Experts and Clowns: Discussing Sean Taylor, the NFL and More

Welcome back, one and all, to the only series here on Associated Content that offers free gift wrapping for every purchase of 50 dollars or more. This is Experts and Clowns. For those of you who haven't been following this series (and judging by the page views, that almost everybody), a group of four of the best (more bored) sportswriters here on Associated Content decided to (blatantly) rip off ESPN's Around the Horn, except without that annoying Stat Boy. I miss I, Max.

I'm going to forgo any and all introductions because, well, I feel like it. If you have never read any of these columns before, simply search for any previous editions. Our distinguished panelists include Brian Joura, Nick Meyer, Jake Emen and everybody's favorite AC content producer, me. Let's get on with the show.

1. NFL star Sean Taylor just passed away. Which death of an athlete, past or present, most affected you and why?

Brian: I got to see Lenny Bias play a lot of games when he was at Maryland and he was just a phenomenal basketball player. He was 6'8 with a body that looked like it was chiseled out of stone. He was a great scorer and rebounder, but he was every bit as good on the defensive end. His performance in the final minutes of the game against UNC in 1986, in which Maryland became the first visiting team to win at the Smith Center, was the stuff of legend.

The Celtics looked like they were going to continue being the best basketball franchise in the country when they picked him in the draft. I can remember like it was yesterday when the news of his passing hit. I was in my apartment and my roommate Wally ran in and said he just heard on the radio that someone from the Celtics died. He wasn't sure but he thought it was Larry Bird. It turned out to be Bias but it might have been better for the Celtics if it had been Bird. Bias was that good.

Roberto Clemente completed 99 percent of his career when he died. Thurman Munson, despite what Yankees fans might tell you, had already past his prime when he died. Ken Hubbs was cut down tragically young, but fans at the time caught a glimpse of what might have been with his Rookie of the Year season. But with Bias, all we had was the big unknown. Would he have dominated like he did in college? I think the answer to that is unquestionably yes. But if the same thing had happened a year earlier to Wayman Tisdale, I'm sure all of the people who watched him play at Oklahoma would have said the same thing. That's why the death of Len Bias is the one that sticks with me.

Nick: I would have to say Reggie White because he was still in the prime of his life and he was starting to positively affect peoples' lives as a motivational speaker. He seemed like such a good guy and it was sad to see him go so early. Derrick Thomas' death was also pretty sad and similar in the way it happened to White's.

I remember those guys terrorizing QB's what seems like just a few years ago and both of their deaths were so sudden.

Jake: Boxer Leavander Johnson. Now, most of you probably went, "Who?" Leavander Johnson died several days after a fight in Atlantic City a few years ago. He was promoted by the company that I used to intern for and I had met him at a fight card just several weeks before it happened. He had finally won his first championship as a professional fighter, and his own heart and will - not going down and continuing to take punishment - cost him his life.

Zac: I would have to say the boating accident that took the life in Cleveland pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews. I was only nine at the time and was in complete shock. These guys weren't All-Star at all but it still took every Indians fan by surprise. It was also terrible to watch Bob Ojeda pitch. Ojeda survived the accident but was never the same pitcher afterwards.

2. Who will get the last playoff spot in the nfc? 6-5 detroit or one of the many 5-6 teams?

Brian: Well, let me start off by saying that while the Giants are in the driver's seat, I don't think they have the first wild card spot locked up at this point. Of their five remaining games, they have three on the road plus a home game versus New England. Their conference record is 5-4 and they have to play at Chicago and at Philadelphia. If they win two of their final five, they should get a playoff spot. But if they only win one of the remaining five, and it's the one against Buffalo, that would leave them 8-8 overall and 5-7 in conference which may not be enough to get it done.

Of the 6-5/5-6 teams, I like the Vikings. They have won three of their past four games and they have the easiest remaining schedule. Detroit has the game advantage right now, but the Lions have to play Dallas, Green Bay and San Diego while the toughest game left for the Vikings is this week's home game against the Lions. All of the other 5-6 teams have at least one game remaining against a division leader.

