2010 Mid-Season NFL All-Pro Team

Ever team in the NFL has played at least 8 games, so I figured I’d throw my two cents out there and put together a mid-season NFL All-Pro Team.

Below are my top choices at each position based on play from the season’s first-half. I do not give credit for previous performance – no obligatory Derek Jeter Gold Glove selection on this team. One note, a small number of teams have played 9 games, but I’ve only used statistics from the first 8 games to keep it Even-Stevens.

I’ve basically followed the Associated Press All-Pro Team that consists of (1) quarterback, tight end, center, kicker, punter and return specialist, and (2) running backs, wide receivers, offensive tackles, offensive guards, defensive ends, defensive tackles, outside linebackers, inside linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. The only difference is I did not include a fullback. Cause having two running backs AND a fullback on the team makes no sense whatsoever.

Here’s one man’s mid-season 2010 NFL dream team -

QUARTERBACK:
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 198/306 (64.7%), 2649 YDS, 8.7 Y/A, 15 TD, 7 INT, 98.9 RATING
It was REALLY tough not to have Peyton Manning on this squad, but the All-Pro Team is different than the Most Valuable Player Award. Rivers is having the most-outstanding season of any quarterback in the NFL. He leads the league with 2,649 passing yards and 8.7 yards/pass attempt (the most underrated stat for a QB).

RUNNING BACK:
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 180 ATT, 857 YDS, 4.8 AVG, 7 TD; 26 REC, 257 YDS, 9.9 AVG, 1 TD
Without a doubt, Peterson is the most talented running back in the NFL. And after fumbling the ball 16 times over the past two years, he has yet to fumble in 206 touches this season. Few backs run harder, cut sharper or run faster than Peterson. Just your typical 6-2, 218-pound runner with 4.39-second speed….

Arian Foster, Houston Texans
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 157 ATT, 864 YDS, 5.5 AVG, 9 TD; 32 REC, 315 YDS, 9.8 AVG, 1 TD
The undrafted Foster is making Houston’s already explosive offensive that much better. Foster started the season with a 231-yard, 3-touchdown day against the Colts and has yet to slow down. This 232-pound back is a load to bring down.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 58 REC, 796 YDS, 13.7 AVG, 5 TD
White is quarterback Matt Ryan’s security blanket in Atlanta and one of the key reasons they are 6-2 this season. He’s had some truly huge games this year, including an 11-catch, 201-yard, 2-touchdown performance against Cincinnati.

Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 42 REC, 878 YDS, 20.9 AVG, 4 TD
I remember how dominant Lloyd was in college at Illinois when I was working for Purdue’s football team and I never figured out why he didn’t develop into an NFL Pro Bowl player. He’s gotten past whatever issues he had before this season and currently leads the NFL in receiving yards while averaging a robust 20.9 yards on 42 receptions.

TIGHT END:
Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 40 REC, 663 YDS, 16.6 AVG, 9 TD
Even with great NFL tight ends like Dallas Clark, Vernon Davis, Zach Miller and Jason Witten, is there a bigger gap between the best player and second best player at any other position in the NFL? That’s how good Gates is and how incredible his season has been. Gates is putting up prolific numbers despite being blanketed by two players on almost every down. He leads the NFL with 9 touchdown receptions.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE:
Jake Long, Miami Dolphins
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP/8GS
Probably the best left tackle in the league, Long is living up to his status as the top pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He’s a devastating mauler in the running game and is much improved in pass protection.

Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP/8GS
If Long is the best left tackle in the NFL, he beats Thomas by the slimmest of margins. Thomas is an exceptional run-blocker and key cornerstone for Cleveland’s revival.

OFFENSIVE GUARD:
Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP/8GS
Evans is the best guard in the NFL and has been since New Orleans drafted him in 2006. He finally received much-earned All-Pro honors last year and will repeat this season if the writers watch any football at all.

Chris Snee, New York Giants
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP/8GS
For a guard, Snee can really move. That agility helps him get into the second level and pave the way for New York’s vaunted rushing attack. The Giants are averaging 152 rushing yards/game, 3rd best in the NFL.

CENTER:
Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP/8GS
I’m not a fan of drafting centers in the first round, but it looks like Cleveland made a solid selection when they drafted Mack 21st overall in 2009. He’s paved the way for running back Peyton Hillis’ breakout season.

DEFENSIVE END:
Trent Cole, Philadelphia Eagles
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 39 TKL, 7.0 SACK, 2 PD, 1 FF
Despite receiving little fanfare, Cole is consistently among the best players at his position. There are more explosive defensive ends in the NFL, guys like Mario Williams and Dwight Freeney, but few put up his numbers year in and year out. After averaging 11 sacks and 68 tackles over the past 3 seasons, Cole is on pace for 14 sacks and 78 tackles this year. Ho-hum.

Osi Uymenyiora, New York Giants
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 7GP; 21 TKL, 8.0 SACK, 1 PD, 7 FF
Great bounce-back season for Uymenyiora after a rough (for him) 2009 campaign. He and Dwight Freeney are probably the fastest off the ball of any defensive lineman in the game.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE:
Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 43 TKL, 5.0 SACK, 1 PD
Forget the numbers. No one in the NFL commands as many double-teams as Ngata, yet he has still managed 43 tackles and 5 sacks. His impact on the 6-2 Ravens is enormous and he’s a leading contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 29 TKL, 6.5 SACK, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FR (1 TD)
“Reggie White Jr.” is proving all the draftniks who said he wouldn’t be a big sack guy in the NFL very, very wrong. With Suh’s speed, strength and motor, who needs advanced pass-rushing moves? He’s clearly the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER:
James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 55 TKL, 7.0 SACK, 1 INT, 2 PD, 4 FF, 1 FR
Harrison is just the most-intimidating, intense, best-tackling, pass-rushing monster in the NFL. In a league with outstanding outside linebackers like Cameron Wake, Clay Matthews, DeMarcus Ware and Tamba Hali, I’d take Harrison before any of them.

Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 7GP; 27 TKL, 9.5 SACK, 1 PD, 1 FF
Despite missing a game, Matthews is the mid-season front-runner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. His 9.5 sacks leads the NFL and his impact rushing the passer and making plays behind the line of scrimmage are unmatched.

INSIDE LINEBACKER:
Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh Steelers
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 77 TKL, 3.0 SACK, 2 INT, 7 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
A first-round pick in 2007, Timmons has really thrived this year after being brought along slowly by Pittsburgh. With 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 7 pass deflections and a forced fumble in just 8 games, there isn’t a better big-play inside linebacker in the NFL.

Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 95 TKL, 1.0 SACK, 1 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
The 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Mayo is back on top of his game after suffering a multitude of injuries last season. He leads the NFL with 95 tackles and is a key cog for the 6-2 Patriots.

CORNERBACK:
Leon Hall, Cincinnati Bengals
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 25 TKL, 4 INT, 7 PD, 2 FF
Hall’s outstanding play has been overshadowed by the Bengals disappointing start, but with Darrelle Revis battling hamstring issues, Hall is the best cover-corner in the NFL.

Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 7GP; 23 TKL, 5 INT (1 TD), 6 PD
After sitting out the season opener for “personal conduct” reasons, Talib has lit the world on fire for a surprising 5-3 Tampa squad. He leads the team with 5 interceptions and is living up to his first round draft status.

SAFETY:
Michael Griffin, Tennessee Titans
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 53 TKL, 4 INT, 7 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
Griffin is the definition of a big-play free safety. He might give up a play here and there, but he’s on pace for 8 interceptions and 106 tackles. That’s production.

LaRon Landry, Washington Redskins
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 76 TKL, 1.0 SACK, 1 INT, 7 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
The 235-pound Landry hits (and looks) like an NFL linebacker. He leads all defensive backs in tackles, knockouts and alligator arms this season. There isn’t another player in the league more feared by receivers on crossing patterns – even Ray Lewis doesn’t hit like Landry.

KICKER:
Dan Carpenter, Miami Dolphins
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 19/22 FG, 86.4 FG%; 12/12 XP; 69 PTS
Miami has struggled to score this season, but you can’t blame the kicker. Carpenter has connected on 19 of 22 field goals so far this year, including 3 of 4 over 50 yards.

PUNTER:
Shane Lechler, Oakland Raiders
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 36 PUNT, 1834 YDS, 50.9 AVG
The best punter in the NFL since he entered the league in 2000, Lechler is on his way to leading the league in yards/punt for the 6th time in 8 seasons. He might just be the best punter in NFL history.

KICK RETURN SPECIALIST:
Leon Washington, Seattle Seahawks
2010 Statistics through 8 games: 8GP; 24 KR, 753 YDS, 31.4 AVG, 2 TD; 4 PR, 78 YDS, 19.5 AVG, 0 TD
Washington, who leads the NFL in kickoff return average and touchdowns, is back after suffering a serious knee injury that led to his departure from the Jets. Here’s hoping he finally gets that big contract he sought in New York.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Looks like the Phillies outfield logjam is coming to a head and the decision to "demote" top-prospect Domonic Brown is inevitable.

Shane Victorino went 3/5 with a triple, homerun and three RBI last night in Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will play his last rehab game tonight. Raul Ibanez is riding an 18-game hitting streak, raising his OPS a whopping 81 points in that brief time-span. Despite a mid-season slump, Jayson Werth has been the Phillies best hitter this season with a .302/.395/.528 slash-line. That leaves Brown as the odd-man out. And as much as I hate to see Philly’s young phenom take a step beck, potentially damaging his confidence, the best course of action is to demote Brown to Lehigh Valley until big-league rosters expand from 25 to 40 on September 1.

Sending Brown back to Triple-A for next 17 days just makes too much sense. Greg Dobbs is more valuable than Brown as a utility bench player because he can play both first base and third base. With Ryan Howard out, keeping Dobbs is a must. And despite all his hype and ability, Brown needs more polish and the only way to do that is by playing every day. He won’t get that opportunity when Victorino returns tomorrow.

Brown is a bit of a contradiction at this point. He’s hitting just .237/.238/.368, but the five-tool talent is apparent. He’s made some spectacular plays in right field, including a breathtaking throw to nail Marlins’ first-baseman Gabby Sanchez at home plate. On the other hand, he’s made several poor reads in right and could use some seasoning at that position after playing center field most of his career. Brown makes it a point to work the count in every at-bat and his blistering buggy-whip swing allows him to wait until the very last second before pulling the trigger. On the other hand, he has just one walk and 13 strikeouts in 42 big-league plate appearances.

It’s evident that Brown will be a MLB superstar. It’s just as evident that he needs a bit more seasoning and his ascension to All-Star status will take a little time. Remember, San Francisco’s Buster Posey hit .118 in his brief MLB promotion last year. This year he’s hitting .335 and is the cleanup hitter on a playoff-caliber team. Brown will be a great Philly in the very near future - just probably not this season. In the meantime, the Phillies will have to make due with All-Star outfielders Ibanez, Victorino and Werth. Not a bad problem to have.

Idiot is Spelled E-D-W-A-D-E

I have a conspiracy theory. I believe that when former Phillies General Manager Ed Wade was hired by the Astros in 2007, he had a secret monetary agreement with Philadelphia ownership that ensured them he would do everything in his power to help the Phillies win championships at Houston's expense. How else can you explain the Roy Oswalt trade????

Here's the deal - the Astros are paying about $11M of the remaining $23M on Oswalt's contract. And Oswalt is no longer demanding his $16M option for 2012 be picked up. So, essentially, the Phillies are paying $12M for 1 1/2 years of Oswalt's services - that's great market value. But the money isn't even the best part. That would have to be the prospects Philadelphia is sending Houston in this trade. They are absolutely MEDIOCRE for a player of Oswalt's talents.

Houston is NOT getting top hitting prospect Jonathan Singleton, as was previously reported. Philly wouldn't part with him and the Astros caved. According to ESPN sources, Philly will be sending over "prospects" Anthony Gose (CF) and Jonathan Villar (SS). You can check out my writeup on Gose here. He's a super-fast guy and great defender who has no power and struggles to get on base. They traded Houston another Michael Bourn. Villar is a 19-year old shortstop in Class-A Lakewood. He's another guy who can run and field but has no power and struggles to get on base. Houston not receiving a top prospect is especially sorry for them when you consider how much salary they are eating in this deal.

If this trade isn't enough of an example of Ed Wade's ineptitude, here's another beauty from the recent past:

November 8, 2007:
Wade trades closer Brad Lidge, along with reserve infielder Eric Bruntlett, to the Phillies in exchange for second-year outfielder Michael Bourn, middle reliever Geoff Geary (fail), and third base prospect Mike Costanzo (epic fail). Lidge goes 48-48 in save opportunities in 2008 and closes out the Phillies second-ever World Series Championship. Bourn is a guy that steals bases when he gets on base.....which is infrequently.

And I'm not even going to touch Wade's horrific Curt Schilling and Scott Rolen trades, or the J.D. Drew debacle, when he was running the Phillies show.

But that was then and this is now. I'd actually like to thank Ed Wade for his dedication to being the worst General Manager in baseball. His skill at sucking wasn't fully appreciated in Philadelphia but I think I speak for all Phillies fans when I say that his unique talents couldn't make us happier today. I'd congratulate Phillies GM Ruben Aramo on this overwhelmingly lopsided trade, but let's be honest, that would be like congratulating the captain of a high school football team for beating the crap out of a special-ed student.

***UPDATE***
Wade deserves a little bit of genuine credit in this deal - he flipped Anthony Gose to Toronto for 23-year old first base prospect Brett Wallace. In 95 games at Triple-A this season, Wallace is hitting .301/.359/.509 with 18 homeruns. Apparently, Toronto wanted to get "more athletic." Wallace is a legitimate successor for Lance Berkman, so good for Wade. He didn't get Jonathan Singleton, but he got another firstbaseman who can mash and is closer to the big leagues (though Singleton's upside is higher). I have no idea what new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos is thinking. Lyle Overbay is playing first base for the Blue Jays. They needed Brett Wallace and should have called him up months ago. When Ed Wade pulls one over on you, it's not a good indicator that Toronto's franchise is in capable hands.

