Welcome in to the SEC Roundup here on SoBros Network. Each week, we’ll take you through the headlines of the Southeastern Conference – we’re planning to stick to football, but who knows where this thing will take us? Buckle up and stay tuned. LFG.
SEC Roundup: March 20, 2019
A quiet week for football, as the focus of the SEC universe shifted to Nashville this past week for the men’s basketball championship tournament. With March Madness in full swing, basketball is going to dominate the headlines. But, even though it was quiet, we still have a few nuggets to digest this week.
Coach O getting a raise?
It sounds like LSU is starting to put together a potential extension and raise for Ed Orgeron.
LSU coach Ed Orgeron is in line for a two-year extension to 2023 and a $500,000 pay raise to $4 million annually, plus incentives, under a proposal drafted by the university’s athletic administration.
The proposal was published Monday when the board’s agenda was released and is subject to approval by the LSU board of supervisors at its meeting on Wednesday.
Love it! Listen – maybe Coach O gets a bad rap for being incoherent at times. Maybe looking at his coaching past makes you question how he ever ended up as a head coach in the SEC again. But, the fact is that this Tigers program has gotten better under Coach O.
Plus, the SEC is simply a better place with Coach O in it. Hopefully, they’re able to reach a deal here.
Montez Sweat’s heart condition
NFL teams in need of elite pass rush help no doubt felt a dip in their stomach this week when it was announced that former Mississippi State stud defensive end Montez Sweat had an undisclosed heart condition.
However, Gil Brandt reported that the condition wasn’t too serious, and it shouldn’t effect his draft status.
I talked to decision-makers for several NFL teams and all said they'd pass @HailStateFB pass rusher Montez Sweat on a physical. In fact, I've been told he won't even be called back to Indy for a medical re-check. Great news for one of the top defenders in this draft.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) March 19, 2019
Good thing – Sweat has crept up into top 10 consideration…hell, I’ve even seen him linked to as high as the Bucs at #5…for April’s NFL Draft. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to be an issue, and the big athletic pass rusher should be an early pick.
Tanking for Tua
Connor O’Gara of Saturday Down South wrote a fantastic piece on why the idea of the Miami Dolphins tanking to end up with Tua Tagovailoa is misguided.
I have to agree – I mean, I can’t believe this is already starting. But, tanking is a good way to get fired in the NFL. Coaches and GMs already don’t have that long of a shelf life. Much less, when you start talking about losing on purpose to secure an unproven commodity in the NFL!
When I put it like that, how does that idea NOT sound ludicrous?
Next year’s quarterback is STACKED, no denying that. You have Tagovailoa, Jake Fromm, and Justin Herbert all coming out. But, even those three aren’t a sure thing. It’s not certain that all three of them have stellar 2019 campaigns. And, it’s not certain that they’ll be elite NFL quarterbacks.
Not to mention, you don’t have to have a top five quarterback in the NFL to win Super Bowls. We’ve seen middling to bad quarterbacks win championships. How about instead of counting on a kid to come in as the savior of the franchise, you scout better and build through the draft, filling holes in free agency?
I don’t buy it either, Connor. Why would you waste an entire season when the clock’s ticking?
Notes/Links
- Kirby Smart denies “relationship issue” with Nick Saban.
- The SEC Presidents support keeping the College Football Playoff at four teams.
- ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg made a 64-team college football playoff bracket in the spirit of March Madness.
- More chatter about ending the permanent cross-division opponents.
- Kelly Bryant is settling in nicely at Mizzou.
- Some odds are already out for the SEC 2019 schedule.
Until next week, S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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