He excelled behind an undersized and under performing offensive line without a powerful running game - Should be perfect for the Raiders!

Another bonus for going to the Raiders - As an ND man, he will continue to play hard and lead by example when the team as a whole stinks on ice (See: Brown, Tim).
Sean Fitzgerald | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 3:43 pm | #

One MAJOR thing to let those guys know is this:

Everyone keeps questioning how hard this kid plays/whether he can take pressure. Everyone forgets that during his first two years at ND that kid took the worst beatings I have ever seen. The Purdue game when he was a freshman comes to mind, as all the young kid did was keep getting up, keep putting up massive yards, and keep getting knocked back down. Same thing happened this year, as he was constantly under pressure and taking hits. Quinn is a tough, strong QB (25 reps on the bench? UM's badass 330 lb. DT had 33 for reference) who knows how to hang in the pocket and take a beating and still deliver the throw.

I think toughness is a vastly underated quality in QBs, and Quinn was perhaps the best I can remember in recent memory at hanging in their regardless (never seriously injured to boot).
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 3:47 pm | #

Regardless of all the sports talking heads and latest mumbo jumbo about where Brady Quinn will go in the draft and why he can’t win the “Big Game”. Some lucky NFL team is going to draft and have the privilege of negotiating a salary package for a future franchise quarterback, one that is going to sell a lot of tickets and commercial air time for them.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 3:53 pm | #

Ask if anyone thinks Det, Oak, or Buffalo are enjoying their defensive picks from last years draft as much as Ari is enjoying their "weak armed & soft" qb.
Griffin Caprio | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 4:01 pm | #

Mention that no matter where he ends up - his compensation package will be better than every other member of his graduating class.
Pete | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 4:19 pm | #

Everyone spent a lot of time overanalyzing Vince Young last season...Seems like he ended up being pretty effective
Matt | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 4:28 pm | #

seeing him around campus this week, he has probably doubled in size.
dillonhockey | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:00 pm | #

It's simple:

Ask them to take every quarterback they think could go ahead of Quinn, and have them trade teams. Who does better, Quinn at LSU or Russell at ND?
Pete | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:14 pm | #

"Mention that no matter where he ends up - his compensation package will be better than every other member of his graduating class" . . . . combined.

Well maybe not that good, but not too far off.


I think the one thing you could mention that probably gets overlooked is that the team that drafts Brady Quinn will see and uptick in local community Father/Daughter relations.

So he's got that goin for him. . .
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:15 pm | #

You know that's a good point in this comment thread.

Brady Quinn leads ND for TD passes, Passing Yards, and MOST SACKS SUSTAINED.

Or at least I guess he's probably pretty close to leading that last category.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:16 pm | #

Bad O-Line, sacked a lot.

Never hurt.

Tough.

Combine bench performance may not equate to dominance as a QB, but it does show his work-ethic and desire to be the best QB possible. (Look at the state in which some of the other QBs showed up in- overweight and soft).

Has run a complex NFL offense for two years.

Leader.

Great kid.
Football Knowledge | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:23 pm | #

You should mention how clutch he is. Didn't y'all have a stat about how every time Quinn has had the ball and an opportunity to win or tie a game late in the 4th quarter, he's delivered? That's clutch, and in a world of parity like the NFL, that's quite valuable.
domer.mq | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:23 pm | #

eye candy
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:24 pm | #

To piggyback on some previous comments about Quinn's resilience, he's got tremendous character. With all the bad press propagated by the likes of Pac Man Jones, Shawn Merriman and the entire Bengals roster, any team that drafts Quinn will have immediately improved itself in the character department.

Roger Goodell would certainly approve.
c-stone | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:26 pm | #

Everything I hear lately is a question about how he never won the big game - USC, Michigan, LSU, OSU, etc. But they never mention the fact that Quinn is just the QB, not the D-back, not the D-lineman. Our D was torched in each of those games and Quinn almost ALWAYS put up the consistent numbers: 2-3td's, 250-300 yds passing, and almost never a turnover. NOTRE DAME didn't win the big game, but BRADY QUINN ALWAYS did his job. The obnoxious number of ND passing records, the TD to INT stats and yardage numbers the last 2 years speak for themselves. People are just grasping at straws for bad things to paste to the kid. He'll be a solid NFL QB, and the people that matter (the NFL personnel) know this.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:45 pm | #

he is good lookin
vannna | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 5:45 pm | #

The comparisons to Russell are ludicrous. e.g. Strength -- Quinn shows he is stronger on the bench presses, yet it is said QBs don't need the strength, but they keep saying how strong Russell is, and how it is such a positive.
Tim Thilman | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 6:09 pm | #

Two years of 'audible authority' in a complex, pro-style offense, and the work ethic to continue to develop at the next level.

