HAWAI’I Warriors (10-3, 6-1 WAC) — This year is the perfect set up for Hawai’i as a year they are usually successful. Returning QB Bryant Moniz, the Warriors will be the best offensive team in the conference once again, as they were with spread QBs like Timmy Chang, and others. Although they only return 3 on offense, that’s never bothered them before as they get everyone involved in the offense.

NEVADA Wolfpack (8-4, 6-1 WAC) — Although Colin Kaepernick has moved on to the NFL, the Wolfpack, led by long-time coach Chris Ault will figure out a way to still finish second in the conference. Returning WRs such as Rishard Matthews and Brandon Wimberly will provide the playmaking ability on the offense. Matthews was the team’s leading WR last season.

FRESNO STATE Bulldogs (6-7, 5-2 WAC) — Without Boise State in the conference anymore, the flood gates have been reopened for the Bulldogs, and coach Pat Hill to take back what used to be rightfully theirs. This season wont be the time to do it, however, even though David Carr’s younger brother, Derek is at the helm of the offense now. Robbie Rouse rushed for over 1,100 yards last season and will be returning, but he doesn’t have much around him.

IDAHO Vandals (6-6, 5-2 WAC) — Idaho might only have 4 players returning on offense, but they’ll be in a battle for fourth place in a sub-par conference. Bringing back 3-of-4 defensive backs will be a catalyst in what seems to be a pass-heavy offense.

LOUISIANA TECH Bulldogs (4-8, 3-5 WAC) — The battle for fourth will definitely be between Tech and Idaho. Idaho has the home game in the game between these two, and they’ll win it. Tech returns its top 2 rushers and top 2 receivers from last season, which will be a huge advantage for them, but still they’ll finish fifth.

SAN JOSE STATE Spartans (3-9, 2-5 WAC) — Definitely the most improved team from last year. They’ll want to cash in on returning all 11 defensive starters from last season because more than half of them will be graduating this season. The only problem with capitalizing on returning talent is the talents just isn’t that good.

NEW MEXICO STATE Aggies (1-12, 1-6 WAC) — It will be a gutsy performance from this team on Dec. 3 because they will be 0-12 going into a game where they can still prevent from finishing dead last in the conference. They’ll beat Utah State to get the one conference win they need.

UTAH STATE Aggies (1-11, 0-7 WAC) — They return a load of WRs, but their tough non-conference schedule will plague them in the end. They’ll get their win against Weber State, after losing the opener at Auburn, but then they’ll find out they’re just not that good.

MAC

WESTERN MICHIGAN Broncos (9-3, 7-0 MAC) — QB Alex Carder is so good, 3,300 passing yards and 30 TDs last season, he will lead this team to the MAC Championship. The Broncos, both the overall and West Division champs of the MAC, return all of their best rushers and their best receiver, Jordan White (1,300 receiving yards in 2010), and will get close to beating non-conference teams Michigan, Illinois and Connecticut.

TEMPLE Owls (9-3, 6-1 MAC) — I think Temple would win this conference if their coach last year hadn’t left. Their one loss will come to Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 9. Bernard Pierce will have another huge here, and his year in 2010 would’ve been bigger if he’d been the feature back. He’s that good, and he’ll be an NFL Draft pick. They’re the East Division champs, and No. 2 in the conference.

TOLEDO Rockets (7-5, 6-1 MAC) — They return 9 apiece on offense and defense, but I’m not as big a fan of a successful dual-QB system as other people are. The slated starting QB, Austin Dantin, only had 192 attempts last season. The other QB, Terrance Owens, had 162 attempts. Until one of them steps up and becomes “the guy,” they wont win the MAC.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN Chippewas (7-5, 6-2 MAC) — The Chippewas are returning QB Ryan Radcliff, who had a good season last year, but will want to throw fewer INTs this season, while keeping up with his 3,000-yard pace. The Chippewas also return their best running back and wide receiver, which will help Radcliff a lot. They’ll be a huge improvement on defense and will turn a 3-9 record in 2010 into a winning record in 2011.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS Huskies (7-5, 5-3 MAC) — Last season’s 11-3 record was no fluke. RB Chad Spann had the season other running backs just dream of having. Spann rushed for 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns, but he’s gone now. The Huskies have back QB Chandler Harnish, who is really efficient and accurate (21 TDs, 5 INTs, 2,500 yards). Harnish will lead the team to another winning record, but unless new RB Jasmin Hopkins is a new Spann, it wont be an 11-3 record.

MIAMI OHIO Redhawks (6-6, 5-3 MAC) — They might be returning 17 starters overall, but the loss of RB Thomas Merriweather will be huge. Add that to a tough conference schedule, which includes road games against Toledo, Temple and Ohio, and the Redhawks will struggle, even with an experienced QB and a great base returning on defense.

OHIO Bobcats (5-7, 4-4 MAC) — The Bobcats lose their top 4 defenders from last season on a defense that already didn’t win the turnover battle enough. Overall they only return four on defense. On offense, the Bobcats are without Boo Jackson, who graduated. Jackson was a huge offensive weapon both passing, running and receiving. Jackson had two catches as a receiver, and scored 1 touchdown on one of his catches.

