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The Heisman is no guarantee of NFL greatness
Michigan
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The people who hand out the Heisman Trophy were at it again Wednesday, extending invitations to a trio of top college players for an all-expense-paid weekend in New York City.
They could have saved some money this year. And while they're at it, they could have trimmed the hour-long TV extravaganza announcing the award to one 30-second clip.
Keep the $500-a-plate dinner, though, because it gives guys like Eric Crouch and Jason White a chance to hang around football types again.
Troy Smith of Ohio State will win the Heisman on Saturday. If that comes as any sort of surprise, then you might be one of those still thinking Michigan is playing for the national championship.
This vote has all the suspense of a U.S. Open without Tiger Woods.
That's not to say Smith is a bad choice. Hard to argue with the quarterback who led his team to an undefeated season and a berth in the BCS title game.
Smith's story of overcoming a tough childhood and some of his own mistakes off the field is a compelling one, too. He's bringing his mother to New York, the first trip to the Big Apple for both of them, so expect to see some feel-good moments if you're a big enough fan to sit through the made-for-television coverage.
The better prize, though, probably will be won by one of the guys smiling and clapping while the hermetically sealed envelope is opened and Smith is declared the Heisman winner.
That would be Brady Quinn, who entered the season as the favorite to win the trophy but fell out of favor with voters when he stumbled against Michigan and his receivers dropped too many balls against Southern California.
The Heisman looks nice in a trophy case. But the No. 1 draft pick in the NFL can buy as many trophy cases as he wants.
That's what Quinn is likely to be in April when the NFL makes millionaires out of a lot of players barely old enough to legally order a drink.
Smith? Not only is he not projected as a first-round pick, but one of his receivers, Ted Ginn Jr., will probably go before him.
It's not always the case with the Heisman, but there can be a big difference between getting a big award and getting big bucks. That's especially true with quarterbacks, who might thrive in a structured situation in college but lack the size or arm for starting in the NFL.
Crouch certainly didn't get rich after winning the Heisman at Nebraska in 2001. He never played a down in the NFL, and is currently a seldom-used backup quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
White, meanwhile, wasn't even drafted and had to beg for an NFL tryout even after throwing 79 career touchdown passes at Oklahoma and winning the Heisman three years ago. He retired before throwing a pass for pay, saying two ACL tears slowed him down too much to play.
Unlike Heisman voters, NFL coaches and owners look at a lot of other things before making a decision on draft day. They run players through time and strength tests, find out how flexible they are, and even check to see if they are smart enough to learn their X's and O's.
What they don't do is look to see where a player finished in the voting for the Heisman.
Mario Williams didn't get a sniff from voters last year when a star-studded cast dueled it out for the award won by Reggie Bush. But the defensive end from North Carolina State did get $26.5 million guaranteed from the Houston Texans in a deal that could eventually earn him $62 million.
Bush, of course, didn't do too badly himself, getting almost the same money from the New Orleans Saints. And it was hard to argue with the top three of Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young.
Smith will be the runaway winner this year, the 24th quarterback to win the famous trophy first awarded Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago in 1935. Berwanger was also the first player ever chosen in the first NFL draft, but never played as a pro because the Bears didn't want to pay him his demand of $25,000 for two years.
It's hard to be critical of Smith, who completed two out of every three passes and threw for 30 touchdowns. But his win came partly because the favored Quinn didn't play up to voter expectations and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone midway through the season just as he seemed to be hitting his stride.
Quinn and Peterson, though, are assured big paydays once their names are called in the draft. Not so for Smith, who, though supremely talented and mobile, is undersized and occasionally wild with his throws.
Yes, the Heisman is a great tradition, a great honor, and it looks great over the fireplace.
Too bad it can't guarantee greatness in the NFL.
They could have saved some money this year. And while they're at it, they could have trimmed the hour-long TV extravaganza announcing the award to one 30-second clip.
Keep the $500-a-plate dinner, though, because it gives guys like Eric Crouch and Jason White a chance to hang around football types again.
Troy Smith of Ohio State will win the Heisman on Saturday. If that comes as any sort of surprise, then you might be one of those still thinking Michigan is playing for the national championship.
This vote has all the suspense of a U.S. Open without Tiger Woods.
