10 Things I Think I Think Peter King Has Not Thought Of: Peter King Pisses Me Off About Matt Cassel Edition

I have no idea what is going on over at ESPN this week. JemeHill wrote an article I actually agreed with and Rick Reilly wrote an article that actually makes sense, though I do have a question or two about it. Let's do a quick run through of this week's most interesting topics that won't go away.

1. It is fitting to start it of with Peter King's Tuesday morning followup to his MMQB.

If Matthew Stafford makes it, he'll owe something to four NFL quarterbacks: Peyton and Eli Manning (he went to the Manning Passing Camp this summer and took away lessons on how being a great decision-maker makes a great quarterback),

If a college quarterback has to go to a passing camp during the summer and needs lessons on how being a great decision maker makes you a great quarterback...I don't even have a punchline here, this just seems like it would be terribly obvious.

Jay Cutler (he was schooled by Cutler at a high-school camp and loved his moxie)

Moxie being defined as "the ability to throw interceptions when trying to do too much at the end of a football game."

and Drew Brees.

I just wanted to take a moment to toot my own horn. I claimed in 2001 the Chargers were geniuses for trading with the Falcons for the rights to the first pick in the draft, because I thought Brees was actually going to be a better quarterback than Mike Vick. I actually thought they should have taken Brees instead of Vick in the #1 spot. You don't have to believe me, and I have no real proof, but I did believed this. Just ignore the fact I really thought Charles Rogers would be the second greatest receiver of all time when he retired. Please also ignore the fact I have a huge grudge against Vick, even in 2001, and wanted him to fail.

I had a good meeting with new Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik, who's an impressive and bright guy.

"Our goal is to take care of our young, core players. The veterans here are important to our future.

1 day later the Bucs cut Derrick Brooks, Joey Galloway, and Warrick Dunn. Maybe the reason the veterans were so important to the Buccaneers is because they make so much money that you can cut them and save money for good younger, core players. Or maybe I am the only one that thinks it is a contradiction for the GM to come out and say the veterans are important and then cut two of the most respected and decorated veterans in team history.

Saturday makes Manning's job a lot more comfortable. So, yes, I think it is a mistake by the Colts. A rare one.

The Colts never make mistakes, which is why they have won so many playoff games over the years. It's because they never make mistakes on defense personnel choices and let every single free agent linebacker they have go to another team and not resign them. Ok, I am being very picky but they do let a lot of free agent LB's go.

From Brian Woodward of Harrisburg, N.C.: "Thanks for pointing out the incongruity in the Carolina Panthers' decision to lay off 20 employees while at the same time they commit $76.5 million to two players. Charlotte and the surrounding area, like many cities, is feeling the negative impact of the floundering economy. Generally, sports provide an opportunity for us to suspend the challenges of our daily lives while we cheer for our team. In this instance, the Panthers' decision only reminded us of the gloom of the economy. I know that running an NFL franchise is a business, and tough decisions have to be made, but I feel that the Panthers made the wrong decision in this instance. Why not pay the $1 million to $2 million to the 20 people who want to be there rather than $16.5 million to someone who doesn't?''

Hi Brian. You are a moron. Why comment on an issue you clearly do not follow correctly? You are from North Carolina, you should know the Panthers have no intention of keeping Julius Peppers, so they do not intend to pay him $16.5 million for the upcoming year. It sucks that people got laid off, it really does, but if you can't understand why the Panthers committed that much money to Gross/Peppers (and yet another sign you don't understand sports, because they never committed that entire amount, because it is not all guaranteed) then you don't understand sports.

In Magical Happy Land everyone gets to keep their job and the athletes have to go search for work, but in Real Life Land Jordan Gross's/Julius Pepper's jersey sales combine to make more money for the Panthers than two people who got laid off. I don't want to get laid off and I would be unhappy if I was in the situation, but you have to understand how much money an NFL franchise brings to a city.

From Jack Ramey of Washington: "I agree whole-heartedly with your Panthers sentiment ... but tell me, when's the last time anyone paid $60 a ticket to watch those same loyal employees at work?''

Sixty? Try $150.

$150, Peter? I paid $67 dollars to see the Panthers play a little over one month ago. I realize closer tickets where Peter sits are more expensive but you can get good seats for $60.

