Better than any viral Pete Carroll video

No April Fools but this effort by ESPN's Jeremy Green must be a joke.

Paired with Draft expert Todd McShay, the straight-faced B.J. Novak character in ESPN's ensemble cast, Green comes off as a cross between That's Amore! star Dimenico and a sports-crazed big-rig driver hopped-up on a fistful of Yellow Hornets.


For a fun Saturday night:

1. drink every time Green gives the "OK" sign to McShay or the camera.
2. waterfall whenever you feel like you're watching a latenight magic show at the Tropicana

As an added bonus, the clip is a Vernon Gholston greatest hits compilation.

Chris Long's dad is better than your dad

Well, the old NFL combine (not unlike the "old fashioned 3 point play" that Steve Lavin mentioned on more than one occasion during last night's hoops game) has come to an end.

Todd McShay of ESPN says some stuff, jumps on the Vern bandwagon and then talks about some other stuff.



The big news, as far as you and I are concerned, wasn't Gholston's brute strength or even his speed, but that the reigning king of sacks at OSU might actually be a better NFL prospect than UVA's Chris Long. Long, for those who don't know, was an All-American DE on an otherwise lame Cavaliers team who has the NFL build and pedigree (read, Howie Long). In his defense, based strictly on appearance and the one Cavs game I saw last year, Long looks like he power curls Harley Davidsons and bathes in the tears of O-linemen.

Events in which Gholston bested Long:

• 40 -Yard Dash
• Bench Press
• Vertical Jump
• Broad Jump

The 3-Cone drill and shuttle runs play more into Long's strength in lateral movement, agility, footwork, etc. and arguably make him the better catch. CFN believes that Long will still be the top defensive end taken, but also says that Gholston's overall workout was one of the highlights of the combine.

Kirk Barton and Larry Grant were the other Buckeyes in Indianapolis for the combine. Grant, who is part of a LB class thought to be weaker than usual, had a decent showing. He excelled in the agility drills, particularly the 3-cone, making his case for a first day selection.

Gholston creating a buzz at combine

Hey, Vern!

The recently departed Vernon Gholston (not to be confused with Ernest's omnipresent off-camera comrade) seems to be making an impression at the NFL combine.

ESPN is impressed with his meteoric rise to success and humble demeanor. Other than the intangibles, Vern is also the new prototype for NFL defensive ends.

Gholston had to be versatile enough to rush the passer and drop into coverage at the "Leo" spot, so he'll have any easier adjustment as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. If he winds up playing as a 4-3 defensive end, he admits there will be a harder transition with lining up in a three-point stance.
But Gholston did play offensive line in high school, so he has some experience with putting his hand on the ground. He's also smart enough to pick up any position, especially when considering how he played against [Jake] Long.

Then there's his improbable build and super human strength that liken Gholston to one of those greased-up extras in 300. The bulky defender put up 225 lbs 37 times in the bench press, tying the high for this year's combine. Watch him achieve what you never will.

The other prospect with 37 reps? None other than Michigan's Jake Long. Methinks an appropriate tie-breaker may be that sack Long gave up this year when the two went head-to-head.

Kirk Barton was three behind, with an impressive 34 reps.

Yes, you can watch football this weekend too

Anyone who has ever watched the awkward coda to the college football season, known as the Senior Bowl, knows it's nothing more than a glorified mini-combine and schedule-filler for the pre-Super Bowl downtime.

Much like the Army All-American Bowl, the Senior Bowl boasts large rosters and promises to constantly rotate players onto the field. It is a jersey scrimmage in Mobile, Alabama that is less privilege than necessity for many below-the-radar seniors who are looking to work their way up the draft board.

This year's Senior Bowl, however, is being crashed by quite a few big name players. Of note:

NORTH

• Kirk Barton, OL (OSU)
• Sam Baker, OL (USC)
• John David Booty, QB (USC)
• Dan Connor, LB (PSU)
• Sedrick Ellis, LB (USC)
• Chauncey Washington, RB (USC)
• Chad Henne, QB (Mich.)

SOUTH

• Erik Ainge, QB (Tenn.)
• Colt Brennan, QB (Hawaii)
• Early Doucet, WR (LSU)
• Ali Highsmith, LB (LSU)
• Limas Sweed, WR (Texas)
• Andre Woodson, QB (UK)
  

And more. Now, although future day one green-roomers like Matt Ryan have politely declined their invitation, showing up to the Senior Bowl is nothing to be ashamed of. Only 32 of the hundreds with Sunday dreams earn the title of "first-rounder."

It is, at the very least, interesting to see on the roster:

• two former Heisman front-runners (Woodson, Booty)
• a handful of guys who helped beat OSU in the title game
• an even larger handful of guys leaving USC. Will 'o8 finally be a rebuilding year?
• the holder of more than 30 NCAA D-1 records (Brennan)
• Tom Zbikowski of Notre Dame. I mean, wasn't he, like, 30 and boxing alligators when we played the Irish in the Fiesta Bowl?
• Limas Sweed. Good riddance.

The Senior Bowl will be played on Saturday and broadcast on NFL Network @4:00PM.