TCU Football 2008 Signed Players

Aaron Brown(RB,Specialist)-  The Detroit Lions have signed TCU's own sixth-round pick RB Aaron Brown, Scout.com has confirmed. According to a league source, it's a three-year, $1.26 million deal. The contract includes a signing bonus worth $75,000.  AB is going to be the number 3 RB and could help out on special teams with KO returns as well as seeing some action on the punt return as well.  

Jason Phillips(LB)-The Baltimore Ravens signed TCU's own fifth-round linebacker Jason Phillips to a three-year contract worth $1.34 million that includes a $156,050 signing bonus, according to NFL Players Association records.

A four-time all-conference player at Texas Christian, Phillips received base salaries of $310,000, $395,000 and $480,000. He received split salaries for the first two years of his contract.  That's my dude and he still hasn't taken me to dinner!! But his knee is healthy and the Baltimore Ravens are loving him.  He is the type of player that can run around and make plays.  The guy is a pure athlete, I've seen him do a front flip and a back flip right off that.  I still had more tackles than him in our freshmen year spring practices! He will be perfect for the Ravens scheme because they have one of the biggest defensive lines in the league and the D-Line is taught to hold up the offensive line and let the LB's run wild and make plays like big Ray Lewis.  Phillips should flourish in this scheme, especially learning from players such as Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed.  Not a bad group of players.  Considering they will possibly all be in the Hall one day.  

Robert Henson(LB)-  The Washington Redskins signed my boy to a 3-year deal and a nice little signing bonus but last time I saw him was at his baby shower for his wife and I wasn't about to ask my man how much bread he was making....let's just say he is doing well and loving life.  Not too mention he has been catching the eyes of every coach in Washington and will have to wait his turn to play on D but will contribute on Special Teams and trust me my boy Rob will run around and kill people out there, this guy is not scared of anyone and loves to play the game.  He will do well for the Skins.

Blake Schlueter(OL,Center)-  My boy Blake has signed with the Denver Broncos as well, terms were disclosed but heck I'm just glad to see this guy get signed and get the opportunity to play at this level.   He deserves it!  This guy is a beast of an athlete and has worked so hard to get where he is.  I remember watching film of Blake in the film room pancaking guys twice his size because of his speed,great technique, and strength.  Schlueter had 10 pancakes a game more than I can count on both hands.  That's saying something!  He will fit perfectly in the Bronco's scheme, he can run, he is smart, and is just a hard ass all around, check out my pro day story on andyburrell.com and you can see this beast run.

Stephen Hodge(LB)-  I'm not sure what my boy signed for but I can tell you that I spoke with Bradie James(Cowboys Linebacker) on ESPN radio 103.3 and I had the chance to talk with him about Hodge a little bit.  As TCU fans know strong safety Hodge made a lot of plays in his career and it started as a freshman.  He wrecked shop on special teams for a couple of years and then got the chance to start playing more in nickel and dime packages for the frogs.  I would have started but I tore my knee to shreds against BYU....well at least I think I would have started!  Now Hodge has been converted to a pure linebacker, it is different especially in the league but Hodge does have experience with LB because at TCU we ran Coach Gary Patterson's patented 4-2-5 defense so Hodge would slide into the LB position depending on the formation of the offense.  So he does have minimal experience and the guy is a beast(6 foot 240).  Bradie told me that he saw good things out of Hodge and that it is tough to change positions but that he gets better everyday.  

This has been the run down for TCU frog fans and anyone else that is interested in these pro teams.  I will keep you up to date on all the latest info on my boys.  They will all be playing their own role and I look forward to seeing what they do this season and in the future.  As always, this has been AndyB keepin it real, you guys get at me and leave some comments.  Feel free to ask questions, put me in my place, or agree.  If you are reading this, I appreciate it and I will be on top of my game from this point on.

