A Post-NFL Draft Reminder that Nobody Knows Nothing

Around this time almost twenty years ago, the Green Bay Packers possessed the second pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys, holding the rights to the #1 selection, chose a quarterback out of UCLA named Troy Aikman.

The 'Boys #1 privileges came on the heels of a 3-13 season. New owner Jerry Jones had been handed the reins of America's Team and promptly fired legendary coach Tom Landry. Aikman would go on to turn around the franchise during a Hall of Fame career that included six Pro Bowls, countless team and League records and three Super Bowl Rings (not to mention a Super Bowl, MVP, leader of one of the great sports "dynasties" blah, blah, blah).

The Pack chose next. They had their eyes locked in on a man who Sports Illustrated had featured on their cover the week prior to the draft and labeled the "Best Offensive Line Prospect Ever." Tony Mandarich's college resume should sound pretty familiar in the context of the recently-completed 2008 NFL Draft. Mandarich, a 6'6 315-pounder, was drooled over by most NFL personnel. He was a "can't miss" who possessed that rare combination of speed, power and athleticism. If you've read Michael Lewis's The Blind Side, this was the guy before the guys who were supposed to change the landscape and the position of left tackle in the NFL.

“He’s the best college football player I’ve ever seen... this kid is better than Anthony Munoz.”
— Tom Boisture, N.Y. Giants

“Maybe the fastest offensive tackle in history... and just maybe the best.”
— San Diego Chargers GM Steve Ortmayer

“He’s always working on his techniques, which are almost perfect anyway.”
— Dick Steinberg, New England Patriots

Mandarich attended Michigan St. where he was twice named Big Ten Lineman of the Year. His senior season brought consensus first-team All-American and Outland Trophy Finalist honors. Sound familiar? For those not drawing the parallel, Jake Long is listed at 6'7, 315. Long played collegiately at the University of Michigan. He took home the Big Ten Lineman of the Year distinction twice and nabbed first-team All-American Outland Tropy Finalist recognition as a senior. Will Long be the next Mandarich? Or will he be the next Jonathan Ogden?

The answer? Nobody knows...anything. The most telling word from that 1989 SI cover is "prospect." Undoubtedly, the Incredible Bulk was one of the most promising offensive line prospects NFL scouts had ever seen. Nobody could or would have predicted his original cover would fall as an inset on an even more memorable cover shot entitled "The Incredible Bust."

So, why is this all coming out today? Frankly, it's been pent up from listening to, reading and watching weeks worth of experts who seem decidedly split on New York Jets first-round pick Vernon Gholston. Some call him a "coach killer" who is "inconsistent" and takes, not just plays but, "games off." Others used phrases like "impact rusher" and the "best pure pass rusher in the 08 draft." Well, after listening to countless analysis and ridiculously worrying about whether Gholston's "fluidity in the hips" makes him an awful pick or whatever, I've decided I'm pretty much done paying any attention to anybody - even he of the fabulous pompadour.

Here's what I know. Gholston played at Ohio St. He broke their all-time sack record. His measurables are off the chart. I'd like to think he will be OK. He may end up being terrible. I'm done wasting any sort of additional energy thinking about it. And for those losing sleep over who your favorite team may have selected and what some so-called expert is saying about them? Relax...think about Tony Mandarich...and remember that nobody knows nothing.

Plus, this is the same Jets team that drafted Kyle Brady, Ken O'Brien and Blair Thomas. What? Me? Worry?

Editor's Note: Not to unnecessarily pile on, but a devoted Packers fan reminded me that the following players went 3-5 in the 1989 NFL Draft: Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, Deion Sanders.

Of M.C. Hammer, Z. Cavariccis and the New Jersey Generals. Sort of...

If You Don't Know About Z. Cavariccis , You Better Ask Somebody

Freakin' Buzz Bissinger's absurdity has led me to have some strangely introspective moment of blogging sentimentality. Somehow Mr. Bissinger, Reigning Master of the Kingdom of the Old School, has forced (well, maybe forced is the wrong word...perhaps, 'indirectly influenced') me me to re-visit my bloggorial intentions. Am I just another mindless Internet troll whose actions are patently dictated by mob mentality...a wicked enabler of glibness and profanity? Is The Legend of Cecilio Guante dedicated to "cruelty, journalistic dishonesty, speed..." Is our content of "despicable" quality?

We've decided we are undoubtedly not...and it is not. As the "founder" of said blog, I have also determined that if I was (you know, profane, despicable...basically, a miserable blight on society and the planet) it would be Buzz's unalienable right to so claim. It would also be my right to tell him to f-off, decry him ignorant, narrow-minded and rain down all other sorts of unnecessary energy-wasting nastiness. We'll pass.

At The Legend, you cannot question our "journalistic dishonesty." Because we're not journalists. Nor do we claim to be. That's what makes this blogging thing, and the grand ole' InterWebs, so wonderful. So, who exactly am I and what exactly is this blog all about? Nobody likely cares, but here goes (we will in no way try to compete with the likes of EDSBS, who, by the way, could hang right with any of Buzz's soldiers of the print brigade).

LCG is aimed at entertaining people like me with sports banter. I am a fan who loves the game(s)...a dude who loves to write about sports, argue about them and, when appropriate, reminisce about the way they used to be. The innovation that is the "weblog" allows me to do such things.

I write before and after what are fairly long days in the "communications industry." I am lucky enough to work in marketing/PR for several of the better-known brands in the world of sports. Obviously, my Internet marketing skills have not been adequately applied to this blog endeavor (first rule of Web marketing, don't choose an agonizingly-long URL that nobody can remember). I am a Mets season ticketholder and a long-suffering member of Jets Nation. I inexplicably watched regular season Knicks basketball in 2008. I love playoff hockey but still can't eloquently articulate the definition of an interference penalty.

