St Paddy’s Day is one of my all-time favorite holidays.

Not so much for the green beer, Guinness Extra Stout, or multiple rounds of Irish Car Bombs anymore – although they are all still delicious and very much have their place on this holiday. But more for what time of year the day signifies:

Warm weather is on the way, college basketball actually matters, and the NFL Draft is near.

Some random thoughts to have with your coffee (hopefully Irish Coffee) after the jump.

I get that the free agent guard market is weak, but Charlie Johnson coming back on a 2-year deal…. Come one. He was the worst player on a unit that underachieved in 2013. With 2nd year man Jeff Baca on the roster primed to step up and the re-signing of veteran Joe Berger, I thought the Charlie Johnson run in Minnesota might thankfully be over. It still might be. Let’s see how the draft, training camp, and the preseason shake out.

 

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Charlie aside, I really like the moves Vikings GM Rick Spielman has made in Free Agency. Beyond the splashy moves of re-signing Everson & Cassel and bringing in Joseph & Munnerlyn, the smaller, under the radar deals are key. Re-signing Simpson, Berger, and Fred Evans. Bringing in Jasper (again) and Derek Cox.

As Rick mentioned in an AP article from Friday, adding/retaining all of this depth allows them not to be pigeonholed into having to draft (overdraft) for a specific position. They can simply draft the best player available. I love that approach.

After all Chester Taylor had a 1000 yard season in 2006, but we still took a running back with the 7th pick in the 2007 Draft. What was his name? Andrew Patterson….? Andre Potterman…?

 

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We’re smoking ribs for St. Paddys Day. Because bbq & slaw beats the sh*t out of corned beef & cabbage ANY day, even on cb&c’s appointed holiday.

 

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News broke this morning that Jim Irsay had been arrested late Sunday night. Charged with DWI and possession of a controlled substance.

It’s a sad event for a man who’s constantly in the spotlight, mostly for his erratic tweeting.

People constantly claim that Irsay drunk or had been drinking (his father Robert was an alcoholic), but Jim steadfastly states that he hasn’t touched a drop in years.

Well respected Indianapolis Star columnist thinks it might have been something else:

https://twitter.com/bkravitz/status/445536629126864896

It would make sense with the felony possession of a controlled substance.

Whatever happened, I hope the man gets help. He gets public attention more than most would want their NFL owner, but aside from that he’s everything you’d want.

He spends money and lets his people do their job. GM Ryan Grigson and Coach Chuck Pagano have done phenomenal work during their 2-years in Indy A.P. (After Peyton). Trent Richardson aside…

Hopefully this serves as a wakeup call for Jim and he gets himself clean. Of whatever demons he currently has. Addiction is a b*tch.

 

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Louisville is perhaps the GREATEST 4-seed in tournament history. I have them winning it all in the Bracket I’m submitting to win Buffett’s Billion.

 

 

 

 

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