The NBA, NHL and MLB spring training definitely bring no relief. The only thing that stirs my interest is the NFL combine and random recruiting/coaching.
Let's hit the combine:
- Good Lord! Oregon St. DT Stephen Paea threw up 225lbs 49 times! For those of you paying attention, that's a NFL combine record. I'm not sure how much that will translate to him being a great or even productive NFL player, but it's more interesting than watching baseball players button and unbutton their batting gloves as they wait for the pitcher to get comfortable.
- In the knucklehead department, QB prospect Josh Portis just DOESN'T get it. Let's recap Portis's collegiate career
- Portis started his career at the University of Florida in 2005, but didn't receive a lot of playing time.
- Portis subsequently transfers to University of Maryland, where he is suspended for cheating on a test. On the field, Portis playing time drops and he eventually transfers.
- Now a starter at the California University of Pennsylvania, Portis excels on the field. Off the field, it's more of the same, in late 2010 Portis makes a deal to avoid a stiffer penalty for theft, stolen property and use of a stolen credit care.
That brings us to Portis at the combine. Portis is complaining that he didn't get a "fair shot" at the University of Maryland. Instead of debating the merits of Portis's reasoning why his academic cheating wasn't a big deal, I'll just go ahead and say Portis doesn't get it. What's "it"? Well, how about staying focused and not getting distracted at the combine? Do NFL execs want to hear a guy of questionable character complaining about the unfairness of his academic suspension? Probably not. I'm not sure where he'll go in the draft, but I can guarantee it's not where he thought he'd go when the 6'4'' highly-touted QB prospect signed his letter of intent to University of Florida.
