Mark Sanchez, Matt Stafford, Matt Cassel and the NFL quarterback chess game?

By Wilm

As we approach the 2009 NFL draft the question “which 2008 college quarterback will go to which team”  becomes murkier and murkier.

Two months ago it was a toss up who would be the first quarterback taken, Matt Stafford (Georgia) or Mark Sanchez (USC). Two weeks ago Sanchez seemed a shoe-in after an impressive performance during the “Combine” in Indiana; when Stafford opted not to throw any passes?  This week things may have changed yet again.

Teams most in need of QBs were: Detroit, San Francisco, and Kansas City.  Dallas needed a back up to Romo and the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also considering a QB … but doubted they could get one of the top two since their first round picks were too low.  Further muddying the waters was the fact that Detroit and Kansas City desperately needed to bulk up their defenses.  Why take a high draft quarterback if he was going to spend his first few years running for his life.

Well K.C. settled their problem when the New England Patriots let Matt Cassel go to K.C.  Everyone in the know felt Detroit had decided to invest their first round pick on a defense selection but last week they traded QB Jon Kitna to Dallas as a back-up to Romo. Whoops…since they implied from the beginning that if they took a QB it would be Stafford that seemed to indicate that Stafford and Detroit had already made a deal. (Detroit would not risk a first pick hold-out.)  So now San Francisco was in position for Sanchez as well as Denver who indicated they’d like to cut a deal to trade Jay Cutler if they could get Cassel and now Cassel was out of play.

OK then we can assume that Orange County’s own, Mark Sanchez was going to go to the 49ers, Buccaneers or Broncos…right?  Well not exactly.  “Reliable sources”…you know the value of those, say that Sanchez and the Jets might be close to a deal. If, and it’s a big if,  one of those 3 or 4 trading position upgrades can be worked out on draft day. If so, the very personable and hardworking ( in college) journeyman, Sanchez, will rekindle the memory of Broadway Joe for Mr. and Mrs. Knickerbocker.  It would be a great deal for New Yorkers and for Mark Sanchez if it comes to pass.

Stay tuned.

Sanchez Impresses The NFL Teams With His Arm

Orange County’s Quarterback, Mark Sanchez wowed NFL teams at the NFL Combine in Florida.
Sanchez’ passing tests were outstanding. The other leading QB in this year’s draft, Georgia’s Matt Stafford opted not to display his passing skills.
For more info click here or and here

Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Matt Stafford…and a $250 million dollar club?

A once in a lifetime photo of six young men you’ll soon see on Sundays.

Five of  2008’s  best college quarterbacks and one outstanding wide receiver, (Damian Williams, USC) met for a Nike sponsored dinner at Phil Trani’s Restaurant  in Long Beach, CA. It’s been estimated that this group could ultimately have contracts that will top $250 million, admittedly a lofty figure but by what year, 2010 or 2014?

Mark Sanchez set the dinner up and even had Stafford wearing a USC T shirt.  That’s the typical “salesmanship” this kid is capable of.  In the meetings we’ve had with Mark he’s always been a down to earth young man who is all about football so it came as no surprise to see how well he and Stafford hit it off during the meal.

This may be the first time that five of the country’s top quarterbacks appeared together in a photograph and it is highly unlikely these five will ever be seen together again. Nevertheless, this shows young collegians at their very best…giving of their time to help high school athletes at a Nike quarterback clinic in Orange County.

With so many NFL teams desperate for help at the Quarterback position we know that at least Sanchez and Stafford will play in the NFL in 2009. McCoy, Daniel and Reid will be in next year’s draft along with Williams who will be one of the top receivers in 2010.  A prediction that their salaries and signing bonuses will ultimately top $250 million seems easily possible and that’s an amount higher than the salaries of a recent photo of group of Wall Street bankers. As much as we believe sports salaries are getting too high there is no doubt these young men will be held to a higher standard to prove their worth than those bankers were.  That’s OK ….they’ll be up to it.

Left to right in the photo are Chase Daniel, Missouri, Mark Sanchez , USC, Bobby Reid, Texas Southern, Matt Stafford, Georgia, Damian Williams, (wide receiver) USC,  and Colt McCoy, Texas.  Chef Phil Trani Jr. – former center for Mary Star of the Sea High School – appears front center.

Unfortunately Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) and Tim Tebow (Florida) were not there for dinner or the estimated number might have topped $350 million.

