Gang, you're snowed in. We're snowed it.
Now is the time to craft the perfect mailbag question. Whatcha' got?
From the "Talks too much" studios, when did we move to Buffalo? Seriously.
NFL movements
This is a dangerous time for NFL players.
For the majority of the league, the next wave of talent is getting all the buzz and attention after doing big things at the combine.
Your replacements are being scouted. The next wave of stars are being groomed.
For former flavors of the hour, the phrase "cap casualty" becomes a common refrain.
Wearing a Detroit Lions shirt with "I can't breathe" written on the front, running back Reggie Bush runs through pre-game warmups in an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski) Reggie Bush, the No. 2 overall pick in 2006, was cut by the Lions.
A.J. Hawk, a top-five overall pick a decade ago, was waived by the Packers.
Neither of these are a real shock - to players, teams or fans - because the M.O. of building successful franchises in today's NFL is as much about cap management as it is about scouting and player development.
It's an understandable model. Draft as many good young players as possible, and hope more than half of them turn into affordable contributors. If you can string back-to-back drafts together that feature six-to-seven contributors with a couple of stars mixed in, you open a window of competitiveness that could blossom into potential championship contention.
You then can't afford too many veterans. It's a sign of the times, and in some ways a precursor to a lot of the tomfoolery with which the NFL is dealing. A litany of former NFL stars-turned-broadcasters have mentioned the fact that the locker room is being cleansed of higher-priced veterans to secure depth and roster flexibility. It makes fiscal sense, but the reality is the guys that can lead from within the team are becoming fewer and fewer.
Sure, teams are securing long-term relationships with their quarterbacks, but those relationships are different.
So as a few familiar players get pink slips in the next couple of weeks, the hope for rebirth and reload that is the draft is paramount.
For the Tennessee Titans it means a plethora of options. They have the No. 2 overall pick which means a potential franchise quarterback in either Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston will be available. A franchise defensive lineman like Leonard Williams likely will be available, too. They also could potentially trade down for more picks since the team has a multitude of needs.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston smiles before stretching at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Each path has its merits, and sadly, looking at the Titans recent history, it's hard to have confidence that they will make the proper decision. Taking the quarterback is the easy choice if you are Ken Whisenhunt and have even a shadow of a doubt about Zach Mettenberger's long-term prospects.
If Whisenhunt and Co. draft a "franchise" quarterback, it means at least an extra year of grace period as the team builds around the future face of the organization.
A trade down depends on what the value of the No. 2 overall pick could be. Personally, we like the idea and the presence of Williams, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound freakish athlete that could play multiple spots on a defensive front that will have multiple looks under new defensive guru Dick LeBeau.
For the Atlanta Falcons, the No. 8 overall pick almost assuredly will be a pass rusher for new head coach Dan Quinn and a defense that was among the league's worst at getting to the quarterback.
While the doubts about the Titans personnel decisions have been forged through time and well-earned through history, Quinn gets a benefit of the doubt regardless which defensive lineman/linebacker the Falcons ultimately draft. Quinn got final say on personnel decisions when he was hired, and he had a big hand in the moves that helped make the Seattle Seahawks a historic defense in the last few seasons.
Plus, Atlanta catches a rare break in that pass rusher is among the deepest positions in this draft, something that makes the No. 8 overall pick even better for Quinn and the Falcons.
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Darnell Dockett, motivational speaker
Speaking of NFL news, did you see Darnell Dockett delivering some inspirational advise to a youth league football team. Here's the story.
Yep, the Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle, who could be a "cap casualty" in the coming days, too, pulled a Matt Foley and delivered what we sure was a well-intentioned but a questionably worded message to the group of kids that looked to be about 12 or so.
Dockett tells the team:
"I want y'all to get a girlfriend by next week. Right. OK? I want y'all to say no to drugs OK? I don't want y'all hanging in the strip club. Not yet. OK? Not yet. Not yet. Alright? Let's get a break.Let's go, let's go."
Money. Simply money.
It actually made us think of tis clip from "A League of Their Own" when Tom Hanks signs the kid's baseball with "Avoid the cal, Jimmy Dugan" and then says, "That's good advise."
Yes, Jimmy, yes it is.
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Tiger tales
Apparently there is absolutely no shortage of Tiger Woods stories and theories about his struggles.
Jack Nicklaus says Tiger's struggles are between his ears. Greg Norman says they are mental - and if anyone would know about the mental ghosts in golf, it's Norman.
Tiger Woods grimaces after finishing the ninth hole during the second round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Tiger's agent says it's physical and former coach Butch Harmon is hinting it's pride.
Here's another one. Another former coach Sean Foley says Tiger's devotion to being a good father is hurting his golf game.
In truth, all of these may be the case, but we know this: Considering Tiger has hundreds of millions, apparently has rebuild a family life in which he's comfortable, and seems as well-adjusted as maybe, well, ever, golf certainly needs Tiger more than Tiger needs golf.
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This and that
- When all the stories turn sordid and you wonder why sports is so special, remember the scene of Kevin Garnett getting introduced last night after returning to Minnesota. Cool stuff.
- Monster win for Georgia last night, beating Ole Miss on the road and all-but punching the Bulldogs ticket for the NCAA tournament. Congrats coach Mark Fox and Co. (Although this makes the losses to South Carolina and the home loss to a dreadful Auburn team even more puzzling.)
Georgia head coach Mark Fox urges his team on during their game against Kentucky, on Feb. 3, 2015, in Lexington, Ky. - LeBron James made a crack about how he started worry about his health six years ago when he stopped eating McDonald's. Then he remembered that Ronald and Co. pay LeBron $4 million a year in endorsements and tried to change his tune. Read more here and in that story, it says King James makes as much as $53 million in endorsements a year. All Hail the King.
- Interesting theory about the coaching dominoes tossed out by TFP ace columnist Mark Wiedmer and Will Wade. Interesting point-counterpoint Mocs fans: Would you want UTC to win the SoCon tournament and get to the tournament if it meant Wade was going to move along? We say yes and then trust in David Blackburn to go find the next Wade.
Will Lankford takes six of his friends on a ride in his big buggy golf cart in Gadsden, Ala., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. Snow blanketed north Alabama on Wednesday with forecasters warning the winter storm could dump as much as 10 inches of frozen precipitation in spots and make travel treacherous across a wide area through Thursday. (AP Photo/AL.com, Joe Songer) ---
Today's question
Have you sent a mailbag?
Next question: With 8 inces of white stuff on the ground at our house, what's your Rushmore of snow?
Go.