Buckeye News from Around the Net 6/24/08

Buckeye News from Around the Net 6/24/08
John Havlicek

Buckeye News from Around the Net 6/24/08

John Havlicek, Kenyon Rambo, Michael Redd,  Terry Glenn, Jason Simons,  Shawn Springs,  Ryan Pickett, Shane Olivea, Chris Speilman, Bennie Wells, Anthony Gonzalez and  Roy Hall.

By Bill Smith

The Good

             John Havlicek was looking very dapper at the NBA finals cheering on his Boston Celtics to their 17th NBA championship.  “Hondo” as he was known during his playing days is best remembered by Celtic fans for the last second steal of an inbounds pass in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers that won the game and propelled Boston to yet another championship in 1965.  He is best remembered around OSU land for his great play in the early 1960's that saw OSU win a national championship and play for two others.  He looked great.  We will do an Old school bio of Hondo soon right here on Brutus Report.

            Michael Redd was named to the USA 2008 Olympic team.  But that is only part of the story.  The US has not won a major international championship since the 2004 Olympics.  The biggest reason was that foreign teams would play zone defense against the US.  The opponents shut down the inside game and forced the USA to shoot from outside.  The prior teams that were selected had very few pure 3 point shooters.  That is Michael's strength.  He averaged 22.7 ppg this past year and over his career has hit 38% of his 3 point shots.  Look for him to get a lot of playing time.

            He will be remembered as an OSU All American that led the Big 10 in scoring as a freshman, the first true freshman to do so.

            Last year Ryan Pickett was supposed to be used as a pass rush DT going into the 07 season.  Injuries to other players and a solid performance gave Pickett the starting NT position.  This year things should be no different.    Corey Williams has been traded to Cleveland and injury concerns about Johnny Jolly and Justin Harrell makes Pickett the only man on the line that the Pack can depend on.  He has firmed up his hold on the NT starting spot.

            Anthony Gonzalez figures to be a starting WR for the Colts.  Marvin Harrison is coming off an injury filled year.  This year he will likely be used in the slot for spot duty to protect him from further injury.  To add to the uncertainty of his availability, he is the now familiar “person of interest” in the case of shooting outside his tavern.  Philadelphia police believe that Harrison's unique gun was used in that shooting but no charges have been filed.  That puts Gonzalez opposite Reggie Wayne in the starting lineup. 

            Roy Hall should benefit from more Payton Manning passes his way as well.  There is a major battle going on for the 4th WR position and Hall's size is a factor in his favor.  With Ben Utek leaving Indy for the Bengals as a RFA, there is a need for another big receiver around the goal line.  Hall could well turn out to be that WR.

            Joe Schad of ESPN ranks OSU RB Bennie Wells as the top college back in that position.  He said that because of his combination of size, strength and speed “Wells is compared by some to Jim Brown.”   To me that is a little over the top.  He also said that Wells goes into the 2008 preseason Heisman chase as 2nd only behind last year's winner Tim Tebow.

            Now for my favorite story of the week.  When he was asked who was the toughest player he ever played with or against, Marcellis Wyley the former DE was quick to respond.   OSU favorite Chris Speilman was his answer.  Wyley was a rookie on the Bills team while Chris was the leader at linebacker.  On ESPN, Wyley said “I saw Cris Speilman play with torn triceps and torn biceps.  One time I don't know what he did to his neck and back but he was bent over like an L.  What he did instead of taking shots—instead of crying about it, he grabbed some smelling salts.  Put one in one nostril (and) one in the other nostril.  (He) grabbed a cup full of them (and) smelled them.  He went out there and played with no complaints.  This guy was a warrior.”

The Bad

            Wyley also spoke about Terry Glenn's struggle with the Cowboys to get his release or be allowed to practice without signing the $500,000 waiver.  He pointed out that Glenn is in the middle of an ego clash between the shadow of Parcells history with the team and Jones.  “Glenn was a Parcells' guy.  Parcells brought him here.  I was in that position once.  Now Parcells is gone.”   Wyley said “Terry, you've got yourself caught up in a civil war.  I was a casualty of that same civil war between Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones.  And when Bill Parcells was there, there were certain players that he wanted on his football squad.  Jerry Jones has a different philosophy.  Jerry Jones is the one who writes the checks and at the end of the day he has the last say.

            “Terry Glenn is feeling the squeeze.  They are asking him to do something that is almost unprecedented when you say sign a 500K waver and then go out and play.  We haven't heard from Jerry Jones the 'or else'--what happens if I don't sign this deal?”

            In an interview Glenn said “I'm not trying to be at odds with Jerry.  These words and comments coming from me were strictly frustration, knowing football season is right around the corner and I don't know if my future is here, there or anywhere.  I'm ready to give 100 percent.  I just want to know if this is going be my home.”

            CB Shawn Springs absence from “voluntary” OTA's is now becoming a distraction as far as Coach Zorn is concerned.  Not only has Springs not attended, he hasn’t contacted the team to let it know when or if he will show up.  Some of Springs' team mates are starting to speak out.  DE Phillips was one that expressed his displeasure with Shawn's absence.

The Ugly—More Ugly than usual

            OG Shane Olivea, the former starting RT for the Chargers was cut earlier this year as we reported.  Now he has been suspended by the NFL for the first 4 games of 2008 for violation of the league's substance abuse policy.  Reportedly, he failed a drug test.  He can sign and attend training camp with a team as well as play in the preseason games.  However, at the end of preseason, he is to have no contact of any kind with the team until after game 4 of the season.

            Jason Simmons, the former OSU DE and team captain, plead guilty in May to 3 counts of sexual battery to avoid prosecution of charges of sexual conduct with a minor.  He was sentenced last week to 1 year in prison for the guilty plea.  He was a middle school teacher in Ohio.
 

Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams and has scouted talent.  He is a senior writer for http://BrutusReport.com.  He has also published several novels on http://ebooks-library.com/index.cfm and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com

 
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