KENT STATE Golden Flashes (5-7, 4-5 MAC) — QB Spencer Keith has eight other players returning on his offense. Of those returning, none are more important than his three top receivers, Tyshon Goode, Sam Kirkland and Jacquise Terry. Terry is the team’s starting running back, returning this year.

BALL STATE Cardinals (3-9, 3-4 MAC) — The Cardinals’ offense has 10 players returning, leading me to believe they’ll have a better season then they did last season. They, however, have a very tough schedule to deal with this season. Forget about their first four games, the rest of the schedule follows like this: at Oklahoma, Temple, at Ohio, Central Michigan, at Western Michigan, at Eastern Michigan, at Northern Illinois, Toledo. Even though the Cardinals are better than Eastern Michigan, that’s a tough three-game road stretch they have.

BOWLING GREEN Falcons (5-7, 2-6 MAC) — It’s simple for the Falcons: they’ll win their first three games, and then their last two. That’s it. Everything in between is too tough for them, despite returning QB Matt Schilz and star WR Kamar Jordan.

EASTERN MICHIGAN Eagles (4-8, 2-6 MAC) — They lost their top three tacklers on defense after 2010, but they’re in a spot where they can rebuild that defense with other players coming up. After losing the top three tacklers, they return 11 of the next 12 top tacklers on their team, led by Marcell Rose.

BUFFALO Bulls (2-10, 1-7 MAC) — The Bulls just aren’t going to be good enough on defense, only returning three from the 9th defense in terms of giving up points in the conference.

AKRON Zips (1-11, 0-8 MAC) — The Zips are just that bad this season. They’ll beat VMI in non-conference play, but won’t do anything else. They’re schedule is too tough and they’re talent level isn’t the same as the other teams in the conference.

C-USA

TULSA Golden Hurricane (9-3, 8-0 C-USA) — Honestly, if it weren’t for the toughest non-conference schedule in the conference, Tulsa is a team experienced enough, confident enough, and talented enough to go undefeated, as I project they will inside the conference. But games on the road against Boise State and Oklahoma, and a home game against Oklahoma State, might be out of their reach to win. QB GJ Kinnie, WR Damaris Johnson, LB Shawn Jackson, and CB John Flanders are just some of the great players coming back to lead Tulsa to a title.

HOUSTON Cougars (11-1, 7-1 C-USA) — Houston, under the arm of returning 6th-year man QB Case Keenum, will be undefeated going into the last game of the season against Tulsa. An opening game win over UCLA at home will set the pace for a team that will be happy to have Keenum back under center after his terrible injury last season. They may only return 6 starters on defense, but 5 of those 6 were the team’s leading tacklers last season, starting with LB Marcus McGraw.

SOUTHERN MISS Golden Eagles (10-2, 7-1 C-USA) — An upset loss against East Carolina is the only thing holding the Eagles back from matching Houston’s 11-1 overall record, and matching Tulsa’s undefeated conference record. Austin Davis is that good at QB for the Eagles, and he has the help of a two-headed monster at RB with Kendrick Hardy and Desmond Johnson. At receiver there is more depth returning, including Tracy Lampley, who the team found out was really talented last in the season in 2010.

SMU Mustangs (7-5, 5-3 C-USA) — June Jones is in his 4th year at SMU and he is very close to getting them over the hump to the very top of the conference. Unfortunately this year, he is staring up at three teams whose QBs are just that much better than his. But they’re close. Jones brings back 10 starters on offense, which is just the chemistry he needs for the kind of offense he runs. Darius Johnson might be one of the best WRs in the conference, and he has a good QB, Kyle Padron, to throw him the ball.

EAST CAROLINA Pirates (6-6, 5-3 C-USA) — The Pirates have another year on the good side, with a returning QB and a couple returning WRs. They’ll face a tough schedule, including Virginia Tech, North Carolina and South Carolina. QB Dominique Davis had a good season last year, and the team will hope he’ll have another really good one in 2011.

UAB Blazers (6-6, 4-4 C-USA) — They have a favorable schedule and some returning talent to go with it. They will welcome to town UCF Oct. 20 and ring up and surprising win, which will put them in place to finish where they finish.

UCF Knights (6-6, 4-4 C-USA) — They return what they need to on offense, QB Jeff Godfrey and RB Latavius Murray, but not on defense. That makes a difference. They’ll struggle on the road all season, and an inexperienced defense will cost them dearly in big games.

RICE Owls (3-9, 3-5 C-USA) — They have Sam McGuffie at running back, and that makes all the difference. He nearly rushed for 1,000 yards last season, and I bet he will do it this season, his junior year.

TULANE Green Wave (4-9, 2-6 C-USA) — Sure they can bring back a good defense to anchor their team, but if they can’t score (27 points per game, in the bottom half of the conference) they can’t win.

UTEP Miners (3-9, 1-7 C-USA) — They’ll surprise people by beating Rice for the only win in the conference. They’re going to struggle, mightily, on offense, only returning 2 players, and that’s going to be their Achilles heel all season long.

MARSHALL Thundering Herd (2-10, 1-7 C-USA) — This offense was one of the very worst in the conference last season (11th of 12). They only return 5 from an already bad offense, and thus they’ll be more inexperienced than they were even last year.