NBA Off-Season

This off season has been one of many changes for the strongest teams in the East and the West.  With the most recent coming out of Boston with the Celtics picking up Rasheed Wallace.  This type of player can really make them one of the best teams in the history of the league. Yeah, the history! As much as people don't like Wallace I guarantee you that if he is on your team you are loving the guy.  I mean he is always hustling, he plays a lot of minutes, great rebounder, great perimeter shooter, and an intimidator on the court.  Trust me a lot of these NBA guys do not want to have to put up with Wallace's talent or his attitude not too mention you have KG,Paul Pierce,Rondo,and Jesus Shuttlesworth(Ray Allen).  It looks pretty scary and then you have the scoring power of Eddie "Arizona State" House off the bench.  Ok, ok I'm starting to sound like a Celtic's fan and that I am not,trust me!  All I am trying to get across is that if the Lakers don't get back Lamar Odom who is reportedly being swayed by the Miami Heat and Dwayne Wade and the young moolah$$ then they will have trouble playing with the Celtic's.  If Odom and Ariza are both out of LA you are looking at a totally different team and one that I don't believe can hang with the mighty Celtic's even with Kobe and yet another intimadator Ron Artest.  God, I would not ever want to get on his bad side and would defiantly want him on my side in a bar fight. The guy is athletic,thick,great shooter, and a pure ass hole.  But LA will not be able to hang with Boston if they can't hold on to Odom.  That is as long as the heart of the team, KG stays healthy.

We can't count out "The King" either though, I mean the guy is a beast, I am constantly in fights with my best buddy Sdot about who is better-LeBron or Kobe.  I'm not even sure sometimes, they are different players.  I believe Kobe is better just because the guy is a winner and a pure competitor.  I mean he wants it more than anyone and that's one thing LeBron is lacking but with the acquisition of Shaq it could make for a very interesting season and make LeBron want it so much more. Because even though I'm only 23 and have never met any of these guys I'm pretty sure that Kobe and Shaq are constantly trying to out do each other when it comes to the 'ol Championships.  And you cannot count the Cavs out because they have the biggest,strongest,fastest and pure talent that anyone in the game has seen in a long time.  I might sound like I'm contradicting myself with the King James and Kobe talk but I really think that the all around better player is Kobe...at least at this point.  He has won and he plays his ass off every game. Not to say that LeBron doesn't give it his all but Kobe is a beast in the 4th quarter and you never know what you will get out of him.  Think about this....LeBron is 24 with 6 years of experience....Kobe is 30 with 13 years experience.  LeBron has plenty of time to catch up but Kobe did win his first NBA Title in only his 5th season the 2000-2001 season.  Yes he did have the DIESEL in his hay day but it just doesn't add up.  Ok, I'm done with this!!! This could go on for days!  

The main idea of this post was to talk about the tumultuous big move off season in the NBA.  It will be interesting to see if the Lakers can hold on to Odom.  He needs to wake up by the way and realize who he is playing around and who the hell is coaching his ass!! I mean stick around and win a couple more rings because as bad ass as Mr. Wade is....the Heat are not going to compare to the Celtics, Magic, or the Cavs in the East.  Don't count out the Spurs with Richard Jefferson or the Mavericks with their run and gun offense and the great coaching of Rick Carlisle.     

MAVS Make Deal For Shawn Marion

After re-signing Jason Kidd earlier this week, ESPN is reporting that the Dallas Mavericks are part of a 4 team deal that would send Jerry Stackhouse to the Grizzlies and Devean George and Antoine Wright to the Raptors.  Personally I like this deal, the Mavericks not only get rid of an old ailing Stackhouse(who I am a fan of but he hasn't been healthy since '06) they also get rid of Wright who never impressed me and Devean George who was nothing close to the role player once thought to be when he arrived in Dallas.

It's what Dallas is getting that I really like.  We will be able to line up and run the court with a big athletic group.  Kidd, Howard at the 2, Marion at small forward next to Nowitzki and sixth man of the year award winner, the JET coming off the bench.  The Mavericks also got 2 other players in the deal which can help add some depth such as 25 year old Marcin Gortat who is not a bad shooter and brings some youthful energy.  The Mavericks also signed former SMU guard Quinton Ross to help with perimeter defense since that was the only thing that Antoine Wright ever did for the Mavs organization.  

