First off, I am so psyched that fall camp starts today, because this means that we are less than a month away from kickoff in Athens! 28 days to be exact. It feels like an eternity since the
Peach-fil-A Bowl and I am definitely jonesin’ for football season to begin. So, on that note here’s some news & thoughts on former and current players. Some of this is old news by now for y’all, but still worthy of discussion nonetheless…
Odell
I was really bummed to read that Roger Goodell denied Odell reinstatement into the NFL. Most articles I read leading up to the ruling stated Odell had a good shot to get back in. Honestly, I think he got a raw deal. He completed both inpatient & outpatient rehab, voluntarily. He jumped through all the necessary hoops & earned a welcome back from the Bengals. He settled all of his legal issues related to the DUI. He kept his nose clean, moved back to Georgia, and started working a construction job. That had to be humbling.
My biggest complaint about the added year suspension is that it’s too harsh & inconsistent. I realize Goodell wants to clean up the image & lay down the law and I highly respect that. However, take a look at Tank Johnson. He’s had numerous issues over the years violating rules with coaches, the league, and the law, yet he was suspended for only 8 games. He was cut by the Bears a few weeks back, but he is still eligible to play in the league. In comparison, Odell got the hammer from the league & Tank will most likely get a deal with a team suffering some
D-line injuries.
I had a bad feeling though when Odell made the papers a couple of months ago for a “supposed incident” at a party. No charges were ever filed, however, and several witnesses at the party stated in interviews with police that Odell was innocent. Who knows. The fact is that was a pretty bone-headed move to get out of rehab only to go to a house party a week later with known shady characters in attendance. You would think after being suspended by the NFL for an entire season Odell would’ve busted his ass to earn another shot at his dream. Instead, he chooses to risk it all for some lame party & a girl. Hopefully the shock of Goodell stating he still thought Odell had some maturing to do will be his final wake-up call. If not, then I don’t think we’ll see him play on Sundays anymore. This will most surely be his last shot.
Update: unbelievable… Odell violated probation (after less than 2 freakin’ months) last week & is expected to turn himself in to the court on Aug 21st. damn. He missed a scheduled meeting with his probation officer which holds him in contempt & levees the initial judgment of an additional 6 days in treatment or 90 days in jail - whichever the Judge chooses. I love Odell & believe “once a Dawg, always a Dawg”… but I hope to God he gets his sorry butt thrown in the slammer for this. He’s earned it. Looks like Goodell was right.
Fred Gibson & Tony Taylor
I gotta say I was pretty shocked to hear that Fred was cut by the Falcons just 3 days into training camp, especially after he got such rave reviews in the spring mini-camp. Apparently he’s been sick, didn’t bother to tell anyone (what?), and that affected his performance on the field. I don’t know what to think about Fred. I just really hope he gets another shot to make the roster of a great team.
In better news, Tony Taylor has impressed Falcon coaches & teammates. The ajc has some great quotes from Keith Brooking about Tony - which puts to rest, hopefully, any rumors about issues between the two of them. I’ve always loved Tony & will miss him in silver britches this fall. I really hope he makes the team & gets a shot at playing on Sundays in Atlanta.
NaDerris Ward, Caleb King and the Scooters
I’m not going to get into a long discussion about these ridiculous situations. Someone else already nailed it better than I ever could. Suffice it to say, I won’t be surprised when Matt Stafford gets hauled to the pokey for jaywalking.
Update: Well, well, well at least it’s nice to know they’re equal-opportunity bigots…
Vance Cuff
He got approved! This poor kid showed tremendous character and patience while dealing with a tremendously flawed NCAA clearinghouse bureaucracy. Someone please explain to me how an advanced Speech & Communication class (that required 5 researched, formal speeches) is one minute an approved core curriculum class and the next minute it’s nixed. As a former Speech & Debate competitor (insert jokes here) I can tell you that his class was no joke. In a world where written & oral communication skills are tantamount to achieving any measure of occupational success, how could any educational agency deem this class with such insignificance? Ugh. Thank God, someone got it right and cleared him to get back on campus. At any rate, Vance handled himself with humility & class. No doubt, I think we’ll all soon see what a valuable asset he is to the Dawgs.
“Going back to Athens town… to the best old place around.”
That’s it for now. Don’t look to me to write updates on the daily happenings from camp in Athens. I have neither the time, the patience, nor the football intelligence to pen the posts. But definitely look to these guys for that stuff.
Can’t wait to start tailgating again with y’all! By the way, we’ll be in a new spot this year - I’ll forward those interested the details when dad gives them to me. Also, my Florida tickets are spoken for (sorry), but I may have at least 2 available for Western Carolina, Ole Miss and Troy. I doubt I’ll be able to make those gamedays. Let me know if you’re interested - they’re free & great seats!