MEMPHIS Tigers (2-10, 0-8 C-USA) — Coach Larry Porter has not been good for them, at least he hasn’t had enough talent. He has even less talent this season, only returning 9-of-22 starters.

From now ’til July 12, I’ll be posting multiple different blogs talking about things such as my favorite features in this year’s game, my favorite teams to potentially play with, and everything in between.

Today, we get started with one of my favorite features (I will be counting these down from the “sort of excited for” to “Wow, I can’t wait another second for”). This feature is custom conferences.

If you’ve played the game in the past, you know that custom conferences have been around for a long time, as an aside before beginning your dynasty. However, you also would know (maybe having experimented with the feature in the past, like I have) that it has been greatly flawed.

These past couple summers of mass conference realignment has cleared things up for me, spelling out how this feature really should work. I’m here to say that at first glance of videos, updates from the creators, and screenshots, I think they’ve gotten it right.

First, let me point out that I have liked every year they’ve done the “minor” conference realignment based on merit within your dynasty. So, if I’m really successful with Notre Dame as an Independent school, then I might get offers from the Big East, Big Ten or ACC to join their conference, while other schools are being demoted if I accept the transfer.

So, for example, I’m in a dynasty with Notre Dame, and the Big Ten comes calling. They want to replace Northwestern with Notre Dame. Northwestern has had some bad seasons, and I’ve had some really good ones. So, obviously, they’d want me. You could accept this invite, and be in the conference the next year, or you could deny and stay where you are. You could also climb up the ranks with lower schools, unlike Notre Dame. So I have SMU in Conference USA, and I’ve been so good that the Big East, or maybe just the Mountain West has come calling.

While I’m sure they’ll keep this feature in the game this year, I am pleased with the additions, pre-set-up dynasty they’ve made. Now, you can create whatever conference you want. (By the way, the real life conference will be updated for this game).

So say you want the old school Big 8 conference, you can make it! Or – much more my style – say you want an ultimate Super-Conference, you can! You want the top 16 teams in the game in the same conference for some reason? Make it happen!

In older versions of the game, you could only use custom conference to swap one-for-one. So if you want TCU in the Pac 10 (where they belong), then you would, in the past, have to swap out a current Pac 10 team for them. For example, TCU would go to the Pac 10, and Washington State would go to the Mountain West.

In this year’s game, however, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You have total control before you start a dynasty to add teams to any conference, or demote teams to other conference. If you want Conference USA to be the best conference in America, you can make it that way. If you want to see what a Pac 16 or Big 16 would look like, then you can do that.

Like real life league commissioners, you have the power to change the names of divisions in conferences of 12 or more teams. You have a 16 team Big East conference and want 6 teams in the “Tony Dorsett” division and 6 others in the “Doug Flutie” division – do it! That’s one of the best parts of this feature – your ability to use creativity.

But don’t just limit yourself to one conference. You can change all of them. Want Texas to go Independent? Do it. But you also want TCU, Utah and Boise State in the Pac 10? No problem.

Also unique about this feature is your ability to do the really small things that make a conference special. Conference title game? Where? You pick. Want to protect certain rivalries like Ohio State-Michigan although they are in opposing divisions? Do it. Want your conference to have night games in November? Or do you want them to be all day games? You make the decision.

Something that is attached with this feature is the ability to change more in your dynasty set up. You can change automatic qualifiers. So say you want Conference USA to be the best conference in all of college football? You can do that. But you want to make sure those teams get automatic qualifiers to the Rose Bowl Game – you can make that happen.

Even if conferences are left alone, you can make the MAC and WAC meet as automatic qualifiers in the Rose Bowl. Pretty cool right?

And this is only the first feature I’ll be talking to you about. Stay tuned.

In 2011, amid brewing controversies about his involvement in the selling of sign Ohio State football merchandise in exchange for tattoos, and his involvement in a long-time car dealership loaning service, he left the university. This would have been his senior season, but as he began to feel the heat of the NCAA down his back, closing in on his “secrets”, after Tressel had resigned because his “secrets” have been revealed, he left.

Oh how the times have changed from his freshman year – sitting on the bench – with a lot of hype to his name. Columbus, Ohio, is rightfully upset at their presumed “star quarterback.”

The Tressel situation has been well documented, thanks to Sports Illustrated, but the Pryor situation is just beginning to play out. He’s gone. He won’t be the quarterback this season… and he doesn’t know if he’ll be the quarterback anywhere this season.

For Pryor, he came out today and said he didn’t want to play in the Canadian Football League, after reports that a team from that league was in pursuit of his rights to sign him. Pryor said he wants to be focused on the NFL.

ESPN’s NFL Draft expert, Mel Kiper Jr., says he’ll be a tight end.

So a career goes down the drain in Columbus. The person who once held the weight of a city on his shoulders to produce a national title, is now gone – hated in the city which once beloved him.

Leaving school, Pryor will not go down as a great Ohio State quarterbacks – as he could have been the best in a string of good ones, Troy Smith, Craig Krentzel, etc. No, he will go down as a quitter. A selfish player, who believed his own hype and didn’t live up to it.

