What's Goin On

• Nick Saban has maneuvered himself into a very interesting situation. He left LSU a couple years back to coach the Miami Dolphins. He had just led the Tigers (LSU) to a National Title and now wanted to take his coaching career to the next level. He wanted to win on the biggest stage, the NFL. Two years later, he has proven that he is a very good coach but his teams are yet to even make the playoffs. The Dolphin organization and fans still really believe in him, but he is now considering leaving to go back to college. Alabama University offered him a seven year contract worth about $40 million. He would be the highest paid coach in college. There was a great article in the New York Times today concerning the plight of the NFL coach. Since the "hard" salary cap came into the NFL in 1993, there are only two head coaches that have sustained consistent success. Bill Cowher who has only two losing seasons in 15 years in Pittsburgh, and Bill Bellicheck, he of three Super Bowls in four years. Everyone else, from Mike Shanahan, to Mike Holmgren, to guys like Dennis Green and Steve Mariucci have endured numerous losing seasons along with success. The salary cap has provided parity in the league, but it is also changing the coaching culture. Coaches like Saban, Pete Carroll and Jim Mora Jr are torn between the challenge of the NFL, or the more likely success of college. While the difference between college and the pros is significant in all sports, the salary cap has made it increasingly difficult for consistency. What will Nick Saban do? I think he will stay. It has only been two years since he arrived. When the next big program comes calling in 2009 though my answer may be different...
• Right now the only baseball in New York is that of an impending Randy Johnson trade. Two shorts years ago it was similar, except then it was of him arriving and now it is of him leaving. He has definitely not lived up to his billing in New York, especially on the big stage, but I think the Yankees are making a mistake to trade him. He has one year left on his deal, and when healthy still has top 10 stuff in the league. Their starting rotation is old, with question marks. Keep him for one more year and then move on. Without him they are counting on either rookies, or Carl Pavano to step up. That is not something I would be excited about as a Yankee fan. As far as Roger Clemens goes, he is a mercenary flat out, and has broken down at the end of every season with the Astros. I do not trust him, and I would stay away from him. Keep Randy, or the starting pitching suddenly goes from deep with options, to remarkably thin.
• Tomorrow I plan on having a Jets/Pats preview...

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