Jumbo Package: Slim Pickins' Begins, AJ Rides The Pine

Pros

Back to backup for AJ McCarron with Cincinnati Bengals | AL.com

But now it's back to backup for the former Alabama star. That means limited opportunities with the first-team offense. But McCarron said he still will prepare as though he'll play. "It's pretty much the same because when you're the backup, you're still preparing," McCarron said on Monday. "It's different because you don't get any (practice snaps) at all. That's the way we do it here, and certain teams do it certain ways. So that's the hardest part. But you're still watching film and preparing the same way.".... Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis has made it clear several times in the offseason that the Bengals have no interest in trading McCarron "because he's exactly what we look for to be a replacement quarterback if we needed it. We never found one until now. That's what we feel good about."

So, McCarron is riding the bench (literally,) not seeing a single snap in practice, and Marvin Lewis still won't trade him (or unload Dalton's $96m dollar deal?) I understand that NFL franchises want to keep a serviceable No. 2 on deck, but at this point how serviceable is a backup that doesn't get a live rep or two in practice against a real-live-human-being? I suspect that part of the reason that Lewis doesn't give backup QBs reps is because, like last offseason, the last thing he wants in camp is to create a buzz around the guy he's' put on the bench.

Crootin'

A-Day sways Sanders to commit to Tide | TuscaloosaNews.com

"A-Day was amazing," said Sanders, a 2019 football prospect from Port St. Joe, Fla. "I had heard and I didn't think there would be that many (attendees). It was just shocking. I didn't believe it at first." That shock wasn't as big as the scholarship offer he got from UA head coach Nick Saban. He accepted last Saturday to become the first member of his class to make a public commitment. "Just to be offered like this, it's very exciting," he said. "I never dreamed it. I come from a small town and a small school. In Port St. Joe, you've got two stop lights. I thought my first offer would be when I was a senior or something."

Sanders plays running back, safety, and is presently listed as the No. 2 athlete of the class of...2019. That's right, this guy just finished 8th grade. Not to be condescending here, but I'd take a 14-year old's opinions on fruit snacks more seriously than a commitment to a college made before he even hits puberty.

Behind enemy lines

Helton: USC's quarterback competition will continue in fall | College Football

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California's quarterback competition will continue in fall training camp after coach Clay Helton was unable to choose a winner in spring practice. Helton announced his decision to extend the competition Monday.

Junior Max Browne and redshirt freshman Sam Darnold are the front-runners in the Trojans' second true quarterback competition since 2009. Browne was the presumptive favorite heading into his fourth season at USC, but the athletic Darnold has made it tighter than anticipated.

"There were a number of open positions on our team this spring where players performed very well, including the quarterbacks," Helton said in a statement released by the school. "I met with them today and told them that, based on how well they played, I have decided to continue the quarterback competition into fall camp. I will wait until then to name a starter."

Like Alabama, the LA press is going to go nuts over the QB starter at USC in advance of the season opener in the Jerruh' Dome. Like Alabama, the LA press is also going to ignore that offensive line is a much greater concern. The Trojans were gutted by graduation and early departure along both lines, and they were always looking at a somewhat reloading year in any event.

Bret Bielema wanted to turn the tables and have satellite camps in Big Ten country - SBNation.com

While teams like Michigan and Penn State were heading down south to put on camps, Ole Bret was planning an end around and heading north to give the Big Ten a taste of its own medicine. It almost doesn't matter if Bielema is joking here or not, but if he's not, let's take note that a Big Ten team was willing to act as the host for a visiting SEC team's satellite camp. One could only imagiāe the reaction of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh when he heard Bielema's comments. Considering how strongly he panned the SEC for orchestrating the satellite camp ban, I doubt he found much humor in Bielema going on the radio to have a little fun at his expense.

God bless Bret Bielema. BERT is a never-ending font of amusement. And, yeah, I'll bet titty-baby Harbaugh got #mad #online again when he saw the Porcine-in-Chief taking a run at him.

Pete brings up a VERY interesting point though, and one worth speculation: Who was the Big Ten program that was going to permit Arkansas to belly-up to them for a satellite camp? You know it was not Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, or Wisconsin. I'm thinking someone like Illinois, with a new Lovie Smith-led Illini program -- he's been out of the loop so long, he's probably still trying to place nice.

Tuesday, we meet again

Baseball Set for Single Home Games against Troy, South Alabama - ROLLTIDE.COM - University of Alabama Official Athletic Site

The Crimson Tide welcomes a pair of in-state foes for two midweek contests. The first matchup comes on Tuesday, as Troy visits Tuscaloosa. On Wednesday, Alabama will square off with South Alabama to round out the Tide's current six-game homestand. The Crimson Tide will square off with each team at 6:30 p.m. CT on their respective game days. Both contests will air live on SECN+ with Mick Gillispie and Lance Cormier in the booth.

Midweek game tonight against a fairly competent Troy team. Earlier this season, Alabama defeated Troy 2-1, and you have to think another pitcher's duel is on deck for tonight. Alabama has won two straight Tuesday matchups in a row, and is fresh off of a series win over then-No. 9 Ole Miss (in a series where 'Bama could have very well swept if the bats had done anything on Friday.) And, don't look now, but Alabama had a near-sweep of LSU to open conference play too. The Tigers are sitting at No. 10. So, there is a little bit of momentum heading into two winnable weekday games and a very tough weekend road series against No. 1 Texas A&M.

All of this of course means that the Tide will probably get shelled tonight, committing three errors and burning through the bullpen like the Spanish Inquisition low on kindling. More seriously, Gaspard and company need to stress the small things as tournament time grows nearer: consistency, baserunning, fielding fundamentals etc that can lift the Tide to a postseason run: The pitching can hang with anyone in the country.

As always, Roger will have your live updates on his twitter feed: @RogerPatMyers. Bama baseball fever, catch it! RTR! Believe in the process.