He was one of the most sought after recruits in the nation in 2008, and one of the most sought after in this decade. The 6-foot-6 juggernaut QB, will go down as one of the poorest results of the No. 1 high school ranking.

Prior to 2008, Rivals.com kept prospect rankings beginning in 2002. Vince Young (’02, Texas), Ernie Sims (’03, Florida State), Adrian Peterson (’04, Oklahoma), Derrick Williams (’05, Penn State), Percy Harvin (’06, Florida), Jimmy Clausen (’07, Notre Dame), and Pryor (’08 Ohio State).

One can make an argument that each No. 1-ranked player before Pryor had a better career – oodles better in some cases. Players like Young, Peterson and Harvin were tremendously successful in their careers – whether they brought Heisman Trophies or crystal balls out of their college careers.

Sims was exceedingly successful for his position. He was also the second best player from his recruiting class. Reggie Bush, although his legacy is tampered with now, was a better recruit than Sims. Williams and Clausen, too, were more successful than Pryor.

Even more, Pryor wasn’t the best player or quarterback in his recruiting class. DaQuan Bowers (Clemson), Julio Jones (Alabama), AJ Green (Georgia), Will Hill (Florida), Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), Brandon Harris (Miami). Those are just a few names you could put ahead of Pryor’s.

Also, enter Blaine Gabbert, the quarterback from that class who turned out to be the best. Pryor doesn’t compare.

Now while Pryor’s pro potential is no where near the other players I’ve compared him too, that is not the sole purpose why I’m calling him such a disappointment. His college career was even disappointing up until the day he quit the team, dropped out of the school, and looked to the future.

Pryor might have won a couple Big Ten titles, but none resulted in a title game appearance. Pryor’s best game overall was the Rose Bowl game against Oregon two years ago. Not once did he end the season in the top five voting for the Heisman Trophy. He was never the player everyone expected him to be. He was never the best quarterback in the nation – he probably was never one of the top five or ten quarterbacks in the nation.

This past year will go down as his final season as Ohio State’s quarterback, and maybe his final season as a quarterback in his life. Andrew Luck (Stanford), Nick Foles (Arizona), Cam Newton (Auburn), Blaine Gabbert (Missouri), Landry Jones (Oklahoma), Matt Barkley (USC), Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Russell Wilson (North Carolina State), Andy Dalton (TCU), Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), Denard Robinson (Michigan). Those are just a few quarterbacks better than him last season… don’t make me list all the seasons before.

One person I mentioned, Cam Newton, is like the man Pryor never was. The way Newton produced, won a Heisman, and won a national championship all in one season, that’s kind of the expectations that were laid on Pryor. And don’t even get me started about the comparisons of the teams. Ohio State probably had better support for Pryor than Newton had. But Newton was legendary, Godly. He won a title in his first season as a starting quarterback. He came from a junior college national title, to Auburn to win a national title. That’s a hell of a two year run.

Sorry for Columbus, that was never Pryor. Tressel recruited the wrong guy. Pryor never showed the leadership or superstar ability that was expected of him. Moreover, he failed the school, and failed himself.

His talent, so hyped, turned out to be stoppable. His leadership turned out to be weak. His credentials out of college turned out to be empty. He was a disappointment, and a lot of people are putting the blame on him for Tressel’s resignation. Now, Tressel deserves all of the blame – he dug his own hole. Pryor is totally different. He took part in what Tressel allowed to happen.

Pryor didn’t live up to the hype. He didn’t deliver, especially in the clutch. And he wont be a quarterback anywhere except the Canadian Football League.

For me, Derrick Williams, the No. 1 prospect on my Blue Chips big board, is far and away the top talent in this draft. Williams played a full season at Arizona, and showed off all that he offers in the NCAA tournament. I don’t have questions about him. But, let’s get back to the great debate: Why Irving and Kanter?

You can presume that these two players at at the top of most big boards because they are true to their position. This draft is slim in a couple of areas: there aren’t many true-to-one-position players, for example Derrick Williams is in between a small forward and and power forward position. Also, this draft is slim with talent, to be quite honest.

The fact that this draft is short in talent is beneficial for Irving and Kanter because they are presumed to be great talents, but haven’t shown it this season.

That’s what swayed me from rating them so highly in my Blue Chips big board.

But both guys are indeed true to one position. First, Kanter is the center that everyone wants because he is a true inside player. Kanter has shown the ability to bang with other centers in the league. The great thing about him is that he has good feet, good hands, and a good feel for the paint. He’s like DeMarcus Cousins last season because both guys were true centers because they played inside.

Second, Irving is true to the point guard position. He’s not a flashy point guard, but he is an intangible point guard. People think he’s a safe pick. People think he’ll be the one player to be an All-Star in this draft, although I adamantly disagree.

Being such a slim draft has been beneficial for both players, but I still have Derrick Williams as my number one player.

Being from Illinois, I have been able to bask in the glory of the Chicago Blackhawks being the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Now, I fear I may lose my opportunities to bask in the glory for this year; however, I am happy to see the Blackhawks – although an eight-seed, be in the playoffs so that my glory days can still be alive for at least a week or so more. And finally, my predictions:

Capitals over Rangers – six games

The loss of Callahan from the Rangers will ultimately cost this New Yorkers dearly, ending in a lost chance to upset the No. 1-seed Caps, who are known for not living up to expectations in the playoffs. Business as usual: Ovie and Backstrom will lead the way for the Caps into the next round.

