The Sports Roundtable

Two Quick Notes Before Sleep

Great move by the Jets today in making Mike Tannenbaum the GM.  Terry Bradway's NFL drafts have not been very productive to say the least.  Also, the trade of Santana Moss looks quite bad now.  Tannenbaum and Mangini are both disciples of Belichek and Parcells.   They have a common philosophy and should work well together.  If there is anyway to keep Ty Law, Mike Tannenbaum will find a way.

How about this betting scandal with Rick Tocchet.  Apparently, one of his betting "clients" is none other than Mrs. Wayne Gretsky, "actress" Janet Jones (when was the last time she "acted"?).  Do you think Wayne knew about this..hmm, assistant coach for your team and your wife involved in sports betting..uh, doesn't look good.   However, the findings were they did not bet on hockey.  Look for a suspension but nothing too much more than that.  The last thing the NHL wants to do is alienate its greatest player of all time.

Pitchers and catchers report in about a week.  Thank god!!!

Darrell Russell, dead at 29

Former two time Pro Bowl Player and NFL 1st round draft pick, Darrell Russell died this morning in a car crash in California.   Russell was a passenger in a car driven by former USC teammate Mike Bastianelli.  The car lost control, hitting several objects before finally crashing into a stalled bus.  Bastianelli was also killed in the crash.

Darrell Russell was the number 2 overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in 1997 out of USC.  Russell would make the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 1999.  Unfortunately, Russell would then be suspended three times, the third and final indefinite suspension coming in 2004 during training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.   Russell had 28 1/2 sacks over five seasons with the Raiders and Washington Redskins

Former Raiders Offensive Tackle Lincoln Kennedy and a former teammate stated  "Darrell was a good guy, he really was. He was a big kid like me that had a big heart.  He couldn't say no to anybody. That's what had a big deal with his demise..."  (story courtesy of AP)

Commentary - Darrell Russell was an all world talent and thought by many in 1997 as possibly the best player in that draft.  He lived up to that hype making the Pro Bowl the two following years.  But Russell kept with bad company from his San Diego roots.  He had other brushes with the law, including dropped charges stemming from an alleged videotaping of a rape by two of his friends in 2002.

Lincoln Kennedy summed it up best in the story by the Assoicated Press "He couldn't say no to anybody. That's what had a big deal with his demise, especially in the NFL, because he couldn't let his friends go, from San Diego. He couldn't let his past go. He always wanted to try to take care and do for other people. It ended up bringing him down."

He didn't know how to say no to a bad crowd.  Such a familiar story and sadly such a familiar end for another talented former NFL player.