That's not to say Smith is a bad choice. Hard to argue with the quarterback who led his team to an undefeated season and a berth in the BCS title game.
Smith's story of overcoming a tough childhood and some of his own mistakes off the field is a compelling one, too. He's bringing his mother to New York, the first trip to the Big Apple for both of them, so expect to see some feel-good moments if you're a big enough fan to sit through the made-for-television coverage.
The better prize, though, probably will be won by one of the guys smiling and clapping while the hermetically sealed envelope is opened and Smith is declared the Heisman winner.
That would be Brady Quinn, who entered the season as the favorite to win the trophy but fell out of favor with voters when he stumbled against Michigan and his receivers dropped too many balls against Southern California.
The Heisman looks nice in a trophy case. But the No. 1 draft pick in the NFL can buy as many trophy cases as he wants.
That's what Quinn is likely to be in April when the NFL makes millionaires out of a lot of players barely old enough to legally order a drink.
Smith? Not only is he not projected as a first-round pick, but one of his receivers, Ted Ginn Jr., will probably go before him.
It's not always the case with the Heisman, but there can be a big difference between getting a big award and getting big bucks. That's especially true with quarterbacks, who might thrive in a structured situation in college but lack the size or arm for starting in the NFL.
Crouch certainly didn't get rich after winning the Heisman at Nebraska in 2001. He never played a down in the NFL, and is currently a seldom-used backup quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
White, meanwhile, wasn't even drafted and had to beg for an NFL tryout even after throwing 79 career touchdown passes at Oklahoma and winning the Heisman three years ago. He retired before throwing a pass for pay, saying two ACL tears slowed him down too much to play.
Unlike Heisman voters, NFL coaches and owners look at a lot of other things before making a decision on draft day. They run players through time and strength tests, find out how flexible they are, and even check to see if they are smart enough to learn their X's and O's.
What they don't do is look to see where a player finished in the voting for the Heisman.
Mario Williams didn't get a sniff from voters last year when a star-studded cast dueled it out for the award won by Reggie Bush. But the defensive end from North Carolina State did get $26.5 million guaranteed from the Houston Texans in a deal that could eventually earn him $62 million.
Bush, of course, didn't do too badly himself, getting almost the same money from the New Orleans Saints. And it was hard to argue with the top three of Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young.
Smith will be the runaway winner this year, the 24th quarterback to win the famous trophy first awarded Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago in 1935. Berwanger was also the first player ever chosen in the first NFL draft, but never played as a pro because the Bears didn't want to pay him his demand of $25,000 for two years.
It's hard to be critical of Smith, who completed two out of every three passes and threw for 30 touchdowns. But his win came partly because the favored Quinn didn't play up to voter expectations and Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone midway through the season just as he seemed to be hitting his stride.
Quinn and Peterson, though, are assured big paydays once their names are called in the draft. Not so for Smith, who, though supremely talented and mobile, is undersized and occasionally wild with his throws.
Yes, the Heisman is a great tradition, a great honor, and it looks great over the fireplace.
Too bad it can't guarantee greatness in the NFL.
0
Comments
Sincerely,
Jason White, Rashann Salaam Danny Wuerfel and Eric Crouch
<< <i>Thats a load of crap.
Sincerely,
Jason White, Rashann Salaam Danny Wuerfel and Eric Crouch >>
Don't forget Charlie Ward.
<< <i>I havent paid any attention to the Heisman since they gave to Charles Woodson instead of Peyton Manning. >>
Michigan would not have won without Woodson. Tennessee only won after Manning. I believe they did the right thing
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
<< <i>Don't forget Charlie Ward. >>
Yeah, that bum never did anything with his life.
Oh yeah, he played 11 years in the NBA and earned of $30million dollars.
My Auctions
good baskeball player! I don't see any Michigan alums with that on their resume, but then again no one cares about
second place!
Thanks
JS
<< <i>Thats a load of crap.
Sincerely,
Jason White, Rashann Salaam Danny Wuerfel and Eric Crouch >>
Gino Toretta
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
My Auctions
Anyone remember Gary Beban?
My Auctions
I think he threw a TD in his first game action when Fontes pulled Rodney Peete. But then he had a habit of skipping the ball across the Silverdome turf to the midget receivers the Lions had then.
It still amazes me that Barry Sanders got all of those yards with absolutely no decent QB play to support him.
