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This week Ben Maller takes a look at Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons. Ben explains that despite much hype from the national media Vick is not yet one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. Get this story and all the insider NFL and College Football notes.

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Monday, November 18, 2002

Monday Morning Quarterback

By Ben Maller

Donovan McNabb is either the toughest quarterback of the modern era or the dumbest. The Eagles could have beaten the Cardinals without McNabb on the field. Lets hope he did not injure his ankle any further by continuing to play and throw four touchdown passes.

Pittsburgh has no chance to win the AFC with Kordell Stewart at quarterback. Tommy Maddux could have won the MVP in the AFC lets hope he's okay because he's a great story.

I believe the Denver Broncos are a better team with Steve Beuerlein at quarterback than the injured Brian Griese.

Thanks to my Broncos for blowing out the Seahawks and winning yet another Ben Maller "Lock" of the NFL weekend.

Rich Gannon and the Raiders can be happy they beat the Patriots but it does little to make up for losing on a horrible call in New England last winter.

Dave Campo should put his house on the market in Dallas. I can't imagine Jerry Jones keeping Campo around with the way the team has fallen apart the last four weeks.

As good as Brett Favre is the guy continues to play like garbage in dome stadiums. The Vikings have one of the worst defenses in the league and they were able to contain the Pack.

Green Bay's rush defense was again a problem. Michael Bennett had 130 yards rushing on just 20 carries.

The Dolphins held the Ravens to a season-low 157 yards in their win.

College Football

I can rip Ohio State for almost losing on the road this season to Purdue, Illinois and Cincinnati teams that have combined to go 14-and-18. The bottom line on the Buckeyes is 12-0 is 12-0 and while Oklahoma and Georgia have blown it with losses Ohio State has taken care of business.

Texas Tech QB Kliff Kingsbury is becoming a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Kingsbury passed for 473 yards and six TDs in an upset against No. 4 Texas and if the Red Raiders can upset Oklahoma they could end up with a BCS birth.

QB Brad Banks a former JUCO guy has made all the plays for Iowa this season and should be invited to the Heisman Trophy awards show in New York. Banks had 2 touchdown passes and ran for 2 scores against Minnesota over the weekend.

I would hope that Penn State's Larry Johnson is more than a fourth or fifth round draft pick. Johnson had 327 yards against Indiana along with a career-high four touchdowns. Mel Kiper that NFL draft geek thinks Johnson is not big time NFL material.

Pete Carroll is doing a hell of a coaching job at USC. I have seen all the SC home games and I can say the Trojans look like they are on the verge of playing for a national title. If Carroll can find a QB to replace Carson Palmer next season SC can win the whole damn thing. I guarantee that USC will crush Bob Toledo and UCLA this week.

Hats off to the Nebraska Cornhuskers who got stomped at Kansas State. The Huskers assured of their first non-winning conference record since 1968. Nebraska's five regular-season losses already are the most since the 1961 team went 3-6-1, and Saturday's loss dropped their road record against ranked teams to 1-7 under coach Frank Solich. Can you say hot seat?

The most shocking score of the college football weekend was Arizona beating Cal 52-41. QB Jason Johnson passed for a school-record 492 yards and threw four touchdowns. This after the Wildcat players tried to get coach John Mackovic fired earlier in the week.

NBA

I was at the Lakers game Sunday night to see Yao Ming in person. He looked pretty good taking advantage of some horrible defense by Samaki Walker. Shaq will eat Ming for dinner when he comes back.

The Lakers will be 3-and-9 by the time Shaquille O'Neal returns to save the season on Friday. The champs aren't going to win in San Antonio because if they can't stop Yao how are they gonna stop Tim Duncan? In Dallas the Mavericks will have to much fire power.

Watching the game last night it struck me how little talent the Lakers really have outside Shaq and Kobe. If I was running the purple and gold I would bring in Olden Polynice and Jim Jackson to provide more depth.

Every city the Clippers travel to teams are courting the Clipper free agents to be. In the past week its been said that Lamar Odom wants to play for Pat Riley in Miami. Michael Olowakandi would be interested in the Heat also. San Antonio will make a run at the Kandi Man if possible. Even the Denver Nuggets think they have a chance to get Andre Miller and Elton Brand.

Good news for Clipper fans, Eric Piatkowski wants to sign a lifetime contract.

If the Clippers blow up this team then they should just move back to the sports arena and retire Benoit Benjamin's #00.

Baseball

Super agent Scott Boras was sitting front row at the Lakers game along with baseball's best player Alex Rodriguez. I had a chance to say hello to Boras who has every major baseball star under his agency.

The Dodgers should try and get Luis Castillo from the Marlins or Jose Vidro from the Montreal Expos. I have seen enough of Mark Grudzielanek and Adrian Beltre.

Jeff Kent should sign with the Chicago Cubs.

Mike Hampton will never be the same pitcher he was before he signed that crazy contract with the Rockies. permalink