From David of Philly: "What makes Matt Cassel different from the other quarterbacks who have one decent year. Sure, he played well this year. But A.J. Feeley played well as a starter in Philadelphia but couldn't get anything done in Miami. Derek Anderson had a great year in Cleveland before falling apart this year.

Cassel's done it on a very high, playoff-caliber level already, and Feeley and Anderson haven't, and there's doubt either of them can do it.

Wrong! Matt Cassel has never started at quarterback in the NFL playoffs, so he has not done it on a "very high, playoff caliber level." He led his team to a 11-5 record last year and Derek Anderson's team did not make the playoffs either and he led his team to a 10-6 record. They are very similar, plus Cassel arguably had a better team around him, which makes his feat slightly less impressive.

Just because you love Matt Cassel with all your heart and soul and he makes you tingle in your private places doesn't mean he is more special than any other quarterback. When is Peter King's infatuation with Matt Cassel going to end? How the hell does he get away with saying Cassel has performed at a "very high, playoff-caliber level" when the Patriots did not make the playoffs and Cassel did not make the Pro Bowl? He is indicating Derek Anderson did play at a high level, though Anderson make the Pro Bowl (which does not mean much, but he did make it) and his team barely missed out on a playoff spot, just like the Patriots did. He needs to quit with the biased journalism, it's like he is Cassel's agent.

2. Here is Rick Reilly's actually good column. I will nitpick it though.

His one dream was to take Jake to a Broncos game. Sometimes on the reservation, the dreams come small.

This story is covered in so much sugary sentimentality, I think I am going to get a cavity reading it.

And then, this past October, one of Lil Bob's best friends — a restaurant owner named Christopher Hamlet — decided to make good on an unfulfilled dream: He bought two plane tickets, packed up Jake and flew to Denver. Jake was finally going to a Broncos game.

Lil Bob is Rick's wife's half biological brother. Got that? My question is this...why didn't Rick, who lives in the Denver area if I am not wrong, take Jake to a Broncos football game and set it up for him to meet John Elway? Why did a restaurant owner have to do this? Seriously, Rick Reilly is a big name in sports pseudo-journalism, he could have easily done this.

Also, in the picture of Jake with John Elway, why is Jake wearing a John Lynch jersey? Jake was three when Elway retired, but he still could not find an Elway jersey to wear? Lynch doesn't even play for the Broncos right now. See, I am nitpicking again.

And the next thing Jake knew, he was in John Elway's luxury box at the game, asking him any question he wanted, all with a grin that threatened to split his happy head in half.

Then Elway said, "Comin' to dinner?"

And suddenly Jake was having his lettuce wedge cut for him by the legend, who tousled the kid's cowlick. Like a dad might.

Brett Favre would probably have ended the night asking Jake if he could spot him $5 for some new Wranglers.

A lot of athletes don't want the burden that comes with being a role model. But what I want to tell them is: You don't get to choose.

(Me vomiting on the keyboard) Rick Reilly is right. I think we all learned something today. John Elway is a good guy, Rick Reilly is too cheap to take his nephew to a Broncos game, and Rick Reilly can write a sentimental story like nobody's business. Rick Reilly gets paid millions of dollars to write columns like this.

(Bengoodfella wipes tear from his eye...it is hard to admit he did not hate Reilly's latest work)

3. Gregg Doyel thinks that Jim Calhoun had every right to yell at Ken Krayeske.

I am agreeing with Gregg Doyel too much lately. I wish he would take Alonzo Mourning to task for being an asshole or something. I am much more comfortable with that Gregg Doyel.

For some people, Calhoun's caustic reaction has confused the issue. They see him acting like a bully, and they bludgeon him for it.

That's pretty much exactly what every article I have read says.

and while none (that I've seen) side with the flea-bitten hound, several take Calhoun to task, chastising him for (A) being insensitive in these tough economic times

Gregg Doyel reads Jay Mariotti. I don't know what I would do if he ever took Mariotti to task.

Calhoun was right. What he said was right.

It is pretty clear Krayeske was grandstanding for a cause. If he really had any type of journalistic intentions he would have brought this up in private.

How he said it? Right.

He did come off as a pompous ass.

And before I explain why he's right, please understand there is some history between Calhoun and me. Shocking, right? But there is. And not terribly good. A few years ago I wrote this, and UConn people were furious.

Does anyone like Gregg Doyel? Anyone?

