Every summer, I start to think about NCAA two-zero-fill-in-the-blank, and Madden two-zero-fill-in-the-blank. This year will be NCAA 2010, and Madden 2010, and given that both of my teams should be good (Georgia Tech and the Falcons), I feel a little more excited than most.

[Falcons Message Board]

James Harrison went from an undrafted player to this year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He won a Super Bowl. He just got a big contract extension. And now he’s snubbing Barrack Obama’s invitation to the White House. His reason? He would’ve invited the Cardinals had they won.

“I don’t feel the need to go, actually,” Harrison told Pittsburgh station WTAE-TV. “I don’t feel like it’s that big a deal to me.”

Harrison doesn’t believe the invitation is all that special, saying if the Steelers hadn’t beaten the Cardinals 27-23 with a last-minute rally, “He [Obama] would have invited Arizona.”

Problem is, if Obama invited the Cardinals, he’d have to invite everyone. And the market is doing bad enough as is; the last thing we need is for the Lions’ luck to rub off on some of the top financial advisors.

[ESPN]

I’m not somebody that really cares about draft grades the day after a draft — how many times have these so-called “experts” been wrong in the past? — but since NFL is officially over, and since we’re stuck with a few boring NBA series right now and 145 more MLB games, I figure I may as well milk this post for what it’s worth.

It’s the last time we’ll be discussing the NFL until a Bengals player gets arrested in the offseason.

How’d your team do over the weekend? I’ve got lots of different opinions from lots of different people. Click here and you can see how Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline rates the picks; click here to see how Larry Weisman, writer for USA Today, breaks down all seven rounds. Clifton Brown, writer for Sporting News Today, has his take here; for Yahoo! Sports, go here.

I’d give you Todd McShay or Mel Kiper, Jr., but they’re douche bags and charge you $39.95 a year for their services — if I could charge everyone $39.95 to be completely wrong about how a player will turn out, I would. McShay isn’t that bad, but Kiper’s looked like a weatherman with some of his recent predictions.

Enjoy the grades. They mean nothing. At the end of the day, Calvin Johnson has to catch Matthew Stafford’s passes, and DHB wasn’t a stretch by Oakland until he officially busts in Oakland. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I’m counting down to September. Fall, you couldn’t get here soon enough.

It’ll be a UGA guy throwing to a GT guy, as NFL.com is reporting. The deal could happen as early as Wednesday night.

If the deal doesn’t happen, the Lions apparently have a backup plan, having come to a verbal agreement with Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who will be the No. 1 pick should Stafford not like the deal presented to him.

My guess is Stafford takes the deal. It isn’t as if he’ll get more money as the second, third, or fourth pick than he will as the first pick. Beyond that, as bad as Detroit sounds, a strong arm throwing to a 240 pound, 6′5″ receiver doesn’t sound too bad, and will probably earn the guy a nice little contract extension six years from now.

[Atlanta Journal Constitution]

ESPN has a nice little piece on each team’s strength of schedule for 2009. It also notes that if you went from worst to first in the NFC South, then you’re pretty much screwed (see: Falcons, who have the fourth hardest schedule this year, with opponents’ records being a combined 150-105).

An interesting note: The Cardinals, who made the Super Bowl, have the 27th hardest schedule, or sixth easiest next year; the Minnesota Vikings, who won their division and played a first round playoff game at home, have the second easiest schedule. The Patriots, who missed the playoffs, have the third easiest schedule.

You can see all teams here. With the addition of Jay Cutler, and with the easiest schedule in the NFL, it looks as if the Bears might have an easy ride to the playoffs next year.

[ESPN]

In good news, Nick Schuyler, one of the missing boat members, was found today clinging to the capsized boat, conscious but very weak and tired. In more sobering news, neither Oakland Raiders linebacker Marqis Cooper or Detroit Lions free agent Corey Smith, have been found.

The water they’re in is 64 degrees, and at that temperature it takes roughly 18 hours for hypothermia to set in. The coast guard is actively looking for the two men, but at this point each day becomes a lesser and lesser chance of survival.

