Dallas Cowboys 2013 Draft Analysis - Part 2

photo: nfl.com

It’s day three and the last day of the draft.  The Cowboys are positioning themselves to find the best value in the late rounds.  Their recent drafts of late rounds have not been too successful.

Here is my positive opinion on their final three picks of rounds 4, 5, and 6:

Dallas Cowboys 2013 Draft Analysis - Part 1

photo: nydailynews.com

The Dallas Cowboys have not wowed Cowboy nation with their first 2 draft picks, but the organization must feel confident.  So far the Cowboys are approaching the 2013 NFL draft as methodical as possible.  The picks are interesting, but only time will tell.  Here is my positive opinion on their first four picks of rounds 1, 2, and 3:

Facilities Management for Sports Organizations

photo: thecontentauthority.com

Wireless connectivity is an issue for Sports Organizations due to the yearly increasing Wi-Fi access need for fans and their mobile devices along with the media.  As the need for bandwidth increases, so does the cost for each sports team to maintain the connectivity devices.  Additionally, sports teams like MLB’s San Francisco Giants pay an undisclosed seven-figure sum each year for 375 access points, according to Sports Business Daily.com.  Sports organizations will have to make a decision to either pay seven figure annual fees or rent monthly at five to six figure prices.

It is important for Sports Organizations to offer this capability, if

The Biggest Sports Story of 2011: The Jerry Sandusky Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Many have and will continue to debate what the biggest sports stories are year after year.  In my opinion, clearly the biggest sports story for 2011 was the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal at Penn State University.

 

Photo: CLT Buzz.com

The nation first learned of the Sandusky allegations in the first week of November 2011, according to Sports Business Daily.com.  The story sent shockwaves of unbelievable disgust throughout Happy Valley and the rest of the world.  Happy Valley was no longer happy and PSU had not revealed the whole story.

Below is a snapshot timeline, according to the New York Daily News:

Negotiations in the NBA

photo: NBA.com

Due to the nature of the conversation revealed in the interview, I could not reveal my NBA source because they are actively involved in a high level role with the NBA.  My NBA source has been negotiating deals for several years plus.  Their wealth of experience ranges from players, to management and working with several different NBA teams.

Without further delay, here is a summary of my interview with My NBA Source:

DNS - Question 1:

Has your personal relationship with a player gotten in the way of business on the court?

The Profitability of Poppin’ Bottles

photo: BBC.co.uk

The phrase “poppin’ (popping) bottles” is used whenever a man, woman, or group chooses to celebrate an occasion by opening bottles of champagne.  The sports world loves to display this term after a big game.  Most frequently people may see bottles popped after an NFL Super Bowl victory, an NBA championship victory, or an MLB World Series win.

Other sporting athletes, entertainers, and regular common class citizens pop bottles just the same.  There are some athletes who probably should only pop glasses of champagne instead of bottles.  According to Sports Illustrated, ex-NFL QB, Vince Young reportedly borrowed $300 thousand to throw a party for one night.  One-night ladies and gentleman…one night!  Now, it was also reported that Vince made $26 million in guaranteed money back in 2006 when he signed his contract playing with the Tennessee Titans.$26 million in guaranteed funds from 2006 to 2012 averages to $4 million per year.  How can one athlete go from having $4 million a year to borrowing $300k for a party?

Can Fans & the Media Make or Break Joe Flacco’s Salary?

Photo: Celebrity Net Worth.com

Before the 2012 NFL playoffs began, I was a non-believer in Joe Flacco, quarterback (QB) of the 2012-2013 World Champion, Baltimore Ravens.  Flacco had and still has every physical prototype attribute NFL teams are looking for in today’s work environment.  He has the height, weight, and arm strength to back up his resume.  Flacco measures at 6 foot 6 inches, 245 pounds and arguably has the strongest arm in the league.  Even before he won the Super Bowl, there was no one who would argue the strength of Flacco’s arm.  The one thing that Flacco did not have before winning Super Bowl 47 was the “it” factor.  My definition of the "it" factor is an intangible desire inside of a person that makes a player want to win more than anything in the world. 

For some reason, I just believed that Flacco was the type of guy who was winning games because of the vaunted Ravens defense for the last few years.  I still believe the Ravens D had a lot to do with the wins in previous years, but Flacco proved everyone wrong this past season.

This past season also happened to be the year Flacco was playing in the final year of his contract.  Wow, Flacco proved his value.  Since everyone knows Flacco won the Super Bowl, why are fans and the media questioning whether he should be paid like the other top QBs in the game? 

Super Bowl XLVII (47) Prediction

Sunday , February 3, 2013 

Photo courtesy of Aeryssports.com

CBS 6:30 pm EST

Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers (Mercedes-Benz Super Dome)

New Orleans, Louisiana.  Known to some as the NOLA or Weezy, New Orleans will be host to this year's Super Bowl 47.

You can call it the Harbaugh Bowl, the Harbowl, the brothers bowl, or whatever.  One thing is for sure….

The NFL Player’s Association and DNS

The professional association I chose that relates to my specific entertainment industry of the NFL is the NFL Player’s Association (NFLPA).  The NFLPA is the players union of the NFL and they represent players by protecting their rights.  One of the major programs from the NFLPA that influences the industry is the One Team One Community program.  This program gives NFL players an opportunity to deliver their time and money to charitable organizations.  Additional programs include the NFL Players Gala, Native Vision, and Training Camp for Life.

