Finally.

I'm still not sure what took you so long, dude.


LeSean McCoy: 2006-2008

Procrastination: The World's Worst Cologne

Yes, I know I promised an elaborate, flashy Big East bowl recap. I didn't deliver, and I suck. But really, what were you expecting me to say: "Oh yeah, Pat White threw for a lot of yards in his last game and the Pittsburgh offense stunk?" Did that merit taking up space on CFN that could be better spent with an endless stream of marginally more meaningful year-end recaps?

Probably not. There is news, though:

Apparently Syracuse has a "Vidal Hazelton" watch going on right now, which seems like an awful lot of attention being paid to someone who's more likely to be a non-entity than a major star...LeSean McCoy can't decide whether to become an instant millionaire or take a pounding as Pitt's only reliable offensive option next season...Apparently USF is "an option" for ex-Miami QB Robert Marve.

RE: The national championship "controversy". It's only a controversy because Florida lost by one to Ole Miss. If the Gators win that game, there is no debate, Utah's perfect season or no. But sorry kids, Florida's loss is no better than the losses by Oklahoma, or Texas or USC. At that point, they fall into the fuzzy group of "one-loss teams that are somewhat better than Utah".

LeSean McCoy Apparently Isn't Stupid After All

For the last few weeks, I have been somewhat obsessed with figuring out why NFL-ready running back LeSean McCoy was insistent on staying for a fourth year at Pittsburgh. I was about to call his family members to arrange an intervention on his behalf, but somebody beat me to it as McCoy is now apparently leaning towards declaring for the draft.

For Panthers' head coach Dave Wannstedt, he's now confronted with the reality that his only reliable offensive weapon may be gone. Larod Stephens-Howling needs to emerge as something more than a reliable backup, and fast, or 2009 might be, well, like the rest of the Wannstedt era in Pittsburgh.

Kenny Britt and Donald Brown: Gone

Rutgers star wide receiver Kenny Britt made what was widely rumored official on Saturday - he's giving up his senior year of eligibility to go pro. At 6'4", 215 pounds and coming off an 87-catch All-America season, it seemed like a mortal lock that he'd opt for the NFL. Add in the fact that the quarterback next year will likely be one of two little-used fifth-year seniors - Jabu Lovelance or Dom Natale - and the decision becomes even easier to make.

Apparently, Connecticut running back Donald Brown - fresh off a ridiculous 261-yard rushing day in the International Bowl against Buffalo - has also made the same decision. (In the process, he did admit that his previous statements that he'd return for his senior year were, well, lies. Lying about one's status or the status of a team member is something Brown apparently got from his head coach.)

Again, I ask the question of LeSean McCoy - with the possibility of a rookie salary cap and the threat of career-altering injury (see McGahee, Willis) why in the world would you not take the money and run?

I'm Not Exactly Sure What To Make Of The Sun Bowl

Thankfully, Paul Zeise at the Post-Gazette sums it up better than I ever could.

Leave it to Pitt to make a three-point loss in a semi-meaningful bowl game seem like a step backwards, thanks in no smal part to some epic incompetence by quarterback Bill Stull. Not to channel Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler from SNL, but 7 for 24 and 52 yards passing? Really?

LeSean McCoy may want to get out while the getting's good.

What is it with Big East running backs?

First LeSean McCoy makes the rather curious decision not to enter the NFL draft. (although some folks aren't exactly convinced that will hold) Now, UConn's Donald Brown makes the same call, electing to come back for his senior year.

McCoy and Brown may not have been first-rounders, but certainly wouldn't have gone much past the third round if they came out. Considering the short shelf-life that running backs have to begin with, it seems strange the neither would want to take their chances in the draft now. It becomes doubly odd when you consider the chatter about the rookie pay scale going forward.

Contrast these scenarios to the end of last season, when Steve Slaton and Ray Rice couldn't leave fast enough.