My Best Man Speech

Good evening everyone. Before I get started, DISCLAIMER: I asked Francis before I started writing this if there was anything I couldn’t say. He said no. So Erica, if something goes wrong, it actually is his fault.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Dave. I’ve known Francis longer than… Well, I can’t really say longer than anybody since most of his family is here, but I have known Francis for quite some time- since our freshman year in college. I am extremely honored and privileged to stand up here tonight to sing his praises and let you all know the REAL Francis. Don’t look at me like that Francis, you said there wasn’t anything I couldn’t say.

I met him the first day of orientation week our freshman year in college. He hasn’t changed one bit- he still enjoys running around shirtless, he has the same haircut, and that same smile that suggests that he’s extremely proud of himself, even though you can’t believe he’s had many accomplishments. Today certainly qualifies as an accomplishment for him, because he’s landed a woman like Erica.

I knew as soon as I met him that I had to befriend him (mostly because we were roommates), and that everything would be OK after. Sure enough, thanks to Francis, I was only the SECOND biggest dork on our floor. I spent so many late nights playing Halo and Call Of Duty with him. Something about bashing a bunch of buttons while staring at a TV screen brings out the fierce competitor in him. Those lessons learned from those games have stuck with me more than any lesson I learned in class- the most important one of those lessons being make sure you’re on his team because Francis is a terrific ally to have, both in Call Of Duty and in real life.

Having been roommates with him all four years of college, I’ve been fortunate enough to watch Francis and Erica’s relationship evolve from day one. I’ll never forget the day they met. Francis and I were eating lunch together in between classes. It was extremely crowded that day- wasn’t an empty table in the entire dining room. I saw my friend Erica from my Intro to Acting class looking for a table, so I invited her to sit with us. I remember asking her about an assignment for class, and from out of the blue, he asked me, “So Dave, want to check out the new Call Of Duty game?” Erica’s eyes widened, and the rest, they say, is history.

I’ve been a huge supporter of their relationship, except for those times when I convinced Francis that hall-wide Halo tournaments took precedence over Erica. Erica was persistent though- we even taught her how to play! All the Sheetz runs that I coordinated, all those times I denied the non-visiting hours visits, the pep talks I had to give him, all the times I had to find stuff to do while they had dinner together… when am I getting paid for everything I’ve done for you two? In all seriousness, seeing these two happy together is its own reward. I can’t even express how awesome it feels knowing that two of my best friends are getting married, and they couldn’t be more perfect for each other.

I’d like to take a moment to thank Ms. Donna ****** and Mr. Donald ****** for making this wedding and my roast of Francis possible. I’d also like to thank you Donna for all the cookies that you baked for your son and me throughout college. My mom’s not here to hear this, and very few of you actually know her, so I’ll say it: Your cookies are the best! Nobody tell my mom I said that.

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the perfect couple. Francis, you need that strong-willed woman to make sure you do more in life than play video games- Oh wait, it‘s too late for that, you design them for a living, you lucky son of a gun. Erica, you need that hapless dorky nerd to keep you updated on all these new-fangled technologies like “XBox 360“, “Twitter“, and “the internet“.

Speaking of Erica, Erica, you look stunning tonight. In fact the whole bridal party looks gorgeous. And the groomsmen… looking good fellas! Francis… well you certainly tried hard, and that’s all that matters.

I think I’ve probably said enough by now, and Francis is probably regretting telling me that there wasn’t anything I couldn’t say, so I’ll be merciful. I want to thank each and every one of you here tonight for helping two of my best friends celebrate their wedding. I’d like to propose a toast to Francis and Erica. To quote Oscar Wilde, “Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence”. May the rest of your days be filled with love, joy, happiness, and tons of late night Halo parties!

Baltimore’s Mt. Rushmores Of Sports

Despite what many believe, Baltimore has had a very rich history in professional sports. Not only are the Ravens’ accomplishments since 1996 extremely impressive, but the Orioles have one of the most storied franchises in baseball and Baltimore has raised some of the best athletes to ever play in their respective sports. The premise is simple: I will create three Mt. Rushmores:

1. The Ravens
2. The Orioles
3. Athletes from Baltimore

Each Mt. Rushmore will include 4 figures who I feel best define what Baltimore is all about. Of course, you probably won’t agree with all of my choices- but that’s the beauty of it.

RAVENS

The first three spots are not even debatable:

RAY LEWIS

Ray Lewis, arguably the greatest MLB of all time, has been the face of the Ravens ever since the Ravens moved to Baltimore in 1996.

ED REED

Ed Reed has caused Ravens fans extreme joy and extreme confusion. One thing is for sure: He’s one of the greatest safeties of all time, and the definition of ball hawk.

JONATHAN OGDEN

Not only is Jonathan Ogden generally considered to be one of the best left tackles of all time, Ogden is also one of the most beloved Ravens of all time because of his character.

 

The fourth spot, however, is up for debate. So many different choices could be made. One could go with Jamal Lewis, arguably the best skill position player the Ravens have ever had. Joe Flacco is certainly worth considering, seeing as how he is the greatest QB the Ravens have ever had. Ray Rice is definitely worth throwing into the mix because of his performance on the field, popularity, work in the community, and love for the city of Baltimore. Todd Heap is a possibility as well because he was a fan favorite and he basically was the entire Ravens passing game during the Kyle Boller years. Considering the influence they’ve had on the team, it’s impossible to overlook Art Modell and Ozzie Newsome. In fact, a great case can be made for Ozzie Newsome: He helped to draft each of the first three members of this class. Ozzie Newsome is the biggest reason why the Ravens are so successful. However, out of respect for the Cleveland Browns, I decided to not include him. One also has to consider Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, and Peter Boulware. Michael McCrary deserves some love too. However, neither of these players made my last spot.

The fourth spot goes to one of the more under-appreciated Ravens, through no fault of his own. He plays a position that gets little to no respect in the NFL, yet any true Ravens fan will realize the importance that this player had for the Ravens:

MATT STOVER 

Matt Stover was a fan favorite and also one of the original Ravens. His steady reliability helped bring the Ravens to prominence.

