College football’s four-team playoff has altered some of the drama of the regular season. On one hand, some of the biggest games aren’t necessarily must-wins, since one loss may not end a team’s playoff hopes. Clemson lost in November last year and still went on to win the national title. Ohio State made the playoff despite failing to win its conference.
After sitting out of the first round, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t want to wait any longer. Dalvin Cook was still available, the kind of dynamic running back Minnesota drafted 10 years ago and just recently let go. The Vikings traded up seven spots to the 41st overall pick Friday night and snagged Cook, the Florida State star whose stellar college career came with off-the-field questions. They sent one of their fourth-round selections to Cincinnati to move ahead in the second…
There were a few unexpected things that cropped up during Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft. Some are more impactful than others, but from a Floridian’s point of view, these stood out. Dalvin Cook’s free fall from the first round. Some of the mock drafts said this could happen, but we thought his character scrapes from a younger age would not hurt him that much. Many thought Cook would go to the Tampa Bay Bucs, but GM Todd Licht…
The last two players to be selected with the first pick of the second round of the NFL draft were New York Giants star safety Landon Collins in 2015 and Cleveland Browns promising pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah last year. The point being there is plenty of big-time talent left on the board when the first round ends. That is especially the case this season, when the draft class was considered to have more first-round talents than first-round picks. Six players…
With the NFL Draft only one week away, former Florida State star Dalvin Cook has gone from arguably the best back in the draft to possibly falling to the second round. After an underwhelming result at the NFL Scouting Combine, Cook’s stock appears to be dropping. Before the Combine, Cook himself made the case the he was the best running back in the draft. The critics came out soon after, and Cook was no better than the third rated running…
Happy New Year! Today in Tampa, the Outback Bowl takes place, one of four college bowl games on tap on this national holiday. Traditionally, New Years Day is college football’s big day, but that has changed in recent years, with the College Football Playoff semi-final games on Saturday night taking center stage (also, the NCAA bowed down to the NFL on Sunday to allow them to finish up its regular season). We’re now a week away from Tampa hosting the third annual National…
Lamar Jackson leapt over a loaded field of Heisman Trophy contenders early in the season and by the time he slowed down nobody could catch him. The sensational sophomore quarterback became the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, beating out preseason favorite Deshaun Watson of Clemson despite some late-season struggles. Baker Mayfield finished third and Oklahoma teammate and fellow finalist Dede Westbrook was fourth. Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was fifth. Watson, who finished third in Heisman…