Oswalt Gives Phils Aces in Spades

According to multiple sources, the Astros and Phillies have agreed to both money and players in a trade for Roy Oswalt. The Phillies will send J.A. Happ and "prospects" to the Astros in exchange for Oswalt with the 'Stros picking up the remainder of Oswalt's salary this season. The Phillies will be on the hook for Oswalt's $16M salary in 2011 and may or may not be reponsable for picking up his player option in 2012 (also $16M).

The only thing stopping the trade is Oswalt himself - who has three days to approve the deal. Philadelphia, riding a seven-game winning streak and having just called up electric rookie phenom Domonic Brown, can potentially boast a three-pitcher playoff rotation of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt. Talk about gaining some huge momentum for a playoff push. This move is a potential game-changer in the division and would make the Phillies a formidable World Series contender.

Not all Phillies fans are as enthused about Oswalt as I am. Lots of fans look at Oswalt's size (5-11ish, 185pounds) and wonder if he can hold up over the next 2 1/2 years. I've also heard uninformed comments like "he's not that good" and "he has a losing record." First off, Oswalt's 6-12 record is useless information. His ERA is 3.42 and his xFIP is 3.45. He's pitched 6.45 innings/start and his 8.37 K/9, 3.53 K/BB and 1.11 WHIP rates are outstanding. As for the question of whether a short, thin dude can maintain his status as a power pitcher over the next few seasons, let's take a look at his annual average fastball velocity, courtesy of the amazing site fangraphs:

2002: 93.7
2003: 93.1
2004: 94.0
2005: 93.1
2006: 92.7
2007: 92.7
2008: 92.6
2009: 93.1
2010: 93.0

Not much change in velocity right? Oswalt is throwing harder now than he was four years ago. He's still only 32 years old and I'd gamble his arm will hold up over the next two seasons. The upside is huge. Halladay is the perfect pitcher to throw three times in a seven-game playoff series. A World Series matchup with the Yankees doesn't seem nearly as daunting with a rotation of Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt-Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt-Halladay.

The real question, other than if Oswalt will actually approve the trade, is what prospects the Phillies will have to part with. J.A. Happ is no big deal - he's a decent #4 pitcher who will always walk too many batters and doesn't throw nearly hard enough (89.2mph avg fastball) to become an impact pitcher. I put together an updated Phillies Top 10 Prospects list a few days ago, and it's a good reference point to look at when names of prospects included in the trade become public knowledge. I just hope the Phillies hold on to Jarred Cosart and Trevor May, two righthanders who light up the radar gun. The Phillies have plenty of talented bats and outfielders they can part with (Jonathan Singleton, Jiwan James, Anthony Gose), but few impact pitchers. Cosart and May are the cream of the crop and hopefully the Phillies won't have to let them go in a trade for a 32-year old pitcher with $32M left on his contract.

***UPDATE***
Richard Justice, columnist for the Houston Chronicle, is reporting that Jonathan Singleton and Vance Worley are the two Phillies prospects being sent to the Astros in the Roy Oswalt trade. You can read my writeup on Singleton here. He's my #3 overall prospect in the Phillies organization, but is restricted to playing first base which makes him highly expendable in Ryan Howard's considerable shadow. Worley is a 6-2, 220-pound righthanded pitcher who is 9-4 with a 3.03 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 118 innings this year at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. I love this trade. Singleton could potentially become an impact hitter in three years, but Howard will still be under contract. Worley is an OK pitcher who will never become a star and probably ends up in the bullpen.

***DOUBLE UPDATE***
Richard Justice needs new sources. Oswalt has agreed to the trade, making it final, but Philadelphia will NOT be sending top-prospect Jonathan Singleton, or Vance Worley for that matter, to Houston. Philly is sending Anthony Gose (#7 on my Updated Top 10 Phillies Prospects List) and Jonathan Villar instead. The Phillies have absolutely fleeced Astros General Manager Ed Wade with this deal. Read my full post here.

IN OTHER PHILLIES NEWS:
The aforementioned Domonic Brown put his considerable talents on full display in his major league debut last night. Brown blasted an RBI double off the wall against flamethrower Edwin Jackson in his first MLB at bat and ended his night 2-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. Just as I suggested yesterday, Brown hit 6th in the order, behind Jayson Werth, but it looks like the Phillies are committed to playing him in rightfield with Werth manning center. This makes sense as Werth has played some centerfield in the majors before, but I still maintain Brown can play the position better than Werth with his superior speed and range. However, I completely understand the Phillies not wanting to move Brown to a position he hasn't played at in two years for his major league debut. Shane Victorino will be back in two weeks, so the issue is a minor one. Now what the Phillies will do with Victorino if Brown, Werth and Ibanez continue to hit is an entirely different story.

What Can (Domonic) Brown Do For You?

As I predicted two days ago, Domonic Brown's stay in Triple-A Lehigh Valley was going to be a very short one. According to CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury, the Phillies have placed Shane Victorino on the 15-Day Disabled List (abdominal strain) and recalled top-prospect Domonic Brown.

Brown, a natural rightfielder, shouldn't have too much of an issue playing centerfield. After watching Shane pussy-out on a deep fly ball at the warning track last night, a ball Aaron Rowand would have caught with his face, I don't think the Phils are losing anything defensively with Brown. He played CF two years ago and should be able to play the position better and with more range than Jayson Werth. Offensively, Brown hit .327/.391/.589 with 20 homeruns and 17 stolen bases in 93 minor league games this year, so I'm not too worried about his ability to match Victorino's .749 OPS.

It will be interesting to see what the Phillies do with Brown when Shane gets off the DL. His performance in the big leagues will no doubt dictate how much he plays, but there is no way the Phillies are demoting the top-prospect in the game. Let's assume Brown plays well. Will Werth, Victorino or Raul Ibanez get traded? If the Phillies can't find the right trade partner, it would be tough for them to sit Ibanez now that he's finally hitting. Again, Brown's performance will dictate any future moves this season, but I'm excited for the "Domonic Brown Era" to begin. Brown should slide right into the #6 spot in the lineup tonight, behind Werth and ahead of Ruiz.

IN OTHER PHILLIES NEWS:
Trevor May struck out 14 batters in seven innings for Lakewood (Class-A) yesterday. Even more impressive, May did not walk a single batter after issuing 61 walks in 70 innings at Class-A Advanced Clearwater this year before his demotion to Lakewood. Since his demotion, the 6-5, 215-pound righthander has seemingly found his way - he's 3-1 with 42 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 29 innings at Lakewood. I'd say he's ready for another shot at Clearwater. May, who boasts a 95mph fastball and devastating curve, profiles as a #1 starter if he can maintain his control and command.

Top 10 Phillies Prospects - 2010 UPDATE

As baseball's July 31 trading deadline looms right around the corner, I wanted to take a closer list at the top prospects in Philadelphia's farm system and put together an updated "Top-10" list.