After the game, a win, Muncy snuck me away from The Horde that covers UConn basketball and set up a quiet meeting with Calhoun in an empty locker room. Calhoun said what he wanted to say. I took it. It's over, and we haven't spoken since. There's the history.

Well, that's boring. I was kind of hoping there was a big showdown where Gregg Doyel showed off his newest MMA moves and kicked Jim Calhoun in the throat, then spat on him while cursing Ricky Moore's name. Doyel wrote an article about the way that Calhoun recruited players, or stole them as he perceived it, and really he probably is not wrong.

The incident in the article Doyel wrote is very similar to the time in 1999 when UConn fatass/point guard Khalid El-Amin was able to use a booster's, I am sorry a "friend's," car in exchange for tickets to games. Calhoun runs a borderline clean program like every other successful program in the nation.

Maybe Calhoun was a little loose with his numbers when he told the attention hound that "we make $12 million a year for this university." If by we he meant both himself and UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma, then he nailed it.

Who else would he mean by "we?" The squirrel that he keeps in his pocket?

For his troubles, the attention hound got blown up, which is exactly what he deserved. He's the one, not Calhoun, who walked down the wrong dark alley and picked a fight. Shame on the guy who started the fight -- not the guy who finished it.

I said something very similar yesterday. Krayeske went looking for a fight and he got one.

I am getting tired of agreeing with Doyel.

4. Finally there is some sanity in the NFL Draft process. Don Banks of CNNSI doesn't have a quarterback going first to the Lions.

I am probably the dumbest person in the world for thinking this, but I have never understood a team's fascination with taking a quarterback first in the draft if they have other pressing needs. Don't get me wrong, the Lions need one, but they also need a lot of other things at the same time.

But Curry is now seen as the cleanest prospect in this year's talent pool, and convinced as I am that the Lions aren't taking a quarterback here, getting impact help for the league's bottom-ranked defense two-years running is the option Detroit will choose.

These teams are spending so much money on a pick and if a team, like Detroit, has plenty of other needs then I think they should spend the pick and money on the best player. I think that player is Aaron Curry, though I don't see Ray Maualuga as being that far behind.

It's not like the Lions don't need defense, they have been last two straight years and to pair Aaron Curry with Ernie Sims is really going to help the team get a head start on building a great defense. Sure they need some defensive tackles and pass rushers, but they have 2 first round picks, so they can address that need later. A quarterback does no good if he has no one to throw to (I realize he has Calvin Johnson), no blockers, and the defense can't keep the other offense off the field.

Banks has Sanchez going #8 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Of all the needs the Jags have, WR, OL, the defense, they are going to choose a quarterback? I am not against drafting a quarterback but this seems highly unlikely Sanchez will go to Jacksonville. I know quarterbacks are "in" because of Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan but Flacco went to a team that had a great defense and at least one good receiver, while Ryan went to the Falcons who were not nearly as bad as their #3 pick indicated. They had a good defense and receivers. I could be wrong but I don't think Jacksonville is the best place for Sanchez.

Banks has the Raiders taking B.J. Raji, a defensive tackle. That is smart but I doubt Al Davis would take a player that is blue collar and plays a blue collar position with Jeremy Maclin on the board.

5. John Smoltz is giving his opinion still...about everything.

That jersey still doesn't look right on him.

Smoltz thinks A-Rod did a tough thing by admitting to steroids and standing up for himself in the press conference. Smoltz is unsure whether he is telling the truth or not.

A-Rod was so brave to admit that he had cheated. What a hero. Is it me or does every reporter have to ask every single MLB baseball player his view on steroids? It's not like the answers are going to change or anything.

He also thinks the other 103 names should be released and that someone who knows they tested positive and should just come clean.

I think the names should be released and if anyone expects the other 103 to come clean they are living in Magical Happy Land with Brian from North Carolina.

The Hall of Fame question is a difficult one because A-Rod and Barry Bonds had the natural skills and ability to make it to Cooperstown. Had they not taken anything, they would've made it on their own skill.

I hate both of these players and I have said, only 200 times, this is the dumbest part about this whole situation. They would have probably made it regardless but they wanted to cheat. I almost think they should be banned based on the fact they could have made it and still cheated.

He also is not angry with the Braves, but disappointed with the way his contract negotiations were handled.