The banner ad is ill. Rather than jumping across sideways, the horsemen should fade/scale into place, as if riding into the ad through a distant fog.

Then a picture of the Rock should crash in from above, deposit halos on their heads, and shoot lightning bolts out of his eyes, "Burnin'" the words into the banner Wailers style.
indy | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 6:10 pm | #

I saw something interesting the other day about recent QB's drafted. There was a very strong correlation between number of games started in college and level of success in the NFL. For example, Akili Smith only started 29 or so games and they mentioned 4 or 5 other busts / relative busts that started less than 30.

On the other hand, they mentioned a slew of young successful QB's (Phillip Rivers, etc.) and almost all of them started 45+ games in college.

To finally arrive at my point...Brady started 49 games at ND...Jamarshmallow less than 30 at LSU. We shall see what happens, but I'll put my $ with BQ...
Tony "The Ant" Spilotro | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 6:16 pm | #

He's too small, he'll never do well in the pros.

His arm isn't strong, and he won't be able to take many hits.


Both of the above were common beliefs about a "couple of Joes." The first was said about a kid from New Jersey. The latter about a guy they named a state after.

Go Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 6:23 pm | #

BTW: is the lateral move on the banner supposed to be some type of Irish jig, or River Dance?
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 6:27 pm | #

"every time Quinn has had the ball and an opportunity to win or tie a game late in the 4th quarter, he's delivered"

over the last two years, yes, that's a true statement. however, i remember a couple times before that when he didn't come through - specifically BC '03 and Pitt '04.

but the fact that i can only think of two examples of him not coming through (and to be honest i don't remember if we had an offensive possession at the end of the Pitt game) over a career of around 50 games speaks worlds about his value, especially when i can rattle off almost a half dozen games from the top of my head when he did.

UCLA '06
Stanford '05
USC '05 (left :08 too many on the clock, but whatcha gonna do)
WSU '03

i know there were at least 2 or 3 others, but even a 4-2 record in those circumstances is phenomenal.
imposs1ble | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 6:33 pm | #

One thing that is often overlooked when talking about how many sacks and hits BQ has taken, is the number of sacks and hits he has AVOIDED. Last year in particular, he sidestepped or shrugged off tackle after tackle to make a clutch throw. We didn't see that as much this year, but the boy is STRONG and definitely doesn't go down in a stiff breeze.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 6:45 pm | #

Toughness. When was Quinn ever out with an injury during his four years? Even when he was the whipping post for opposing defenses under the Molder of Men. Russell, if I remember correctly, was out with injury when Flynn led LSU to demolish Miami in the last bowl season. That shows you the talent level LSU had as a supporting cast to a second string quarterback in their rout of Miami (42-3 or something). As much as I love ND, we have not had a good enough supporting cast so as not to miss Quinn's absence.
24 hour | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 7:01 pm | #

just like to point out that another QB by the name of Peyton Manning "couldn't win the superbowl" until this year...but in either case, was still considered one of the best QB's. Teams lose games, not a QB who performs in a great fashion day in and day out.
irishguy06 | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 7:22 pm | #

1) BQ has proven he can make a less talented team competitive. Russell had top surrounding talent (Saban) - BQ didn't (Ty). Surrounding talent delta makes a direct comparison tough.

2) BQ checks to the right plays. Reads defenses v. well.

3) ND losses were usually not for lack of scoring.

4) BQ is marginally quicker than Russell. 4.72 v. 4.75 40 yd (ESPN). Not enough to differentiate.

5) BQ kept his mouth shut about TW & coaching staff. Battered under Willingham, he never complained publicly.

6) History. "Can't get it done" college QB's do better than the "Can't miss" rocket arms. Leaf-Manning, anyone? Where was Tom Brady drafted v. Griese?

