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Two of the best things happening in May are the Spring Turkey Season, which is going strong in many areas of the country, and the NFL Draft. The Draft has become one of the most watched events on TV. It basically announces the start of the 2017 NFL Season. Bad teams are very optimistic and good teams just seem to reload. This is one of the deepest years for wide receivers. I have seen as many as 8 wide receivers projected to go in the first round.  The Kansas City Chiefs may be in the market. Watch for at least that many to go in the first round.

For the first time, as far as I can remember, there is a devaluation at the running back position, which is a clear indication in the change of the NFL offensive philosophy and strategy. It has become a passing league, no question. I still believe you have to have a consistent running attack to be a championship team. If you can move the ball by throwing and control the clock by running, then you are putting yourself in position to make the playoffs and win a championship.  Look for a good running back to go early.

Looking forward to the draft is exciting but the first gobble you hear during the Spring Turkey season is a rush second to none. You turkey hunters know what I am talking about. My ideal draft day is to go to the woods, harvest a turkey and participate in the Chiefs Draft Party. What is that they say, “It just doesn’t get any better than that”.

Tell me who you want your team to draft.

The Outdoor Quarterback

College basketball officiating today is a JOKE. There is so much talent at the collegiate level these days, the athletes that is, until the whistle blows and the ball is tossed, then it rapidly goes in the toilet. If you watched the NCAA Tournament opening week and then watched the Sweet Sixteen, so far, someone ordered the officials to slack off on calling fouls. I saw charging where nothing was called, come on guys it has to be charging or blocking, one or the other! You’ve got a 50 50 chance of getting it right.  I thought for a moment I was watching the NBA, because of all the traveling that wasn’t called. The one play that irritates me the most in college basketball is when they allow a player to back himself into the key while the defender has position when the offensive player just keeps backing in until he secures a shooting position in the key, BTW, for well over 3 seconds, and there is a no call, IT’S CHARGING BOYS!  Oh yea, I had to look online to see if 3 seconds in the key was still a rule violation.  Twice in a Sweet Sixteen game, I took a stopwatch and played back a couple of plays where an offensive player was in the key, with the ball, for 7 seconds on one play and 8 seconds for another. I watched the official under the basket and never once did I see him look at the offensive player in the key for any length of time or start a 3 second count. Embarrassing is the only word that can accurately describe the officiating. This just wasn’t in one particular game, it was consistent in all four games played. Which leads me to the obvious conclusion, someone gave the officials orders to cut back on calling fouls or rule violations. These young athletes are extremely talented, but the talent can’t fully be put on displayed when the officiating is so unprofessional and inconsistent. Now for my last example of the butchery in college basketball officiating. Would someone please define carrying or palming the ball, because from what I have seen, no one, most of all the officials, have a clue. I saw two calls in games played this weekend of palming the ball, then looked at ten different plays in the same games of exactly the same dribble with no calls. How is anyone, particularly the players, suppose to have any idea of what palming the ball is!

I have learned the new slogan for College Basketball Officials, “I am going to do what I am ordered to do not not what is written in the official rules of basketball!”

The Outdoor Quarterback!

Every year I believe many of us forget how lucky we are. The last two years, over the Christmas Holidays, I have spent my time recovering from bilateral total knee replacement, both knees at the same time, and this year, ankle surgery, to repair torn ligaments and a fractured fibula! I am not complaining, too much, but one was elective, the knees, tho other was not.
Yes, they were and are a inconvenience, particularly during the holidays. But it really made me stop and think about those who are disabled 365 days a year and for the rest of their lives. I bring this up because for the past two years I have had the privilege of taking a friend of mine deer hunting who is now a paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. I can’t even imagine what that would be like. I know how frustrating it was and is just dealing with my two surgeries. What I do know and have come to realize is that it takes a special person of tremendous courage and will power to endure the challenges of everyday life, I mean the simplest task’s many of us take for granted.
I honestly think, in this case, the love for the outdoors, his passion to do what he loved before his accident, has allowed my friend to move forward with his life in as normal of a way as possible. I believe it motivates him each and every day and I am certain that if it were not for the passion he has for fishing, hunting, 4 wheeling, snowmobiling and etc… he would have had a very difficult time.
For all of you who are like my friend, you are my heroes and you inspire people like me to overcome the minor challenges we face.
I am thankful too that I have a similar passion for the outdoors and all that it offers. I do know how lucky we are.
The Outdoor Quaterback

So, how did your team do in this years NFL Draft? I think the Chiefs did well, at least on paper they did. I will get a chance to meet all of our draftees and free agents on May 15th at the Rookie/Free Agent dinner hosted by the Chiefs and attended by the Chiefs Ambassadors, who are made up of Chiefs former players. We get a chance to talk abut the history of the Chiefs and why they should be proud to part the Chiefs organization.

Our first selection is a gifted athlete and ball hog as a corner back. He had some issues in college and was dismissed from the team. Hopefully he is beyond that and new life in football is going to begin for him. Time will tell. Our second pick was a offensive lineman from the Univ. of Missouri. A young man who can play all the positions on the offensive line, he will be a great asset for the Chiefs. The Chiefs added some additions to the receiver core, defensive line and to the linebacker group. So in my opinion they did very good job filling needs. Hats of the Chiefs staff and scouts.

Let me hear from you on how your team did. Hats off to Chicago for an awesome draft experience.