Flyers over Sabres – five games

The Flyers, like the Caps, have been a dominant team in the Eastern Conference all season long. Although the Sabres are a team, with Ryan Miller, that no team wants to play in the playoffs, the Flyers will outscore Buffalo in order to take the series in five games.

Bruins over Canadians – seven games

One of the oldest rivalries in the NHL will make for a thrilling series in the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins’ Tim Thomas has been too good this season to pick against the Bruins, ultimately. Bruins advance, and the Canadians bid for back-to-back playoff cinderella stories falls short.

Lightning over Penguins – seven games

Stamkos and the boys in Tampa Bay will win this series in seven games. The Sid The Kid storyline has been looming ever since he went out with the first concussion this season, and it will continue to hangover the Pens because coach Dan Bylsma is not sure if Crosby will be back for the series; in fact, it’s seriously doubtful. Stamkos rushes on past Malkin and the boys in Pittsburgh.

Canucks over Blackhaws – six games

My dream of back-to-back titles for the ‘Hawks can live on for six more games, but I’m afraid Luongo and the Sedin twins are going to be too much for the Hawks to handle in this series. It will go six games, though, because the Hawks definitely aren’t owned by the Canucks, actually it’s the opposite. All in all, the Canucks are too much better and march on. The Hawks just haven’t been the same team this year after unloading all of those players.

Kings over Sharks – five games

The Sharks, like the Caps, have always disappointed in the playoffs after having a really good season. The storyline will be the same this season. I’m a big fan of Drew Doughty and the boys in LA, as they will nearly sweep their rivals from San Jose. The Sharks with Nemi, the Cup-winning goaltender for the Hawks last year, will faulter.

Red Wings over Coyotes – four games

Can’t pick against experience or the kids from Detroit, as they always seem to be a factor in the playoffs no matter the seed they hold, in this case a three-seed. The Red Wings will sweep the Coyotes – the only sweep of the first round.

Predators over Ducks – seven games

Nobody wants to play the Preds at this point in the season, and the Ducks drew the short straw. It’s going to cost them, as the Preds will win the series in an exciting seven-game series.

Eastern Conference title: Flyers

The Flyers are back in the Stanley Cup championship looking for redemption after the Hawks beat them last year. They have been a dominant team in the regular season, and will be in the playoffs.

Western Conference title: Canucks

It only makes sense: beat the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and then go on to win the conference title and head onto the Stanley Cup series. The Sedin twins will be key in this playoff run, as I mentioned before.

Stanley Cup champions: Flyers

Flyers take out the Canucks in a vintage seven-game series to take the title after their second consecutive Cup appearance.

And the administration, much to the dismay of the students attending the school, has still refused to rehang the jersey despite Vick’s radiant success this season as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite, even, Facebook groups petitioning for the school to rehang the famed jersey, the school has remained strong on its views.

Newport News Public Schools spokesperson told the Virginia-Pilot that the decision is final and has been made to avoid distraction and “finish the school year strong.”

One high school student, who disagrees with the administration, said the jersey should be reframed and rehanged because Vick has been an “inspiration” to high school students based on how he has dug himself out of the hole he was in.

THE OPINION: That last paragraph is a good segway for me, I suppose, because I choose to focus on the fact that Vick has done his time and learned from his past behaviors. From everything I’ve seen of Vick speaking in public, he seems more mature.

Prison must have been good for Vick… that, and Tony Dungy. However, I side with the students – not just as a student myself. Vick is that high school’s national legacy. He is the prize that came from that school. Arguably, that school produced the most exciting NFL quarterback – maybe NFL player – of all time.

And they aren’t willing to flaunt that? Boy, if I was the principal or an administrator… I’d milk that for everything it was worth.

I completely understand taking the jersey down when Vick was serving his sentence, during the investigation and even when the world didn’t think Vick would ever play again. Now, things are different.

Vick is not a popular public speaker. He has revisited prison, for example, to speak to inmates. He has talked to high school kids about his rocky journey. He is doing everything right.

For the people that say: “He’s a dog killer.” Well, that’s true; however, he has learned from that. This high school Vick went to is not a suburban catholic school. No, this high school is a rough one. Virginia is a rough state in general.

Vick was involved, at a young age, in the NFL, with the wrong crowd, which led him to do what he did. Now it seems he has reorganized his Facebook “friends list” and found some better people to surround him with – i.e. Tony Dungy.

Also, Vick is not leaving his past in his past, so to speak. He is addressing the issue. Vick knows he is going to have to answer questions about what he did. He knows that he will have to deal with picketers, haters, and other people that aren’t fans of Vick. Those kinds of things are going to happen. Vick will forever have to live with what he did.

He wasn’t doing that in high school, though. In high school, he brought that school excitement, happiness, wins, etc. He brought a lot to that school.

The school should rehang that jersey because they need to realize what they had. Vick is on the fast track back to the top of the NFL. I mean, he could have won the NFL MVP this season. Rehang the jersey, and be proud of the four years that Michael Vick roamed those halls.