Weren't we all though? Actually, Smoltz had threatened to leave several times so it was not a huge shock that he left, it was just kind of interesting he did not leave to go play for the Tigers and it was the Red Sox who signed him.

They didn't feel his arm to see if it was strong and they didn't make any type of commitment to him. Also, the contract differences between the Sox and Braves was major and the Sox showed him more respect.

I think Smoltz could have his left arm amputated and he would still be a great pitcher pitching left handed, but I also don't have to pay him and he is 40 years old and coming off arm surgery for the 3rd or 4th time. The Sox took a chance on him because their payroll allowed them to do that, while the Braves were saving money for Garrett Anderson and Tom Glavine...seriously.

6. Our resident genius/ex-player Ross Tucker has some things to say about free agency. Please prepare yourself for his brilliance.

As players begin to make their decisions and the pundits talk about factors like scheme, location, and the opportunity to win a championship, remember one important thing: more often than not, all of those other ancillary factors are just that and it comes down to which team is willing to offer the most cold, hard cash.

No fucking way. I am glad Ross is here to tell us that athletes follow the money when it comes to free agency. I wonder how Ross's view of this is affected by the fact Peter King thinks teams should not spend a lot of money on free agents if they have been laying off employees? There won't be that much cold, hard cash available if teams that are having financial trouble don't sign players so they can keep staff and other employees.

Here's my question. Why are NFL teams not supposed to spend money on players but the NFL can lay off employees and no columns have been written about how they need to cut back on expenses? Roger Goodell has taken a pay cut, which is noble, but shouldn't the NFL cut back in other ways? I guess it is only the teams that are expected to do this.

Please. There is no loyalty in the NFL. It is straight business.

Harsh words from Ross Tucker...also this is completely obvious to a lot of people.

If you think about it, NFL players are some of the most restricted employees in our country, rarely having the prerogative to determine where they choose to live and work.

Only someone who has never had a real job thinks this is true. There is a thing called a non-compete agreement and I would guarantee that most of the non-compete agreements employers have are relatively more restrictive than any contract a player could sign. I can't work for another company in my industry that "competes" with us in a 100 mile radius. So pretty much, I would have to leave the state to get another job in the same industry. NFL players are bound by the contract they sign, but that contract also gives them a certain amount of financial security, which the typical worker doesn't get and a legal non-compete agreement can prevent a person from even getting a job in the same industry.

Case in point. As an arbitrary example, if I were a free agent this year and were deciding between the Lions and Colts on a one-year deal, and the Lions offered $100K more, I would be on the next flight to Detroit. In a heartbeat.

See, that is dumb.

Yeah, I know the Lions were 0-16 last year and the Colts are a perennial playoff participant, but what does that really mean to me at the end of the day? I'm not a Colts fan. I'm not from Indianapolis. Likely playing in a playoff game and having some semblance of an opportunity to win a title would be nice, but certainly not worth it. What does that playoff berth do for me and my family when I am 40 years old? Nothing. That $100k, or whatever number you want to substitute in there, could be put in my child's 529 plan for college or be part of a down payment on a house.

I guess it doesn't do much, though the NFL does pay players for when they win playoff games, so it would not be like Tucker was losing that much money in playing for a contender.

Ross Tucker went to Princeton...but I don't feel like he did.

7. Alex Marvez thinks the gag order Jerry Jones put on the Cowboys is a bad idea.

I think Alex Marvez just needs the Cowboys to keep talking so he can keep writing stories and this gag order makes him actually think for column ideas.

Jones told Cowboys beat writers this was being done to thwart the kind of "misinformation" he claims was reported about the team earlier this offseason.

Considering the mayhem that occurred last year between the players and the staff of the Cowboys, I don't know if this is really a bad idea.

Yet any good this new policy will produce has already been overshadowed by the damage it has caused: The further emasculation of Wade Phillips.

I mean seriously, is this really a concern? Everyone knows Wade Phillips is not the real head coach of the Cowboys and just does what Jones wants him to do. He will probably be out this year if the Cowboys don't win the Super Bowl. I don't think a gag order is really going to do him any more harm than players meddling in the game plan, the owner meddling with every aspect of the team, and all the other crap that goes on in Dallas does him harm.

Why should players respect Phillips when there's the ongoing belief — whether true or not — Jones himself is the one calling the shots on almost every level besides Xs and Os?

I would say that the players never respected Phillips regardless of who calls the Xs and Os because they see Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones as being more influential.

