Dr Z

Jump on the bandwagon, I mean bus. Student buses traveling to Cleveland for Thursday's 2 p.m. (EST) contest will leave Pint's Restaurant (426 East Exchange Street, Akron) at noon and return immediately following the game. As of Wednesday morning, just 25 seats remain on the charter buses. UA students are encouraged to take advantage of a special $12 package, which includes game ticket, round-trip charter bus travel to the game, a Zips' "6th Man" gold t-shirt" and Pepsi products. Student game tickets are priced at $10 and just 50 of those remain as of Wednesday morning.

I don't think I can agree with anything you got going on here. Dambrot is being marketed because he is an "Akron" guy...good move. The floor is fine, you must not have been around long enough to remember our BAD courts. Plus this will be redone soon anyway. French and Dunn have been around a long time. While I don't like some of Steve's "here we go again" attitude, and Joe is a big homer, I would say on the whole, they are fine. Listen to Can't's broadcast, you'll like Steve and Joe a lot more. Who in the heck stays around to watch a video screen AFTER the game??? Real fans tune in the radio as they drive to the bar to celebrate ! While color is a matter of opinion. I disagree. I like what marketing has done with our "look" Mike Thomas is an AD, not a designer. They hired a design group to do the color and logo. Silver and gold are the "new" complementary colors to teams new looks. Eg. Patriots, Rams...etc.

I'm embarrassed to be an alumni when they do that. PLEASE get rid of it ! Can't LeBron get Usher to help with some entertainment ?

Who's on the bubble...Akron that's who ! Eight "at-large" bids left. Teams that should be in: Gonzaga, Pacific, Southern Illinois, Utah, Nevada Work left to do: Wichita State, Vermont, Miami (OH), St. Mary's, Old Dominion, Holy Cross, Akron, Buffalo, Northern Iowa, Davidson, UTEP, Wis.-Milwaukee, George Washington, Saint Joseph's, New Mexico Miami (OH) [17-8 (12-5), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Routing Can't State a great bounceback off tough road trip. Still leads muddled MAC by a game, with only a trip to league minnow Marshall in the way of regular-season crown. Has great RPI and grabed another RPI Top 50 win (for now) vs. Golden flushes. Akron [17-8 (11-6), RPI: 39, SOS: 94] Struggled but got W it needed vs. Marshall. Finale at Buffalo looms very large for Zips' hopes. Akron's 6-5 vs. RPI Top 100. Buffalo [18-8 (10-7), RPI: 43, SOS: 119] Falling by 13 at Ohio a crippling loss for the Bulls, who drop into fourth place in the MAC East. Now 4-8 vs. RPI Top 100. Place in Lunardi's bracket likely short-lived. Can't State [16-11 (10-7), RPI: 45, SOS: 40] 25-point loss at Miami (OH) might kill off Golden flushes' at large hopes. Now behind four teams in the MAC. Still have better SOS than Akron (season sweep) or Buffalo (split series). 4-5 vs. RPI Top 50. Ohio [17-9 (11-6), RPI: 56, SOS: 118]: Big Wednesday night for surging Bobcats, who downed Buffalo for the season sweep. Ohio also has split with MAC leader Miami (OH) (won by four, lost by two). Was swept by Akron, so may need to finish ahead of the Zips. Impressive 8-4 vs. RPI Top 100 For the "complete" story click here

This should help Dwights FA efforts?!?! Glorified G (click here)

