37 MILLION DOLLAR CENTER TURNED REAL LIFE OLD MCDONALD

   Imagine you're a sports agent who has been representing an all pro multi-million dollar center for the last seven seasons and he calls you and say I am done with football and he's not injured, How would you react? Well Browns agent told him "You're are making the biggest mistake of your life," Brown response back to him was "No I'm not." We all know when it comes down to sports it's a big business, excuse me a BIG money making business especially in the NFL. When you're in the position to represent a offensive linemen especially an all pro linemen it's a very lucrative pay day for you as his agent. Brown made a decision that most of us would frown upon, call him crazy, call him stupid and DUMB, he quit playing professional football to become a farmer.

   

   Jason Brown a stand out center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill started his NFL career in 2006 with the Baltimore Ravens playing three seasons in Baltimore. In 2009 Brown signed with the Rams and that's where he signed a five year $37 million dollar contract, but he let that all go to head back to North Carolina Louisburg to be exact and bought 1,000 acres of land to start farming sweet potatoes. When you read his story you would assume that Jason knows something about farming right? The answer to that is nope. Jason did what the average person does on a regular when they want to learn how to do something he went straight to the internet. Jason Browns "First Fruits Farm" wasn't bought for personal use or financial gain, he did it to help lower the rate of hungry and needy people in the Louisburg area and probably other parts of N.C. Brown promises to donate the first fruits of every harvest that he pulls in to the local food pantry to help the homeless and needy people and families and he did that. Rebecca Page who organizes food for the needy families stated "It's unusual for a grower to grow a crop to just give it away.' Well Jason did that in abundance. As of today Jason has grown 100,000 pounds of sweet potatoes and will give away more next year once the weather breaks. Brown believes that the NFL is great and he had a great job, but he believes that a life of service to others trumps the NFL.  

   

   Eliminating hunger with his farm was just the beginning for Jason Brown, on Tuesday of last week Brown delivered his own baby because the mid wife couldn't make it on time. A real life SUPERMAN in the making. Who said you can't help others and in the process be a doctor as well. The question I leave all of my readers with is what do you think about Jason Browns decision?  and If you were in the same position as he was with a multi-million dollar contract would you leave it on the table?

VICK GETS A TRUE START AND PROVES WHY HE'S A STARTER

   During the off-season the Jets made a decision to part ways with their former number one draft pick Mark Sanchez because of his flighty play during his time in NY to hand the reigns over to the young kid Geno Smith. The NFL a huge business which main focus is continued growth and their teams winning at all cost by having talented players and excellent coaches makes the NFL operate. The NY Jets decided to make a move to get their team back in the talks as a powerhouse and to help their young quarterback by signing Erick Decker from the Broncos, Chris Johnson a stand out running back for the TItans and one the most agile and athletic quarterbacks in the game Mike Vick.  The Jets had a different role for Vick in mind when bringing him in. The role was to help develope and to push Geno to be a great quarterback in the NFL. The question that went through my head when I first heard the news of Vick signing with the jets was Will Vick be comfortable with being in a back up role after being a starter and a dominant force since he has been in the league?

   Vick was let go by the Eagles after coming off probably one of the worse season he has had since coming the NFL. His last season down fall in my eyes wasn't totally on him especially with a depleted offensive line, but some of his decision were off and just as the NFL is a winning entity so are the teams of the NFL. Coaches have to keep their jobs by winning and that requires putting their best foot forward and than the Eagles best foot was with Foles. Vicks release gave speculation that his career could be on a down fall, but having such a talented and more of a pocket minded quarterback that could still threaten defenses with his feet on the market would be a jackpot for most teams. Vick earned some new wings with the Jets and accepted his role as the number two guy in NY and starting over with an entirely new number. It was in due time that Vick would take over the helm again and that came with Geno Smith having a rough first half of the season. To Genos credit he played dodge a defense but some of his decision in the passing game prompted a change at quarter back for the jets. 

  Vicks first game on the field as a full time quarterback came against the Chargers and lets be honest this wasn't a game for him especially with not having practice time with the first team. The chargers were high on emotions from jumping out to a huge lead and Vick didn't look at all comfortable in the pocket or on the field. After losing to the Packers where the Jets faulted the veteran quarterback got the start for the Steelers game. In my mind I was thinking what a game to get the starting nod for, but Vick proved to the entire league that he still has what it takes to lead his team to a victory. Vick finished the day 10/18 132 passing yards, 7.3 average on each pass, 2 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. Along with the help from Ryans defense forcing four turnovers the Jets were able to defeat the former AFC north leaders 20-13. A great victory for the Jets but a greater victory for Vick that will help rebuild his name.  

  

THE MLB GOLDEN GLOVES COME TO CHARM CITY IN A THREE PACK

    What a way to close out the MLB 2014 season for the AL East champion Baltimore Orioles than to have three of their players win Golden Gloves. The Orioles year after year display qualities of a ball club that can cause problems in the majors but seem to run into a speed bump or two each season. During the off-season management open up their pocket books and took a chance on spending to bring in quality players and from the looks of it their system worked this season. Some believe the Yankee way isn't respectable because you're pulling very talented individuals in by adding multiple zeros after the commas, but the purpose of playing professional sports in what? In the words of my old coach Herm Edwards "WE PLAY TO WIN". There's no moral code to the word win, it's either you win or you don't. Second place will not be recognized in the history books only first place. The Orioles took a different approach and it paid off for them and for the city of Baltimore. The Orioles swept the Tigers to face the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS where they lost but a major improvement from the past few seasons.

