I Couldn't Agree More

In today's Washington Post, columnist Jason Reid writes that the Redskins should not draft a quarterback, either Auburn's Cam Newton or Missouri's Blaine Gabbert, with the #10 pick in April's NFL Draft. I couldn't agree more.

The Skins need to rebuild the foundation of their team, and I believe their foundation should be two strong lines and a tough, aggressive defense. To get to that point, they must draft and develop young talent, rather than add older veterans via free agency, as they've done in the past. That obviously hasn't worked, and now they're near depletion. Reid makes all these points in his piece, and I disagree with only his next-to-last sentence, "So do yourself a favor, Mike: Use your top pick on a defensive player and draft a quarterback in the second round." No! Don't draft a quarterback in the second round! You still have waaaay too many holes all over the team to waste on a second round quarterback "project."

Here is what I'd do: With the #10 pick, take Alabama's stud defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. He can move well, and would vastly improve a defensive line in Washington's 3-4 scheme. A great addition if he falls to #10, which he is projected to do. Next, try and get a steady offensive lineman, outside linebacker, or safety with the second round pick. The second rounder is an important pick, because the Skins won't pick again until the fifth round, which means they need a productive player from that pick, not a quarterback project for the next 5 years.

With the fifth, sixth, and seventh round picks, I would target defensive linemen, cornerbacks, and wide receivers, all of which they need. I can't highlight the importance of the draft enough. For too many years the Redskins have traded away valuable picks (like the third and fourth rounders of this draft) for older players who haven't delivered (Donovan McNabb for example). It's time for that trend to end, beginning with this draft. Drafting and developing young talent sets the foundation for successful franchises, and Mike Shanahan should start that trend now.

Scary Stuff

The majority of this post will deal with recent events in Montana and South Dakota where some people are trying to scare other people into thinking and believing the things they do. If those people don't think as they do, then death would be an appropriate remedy to that problem. But I'll start with the note for Valentine's Day from the Stupidest Things Ever Said calendar that sits on the table beside my bed.

It reads, "If you had no idea what to get her for Valentine's Day...Give her the perfect gift, make pre-arrangements as a couple with the affordable funeral home." This was taken from an actual funeral home ad, one that really knows how to say "I love you...and I can't wait for us to die." Now to the scary and serious stuff.

This New York Times editorial does a good job recapping what happened last week in Montana when Montana's lone House member, Representative Denny Rehberg (R), proposed putting a federal judge "on the Endangered Species List" in a speech to the Montana state legislature. As the editorial points out, I'm sure Rep. Rehberg didn't mean that federal judge should be "protected and nurtured," which is what the Endangered Species List actually does. Shocking that he didn't completely understand what he was talking about. Even more shocking is Rep. Rehberg's decision to use this type of language after federal judge John Roll was murdered earlier this year in Arizona.

Then yesterday in Pierre, South Dakota, our own state legislature again made national news with state Rep. Phil Jensen's (R) amendment to House Bill 1171, which is "An Act to expand the definition of justifiable homicide to provide for the protection of certain unborn children," which as Mother Jones says, "could make it legal to kill doctors who perform abortions." No matter where you stand on the abortion issue, we can all agree that murdering a person who performed a legal medical procedure isn't right, or legal. And it isn't about self-defense or consistency in the SD Criminal Code, as Rep. Jensen told the Washington Post and would like you to believe. As the South Dakota blog Dakota Women points out, many co-sponsors of this bill were not aware of the changed language in this amendment, so the bill was deferred until today. I'm interested to see what happens next.

The main point I want to make about these two stories is that they are inflammatory distractions from actual governing, and that they continue to stir the pot of using violence against others to enact your misguided political priorities. The key players in these stories, Rep. Rehberg and state Rep. Jensen, both Republicans, are using reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous language against people with disagree with their ideologies. Neither elected official is calling for serious and sober discussion about the serious topics of their comments and bills, state's rights and abortion, respectively. We need more of that, not more people like Mr. Rehberg and Mr. Jensen making decisions that effect their constituents negatively.

Articles to Check Out

I haven't been very current on current events lately, so I spent some time this afternoon catching up on reading. Here are a few articles I found interesting. Check 'em out!

Kyle Smith from the New York Post gives a look into key players from last week's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where South Dakotans Kristi Noem and John Thune both spoke. I watched some of this on C-SPAN. I don't agree with the majority of folks at this event, but they sure were entertaining, especially the Donald's speech.

Michael Gerson wrote early last week in The Washington Post about Catholic Republicans. Gerson, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, is probably my favorite conservative commentator. His pieces are always thoughtful, and this one is no exception.

Josh Verges of the local Argus Leader wrote in today's newspaper about the possibility of a (gasp) tax increase to get more revenue rather than extreme budget cuts in areas like education and social services.

