGE: One person with courage is a majority
7. DISCERNMENT: Put an end to unsolved mysteries
8. FOCUS: The sharper it is, the sharper you are
9. GENEROSITY: Your candle loses nothing when it lights another
10. INITIATIVE: You won’t leave home without it
11. LISTENING: To connect with their heart, use your ears
12. PASSION: Take this life and love it
13. POSITIVE ATTITUDE: If you believe you can, you can
14. PROBLEM SOLVING: You can’t let your problems be a problem
15. RELATIONSHIPS: If you get along, they’ll go along
16. RESPONSIBILITY: If you won’t carry the ball, you can’t lead the team
17. SECURITY: Competence never compensates for insecurity
18. SELF DISCIPLINE: The first person you lead is You
19. SERVANTHOOD: To get ahead, put others first
20. TEACHABILITY: To keep leading, keep learning
21. VISION: You can seize only what you can see
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT ARE NOT WORTH MISSING...
Malcolm Gladwell might be the best writer at taking a very simple premise and rearranging the thought process in your own mind. “How David Beat Goliath,” from the New Yorker, is an outstanding read. It reminded me of a great Mark Twain quote, “The best swordsman in the world doesn't need to fear the second best swordsman in the world; no, the person for him to be afraid of is some ignorant antagonist who has never had a sword in his hand before; he doesn't do the thing he ought to do, and so the expert isn't prepared for him; he does the thing he ought not to do; and often it catches the expert out and ends him on the spot.” This is another classic article by Gladwell.
Baron Davis is a great NBA player, but now he is also a filmmaker. Taking on the issue of gang violence in America, Davis wrote about the subject last week in the Huffington Post. Here is a sample of the article: “Go to cripsandbloodsmovie.com, order the DVD, watch it with your friends and family and then write to your Congressman or woman to support this important act. Let's end the killing in our inner cities -- let's work together for a better and more peaceful future.”I grew up in South Central LA. It's where my family is, it's where many of my friends are and it's where I learned to play basketball. Having grown up in this area, I know what it's like to be surroun...
I grew up in South Central LA. It's where my family is, it's where many of my friends are and it's where I learned to play basketball. Having grown up in this area, I know what it's like to be surroun...
COMMENT OF THE WEEK FROM THE POST...
“My position is that I want to remain retired for the next two weeks. After Thursday, May 21, Brad is free to call me again to check up on me. I don’t know how to say it any clearer, I want to stay retired.”
- From “GoBolts” on May 7th under the article “Report: Favre Staying Retired”
REMEMBER WHEN...
As I mentioned early, Charles Haley was one of the best picks in my career, and as much as I would love to take full credit, like all good and bad picks, there were many people involved. In the first round of the 1985 playoffs, we suffered a tough loss to the Giants in the Meadowlands, losing 17-3 and failing to repeat as Super Bowl champs. The 1985 season exposed our lack of a pass rush, and this made Coach Bill Walsh determined to find a player or two who could enhance our rush. He was always thinking about building a defense that complemented the offense because he knew we would score points. But the way we would win games was to have someone who could cause the ball to come out early from the opposing quarterback and create interceptions and score. Coach Walsh wanted to pressure the quarterback into making a mistake, utilizing a great rusher like Fred Dean. But Dean had retired, and we no longer had that element on our team.
Walsh called me into his office in early February and instructed me to go through all the reports and find players who were over 6-feet-4 and had an ability to run and possibly pass rush. He was not interested in finding statistic-type players; he was more interested in finding an athlete he could develop as a rusher. So off I went to my dingy little office to start the process. I found two players who fit the qualifications. One was Rommel Andrews, a defensive lineman from Tennessee-Martin; the other was Charles Haley from James Madison.
I got film on both players and felt excited after watching them that we might have found someone to interest the Coach. Heading up to his office with the film and my findings, he told me to make sure I showed the coaches the tape first, which I did. Bill McPherson, our defensive line coach at the time, watched both and seemed genuinely interested. He then headed out to work out both players and came back with his findings.
