AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > August > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe Tuesday Countdown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
10: Can somebody explain to me why Denver coach Mike Shanahan is being praised in some corners for cutting his losses now with Maurice Clarett, as if this qualifies him as some sort of visionary?
9: Some clarity: Shanahan wasted a third-round draft pick. If he didn’t draft Clarett in the first place, he wouldn’t be cutting him now.
8: And if an NFL team is going to make a gamble by using a selection on a once-effective college running back who might have just lost his way, it certainly shouldn’t come before round five. Draft picks are like gold for NFL teams, especially in the salary-cap era.
7: But Clarett is still a bigger fool than Shanahan. He turned down guaranteed money ($410,000 signing bonus) in exchange for more potential money ($7 million in incentives) down the road, believing he would hit it big in the league. There’s nothing wrong with that logic, except that it was apparent from the outset of training camp that he was still one screwed up kid with attitude problems. If anything, one would have thought declining guaranteed money would give Clarett extra motivation.
6: Rafael Palmeiro goes 0-for-14 and 2-for-22, then loses his starting job. You don’t need a couch and a shrink to figure this one out.
5: I know. Cry me a river. I only wish Mark McGwire was still playing, if only to enjoy his post-Congressional plummet.
4: Evander Holyfield admits he has been devalued in this country and says his next few fights may come overseas. Think about this: Of all the ill-advised comebacks and overextended careers we have witnessed in boxing, Holyfield’s might be the worst of all.
3: There’s only one thing I have more trouble understanding. My wife ran 20 miles the other day. She is training for a marathon. This will make two things she will have done that I have no interest in: 1) running 26.2 miles; 2) parachuting out of a perfectly good airplane.
2: Think I drive her to do any this stuff?
1: That was one really uplifting photo of Peerless Price in the paper today.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Quick Hit
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By Buddy @ SundaySportsTalk.com
August 30, 2005 06:25 PM | Link to this
Jeff, you’ll have to find other ways to keep in shape to keep up with your spouse. I favor 22 oz. curls myself. And Price is now Peerless in the commedy dept. after the “I hate ya’ll” comment. Don’t hate the photographer! Hate your own game!
By wes
August 31, 2005 02:13 PM | Link to this
For the record: I can’t stand Mike Shannahan. But, if you’re saying he shouldn’t be praised for admitting a mistake, then shouldn’t you also be pooping on Arthur Blank & Co…for their “Worthless” mishap? Hell, MB was praising the Falcons for their admission. Is he wrong too? If you think he is wrong then go slap a whip cream pie in his face… make the AJC a little more like Sportscenteresque.