Tuesday Morning Impressions: #NFLPA, #Final Four picks

The 2010 NFL draft invitees. The NFLPA recently asked all 2011 invitees to decline their invitations to appear at the April draft. 

       

          Wow, who does the NFLPA think they are when they ask college players not to accept the draft day invitation to appear at the NFL draft when their name is called. First, while this not their fight quite yet, the NFLPA, especially, should understand the honor of and dreams that are fulfilled at that moment. I understand the bitterness between the union and the owners, but, let's wait until after the draft before we ask this years crop of players to join the cause. They are victims of circumstance. Hopefully those players that do show up don't get black-balled by the union heads. It's not like they're crossing the picket line. They are merely doing what Peyton, Drew and other players have done-fulfill a dream. It's tough to take the side of the NFLPA when they ask these players to give up a once in a life time opportunity.

The March to Madness

    Arguably the best sports month of the year has arrived and as always arrives with controversy, heartbreak and, for some, disappointment. There are many intriguing first round games that could send some big budget powerhouse programs into earlier than expected off season. As I wrote yesterday, I like Belmont over Wisconsin with mild upsets of Richmond over Vanderbilt, Virginia Commonwealth over Georgetown, Michigan State over UCLA, Oakland over Texas, Clemson over WVU and George Mason over Villanova.

My Final Four are Ohio State, UCONN, Notre Dame and Pitt with UCONN and Notre Dame playing in the championship game and UCONN winning it all. I have Kansas being knocked off by Louisville, Arizona knocking out Duke and Syracuse over North Carolina.