My argument: Without Stover, the Ravens don’t win Super Bowl XXXV (because they wouldn’t have even made the playoffs) and they would have been almost irrelevant during the Kyle Boller and Steve McNair years. If another kicker gets into the Hall Of Fame, Stover would be a terrific candidate. That said, Stover is probably keeping the spot warm for Joe Flacco. In ten years, I’m willing to bet that he’ll be replacing Stover on this list.

The honorary fifth spot (hey, my rules) goes to a man who I think defines the following words: courage, determination, teamwork, relentless. That man is O.J. Brigance. O.J. is an incredible human being who has been an underrated member of both Super Bowl winning teams, the first time as a player, the second time as an inspiration. O.J. has ALS. He has every reason to make people feel sorry for him. He does the exact opposite. He inspires people, and he cannot be seen without a smile on his face. He has every reason to be sad, but he refuses to be sad. People like O.J. rarely get recognized, and this would be a perfect way to thank him for everything he has done for the Ravens.

ORIOLES

The Orioles have numerous Hall Of Famers, so this one will be extremely though. There are, however, two people who I think everyone can agree deserve this honor:

CAL RIPKEN JR

When I think of the Orioles, Cal Ripken, Jr. is the first name that comes to mind. I’m proud to be a fan of a team that can call Cal one of its own. He made the losing bearable.

EARL WEAVER 

Appropriate picture of Earl. Earl Weaver was the face of the Orioles during their brightest years and has always been a huge supporter of the Orioles.

The last two spots are tough to figure out. One must consider Eddie Murray, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Jim Palmer. I’m going to throw Boog Powell’s name into the discussion because of how beloved by Orioles fans he is- the fact that the line to get Boog’s autograph or say hi to him is longer than the line to get his famous BBQ is a testament to that. This was a tough decision to make but I went with these two players:

BROOKS ROBINSON

Brooks is generally considered to be the greatest defensive third baseman of all-time. He was also an important member of two World Series championship teams.

JIM PALMER

I couldn’t resist using this photo. In all seriousness, Jim Palmer was the Orioles ace during their brightest years, and the only Oriole to be a part of all 3 of their World Series championship teams.

 

ATHLETES FROM BALTIMORE

Just to clarify, here are the rules:

1.) Athlete has/had to be brought up in the city of Baltimore or very close to it.
2.) Anyone already on one of the first two Mt Rushmores is ineligible.

The first spot isn’t up for debate. Yes he was a Yankee, but he’s arguably the greatest player to ever play the game of baseball:

BABE RUTH

The second spot is another one that I don’t think anyone can disagree with, as he’s arguably the greatest Olympian of all-time:

MICHAEL PHELPS

The next one will shock you because you probably didn’t know that he was born in Baltimore. What’s undeniable is how great of a baseball player he was:

AL KALINE

The last spot goes to a current NBA player:

CARMELO ANTHONY

Was hard for me to not include Travis Pastrana or HOF baseball player Jimmie Foxx. Foxx might have been a better player than Kaline, but Kaline is not shy to admit where he was born and raised. He does Baltimore proud in a ton of ways, so he gets the nod. 

MLB Strikes Out Against Breast Cancer Awareness

I’m usually a fairly mild-mannered guy. It takes a lot to really tick me off. Well, MLB has done just that by proving that making money is far more important to them than raising awareness for breast cancer. Someone has to be a man and call out Major League Baseball, and demand better from them.

Nick Markakis of the Baltimore Orioles and Trevor Plouffe of the Minnesota Twins share something very special: Both of them have mothers who survived breast cancer. Both are extremely vocal and active in raising breast cancer awareness. Yes, I realize that the MLB does have a Breast Cancer Awareness month, and that on Mother’s Day, the players will be using pink equipment. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Markakis and Plouffe wanted to honor their mothers by using specially made bats made by MAX bat (here’s their website) on Mother’s Day. Those specially made bats were black with a pink circle:

The black bats are what Markakis and Plouffe wanted to use (h/t @OhHeyItsKevin on Twitter)

As you can see, no real problem with the bats. MLB, however, found a problem with them: They weren’t made by the company that makes all their bats, Louisville Slugger. Obviously, Trevor Plouffe did not take that news very well. He tweeted these two tweets this afternoon:

Sorry Mom. I can’t use my Breast Cancer Awareness bat on Sunday because @sluggernation “owns the rights”. Because that’s what it’s about…

— Trevor Plouffe (@TPlouffe24) May 10, 2013

Seriously disgusted that a company would block awareness for Breast Cancer research so their brand can stand out. Thanks @sluggernation !

— Trevor Plouffe (@TPlouffe24) May 10, 2013

Markakis, usually a man of few words, had this to say:

Markakis says he’s not making a big deal about the pink bat thing: “I guess the rules are the rules are the rules, right?. …

— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) May 10, 2013

Markakis: “If I said something (to MLB) would it really make a difference? No, I doubt it. Is what it is. You’ve got to abide by the rules.”

— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) May 10, 2013

And that’s not all. Jeff Passan (Yahoo Sports) added this:

Other players not allowed to use the bats by @maxbatbaseball include Jayson Werth, Jason Kubel, Kendrys Morales, Jonny Gomes, Adam LaRoche.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 10, 2013

Obviously, MLB only cares about breast cancer awareness if they can make a bunch of money off it. This disturbs me greatly, as I have known quite a few people who have battled breast cancer valiantly. It comes of no surprise to me that this happened, but I am extremely disappointed and livid at the MLB for their actions. They’re not going to miss that money that they’d make. It’s only a few players. I realize that the MLB has a contract with Louisville Slugger, but quite frankly, if Louisville Slugger would have had a problem with a few MLB players not using a Louisville Slugger bat for one game, they should be ashamed of themselves and they would be no better than the greedy MLB.

I won’t deny that the MLB does raise quite a bit of money for breast cancer awareness. I can respect that. According to an article in Forbes:

“After use by the players, MLB collects some of bats and auctions them on MLB.com with the proceeds going to MLB Charities to be specifically apportioned to the effort against breast cancer.  Over $1 million over the past eight years has been collected through the auctions.”