The Phillies lost a number of prospects in the Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay trades and received essentially nothing in the Cliff Lee trade-debacle this past off-season, so it would appear that the proverbial cupboard is empty. Astonishingly, this isn't the case at all. Thanks to their draft philosophy of selecting athletes over baseball players and signing guys away from strong college commitments in later rounds, the Phillies have developed a number of players, many of them in Class-A baseball, who rank among the top prospects in the game.

Some of these players could figure into a potential trade this week that could push the Phillies into the postseason. Others, like Domonic Brown, could get called up sooner than later and inject some much-needed youth into a rapidly-aging roster. Either way, these players will shape the future of the organization in both the short and long term. Here's my updated 2010 ranking of Philadelphia's Top-10 prospects (statistics through June 25):

1.) Domonic Brown (Triple-A Lehigh Valley / Double-A Reading)
Drafted: Round 20 (607 overall pick) in 2006
Height: 6-5 Weight: 200 Age: 22 Bats: L Throws: L Position: RF
2010 Statistics: .325/.388/.585, 91GP, 64R, 109H, 20HR, 66RBI, 35BB, 71SO, 16SB
The top prospect in all of minor league baseball, Brown is a true 5-tool talent. Having watched him play in Lehigh Valley several times in the past month, Brown is as good of an athlete as you will ever see in baseball. A former Miami U. wide receiver recruit, everything he does is just so smooth (his swing path, running style, outfield play). With all the trade rumors swirling around free agent-to-be Jayson Werth, Brown's stay in the minors might be over within the week. His helicopter-like swing has started to produce serious power this season and he'll continue to improve in that category as he adds mass to his wire-thin frame. Nothing is stopping Brown from becoming a 30-30 player and future all-star.

2.) Jarred Cosart (Class-A Lakewood)
Drafted: Round 38 (1156 overall pick) in 2008
Height: 6-3 Weight: 180 Age: 20 Bats: R Throws: R Position: RHP
2010 Statistics: 7-3(W-L), 3.79ERA, 14GP/14GS, 71.1IP, 60H, 30ER, 3HR, 16BB, 77K
Cosart was a raw, two-way high school standout from Texas when the Phillies drafted and converted him to pitcher. Currently, he is on the Disabled List with a strained right elbow (yikes) but it's not supposed to be serious and he's scheduled to pitch in a week. When healthy, Cosart has the best arm in the Phillies system and one of the better arms in all of minor league baseball. He sits at 94-96 as a starter and can dial it up to 98. His control has been spectacular this year, issuing just 16 walks in 71 innings. If he can bypass an arm injury, Cosart will sky-rocket through the system and profiles as a #1 or #2 starter down the road.

3.) Jonathan Singleton (Class-A Lakewood)
Drafted: Round 8 (257 overall pick) in 2009
Height: 6-2 Weight: 215 Age: 18 Bats: L Throws: L Position: 1B
2010 Statistics: .309/.418/.538, 66GP, 41R, 73H, 12HR, 57RBI, 42BB, 43SO, 6SB
Projected as a 1st or 2nd round pick going into his senior year of high school, Singleton dropped to the Phillies in round 8 of the 2009 draft after a poor senior season and perceived college commitment to Oregon. This should show you how little high school numbers really mean as Singleton has blossomed into an offensive force as an 18-year old in Class-A. Singleton has superior plate discipline, and even as he's cooled down after a red-hot start, he's maintained a 1:1 walk-strikeout ratio. Singleton could potentially reach Double-A as a 19-year old next year and profiles as a prototypical lefthanded firstbaseman who walks, hits and hits for power. Ryan Howard is a $125M roadblock, so hopefully he can learn to play LF down the line.

4.) Trevor May (Class-A Lakewood / Class-A Advanced Clearwater)
Drafted: Round 4 (136 overall pick) in 2008
Height: 6-5 Weight: 215 Age: 20 Bats: R Throws: R Position: RHP
2010 Statistics: 7-6(W-L), 4.79ERA, 20GP/18GS, 92.0IP, 73H, 49ER, 9HR, 71BB, 118K
Built in the classic power-pitcher mold of Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling and Josh Johnson, May has every tool a scout looks for in an ideal pitching prospect. The big righthander throws an easy 95 and his strikeout rates in the minors have been prolific. Only control problems have held him back. In fact, May was demoted to Lakewood after posting a 5.01 ERA and issuing 61 walks in 70 innings at Clearwater. He's rebounded nicely at Lakewood, walking 10 and recording 28 strikeouts in 22 innings. If May ever figures it out he will turn the minors into his own personal playground. He's a boom or bust player with a #1 starter ceiling and spare-part in the bullpen floor.

5.) Jiwan James (Class-A Lakewood)
Drafted: Round 22 (683 overall pick) in 2007
Height: 6-4 Weight: 180 Age: 21 Bats: S Throws: R Position: CF
2010 Statistics: .273/.321/.370, 97GP, 62R, 110H, 3HR, 47RBI, 27BB, 91SO, 25SB
James has a similar game, similar tools and similar numbers to Anthony Gose, but he's two years older than Gose and plays one level below him. So why on earth would I rank James two spots higher than Gose on this list? Simple - James has a higher ceiling. The Phillies drafted James as a pitcher, but after he developed an arm injury in 2008, they converted him to outfield. So essentially everything about hitting and fielding is fairly new to him, yet he's holding his own in Class-A. James is blistering fast, has a great arm and projects to hit for power as he fills out. The sky is the limit for him and the Phillies hope he develops like Domonic Brown - another raw baseball talent when he was drafted.

6.) Brody Colvin (Class-A Lakewood)
Drafted: Round 7 (227 overall pick) in 2009
Height: 6-3 Weight: 195 Age: 19 Bats: R Throws: R Position: RHP
2010 Statistics: 5-6(W-L), 3.50ERA, 19GP/19GS, 103.0IP, 96H, 40ER, 7HR, 32BB, 84K
A projected 1st round talent in high school, Colvin dropped to the 7th round because he was viewed as having a strong commitment to play college baseball at LSU. The Phillies snatched him up and bought him away from his college commitment. This is becoming a common theme for the Phillies as they have acquired top talents Dominic Brown, Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton and Jiwan James under similar circumstances. Colvin sits at 91-94 and has seemingly found his way after a miserable start to the season. In his past 10 starts, Colvin has posted a 1.65 ERA in 60 innings. Colvin has the pure stuff to miss more bats than he currently does, so look for him to work on establishing his breaking ball in the future.

7.) Anthony Gose (Class-A Advanced Clearwater)
Drafted: Round 2 (51 overall pick) in 2008
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Age: 19 Bats: L Throws: L Position: CF
2010 Statistics: .265/.326/.387, 101GP, 65R, 108H, 4HR, 20RBI, 31BB, 100SO, 36SB
Some have compared Gose's skill-set to Carl Crawford's, but I just don't see it. He's a marvel in centerfield and has true "80" speed on the 20-80 scouting scale but he is no Crawford at the plate. A former high school pitcher who topped out at 96, Gose has a cannon for an arm. In the majors, Gose will play Gold-Glove defense and steal 40-50 bases annually, but his batting average, power and on-base percentage will be below average. Think Doug Glanville at the plate and Corey Patterson in the field and on the basepaths.

