Youthful Perspective
Conspiracy Theory?
Mike Lovecchio
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Fate is a strong word. In a literal sense it's a power that a person has no control over - a fortune. But after what has been an unpredictable NFL season I'm beginning to believe that in a sports sense, "fate" can be, and is, controlled by a power above - the commissioner.
There is no doubt that coming into the 2006-07 season the Saints were the sentimental favorite for sports fans everywhere. They were also a goldmine for the NFL. After Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans in 2005, the team's home stadium, the Louisiana Superdome, was home to thousands of homeless families. Damage to the stadium was so severe that the Saints did not have an "official" home game in 2005. In fact, the team had to alternate its home games from the Alamodome in San Antonio and Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Its home-opener against the New York Giants actually took place at The Meadowlands in New York.
After a frustrating year the Saints stumbled to 3-13 picking up the second overall draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft heading into the off-season - and that's where the conspiracy begins.
In desperate need of a quarterback, New Orleans decided to hit the free agent market where former Pro-Bowlers Daunte Culpepper and Drew Brees were available. Brees was coming off of a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder while Culpepper was rehabing three torn ligments in his knee.
In a similar situation, the Miami Dolphins were looking at the same two quarterbacks and decided to go with Brees. He flew to Miami and the contract was all but signed when the contract was voided due to the fact that Brees failed a physical on his shoulder. Culpepper later passed a physical on his knee and Brees fell into New Orleans' lap.
Miami's blunder became apparent as Brees went on to lead the NFL in passing with 4,448 yards while Culpepper never fully recovered from his injury and found himself on injured reserve for the season. Perhaps it was simply a "mistake" by the Dolphins, but it was nothing compared to the "mistake" made by the Houston Texans on draft day.
Reggie Bush was the Heisman Trophy Winner - undoubtedly the best college football player in the country and arguably the best of all time. In an NFL Draft that is more often than not a crapshoot, Bush was a surefire superstar simply waiting for the opportunity to leave a mark on the NFL. Every analyst in the country knew that the Texans would take Bush with the top pick. He would be the missing piece for an offense loaded with talent.
But when draft day came the Texans shocked the world by drafting Mario Williams, an unproven defensive end. Similar to the Miami situation, Bush fell right into the lap of New Orleans. By season's end Williams wasn't even the top rookie on his own team - Bush finished second in rookie-of-the-year voting with 1,307 total yards and eight touchdowns.
I don't mean to take anything away from the Saints. After all, they did have to play all 16 games. First-year coach Sean Peyton did an excellent job and rookie wide receiver Marques Colston was the steal of the draft finishing in the top-ten in receiving yards despite being drafted in the final round. But is it so wrong to believe that the NFL may have had some impact on the decisions of Houston and Miami? I don't think so. Sports nowadays is controlled by money. Whether or not the league helped propel the Saints to the top of the league, New Orleans is feeling the benefits. They have their city and their football team back.
SOCCER: David Beckham playing soccer on U.S. soil - will the sport benefit? I sure hope so. We are the only country that doesn't take pride in soccer. When the World Cup came around last year we saw first hand how weak we are compared to the rest of the world in the sport.
NFL: Chalk another one up for T.O. Another city, another distraction, and a hall-of-fame coach gone. If you don't think T.O. had a part in Bill Parcell's resignation then you're blind.
NASCAR: It's a year of change - a new points system, a new car, and a new manufacturer. But as much as the sport is trying to shake things up, when the championship comes down to Homestead in November it'll still be the same ole' drivers battling for the title
To comment on this article email Mike at: mike_lovecchio@falconmail.dbcc.edu
There is no doubt that coming into the 2006-07 season the Saints were the sentimental favorite for sports fans everywhere. They were also a goldmine for the NFL. After Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans in 2005, the team's home stadium, the Louisiana Superdome, was home to thousands of homeless families. Damage to the stadium was so severe that the Saints did not have an "official" home game in 2005. In fact, the team had to alternate its home games from the Alamodome in San Antonio and Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Its home-opener against the New York Giants actually took place at The Meadowlands in New York.
After a frustrating year the Saints stumbled to 3-13 picking up the second overall draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft heading into the off-season - and that's where the conspiracy begins.
In desperate need of a quarterback, New Orleans decided to hit the free agent market where former Pro-Bowlers Daunte Culpepper and Drew Brees were available. Brees was coming off of a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder while Culpepper was rehabing three torn ligments in his knee.
In a similar situation, the Miami Dolphins were looking at the same two quarterbacks and decided to go with Brees. He flew to Miami and the contract was all but signed when the contract was voided due to the fact that Brees failed a physical on his shoulder. Culpepper later passed a physical on his knee and Brees fell into New Orleans' lap.
Miami's blunder became apparent as Brees went on to lead the NFL in passing with 4,448 yards while Culpepper never fully recovered from his injury and found himself on injured reserve for the season. Perhaps it was simply a "mistake" by the Dolphins, but it was nothing compared to the "mistake" made by the Houston Texans on draft day.
Reggie Bush was the Heisman Trophy Winner - undoubtedly the best college football player in the country and arguably the best of all time. In an NFL Draft that is more often than not a crapshoot, Bush was a surefire superstar simply waiting for the opportunity to leave a mark on the NFL. Every analyst in the country knew that the Texans would take Bush with the top pick. He would be the missing piece for an offense loaded with talent.
But when draft day came the Texans shocked the world by drafting Mario Williams, an unproven defensive end. Similar to the Miami situation, Bush fell right into the lap of New Orleans. By season's end Williams wasn't even the top rookie on his own team - Bush finished second in rookie-of-the-year voting with 1,307 total yards and eight touchdowns.
I don't mean to take anything away from the Saints. After all, they did have to play all 16 games. First-year coach Sean Peyton did an excellent job and rookie wide receiver Marques Colston was the steal of the draft finishing in the top-ten in receiving yards despite being drafted in the final round. But is it so wrong to believe that the NFL may have had some impact on the decisions of Houston and Miami? I don't think so. Sports nowadays is controlled by money. Whether or not the league helped propel the Saints to the top of the league, New Orleans is feeling the benefits. They have their city and their football team back.
OTHER NOTES:
NBA: As good of a season as the Orlando Magic are having it's becoming apparent that they still have a ways to go to compete for an NBA title. The window of opportunity is wide open with a plethora of young talent, and ESPN has coined Dwight Howard the next Shaquille O'Neal.SOCCER: David Beckham playing soccer on U.S. soil - will the sport benefit? I sure hope so. We are the only country that doesn't take pride in soccer. When the World Cup came around last year we saw first hand how weak we are compared to the rest of the world in the sport.
NFL: Chalk another one up for T.O. Another city, another distraction, and a hall-of-fame coach gone. If you don't think T.O. had a part in Bill Parcell's resignation then you're blind.
NASCAR: It's a year of change - a new points system, a new car, and a new manufacturer. But as much as the sport is trying to shake things up, when the championship comes down to Homestead in November it'll still be the same ole' drivers battling for the title
To comment on this article email Mike at: mike_lovecchio@falconmail.dbcc.edu
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