With the help of Marion the Mavs will have one of the most athletic and best shooting teams in the league without a doubt.  But does Cuban really think that this kind of deal can make them that much better to keep up with the likes of the big 4(Lakers, Orlando, Cavs, and Spurs) who have all made bigger deals to improve themselves.  Only time will tell but this does give Coach Rick Carlisle more to work with and we all know what a great coach he is.  Till next time-AB

Rangers Take First...For Now

The Texas Strangers and Vicente Padilla pulled off a big win out in Anaheim thanks to the help of Andruw Jones and his 3 home runs.  Remember the last memorable time Andruw hit 3 home runs??? Let's think...maybe the NLCS against the nitty gritty Phillies when he was 18 years of age!  The final was 8-1 Rangers.  Taylor Teagarden, former UT catcher even got in on the action by hitting a bomb.  The Rangers advanced to 7-2 against the Angels this year, tonight Andruw Jones carried the team and made his mark as a Ranger.  

Here's a few that have hit 3 home runs in a game as a Texas Ranger...A-Rod, Texeria, Juan Gonzo Gonzalez, and the "Shrek" Kevin Mench.  Pretty big deal tonight....we will get back at you tomorrow..keep it real and everybody jump on the AndyB train along with my boy Andruw Jones!-AB

What have I been saying?? The entire season I have said give Mr.Andruw Jones at bats.  Mr. Jones hit 3 bombs tonight against the All Mighty AL West LA of Anaheim Angels.  Yes, yes I did grow up a Jones fan due to the fact that Ted Turner had the Braves on every channel,brain washing us all with the perfect pitching staff and all-American players such as Terry Pendleton and Steve Avery into our brains but forget about the Yanks the Braves were the team of the 90's.  Let's think about another owner that did the same thing....Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys of the 90's.  I wish I was on TV or radio because I really stink at typing.  Getting back to our Strangers...did you know that this time last year the Angels had an 8 game lead in the West and they went ahead and ran away with it.  The AL West is not a walk in the park like it has been in years past.  Lets not forget about the Mariners who don't have such a bad squad themselves.  

Let's get Hamilton going and if Andrus can hold up in a long season we have a chance...but don't scratch too early because 'ol Grayson Sherman JUCO Lackey is a stud and can carry a team through the playoffs just like the entire Angels bullpen.  

I'll get back at you tomorrow with some inside info on how recent draft pics Robert Henson(Redskins), Jason Phillips(Ravens), Blake Schluter(Broncos), and lets not forget about "The Head" Stephen "lay the wood" Hodge!  Yes he has multiple nick names. I'll try and catch up with all of them tomorrow and see what's happening on the pro side of things.  

Tell then keep it real and stay true.  For all you sports fans, this is AndyB and I'm out!

Just the Start

First and foremost I would like to thank Holly Jonas for putting this bad boy together. We still have some kinks to work out and hopefully in the next few days my video segment, video interviews, and sports radio will be up on the website. The sole purpose of andyburrell.com is to connect with sports fans as well as Andy Burrell fans; because I know you're out there and talk real sports. Everyone is tired of hearing the same ol same ol from every sports broadcaster and analyst. I'm here to change that and in the process get a job and start a career for myself. Each day I will blog at least 2 or 3 times and I am asking that everyone give their 2 cents. I don't care if you agree or disagree on a topic but if you disagree chances are I will tell you why you are wrong. This will be a fun and interactive website and I will always provide the inside scoop. Because of my time playing football at TCU and working at CBS in Dallas/FW I have made many contacts and know a lot of athletes and I will not be afraid to let you know whats going on when the going gets tough or when it is going easy. Thanks to all who contribute and as soon as the site is done we will start talking TCU football and baseball, MLB, NFL, Soccer, NBA...Hell we will even talk CFL because I have a couple boys that are balling up there this coming season. Until the next week keep it real and stay tuned sports fans! AB