However, I think it’s safe to say that the MLB and Louisville Slugger have made far more than $1 million off of the pink bats. The MLB and Louisville Slugger both sell bats (game-used as well as personalized). Only $10 per sale goes towards MLB charities. Last year, my friends and I bought one for a friend of ours who is a breast cancer survivor. Let’s just say it cost a lot more than $10. My point is, the MLB and Louisville Slugger both could be doing a lot more to help the cause, but they are far more concerned about making money off their “breast cancer awareness”. As a matter of fact, MAXbat is doing virtually the same thing and they’re donating $15 per bat to breast cancer research. Keep in mind MAXbat is a much smaller company so they don’t have the budget or the sales numbers of Louisville Slugger.

Some other interesting things to look at: According to MLB rules, other companies’ bats may be used on Mother’s Day “as long as they don’t have any logos on them”. As a former baseball player, I can’t remember using a bat that didn’t have a company logo on it. Also, according to MLB PR, players can use the bat of any bat company that makes “a substantial donation” to the Susan Komen Foundation on Mother’s Day. I respect Louisville Slugger for donating so much money to that foundation because they do a lot to help raise awareness for breast cancer and help to fund breast cancer research. But the wording in that statement is extremely vague.

To get a player’s perspective on this, I asked my friend, who played minor league baseball before retiring last year (he prefers to remain anonymous). Here’s what he had to say:

“One thing that I think everyone tends to overlook in situations like this is how much of a competitive disadvantage it will be for players who do not use Louisville Slugger bats. Players tend to use whichever bat they are most comfortable with. Each bat company’s bat has unique features about them. For instance, I know for a fact that MAXbat makes really hard bats, which gives an advantage to the line-drive, more contact-driven hitters. Won’t help you as far as power on flyballs, but not everyone’s a fly ball hitter. For a guy like Nick Markakis, MAXbats is a perfect fit.

Having to switch to a different bat really puts the player at a disadvantage. They’re used to using the bats that they swing the other 161 games of the year. It’s like switching golf clubs in the middle of a tournament, or training with Nikes for a marathon and mid-way through the marathon, switching to Reeboks. It’s gonna feel different, and players aren’t going to be used to the difference.”

“Then again, it might not even matter because of the new baseballs I hear they’ll be using. I’ve seen the balls. I’m willing to bet that hitters are going to have a difficult time picking up the ball because the pink stitching on the white baseball isn’t going to stand out like the red stitching does. As a former pitcher, I know the pitchers are going to have an advantage that day- especially guys who throw more breaking balls. Those breaking balls are when the hitters are really going to miss that red stitching- when the ball’s breaking and curving in every which way, the stitching is about the hitter’s only shot at tracking the ball.”

“On the other hand, I’m fairly certain that players won’t really mind because it’s all in the name of breast cancer awareness. Whining about special balls that are there to raise breast cancer awareness would make any player look ignorant and selfish. From a competitive stand point, I’m actually fine with the special baseballs- everyone has to face them, and it’s just for one game. But the bats? No. That’s just silly. You’re basically punishing people who don’t use Louisville Slugger bats.”

My proposal: Markakis, Plouffe, and all the players who were going to use those specially made bats by MAX bat should use them anyway. If they get fined for it, that will only make MLB look worse. These players each deserve the right to pay respect to breast cancer survivors and those who have died due to breast cancer in this fashion. I hope these players have the courage to take a stand against a greedy organization. If any of them got fined, I would personally see if there’s anyway that I could help pay for it.

So MLB, I say this to you: WAKE UP. If you are going to refuse to allow your players to raise awareness for breast cancer, in such a simple way, you should expect to get called out and face public backlash. I might be just one person, but I’m sure this pissed off a lot more people than just me.

Way to once again prove that all major sports leagues care about is money. Can’t wait til Father’s Day when the MLB and Louisville Slugger once again try to convince us that they care about testicular cancer.

R.I.P. Matt Hersl

Matt Hersl, an avid Orioles fan and community activist, died on April 9th. To some, he was that crazy guy who was obsessed with baseballs. To others, he was that guy who walked everywhere, seemingly having an unlimited energy cheat. To many, he was a great friend who always had your back no.matter what. But to me, Matt Hersl is my hero- and it took me until he died to fully realize that.

I vividly remember the day we met. It was September of 2009. My grandfather was on his death bed. I went to the O’s game that night to get my mind off everything. Just before the game started, I got the worst text message I’ve ever received:

Grandpa’s dead.

I couldn’t control myself. I started crying. I didn’t care who saw me or what anyone thought. I was about to leave the game before it started. Suddenly, I felt a firm hand on my shoulder and a voice said,

Looks like you could use a friend.

I turned and I saw this bald man who I had never seen before, but there was a calm aura around him. For some reason, I trusted him. He introduced himself as Matt. He listened to me as I told him how my grandfather had just died and how I felt incredibly guilty because I knew I should have been there for him on his death bed. That’s when Matt said these words:

David, I don’t know you that well, but I know this: Your grandfather would love you no matter what.

Those words made my night. I spent the rest of the night at the game with Matt. I had a great time all thanks to my new friend Matt.

After that, I didn’t see Matt until August of 2010, but he was always on my mind. Through the next 32 months, I got to know Matt very well. He invited me to join a group of ballhawks (people who collect baseballs) and even gave me one of his baseball gloves to use.

Matt Hersl had multiple character traits that made him a person I looked up to:

Matt lived his life in one speed: all-out

Matt never went to his seat during games. He was always active, always walking around trying to get one more baseball. I remember before the gates opened at Camden Yards, he’d always say that he was going to “take it easy”, and all the ballhawks would chuckle, knowing that he wouldn’t. Matt would run around the stadium faster than all of us- and we were half his age! He would draw the ire of kids and parents as he would grab and catch ball after ball- and would proceed to win them over by making sure each kid got a ball. Which brings me to my next point:

Matt was unselfish and caring

This part of Matt I didn’t fully realize until last night. I always knew that he was an extremely charitable guy. I would go to thrift stores with him and we would buy things for the homeless. He would regularly invite homeless families to eat with us afterwards as well. Matt constantly strived to ensure that everyone felt included. He made sure that I felt accepted amongst the ballhawks. He always made sure as many kids as possible got a ball during batting practice. He made sure every member of his communities (Orioles, neighborhood, and work) felt wanted and cared for. Anytime I needed a ticket, he’d hook me up.

But the greatest thing about Matt?

HE NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN*

*Except for a baseball or two!