Boeing to hire for Seal Beach facility

Although Boeing is planning layoffs in several Orange County plants, as this article was being written (Jan 28) their website said they are looking for several qualified new employees at the Seal Beach facility.

Please note that this was accurate on the day it was placed In “what’s up” however, things can change quickly in the job market.

Click here to go to Boeing’s website for more info.

Change Your Life On A Tour Of National Wildlife Refuge

Public Wildlife Refuge Tour
Last Saturday of Every Month
(Except December)

The Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, 800 Seal Beach Blvd. provides tours to the public, however all volunteers must fill out a form in advance.

The forms are available on the website. Visit Website or call 562-598-1024 (leaving a voice mail is fine)

The tours are on the last Saturday of every month except December.
Saturdays from  8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Vans will run from 8:30 to 9:00 to transport visitors from the parking lot to the refuge, and will then run from 11:00 to 12:00 to take you back to your car.

IMPORTANT –  Because the National Wildlife Refuge is located on a Naval Weapons Station, all participants
must register at least two days in advance and provide their full name and phone number or they will be denied entrance.

To Volunteer at the Refuge call: Refuge Manager Kirk Gilligan at 562-598-1024 or http://www.pelicanvan.org

The website has a film discussing the central component of their presentation.  A  video ,”Refuges Are” , that relates the history of the National Wildlife Refuge System as sanctuaries for Endangered Species and Migratory Birds and the Important Work of Volunteers in the Recovery of and Maintenance of these Resources.

The Seal Beach refuge has been a spectacularly successful endeavor and we are all extremely proud of the work that’s been done.

Proposal To Save 8 Billion Dollars A Year On Government Expenses

When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers.  The remaining workers need to find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well.  Wall Street and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of “tough decision”, and his board of directors gives him a big bonus.

Our government should not be immune from similar risks.

Therefore Here’s some suggestions: Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members (Two per state and four for the eight biggest states) and Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State-) Also reduce remaining staff by 25%.

Accomplish this over the next 8 years.(Two steps/two elections) and of course this would require some redistricting.

Some Yearly Gains Include:

$44,108,400 for elimination of base pay for congress.(267 members X $165,200 pay/member/ yr.)

$97,175,000 for elimination of the above people’s staff. (estimate $1.3 million in staff per each member of the House, and $3 Million in staff per each member of the Senate every year)

$240,294 for the reduction in remaining staff by 25%.

$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork barrel ear-marks each year. (those members whose jobs are gone. Current estimates for total government pork earmarks are at $15 Billion/yr)

The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and would need to improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country?

We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing.

Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (Telephones, faxes, computers, cell phones; to name a few)

SUMMARY OF THIS OPPORTUNITY:

1-$44,108,400 reduction of congress members.
2-$282,100, 000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.
3-$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.
4-$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining house members.
5-$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate members.
6-$7 ½ billion “pork” reduction added to bills by removing half of Congress!

That’s a savings of over $8 billion just to start; and there’s a good chance they would work faster and harder –and get along with each other.

Congresspersons should have to serve 20, 25 or 30 years- like everyone else- in order to collect retirement benefits. (No telling how much we would save on that.) Now they get full retirement after serving only ONE term.

Is this a joke – – – or maybe not?

Anonymous

4 Bedroom / 3 Bath – $1824.00

These units are excellent for CSULB students.  The apt is in great condition.

Why is the rent so low? Because it is not designed for a family.  There is not a very large living room.
The bedrooms are large and each has its own lock. The area is excellent in addition to being close to campus.

This is the first time we’ve advertised the apartment in many years.  Usually it is passed from outgoing students to their friends.

Call 562 508-4407

California Gray Whales

Shown above is a pair of California greay whales.

This mother and calf are undoubtedly on their way to Magdalena Bay, Mexico and were photographed on January 17 off Palos Verdes penninsula.

Disneyland Offers Special Rates To So. California & North Mexico

From now until June 3, any person living in Southern
California can purchase a two-day ticket to both Disney
Parks for $69 dollars for anyone over nine years of age
And $59 for those between 3 and 9.

Go to one park on one day and the other on the next day.

You must bring an appropriate i. d. to prove you are a
Southern California resident and you can call the park
to make sure what that i.d. must be.

Its been rumored the offer is also extended to citizens of
Northern Baja in Mexico, however, we could not verify that
at the Disneyland website.

Seal Beach Surf Contest

Unfortunately the predicted big swells didn’t make it but the local talent got all they could out of smaller sets.

All photographs taken by Kevin Halpin

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