<< <i>Andre "That's my guy" Ware. Once Wayne Fontes called him the savior, I knew that Andre just received the Lions QB curse.
I think he threw a TD in his first game action when Fontes pulled Rodney Peete. But then he had a habit of skipping the ball across the Silverdome turf to the midget receivers the Lions had then.
It still amazes me that Barry Sanders got all of those yards with absolutely no decent QB play to support him. >>
He failed in the NFL but man, was he fun to watch in college.
Currently, he's one of the announcers for the Texans. Needs some polishing but has potential.
Edited to add: You could only watch him by going to the games his Jr year. They were on probation and games were blacked out.
<< <i>
<< <i>Don't forget Charlie Ward. >>
Yeah, that bum never did anything with his life.
Oh yeah, he played 11 years in the NBA and earned of $30million dollars. >>
The NBA is for wimps, real men play football.
One or two years in the NFL and was a washout. It happens.
<< <i>Zach once again shows how ignorant he is. Ward not only engineered a perfect season, but he then went on to become a very
good baskeball player! I don't see any Michigan alums with that on their resume, but then again no one cares about
second place!
Thanks
JS >>
Joe:
Speaking of ignorant, please tell us what year that Ward engineered a perfect season. Either you are a fountain of facts or need to slow down on accusing others of being ignorant.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Don't forget Charlie Ward. >>
Yeah, that bum never did anything with his life.
Oh yeah, he played 11 years in the NBA and earned of $30million dollars. >>
The NBA is for wimps, real men play football.
During Ward's career the running joke to the question "Which New York team has the best quarterback" was "the Knicks"! More likely than not that was a true statement.
<< <i>Joe:
Speaking of ignorant, please tell us what year that Ward engineered a perfect season. Either you are a fountain of facts or need to slow down on accusing others of being ignorant. >>
FSU was 12-1 that year
<< <i>
<< <i>Joe:
Speaking of ignorant, please tell us what year that Ward engineered a perfect season. Either you are a fountain of facts or need to slow down on accusing others of being ignorant. >>
FSU was 12-1 that year
Really, who beat them?
<< <i>Zach once again shows how ignorant he is. Ward not only engineered a perfect season, but he then went on to become a very
good baskeball player! I don't see any Michigan alums with that on their resume, but then again no one cares about
second place!
Thanks
JS >>
Joe,
You have once again displayed your stupidity. As already mentioned, there was apparently no perfect season for Ward. Further, the post title and supporting article claims that winning the Heisman doesn't guarantee that a player will succeed in the NFL. I merely implied that, along with the players you mentioned, Ward also did not succeed in the NFL or even play there for that matter. You then follow it up by stating that I'm ignorant and then go on telling me about his NBA career. Who's the ignorant one here, JS?
When you talk out of your arse, do you taste poop? I've wondered that before and figured that you'd probably know. Again, OSU and -14. You ready to take that bet yet?
<< <i>Really, who beat them? >>
I honestly don't remember but bet it was ND
Related article to topic:
Link
Heisman jinx? Not for Troy Smith
Ohio State quarterback has work ethic to also become good pro
Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
Troy Smith's career won't peak with the Heisman Trophy, according to MSNBC.com contributor John Tamanaha.
OPINION
By John Tamanaha
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 3:35 a.m. CT Dec 8, 2006
John Tamanaha
Like winning an Oscar, taking home a Heisman changes your name forever, adding quite a preamble. You become “Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman” or “2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.”
It takes some getting used to and is certainly very welcomed, but it always begs the question ... is this as good as it gets? Is this the climax of a career? Is there any more movie magic or gridiron glory to be had?
Unlike this season’s Heisman ceremony, which is devoid of all intrigue, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith’s future has sparked some interesting debate, covering everything from “can’t-miss NFL prospect” to “just a college guy” to “another victim of the Heisman jinx.”
But it’s hard not to think that winning college football’s most prestigious award is just a middle chapter in Smith’s story.
His mobility and accuracy will be massive assets in the NFL. With defenses built with the mission to make life a living hell for the quarterbacks, the way he can instinctively move within the pocket, while keeping his eyes downfield, is something that general mangers would trade their salary cap managers for.
