AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 13
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Weigh in on ESPN, Big Grady and ICE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Covering the NFL, Wednesdays and Thursdays are always a delight.
Did a little short segment on ESPN2’s First Take show yesterday. The topic was first-year quarterbacks and first-year coaches and how Atlanta and Baltimore have been able to win this season.
It went pretty good with Jay Crawford (a proud Bowling Green State University Falcon alum). My advisors - my dad Al Led, Kenny the Cameraman at Channel 11 and my brother-in-law Spencer - all told me to loosen up and not be so stiff like I was on my last NFL Network appearance. You’re talking sports, not politics or about some serious legal issue, they all said. So I was much more relaxed and even tried to smile a little. Didn’t rock the trademark bow tie, either.
Then it was off to the Branch were the Worldwide Leader took over the media room. ESPN’s Rachel Nichols - (Nice young lady. She kicked it with Steve Wyche, D. Led and the crew in New Orleans a few years back. D. Led had to say hello!) — was there to do something on Matthew ICE that’s going to run on Sunday’s NFL Countdown show. (Matty Ice sounds too corny to me. I like “Matthew ICE”)
I suspect they’re going for the resurrection of the franchise angle in the post Vick/Petrino era.
ICE is also nominated for one of their goofy awards, ESPN The Magazine’s 2009 NEXT athlete. ICE is a finalist with Joey Logano (NASCAR), David Price (Tampa Bay Rays) and Ricky Rubio (Basketball/Spain). Take ICE and the over for the award.
Big Grady spoke for the first time about being in steroid limbo. Not sure how this is going to turn out, but several members of the local media concur that something is wrong if the league suspends Jackson for steroid abuse.
While no one in the local sports media is medical doctor, they all think it’s rather clear that Big Grady is not on any steroid or other performing enhancement drug. This is an instance where the letter of the law - the league policy that holds players strictly liable for the supplements they take - may dish out and injustice.
So how are you feeling about the Denver game? Who’s going to stop Brandon Marshall? Should the Falcon fans start a petition to the league office on Grady’s behalf? The stuff he was talking - papaya and garlic - was penalty enough? Who nominated ICE for the ESPN Magazine award? The editors trying to sell the publication or you the fans of the ATL?