My sole purpose for this blog is as a creative outlet to say all those things I feel like saying about sports (along with my buddies Erie's Scribe and The World's Tallest Jockey who I've known since the age of eight or so). Sometimes it's a random rant about a team I dislike. Other times, it's an observation about things lots of people are talking about. On still other occasions, it is pure unabashed attempts at humor or spirited sarcasm aimed squarely at people typically completely deserving of such.

But, at the end of the day, this thing makes me happy in that a few folks may come here every day and be mildly entertained. It's nice to think a post succeeds in soliciting a chuckle or even a slight nod that says "wow this random guy was thinking what I was thinking." So, we'll keep doing everything we've been doing. But we are also going to attempt a new weekly feature in the spirit of this blog's founding. Our tagline says this blog is for those who remember "when it was OK to throw inside, hit the quarterback and trash talk a bit..."

For me, that was the 80s and 90s when I lived and died sports. It was before I had a job, or a fiancee or knew there was any significance in the combination of the number 401 and the letter 'K.' It was back when Gary Payton was "The Glove"...when Wally's World helped put Miami of Ohio on the map...when Cecilio Guante cards always showed up in my Topps baseball packs (along with that hard-as-a-rock piece of gum).

It was when wearing JAMS shorts with brightly-colored matching solid t-shirts was something I (apparently) did intentionally. The years when some of my most eagerly anticipated days were those when I was allowed to don my football jersey to school. It was a time when Bo Jackson and MJ were fun-tacked to the walls, when I was reading about the Incredible Bulk on the cover of SI and somehow adopted the Colorado Buffaloes as my favorite college football squad (despite seemingly every individual on Bill McCartney's roster boasting an impressive rap sheet of serious criminal offenses). During these years, I bought many "cassette singles" for $3.49 from the likes of such diverse and timeless artists as Nine, White Lion, Dangerous Toys and Bell, Biv Devoe. Oh, yes, you know.

If you remember these things fondly, we welcome you. And, if you just want to see pretty ladies from time to time, we certainly relate to that as well. In recognition of the glory days, we'll kick off the "LCG Weekly Reminiscence" in a few. It will be a random look back at a year in sports through the lens of one personally memorable moment from that season, along with some hopefully amusing commentary on other things going on in my life/world at that time (and maybe yours?). You know, what was playing on that phat yellow Sony Sports Walkman...the sick-as-hell Pumps we were rocking...or how we anxiously awaited the opening of the cinematic classic "The Program."

We'll try to bring a little VH1 "I Love the 80s/90s" feel and see if we can take y'all back and bring some enlightenment to the young whippersnappers. By the way, the New Jersey Generals were led by Doug Flutie and Herschel Walker, and my dad and I used to go watch them play at the Meadowlands. Oh, yes, and Z. Cavariccis were awfully-awesome parachute-style pants that I (and I am NOT alone) convinced my mother to spend absurd amounts of money on in the 80s. They were huge, pleated, tight at the top and bottom and unquestionably ugly. Most importantly, they also bore the unmistakable mark of their maker right on the zipper. Niiice. I had a pair of white Z's that were particularly stunning. My friend Jesse, though he'd deny it to this day, went leopard print Cavariccis. Three words that should never appear together. Truly unprecedented.

See you in the way back machine later this week.

NBC Asks an Incredibly Dumb Question

Granted, it's the preseason for everyone. But I've got to call out NBC for their halftime topics during last night's preseason affair between the Giants and Ravens.

When they first teased the spot, I honestly thought there might be something wrong with the TV. It read: "Is Eli Manning an Elite Quarterback?" In retrospect, I suppose the sheer ridiculousness of such a statement forced me to stick around and listen to Tiki, Collinsworth and Costas pontificate on this "debatable" hypothesis. So, in that regard, kudos to the network.

Now, I won't go overboard on this, as I very much understand that nobody was actually declaring this as a statement of fact and NBC was merely trying to create some sort of manufactured form of entertainment before Jared Lorenzen (aka "The Pillsbury Throwboy") took the field to start the second half at M&T. Yet, the mere insinuation that this question even approaches an issue worthy of serious discussion is somewhat laughable.

So, it got me to thinking. Just how much of a bust is Elisha at this point in his career? He may not be deserving of The Incredible Bust stature but is the title of "worst #1 overall QB in the last 20 years" within reach? Unfortunately, Tim Couch, who's latest comeback attempt appears to be coming to an end, has that honor pretty well wrapped up. But take a look at the history of NFL #1 picks and peruse the signal callers for the last couple decades. Who else is or has been worse than Eli?

Maybe, you can throw out David Carr. But consider Carr's actually got a higher career passer rating and that his TD/INT ratio can be somewhat attributed to the fact that he was running for his life about half of every game plus the potent offensive weopans he's had in the backfield over the past few seasons (see Wali Lundy, Samkon Gado and friends), and you've at least got something worth debating. Alex Smith is still a work in progress, albeit, and there are a few others, but Eli's up there and boasts potential to really make his mark in flop history.

And then there's always that "we traded four picks to get this guy" consideration that puts this question in a whole 'nother light. I was reminded of this during the telecast last night and this article really drove the point home. In reality, when the Giants traded for Manning, the Chargers return was Phillip Rivers (Pro Bowler), kicker Nate Keading (Pro Bowler), Shawn Merriman (aruably one of the most dominant defensive players in the league) and tackle Roman Oben.

Michael David Smith over at AOL Fanhouse is ready to call Eli Manning a bust if he has another lackluster season in '07, and I'd have to agree. In fact, he might be a first ballot bust hall-of-famer if he doesn't.

As my dad often says, sometimes the genes run out. I guess time will tell, but I'm of the mind that they already have.