As we sat in the coaches’ meeting room at 711 Nevada St. in Redwood City, McPherson talked in glowing terms about Haley but was only slightly warm on Andrews. After hearing Coach Mac talk about Haley, Coach Walsh told me to put the film on the projector and let him have a look -- Georgia Southern playing James Madison, Haley at outside linebacker. The second play of the game, Haley took off down the line as Tracy Ham, the Southern quarterback, headed in the opposite direction, preparing to run the option. Ham felt Haley closing in, and with Haley on his back, Ham pitched the ball to the back. In what seemed like a blur, Haley let go of Ham and accelerated to the running back, tackling him for a four-yard loss. Coach told me to shut off the projector and asked the entire coaching staff, “Men, do we need to see any more? My God, that is our guy.”
We drafted Haley in the fourth round, and in 1986, he had great season, getting 12 sacks and many quarterback pressures. His development as a player was, in large part, the result of his talent and the coaching he received from Coach Mac and our defensive line coach, Duane Board. A total team effort went into selecting Haley, but the full credit resides in Coach Walsh for his ability to identify the characteristics needed, and for his ability to make a decision.
IN MEMORY...
Many readers have been kind to ask about the Long family. I have a link here where we can all learn how to help. On Mother’s Day, we’re reminded of the love we have for our mothers, and I’m sure Ava and Eve are missing both of their parents greatly. Follow the link to the Craig and Allison Long Web site.
To the mothers who are no longer with us, it’s their spirit, grace and enduring love that will always remain.
Mike
Great read again. I look forward to your post everyday, especially on Sundays!
Mike
This old guy really enjoys your posts and the site. It is a everyday must read for me.
But please keep references to Keith Oberdork out. The ultra left wing garbel out of that pansy is enough to make one gag. This comment is coming from an independent and a former democrat. A JFK supporter who spent the first 40 years on my life in Mass.
Read your football news and opinions for knowledge and entertainment. Also enjoy you referenced quotes as a source for learning and inspiration.
So please don't sully your efforts by including references to political hacks from either right or left wing extremist in them.
Yeah Mike but "he's retired" doesn't tell you or anyone else anything. It purposefully uses the present tense, and everyone on the planet knows he's presently retired....The question is will he remain that way, and that answer does not address that...and not by accident
Mark Sanchez is the real deal? They haven't put the pads yet, let's not get caught up on the hype.
Makes one a bit skeptical of the sincerity of a thread such as the above with all the nicety's of Mother's Day and all.
When the author calls into speculation, the "character element" of a teams draft selections, but then goes on to claim Charles Haley as "his" best draft pick, my blood pressure gets high. I'm sure most folks have heard many of the stories of Haley and his ummmm, should we say, less than shining "character element"!
I don't think I'd be too far out of line if I were to call double standard here.
With all do respect to your position, Sir.
Chad Jackson was the real deal too in rookie camp. All us Pats fans know how that turned out. We wont know squat till training camp, their all athletes and superb talents at that so they all look great in shorts but some just cant play when it comes gametime.
That leadership list was great, ML!
Interesting story about Haley. Sometimes I think I am being too hasty when I get a feeling about a player after seeing just a few plays. I guess even the great ones like Walsh do the same thing sometimes. (Of course they are right far more often than I am. :) )
Mike - I respect and enjoy your football knowledge and insight. However I refuse to acknowledge Keith Olberman as a talent. The vile comments he expouses on CNBC and in the public about President Bush is a disgrace. His comments go way beyond freedom of speach. He is a very divisive human being no different than his friends at the Daily kos. I understand you are a liberal but this column would be better served if you just stuck to football.
Who did the Chiefs draft that have "off-the-field" concerns? The only one that springs to mind is their 4th round pick Donald Washington, who was suspended 2 games by Ohio State for violating team rules. But that hardly translates into running into trouble with the law, which that blurb would suggest.
Never heard of Rommel Andrews so I guess you guys made the right call!!
Way too much is being made of this pension "problem". Hey NFL coaches, welcome to the real world. The reality with ALL pensions is that not everybody can take a lump sum. Ever heard of an unfunded pension? If everyone wants their money all at once there is not enough to go around.