Since every play matters in the NFL, keeping one alive that was seemingly destined to fail is extremely valuable. Smith does that regularly.
An uncommon leadership quality is also something special that he has that can’t be taught or bought. One of the best leaders at the college level in quite some time, Smith has gone 25-2 as Ohio State’s starter and has earned the absolute respect of everyone associated with the program.
The NFL team that drafts him also will be banking on Smith to raise his level of performance in the biggest games. Having gone 10-1 against ranked teams, 3-0 versus Michigan and 1-0 in bowl games so far speaks volumes about his competitiveness.
Another thing that will certainly service him well in the NFL is that he is a dedicated student of the game. Smith spends countless hours studying film of his opponents and himself. Nothing escapes his gaze as he seeks to attack the weaknesses of his opponents, while also erasing his own. With so much to learn at the next level, having this type of business-like work ethic already instilled is an added bonus.
Statistics don’t always tell the whole story, but Smith, who has completed 199-of-297 for 2,507 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns this season, has unquestionably proven his ability. Perhaps the most telling stat is the five interceptions that he has thrown this year, three of which were deflected before being picked off.
In a general sense, Smith also has a history of working hard to accomplish his goals and constantly improve.
Early in his career, he went through some tough times and made some mistakes, but it’s important to note that he has overcome those experiences and learned a great deal.
After joining the Buckeyes as the last signing of the 2002 recruiting class, he redshirted and then found a way to get on the field in 2003 as a return specialist and multi-purpose back, but a fight in a parking lot resulted in a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. The following year, Smith proved himself at quarterback, starting five games, but was suspended from the Alamo Bowl for accepting money from a booster.
In 2005, he matured in many ways and began to blossom, accounting for 27 touchdowns, 2,282 passing yards and 611 yards on the ground. Smith could have been satisfied and stood pat, but he didn’t. He worked hard in the offseason and has been noticeably better this season, taking all the fun and suspense out of the Heisman race since October.
The same type of growth potential could occur at the next level. It might take one or two years, but Smith almost assuredly will be a valuable contributor to the NFL team that drafts him.
Doubters will continue point to his lack of ideal size. The Mel Kipers of the world don’t look kindly upon quarterbacks whose colleges list them at 6-foot-1.
But, it’s a good thing that scouting combines and the numbers that come as a result weren’t always the huge determining factors that they are now. If that were always the case, 11 of the 23 modern era quarterbacks in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Norm Van Brocklin, Len Dawson, Otto Graham, Bob Griese, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Lane, Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Y.A. Tittle, Johnny Unitas and Bob Waterfield — might not have been given their first chances. They were all 6-foot-1 or under.
That’s quite a list. However, it’s not to project that Troy Smith is a candidate to be enshrined in Canton some day. It’s only to say that being able to stand in the pocket and look like Dan Marino isn’t a requirement to being an accomplished professional quarterback. Michael Vick and Drew Brees, who are both listed at six-feet tall, are prime examples.
Sure, every NFL team would like to have a 6-foot-5 prototypical drop-back passer like 2002 Heisman winner Carson Palmer. But how many of those are out there? Not many. Frankly, colleges aren’t producing those types of specimens in adequate numbers anymore. After all, the NFL trend toward quarterbacks with extra dimensions has its roots in the college game.
Being able to get outside the containment and pump the ball downfield has become increasingly important in every league. Witness the dramatic difference between Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo.
In Oscar terms that’s kind of like Borat and Bogart.
John Tamanaha writes regularly for MSNBC.com and is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.
<< <i>Really, who beat them? >>
<< <i>I honestly don't remember but bet it was ND
It was in fact ND 31-24.
1994 Pro Line Live
TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject
<< <i>
<< <i>Really, who beat them? >>
<< <i>I honestly don't remember but bet it was ND
It was in fact ND 31-24. >>
Since it was IM who brought it up, figured as much
<< <i>
<< <i>Really, who beat them? >>
<< <i>I honestly don't remember but bet it was ND
It was in fact ND 31-24. >>
They must teach this part of history differently in Florida. Although considering some of the crap JS spews, I assume it's possible that they don't teach any history at all.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Really, who beat them? >>
<< <i>I honestly don't remember but bet it was ND
It was in fact ND 31-24. >>
Since it was IM who brought it up, figured as much
Dang now I remember I was at that game.