MMQB (cont.)

Quote of the Week I

The Jets' investment in Vernon Gholston, who has zero sacks since being picked No. 6 overall in 2008, has not paid off. AP

"I'm not making any comment on that.''
-- Steelers owner and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney, asked Wednesday whether the Steeler organization stands behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Uh-oh.

Quote of the Week II

"Ninety-five.''
-- NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, asked on 106.7 The Fan in Washington (relayed by sportsradiointerviews.com) the percent chance that the owners will lock out the players in 2011.

Quote of the Week III

"You're going to find out two of the hidden secrets in our society around 2029: Who killed JFK and who drafted Vernon Gholston.''
-- Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post. In other words, no one in the Jets' offices these days is taking much responsibility for the drafting of Gholston in the first round of the 2008 draft. In two years, the pass-rush hope of the future has zero sacks.

Quote of the Week IV

"It's frustrating for me and it's frustrating for the other 216 guys. There are a bunch of other guys that are stuck in the same position. That's what we drew. The best thing I can do now is just go out and play football.''
-- Jets running back Leon Washington, who signed his one-year, $1.8-million tender offer with New York last Thursday, meaning, in all likelihood, he'll be back with the Jets for the 2010 season. The frustration of which he speaks has been echoed, albeit quietly, by fourth- and fifth-year free agents who do not have the ability to be unrestricted this year because of the new free-agent rules in 2010.

Factoid of the Week That May Interest Only Me

Home-Court Advantage Dept.:

Sean Payton, the coach of the Saints, is the lead plaintiff among 2,100 alleged victims in a case scheduled to begin this week against a company from China charged with shipping drywall that made people sick and damaged other property in the home.

The trial will take place at U.S. District Court in New Orleans.

Heck of a choice for lead plaintiff. Sounds like kicking off in a football game with a 21-0 lead.

Stat of the Week

Arm length. Another one of the newfangled stats we can't seem to live without this time of year. The theory is that left tackles, because they have to get their hands on quick pass-rushers to the outside and push them off their path to the passer, need to have arms a couple of inches longer than interior linemen. Some scouts grade players down significantly, for instance, if they have 33-inch arms. Like, for instance, Iowa's Bryan Bulaga. His arms are 33¼ inches long. That's three-quarters of an inch shorter than the arms of Rutgers' Anthony Davis, one inch shorter than Oklahoma's Trent Williams, and 2¾ inches shorter than Russell Okung of Oklahoma State. Those are the top four tackles in the draft. The preferred arm length for left tackles: 34½ or longer.

Let's see exactly how much it matters. The arm length of the first tackle picked in the past five drafts:

I wouldn't listen to the geniuses who say 34½- or 35-inch arms are vital to the success of a left tackle because the best two young ones in the game, Thomas and Long, are sub-33.

Tweet of the Week

"Scutaro accidentally threw his bat in the crowd. Fans fighting for it to try and knock themselves unconscious.''
-- @peteabe, Boston Globe Red Sox beat man Pete Abraham, on a rainy, 36-degree Saturday night at Fenway Park after the local nine, in the span of one hour, lost one game to Tampa Bay by blowing a bases-loaded, no-out chance in the bottom of the 11th, then got down 4-0 in the first inning of the second when center fielder Mike Cameron, imported for his defense, dropped a fly ball in the web of his glove. Scutaro led off the bottom of the first and the bat went flying into the stands, leading to Abraham's Tweet.