Mid-majors benefit from adjusted formula By Stu Durando Of the Post-Dispatch 02/27/2005 RPI In the world of controversial, computer-generated college rankings, the Ratings Percentage Index has taken a back seat since the birth of its younger, messier brother, the Bowl Championship Series. While football's BCS has undergone constant change amid massive criticism, basketball's RPI has remained constant and, thus, less debated. Until this season. As some conferences around the country begin their postseason tournaments this week, the RPI will undergo its most intense scrutiny to date because more mid-major programs than ever are in position to reach the NCAA Tournament. With a few more wins, the likes of St. Mary's, Wichita State and Akron might replace more recognizable names. They have the 24-year-old RPI to thank. The formula was altered this season to give more weight to road wins and penalize for home losses. And although it is only one tool used in the selection of at-large teams, its weight cannot be underestimated. As a result of the changes, 17 mid-majors are in the top 50 in the most recent approximation of the RPI used by the men's tournament committee. Committee chairman Bob Bowlsby is backing the new computations and already has fessed up to the possible ramifications. "I think it's an accurate representation of their strength," he said. "It's also maybe a representation of a couple of major conferences that aren't going to get quite as many teams as they have in past years. ... To the extent some of the major conferences may not get as many in, it offers an opportunity for some of the mid-majors." Conference tournaments begin Tuesday and run through Selection Sunday on March 13, and some of the less prestigious events figure to receive more attention. At this point, it appears the Missouri Valley Conference, which plays at Savvis Center Friday through March 8, could receive two at-large berths. The Mid-American Conference is in a similar position. The West Coast Conference and America East have the potential to send at-large teams where they normally wouldn't. Some mid-majors are so entrenched in the RPI that losing in a conference tournament might not end their chances. That could be the case for Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Vermont, Miami (Ohio), Pacific, Nevada and St. Mary's, all of which are in the top 30 of the RPI, although Miami and Vermont lost Sunday. How did they get there? In most cases, by winning on the road, where Vermont is 9-6, Pacific 11-1, Nevada 9-2 and St. Mary's 8-4. Bowlsby said the change in the RPI formula was made to finally reward road success, which happens in less than one-third of all games. "That being the case, we wanted the RPI to be minimally adjusted so that it reflected the difficulty of winning on the road and gave appropriate rewards when teams do achieve wins on the road," he said. "Conversely, it also represents a bigger penalty for home teams that don't defend their home floor." The RPI has not necessarily gained power, and ultimately the selection committee - not a computer - will select the at-large participants. Bowlsby is fond of referring to the RPI as a "blunt object" in its use more than a "sharp prediction object." The committee annually plays down its importance. Mid-majors have not received more than three at-large berths in one year since 1995, but that could change. Major programs that previously would have been in good position with the RPI find themselves on the bubble, and playing deep into their tournaments will become more critical. Minnesota is No. 49, whereas under the old formula the Golden Gophers would be No. 32. Georgia Tech is No. 44 instead of No. 30. West Virginia is No. 52 instead of No. 41. Meanwhile, many mid-majors have received huge bumps in the new RPI. Miami (Ohio) was No. 25 before Sunday but would have been firmly on the bubble at No. 43 last season, while Holy Cross is No. 35 instead of No. 60 and Old Dominion is No. 36, not No. 61. "Some have said the relative strength of teams is distorted by weighting," said Doug Elgin, commissioner of the Missouri Valley Conference. "It has raised some eyebrows when you look at the relative strength of teams. It hurt some teams and helped some teams. I believe from the bottom of my heart that it more fairly takes into consideration where teams have played." The committee never has put quotas on conferences, thus it is feasible that Akron of the MAC could get a nod over a sixth team from the Atlantic Coast Conference, or that Northern Iowa could get the committee's approval instead of a sixth team from the Big 12. Further positioning and RPI adjustments - some potentially major - will take place during conference tournament play and in some cases before tournaments begin. Bowlsby was pelted with questions related to the RPI and the improved standing of mid-majors during a teleconference last week and seemed unfazed by the shifting landscape. "I think that kind of comment relative to how many mid-majors make it in is a reflection of how good college basketball is throughout the country," he said. "The committee has talked till we're blue in the face that (RPI) is just one of many tools. ... But the fact of the matter is it serves a role, it serves an enhanced role now that it's been refined a little bit. I think it's a better tool." source (click here)