8.) Jesse Biddle (Rookie Gulf Coast League)
Drafted: Round 1 (27 overall pick) in 2010
Height: 6-4 Weight: 225 Age: 18 Bats: L Throws: L Position: LHP
2010 Statistics: 0-1(W-L), 5.19ERA, 5GP/5GS, 17.1IP, 20H, 10ER, 2HR, 6BB, 21K
Biddle is living out every Philadelphian's dream - local high school kid (Germantown Friends HS) gets drafted by the team he grew up rooting for. The Phillies drafted Biddle in the 1st round after he posted a 9-2 record and 1.06 ERA with 140 strikeouts in just 59 1/3 innings as a senior. The big, chunky lefthander pitches at 88-93 and has been clocked as high as 96. He also features a slow 72-74 curveball. Biddle should maintain or increase his velocity as a professional and with improved control he will shoot to the top of future Phillies prospect rankings.

9.) Scott Mathieson (Triple-A Lehigh Valley)
Drafted: Round 17 (509 overall pick) in 2002
Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Age: 26 Bats: R Throws: R Position: RHP
2010 Statistics: 3-3(W-L), 2.20ERA, 38GP/0GS, 45.0IP, 31H, 11ER, 5HR, 17BB, 58K 20SV
Mathieson has overcome numerous injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2008, to re-establish his position as a top prospect in the Phillies farm system. Now viewed solely as a reliever, he sits at 94-96 and can reach back for 98. It's not really clear why Mathieson is still pitching in Triple-A. He's 26 and has nothing left to prove in the minors as he's currently overwhelming hitters at Lehigh Valley. The Phillies called him up very briefly this year and he stumbled, giving up 2 runs while recording just 2 outs in his one-and-only outing. Still, that's an extremely small sample size and he has a better arm than anyone in the Phillies pen outside of Ryan Madson.

10.) Sebastian Valle (Class-A Lakewood)
Signed: Amateur Free Agent (Mexico) in 2007
Height: 6-1 Weight: 170 Age: 20 Bats: R Throws: R Position: C
2010 Statistics: .257/.298/.398, 86GP, 32R, 84H, 9HR, 53RBI, 19BB, 76SO, 2SB
Never known for their international scouting, Valle is the best the Phillies have to offer outside North America & Puerto Rico. Valle's skill-set is similar to current Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit - average defensive skills with a below average bat and the ability to hit 10-20 homeruns. Carlos Ruiz is firmly entrenched as the starting catcher right now, but after trading away Travis d'Arnaud in the Halladay deal, the Phillies have poor depth at the position outside of Valle. He should progress through the minors one level at a time before establishing himself as a quality backup in the majors or perhaps even Ruiz's successor by 2014.

Charting Greatness - Stephen Strasburg's MLB Debut

Well, Stephen Strasburg is certainly worthy of the hype - and then some.

The first overall pick of the 2009 MLB Draft pitched an absolute gem in winning his major league debut. He pitched 7 innings and gave up just 2 runs on 4 hits and his 14 strikeouts were just one shy of the Major League record for a pitcher's first appearance. Better yet, he didn't yield a single walk. And somehow, incredibly, he pitched even better than his box score looks. That's because of the way Strasburg pitched. He was dominate. He was in control. He was like nothing I have ever seen. Let's break down what made him so special.

Because I have nothing better to do on a Tuesday night (it was either the game or GLEE), I charted every pitch Strasburg threw today - all 94 of them. The 6-4, 220-pound righthander throws three pitches: a fastball, curveball and changeup. Here's a detailed look at each pitch:

FASTBALL
Like most pitchers, Strasburg actually throws two types of fastballs - a two seamer and four seamer. However, unlike the vast majority of pitchers I have ever seen, there is almost no difference in velocity between the two. Typically, a two seam fastball is 3-4mph slower than the four seam variety, but not with Strasburg. He was blowing by hitters with "rising" 97-100mph four-seam fastballs and painting the outside corner with darting 96-98 two-seam missiles. Strasburg threw 58 fastballs in the game (61.7% of his total pitches) and averaged an astonishing 97.9mph. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that is for a starting pitcher? Just to put that number in perspective, Colorado's phenom flame-thrower Ubaldo Jimenez is currently the fastest starting pitcher in all of baseball with an average fastball of 96.6mph. That is, he WAS the fastest, until Strasburg's arrival. That 1.3mph difference is huge, absolutely gigantic. And Strasburg throws his heater with precision as 69.0% of his fastballs were thrown for strikes. Now that we've demonstrated Strasburg's unparallelled velocity and deadly accuracy, let's see how his stamina holds up. Here's a breakdown of his average velocity in each inning:

INNING 1 - 98.0mph (8 fastballs)
INNING 2 - 98.4mph (12 fastballs)
INNING 3 - 97.8mph (5 fastballs)
INNING 4 - 96.6mph (9 fastballs)
INNING 5 - 98.1mph ((12 fastballs)
INNING 6 - 98.5mph (4 fastballs)
INNING 7 - 98.0mph (8 fastballs)

Yup, he holds up just fine. He had his best stuff in the second inning when he threw 100mph twice, the only two times he lit up the radar gun with triple digits. His only real dip in velocity came in the 4th inning, which was the only inning he had to worry about runners on base and pitched mostly out of the stretch. So that settles it - Strasburg has freakish velocity, control and stamina. The guy pitches like a robot.

CURVEBALL
Strasburg threw 25 curveballs in the game (26.6% of his total pitches) and good Lord it is a frightening pitch. His curveball averaged 82.1mph, ranging from 81-84mph throughout the night. The ball jumps out of his hand and darts down with a steep 1/7 angle (on a time clock - think 1 to 7). It just devastates lefthanded batters. By the time they swing, the ball is barrelling in on their ankles. What was really remarkable was the number of strikes Strasburg threw with his curve. Even when his fastball got away from him, which was rare, Strasburg could get his curve over for a strike. In fact, 72% of his curveballs were thrown for strikes - some fell in the zone, others dropped out of the sky and into the dirt, but hitters couldn't resist swinging anyway. Strasburg seemed to throw two types of curves. One was a "get-me-over" pitch, starting at the chest and dropping in for a strike, and the other was an other-worldly sweeping curve that looked like it broke three feet and ended up no where near the strike zone. Strasburg struck out 4 batters with this pitch. I have only seen this type of curve once in my lifetime before today - Kerry Wood threw the exact same curve as a rookie in 1998 before he hurt his arm and needed Tommy John surgery. Now let's get this straight - Kerry Wood had horrific mechanics. Strasburg has a much calmer, more controlled motion. That being said, enjoy him every chance you get because with pitchers you never really know if the next pitch might put them under the knife.