Patrick broke a record for the best finish by a women, set by Sara Christian 62 years ago.

By finishing fourth, we are now forced to talk about her potential and what her future could be in NASCAR. Well, obviously the future looks bright as of now.

Currently she is in fourth place overall in the Nationwide Series standings, having raced in three races, finishing 14th, 17th and 4th, respectively.

So her most recent race has set a media fire.

If Patrick keeps up her Nationwide success, she will most definitely have tons of people bidding on her to have her race under their name at the next level. Patrick would by far one of the best things to even happen to NASCAR, at least in her first year.

In her first year in the Sprint Cup series, Patrick would be the face of NASCAR, getting by far the most press of anyone. She would bring a female following to the sport, one which it doesn’t entirely have, but really needs, at this point.

Patrick has many things going for her.

She’s not an ugly woman race car driver. No. She has posed for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue, very successfully.

There is no guessing how many advertisers of the sport would want to stamp their logo on her fire suit or her car. There is no way to even guess the amount of money she would be offered by many car companies and advertisers to race in their colors.

She would not only be a GoDaddy girl anymore.

She would be a light for the sport… a woman in NASCAR. Something unthinkable until very recently by many of the sport’s following.

If Patrick is as good as she has shown this year, especially with the fourth place finish, then NASCAR will reap the benefits.

I think I heard something about Lil’ Romeo, but I’m not sure. But let’s talk about Romeo. This kid is good at basketball, folks. He’s legit. Oh and SportsCenter just went to the game live and it’s 6:00 p.m. in Illinois so we need to start the clock now. Start the clock now. Note: They just said Scottie Pippen. Let’s do it. Pippen, man. Pippen! I’m hoping for some great Pippen action – yes, there’s a chance he takes this game over. Geesh, start the clock.

6:01 — BREAKING NEWS: Nets-Nuggets trade. Break it down. Nuggs get Devin Harris and Derrick Favors along with some other irrelevant players. Nuggs give up Carmelo. Wow, we already have to break this down. What about a trade for Beiber? ESPN caught up with Melo earlier today: “I don’t know where (trade talks) came from. No meeting has been set for me to meet them. I don’t want to go somewhere and be a rental.” OK, so maybe this breaking news is crap and maybe it’s just a way to start off the Celebrity All-Star game with a bang.

Let me make sure I didn’t fool you at the beginning of this thing… they didn’t actually make the trade, apparently it’s already on the table though. It’s about time for that big Russian Prokorov to make a move for Melo. Sounds like Melo doesn’t want to go there though. I don’t blame him. I’d rather plan in MSG too. For those of you that don’t understand MSG, it stands for Madison Square Garden. That’s New York Knicks, readers.

So now we have a distraction/attraction for this All-Star weekend. The Melo trade will be all the talk. You know, this soap opera is starting to remind me of Lebron’s. Yet I don’t foresee Melo having his own SportsCenter special like Lebron. Who knows what’s going to happen? But hey, this is a good deal if it’s for real, although Melo apparently hasn’t heard anything about it. Melo rhymes with Jello, though.

6:07 — “FOUR TIMES THE STEAK! FOUR TIMES THE STEAK!” — Great Taco Bell commercial. We need to be talking about the celebs right now. We have to analyze the teams an all that good stuff. Melo can wait because he doesn’t even know about this trade yet. But hey, this even should be sponsored by Taco Bell or something. That’s a great, clever commercial.

6:12 – Justin Bieber is talking right now to a sideline reporter and some little girls are screaming. Figures. So we need to talk coaches: Bill Simmons and Jimmy Kimmel. Both funny guys. Simmons might definitely have some strategic plays on both offense and defense. And this might all be a joke to Kimmel. Here are the starting lineups:

East Team: Michael Rapaport (actor), Common (rapper), Arne Duncan (US Secretary of Education), Tamika Catchings (WNBA player), Mitch Richmond (NBA legend), Chris Mullin (NBA legend), Scottie Pippen (NBA super mega legend/MJ’s best bud), Jason Sudeikis (actor), Nick Cannon (actor). — Coaching staff: Jason Alexander (from Seinfeld), Bill Simmons (ESPN.com/Sports Guy), Bill Walton (real tall).

Now BW (Bill Walton) talks and says no game against Magic Johnson has been bigger.

Holy cow this East team is loaded but let’s see the West…

West Team: Trey Songz (rap star), Lil Romeo (USC baller/singer), Zac Levi (actor), Swim Cash (WNBA player), AC Green (NBA legend), Jalen Rose (NBA legend/Fab Five Michigan), Rick Fox (NBA legend), Rob Kardashian (TV personality), Justin Bieber (famous human being) — Coaching staff: Ty Burrell (actor), Jimmy Kimmel (funny man), Magic Johnson (super legend man, myth, legend).

6:23 — We gotta analyze. The East seems loaded. Rapaport is the reigning MVP of this game. Then you had Pippen, Mullin, Common and Duncan and that is a legit starting five if it is their starting five. Don’t under estimate how good Common is because he has a stroke of fire.