I agree. Something is up. Here is the list for those of you that don't want to download. PA ROSTER NAME HGT WGT OFF DEF HIGH SCHOOL COACH COLLEGE Vince Bazzone 6.03 295 OL DT McKeesport Area SHS George Smith Hofstra Univ. Joe Blanks 6.03 309 OT DT Cathedral Preparatory School Michael Mischler Winston-Salem St. Dana Brown 5.10 195 RB SS Clairton HS Tom Nola Univ. of Iowa Jerry Butler 5.09 175 RB George Washington HS Ron Cohen Univ. of Wisconsin Tommie Campbell 6.02 175 TE S Aliquippa SHS Michael Zmijanac Univ. of Pittsburgh James Carson 6.00 211 FB SS Cathedral Preparatory School Michael Mischler Indiana Univ. of PA Edward Collington 6.01 212 RB Penn Hills SHS Neil Gordon West Virginia Univ. Carmen Connolly 6.01 185 WR S Seton LaSalle HS Lou Cerro West Virginia Univ. C.J. Davis 6.02 305 OG DT West Allegheny SHS Robert Palko Univ. of Pittsburgh Brad Dawson 6.01 185 QB CB Thomas Jefferson HS Bill Cherpak Undecided Ryan Greiser 6.01 210 RB SS Pennridge HS Jeff Hollenbach Liberty Univ. Roger Hall 6.03 200 WR DB Reading HS Victor Brown Undecided Derrell Hand 6.04 315 TE DT West Philadelphia Catholic HS Brian Fluck Univ. of Notre Dame Nate Hartung 6.04 410 C NT Butler Area SHS Garry Cathell Undecided David Horton 6.00 180 WR DB Allentown Central Catholic HS Donald Roberts Univ. of Richmond Kevin Kelly 5.09 175 K P Neshaminy HS Mark Schmidt Penn State Univ. Sean Lee 6.03 217 RB LB Upper St Clair HS Jim Render Penn State Univ. Ken Lewis 6.00 180 RB DB Penn Hills SHS Neil Gordon Undecided Jordan Mitchell 6.02 175 WR DB Central Dauphin HS Paul Plott Univ. of Richmond Shane Murray 6.03 193 QB FS Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS Art Walker Univ. of Pittsburgh Kyle Newell 6.05 235 WR DE Bethlehem Catholic HS Chuck Sonon North Carolina St. John Pelusi 6.04 240 TE DE Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS Art Walker Univ. of Pittsburgh Steve Quinn 6.04 217 WR LB St. Joseph's Preparatory School Gil Brooks Univ. of Notre Dame Graham Rihn 6.03 240 OT DE Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS Art Walker Cornell Univ. Jake Serdy 6.01 305 OT DT Upper St Clair HS Jim Render Univ. of Maine Mikell Simpson 6.01 195 RB DB Harrisburg HS George Chaump Univ. of Virginia Steve Slaton 5.11 188 RB DB Conwell-Eagan Catholic HS Kevin Kelly West Virginia Univ. Marques Slocum 6.06 330 OG DT West Philadelphia Catholic HS Brian Fluck Univ. of Michigan LaRod Stephens 5.09 170 TB S Greater Johnstown HS Bob Arcurio Univ. of Pittsburgh Knowledge Timmons 5.11 180 WR DB William Penn SHS Matt Ortega Penn State Univ. LaRondo Tucker 6.02 235 FB LB Bishop McDevitt HS Jeff Weachter Undecided Mike Turkovich 6.07 285 OL DL Valley Forge Military Academy Dennis Orlando Univ. of Notre Dame Bradley Vierling 6.03 285 OL Central Bucks HS East Larry Greene Vanderbilt Univ. Ernest Williams 6.03 250 RB DE Monessen SHS Joe Fischer Univ. of Pittsburgh HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: Bob Palko West Allegheny HS ASSISTANT COACHES: Dick Beck North Penn HS Mark Evans Eastern Lebanon Co. HS Tom Loughran South Park SHS Rick Mauk Northern SHS Jeff Metheny Bethel Park SHS Justin King (Gateway HS) was selected for the Big 33, but is not able to play because of other commitments. OHIO ROSTER # NAME HGT WG OFF DEF HIGH SCHOOL COACH College Andre Amos 6.01 180 WR DB Middletown HS Dick Martin Ohio State Univ. Alex Boone 6.08 330 OL Saint Edward HS John Gibbons Ohio State Univ. Ryan Brinson 5.09 180 RB DB Canton McKinley SHS Brian Cross Univ. of Pittsburgh Terrill Byrd 5.10 280 DL Colerain HS Kerry Combs Univ. of Cincinnati Rocco Cironi 6.06 290 OL Warren G Harding HS Thom McDaniels Michigan State Univ. Alex Daniels 6.04 235 TE LB Brookhaven HS Tom Blake Univ. of Minnesota Kendell Davis 6.00 195 RB DB Alliance HS Ron Kuceyeski Michigan State Univ. Todd Denlinger 6.04 285 OL DL Troy HS Steve Nolan Ohio State Univ. Jess East 6.04 240 OL DL Cambridge HS Rick Goodrich Ohio Univ. Steve Gawronski 6.03 295 OL DL Rogers HS Rick Ross Univ. of Cincinnati Dominic Goodman 6.02 190 QB DB Colerain HS Kerry Combs Univ. of Cincinnati Brian Hartline 6.03 190 WR DB Glen Oak HS Jack Rose Ohio State Univ. Dominic Jones 5.09 190 RB DB Brookhaven HS Tom Blake Univ. of Minnesota Fred Lenix 6.00 205 LB Glenville HS Ted Ginn Ohio State Univ. Brandon Long 6.03 230 TE DE Glen Oak HS Jack Rose Michigan State Univ. Mario Manningham 6.00 180 WR DB Warren HS Thom McDaniels Univ. of Michigan Zach Marshall 6.07 280 OL DL William Mason HS Gary Popovich Univ. of Maryland Jared Martin 6.01 175 QB DB Clyde SHS Mike Martin Univ. of Cincinnati Brian Mellott 6.03 260 OL DL Austintown-Fitch HS Neal Kopp Ohio Univ. Zoltan Mesko 6.05 230 K P Twinsburg HS AL Hodakievic Univ. of Michigan Derek Moore 6.05 270 OL DL Newark Catholic HS Bill Franks TBA Andrew Moses 6.04 270 OL DL Bishop Watterson HS Dan Bjelac TBA Jamario O'Neal 6.01 200 WR DB Glenville HS Ted Ginn Ohio State Univ. Jim Ramella 6.04 230 TE DE Saint Ignatius HS Chuck Kyle Boston College Brian Robiskie 6.04 195 WR DB Chagrin Falls HS Mark Iammarino Ohio State Univ. Robby Schoenhoft 6.06 235 QB Saint Xavier HS Steve Specht Ohio State Univ. Nick Simon 6.02 225 OL LB Shaker Heights HS Dave Sedmak Mercyhurst College Mister Simpson 6.00 205 RB Colerain HS Kerry Combs Univ. of Michigan Austin Spitler 6.03 235 LB Bellbrook HS Kevin Basinger Ohio State Univ. Derrick Stewart 5.11 175 WR DB Ursuline HS Dan Reardon Univ. of Cincinnati Trey Stross 6.04 190 WR DB Avon Lake HS Dave Dlugosz Univ. of Iowa Tyrell Sutton 5.09 195 RB Archbishop Hoban HS Ralph Orsini Northwestern Univ. Matt Tennett 6.05 260 OL DL Moeller HS Bob Crable Boston College Lawerence Wilson 6.05 240 TE DE Saints Vincent Mary HS Keith Wakefield Ohio State Univ. HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: Steve Channell Edgewood HS ASSISTANT COACHES: Tony Broeing Springfield South HS Ed Nasonti Bellevue HS David Sedmak Shaker Heights HS Rodney Roberts Springboro HS Jim Ryan Olmsted Falls HS