No contest on the deep ball - JR is the man.

I don't think either one is a Brett Favre on the intermediate routes.

BQ probably has more experience throwing short stuff due to patchy OL.

Overall toss-up.

I personally hope BQ slides a little to sign with an up and coming team - not a desparate franchise hoping to win (Raiders, et. al.).
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 7:48 pm | #

The fact that BQ has been unable to win "the big games" will inevitably come up. I think you need to make certain that people realize this wasn't due to a lack of scoring but moreso due to a pathetic defense. As Peter King pointed out in an SI article, in ND's games against USC, MICH and the two bowl games the defense allowed 47, 44, 41, 34, 34, 41, 38 and 45 points.
Eddie | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 8:08 pm | #

Be sure to point out the little known fact that his sister is married to AJ Hawk at Green Bay. I don't think too many people know that.

In all seriousness, I would point out what everyone already knows. He is the most ready for pro football of all the quarterbacks out there. Of the teams looking for a quarterback, are they willing to wait 2-3 years to develop a QB? Do they have the coaches that can develop a QB? Finally, there is much less risk in signing Brady based on his coaching and consistent performance.
rbingham'97 | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 8:14 pm | #

Our last drive in the USC 2005 game. Period.
1NDGal | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 8:34 pm | #

The Raiders have a long history of selecting Notre Dame men in the draft. Daryle Lamonica, Dave Casper, Stacey Toran, Steve Beuerlein, and Tim Brown all performed well for the Raidahz, and all were exceptional leaders for Al Davis. When Davis thinks long-term about his club, how can he NOT take BQ? A Notre Dame golden boy to be the face of your organization, or a cheap Daunte Culpepper impersonator? Just Quinn Baby!
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 9:08 pm | #

The kid showed up. Week in and week out he showed up. We couldnt run the ball, but he stood tall and had the best Int to pass ratio in the country. He showed up against USC, Michigan, OSU....Brady Quinn chops wood... he goes to work he may not be the Second Coming, or the next Elway or Montana, but Brady Quinn will make someone very, very happy that they drafted him. He doesnt shy away, and he produces.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 9:46 pm | #

Nobody is perfect, but Brady Quinn possess all the attributes you want from a quarterback. If Charlie Weis says he's going to be a great pro and has "IT", then what more do you want?
Ryan | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 10:23 pm | #

Not to get all misty-eyed and man-crushy', but since too few have mentioned it directly in the comments above, I'd like to draw attention to BQ's principles and class. Never a complainer, never negative, and oft admired by fan and foes, Quinn is simply a great role model. Sports in general could sure use more of that in the spotlight instead of ego, felony, and selfishness.

Ok, and he's a looker.
Chris '03 | Email | Homepage | 02.27.07 - 11:01 pm | #

Tell 'em Brady Quinn can eat lightning and crap thunder!
torquemada | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 12:48 am | #

i think there are some pretty interesting parallels going on between brady's draft hype turned sour and his heisman hype turned sour as you outlined in "Season of Backlash," jay.
Tommy O | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 1:54 am | #

Think about it this way, how many other QB's have websites with petitions so they DON'T get drafted?

(In case you didn't know, Ohio/Cleveland fans have a petition
1. to NOT draft Brady Quinn
2. and a second petition to draft Troy's Myth

So . . . he's got that goin for him.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 2:14 am | #

You guys have it all wrong. Tell them he's a loser, that he's got a weak arm, isn't smart, and folds under pressure. Make sure you play it up so scouts take notice. That way, he'll drop to a late 1st round pick and end up with a good team who needs a QB to complete the package. The money in Top 5 pick bonuses he'll lose this year will more than return to him as signing bonuses after he wins 2 Super Bowls in his first 3 years.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 7:35 am | #

hey atepesm, leave the cleveland fans alone... alright, maybe you have a fair point (geez i hate the buckeyes). I'm still crossing my fingers and hoping we take him at 3 (and not Peterson - who would fit perfect in cleveland really, i mean, what else do we need but another potential star who's always injured)
guyritz | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 8:54 am | #

He's smart and smart will take you longer than the ability to throw a ball 60 yards on your knees.