     What is the Golden Glove Award you may ask? It's an award given annually to an individual player who has displayed superior play during the season in their respective position on the field. In the AL the Kansas City Royals who couldn't win it all in the World Series claimed three spots on the 2014 AL Golden Glove Awards list for catcher, first base and left field. Seattle and Boston added one player each for second base and third base, but rounding out the list for the last three spots were Baltimore Orioles players. Claiming the Golden Glove for an outstanding right fielder went to Nick Markakis. Markakis finished his 2014 season with a batting average of .276 with 14 home runs and 50 runs batted in and a on base percentage of .342. Nick had a good showing during the post season with a .258 batting average and one home run. Markakis was a fan favorite in Baltimore and by his stats proved why he won a Golden Glove.  Taking the Golden Glove for the position of short stop was J.J. Hardy. Hardy finished with a season average of .268, 9 home runs, 52 runs batted in and a on base percentage of .309. Hardy has been proving his worth since going to the majors straight from high school. Since being with the Orioles he has etched his name as a top short stop in the majors. Rounding out the list for the Orioles Golden Glove winners is none other than center fielder Adam Jones. Adam Jones year after year puts on a show when the stadium lights come on. This past season I have seen in person how Adam Jones can change the complexion of the game whether he's not having a good game to coming up to bat and taking one out of the park with one swing. In 2014 Jones finished with a .281 batting average, 29 home runs, 96 runs batted in and a on base percentage of .311. When he comes out of the locker room for a game he's ready to give his all and to show why he is one of if not thee base center fielder in the game.   

THE RACE FOR THE ACC TITLE AS OF NOW LOOKS SIMILAR TO LAST YEARS TWO TEAMS.......

    The end of the college football regular season is vastly approaching and the ACC championship is shaping up to be identical to last years match up. I know everyone watches college football to see who will reign supreme in the money bank known as the SEC, but to me being a former Virginia Cavalier and ACC athlete I look forward to seeing who will play each other in the title game. When I played in the late 90s through the early 2000s I didn't get the opportunity to play in a potential conference championship game because it was just won out right by the school with the best record.  I believe adding the new schools definitely gave the ACC a boost in character and a boost in game play to fight for the top position in each division. 

       Looking back at the current standings in the ACC from this past weekend we have the same two teams atop each division that finished first last season. Duke for a second season came out blazing and wanting to make the statement that they are not a one and done team and so far they have proved that with a current conference record of 3-1 and a overall record of 7-1 and a 22nd ranking overall. The Blue Devils have the opportunity to run the table with their last four games to head to the ACC championship game. This Saturday they will play 1-4 in the ACC conference and 3-6 overall Syracuse in New York. If Duke continues to play football the way they have been they will cruise through Syracuse. Their last three games will all be home game a definite plus finishing the regular season. After Syracuse they have a current 1-4 in the conference and 4-5 overall Virginia Tech Hokie team that's definitely in a rebuilding phase this season but can not over look the Hokies especially with Coach Beamer still the head coach. Rounding off the bottom two games they will face a up and down North Carolina Tar Heels team and sadden Wake Forest Demon Deacons team that has yet to win a game in the ACC. The Blue Devils boast a 4-0 home record and a 3-1 away record which is awesome when playing on the road with traveling and battling fans. Duke has played against low talented teams, but a win is a win and they have shown week in and week out that they are a different Blue Devils team than what we were use to seeing in the past. So if the current standings look the same at the end of the regular season I believe Duke will give the Seminoles a run for their money again this season but in order to win they have to play 100% mistake free football.

       Now the current NCAA national champions and still undefeatedddddddddddd!!!!!!! Your Florida State Seminolessssssssss!!!!! and the crowd cheers. The Seminoles as we all know are undefeated in both brackets, currently Florida State is 5-0 in the conference and 8-0 overall. The Seminoles have played some stiff competition and of course had some fine tuning games so far and through it all came out on top. The Seminoles have shown signs of being beatable but teams have not been able to finish the job and they have allowed the Seminoles to climb back in the game in the second half. Will the Seminoles sporadic play hurt them in their final four games and jeopardize their playoff chances? or will they pick up their slow start and dominate teams from this point out. The Seminoles have some pretty decent games coming up to finish out the regular season. They will travel to Charlottesville to face the Virginia Cavaliers this Saturday who are a dangerous team but can't seem to get out of their own way. The Cavaliers did beat the 4th rank Seminoles two seasons ago in Tallahassee 14-13 and have the opportunity to do it again but they have to play mistake free football against the champs. Rounding off their last three games the Seminoles will play the Miami Hurricanes which is an instant classic every season, Boston College who are third in the Atlantic Division behind Clemson with a record of 3-2 in the conference and 6-3 overall and finish their regular season at home with their yearly inner state rival the Florida Gators. The Florida State Seminoles definitely have a great chance to go undefeated again, win the ACC title again and make it to the National championship again. In my eyes the Seminoles should be #1 in the Nation no disrespect to the Mississippi St. Bulldogs, but Florida state is the reigning National Champion and until someone knocks them off should stay atop the AP poll.
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