Can't read Can't write Can't State

Which mid-majors are looking strong? Gonzaga is not a mid-major. Nevada is 12-2 in the WAC and looking good. If you insist on calling the Missouri Valley a mid-major league, then count Southern Illinois, which is up to 21 victories. Pacific also is up to 21 and out in front in the Big West, with only December losses to Kansas and San Francisco. Saturday's Bracket Buster game between Pacific and Texas-El Paso is a lot more important to UTEP than Pacific. What's a Bracket Buster? Tomorrow there will be 11 games between mid-major teams. The idea is for mid-majors to get a chance to boost their chances for an at-large bid by playing a quality out-of-conference game. In fact, many of them have little or no shot to get an at-large bid. Drexel, for instance, plays at Ball State. It's a good game and will get the Dragons a little more exposure, but a win won't get them in the tournament. Any other mid-majors with a chance at an at-large? Old Dominion chose to fill its schedule without a Bracket Buster game, but is up to 22 victories. The hangup: Bad losses to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and George Mason. What about the Mid-American Conference, everybody's favorite mid-major pick in the tournament? Miami of Ohio is out in front and has the best chance. But wins over Buffalo and Akron are the best they have, so the Redhawks might want to beat Wichita State tomorrow in the Bracket Buster, and then get some revenge from a 19-point whipping they took from Can't State. source

Z.I.P. Ask him if he has anything to do with any donations that are going toward the stadium project.

People still aren't convinced. Unreal. Bottom right (best pro career from senior bowl QBs) Charlie getting 17% out of 46,546 votes

On paper it sure seems that way. I can't wait to see the results on the field, the NEW field. Fun to be Zips football fan right now !

I think you answered your own question. That's all it takes. Marketing a winner is easy. What the UAM has been doing the past years has been tough. PS If your "old school" and have only been attending games for 10 years, I must be moldy school. Ouch, you make me feel old.

Ely QB close on decision From Herald Staff Reports Ely quarterback Carlton Jackson Jr. has narrowed his choices to Michigan State, Tennessee State, Kansas State, Akron and Georgia Tech. Jackson is expected to make his decision Saturday after visiting Kansas State. ''It's going to take a lot of thoughts from me and my family and come out with the best decision,'' Jackson said. Ely cornerback Walter McFadden received a visit from Michigan State on Monday night. Cordero Johnson and Travis Williams of Northeast orally committed to Jacksonville, Kevin Miller to FAU and Demetri Stewart to Miami.

Skip him JD. What a distraction this would be. The Beacon would finally have something to write about. A negative story. I can see the story now "Lee Owens would have never recruited blah blah blah blah blah" I can't imagin JD would offer??? :blink:

Now that makes more sense. Not an easy decision, but I imagine the smart one. Good Luck D.

Wow tell us how you really feel about Chase. I'll come to his defense, so to speak, he was asked to play a different position this year. He was playing down on the line and standing up. I agree he didn't have the year I expected, but I still think potential is there. If he gets to the combine, I bet he impresses. Everbody knows the combine has too much emphasis, so he might surprise a few scouts there. Wouldn't surprise me to see him in somebody's camp this year. I always thought he would fit in a 3-4 scheme better. As far as Canada, I would have zero opinion on that, since nobody actually watches canadian football.

That has GOT to be one of the strangest things I have read on this board?!? A lifetime to get married, only one year to play senior college football. Reminds me of the quote "Youth is wasted on the young" If true, I wish him the best.

This article has no merit. Miss LeFall? I would guess the team will be better just because the system is now in place. At the beginning of the year I heard players saying they didn't like it and they had no idea what they were doing at practice and why. At the end of the year, the same players loved it. So we won't have any system adjustment time. I will miss Charlie and Chase though. Good luck at the next level.

I'm going to the Rose Bowl....well you gotta say something I guess?