I do hate to see him go to a loser team though and get beat up for another few years.
jake | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 10:47 am | #

As a Browns fan, I had no idea that there was an online petition to persuade the team from drafting Quinn. It's unfortunate that Browns nation is tainted with aOSU scum. I honestly thought BQ would be a nice fit in Cleveland, but I'd hate to see him go there only for the fans to spurn him and team because of it.
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 10:47 am | #

lost boy, I like your point #5 especially. Whatever else you say about this guy he's dealt with the pressure on and off the field very gracefully, and without complaint, and always responded by working harder.

He does remind me a lot of Manning, in the sense that he does not seem to play easy, if I can appeal to generalities. He doesn't seem to depend on spontaneous athletic intuition as some good NFL QBs do and many great college QBs do. I'm thinking here of guys like Vince, maybe JaMarkus, maybe Favre, Culpepper. He will not come into the NFL and be as successful in his first year as Vince Young. As late as last season Manning was getting consistently tripped up in big games by disguised NFL coverages or breakdowns in hot reads w/ receivers that made people wonder if his game was too smart for it's own good, if all the work ethic in the world couldn't make up for a lack of some innate unconscious football intuition that was lacking. But he broke through this year and I'm not just talking about the Superbowl. He looked like a different QB and I think Brady Quinn will be on the same trajectory. My belief is that guys like I named above are great talents, and will win big games. But they're gunslingers, and will also burn you with interceptions or failing to take their game to the next level. I really think that BQ will just keep getting better and better but it will only be a matter of time before he becomes a truly great NFL quarterback.

On a side note, it does make you appreciate the guys I feel are even better, and I'd put Tom Brady and Joe in that category. Those guys seem to be able to do it all - analytic, and reactive/instinctive.

I still think Brady is the best QB in this year's draft for a franchise that wants to build for the long run and win a superbowl. Hopefully he'll end up with a team that has the same goal.
indy | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 11:02 am | #

here's something we all knew but an SI writer was needed earlier this week to remind me what a bad defense does to a good offense:

“Speaking of Quinn, he's almost a little too perfect. But if that's who he is, that's who he is. That's what we all were saying about Peyton Manning nine years ago. Speaking of winning the big one (or not), Quinn, by my very unofficial count, was 2-8 in the Very Big Ones at Notre Dame: 2-1 versus Michigan, 0-4 against USC, 0-3 in bowl games. Not good. But let's not slay Quinn over it just yet. In those eight losses, Notre Dame allowed 47, 44, 41, 34, 34, 41, 38 and 45 points.”
jim / redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 11:29 am | #

Guyritz,
That's an excellent point about adrian peterson and I don't understand why nobody else has brought it up: he's spent most of his college career injured! Doesn't that mean anything to anybody out there???
24 hour | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 11:51 am | #

Discuss anti ND sentiment in mainstream sporting press.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 12:35 pm | #

"Discuss anti ND sentiment in mainstream sporting press."

You mean like our pal Mandel?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com...oy.smith/ 1.html

"Smith's nightmare performance against Florida is when all this backlash started. Because he's "just a guy," Smith was unable to escape oncoming Gator pass-rushers/freight trains Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey as they routinely plowed through Smith's blockers like they were made of cellophane. As we all know, JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn would have spun free of those defenders and completed 70-yard passes."

Funny how Stewie takes what people have been saying about BQ, and spins it for Troy.
JohnF | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 12:56 pm | #

oh man let's not bring up fatty.
indy | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 1:37 pm | #

Jay-
This is the best ND coverage on the internet, bar none! I have been reading this site for over a year now and have never posted before. Figured today would be a good start and compliment you on SportsPulse.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 2:35 pm | #

Thanks Mike! Anybody else listen? How did I sound? Did I say anything really stupid?
Jay | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 2:45 pm | #

nice work!

You're offically a "Notre Dame Insider" according to SportsPulse.
BurbankSteve | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 2:51 pm | #

Is it possible to listen to the radio show later on? I wasn't home from work until after 3. Also, all the BGS guys do a great job. A day doesn't go by that I don't check this site. Keep up the great work!! You represent ND with nothing but class.
Chuck | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 3:35 pm | #

I missed it, stupid work. Anyone know if there will be a link to the audio, or possibly a transcript available??
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 3:45 pm | #

i didnt listen, but i think i have an interesting note that was overlooked by everyone else, but it concerns jamarcus russell:


Jamarcus Russell was a NOBODY until after the Sugar Bowl. He didn't even get a single Heisman vote, but when he plays well against ND, he's the big dog. People disregard the fact that Purdue and MSU passed for more yards against ND than did Russell.
njuneardave | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 4:32 pm | #

You know what to say, we are pretty damned fond of him here.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 4:43 pm | #

njuneardave,

You bring up a great point. Last year Troy Smith looked good against ND in his bowl game, and it earned him a Heisman.