His biggest weakness is what should endear Phillips to his players. Phillips depends upon strong leadership to emanate from veterans who want to take ownership of their team a la Ray Lewis in Baltimore (which may be one reason he is reportedly on Dallas' free-agent radar).

Everyone's fascination with the crap-fest that is Dallas annoys the hell out of me. ESPN did a special last night on SportsCenter about Jerry Jones owning the team for 20 years, even though they have not won a playoff game for over half that time and they are the 2nd most dysfunctional team behind the Raiders in the league. Still, Jerry Jones gets a podium to talk about his team and he doesn't ever mention what a bad job he is doing of running the team, and no one asks this either.

This gag order has nothing to do with what is going on negatively in Dallas, it just reinforces the idea Jerry Jones doesn't know what he is doing.

8. Ian O'Connor think the Celtics are crazy for signing Stephon Marbury and I don't get it either.

So the Boston Celtics, defending NBA champs, are preparing to hire Marbury, whose record reeks for itself. Marbury hasn't won a single playoff series in a dozen seasons, didn't even win a single playoff game as a Knick, and stands among the more prominent contributors to the Olympic disaster in Athens.

What I don't get is that Marbury was not even the best point guard available on the market. The Celtics could easily have traded to get a good backup point guard who had a great attitude and could accept playing on the bench. They also could have just kept Sam Cassell. No one has seen Marbury play in over a year and even when he played he wasn't impressive.

So is the Celtics' uniform. Rivers and his players made that jersey special again, and there was no need to dishonor the green by sliding it over Marbury's shoulders.

That's being a little overdramatic about this. I don't think he will shame the uniform, though I hope once he proclaims his turd status for the 900th time, the Celtics will just release him. Marbury is a point guard that has always thought it was all about him, and I compared John Wall to him (though I hope it isn't the case) and I even put up that post about Wall because I think his case is how a player starts to get the Starbury mindset.

Even when Marbury was a good player, I would never have wanted him on my favorite team. He was too selfish and I don't think a good point guard is selfish like Marbury acts.

Marbury won't have his eye on the one-for-all, all-for-one prize, and the smart money says that will manifest itself in a poor decision on the court, or off it, at the worst possible time.

How can anyone trust his decision making ability, especially since he has not played in over a year? I wish I had the time and I would make a list of point guards that would have been much better fits as backups to Rajon Rondo, and I don't think Marbury would even make the list. Yet the Celtics chose him over every other point guard available.

9. The underrated Manny Ramirez got disrespected by another horrible offer from the Dodgers.

The team's proposal would pay Ramirez $25 million this season and $20 million next season if he exercises his player option for 2010.

God, this man is so underrated. Doesn't anyone want to pay for the best RH hitter of all time? That's why I think he is underrated, just because no team wants this guy! (I am being Bill Simmons...I am now me again)

The Dodgers made their offer - their fourth to Ramirez this offseason

Yes, that's right. The Dodgers have made four offers this offseason. Bill, do you have any comment on this?

If the economy did not improve — or if Ramirez suffered an injury or performed below his usual standards — he could return to the Dodgers for the second season and become a free agent after that.

If Manny is serious about playing baseball this offseason, he will accept this offer. This is beyond a fair offer. I am still trying to get in touch with Bill Simmons to see if he still thinks Manny is underrated.

10. Michael Lewis tries to "Moneyball" basketball and it doesn't come off as quite as convincing for me. If I hear one more person describe Shane Battier as the ultimate team player I am going to put a pencil through my eye.

I usually end this on a note about college basketball and after watching Marquette play UConn the last night, I almost felt bad for calling them a pretender a few weeks ago. They looked strong but I still don't think they have enough height to do anything in the NCAA Tournament...and with Dominic James being injured, I feel even less confident about them. I said earlier in the year I thought Kansas and Wake Forest were going to surprise people and UCLA was kind of overrated, which I still think is true. It wasn't exactly a leap, I just thought Kansas still had some talent left over and talented freshmen and they have enough key seniors I could see them making the Elite 8 this year, which would prove me wrong about them being overrated.

Anyway, I am very excited for the NCAA Tournament and this is one of my favorite times of the sports year. Ok enough exposition and sounding like an excited 12 year old girl, I hope Bill Simmons comes out with a column tomorrow that is just crappy so I can make fun of it.