I think the team that gets Dan Orlovsky makes out too. Only QB I have seen on a field with Charlie that looked better than him that particular day. I'm looking forward to watching Charlie in the Senor Bowl.

3 coaches already in hunt for Pitt job, none named JD Wednesday, December 15, 2004 By Ray Fittipaldo and Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pitt's search for a football coach to replace Walt Harris has begun, and at least three coaches have surfaced as candidates for the job. Former Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, Oklahoma University defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and Houston Texans defensive backs coach Jon Hoke have received phone calls from Pitt athletic director Jeff Long, but no formal interviews have been set as of last night. Others could be contacted in the coming days, according to sources familiar with the coaching search. Wannstedt, who resigned from the Dolphins a month ago, has ties to Pitt. He was an offensive lineman for the Panthers from 1971-73 and an assistant coach from 1976-78. Before becoming an NFL head coach, Wannstedt also coached at Oklahoma State, Southern California and the University of Miami and was defensive coordinator under Jimmy Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys. A Baldwin native, Wannstedt is working as an analyst on Fox's NFL broadcasts. Hoke, the defensive backs coach with the Texans under former Steelers coach Dom Capers, has spoken by phone with Long and has an interest in the job. He could not be reached for comment. Before spending the past two seasons with the Texans, Hoke was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Florida under Steve Spurrier. He also has coached at Missouri, Can't State, San Diego State and Bowling Green. Spurrier wanted to hire Hoke as his defensive coordinator at South Carolina, but Hoke turned him down to remain with the Texans. Long has known Hoke almost his entire life. The two were high school teammates together at Fairmont East High School in Kettering, Ohio, near Dayton. Pelini, 37, has never been a head coach, but he has extensive experience as an assistant in the NFL and college. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma and spent the 2003 season as defensive coordinator at Nebraska under Frank Solich. Before that, Pelini spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant with San Francisco, New England and Green Bay. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, he played at Ohio State. Other coachers who have expressed interest in the job are Solich and Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Sal Sunseri, a Pitt graduate with extensive college coaching experience at Michigan State, Louisiana State and Louisville. He has the support of several influential people at Pitt. Solich, a Johnstown native, spent this past season out of coaching after getting fired at Nebraska. Solich spent six seasons as coach of the Cornhuskers, compiling a 58-19 record after serving as a longtime assistant to former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne. According to Solich's agent, Jack Mills, Solich is interested in interviewing with Long. Solich, 60, is currently under consideration to be hired at Ohio University. He was en route to Athens, Ohio, last night for a second interview with the Bobcats today. Solich spent the past year visiting with friends and colleagues in the college game and the NFL in an attempt to stay in touch with the latest trends. He still lives in Lincoln, Neb. Paul Rhoads, Pitt's defensive coordinator, is expected to be interviewed, but Rhoads said yesterday he and Long have not spoken about the job and that he does not know when or if an interview will take place. Jerry Glanville, the former coach of the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons, is interested, too. Out of coaching for a decade, Glanville said Pitt is a great opportunity. "I don't know if they have any interest in me at all," said Glanville, who has spent the past 10 years in broadcasting for Fox, CBS and HBO. "But I'm very much interested. I watch a lot of football. They have their quarterback coming back. I think they have a chance to be pretty good." Glanville also is interested in the vacancy at New Mexico State, among other college jobs. source