Thomas Friedman looks back at the revolution in Egypt, and forward to the democracy movement's "Where do we go from here?" moment. "Here, the movement's strength- the fact that it represented every political strain, every segment and class in Egyptian society- is also its weakness" Friedman writes. "It still has no accepted political platform or leadership." I'm interested to see what happens, or doesn't happen, in Egypt in the coming days, weeks, and months.

Friedman is also right to underline the importance of Egyptian people undertaking the 18 day revolution themselves, without enough help from areas like the US State Department.

Enjoy!

Post Super Bowl Thoughts

First things first, how 'bout your boy's Super Bowl picks?! Missed the score by only 1 point (1 point!) and correctly picked Rodgers to be MVP (that one was an easy decision). Pretty proud of myself. I'd give out more picks later in this post, but they'd be so good that Vegas would catch wind and come shut me down! And since I don't want to disappoint the 3 people who read this blog, I'll hold off...for now.

Super Bowl was good. I spent much of Monday being mad at myself for missing 2 of the best moments: when Christina Aguilera sang her own version of the National Anthem, and when Cameron Diaz was shown feeding her boyfriend A-Rod popcorn. That guy just can't catch a break, and I love it. But I did catch the part of the game where the Packers won, and I was happy about that. Steelers fans should count their blessings that it wasn't a blowout, because if James Jones and Jordy Nelson had better hands, the score would've gotten out of hand.

Pittsburgh didn't deserve to win for a number of reasons. Here are three of them:

1) Their starting quarterback and face of the franchise has been accused of rape. Twice.

2) Too many turnovers. Just when the Steelers had grabbed the momentum, a devastating fumble by RB Rashard Mendenhall started the Pack on their third touchdown off a turnover.

3) Packers were obviously the better team. Pittsburgh's stars like Big Ben and Polamalu didn't show up, while Green Bay's big guys, namely Rodgers and Clay Matthews, delivered. The Pack's offensive game plan of spread 'em out and screw the run was solid (as New England drafted earlier this year vs. the Steelers), and they executed it well.

In Sunday's aftermath, the topic of ranking current and all-time quarterbacks, and players in general, has ballooned to the point that it needs to be popped. It's ridiculous. Thanks to the ESPN Podcenter page, I listen to lots of sports talk radio, so I heard these "ranking" discussions and arguments waaaay too much following the Super Bowl. It was talked about ad nauseam leading up to the game too.

Now I realize that the job of sports radio hosts and commentators is to toss out ideas and opinions and generate emotional comments from their listeners, but can't we just say that players like Roethlisberger and Rodgers and Favre are good without having to rank or compare or put them in some concrete hierarchy? There doesn't have to be a number 1, 2, and 3 player of all time at each position! These conversations really are stupid, especially when you have guys talking about how great Johnny Unitas was when he never actually watched Johnny Unitas play a game! I'll climb down from my soapbox now.

Two final things. The whole Brett Favre soap opera has been frustrating to me for the last several years, but ESPN's Mike & Mike co-host Mike Greenberg had a great idea for Brett on Monday's show. Greenberg said Favre should take out full page ads in major newspapers in and around Green Bay congratulating the Packers and Aaron Rodgers on their Super Bowl win. That's brilliant. It would be a rare classy move from Favre, and would go a long way in paving the inevitable road to him signing a one day contract with the team before retiring as a Packer later this year.

Lastly, since I went off about ranking players earlier in this post, it's only right that I include my own current NFL quarterback rankings. You know, because it's fun to be a hypocrite! This is the list of the top 5 QBs I'd want leading my team for the next 5 years. Not just next season, but for the next 5 years. Here we go.

1)Peyton Manning

2)Tom Brady

3)Drew Brees

4)Aaron Rodgers

5)Philip Rivers

Please comment and tell me your top 5. Thanks for reading!

Caps Win and Super Bowl XLV Pick

Even though the Caps beat the Penguins today minus stars Crosby and Malkin, it was still a big win for the Caps. Backup goalie Michal Neuvirth was terrific, and the whole defense was solid, particularly in the second and third periods, when they played without Mike Green. Hopefully the last two wins, against contenders Tampa Bay and Shitsburgh, will propel the Caps toward another Southeast Division title.

But today is about the Super Bowl. In that spirit, here are my picks:

Packers: 31

Steelers: 26

MVP: Aaron Rodgers

I've been to Shitsburgh twice, and enjoyed my stay both times, but nothing would make me happier than seeing the Penguins and Steelers lose big games on the same day. Go Pack Go!

Caps Running Journal Continued

8:25- 3rd period underway. Canadian announcers just mentioned the Caps were outshot 15-6 in the 2nd. Wow, can't repeat that and win this one.