I Plan to Do What I Love!

Gary Vaynerchuk

The blog post I chose from the TED.com Best of the Web series was titled Do what you love (no excuses!) by Gary Vaynerchuk.  The speaker shared his knowledge to the audience by talking about his history.  Vaynerchuk spoke passionately about doing what you love to do.  His energy level was high and his stage approach as a speaker was unorthodox.  The average male/female speaker may wear business attire and talk proper.  Vaynerchuk wore jeans and a t-shirt and truly spoke from the heart.   

The main goal Vaynerchuk was trying to get across in his TED talk with the audience was to build your brand.  He stated many people cry and complain about not having enough time to do what they want to do, but they have time to do everything else.  His method was to work your regular job from nine to five, go home and spend a few hours with the kids, then work on your passion from seven to two in the morning.  He emphasized to stop watching to television at night and 

Spare the Rod Spoil the NFL Child

An old biblical verse reads “…spare the rod, spoil the child”.  This phrase basically means if you chose not to discipline your child, you are making a choice to spoil your child.  Discipline can come in different formats of stern talking, spanking your child and etc.

In the case of an NFL team (as the parent) and its players (as the child or children), players should seriously think before they make any decisions on or off the field.  To be a member of the NFL is an elite athletic status for football players.  There are many Americans and people worldwide who would have loved the opportunity to play in the NFL and receive the all of the accolades that go with it.  Then there are those who take their NFL position of status for granite and make people wonder, who hired this guy?

The Harbaugh Brothers: Is Coaching That Important?

Every once in a while the question gets raised, is coaching more important than having a talented roster?

In my opinion, YES it is.  Having a good coach is far more important than having a talented roster.  If you can get the right coach, and then build a talented roster, you have the ingredients for long term success.  

Ravens - John Harbaugh & 49ers - Jim Harbaugh (left to right)

First DNS will take a look at the history of the Harbaugh brothers, then provide you with examples of two other successful teams with great a coach:

Super Bowl XLVII (47) Conference Championship Predictions

Super Bowl XLVII (47) - Divisional Predictions

Gambling With RG3's Future?

Washington QB - Robert Griffin III

With everything on the line at FedEx Field on January 6, 2013, the Washington Redskins made a decision to keep playing RG3 on a buckling knee after a 14-0 first quarter lead.  Does this make sense?

Early reports are stating that RG3 may have a partially torn ACL and LCL, according to NFL.com.  See the ACL and LCL definitions below, according to Web MD.com:

• “…the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the two major ligaments in the knee. It connects the thigh bone to the shin bone in the knee. ACL injuries are a common cause of disability in the knee. In the U.S., 95,000 people get them every year…” 

• “The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) connects the thigh bone to the fibula, the smaller bone of the lower leg on the lateral or outer side of the knee.

Definition of an Elite NFL QB?

Ivan’s Football Dictionary

Denver QB - Peyton Manning

Elite NFL QB:  A player who prepares himself physically and mentally through training and film study consistently playing the QB position at a high level year after year.  With a minimum three years of FULL time QB play, not only excelling statistically, but as a leader also. 

*Winning a Super Bowl ring is not necessary to be an elite QB, but it does help.

On October 30, 2012, I posted an article titled, ”Father Figure Coaches Needed on the Sidelines”.

I believe father figure coaches are needed if there is no elite QB on the team.  Out of 32 NFL teams I stated 6 starting QBs currently have rings.  I also believe these are the 6 elite NFL QBs in the league (in order by the most rings):  

Super Bowl XLVII (47) - Wildcard Predictions

Breaking Down Tony Romo’s NFL Career

"give Romo a coach who can manage, a real defense and a real offensive line and he will deliver at least 1 Super Bowl"

QB - Tony Romo

Tony Romo may be one of the greatest NFL QB’s the league has ever seen

Preview of the Cowboys 2013 Schedule

Since the Dallas Cowboys finished 3^rd in the division, here is a brief look at the 16 teams the Cowboys will play in 2013:

AFC West

Home	Away
Denver Broncos	San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs	Oakland Raiders

NFC North

Home	Away
Green Bay Packers	Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings	Detroit Lions

GM Decisions for 2013 Cowboys

Cowboys Owner - Jerry Jones

The Dallas Cowboy’s soap opera season ends similar to previous years.  If you have seen one soap opera you have seen them all.  In 2008, you could say it was like the Young & the Restless losing in Philly 44-6.  You could look at 2011 and compare it to As The World Turns at the NY Giants losing 31-14.  Now Cowboys fans just finished watching an episode of General Hospital in Washington losing 28-18.

I thought to myself, "maybe if the NFL schedules the Cowboys at home for the last game of the season in 2013, the Boys might be able to pull out a victory?"  Hey, the last time Dallas went to the playoffs was 2009 when they ended the season at home against Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.  Dallas won the season finale and then beat the Eagles the following week in the Wildcard game.

No matter what, the attitude in Dallas must change.  The culture must change.  Everything must change.  For that to happen