#15 looking for a new deal Bucs' Smith looks to corner market Dwight Smith, who has mostly played safety, says he'll seek a CB's pay in free agency. By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer Published December 15, 2004 TAMPA - In January 2003, as the nickel cornerback, Dwight Smith picked off two Rich Gannon passes and sprinted into the end zone in Super Bowl XXXVII. A few months later, he responded to the Bucs' need for help at safety and switched positions. Then, in the months before the season, Smith's hopes for a new contract were dashed when the Bucs couldn't work out a deal. Through it all, Smith has shown up on game day, made his share of big plays and taken his lumps, too. He has played hurt and played hard. But the fourth-year pro's intentions are clear: He's looking forward to free agency and wants to be a cornerback. "I'm going on the free-agency market as a corner," Smith said. "You've got all these guys who I know I am a better corner than, and I see them getting $9-million, $8-million up front. And you want me to take a safety salary because you moved me to safety? I can't fathom it! It's not that I'm greedy, it's that you want to be paid what you're worth." Smith, 26, a third-round pick out of Akron in 2001, has emerged as one of the Bucs' rising stars. After his Super Bowl performance, the Bucs realized they needed to keep Smith on the field and make the best of his cover skills and physical play. When Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson left in free agency, the Bucs asked Smith to move to safety, and he obliged. He played the 2003 season under his rookie contract, finished with a career-high 85 tackles and five interceptions and seemed poised for a new contract. The Bucs opted to go in a different direction, and Smith has played the 2004 season under a deal paying $418,000. In November, the Bucs signed third-year safety Jermaine Phillips to a four-year, $9-million contract that came with a $1-million signing bonus. It is a development not overlooked by Smith. "When you go about your business and do everything the team asks you to do, you can feel good about yourself," Smith said. "It would have been different if I didn't show up or if I was not playing well because they didn't want to extend me. I came and did everything they asked me to do. Now, if they want to drop the ball and not repay me for my services, then that's on them. "The fans will have their say on that, but I have to keep my mind on football and keep it right. I have a family to take care of." A fierce competitor, Smith wants the Bucs to turn around their fortunes and make the playoffs. As much as any of his teammates, he wants to win and win now. But he also knows what's ahead in free agency. "Honestly, it's exciting," Smith said. "When you're an athlete, you only have two chances to really determine your destiny, to decide what you want to do and where you want to go. That's when you're leaving high school to go to college and when you're going on the free-agent market. You don't get those opportunities a lot. "Of course, I would have loved to have been signed here, now, or right after the season, to stay here, but it's always great to get out there and see what people think about you and what your value is. To be honest, you want to weigh your options." Smith has picked up where he left off last season. He has 77 tackles and two interceptions and is tied with linebacker Derrick Brooks with a team-high three forced fumbles. New agent Drew Rosenhaus said Smith "feels that he can be a starting cornerback in this league" and knows his client would prefer to return to the Bucs. "You always try to re-sign with your team, but we don't have a crystal ball," Rosenhaus said. "We'll do our best to work things out with (the Bucs)." Traditionally cornerbacks garner more lucrative contracts than safeties. Entering this season, the average salary of the NFL's five highest-paid cornerbacks - the number teams used when tagging franchise players - was about $6.8-million. That number was about $4.1-million for safeties. In a perfect world, Smith said, the Bucs would get on a playoff run, and he would sign a contract extension to keep him in a Bucs uniform for many more years. But he understands there are no certainties in the NFL. "This is a business, and we have to look at it the way it is," Smith said. "When I got here, my coach was Tony Dungy and Tony got let go and it's not because he can't coach, or he's a bad guy. Sometimes, your time is just up in the places you have been. "That's how you have to look at it. If the Bucs don't feel like I'm worth what I'm asking for or they can find a guy to do what I'm doing, more power to them. I thank them for giving me the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl, to play in the NFL. I can't be mad at them for the decisions they make on the business end. I have to live my life." And the Bucs have to be conscious of their salary cap, particularly considering the money they have tied up in starting corners Brian Kelly ($2.8-million) and Ronde Barber ($3.25-million) in 2005. "It's not like I'm going to ask for a Champ Bailey deal, where he got $19-million. I'm not asking for that," Smith said. "I'm just asking for you not to pay me as a safety, pay me as a (corner). I do more for this team than what another safety does for his team."

Don't worry Z-P, when is the last time you have seen the Browns make a good pick? Charlie will be picked by a team that has done their homework. If the Browns wanted a good "MAC" QB they would have picked Big Ben. I'm hoping Charlie will be picked by a team I can root for because the NFL team I root for won't.