5-at-10: Friday mailbag with AU athletes to share a Co-Cola, NFL draft eligibility fairness, Bowl contest standings, Colts, UT OC and the wall and hate mail

From Henry H

Big fan of the show, Rushmore of former Auburn athletes you’d like to have a Co-Cola with?

Henry –

Excellent question.

Chuck Barkley is a no-doubter. We’ll put Jason Dufner on there too.

Also, Cam Newton for a multitude of reasons, and if the Co-Colas start really flowing, maybe we can get the real story of all his recruiting hijinks.

The last spot has a slew of possibilities.

I loved Takeo Spikes, but I would be physically scared to ask him anything that might offend him. It would be amazing to catch up with Brent Fullwood, who went from top-five pick to a working dad around the metro-Atlanta area.

Ronnie Brown was/is one of the kindest superstars ever. Think of the stories Jason Campbell could tell about all the turnover in his career. Tre Mason grew up in a house in which he’d come downstairs and Slick Rick or Kool Moe Dee would be at the kitchen table kicking it.

Frank Thomas or Tim Hudson or Josh Donaldson or any number of the great baseball players.

But my final spot would go to a childhood favorite.

William Andrews. Yep. And as many of you know, I have a pretty strong stance against grown men wearing a jersey of another player. The maxim goes, “If you have a Y chromosome and are over the age of 12, the only jerseys you should wear are headed to you by someone you call coach.”

But as a kid, Pop got Falcons season tickets from 1978 to 1982, and Andrews was a monster and my favorite player. And yes, I had and wore his jersey. (I turned 12 in October 1982 for those wondering.)

Great question my man.

And since we know that question was directed at me because of my alma mater, feel free to list your Co-Cola Rushmore from former stars from your favorite school or pro team.

From Michael P.

Thanks for the bowl contest. It was my first time playing and it made me more interested in all the bowls, even ones without SEC teams.

Before the title game, I have heard a couple of college football analysts talking about how glad they are that the NFL does not have the one-and-done rule like the NBA.

I understand that and in a selfish way I am too. But in your opinion is that fair to the players?

Thanks for all you do and thanks again for the contest. It was a blast (even if my picks stunk).

Michael P –

Such a good question.

First, I’m very glad you enjoyed the contest. We had a record number of entries this year. The standings are below, and sadly, it’s down to a two-person race. These are the folks that topped an impressive 80 points. (If you believe you are above 80 or in contention for the title please let me know.)

Now that we have that covered, you make a great point in this day and age about fairness to the players. Let’s explore.

In years past, it was not a big deal because kids one year removed from high school were not physically ready to play in the NFL. They still may not be but there are a rising number of expcetions. Jadeveon Clowney a couple of years ago.

And of course Trevor Lawrence this year. The Clemson freshman, I think, would be the No. 1 overall pick next spring. Seriously.

And yes, I know Arizona does not need a quarterback, but here’s betting the Giants or the Jags or quarterback-starved team X would move Heaven and Earth to get the long-haired, cannon-armed kid from Cartersville.

In terms of fairness, this is magnified by the rookie contracts that lock first-round picks into contracts for four team-friendly terms for four years with a team option for year five. If a player is forced to stay out of the draft for three years after their graduating class and their first four years are salary-controlled, then you could have the best quarterback in his age group facing a lack of professional freedom – or a fair market-place return on his exquisite skill set – from the age of 21-to-28.

Not only is that unfair; it’s unAmerican by comparison. (And yes, the NFL deal is collectively bargained, but the thought process behind capping salary on rookies was done by non-rookie players with the thought that the redistributed money would go to late-20s free agents. It’s not. It’s adding to the paychecks of the stars being extended.)

I hope all these players – Lawrence, Tua, Josh Jacobs, Tee Higgins and so many other stars in Monday’s title game who are not eligible to go to the draft who would be first-rounders next April – are forcing the schools to pick up insurance policies on them to at least protect a portion of their earning potential.

It also will be interesting to see how many of these kids who need to money – or those who otherwise might be graduate transfers – look at some of these new professional; leagues. Imagine if Kelly Bryant or Jalen Hurts, instead of going to Missouri or wherever Hurts may go, decided to play for the AAFL or the XFL.