If I could be half the man Matt Hersl was, I’d be proud. I hope one day I can say that I’ve made a difference like Matt did.

Did he change the world? No.

Did he cure cancer? No.

But he was a hero to me, and I’m sure that others felt the same. He made life more enjoyable for everyone who knew him.

Matt, I know I’ll see you someday in that vast ballpark in the sky, where the gates are always open, players will always toss you a ball, and every hit is a home run. We can chase after BP homers for all eternity! You can even lie to me and tell me you’re gonna take it easy today and then beat me to left field with that contagious smile ln your face.

I WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY BUDDY.

Who Will Be The Ravens Left Tackle In 2013?

The Ravens have done a very good job this off-season rebuilding reloading their team. Thus far they have:

1. Replaced Paul Kruger (whose butt flap uniform violation will be missed dearly) with three-time Pro Bowler Elvis Dumervil

2. Replaced Ed Reed with 2010 All-Pro safety Michael Huff, who is younger and more athletic than Reed. Plus Huff can actually tackle, so there’s that.

3. Revamped their defensive line by adding Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. Both should help significantly improve the run defense, which was sub-par last season. A large part of that was the defensive line.

They still have a ton of holes to fill since Ozzie Newsome let everyone go to pay Joe Flacco some holes to fill, so over the next two weeks, I’ll be looking at how the Ravens can fill them. In order to be Super Bowl Contenders in 2013, I think the Ravens need to improve at: LT, MLB, S, and WR (in that order). So without further ado…

LEFT TACKLE

Left Tackle has not been a position of strength for the Ravens since Jonathan Ogden retired in 2008 because he wanted to do awesome commercials of injuries. Since then, the Ravens have attempted to replace him with Jared Gaither, Michael Oher, and Bryant McKinnie. Gaither had huge injury problems, Oher just simply wasn’t good, and McKinnie, when he played, was above-average. Clearly none of those three players have come close to replacing the huge shoes (literally and figuratively) left by Jonathan Ogden. 

In 2012, left tackle duty was split between Oher and McKinnie. Oher was sub-par at best, while McKinnie spent most of the year in John Harbaugh’s doghouse, but did a solid job in the playoffs. The Ravens have several options to fill this current hole:

 Michael Oher

Knowing Ozzie Newsome, he’s not waltzing in to the regular season with Michael Oher as his starting left tackle are next to none, so let’s move on past this nightmare. In a small sample size, Oher has been pretty solid as a right tackle. I like him there.

Bryant McKinnie

If I was Ozzie Newsome, this would probably be a part of  my solution. If you can keep Bryant McKinnie motivated and deal with his ego, he’s a darn good left tackle. That said, the Ravens should certainly not overpay for him. McKinnie is going to look for a big deal and hopefully realize that nobody’s going to give that to him. If that happens, then Ozzie can get McKinnie at his price (probably a one year deal). Keep in mind the Ravens are sort of lacking in cap room, though they do have guys who they could release.

Trade for Veteran 

I’m not going to pretend that I know which left tackles would be a good fit for the Ravens. But there are some situations that the Ravens should keep an eye on, such as the Saint Louis Rams. Trade possibilities should make themselves clear after the draft. Ozzie will definitely keep an eye on the June 1st cuts as well.

Jared Gaither

While this probably won’t happen, I certainly won’t rule it out. If Gaither’s healthy, he can be a borderline top 5 left tackle. Here’s the catch 22: Gaither can’t stay healthy. The main reason signing Gaither to a 1 year deal might actually work out is he’d probably be dirt cheap. Ravens don’t have much cap space. Match made in heaven. As long as they have a backup. Speaking of which…

 Draft someone

The question is not IF the Ravens will draft a left tackle, it is simply WHICH left tackle they will draft. While they obviously won’t be able Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, or Lane Johnson, there’s quite a few intriguing LT prospects in the draft. They include Terron Armstead (my personal favorite) and Kyle Long.

So in an ideal world, Ozzie signs McKinnie or Gaither to a one year deal and drafts somebody this year. That way, the draftee is not forced to start and can earn his starting job.

Next post will be on WRs.

Ideal Ravens Draft (First Four Rounds)

The 2013 NFL draft might be the most important draft in the history of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have numerous needs to fill- linebackers, safeties, WRs, and possibly offensive line. Luckily, the Ravens will have at least 12 draft picks, including the 4 compensatory picks the Ravens will get from last year’s free agency. Here’s my first four rounds:

FIRST ROUND Kevin Minter, MLB, LSU- If you solely look at Minter’s combine, he’s not that impressive. But having watched him play against Alabama the past 3 years, Minter is extremely strong and while he’s not as explosive as most linebackers, he’s very quick. He’s above average in coverage. Best part of his game is definitely his run defense- very strong and fundamentally sound tackler. Could definitely see the Ravens taking him in either the first round or trading down to the second round to see if they can get him there. I take him here just to ensure that I can get him.

Arthur Brown is another linebacker who the Ravens will certainly take a look at, but he isn’t as NFL ready as Minter. Keep an eye on Jesse Williams, a nose tackle from Alabama. Ozzie Newsome’s affinity for the Crimson Tide is no secret, and Williams seems like he’d be a great fit for the Ravens.

SECOND ROUND Phillip Thomas, Free Safety, Fresno State- A pretty well-rounded safety. Very physical player who hits and plays hard. Impressive speed and agility and recovers quickly. Very reliable in pass coverage. Instincts are very good. There are two major concerns with Thomas: his health and I have seen him get burned gambling on play-action plays. The Ravens might have to trade up to get him, but he’s worth trading up for.

I wouldn’t rule out the Ravens drafting Barrett Jones, an offensive lineman from Alabama. Very versatile lineman who has played tackle, guard, and center during his time at Alabama. Best position is probably center. Great downfield blocker, but his strength might be a concern. Still, Ozzie Newsome loves offensive linemen who can fill in anywhere on the line, so Jones would make a ton of sense for the Ravens.

As much as Ravens fans might hate this move, I could see them going after Manti Te’o in the second round. While I strongly disagree with making him a first round pick, if he can be had in the second round, I’d be a lot more accepting of him. People tend to look at one horrific game that Te’o had against Alabama or his subpar combine and completely ignore his body of work. Te’o is probably the best MLB in coverage in the draft.