What the NFL is dealing with is what every single corporation is dealing with. Larry Kennan was quoted whining once again in todays Boston Globe saying how it's going to be harder for coaches to move around from team to team, they now will have to consider retirement plans. HELLO!!! That is exactly what everyone in the work force deals with every day.
These older coaches want their cake and eat it too, they want to capitalize on the actuarialy assumed (positive) pension returns after the worst year in the stock market's history. The NFL basically has an pension deficit (or is bordering on one) and they are making adjustments to deal with it. What the NFL is doing is actually very good business, making each team handle their own retirement plans is just plain smart.
One last comment on this pension issue: Smart teams will take advantage of this by getting creative and will attract the top coaches by having better benefit plans than other teams. Profit sharing, matching 401(k)s, deferred comp plans etc.
TE Joe Klopfenstein? ...sounds like a joke name. Like Jamie Skiffnuggen.
Who are the players with charecter issues that the Chiefs selected, and what did they do?
Thank you Mr. Lombardi for the great referral on Gladwell's article. That was quite a treat.
Huge thanks for the Gladwell tip. i might actually have to go get the magazine.
Here's a question - how many of your colleagues in NFL executive offices would likely read this kind of article or have the kind of open intellect that would find Gladwell's way of thinking to be worth reading? I can definitely see a Walsh or a Belichick.
Minor blooper.
I think Mike has confused ex-Niner DE Tommy Hart with ex-Niner DE Dwaine Board.
Board was still playing in 1986. Hart was the guy Walsh tasked along with McPherson to find a pass rusher who, as Mike says, turned out to be Haley.
WOW your ego is so big you probably go to a Bar and pick up yourself.
So when does haley get credit? WOW give the player limited credit and the coaching staff the nod for being brilliant.
What an EGO you have Lombraggi!
The Raiders' Michael Mitchell was the first non-combine player drafted. Figured you would know that being "The Hotel" picked him.
Also, guess character concerns don't count when it comes to non "Hotel" players. Or perhaps you didn't read "Boys Will Be Boys"?
ML: have to agree with 'ganggreen.' you applaud Nicholson for his openmindedness, yet recommend that we take note of a guy like Olbermann, who is anything but. let's keep it non-partisan and not cloud the content. this is still a website 100% devoted to all things football is it not? Remember Drucker: know who you are.
Mike, it looks like Matt examined the thinning narrative atop a Pioli draft on the issue of character and it is causing some static with readers.
Are there ways to evaluate character into modes of concern for draft evaluations?
Active/positive, active/negative?
Players who slip due to in jury as opposed to off field items. Players whose mistakes were scheme driven. Players whose off field items seem to double up potential problems?
For instance, an active negative signs up to Rosenhaus. Red flags are one thing, fifty by fifty banners flying baside the truck stop fireworks tent are another....
Where there's smoke, there's fire, etc. Towering inferno stuff(apolgies for the Simpson reference).
I agree with Bama and ganggreen, Mike. Keith Olbermann said things I don't like, so now everyone has to pretend he doesn't exist for the sake of my fragile ego. Fair's fair, after all. Why can't you talk about someone less divisive instead, like Rush Limbaugh and the inspiring story of how he made the transition from politics to football commentary?
Oh, wait ...
if you can't recognize talent in somebody just because you disagree with their political positions your the idiot. Keith Olbermann and Rush Limbaugh haven't become the major figures they've become and haven't made the millions and millions more dollars than any of you right wing idiot message board posters because their 'no talent hacks.' I happen not to agree with either of their political positions very often, but have no problem acknowledging the vast talents in broadcasting that both men possess. There are plenty of extremists on both sides that would love to get on tv or radio and rail all day, the difference between them and Olbermann or Limbaugh is talent. Get a clue. Lotta trailer trash amongst football fans unfortunately.
Josh McDaniels must've read that Gladwell article. He's planning on starting a full team of running backs on offense this year.
The first time I watched you on the NFL Network I liked you Mike. But this has put you over the top.
Peter King Who?
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May 10, 2009
11:12 AM
Nice read Mike. You continue to impress with the thoughtful, straight-forward analysis. It must be nice to have a Bill Walsh story or two to pull out from time to time. Thanks.