FOUR BITS: Hall of fame, accountability, NFL

By Adam Silverstein
June 14, 2010

1 » On Oct. 29, 2010, one day before the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs square-off in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, FL, four former student-athletes will be inducted into the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame. Representing the Gators are linebackers Wilber Marshall and Scot Brantley, while LB Knox Culpepper and quarterback Zeke Bratkowski will be honored as former Bulldogs.

2 » A quick blurb from friend of OGGOA, former Florida football player and host of “The Morning Drive” on ESPN Radio in Ocala/Gainesville, FL, Brady Ackerman via his Twitter account Monday evening: “I am hearing that [head coach] Urban [Meyer] has made [the] team accountable for everyone this offseason. In an effort to develop leadership – a mistake hurts everyone. Meyer is trying to develop leaders and accountability with his team this summer. That will be put to test with the arrest of Hammond. The rule is if one guys messes up – everyone pays. Hammond, who is now suspended, is causing the team a little ‘extra’ running this week. I think the message will get home with the team this week and expect the rest of the summer to be quiet from ‘nonsense.'”

Two more BITS on Joe Haden and Maurkice Pouncey…after the break!

3 » Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini has been complimentary of former Gators cornerback Joe Haden recently, even going so far as to say he is progressing as expected. “I don’t have a lot of preliminary conclusions [about Haden], I’d say that I really like the way that he’s approached things,” Mangini said. “I think that the volume of information has been new. I’m not saying he didn’t have a large volume in college, it’s different. He’s done a good job and he’s been put in a lot of spots where he’s has to adjust and there’s been hiccups as well along the way. Those safeties and corners they have a lot to do. Some days it was really good and other days it was not quite as good.” Haden agrees that he still has plenty of work to do. “Sometimes I was [hesitant] for sure because I didn’t know if what I was doing was right,” Haden said. “You don’t want to mess up. Now all the plays are in so you can just go as fast as you can. Now I can just study the plays and I can try to anticipate stuff instead of worrying. Now I can start reacting.”

4 » As OGGOA has been reporting since he started mini camp, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey has a legitimate chance to start at right guard this season. Head coach Mike Tomlin is so happy with his progress thus far that he still considers Pouncey in the running to start at center. “I think that he has proven to be mature beyond his years,” Tomlin said per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “His level of football maturity probably exceeds that of some 20-year-old first-round picks that we have had of recent years, like Lawrence Timmons and Rashard Mendenhall. He’s got good football maturity. It’s been a pleasant surprise. He’s been comfortable at guard and center.”

Photo Credits: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

3 Comments

  1. Gatormiami says:

    I want to see the proof of the accusations the UF contacted USC frosh RB! Likely another Kiffy lie.

  2. SC Gator says:

    Well… it is sort of telling that the kid then suddenly lost his phone right after accusing everyone.

  3. On Campus says:

    Phone records could quickly prove what occurred but it seems USC isn’t trying that hard to obtain them….funny how that works out. I enjoy seeing Kiffin wallowing in the black pit that used to be USC.

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