I think the Ravens will take a good long look at South Carolina safety D.J. Swearinger. Versatile safety who could play either strong safety or free safety. Hard hitter who has proven to be above-average in coverage as well. Could easily be Bernard Pollard’s replacement, except that Swearinger is already better in coverage than Pollard is. CBS Sports has him as a 3rd or 4th round pick, I say no way.

THIRD ROUND Ryan Swope, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M- Swope is an ideal slot receiver. He ran the second fastest 40 yard dash of the NFL combine (4.34) and he is deceptively quick. Has very good hands. I vividly remember him making Alabama look silly last year. Despite his speed, not much of a burner- relies more on his agility and fakes to get separation. Not very physical. Hopefully a team won’t just look at his combine and draft him too early. Luckily, Al Davis is dead so that’s probably not happening. Swope might be a guy who the Ravens use one of their compensatory picks to trade up a few spots for.

Bacarri Rambo, a free safety from Georgia, could be had in the second or third round. I’m leaning more towards the third since he does have character issues (two failed drug tests in his NCAA career). Ozzie would certainly have to trade up to get him, as I can’t see him falling to the end of the third round, but he’d be worth trading up for.

Brandon Williams, a nose tackle from Missouri Southern State, could be a great value pick in the third round. He was unknown until the Senior Bowl, where he had an extremely impressive showing. Very athletic for a nose tackle, but would primarily be used to clog up space.

FOURTH ROUND David Quessenberry, Offensive Lineman, San Jose State. Quessenberry is a versatile offensive lineman who could be either a guard or a tackle, though his natural position is tackle. Has pretty solid fundamentals and a lot of room to improve. Must improve his footwork though. Might never be a left tackle, but I could certainly see him as a very respectable right tackle.

One guy who I think really fits in with the Ravens who could be had in the fourth round is Brandon Jenkins, an outside linebacker from Florida State. Jenkins could be a very good value pick because if it wasn’t for injuries, he’d probably be a first round pick. Jenkins is sort of a developmental pick at this point because he’s purely a pass rusher, but that’s fine to take post 3rd round, and Ozzie has a ton of picks, so I could certainly see Ozzie taking a chance on Jenkins.

Tavarres King, a receiver from California, could potentially be Boldin’s replacement. Just like Boldin, King excels at running short routes, and just like Boldin, his speed is something that defenses have to respect. Only downside is that he, unlike Boldin, has a lean frame so he’s probably limited to being a slot receiver. He’s certainly not the physical receiver that Boldin is.

2013 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

Now that free agency has began and the order is pretty much set, here’s my updated Mock Draft. I’ll only be doing the first round. I’ll leave doing all 7 rounds to the “experts”.

1. Kansas City Chiefs- Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M. Ignore the fact that the Chiefs franchised Brandon Albert. Albert has a history of back problems, and Joeckel is the most talented player in the draft. He’ll give the Chiefs a strong building block to build their offensive line around.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars- Dion Jordan, Defensive End/Linebacker, Oregon. The Jaguars desperately need a playmaker on defense. Luckily for them, they have a plethora of options. Jordan is probably the most versatile of them.

3. Oakland Raiders- Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida. The Raiders interior line is looking very thin right now. Unless something changes, they need to bulk up the interior of their line. Floyd does that, and gives them a dynamic force on defense that they have lacked for a while.

4. Philadelphia Eagles- Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama. Ignore that they just signed Cary Williams. They are in the same division as Tony Romo, RGIII, and Eli Manning. They really can’t have enough corners.

5. Detroit Lions- Eric Fisher, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan. Until Jeff Backus retired, I really didn’t have a clue who the Lions would draft. Now I do. Fisher immediately replaces Backus. Plus, with their clear focus on offense, they should really protect their investments.

6. Cleveland Browns- Jarvis Jones, Linebacker, Georgia. The Browns should probably be focusing on their abysmal offense, but Jones is too darn good to ignore. There are no sure offensive playmakers in this draft, so why should the Browns reach for one? As a Ravens fan, I hope this doesn’t happen, but it makes a ton of sense.

7. Arizona Cardinals- Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia. Bruce Arians, as he proved last year in Indy, LOVES to throw the ball deep. Smith has the best deep ball in the draft.

8. Buffalo Bills- Matt Barkley, Quarterback, USC. The Bills NEED to get a QB. Nobody in free agency is worth grabbing and attempting to pass off as a starting quarterback, so they might as well draft one. I think Barkley has the skills necessary to succeed in the NFL.

9. New York Jets- Ezekiel Ansah, Defensive End, BYU. Eventually the Jets have to acknowledge that they need a pass rush threat off the edge. Ansah would immediately fulfill that need. Tons of upside as well.

10. Tennessee Titans- Chance Warmack, Guard, Alabama. The Titans need a lot of help on their offensive line. Warmack would help the interior of their line and help open up holes for Chris Johnson.

11. San Diego Chargers- Lane Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma. The Chargers’ rebuild has to start with their offensive line. If Fisher falls this far, he’s the obvious pick. Johnson is the next best available tackle. Very athletic tackle who has a ton of upside. Has bust potential though because he’s so raw.

12. Miami Dolphins- Xavier Rhodes, Cornerback, Florida State. Wasn’t sure what the Dolphins were going to do here until they signed Mike Wallace and re-signed Hartline. The Dolphins have rebuilt most of their team, but their secondary is a bit lacking with the loss of Sean Smith. Rhodes gives the Dolphins a replacement for Smith.

13. Tampa Bay Bucs- Star Lotulelei, Defensive Tackle, Utah. Obviously a risk, but I think that potential of McCoy and Lotulelei on the same defensive line is way too high to pass up.

14. Carolina Panthers- Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Tackle, Missouri. Carolina’s interior line has been extremely thin since Kris Jenkins departed. Richardson is very athletic and strong. Has the potential to be something very special.

15. New Orleans Saints- Barkevious Mingo, Linebacker, LSU. The Saints defense wasn’t just bad last season- it was HISTORICALLY bad. A lot of that had to do with the fact that their pass rush was virtually non-existent. When you add that to the fact that they will be switching to a 3-4 scheme, an outside linebacker is the obvious pick, and with Jarvis Jones and Jordan already gone, Mingo is the right choice.