CHANGEUP
Can we really call Strasburg's changeup an "off-speed" pitch? He threw 11 total changeups in the ballgame and those pitches averaged 90.2mph - the average speed of a Major League fastball. Strasburg's changeup has the motion of a split-fingered fastball, it darts both away (to righthanded hitters) and drops out of the zone. Of his 11 changeups on the night, 3 resulted in swinging strikeouts. He did surrender a two-run homerun - his only runs of the game - on a changeup, but you can hardly call the pitch a mistake as it was low in the zone. Delwyn Young was way ahead of the pitch anticipating a fastball, swung like he was holding a five-iron and the barrel of his bat happened to meet the ball. Strasburg's change is a plus Major League pitch right now. With normal humans, even the greatest of pitchers, learning how to throw a changeup takes time and experience to master. Not with Strasburg. It's already a third plus pitch, to go along with his plus-plus fastball and curve.

So, what have we learned? I mean everyone already knew Strasburg was a great pitcher. He was great in college, great in the minors. Obviously, his track record indicates Major League stardom. Yes, everyone knew Strasburg was going to become a great pitcher. It's just that he doesn't need to BECOME anything. He IS a great pitcher. In fact, after a close study of his opening performance, he has the best combination of velocity, control, breaking pitches and stamina of any pitcher on the planet. Not down the line, not someday, not in the near future, but right now. At 21 years old and after one start in the big leagues it's not hyperbole to say that Stephen Strasburg is the best pitcher in all of baseball.

2010 Phillies Draft Preview

There are a solid 167 people in the US who are absolutely stoked for the 2010 MLB Draft today. I am one of those people. The 1st round airs today at 7pm on the MLB Network and the Phillies have the 27th overall selection in the draft. Even casual baseball fans know that Bryce Harper, baseball wunderkind, will be selected with the 1st overall pick by the Washington Nationals. The 6-3, 205-pound catcher out of the College of Southern Nevada hit .443 with 31 homeruns and 98 RBI in 66 games as a 17-year old in a highly competitive wood-bat junior college division. Harper has "80" power and a "70" arm on the 20-80 scouting scale. Just to put that in perspective, only major league players like Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn and Albert Pujols have 80 power. Seventeen year-old amateurs just don't receive that grade - he might be the greatest power prospect ever.

After Harper, high school pitcher Jameson Taillon (6-6, 225 - throws 98) and prep shortstop Manny Machado (6-2, 180 - Jeter comparison) are the next two off the board, but who will be available when the Phillies draft at 27? Typically, the Phillies pick high-risk, high-reward high school athletes and arms at the top of the draft, and with that in mind, here are five players to watch out for with the 27th overall pick:

Stetson Allie (RHP) St. Edward's HS (Lakewood, OH)
6-3 / 215
Allie is like an old scouting story from the 1930's. You know the one - strapping righthander from middle america throws 100mph but has no idea where it's going. That's Allie in a nutshell. He pitches comfortably at 92-96mph but can amp it up to 99. He also shows a hard slider (87-90) and high-80's changeup. Outside of Jameson Taillon, Allie has the best stuff of any pitcher in this draft class. But the kid has control issues. And high school pitchers with big arms and control issues either become Nolan Ryan or Todd Van Poppel. It's a huge risk.

Jessie Biddle (LHP) Germantown Friends HS (Germantown, PA)
6-5 / 235
Biddle is by far the best prospect in the Phillies backyard. The big, chunky lefthander pitches 88-93mph and has recently been clocked as high as 96. He also features a slow 72-74mph curveball. With a number of Phillies scouts in attendance throughout his senior year, Biddle went 9-2 and posted a 1.06 ERA with 140 strikeouts in just 59 1/3 innings.

Kaleb Cowart (SS/RHP) Cook County HS (Adel, GA)
6-3 / 195
Named 2010 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year, Cowart is a two-way standout at both shortstop and pitcher. On the mound, Cowart pitches 91-96mph and can dial it up to 97. But here's the thing - he wants to be an every-day player, not a pitcher. Wait, the guy went 10-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 73 innings and doesn't want to pitch??? Well.....he's good with the stick too, hitting .654 with 11 homeruns and 59 RBI his senior year. Whomever drafts Cowart will have to talk him into splitting time in the minors playing both infield and pitcher - similar to how the Red Sox handled former 1st round pick Casey Kelly. Kelly is now Boston's top pitching prospect and I have a feeling Cowart will follow the same path.

Tyrell Jenkins (RHP) Henderson HS (Henderson, TX)
6-4 / 175
Jenkins is like a 9-sport athlete. Seriously though, the kid can really play football and basketball as well. In fact, he's committed to play both baseball (pitcher) and football (quarterback) at Baylor. Jenkins pitches at 89-92mph and can hit 96 on occasion. He also features a slow curveball (68-72) and low-80's slider. As his rail-thin build fills out, he should increase his already substantial velocity. A great find with the 27th overall pick, the Phillies would have to pony up and buy him away from a two-sport collegiate career with a big bonus. That's why some pundits have him falling to the Yankees with the last pick (32) in the first round.

Cam Bedrosian (RHP) East Coweta HS (Sharpsburg, GA)
6-1 / 195
Son of Phillies' 1987 Cy Young award-winner Steve Bedrosian, Cam is starting to build quite the resume of his own. The stocky righthander pitches at 92-94mph and can touch 95 on occasion. He also has well-developed secondary pitches, including a curveball (76-79), mid-80's slider and changeup. Cam is short for a righthanded starting pitcher, but with the overwhelming success of fellow six-foot righthanders Tim Lincecum and Mike Leake, that stereotype is on the way out. And he could always follow his old-man's career path and become an impact reliever.

The Best Football Players NOT in the NFL

I think about weird shit sometimes....Like, does the guy who came up with the waffle iron live like a rockstar? I mean, if you came up with some appliance and ended up making hundreds of millions, do you live a wonderful quiet existence or do you let it all hang out and snort lines of coke with Lindsay Lohan in the women's bathroom of some trendy bar in West Hollywood?

So today I was thinking to myself, "self, if you took all the current professional athletes not playing in the NFL, and tried to create an all-star football team, which players would you choose?"

It's a pointless, but semi-entertaining "what-if" scenario, so I tried to come up with players at all 22 starting positions, plus a kicker, and guess what? - It's HARD to come up with guys at every position. There are some slim pickings - especially when you get away from the skill players and try to put together offensive and defensive lines.

But I gave it a shot anyway. When picking my "Non-NFL, Pro Athlete All-Football Team" (what a fucking terrible name) I adhered to the following self-imposed rules:

1) Players must be a professional athlete currently playing a sport that is not football. This includes all major leagues, minor leagues and Kentucky basketball. Only current professional athletes are eligible. Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson and Brian Jordan need not apply.

2) All players must have played football on at least the high school level - and played it well enough to earn Division I scholarships. Yes, Dwight Howard is a phenomenal athlete, but I've seen him try to get physical under the basket and no way that guy holds up on a football field. Only professional athletes who have previously played football at the high school, college or professional levels are eligible.

3) Players must be at the age where if they chose to play football instead of their current professional sport, they could potentially be playing in the NFL right now. Herschel Walker is currently a professional MMA fighter, but at 47 he can't play in the NFL anymore. He's disqualified.

