Scotch Files: The Here & Now Edition

Can you believe it? Back to back posts. I must be dodging work again.

There is a lot going on, I may have to table some things for another day.


Football season is finally here and true to the new NFL mantra, expect the unexpected. Two teams that some pundits pegged for the Super Bowl have fallen flat on their faces out of the gate. Minnesota and Baltimore are looking like the '89 cowboys right now. I hope for my own personal sanity the Ravens aren't headed to a 1-15 season.

Anyway I was reading a column by a highly respected football writer about the Top-10 receivers in football today. Check it out here, it is quite interesting.

More football thoughts:

For everyone that thought that T.O. was crazy for wanting more guaranteed money look no further than another Drew Rosenhaus client to understand why it was so important. In the first game of the season, Javon Walker tor his ACL and is out for the remainder of the season and possibly into next season. He was another WR talking about holding out because he wanted more money than what the contract he signed as a rookie 3 years ago stipulated. So what happens if he is unable to play again? It will mean his livleyhood was taken away from him on the job, with a minimum dollar figure as a safety net. People are always quick to jump on these players for asking for more money, but you can see why. Walker has another year left on his contract, but the Packers could cut him in the off-season, WHILE HE STILL REHABBING, and move on. That would leave Walker without an employer coming off an injury. Someone ask Ty Law how fun that is. The difference being that Law would not take a decrease in pay. Walker on the other hand is a base money player, so there is no room to cut "the fat" off of his contract.

For the record, I am not saying this is reason to give T.O. the money he is demanding. But, Steveie Wonder should be able to see why it is imperative for players to get as much upfront and guaranteed money as possible. Some may see it as karma for Walker's antics leading up to training camp, but let's not forget that he did report on time and never caused an uproar in camp. He did everything the right way when it counted. It will be interesting to see if the Packers do the right thing in return.

Another instance where this occurred is in Minnesota where their All-Pro center, Matt Birk offered to play this year with a bad back on the condition that the this year of his deal be guaranteed. Management declined, so Birk decided to go on Injured Reserve and make his base salary while recovering from surgery. Now look at the Vikings. Birk was the heart of the O-line. They have played terribly in his absence.

I'm not saying Birk's absence is the only reason MN has plaed terribly, but you can't tell me if is not a significant piece. Of course, Randy Moss stretched the field which made the defense keep 8 out of the box and Culpepper has more completions to the other team as he does to his own teamtes. But, part of the urgency to throw is because they have no running game. I also take into consideration that Mike Bennett is terrible, but that O-line does not seem to be opening holes the way they can or picking up the blitzes defenses have thrown at them. Birk was the man in the middle who makes the O-line play to their potential.

These are just two examples of many to shed light on why players make contract demands.


- Note to ravens fans: Boller has not been the biggest problem. in the first game, Clarence Moore dropped like 8 balls that would have kept drives alive. More importantly, the defense played like they were in high school. Too many penalties negated great plays. There was an interception in the end zone and a crucial 3rd & 8 stop that were nullified by penalties.

I didn't see the second game, but apparently the D did holD Tennesse to well either. And that was the same Titans team that looked like a D-II college team against the Raven's division rivals in Pittsburgh.

Lastly, Jamal Lewis is running like he has rocks in his shoes. Hopefully, these rocks were not manufactured with the assistance of baking soda. Seriously though, he slow start was to be expected. He probably won't have his legs back until the 5th or 6th week of the season.

Selling Teamates to Remove Your Own Guilt

A while back I said I was going to take a "Wait & See" stance on Rafeal Palmeiro and his issue with steroids. I can say today with pride that I am done with him. Today is reports posted on ESPN, Palmeiro has pointed to teamate and Orioles team captain, Miguel Tejada as the person who gave him what turned out to be the steroid he tested positive for. Of course Palmeiro is going to deny that he sold Tejada out, but this situation has just gotten uglier than I ever thought it could get.

This is all speculation, but the reason I have my final decision on it is because Palmeiro has done nothing to right this "wrongdoing" that he has been claiming happened. He has never issued a statement with an explanation. And, we have been waiting on that for two months now. Sometimes I think players listen to their handlers a little too much. Sometimes you just have to man up and take the punishment.

Willingham and Revenge

Tomorrow Ty Willingham and his Washington Huskies will be facing off against his old team Notre Dame, from which he was fired this past off-season. Willingham, ever so careful with his words has denied thinking about this game and extracting revenge on a program that never gave him a chance to really do his thing. But I suspect different. It will be one of those unsaid things that the players will pick up on. This will be the most important game for the Huskies this season. And second only to a bowl game if they make one. He may not say it, but I am sure Willingham wants to win this game in a lopsided blowout. It probably won't happen, but I am sure he will be more than satisfied to get a win however it may come.

I am sure Notre Dame will be ready, especially after that tough lost to Michigan St. last week. Charlie Weiss has the team playing very well, but so did Willingham the first year he took the job. It will be interesting to see where Weiss is in three years and what his record looks like.