Don't Threaten Dickerson

The NFL's single season rushing record holder is Eric Dickerson.  Before entering the NFL he was once a member of the SMU Pony Express backfield that is now famed for all the wrong reasons.  A prolific NFL career has him sitting in the Hall of Fame.  In the 1984 NFL season Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards, an NFL record.

That was then, when the league still liked to run the football, but even in todays game of pass happy football two players have threatened Dickerson's record.  Chris Johnson at 2,006 yards in 2009 and Adrian Peterson at 2,097 yards in 2012 have both been in reach of the record.  After their huge season's both Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson vowed to come back the next year and break the record.  Both, so far, not even close.  Dickerson is as proud as can be with his record and has been quoted that he does not want anyone to break it.  If I were Peterson or Johnson, or any other running back for that matter, I would not talk about the record again.  It seems like Dickerson has anyone who says they will break his record cursed.  So, NFL running backs, do not threaten Eric Dickerson.

Take Your Pick

Twenty touchdown passes, his first rushing touchdown since 2008, 1,884 yards passing on 198 attempts and one pick.  One lousy, under thrown, maybe a little late, pick.

That is Peyton Manning's stat line for the start of the season.  An unprecedented start to a season.  Just absolutely ridiculous of a start.  So good he could do it in his sleep start.  So good its boring him start.

But even after all of that Manning still did not break the attempts without a pick NFL record held by Tom Brady (358).  Still, even after all of that, Manning does not have the franchise record for attempts without a pick.  That belongs to Jake Plummer at 229 attempts.

Manning seems like the type of guy who does not care all that much for an individual record like that but instead cares about the teams success.  However, I am sure that pick will eat him up for a while.

What impresses me the most is that Manning seems to be that much better than everyone else in the league. Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, who has been a Pro-Bowler, has now thrown a pick-six in four straight games!  That is astonishing, and makes what Manning is doing that much better.

So, some advise to Manning, take your pick, just be happy you are not in Schaubs shoes.

Precious Scholarships

On September 24th, the NCAA announced that they would return scholarships to the Penn State football program after taking them away before the start of last season.  Instead of the original punishment of 65 scholarships in 2014, the team will have 75 scholarships.  Penn State will then have 80 in 2015 and the full amount of 85 in 2016.  The announcement is a huge step in the right direction for the football program.

Having grown up in Happy Valley, I was pleased to hear the news but the way in which the whole situation has played out bothers me.

The NCAA stated in their announcement that the reduction in penalties was due to Penn States "continued progress toward ensuring athletics integrity."

Is that a joke?

The situation at Penn State was messed up, I admit that, but it was all a criminal case.  Nothing that went on was against the NCAA rules.  They did not pay players, they did not provide improper benefits to student-athletes, they did not help athletes pass their classes by cheating for them.  All of which would fall under the lack of "athletics integrity."

In my opinion the NCAA should not have even punished Penn State for the criminal case.  The NCAA has no jurisdiction in criminal cases!  I don't suppose Nick Saban would be getting a call from the NCAA if he gets a DUI.  The NCAA did not have to punish Penn State.  Everyone whole got wrapped up in the situation payed for their mistakes.  Sandusky is in Jail, Joe Pa is gone, Curley and Spanier face criminal charges and are out of jobs.  The sanctions were just a way for the NCAA to flex their muscles and mess up another situation.  It amazes me that Oregon can use illegal recruiting practices (breaking actual rules by the NCAA) and then get slammed by the loss of one whole scholarship.  Wow.  Consistency is not in the NCAA's vocabulary.

One of the NCAA's reasons behind the monstrous sanctions was to "educate people."  How were you planning to do that by taking away scholarships to get into school?

Good one Mark Emmert...