16. St. Louis Rams- Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, WVU. They lost their slot receiver Amendola, and Austin is an even better version of Amendola. They need play makers on offense, and Austin is certainly one.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers- Damontre Moore, Defensive End/Linebacker, Texas A&M. The Steelers must get younger on defense, and with James Harrison gone, they have to replace his production. Damontre Moore is a quick, athletic player who should help the Steelers pass rush immediately, whether that’s as an end or as a pass-rush specialist at linebacker.

18. Dallas Cowboys- Jonathan Cooper, Guard, UNC. In case you haven’t heard, the Cowboys’ offensive line is pretty bad. Cooper is a very athletic guard who I can’t see Jerry Jones passing up. Then again, this makes a ton of sense, which means Jerry Jones probably won’t do it.

19. New York Giants- Bjoern Werner, Defensive End, Florida State. Tom Coughlin LOVES drafting pass rushers, plus the Giants could stand to use one more pass rusher. I see Werner falling here thanks to the fact that he is not well-suited for a 3 man front.

20. Chicago Bears- D.J. Fluker, Offensive Tackle, Alabama. Mostly depends on what the Bears do in free agency. As of now though, I think they still go after Fluker.

21. Cincinnati Bengals- Alec Ogletree, Linebacker, Georgia. This is probably playing into a stereotype, but when have off-field concerns stopped the Bengals? Ogletree is extremely talented, but obviously has some character issues. The Bengals have never really cared about character, so why would they start now? Ogletree would help ease the loss of Maualuga.

22. St. Louis Rams- Menelik Watson, Offensive Tackle, Florida State. The Rams really need to revamp their offensive line. Considering the depth of offensive line prospects, they should worry about getting Tavon Austin first and grab one at this pick. Watson would be the best available.

23. Minnesota Vikings- Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, California. Yes, the Vikings have replaced Harvin with Greg Jennings, but their receivers are still not impressive. Allen has the potential to form a deadly duo with Jennings.

24. Indy Colts- Desmond Trufant, Cornerback, Washington. The Colts need another solid corner in their secondary. I like what they’ve done to improve their pass-rush. If Trufant falls this far to them (which is very plausible), that’s a huge steal.

25. Minnesota Vikings- Datone Jones, Defensive End/Tackle, UCLA. Kevin Williams is starting to get old and his play is definitely declining. Bad news is that his contract sure as heck isn’t declining- it’s going in the opposite direction. Jones is an incredibly athletic lineman who I think could play either end or tackle (he’s 280 pounds). Sylvester Williams would also be a smart move here, but Jones is the far superior pass rusher, and in the NFC North (when you have to play Rodgers, Stafford, and Cutler twice a year each), you have to be able to rush the passer or you’ll get chewed apart.

26. Green Bay Packers- Tyler Eifert, Tight End, Notre Dame. If he falls to Green Bay, I can’t see him getting past them. Eifert would be a terrific target for Aaron Rodgers.

27. Houston Texans- DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson. They need a receiver to pair alongside Andre Johnson. He could also be the dynamic returner that they gave up when they got rid of Jacoby Jones.

28. Denver Broncos- Jesse Williams, Defensive Tackle, Alabama. Broncos need a nose tackle to make things easier for their defense. Williams fits that description to a T.

29. New England Patriots- Johnthan Banks, Cornerback, Mississippi State. Their offense is fine. Their defense is in desperate need of help in the secondary. Perfect fit here.

30. Atlanta Falcons- Zach Ertz, Tight End, Stanford. Tony Gonzalez isn’t going to play forever.

31. San Francisco 49ers- Kenny Vaccaro, Safety, Texas. If the 49ers have a weakness, it’s at safety. Vaccaro is a very good safety who is exceptional in coverage.

32. Baltimore Ravens- Kevin Minter, Middle Linebacker, LSU. Do I even have to explain why this makes a ton of sense? The Ravens need breathing bodies who can play middle linebacker. Minter fits that description and is a very athletic player.

Why Ravens Fans Have No Need To Worry

Since winning the Super Bowl, it has not been smooth sailing for the Baltimore Ravens. So far they traded leading receiver Anquan Boldin for a sixth round pick, released popular safety Bernard Pollard, and have allowed unrestricted free agents Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe to sign with the Cleveland Browns (Kruger) and Miami Dolphins (Ellerbe). Team leaders Ray Lewis and Matt Birk both retired. Current unrestricted free agents Ed Reed and Bryant Mckinnie might not have a future in Baltimore. The fact that these moves happened right after they signed Joe Flacco to a record deal is making some Ravens fans extremely antsy. Me though? I’m calm for two reasons:

1.) The Ravens just won the Super Bowl and are coming off a five year run that 31 other NFL teams would gladly sign up for. 

2.) Ozzie Newsome knows what he’s doing. He’s looking past the 2013 season. 

That’s not to say that Ozzie Newsome is forfeiting the 2013 season, it’s just that Ozzie is more focused on making the Ravens a better team for the future so that they are in position to make a run in the near future. I wouldn’t even write off the Ravens making the playoffs in 2013, and here’s why:

Every player who they have lost is replaceable.

Let me take it a step further: Any player who they COULD lose right now due to free agency/retirement is replaceable.

