40 Acres Sports

The Statesman has up some excellent footage from yesterday’s Pro Timing Day.

Not exactly breaking news, but ESPN sucks. This is their front page story on Vince’s workout today…

Quarterback Vince Young was timed in 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash Wednesday on what is considered a fast track at the University of Texas in Austin, one NFL scout told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. The scout said Young’s time was slower than anticipated. According to the same scout, Young’s overall workout was “fairly impressive,” but the scout believed that Young was not asked to make certain drops and throws that he would have to perform in a private team workout. Young’s pro workout Wednesday, which was open to all NFL teams, was run by Jerry Rhome, a former NFL quarterback and assistant coach.

First off, pretty much every person I’ve heard quoted that was actually there called it a great performance and Sean Salisbury said he and all the scouts were “blown away.” Salisbury, a USC homer, even said he’d think about taking VY over USC QB Matt Leinart. Former Cowboys’ scout Gil Brandt said, “He impressed everyone with his arm strength, quick delivery and accuracy.”

Second, the 40-yard dash times ranged anywhere from 4.49 to 4.57 depending on whose stop watch you were looking at. Of course ESPN quoted a time above all of those.

Next, I’ve heard several times over the last couple of years that the track they run on is a slow one. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I’ve certainly never seen it called a “fast track.”

Finally, Chris Mortensen is a jackass. He’s been trying to claim for years that former Arkansas QB and current Jaguars receiver Matt Jones was a better quarterback than Vince. Despite the evidence from this past season and inspite of all logic, he restated the ridiculous claim again today.

Unbelievable.

Update

ESPN has updated their story to include a few quotes from people who were actually there. For the first couple of hours the quote above was the entire story. I find it interesting that they can only find unnamed sources that’ll give negative quotes. Hmm… (6:50 p.m.)

Update

They’ve added some good video of the workout to the story. Ed Werder does actual reporting from Austin and talks to actual coaches and scouts instead of quoting a single unnamed scout to say negative things like Mortensen did. It’s amazing that ESPN ran with the one negative report they could find based on second-hand reports from a guy I don’t believe was even there, despite the gushing reviews from their own guys like Salisbury. (03/23/2006)

Starts off 7 of 7. We’ll have more tonight on his performance. Update: Vince kicked ass.

Right on the heels of getting the Ahmard Howard commitment.

Michael Waltrip will drive a special edition Aaron’s #99 car in April 8th’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The car will feature a special orange and white paint job and graphics to honor the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorn football team. You’ll also be able to purchase 1/24-scale die cast model cars at Aaron’s locations near you.

Check out TexasSports.com for more info and for dates and locations you can see a replica show car on display.

The Longhorns have picked up commitment number thirteen from Brenham’s Ahmard Howard. The 6’4″ tight end prospect and his parents were in Austin and he gave Mack Brown his verbal pledge on Monday. Howard has spent the last two weeks telling pretty much everyone he’d commit as soon as he got a chance to sit down with Coach Brown and the rest of the coaching staff so this one’s not a surprise.

Howard is one of the state’s top tight ends and has excellent size and speed to go along with an impressive list of scholarship offers. Howard chose Texas over Arizona, Kansas, K-State, Nebraska, and Oklahoma State. Another good addition to an excellent 2007 recruiting class.

Texas’ thirteen man class is below…

*Note: The star ratings are just my best guesses based on the little bit of video I’ve seen of the recruits and Orangebloods.com’s Lone Star Top 100.

Mack Brown & Bob Stoops are the best head coaches and Gene Chizik is the best DC.

A look around the conference at teams’ big question marks and position battles.

Gator RB’s are “trash” so Urban Meyer might just make do without in 2006.

VY ahead of Leinart? I don’t think anyone has a clue what’s going to go down in April.