Minnesota does two things very well - they run the ball and they stop the run on defense. Additionally, their defense is very good at causing turnovers and creating points, witnessed by last week's three interception returns for a touchdown. If they can just get their coach and QB to stop killing them, they'll make the playoffs.

Nick: I'll take the Saints because they're starting to light it up on offense like last year and their schedule is manageable. My Lions just don't have the offensive line or the secondary to stay on top with such a tough schedule. Funny how Matt Millen hasn't addressed either position since he's been GM.

Jake: The Cardinals! Eek, that looks bad when you write that. Unheard of, yes. But throw in 1 part bad division plus 1 part lots of playmakers on the offensive and defensive side of the ball and you have a team that can slide right in. It won't be Detroit, bet on it.

Zac: Sorry, Brian, but I can't see the Vikes making it. Of course, with that said, I don't think the New York (football) Giants are a lock to make the playoffs, either. I'm not giving up on Detroit just yet to be honest. Yeah, I know they're sliding, but the Lions have to eventually step up and be a playoff caliber team. Don't they?

3. Fred Taylor and Warrick Dunn have both crossed the 10,000 yards threshold. Who gets remembered as the better player?

Brian: Fred Taylor is superior to Warrick Dunn except in staying healthy. Taylor has more rushing yards , more rushing touchdowns and more overall TDs despite playing in 38 fewer career games. Dunn has better receiving totals than Taylor but that's largely because of how they were used. Taylor caught 40 or more passes three times in his career, so he clearly could have been more valuable in the passing game if his team chose to use him that way more often. Taylor would've been remembered as one of the top backs in NFL history if he could've stayed healthy. As it is, he'll still be remembered as a better back than Dunn.

Nick: Truthfully, I don't think either of them will be remembered as an elite player, but of the two I think Dunn will stay more fresh in peoples' minds.

That's because he's a little guy who runs with surprising power and has been very durable for his size, silencing the doubters who said he couldn't last in the NFL.

People just don't seem to pay much attention to Fred Taylor or respect him very much even though he's been a great back. Probably because he hasn't been durable and all the fantasy geeks out there are bitter about him costing them games or something.

Jake: Fred Taylor is one of - if not the - most underated player of his generation. That being said, Warrick Dunn will be remembered more, not necessarily as better, but simply more remembered to begin with. Taylor got the title of "injury prone", and despite several seasons where that applied, for the most part it is largely unjust. Warrick Dunn, with his well publicized charity efforts and penchant for breaking longer runs will be remembered more, and as such, will be thought of as better.

Zac: I've always been a big Taylor fan. It's a shame that injuries significantly shortened his career. I can't help but wonder how good Taylor could have been had he been healthy the whole time. Warrick Dunn is a rather underrated running back but I can't put him in the same category as Taylor.

4. Fact or Fiction: Johan Santana will be a Yankee before July 2008

Brian: The Twins need position players while the Yankees main trading chits are pitchers. If the Yankees are willing to include Robinson Cano in the deal, then they probably get him. But that opens up a huge hole at second base and the Yankees have given no indication of being willing to deal Cano. The Dodgers, Angels and Mets are all better suited to get Santana than the Yankees.

Nick: I think the Yankees will somehow pull the right strings and bring Santana to town. Not only do they have some good prospects and young players like Phil Hughes and Melky Cabrera to offer, they also have a habit of throwing in trillions of dollars in order to make a deal work. And we all know how cheaply run the Twins are these days.

Jake: Fiction. For the love of god, fiction. Minnesota, you have a rich owner, you have the money, spend it! He is the best pitcher of his generation! And for all things holy, do not let this man go to the Yankees. You have young pitching prospects, you don't need them, but you absolutely must keep Santana, especially after letting Torri Hunter walk. Speaking of, another New York franchise has some guy named Lastings Milledge. Err... we did. Dammit.

Zac: I'm going to say fiction on this one. Simply stated, the Yankees don't have enough to give up for Santana, at least not in the eyes of the Twins. The Mets may have before trading away Milledge. Realistically, I see Santana either going to the Red Sox or staying put. The Twins are demanding some grade A talent and the Red Sox are willing to part with just that in exchange for a Cy Young winner. The Red Sox dynasty grows even more.