But what I like about the West team is the shorties: Bieber and Romeo. One: Romeo is playing basketball at USC right now, super legit. And Justin Bieber is a player that will take the roof off the house if he does something amazing. He has the home crowd at his feet right now. I like that they have Jalen Rose, not many years removed from his NBA career, and Rob Kardashian is probably pretty good at this thing called basketball.

Can we get a prediction? The legit prediction: East wins with all of that talent. The fun prediction: Bieber leads the West. But come on now! I’m picking the East because of Pippen and Common. There’s no doubt. They’ll blow the roof off this place.

6:28 – Beiber is so small and almost got an assist! Ha! Trey Songz just blocked a shot. OK, AC Green starts the scoring as the West lead. Don’t sleep on AC. He’s a good player. But then again, Pippen just drained one.

Bieber almost hit a three!

One thing I’m noticing. I like these yellow shoes the players are wearing. But I can’t get over the fact that Bieber is so small.

6: 35 — Mitch Richmond is draining jumper right now. But as we go to our first timeout, we need to talk about Justin Bieber who is showing some moves on the floor. If he turns into Steve Nash in this game then that has to favor the West but they look bad right now. Trey Songz is chucking up bricks and isn’t making them, while the East has its stars making all of the plays. Pippen and Richmond are dropping dimes right now.

6:41 — BIEBER HITS A THREE BALL!

6:53 — We pretty much have to talk about MVP most of this log. Right now if the East wins there is no doubt it’s Pippen. On the West’s side it’s probably Jalen Rose at this point. But if we were picking celebrities, I think it would be Justin Bieber and for the East I don’t really know yet. I’ll let you know.

7:00 — Common just balled up Biebs. Let’s go Common for East MVP.

7:01 — 33-21 at half and Common is literally on fire! The two guys I told you to look out for: Pippen and Common, are coming through for me.

7:10 — So what are we looking for in the second half? A few things. A few trends… here we list them: 1) Jalen Rose to start the half and start controlling Pippen on defense… 2) Carmelo to get traded… 3) Magic Johnson to pull some tricks out of his hat… 4) Common to keep dominating unless Rapaport gets real selfish late in this game… 5) Biebs all day, baby.

7:16 — The East is shooting 52 percent from the field and 5-of-12 from the field.

7:25 — Romeo has skills at this game, there’s no doubt about that but it seems like he is being a little too fancy in this game for his own good. He’s just not taking the easy layup he’s making it fancy. Yes, that’s what this game is for but I think if he were in the zone then he would he helping this team get a little bit closer than 12 at this point. He’s taking over by himself but he’s not doing much with it.

7:27 — Biebs is turning the ball over now and really this West team looks so overmatched just like I thought they would be. The East was loaded. The West wasn’t. Trey Songz, Romeo, and those celebs aren’t doing it for them quite like Common is for the East.

7:39 — West is coming back led by who else… Biebs and Romeo.

But then, who else would you think would lead them back? I’ll tell you what, those two need to get on fire NBA Jam style if they want to bring back the West, but crazier things have happened. Crazier things have indeed happened.

7:51 — Nevertheless, it’s a four point game. Wow. Romeo needs to share the ball a little bit more though come on!

7:55 — And it’s over. East wins. Pippen/Common are your co-MVPs for this game.

Most experts will do a year after. I do eight months.

1. Washington Wizards — John Wall, guard

The most impressive part about John Wall in the NBA is his assists per game (9.0). He is in the Eastern Conference, for the bottom-feeding Wizards, but he is competing with guards like Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose to be the best in the Eastern Conference. He has a long way to go. He needs to lead his team to winning ways, too. Grade: A

2. Philadelphia 76ers — Evan Turner, guard

Evan Turner is not a starter on this team, and he has been buried on the bench this season only averaging 24.4 minutes per game. He is behind players like Andre Iguodala, and that puts him far away from starting. Given the point in the draft at which he was picked, he should be a starter. Grade: C

3. New Jersey Nets — Derrick Favors, forward

This pick is not shaping up very well for the Nets. Favors has started 19 games, but he is only averaging a tad over 6 points per game and five rebounds. There were a lot of expectations for him, which is the reason the Nets took Favors over a guy named DeMarcus Cousins, who was picked later. Given the Favors vs. Cousins match-up, this pick is bad. Grade: C-

4. Minnesota Timberwolves — Wesley Johnson, forward

Wesley Johnson has proven to be what the experts thought he would be – a tall, lengthy player who can both shoot the three and shoot it from inside the arc. He’s shooting 37 percent from three and 42 percent from the field, while getting 26 minutes per game. However, unlike two of the players picked before him, he has started 36-of-51 games. Grade: B

5. Sacramento Kings — DeMarcus Cousins, forward

Last year, I predicted that DeMarcus Cousins would be the best overall player available in the draft. He comes close to Wall, but I think Wall had been a little bit better. However, Cousins has shown what he is made of, according to the Kings. He is averaging the second-most points on the team and grabs 8 rebounds per game. Grade: A

6. Golden State Warriors — Ekpe Udoh, forward

For a top ten pick, Udoh has been more than just disappointing. He has played in 27 games but has not started a single one. He’s only averaging 2 points per game. Udoh has been buried on the bench and he is not getting a chance to show what he’s made of. Grade: D-