• Kruger? Kruger is a very good pass rush specialist, but certainly not an every down guy. The Ravens already have Courtney Upshaw waiting to replace him. Upshaw is already a better overall player. Granted, Upshaw isn’t much of a pass rusher. But if they want to keep him at OLB, they could very easily draft a pass rush specialist. Or they could let Upshaw move to MLB and sign someone like James Harrison.
• Ellerbe? Ellerbe is very good when healthy, but he can’t stay healthy. I love the way that Ellerbe plays, but in today’s game, linebackers like Ellerbe are replaceable. Ellerbe was below average in coverage. The Ravens have options in the draft and free agency, or they could shift Upshaw over to MLB.
• Boldin? Granted, Anquan Boldin’s trade did hurt. But it was probably the right move. Boldin is on the wrong side of 30 and his athleticism is steadily declining. He simply does not fit well into the Ravens offense right now. Boldin isn’t ideal for a slot receiver role with the Ravens because he can’t take advantage of Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones stretching the field. The Ravens wanted to keep Boldin for cheaper, but he refused a pay cut. Everyone knew that Boldin had to go, which made it hard to trade him. The Ravens got something for someone who they could have easily gotten nothing for. Don’t underestimate Tandon Doss or LaQuan Williams. 
• Pollard? Pollard was a great leader on the Ravens defense, but he’s replaceable. Put all emotion aside and think about how much value a safety who is below-average in coverage has- very little. While his hard hits were awesome to watch, he’s a liability because of all the penalties he commits. Keep in mind that Pollard’s next team will be his 4th in his relatively short career. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. The Ravens resigned James Ihedigbo for a cheap one year deal, and Ihedigbo is far less of a liability in pass defense than Pollard. The Ravens could also move Jimmy Smith over to safety where his skill set might be better utilized.
• Lewis? I love Ray, but he was a shadow of what he used to be. Replacing his leadership will be tough, but I think Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata, among others, are up to the task of replacing that leadership.
• Reed? Let me start off by saying that Ed Reed is my favorite Raven of all time. He probably always will be. But consider this: Ed Reed is no longer an elite safety. His health is questionable at best. His number one priority appears to be money. There are tons of good safeties available in the draft. The Ravens might even already have his replacement in Omar Brown (who Ed Reed himself has raved about).
• Birk? The Ravens have his replacement waiting in Gino Gradkowski, who has spent this year learning under Birk. He’s probably a better blocker than Birk, and he improved immensely from training camp to the end of the season.
• McKinnie? He’s a huge headache who has trouble controlling his weight and who is noted for not trying his best in practice. AKA he is not the kind of guy who is going to have consistent success with John Harbaugh calling the shots. Look for the Ravens to get a tackle on the cheap.
• Williams? The Ravens have a ton of depth at cornerback. I’m not worried at all about losing a corner who gives his receivers a 7 yard cushion.

So as you can see, none of the Ravens losses are really that big. Each player is replaceable. I can understand a concern about leadership, but I have faith Ozzie’s going to address that if he can for his price. If he can’t? Oh well, Ravens might have a down year. If I ever get upset, I’ll simply watch my Super Bowl 47 DVD.

Ozzie has already improved the Ravens by signing defensive linemen Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. Both guys should help to improve the Ravens run defense, which was abysmal last season. They have been linked to James Harrison, who at the right price, would certainly help the Ravens. Ozzie Newsome, a wizard of the NFL draft, has 12 draft picks.

So, in conclusion, read the following statement out loud as many times until you get the point:

There’s a reason that we are fans and Ozzie Newsome is the GM. In Ozzie we trust. 

My Favorite Memories Of Ray Lewis

As a Ravens fan, I am extremely upset that Ray Lewis will be retiring after this season. I want nothing more than for Ray Lewis to get another Super Bowl ring, so that he can truly cement himself as one of the greatest players of all time. I can’t express what he has meant to me and to the city of Baltimore. I’ve never known the Ravens without Ray Lewis. It’s not going to feel right next year to watch the Ravens without Ray Lewis.

Over the past 16 years of watching him, I obviously have a ton of memories of Ray Lewis. For different reasons, a few stand out to me. Some because they’re epic, some because they’re just outright hilarious, and some because they truly define the type of player and man that Ray Lewis is. Here’s my description of those memories, in no particular order:

RAY LEWIS TAKING THE BALL FROM KELLY GREGG

This one’s more of a comical memory, but I think it also says a lot about the kind of player that Ray Lewis is. It happened in 2006, against the Oakland Raiders. Defensive tackle Kelly Gregg was returning a fumble. Obviously, defensive tackles are not really conditioned to run that far, so Kelly Gregg got tired pretty quickly. He went from a sprint to a jog to outright collapsing. He hands the ball to Ray Lewis who continues to run with it and it was almost returned for a touchdown. On the sideline after the play, Ray Lewis was as giddy as a schoolgirl, laughing with Kelly Gregg. I wish I could find a video of it because I can’t help but laugh whenever I think of the play. What does this play say about Ray? It says that he was always there for his teammates, both on the field and off the field, and that he would do whatever it took to make them better. It says that Ray was the ultimate teammate.

RAY LEWIS STOPPING DARREN SPROLES IN THE BACKFIELD ON FOURTH DOWN TO BEAT THE CHARGERS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrnDLXxVoFE

This play says so much about Ray. It shows his outright dominance. Even when Ray hasn’t been the fastest, quickest, or strongest player on the field, Ray absolutely refused to let it show. It shows his impeccable timing. That timing is why he was able to remain great for so long. Most importantly, it shows his relentless desire to win. Nobody wants to win more than Ray Lewis, and that showed every moment he was on the field.

CHAD OCHOCINCO ACCIDENTALLY RUNS INTO RAY LEWIS

Video Of The Play

This is another memory that’s kind of comical to me. I mean, Chad Ochocinco clearly thought he was blocking a kicker or something, but man did he get a rude awakening once he realized that it was actually Ray Lewis. Those wimpy half efforts aren’t nearly enough to stop Ray Lewis. To me, this memory shows how seriously Ray Lewis took his craft, and how he never left anything on the field. He gave it his all no matter what, and he made sure that not only his teammates, but his opponents, did the same.

RAY LEWIS DESTROYS DUSTIN KELLER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbMBW7GmX1E

I remember this play because I was watching this game with a bunch of Jets fans. Immediately after their natural reaction of awe, they started busting out Ray Lewis murder references. I vividly remember saying, “Guys… I can’t even respond to that because Ray Lewis just attempted to murder Dustin Keller.” That shut them up for the rest of the night. This play shows Ray’s relentless approach to football. No matter what his job was, Ray made it a point to try to do it better than everybody else. Let’s just say he rarely, if ever, failed at that.

RAY LEWIS BREAKS RASHARD MENDENHALL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_1S1TxtooQ

Probably the hardest hit Ray ever dished out. Mendenhall fractured his shoulder on the play and was put on the IR after the game. Another memory that shows just how relentless Ray Lewis is when it comes to football.

THE GAME AFTER SEAN TAYLOR DIED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-prk3cgARA

That night, Ray Lewis played like a man who was possessed. I knew from the moment he out jumped Randy Moss in the end zone to break up a pass that Ray was going to have a special night that night. Unfortunately, the Ravens didn’t win that game, but I’m sure Sean Taylor would have been extremely proud of his effort.