With those rules in mind, here's the coulda-woulda-shoulda football team I came up with:

Quarterback: Joe Mauer (6-5, 225) Minnesota Twins (MLB) Catcher
A three-time AL batting champ and the 2009 AL MVP, Mauer is probably the best amateur football player on this list. As a senior at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, MN, Mauer completed 178 of 288 passes for 3,022 yards and 41 touchdowns, leading his team to the state championship. He was named USA Today High School Baseball Player of the Year and High School Football Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the only athlete to garner both honors. The consensus #1 football and baseball recruit in the country, Mauer opted to sign a professional baseball contract over playing both quarterback and catcher at Florida State after his hometown Minnesota Twins selected him 1st overall in the 2001 MLB Draft.

Running Back: Carl Crawford (6-2, 215) Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) Left Fielder
Tampa Bay's perennial All-Star outfielder and four-time AL stolen base champion was a three-sport superduperstar at Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, TX. On the gridiron, every premier school in the country offered Crawford a scholarship and in basketball he was such a star point guard that UCLA offered him a free ride. Crawford chose to play both baseball and football at Nebraska before Tampa Bay signed him to a contact he couldn't refuse after selecting him in the 2nd round of the 1999 MLB Draft. Former Nebraska football coach Frank Solich has stated that Crawford was such a good player he could have started at quarterback as a true freshman in their vaunted option offense. At 6-2, 215 with lighting speed, he could have become a heck of a NFL running back.

Fullback: Brendan Schaub (6-4, 250) UFC Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Fighter
A purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Schaub owns a 4-1 career MMA record as a heavyweight and is scheduled to make just his second UFC fight on March 21, 2010. Prior to becoming a fighter, Schaub played fullback in college at Colorado from 2004-2005. Utilized as a traditional blocking fullback, he ran once for four yards and caught three passes for eight yards in 12 games as a senior. He would later play in the AFL and was a fullback on the Buffalo Bills practice squad before hanging up his shoulder pads to compete in the Octagon.

Wide Receiver: Jeff Samardzja (6-5, 218) Chicago Cubs (MLB) Pitcher
The owner of every career receiving record at legendary Notre Dame, Samardzja chose to bypass a NFL career to sign with his hometown Chicago Cubs. Thus far, it doesn't appear he made the right choice. In two seasons with the Cubs he has a 2-3 record and 5.20 ERA in 62 innings while failing to stick as a starting pitcher. While Samardzja throws 95 mph, his control and breaking ball have wavered. At Notre Dame, "Shark" was a phenomenal receiver with great leaping ability and even better hands. As a junior, he caught 77 passes for 1,249 yards and 15 touchdowns and was named First Team All-America after catching 78 balls for 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2006.

Wide Receiver: Jared Mitchell (5-11, 192) Chicago White Sox Draft Pick (MiLB) Left Fielder
A two-sport star at LSU, Mitchell was considered one of the top wide receivers in the country at Westgate High School in New Iberia, LA. Mitchell was a reserve wideout at LSU, catching 24 passes for 274 yards in 32 career games. He and teammate Chad Jones became the only two players to capture both a BCS National Championship (2007) and College World Series Championship (2009). On the diamond, Mitchell was a force, hitting .327 with 11 homeruns, 50 RBI and 36 stolen bases his junior year. The White Sox drafted him with the 23rd overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft and he started his professional career by hitting .296 with 5 stolen bases in 34 games of Class A baseball last year.

Tight End: LeBron James (6-8, 250) Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) Forward
King James was already featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior basketball player at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, OH, but his athletic exploits weren't limited to just basketball. On the gridiron, James caught 57 passes for 1160 yards and 16 touchdowns while leading his team to the state championship game during his junior year. Despite his status as a five-star football recruit, he decided to give up football as a senior to focus solely on basketball. James was selected with the 1st overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft straight out of high school by his hometown Cavs and in six seasons he has been named to three First Team All-NBA squads, captured a scoring title, won Rookie of the Year and MVP honors and led his team to the NBA Finals all by the ripe old age of 24. Obviously, he made the right decision, but it's kinda cool to imagine what a 6-8, 275-pound (after training for football) tight end with a 44-inch vertical and 4.5 speed would have done in the NFL.

Offensive Tackle: Glen Davis (6-9, 290) Boston Celtics (NBA) Forward
"Big Baby" Davis was a terrific two-way football player at University Laboratory High School in Baton Rouge, LA, starring at defensive end, defensive tackle and running back. In high school, Davis stood 6-7 and weighed an astounding 345 pounds. Today, he is a relatively svelte 290 pounds despite growing another two inches since high school. How highly was Davis thought of as a football player? Rivals ranked him as the 13th best high school basketball player in the country, but still questioned his decision to play basketball at LSU over a future on the football field. At Baton Rouge he averaged 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a junior and was selected in the 2nd round of the 2007 NBA Draft. A reserve power forward for the Celtics, Davis stepped in for an injured Kevin Garnett in the playoffs last year and averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in 14 games. He recently expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the NFL someday. At 300 pounds with the agility and stamina to play in the NBA, he would make one helleva left tackle.

Glen Davis High School Football Highlights:


Offensive Tackle: Wes Shivers (6-5, 265) UFC Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Fighter
Shivers was an All-SEC offensive tackle at Mississippi State where he played at 320 pounds. Dtafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 7th round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Shivers gave up football after he was cut by the Atlanta Falcons after playing in three regular season games.

Offensive Guard: Bob Sapp (6-4, 325) DREAM Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Fighter
Sapp is the only athlete on this list who actually played in the NFL - even if it was for only one game. A standout offensive guard at Washington, Sapp was expected to be a high pick in the 1997 NFL Draft. In fact, Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him as the best offensive guard prospect in the entire draft. However, his stocked slipped for whatever reason and he wasn't selected until the 69th overall pick in the 3rd round. Over the next four seasons, Sapp played for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders, but he appeared in just one game with Minnesota in 1997 before leaving football to start a career in Japanese professional wrestling, then kickboxing and later MMA. Sapp compiled a 10-9 kickboxing record before competing in MMA where he has a record of 10-6-1 with Pride, K-1 and DREAM - all lesser competition than the quality of fighters in UFC.

Offensive Guard:

Center:


Defensive End: CC Sabathia (6-7, 290) New York Yankees (MLB) Pitcher
Before signing with the Cleveland Indians after they selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft, Sabathia had signed a letter of intent to play football at Hawaii. A three-sport star at Vallejo High School in Vallejo, CA, Sabathia was an All-Conference tight end and defensive end. He also happened to be a top-notch baseball prospect, going 6-0 with a 0.77 ERA his senior year. Sabathia made the right decision. At just 20 years old he had a 17-5 record and was runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year, and in nine big league seasons he's 136-81 with a 3,62 ERA and 1,590 strikeouts in 1,889 innings pitched. He won the AL CY Young Award in 2007 and signed a seven-year $161M contract with the New York Yankees.