7. Detroit Pistons — Greg Monroe, forward

Despite not being an everyday starter, Monroe has shown that he was probably worth a higher pick than a player like Derrick Favors, who I evaluated earlier in this post. Monroe has some “stuff.” He’s averaging 7 points per game and six rebounds per game. I’m most impressed with how good of a shooter this guy is, shooting 52.3 from the field – highest on the team. Grade: B+

8. Los Angeles Clipper — Al-Farouq Aminu, forward

He is averaging 6 points and 2 rebounds per game. He has shown that he still needs to develop, but he has started 14 games. He is struggling and the Clipper know it. As the No. 8 pick, he is not doing a lot of amazing things. Grade: C-

9. Utah Jazz — Gordon Hayward, forward

One thing you have to understand about Hayward is that you can’t expect him to start for this team. They were already a really good team even before they drafted Hayward. He averages 3 points per game, but has actually started 10 games for the Jazz. Grade: C

10. Indiana Pacers — Paul George, forward

The Pacers couldn’t have drafted this guy any later than they did, he was that hyped up and he was one of the players in last year’s draft that really jumped up the board. George may night have started any games but he is the Pacers’ No.1 bench player, averaging 7 points per game and 3 rebounds, while shooting 45 percent from the field. Grade: B-

11. New Orleans Hornets — Cole Aldrich, forward

The simple story with this guy is that he was drafted by the Hornets, ended up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and assigned the the NBA Development league. He barely averaged one point in the NBA. Grade: F

12. Memphis Grizzlies — Xavier Henry, guard

Some people thought Henry had a good three-point shot but he has struggled to 11 percent from there in the NBA. He has struggled to only 4 points per game too. He has a long way to go. Grade: D

13. Toronto Raptors — Ed Davis, forward

With all of the terrible previous picks, I wonder what Ed Davis was doing getting picked this late in the game. Maybe he’s not a starter, but he’s averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds per game, which is practically a double-double for bench players. Plus, he’s hitting 57 percent of his shots. He shows a lot of upside to replace Chris Bosh. Grade: B+

14. Houston Rockets — Patrick Patterson, forward

This guys is one of the bottom-feeders of this Rockets team. He’s averaging 4 points per game, and that is one of the worst totals on the team. Grade: D-

15. Milwaukee Bucks — Lary Sanders, forward

I really wondered last season if Sanders was worth this much of high risk pick. Well, he’s not some sort of phenom, but he has proven to be a versatile bench player. What I like best about Sanders is that he is averaging 1.26 blocks per game, showing that he can do more than just score and rebound. Grade: B-

In order to add suspense to this, and let you take a bathroom break, the final 15 first round picks will come later on. For now, what do you think of my grades so far?

So why is there all of this talk on every sports show after the Super Bowl about the kind of legacy Roethlisberger has? He’s 28, and has many years left – my guess is six more.

Some over-analyzers, like the media people who thought the Packers’ inexperience would hinder them in the big game, think that this Super Bowl loss might have an effect on the legacy of Roethlisberger and his career.

Let’s just say I don’t exactly see eye-to-eye with those kinds of people.

I should get out of the way the fact that I am a Green Bay Packers fan and was jubilant to see Roethlisberger, and his Steelers, lose Sunday, but I’m not worried about his career legacy.

He’s not retiring.

If anyone should be retiring, I’d expect it to be Hines Ward, but not even he is retiring.

The media, which I understand can’t stop itself from asking these types of questions about legacies, should seriously consider holding off on legacy talk until at least Roethlisberger’s 30th birthday.

I’m a media member myself, and I know it makes a good story. But Roethlisberger is not worried about his legacy one bit. This guy has two rings already. That’s more than Peyton Manning can say. That’s more than any Chicago Bears’ quarterback in the last 20 years, at least, can say.

That’s more than Packers’ Super Bowl MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers can say. So back off, media.

I would advise Steelers fans to not be worried one bit about your quarterback’s legacy, or for that matter the state of your team. Yes, the team is going to have a terrible taste in its mouth for a long time. But I can bet the Steelers will be back in that sort of situation. I can’t guarantee another Super Bowl appearance, nobody can, but you’re in good shape. Mike Tomlin is a great coach. I wouldn’t admit it before the Super Bowl was played, but I like him. I think he’s a great coach.

Of course, Mike McCarthy is the greatest coach. He’s No. 1. But that is beside my point.

Tomlin is going to get this team ready to win another Super Bowl.

One knowledgeable media member I watched on ESPN brought up the name John Elway. This is the reason why you shouldn’t start grading Roethlisberger’s legacy on a scale. Elway started his career losing three Super Bowls… then he came back at the very end of his career and won two.

Roethlisberger is in an extremely rare place having already won two Super Bowls by the time he was 28, and he was in good position Sunday to win a third. So don’t be worried, please.

I’ll tell you who isn’t worried. Tomlin’s not worried. Hines Ward isn’t worried. Roethlisberger isn’t worried. Nobody is worried on the Steelers end.

So stop talking about if he’s going to be in the Hall or not. He probably will be. Stop worrying about if he’ll ever get back to the Super Bowl. He probably will. He’s still going to be a very good quarterback after losing this Super Bowl.

Who knows, maybe this loss makes him better.