Yesterday was the first day of NFL free agency, and former Buckeyes made it rain.
- Donte Whitner signed a four year/$28 million contract with the Almighty Cleveland Browns.
- Malcolm Jenkins signed a three year/$16.25 contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Jake Ballard signed a one year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.
JAAMAL BERRY HAS REGRETS. Jaamal Berry was supposed to be one half of a powerful 1-2 punch when he and Carlos Hyde were mined out of the state of Florida in 2009. Unfortunately, Berry never got to enjoy the success Hyde did.
In 2011, Jaamal was charged with assault and disorderly conduct and kicked off the team before Urban Meyer ever arrived in Columbus. He finished his career at Murray State, but was allowed to attend Ohio State's pro day last Friday (as a spectator).
It appears he's had some time to dwell on squandered opportunities. From Cleveland.com:
"That's always on the top of my mind - what if I would have stayed here?" Berry asked. "I am still a Buckeye fan, no hard feelings against them at all. Every Saturday I root for them."
[...]
"Leaving here was a big wakeup call for me, going to a smaller school," Berry said. "A lot of the things that I got here wasn't going down at Murray State. It made me grow up really fast and appreciate the moment, live in the moment. I am definitely grateful for that."
[...]
"The sky is the limit," Berry said. "A lot of things always go through my mind. Seeing Urban run this offense, I feel like it would have been perfect for me. Unfortunately I wasn't here to be a part of this."
Berry finished his career at Murray State with 1,343 yards and 12 touchdowns in two years.
I hate stories that end with wasted potential and a dozen varieties of "What if?" It's just another lesson to a big refrain of mine: It takes one terrible decision to alter the entire course of your life. I'm sure it pained Berry to watch from the sidelines as his former recruiting classmate Carlos Hyde impressed NFL scouts, but in the end, he has nobody to blame but himself.
DELANY WANTS ATHLETES TO HAVE A CHOICE. Here's an interesting clip from Jim Delany yesterday on ESPN:
I have no intention of igniting another tiresome "pay the players" debate, but I do think it's interesting Delany says he has no interest in colleges being a de facto minor league for professional sports. (ARE YOU LISTENING, NFL AND NBA?)
One thing that gets lost in the "pay the players" stuff is the NFL — the wealthiest sports league in America — gets away with using the NCAA as its minor league system. That's an abomination.
The NBA is at least growing the D-League, but their rule forcing kids into college for a year is another abomination. (The league pays people millions of dollars to evaluate talent. DO BETTER.)
You know why nobody is clamoring to pay baseball players? (Other than baseball doesn't bring the revenue that men's basketball and football does?) Baseball players have a professional alternative out of high school. Where is the same for football players and basketball players?
This is a point I think Delany needs to push, and knowing the man's shrewdness, I doubt this is the last time you'll hear him making this point.
LIL BOOSIE IS HOME, TIRED OF ALABAMA STEALIN' CROOTS. Lil Boosie was released from Louisiana prison last week, but his incarceration did little to hamper his LSU fandom. Here he is lamenting Nick Saban's ability to poach Louisiana's talent and pleading with elite athletes to "go on and put on that yellow jersey."
Somebody needs to get Kang Boosie and Les Miles in the same room. I would pay to listen to those two conversate about a bowl frozen mashed potatoes, let alone anything of significance.
And if Boosie is out here 'crootin for LSU, buckle up, folks, because there's not a recruit south of the Mason-Dixon line that's saying no to Boosie if he were to come calling.
THE HELL, BTN? I thought the Big Ten Network was supposed to be the B1G's propaganda channel? Did Jim Delany sign off on this?
How hot is Wichita State? Big Ten Network is rebroadcasting the Shockers 2013 Elite Eight victory over Ohio State. Kind of strange
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) March 12, 2014
Folks, I think it's time we talk SECESSION.
TORRANCE GIBSON OWNS MICHIGAN. Torrance Gibson is the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in 2015, and this Tweet is phenomenal:
No. 11 in ESPN Jr. 300, QB Torrance Gibson RT @quick_tg6 Michigan Wolves are showing interest in TG6!! #Michigan
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) March 11, 2014
The use of third person... calling those bums the Michigan Wolves... there is a lot to like about this Tweet. Of course, "TG6" deleted the original Tweet and corrected himself, but it just goes to show you the road Brady Hoke must hoe to get this kid to Ann Arbor.
Aside: Thankfully Michigan's elders didn't roll with the Wolves, because it's a lot cooler name than the Wolverines, which is basically the love-child of a skunk and a weasel.
THOSE WMDs. Life as a retail worker... I came in like a (ouuuch).... How it's possible to lose a plane in 2014... A profile of Dan Jenkins... Kevin Durant is not a fan of Lil B... The Marabou Stork is a BEAST... ESPN's John Clayton's Twitter background: still funny... /salute to Stuart Scott... Game of Thrones is looking to wrap in seven or eight seasons... The Infinite Lives of BitTorrent... The Ballad of Daniel Wolfe... The Collapse: How a Top Law Firm Destroyed Itself...