Bowl standings

As promised, here’s the standings for the Bowling for Bowls of Bowl Game Success (Bowler Optional).

Here’s where we stand friends, and boy did Spy limp to the finish. If you have a question about your score, please let me know. We only are listing the folks who topped 80. Congrats to those precious few, but unless we missed graded someone’s entry, we are down to two with a chance to win.

The possible points for round 3 was 51. Thanks to everyone who entered.

scole023 – 14+40+37 = 91 (Alabama)

Justin S. – 20+33+37 = 90 (Clemson)

Charles M – 12+35+42 = 87 (Alabama)

5-at-10 – 18+37+27 = 82 (Alabama

Gary M – 9+41+32 = 82 (Alabama)

Brent R. – 9+40+32 = 81 (Clemson)

From Steve

As 2018 came to a close, and 2019 begins, three big questions remain, will the Vols ever hire an OC? Will the Titans ever beat Andrew Luck? Will Trump get the border wall?

Steve –

Simply put, yes (with degrees) to each.

The Vols OC search has been extended, and that’s not that big of a deal once the early signing period was completed. The biggest concern, of course, is making the right hire, not making the first hire. That said, if behind the scenes, Jeremy Pruitt has offered the gig to say two or three dudes and has ben turned down – and to be fair, we have not seen any details reporting that – then as a Johnny Vols Fan, I would understand the concern.

But yes, they are going to find one, and it could be rather soon. The talented folks at GoVols247sports.com are reporting Matt Canada has interviewed. I would think that as a good hire. And while it’s assuredly hard not to do this, but grading any coach hire at the press conference is a fool’s errand.

Just look at three of the most recent hires at UT, Steve. I thought Rick Barnes was going to be a disaster. He was the exact opposite. I thought Butch Jones was going to figure it out. He assuredly did not. I thought Holly Warlick would continue Pat’s dominance, and while that has not been the case, this many year’s in, we are really only sure of one thing about Warlick as a coach – ain’t no one ever going to be Pat.

As for Luck, well, the numbers have to play out at some point. But this Colts team is built for the long haul for a multitude of reasons.

First, they have a franchise star quarterback. A stud duck who is signed through 2021 that will pay him more than $122 million. (That’s important because if the Colts are rolling at that point, going into the 2022 season, Luck will be 32, and he seems like the type of with a healthy nine-figure bank account to take a Colts discount to help the roster.)

Second, the Colts crushed the 2018 draft, not unlike the Saints crushed the 2017 draft, when New Orleans got the offensive and defensive rookies of the year. The Colts found the same kind of each side success with Quenton Nelson, the guard from Notre Dame who could very well be an All-Pro pick, and Darius Leonard, the NFL leader in tackles. Add in Braden Smith, the Auburn product who has become a bona fide starter at right tackle for a line that allowed a league-low 18 sacks. (To make that even more impressive, the Colts spun the No. 3 pick last spring to the Jets for the No. 6 pick – Nelson – and the No. 36 pick – Leonard – as well as the Jets’ second-rounder in 2019, which will be another top 35 pick.)

(Side note: How much does a single monster draft class do to redirect a franchise. Well, we mentioned the Saints and the Colts. The Rams dominated its first round picks for several consecutive years. The Chargers have accumulated talent for years. The Chiefs hit the lottery with Patrick Mahomes. The Texans’ best four players were home-run first-rounders in Watson, Hopkins, Watt and Clowney. And the Bears in 2017 added its quarterback, Eddie Jackson, Tarik Cohen and a starting guard. In 2018, the Bears added Roquan Smith and others. That star power and cap flexibility allowed them to add and afford Khalil Mack.)

As for the wall, well, yes, there will be something built and if politics of 2019 is anything like politics of 2018, both sides will claim they won this discussion.

Side note: As a Republican, I am pretty embarrassed that a Republican president and a Republican controlled House and Senate has allowed the deficit to continue to balloon by trillions. That’s not the Republican party I want folks.

Not exactly fan mail

Direct and to the point.

You’re a nice guy but semi-literate.

And

I hope you have a rotten 2019.

(Side note: Who says that? Seriously. Well, other than some of our regular haters I suppose.)

Finally.

Among my resolutions for ’19 is never read a a single word you write. I feel good this is one resolution that will be easy to keep.

Enjoy the weekend friends.