This memory stands out to me the most because it really defines who Ray Lewis is as a person: The Godfather of the NFL. Nobody cares more about his teammates and his opponents than Ray Lewis. He loves to talk to people and give people guidance. He admitted in an article last year in the Ravens Game Day Program that he has like “over 500 contacts” and that he’s always sending out text messages. If you watch him pre-game and post-game he’ll give everybody hugs and genuinely talk to every player. I remember the one time I got to meet Ray. It was at an autograph signing. I remember approaching him and he said “How you doing?” I said I’m good, and Ray looked at me like he wanted me to say more. I can’t remember exactly what I said, but I remember how awesome I felt that Ray Lewis genuinely cared about how I was doing.

The NFL isn’t just losing a legendary player in Ray Lewis. They’re also losing a legendary person. I can’t wait to go to Canton for his Hall Of Fame induction. I’m sure his induction speech will be the most epic thing I’ve ever heard.

As a way of remembering Ray Lewis, here are some of my favorite pictures of him:

Photo courtesy of Peter Diana/Post Gazette

Ray Lewis hugging Torrey Smith after the Patriots game this year. Smith’s brother had died earlier in the day. Photo courtesy of Associated Press/Gail Burton

I’ll end with possibly the best .gif of all time:

What’s your favorite memory of Ray Lewis?

2012 NFL Awards

I’m making it a point to do this before the playoffs because these awards are regular season awards- postseason is irrelevant. To ensure that anything that happens in the postseason is not factored in, I’m doing this now.

NFL OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:

Andrew Luck, QB (Colts)

First off, let me say that this rookie class is incredible. This is easily the best rookie class that I’ve seen in the NFL. You could make an argument for four different guys. However, Luck, in my opinion, is the most deserving for several reasons. First of all, with all due respect to RG3, Russell Wilson, and Alfred Morris, Andrew Luck was expected to do FAR more than the rest of the candidates. Compare pass attempts:

Andrew Luck: 627
Robert Griffin III: 393
Russell Wilson: 393

RG3 benefited from his teammate Alfred Morris and his 1,613 rushing yards. Without Morris, RG3 would not have been as successful as he was. Without RG3, Morris wouldn’t have been as successful as he was. Russell Wilson benefited from Marshawn Lynch and his 1,590 rushing yards, as well as from the Seahawks heralded defense. Luck? The Colts as a team had 1,671 rushing yards (22nd in the league) and had a defense that was ranked 21st in points allowed and 26th in yards allowed. As I said, Andrew Luck was asked to do more, and he did do more, as he took a team that was 2-14 in 2011 to an 11-5 record and a playoff birth in 2012. My ballot:

1. Luck
2. RG3
3. Russell Wilson
4. Alfred Morris

Props to all four guys. This was a very difficult decision.

NFL DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Luke Kuechly, Linebacker (Panthers)

While this wasn’t as contested as the offensive rookie of the year award, this decision was still very tough for me. For me, it was between two guys: Kuechly and Bobby Wagner, a linebacker for the Seahawks. What sets Kuechly apart is his tackles. He finished with over 160 combined tackles (compared to Wagner’s 139 tackles). Wagner will probably wind up being the better overall player (his 2 sacks and 3 INTs show his versatility), but Kuechly had a better rookie year. My ballot:

1. Kuechly
2. Wagner
3. Janoris Jenkins (Rams)

NFL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Adrian Peterson, Running Back (Vikings)

Peterson had arguably the greatest season ever by a running back. Please note that Offensive Player Of The Year and MVP are not the same thing. Peterson was the most impressive offensive player this year. My ballot:

1. Peterson
2. Peyton Manning
3. Aaron Rodgers

NFL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

J.J. Watt, Defensive End (Texans)

With all due respect to Von Miller and Aldon Smith, it’s not really that close. If you only look at sacks, it might be close, but Watt’s season has been historically good for several reasons. First of all, Watt makes an impact on virtually every single play, and he’s doing it as a 3-4 defensive end. This is the first time that I can remember a 3-4 end being the best pass rusher in the league. It’s almost always a 4-3 end or a 3-4 linebacker, but not this year. Secondly, and what really separates Watt from everyone else, is his overall ability. He can do it all. Obviously, with 20.5 sacks, he’s the elite pass rusher in the NFL. He did this while also obtaining 81 tackles (36 of them for a loss), 4 forced fumbles, and an absolutely absurd 16 passes defensed. My ballot:

1. Watt
2. Aldon Smith
3. Von Miller
4. Geno Atkins

NFL COACH OF THE YEAR

Chuck Pagano/Bruce Arians (Colts)

Tons of sentimentality in this award, but remember that the Colts were 2-14 in 2011. 11-5 and the playoffs a year later almost gets you a Coach Of The Year award by default. The circumstances under which it was done makes this a no-brainer. My ballot:

1. Pagano/Arians
2. Pete Caroll
3. Mike Shanahan

NFL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Peyton Manning, Quarterback (Broncos)

Did Adrian Peterson miss a whole season? No. Did Adrian Peterson have to implement a new offense with a new team? No. For me, this award goes to everyone’s 6 foot 5 quarterbacks with a laser-rocket arm. He came back from a potentially career-threatening injury to a new team, and showed that he’s still the same 6 foot 5 quarterback with a laser rocket arm that he was in Indy. My ballot:

1. Manning
2. Adrian Peterson

NFL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Adrian Peterson, Running Back (Vikings)

I had to think about this one long and hard. It came down to three players: Peyton Manning, J.J. Watt, and Peterson. For me, the MVP is the guy who makes the biggest difference, so I find myself asking this question when considering who the MVP is for any sport: What player means the most to his team? As much as I like J.J. Watt, he isn’t as important to his teams as Peyton and Adrian. So cross him off the list. Let’s look at who the Broncos were without Peyton: They had a very mediocre QB, but they still made the playoffs and even managed to win a playoff game. Now, who would the Vikings be without Peterson? How good would the Vikings be if their offense had to rely on Christian Ponder to air it out or hand it off to Toby Gerhart? Exactly. Peterson is the most valuable player in the NFL to me. My ballot:

1. Peterson
2. Manning
3. Watt

Let me know what you think in the comments.