Day 33: Sam Bradford, MLB Umpires, Jeff Fisher and more

HEADLINES

1) After Sam Bradford reinjured his shoulder early in the loss to Texas, would you advise Bradford to head to the NFL following the season or return for his senior season?

Ben: I would say get outta Dodge (or Norman). Unless he really feels like college is the place for him, I'd say get out and head for open waters. Even if his draft stock has fallen, he's safer to head to the NFL -- possibly to a better team where he wouldn't be rushed into action. I think college is great, and I typically would recommend going back to just about everyone -- but not Bradford. He's seen firsthand what some situations can do to your professional career, and I'd say, move up the ladder.

Boz: I would advise Bradford to return for his senior season, but it is still a difficult decision. Bradford would have been the top pick in the last draft but decided to return to school and now he has had two shoulder injuries. But that is the reason why I am suggesting heading back to school. NFL teams are going to be weary to take a quarterback who has had two shoulder injuries in one season and coming back for another year gives Bradford the chance to prove that he is healthy and can still play the quarterback position at a high level. I think that if he goes to the draft this season, he slides to the middle to late first round in a quarterback heavy draft and costs himself possible $10-15 million. He can regain that money and draft status by playing his senior season and playing well.

2) After blowing three more calls in last night's Yankees/Angels game, MLB umpires have been under a lot of scrutiny this postseason, bringing up the topic of instant replay in professional baseball. What is your take on the situation?

Ben: I don't think you could ever clearly implement only computer/instant reply being involved in baseball on everything, but I do think it should be used to a greater extent it currently is. The Angels were HOSED in this game, and should have had the option to review the call. Umpires/Referees aren't perfect, and it's time for the leagues to stop acting like they are.

Boz: There have been some of the worst calls I've ever seen during this postseason and all three from last night, along with the "foul" ball off the bat of Joe Mauer, were atrocious. In the pick off play at second, the umpire was looking right at the tag, but yet missed the call. In the leaving early call, the umpire never looked at Swisher leaving the bag, but yet made the call that he left early anyways. And the play where the Angels catcher tagged out both Cano and Posada and only one was called out, is the worst call that I've ever seen in all of my years of watching baseball. Therefore, the scrutiny that the umpires are taking this postseason is well deserved.

I'm in favor of instant replay in baseball and I think that there is a way that it can be implemented without slowing down the game tremendously. An extra umpire up in the booths that could look at those plays last night and determine in 20 seconds that the calls were wrong and radio down to the umpires on the field to change the call in an additional 10 seconds. The game wouldn't be delayed that much at all.

3) At a charity event in Nashville, Jeff Fisher was introducing Tony Dungy and took off his shirt to reveil a Peyton Manning jersey and stated, "I just wanted to be a winner." With the current state of the Titans, was this a smart move?

Ben: OK, everyone calm down. It was a joke, and if you can't laugh at yourself, especially at a relaxed, fun event, what's the point. The team has been bad, have Titans fans not noticed? They haven't won a game, have Titans fans not noticed?

My team, the Detroit Lions, went winless for the entire season last year and what helps you get through stuff like that is being able to laugh at it. Any fan who got upset should realize, you don't play for the Titans, and you should relax.

Boz: I'm sure that it doesn't please a lot of Titans fans to see Jeff Fisher wearing a Colts jersey and making those statements. However, Fisher wasn't in the wrong here. He was at a charity event and was just having a little fun while introducing a good friend in Tony Dungy. I'm sure that he isn't worried about his job security because if the Titans were to fire him, there would be ten other teams waiting in line to give Jeff Fisher a job offer. I'm alright with what Fisher did, it shows the Titans players that despite an 0-6 start and getting beat 59-0 in their last game, that their head coach is not panicking.

4) Controversial Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban has stated that he is in support of medical steroids as long as they are administered under a doctor's supervision and as long as they are used to aid athletes in recovering from injuries and there are no long-term affects. Cuban added that he knows that science is not at that point yet, but if it gets to the point, he supports it. Do you agree with Cuban?

Ben: Yes. Cuban is a smart guy and this makes sense. My fiance' dad has had health issues that have been improved from the use of steriods and I am thankful for the progress it is allowed him to make. Obviously, not all steroid use is good, but I believe it can be used in a positive environment.

Boz: Surpisingly, yes. While steroids are a extremely touch subject, Cuban said all the right things in this case. He wanted them to be used ONLY to help athletes recover from an injury, ONLY if they were administered under a doctor's supervision, and ONLY if there were no long-term effects. Professional sports are professional athletes' careers and anything that can help them prolong their career and even help keep their career, I'm in favor for as long as it does not effect their health. Steroids are used for many other medical reasons and when the advancement comes, I would be alright for it to be used to help athletes recover from injuries.

OVER/UNDER

1) Stene Smith has complained about his role in the Panthers offense and has yet to catch a touchdown this season. Over or under six touchdowns for Steve Smith this season?

Ben: UNDER. Delhomme is bad, and Smith can't get the ball if his QB could find the laces of the football with two hands and a map.

Boz: I'm going to say under...barely. Jake Delhomme has been a good quarterback in the NFL for many years. However, Jake Delhomme is no longer a good quarterback in the NFL. The Panthers are committed to being a run-first offense and without another good wide receiver, defenses are doubling Smith on almost every single play. All of those equations equal up to not a lot of touchdowns. I'll predict five touchdowns max for Smith.

2) Greg Oden sat out of the Trail Blazers' preseason loss against Utah with a bruised thigh. Over or under 65 games played for Oden this season?

Ben: UNDER. He's never been entirely healthy since his senior year of high school. The guy is too big to stay healthy.
Boz: Under. He missed what would have been his entire rookie season and only played in 61 games during his real rookie season. Those bigger guys (i.e.- Oden, Bogut, Yao) all suffer from injuries during each season. It seems like those bigger bodies just can't hold up for an entire season. Until I see Oden play at least 70-75 games during a season, I'll always take the under.

3) After being the Titans 59-0 on Sunday, the Patriots play the Bucaneers in London. Over or under 40 point win for the Patriots in London?

Ben: UNDER. Those games overseas are always sloppy, and I doubt the Patroits are able to get that offense powered up in time to rout the Bucs too. I think we'll likely see 27-3 or 35-7.

Boz: Under. Games like the Patriots/Titans game on Sunday don't happen that often in the NFL. Despite there being quite a bit of bad teams in the NFL this season, they are still usually more competitive than 59-0.

HAPPY HOUR

Ben: Happy 102nd Birthday Jimmy Foxx. The proflic hitter from way back when was a scary opponent for pitchers. I don't see how you can't like Foxx, he hit 500 homers, his nickname was The Beast, and he had two X's in his name, something I thought only pornstars did. Props to Jimmy.

Boz: Happy 50th Birthday to George Bell. After nine years with the Toranto Blue Jays, Bell spent a year with the Chicago Cubs before being traded to the White Sox for Sammy Sosa, which is what he is most known for today. However, Bell hit 265 home runs and 1,002 RBIs in his career and was named the 1987 AL MVP.