A Press Democrat Blog

Cohn Zohn

Lowell Cohn's pertinent and impertinent take on sports

Follow up to do-you-like-girls post

Monday, at 8:52 by

Greg Aiello, who runs media relations for the NFL and is a good guy, sent me this information about a team allegedly asking a draft prospect about his sexual orientation at the Combine. I share it with you: Lowell: We are in the process of reviewing the matter. Here is the statement we issued after learning of the report: Like all employers, our teams are expected to follow applicable federal, state and local employment laws.  It is league policy to… Read More »

NFL teams not allowed to ask if draft prospects like girls

Sunday, at 2:06 by

Here is the opening to my Sunday column: There is something fundamentally abhorrent about the NFL Scouting Combine, recently concluded. Coaches and team executives put prospects through all kinds of drills and ask all kinds of questions. They treat them like slaves. The NFL slaves can’t decide which teams they will go to. They have no freedom of choice. True, differences exist between real slaves and NFL slaves. NFL slaves make a free choice to enter the draft in the… Read More »

Tagliabue overturns Goodell

Tuesday, at 2:03 by

Not sure what to make of Tagliabue overturning Goodell. Obviously, Goodell acted hastily with his punishments. Obviously, he had the wisdom to involve Tagliablue who obviously is an independent guy. New Orleans still did very bad things and the coaching staff was horrible and I don’t think the players were that wonderful, either. But I have no problem with the players’ sentences being overturned. What about you?

Should Chiefs play Panthers?

Saturday, at 3:57 by

It is such a sad story, the Chiefs’ Jovan Belcher murdering his girlfriend, then committing suicide in front of Chiefs’ coaches. It is unimaginable. I still think the Chiefs and Panthers should play on Sunday. Please don’t think I am insensitive. Both teams should suit up and play. You cancel games, I believe, only for a national tragedy or something of that magnitude — you could define that kind of tragedy any way you like. What would you do if… Read More »

NFL officials are clowns

Tuesday, at 7:49 by

I want to preface this by saying Jim Kozimor is my friend and more important he is one hell of a host for Chron Live. I love working with him. Tonight he got worked up because I called the scab refs clowns. He said that was unacceptable on the show. So I called them clowns a bunch more times, because they are and because I am by nature contrary. I even called Roger Goodell a clown for letting these scab… Read More »

Replacement officials are a joke

Monday, at 12:26 by

The replacement officials are a disgrace and they are dangerous. I blame them for that scary hit on Heyward-Bey. The game already was out of control because no one respects these officials. Heyward-Bey got hit helmet to helmet — the officials’ fault. Bill Belichick grabbed a ref, certainly not allowed, but it’s because he does not respect them. Roger Goodell keeps pretending the refs are doing a good job. Goodell says he cares about the safety of players. Did he… Read More »

The NFL’s scab officials

Tuesday, at 11:09 by

It’s pretty disgraceful the first week of NFL games will be officiated by scabs. These guys will be intimidated by the players and will have a hard time working up the nerve to call holding on the line of scrimmage and pass interference. Some of the big college conferences wouldn’t let their guys officiate NFL games, so the scabs are not even from the elite college pool. Here’s what I wonder. What if a player gets hurt on a blown… Read More »

Best QB in NFL?

Tuesday, at 12:29 by

OK, you’re a coach in the NFL and you have one game you must win for whatever reason and you have a choice of any current quarterback you want. Which one do you take for that game? I take Aaron Rodgers. He’s a dead accurate thrower. He’s brave. His ball travels fast. He’s inventive. He’s really something. Who do you pick and why?

NFL Power Rankings (by Grant Cohn)

Monday, at 2:00 by

Grant just posted his blog, Inside the 49ers, containing his complete NFL power rankings, team by team. This is a good time to do it as teams assemble their rosters and begin to meet for rookie camps, OTAs and mini-camps. I was particularly interested with his ranking of the Niners and Raiders, and although I don’t link to Grant all that much, I thought I’d share the whole shebang with you as a discussion starter. It’s never too early to… Read More »

Draft Day Shocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, at 5:07 by

In a move that completely shocked the NFL, America and the world, the Indianapolis Colts kicked off the NFL draft by surprisingly selecting QB Andrew Luck. Little is known about Luck who had a fairly productive career at a small West Coast college called Leland Stanford Junior University. Luck didn’t even get to play at a four-year college. But the Colts must have seen something in him. This is an embarrassing day for the NFL and the draft. One can… Read More »