Bucs’ Choice, Baby-Talk Athletes and Fans’ Rights

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’sThree-and-Out While the national pundits make a bit of an about face on the Mariota vs. Winston draft pick issue, it’s not a bad time to take a look at some of the little things that maybe shouldn’t be so little in the convoluted relationship among athletics, universities and fans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ top draft choice, baby-talk athletes …

Ducks in the Draft: Arik Armstead

Daniel Kantor FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  If there was ever a draft to pick your franchise defensive tackle, the 2015 draft is it. That is great news for NFL teams in need of a good front 7. For former Oregon defensive end, Arik Armstead, it presents a challenge to stand out among the long list of projected first-round defensive ends, such as Florida’s Dante Flowler, …

Mariota Outscores Winston on Wonderlic

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

As the ongoing debate about which QB, Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, should be taken first in the NFL draft rages on, experts are noting that Mariota is making a stronger and stronger case to overtake Winston. The initial sentiments toward Mariota were that he was a system QB who would crumble in the NFL once he had to operate outside …

Dargan a Victim of “40 Yard Dash Fanboys”?

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Oregon has a few players projected to be picked in the first round of the NFL Draft, but some of their most intriguing prospects are projected to be taken much later in the draft. Erick Dargan is one such player, a strong safety who led Oregon in both tackles and interceptions last season. Despite his play at Oregon, Dargan is projected as a late …

Former Bucs GM Says He Would Take Mariota No. 1 Overall

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mark Dominik, former Tampa Bay GM and now analyst for ESPN, weighed in on which QB (Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston) he believes the Bucs should take first overall. The article, a mock situation in which Dominik is the GM of Tampa Bay again, is just one more example of the never-ending debate about which QB will be better in the …

Draft Dodgers — Mariota and Winston to Skip NFL Draft

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

While many NFL Draft prospects will be sitting in Chicago waiting to hear Commissioner Roger Goodell, call their name, the Draft’s top-2 QBs will be sitting at home. While Jameis Winston had been alluding to not attending it for a while now, it was just recently that Oregon’s own Marcus Mariota, said he will not be attending  either. Most players tend to enjoy all …

Why Marcus Mariota Should Tell the NFL Where He Wants to Play

Mike Sweeney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The NFL landscape is littered with quarterbacks who have failed to live up to the hype built off of impressive college careers and first-round draft picks. On April 30, Marcus Mariota will become the first Oregon quarterback to carry such high expectations into the NFL since Joey Harrington was selected with the third overall pick by the Detroit Lions, back …

Marcus Mariota and the Nonbelievers

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I don’t get it. Maybe I’m wrong, or maybe my football knowledge isn’t what I thought it was, but I can’t understand the constant negativity toward Marcus Mariota and his transition to the NFL. Last night I read something on Twitter so shocking to me I had to do a double take. NFL Media analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, said, “Look, just …

As Marcus Mariota Moves Forward, It’s Time We Look Back

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Marcus Mariota is the greatest Oregon quarterback to play at the school. That is a well-accepted statement around Eugene these days. But with Mariota headed for the NFL, it’s about time to remember some other Oregon quarterbacks who have made it to the big stage. Mariota has a chance to be the highest Duck drafted in the Common Era if …

Duck Destiny: Five Teams That Are (Or Should Be) Looking at Marcus Mariota

David Koh FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the draft rapidly approaching and the football world gone totally wacky in free agency, there’s little certainty as to where our beloved Marcus may end up, and the dapper Duck’s future seems hidden in the smoke as our late season and early offseason predictions come down in flames. Nonetheless, there’s a picture taking shape in the wake of the first wave of free agency, …

Flying Under the Radar

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Despite being part of a viral video that most college football fans have seen, Tony Washington has fallen into relative anonymity. This viral video replay is, of course, Washington’s scoop-and-score fumble recovery in the Rose Bowl. Perhaps this play not giving him a large amount of fame can be attributed to the fact that most people were interested in Jameis …

Erick Dargan Flying Under the Radar

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

By all measures, Erick Dargan was one of the best safeties in college football last year. The senior led the Ducks with 95 tackles and seven interceptions, all while playing in the pass-happy Pac-12 Conference. Dargan was both the physical and emotional leader for a defense that, although not excellent, played well enough to help lead the Ducks to a national …