Defensive End: Brock Lesnar (6-2, 265) UFC Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Champion
Yes, Lesnar already tried, and failed, to make the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings in 2004. But let's get this straight, it was just a matter of time before Lesnar would have been a NFL player. In 2004, the then-WWE Champion left a lucrative wrestling contact on the table to try his hand at a real sport - professional football. Lesnar worked out for NFL scouts and ran a 4.7 second forty-yard dash with a 35-inch vertical leap, incredible numbers for a defensive lineman. No one doubted his athletic ability. After all, Lesnar was the 2000 NCAA Heavyweight Wrestling Champion at Minnesota, where he compiled a 55-3 record in two varsity seasons. But Lesnar hadn't played football in TEN YEARS. No athlete, no matter how athletic, can just pick up a sport after 10 years and expect to compete with the game's greatest players. Yet Lesnar almost made the team - he was one of the Vikings' last cuts that preseason. One of his key NFL highlights was sacking Kansas City quarterback Damon Huard in a preseason contest and knocking him out of the game. If Lesnar would have taken the Vikings' offer to play with their NFL Europe team that year, I bet he's playing in the NFL right now. Instead, he's beating the snot out of the biggest, most skilled professional fighters on the planet. What an incredible athlete.

Defensive Tackle: Matt Mitrione (6-2, 275) UFC Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Fighter
Affectionately known as "Meat" in college, Mitrione was a starting defensive tackle on Purdue's Rose Bowl team in 2000 and would play 9 games in the NFL with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. He played at 300 pounds.

Defensive Tackle:

Outside Linebacker: Elijah Dukes (6-1, 248) Washington Nationals (MLB) Right Fielder
Talented and tormented, Dukes was a star high school football recruit before embarking on his turbulent baseball career. Rivals ranked Dukes as a four-star recruit and the 19th best high school linebacker in the country and he was committed to play football at North Carolina State before signing a contract with Tampa Bay after they selected him in the 3rd round of the 2002 MLB Draft. Dukes has a rare combination of power, speed, plate discipline and arm strength, but a series of on-field and off-field altercations has stunted his baseball career. Still, he is one of Washington's key players they are counting on to rebuild their franchise.

Outside Linebacker: Matt Holliday (6-4, 235) St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) Left Fielder
Big, strong, fast, and blessed with a rocket arm, Holliday has enjoyed great success in baseball, winning both NL batting and RBI titles in 2007 en route to leading the Colorado Rockies to the World Series. Before becoming a standout baseball player, Holliday was one helleva football player. He was an All-America quarterback at Stillwater High School in Oklahoma and had signed a letter of intend to play football at Oklahoma State before signing with the Rockies after they selected him in the 7th round of the 1998 MLB Draft. Like Joe Paterno did countless times in his coaching career, I'm moving this tough, athletic quarterback to linebacker on this team. Holliday just signed a seven-year, $120M contract with St. Louis.

Middle Linebacker: Kimbo Slice (6-2, 235) UFC Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Fighter
Perhaps the most well-known street fighter on the planet, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson was a star linebacker at Palmetto High School in Miami, FL. Despite getting a late start in MMA, Slice has a 4-1 record and won his first UFC contest on December 5, 2009.

Cornerback: Allen Iverson (6-0, 165) Philadelphia 76'ers (NBA) Guard [PICTURED ABOVE]
A.I. was the original Mike Vick, passing and running for breathtaking touchdowns at Bethel High School in Hampton, VA. Iverson passed for 1,423 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for 781 yards and 15 scores as a junior, leading his team to the state championship. On defense, he was an All-State defensive back, intercepting 8 passes. Iverson was banned from playing all sports his senior season following his highly controversial participation in a bowling alley brawl, but he would go on to become a basketball star at Georgetown after spending four months in prison. He was selected with the 1st overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft by the 76'ers and his blazing speed and crossover dribble translated into instant NBA success as he captured four scoring titles, the 1997 Rookie of the Year and 2001 MVP awards and carried the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals. Although Iverson is a sure-fire Hall of Fame basketball player, it warrants mention that he was actually considered a better pro football prospect in high school. Had the bowling alley brawl never happened, who knows what Iverson would have done if he had the opportunity to play football during his senior year.

Allen Iverson High School Football Highlights:


Cornerback: Nate Robinson (5-9, 180) New York Knicks (NBA) Guard
The pint-sized Robinson is actually the only current NBA player who has played college football. As a true freshman at Washington in 2002, Robinson played in all 13 games and tallied 34 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass deflections at cornerback. After averaging 13 points per game on the court during his freshman season, Robinson quit football to focus on basketball and would go on the become a 1st round selection in the 2005 NBA Draft. He's averaged over 12 points per game in four NBA seasons, but his real claim to fame is as a three-time Slam Dunk Champion. There is little doubt Robinson could have been a NFL cornerback. His speed, athleticism and other-worldly vertical leap made him a can't-miss prospect and potential first round NFL draft pick.

Free Safety: Grady Sizemore (6-2, 200) Cleveland Indians (MLB) Center Fielder
Cleveland's pretty-boy center fielder was an All-State football player once upon a time. At Cascade High School in Mill Creek, WA, Sizemore rushed for 1,201 yards and 21 touchdowns on offense and tallied 79 tackles and 8 interceptions on defense during his senior season. He was named First Team All-State defensive back and was all set to play both baseball and football at the University of Washington before signing with the Montreal Expos after they selected him in the third round of the 2000 MLB Draft. He clearly made the right choice. In just five full MLB seasons, Sizemore has been named to three AL All-Star teams and won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Strong Safety: Jeff Francoeur (6-5, 220) New York Mets (MLB) Right Fielder
In June of 2002, Francoeur had a tough decision to make - play baseball for his hometown Atlanta Braves or stay committed to playing both football and baseball at Clemson. Atlanta made the choice much easier by offering and signing him to a $2.2 million bonus. On the surface, it seems like he made the right choice, but to be perfectly honest, his best sport was probably football. Francoeur has had moderate success in his first 5 seasons in MLB, hitting .270 with 88 homeruns and 400 RBI, but at Parkview High School in Georgia, he was a gridiron savant. Francoeur was the centerpiece of a football program that went undefeated in 2000 and 2001, and won the state champion in 2002. As a junior, he caught 14 touchdowns as a receiver and intercepted 15 passes as a safety. You never really know, but he had 1st round NFL pick written all over him. It would have been fun to see him as a 6-5, 220-pound strong safety in the SEC.

Kicker: Darin Erstad (6-2, 220) Houston Astros (MLB) Left Fielder
In 1995, Erstad was the best college baseball player in the nation at Nebraska and the California Angels made him the 1st overall pick in that year's MLB Draft. He would later help the Angels capture a World Series Championship in 2002 and has a .282 average with 124 homeruns and 699 RBI in 1,654 career MLB games. However, if for some reason baseball never worked out for him, Erstad could have always fallen back on his backup plan - NFL punter. He served as the starting punter on Nebraska's 1994 National Championship football team, booming 50 punts for 2,130 yards. While his 42.6 yard average ranked an impressive 14th in the nation, Erstad's real football accomplishment was his net punting average of 41.2 - meaning opponents averaged only 1.4 net yards per punt return. That's some great hang-time! In addition, he placed 20 punts inside his opponent's 20-yard line. Erstad also served as the backup placekicker, booting three field goals (including a long of 48 yards) and 10 extra points that season.