Reggie Bush beat ND in 2005 and it earned him a Heisman.

JaMarcus Russell looked good lounging in the pocket against ND in the Sugar Bowl, and since he's not going to be around to get his free Heisman, now he's a #1 draft pick . . . wtf?
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 4:56 pm | #

there's a rebroadcast of the show up on the sports pulse site. i'm listening to it now.

if anyone can figure out a way to ff through this thing, that would be sweet.
dude | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 5:27 pm | #

of the 3, bush is the real deal. t smith had a middling year against crap competition, with one good half against the wolves.

the espn/abc spin machine has decided that you deserve consideration for the heisman only if you're on one of the top 3 teams by dec 1 (mushberger annointed smith a top candidate in the waning minutes of the fiesta).

(i liken the heisman race now to what golf coverage has become (esp the masters) - all tiger all the time, even if he's 6 back and in the clubhouse, and irrespective, maybe the top 4 guys. in the span of an hour you see maybe 35 shots, but are treated 20-25 minutes of commercials (starring tiger) and shots of duffy waldorf's wacky ball-markings or jim furyk's "unconventional" club track in slo-mo.)

and for the cherry on top of the heisman sundae, the question asked bq by fowler after the maxwell results was unreal. the response by bq showed class and maturity, when fowler really deserved a shot in the chops.
yz | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 5:39 pm | #

Is there any way to listen to the radio broadcast now? I was in class and missed it!
Chris | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 5:56 pm | #

dude - move your cursor on the circle and and arrows will show forward and back, but be careful, a little more sends you back 5 minutes!

Jay - I liked your show, but as you get other chances to go on radio I must advise against referring to our new defensive coordinator as "a young, black guy". That said, the analysis was really good.
Sean Fitzgerald | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 6:38 pm | #

In order to fast forward through the radio show you have to let the file load 100% first.

Jay, nice job overall, especially with trying to stay non-biased and non-homerish. I disagree that Brady will fall to 9th or 10th in the draft, though. Can somebody post some articles that say BQ's status is falling that much??
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 7:10 pm | #

ESPN had one on their draft page the other day that talked about BQ dropping to 9-10 if he doesn't go in the top 3 (sorry, I don't have the link). It didn't sound like they thought he deserved to go that low. It sounded like it was more of a case like Leinart last year where only a couple of teams at the top of the draft needed a QB, so once he fell past them, it was a free fall since no one needed to trade up to get him.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 8:33 pm | #

He plays hurt.

He reads defenses better than his other college competitors.

Chauncey had to be cajoled to recruit him by Duke's father.

If we was behind the LSU center in the SB he would have had wide open receivers to throw to where even balloon throws are even completions (see Russell's first TD pass - it had more hang time than Goering did).

Give him a running game and he will be more effective.

Professional attitude - very professional.

He has been sprinkled with Charlie dust out of the same jar Tom Brady was....
PZ | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 9:17 pm | #

Sean, I too cringed when I listened to the broadcast and heard myself say that. I had a note to talk about Corwin Brown and mention all the reasons I think he's a big plus for ND; one of those reasons, of course, is the fact that he's black. Instead, I gave the shorthand version and it sounded lame. Good catch.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 02.28.07 - 10:08 pm | #

Jay, you don't need to pander to the PC crowd. What you said was 100% true about Coach Brown. If it sounded a bit off to those with an overly sensitive PC ear then tough shit. What would you have said otherwise, "young, African American"? They're the same thing. I wouldn't advise you one way or the other because I can understand both ends of the argument there but being yourself is important too.
Kevin in Oxford | Email | Homepage | 03.01.07 - 12:16 am | #

i don't understand websites like sports pulse. They waste all their time and think people listen to them....but they have what, 8, 9, listeners?
Hillbilly LSU | Email | Homepage | 03.01.07 - 12:45 am | #

Here's an announcement on who is coaching the Blue/Gold game this year (in case you already didn't know.)