My thoughts and prayers are with these men if they’re still floating out there somewhere. Hopefully more good news will come, and each of them will be able to return to their families.

I’ve noted many times that the NFL Combine is the most overrated event in sports when it comes to gauging talent, yet every year I get caught up in what a guy runs or what a guy jumps or what a guy throws (combine studs that probably went a bit high: JaMarcus Russell, Donte Stallworth, and just last year, Vernon Gholston).

That said, via The Big Lead, here’s some guys that impressed, and some guys that didn’t. A couple of notables on my end, from what I’ve seen on NFL Network:

Pat White, QB/WR: He ran an unofficial time of 4.49 in the 40, and then it was adjusted to a 4.55. He also jumped a solid nine feet in the broad jump, which is real important once you’re actually in the game. I know I often see guys stand in place, squat, and leap as far forward as possible. Like I said: Great gauge at talent.

Darius Heyward-Bey, WR: This guy was being talked about as a second rounder, but after running a 4.3 flat, he’s probably going to end up cracking the top 15. Michael Crabtree is still “the guy” when it comes to receivers, but Heyward-Bey is sure creeping up.

Derrick Anderson, WR: This is the guy that I think will be a solid NFL player — probably a good number two receiver — but his 4.58 40 will have schools not paying attention to whether or not he can run a route and catch the ball, and just say he’s too slow to play.

Beanie Wells, RB: I can’t tell if a 4.59 40 is good or bad for him. On one side, it’s slower than most strong safeties. But he’s 235 pounds, and at that size, how fast do you want him to run?

[The Big Lead]
Getting Listy With The Combine

The Detroit Lions have landed their next sacrificial lamb coach, and he goes by Jim Schwartz, former defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans.

“After an extensive search that included several highly qualified coaches, we are thrilled that Jim Schwartz will become our team’s head coach,” team president Tom Lewand said in a statement. “[General manager] Martin [Mayhew] and I believe that Jim’s qualifications and vision will lead this organization on the field toward our goal of becoming a championship football team.”

Schwartz told the media, when asked about the draft, that “it’s probably time to find a replacement for Bobby Lane.” While he’s out looking for that replacement, he might also take a look at some offensive linemen, running backs, fullbacks, defensive linemen, linebackers, safeties, corners, backups, third stringers…. but hey, they’ve got Calvin.

It’s the day after the last day of the regular season, which can only mean two things: There will be lots of coaches fired, and we’ll hear lots of rumors about who will replace them over the next few weeks.

The most notable coach fired is Eric Mangini, who took over a team in shambles three years ago, won 10 games in his first season and went to the playoffs, and then won nine games this season. Also to go was the winless Rod Marinelli, which was no shocker, and also not too shocking was the ousting of Romeo Crenell, who guided a team that scored one offensive touchdown in its final six games.

There’s rumors circulating that the Browns contacted former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, but reports say Cowher has “no interest.” Rumors are being shot down that Cowher is interested in the Jets gig, but I gotta imagine if he wanted it, he’d get it.

Who’s next to go? John Gruden?

I think we all knew around Week 11 that the Lions weren’t winning a game this year, but today they made it official: They’ll be going to Canton as the only 0-16 team ever in NFL history.

The Lions lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 on Sunday, making them the first team to go winless through a 16-game season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.

“I’ve got to live with this,” center Dominic Raiola said. “I’ve been here eight years. This is on my resume.”

On the bright side, Calvin Johnson ended his season with 106 yards receiving and two touchdowns, but he couldn’t help the hapless Lions defense, who never had an answer to Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Green Bay offensive attack.

Most of the current blame will fall on this year’s front office, but at the end of the day Matt Millen has to take the fall. He had numerous top 10 picks, and all he’s got to show for it is Ernie Sims, who’s a decent linebacker, and Calvin Johnson, who is an elite player that will never live up to his potential with the QB’s they have picked out.

Next stop: Drafting Sam Bradford or Matthew Stafford. And even they can’t turn it around. That defense is just awful.