1
University of Washington fans forever will be rooting for quarterback Jake Locker, who passed on being a high pick in the NFL draft after his junior year to stay one more season with the Huskies. He helped the down-trodden Dawgs have a winning season, go to a bowl, and beat Nebraska.
So hoorah for the Tennessee Titans’ victory Sunday over Detroit. Locker completed 29 of 42 attempts for 378 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Here’s what George Walker of The Tennessean said about Locker: “Jake Locker rose to the occasion each time he was faced with adversity. The second-year pro finished with 378 yards, two touchdowns and a 113.0 passer rating, showing poise and mental toughness.”
“I thought Jake was great all day against a very good defensive front,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “He made play after play. Guys caught balls for him. He’s competitive.”
2
Reports about who is and isn’t being fired in the Miami Marlins’ organization have been flying around, but the latest one has owner Jeffrey Loria being mad at manager Ozzie Guillen about remarks he has made.
“If Jeffrey doesn’t think I’m doing the job I should do … it’s not the first time he’s fired a manager,” Guillen said. “Look yourself in the mirror and ask why so many (bleeping) managers come through here.”
For the record, the count is six skippers since 2002, and a seventh might be needed if these reports are accurate. Starting with Guillen’s Fidel Castro comments, followed by the team’s poor first half, followed by the trades of Anibal Sanchez and Hanley Ramirez, followed by an ugly second half, this has been a terrible season for the “new-look” Marlins.
And it’s looking like Guillen could take the fall.
3
USC’s Matt Barkley might have been the preseason mega-favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, but after four weeks his stock is dropping. Steve Greenberg of Sporting News says there are eight QBs right now with a better shot than Barkley.
They include: Geno Smith, West Virginia; EJ Manuel, Florida State; Collin Klein, Kansas State; Aaron Murray, Georgia; Marcus Mariota, Oregon; Braxton Miller, Ohio State; A.J. McCarron, Alabama; and Taylor Martinez, Nebraska.
About Mariota, Greenberg writes: “He’d be a very strong Heisman candidate if his coach, Chip Kelly, weren’t using No. 2 quarterback Bryan Bennett in a red-zone running package.”