The Outdoor Quarterback

#Islikely offers the very best and most #accurate weather for an app which is now available in the Apple Store and the Google Play Store, just search Islikely Weather. It allows you to set your ideal parameters for your idea weather conditions to participate in your favorite outdoor activities, #trails, #Watching wildlife, #fishing, #camping, #snow sports, #hunting, #paddle sports and #cycling. Once you have set your personal parameters you will get a text that tells you that today is a good for your activity. The color code tells you immediately that you are good to go, green, so so, orange or just stay in bed, red!

If you have been reading my blog you know I am an avid outdoors man and #weather is critical for all the outdoor activities I enjoy, which are all of the above. All of the other sports are influenced by the weather, look how much attention is being paid to the potential weather for the Super Bowl. If it doesn’t snow or if the wind doesn’t blow Denver will be favored, if it snows and the wind blows, Seattle will win big, my guess is the team with the most points will win, no matter the weather, but what you wear, either as a player or spectator will be and is dictated by the #weather. And Islilely has been designed to give you every bit of the information you need to enjoy the activity or event you are participating in or attending.

Download #Islikely #Weather and give me your feedback. Remember there is much more coming. The web site is there for those of you who don’t use apple or android devices. Not to far down the road we will be able to provide access to the Islikely app on any mobile device.

Will the weather influence the outcome of the Super Bowl, I am going to say yes, because I do believe if the wind is less than 10 mph, Denver and Manning have the advantage, not to mention, which no one has, the punter and kicker for Denver are two of the very best and will turn the game one way or the other.

My pick is Denver!

The Outdoor Quarterback

The start of NFL training camps are just around the corner which means the NFL buzz while begin soon. For those of you who are the men and women outdoors who read my blog, this should be your training camp time as well.

The beginning of training camps for the NFL is one of interest and excitement, I know it is for the players. They have been involved with off season workouts, OTA’s and mini camps for several months. Now it is all for real, they have a target to look forward to, the first preseason game or the first regular season game. The same is true with the hunter who getting ready for his or her fall elk, bear or deer hunt. This is the time to get rid of those extra pounds put on over the winter. Getting into shape can make the difference between a miserable experience and great experience. That is what happens to some players who think all they have to do is show up to training camp and all is well, ie the veterans. That player is one who is in for a big surprise. The NFL is so competitive now that even a seasoned veteran can’t afford to show up out of shape and in marginal condition. Big difference from now and when I played. My rookie year we played 6 preseason games and was in training camp nearly 3 months. In other words everyone thought they could use camp to get in shape. Today they have two weeks or less of training camp before they play the first preseason game, that would have been nice.

For the outdoor enthusiast, using this time to hone your skills get in shape will make a significant difference in your trip and make your experience that much more enjoyable. Showing up out of shape, limited practice time with your bow, muzzle loader or rifle will limit your opportunities, I guarantee!

If you live by a NFL training camp, I encourage you to take yourself, your kids or grand kids and experience the NFL players up close, I know they appreciate your support.

The Outdoor Quarterback

Now that all the hunting season are finished, spring bear being the last for me until elk season. NFL is on vacation, at least most of the coaches and players until training camps begin. What to do now! Well, for me, it is a great time to go through all my equipment, make repairs, clean things up, check to see if there are any new toys that I can’t live without. Or, which happened to me, replace something I lost. From a football perspective, check out all the free agents who changed teams and the rookies who may be good finds for my fantasy football league. The bottom line is, there is always something to do until the next hunting season comes along or until the NFL camps open. If nothing else, go shoot your bow, get more proficient with your firearms, take the kids outdoors, camping, hiking or biking. Find the newest NFL magazines and catch up on your teams. What is the boy scout saying, be prepared. Well, this is the time of the year to do just that.

The Outdoor Quarterback

Every year the Super Bowl is played with as much fan fare as any athletic event world wide, including the World Cup or the Olympics.  For the first time in many years I am truly excited for this years game.  The primary reason, the quarterbacks! Two young and athletic guys exceeding everyone’s expectations, except their own, putting the deep ball back in the game with a dramatic change in traditional offensive football.  Most Super Bowls are won by great defensive minded teams, not this year.  The Pistol offense will test the Ravens defense from start to finish. The only advantage the Ravens have is the time they have had to prepare for the game.  If I were the DC (defensive coordinator) I would have gone back to look at some of Kaepernick’s college game tapes.   He has had limited starts in the NFL and believe the Ravens could really have a better chance of controlling him by how he executed the Pistol offense for a entire season.  He is feeling comfortable in this offense and will revert back to how he played in college, he has more starts at Nevada then he does with the 49ers.  A player under pressure will always refer back to what is instinctive to him.  Then there is Joe Flacco, in my opinion a taller Tom Brady with a better arm, now he just needs Tom’s moxy! I anticipate Flacco will air out the ball at least 3 time in this game, in other words pass attempts over 40 yards.  If the Ravens running game is working, then the deep pass will be a major part of the Ravens offensive strategy.  I have no dog in this hunt and I will be pulling for both teams, because of the QB’s, I just hope they both play up to their capabilities.   If they do we are all in for great game.  There is one thing I know for sure, Mr and Mrs Harbaugh will have a Super Bowl winning Son!

Super Bowl Bound!

The Outdoor Quarterback