8:28- Holy Shit! Ovechkin just flipped Habs Defenseman P.K. Subban on a hit, then drew a penalty from Subban! Could be a momentum shifter...

8:30- Well, so much for the momentum. Caps lose the power play as Brooks Laich gets his 2nd penalty tonight.

8:34- Varlamov is really playing well tonight. Keeping the Caps in it. I like Varly, so hopefully this and more similar performances will quiet the critics who think the Caps need to trade for a more experienced goalie to advance in the playoffs.

8:45- Not much action, and not much Caps offense. Varly still solid, best player for the Caps tonight.

8:50- Action starting to perk up. Each team getting an exciting chance, but these goaltenders are keeping their teams in it.

8:52- Habs get ANOTHER power play after Laich's 3rd penalty tonight. Hey Bruce, how bout not playing Brooks anymore tonight.

8:54- Caps LW Jason Chimera denied on a short-handed breakaway. Announcers just said that other NHL players voted Chimera one of the fastest skaters in the league. Huh, I wouldn't have guessed that. Good info Canadian announcers.

8:58- End of Regulation. Disappointing for the Caps after their early 2-0 lead.

9:00- Overtime. 4 on 4 hockey! Should favor the Caps, but they don't start with Ovechkin and Backstrom out there. Curious move by Bruce. Maybe sending a message?

9:06- Two good chances for the Caps in OT so far, but they can't light the lamp.

9:07- Pileup in the crease as OT ends! Caps were so close! Habs Goalie Price fell down as John Carlson lined up a shot, but it hit a Habs Defenseman. And we're going to a shootout!

9:10- Nicklas Backstrom hit the post! Had Price beat, but no goal.

9:11- Habs score, 1-0.

9:12- Varly stones Habs Defenseman James Wisniewski. Caps are still alive!

9:12- Caps are dead as Price stones Ovechkin to end the shootout. Caps continue to struggle, fall 3-2 in shootout.

Thank you for reading the initial Caps Running Journal! Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions. This is something I'd like to continue doing, and I want it to be readable and helpful. Hope to hear from you!

Caps Running Journal

In the first game after the All-Star Break, the Caps take on last year's playoff nemesis, the Montreal Canadiens. This is an important game for the Caps, because they're at home and they need a win to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Southeast Division. To the game!

Note: I'll post the time at the beginning of each entry. Time is CST.

6:33- I'm watching this game online, so I've got a Canadian crew broadcasting, and their announcer just said that the Caps aren't really ready to compete in the NHL because they're too young. What? They won the President's Cup last year! Freakin' Canadians.

6:43- And we're underway! Not a good start as the Caps have a bad early turnover, but a nice save by goalie Semyon Varlamov keeps it even.

6:45- GOAL! Young Caps Center Mathieu Perreault tallies the important first score. I love Perreault as a player, he always seems to make things happen out there.

6:52- Caps continue their power play struggles.

6:53- GOAL!! In my face! Mike Knuble puts it away with a great pass from Mike Green. It's

2-0 Caps and Perreault was involved again with a nifty give and go. First power play goal in 6 games for the Caps.

6:55- One thing I love about hockey: the PA guy announces the goal scorer afterwards, firing the crowd up again.

6:58- Habs (Canadiens) hit the post, they're getting good looks on their power play.

7:06- My friend Mark texts me, "first good first period they had all year."

7:08- With 4:22 left in the first, the Caps need to finish strong here.

7:10- Habs get another power play. Crap. So much for finishing strong.

7:14- Caps kill the power play after a good clear by LW Brooks Laich.

7:16- Ovechkin draws a stupid slashing penalty as the first period ends. The Habs player flopped like he was shot. Good first period overall for the Caps, but 2 bad penalties to close.

7:38- 2nd period underway, and 3 good saves already in the first 4 minutes for the Russian Varlamov.

7:46- Tampa Bay leads Philly 3-0. Bad news for the Caps.

7:47- More bad news for the Caps as #21 Brian Gionta scores to cut the lead to 2-1.

7:49- Even MORE bad news as the Habs go on the power play.

7:55- Great 8 (Ovechkin) more aggressive this shift, leading two separate rushes.

7:58- Terrific save by Habs Goalie Carey Price on a shot by Boyd Gordon.

8:01- Caps with a great but fruitless chance after a fancy move by Ovi in front.

8:03- Damnit! Habs tie the game on 2nd Gionta goal after a careless drop pass by Caps Defenseman John Carlson.

8:05- The tables have turned completely here in the 2nd period. Habs playing with energy and momentum.

8:07- End of 2nd period. Game tied 2-2. BIG 3rd period ahead for the Caps.