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/c...- ndfb01.article

"Former Notre Dame football coaches Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz will serve as coaches for the Blue-Gold game April 21."
rbingham'97 | Email | Homepage | 03.01.07 - 9:09 am | #

Kevin in Oxford,

The point that I should have made was that it doesn't really matter what his ethnicity is, but what he brings to the team in coaching, which is enthusiasm, hard work and a good knowledge of the 3-4 defense. Another thing is simple respect. I'd hate to be referred to as my company's "white" employee!

I don't think being black is really what it takes to recruit black players (see: Whillingham, Tyrone). Look at Bobby Bowden or even Ron Zook. You have to be able to sell the program.
Sean Fitzgerald | Email | Homepage | 03.01.07 - 11:39 am | #

Sean, this is probably a subject for another post, but I think Corwin Brown being young and black is a big plus, and not just in recruiting. What you lay out in your first paragraph above (enthusiasm, knowledge, hard work) is an absolute must for any coach, but there's a big added benefit in getting a guy like Corwin Brown, with his background & upbringing, on this staff.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 03.01.07 - 12:38 pm | #

njuneardave,

Good point about Russell (The Ent) not even surpassing Purdue or Mich State numbers.

I few nights ago, I happened upon some Battle-of-the-Network-Stars-style football challenge. The QB segment featured Smith, Drew Stanton, Zabransky (sp?), and Chris Leak. Each guy had to throw maybe 10 balls at targets moving horizontally acros the field.

I was left with two VERY strong impressions:

1. Drew Stanton is a stud. His arm looked so strong, and he was very focused and calm.
2. Smith was innacurate, surprisingly weak-armed. Most surprising of all, he looked flustered.

Now I know this was a stupid, fabricated contest, and I feel a little foolish attaching any import to what I saw. But it's still hard to shake what I saw. It's interesting to see these guys performing the same tasks side by side.
Hal | Email | Homepage | 03.01.07 - 1:45 pm | #

I'm certainly not a fan of Troy Smith but he doesn't exactly have a weak arm. At the same competition he threw a longer deep ball than everybody present and placed third in the ball speed drill at the NFL combine behind Toby Korrodi and John Beck.
Anon | Email | Homepage | 03.01.07 - 6:49 pm | #

My wife & I have read all of these blogs with interest. We too have watched Brady for 4 years, & we pegged him as a "can't miss" his freshman year! So, to our points:
1- Has anyone interview AJ HAWK recently about HIS feelings about Brady's ability at the next level since he has just finished a year in the pros AND has also played AGAINST Brady?? Family-in-law bias aside, that would be an interesting interview. 2- GB & Oakland have been talking [and it was NOT about Moss...but notice they never said that they DIDN'T talk!] My wife & I have contended for sometime that GB may be the team that TRADES UP for Brady - Farve will probably play just this year & a great many people at GB don't like his backup. Brady would fit perfectly with a year to be mentored by Farve & eased into the QB spot.
OUR PREDICTION [if kiper & the rest of the internet can predict, so can we!]: BQ in Green & Gold! [We are Giants fans by the way...grins]
Irish2 | Email | Homepage | 03.02.07 - 7:33 am | #

The only problem with your theory I2, is that if BQ went to Green Bay then the coefficient of fanaticism-density formed by the resulting interaction of the Pack/Domer fan bases, as tenuous as the axis is now (extending as it does mostly over water) could risk catastrophic collapse. I don't think the NFL would be willing to put Milwaukee and Chicago at such risk, to say nothing of Sheboygan, Manitowoc and Gary. Ok, maybe Gary.

link
indy | Email | Homepage | 03.02.07 - 11:16 am | #

Either Dan Patrick or Jim Rome interviewed AJ Hawk during the middle of last season. When asked, Hawk didn't hesitate to say Quinn was the better pro prospect compared to Troy Smith, throwing in that Quinn did nothing to make it easy on the OSU defense in the bowl game. Of course, that was before Russell had a field day throwing to receivers who were open by ten yards, so his name never came up.
LegacyKid97 | Email | Homepage | 03.02.07 - 11:32 am | #