Larry Brown Sports

Desmond Howard was one of the best receivers and kick returners in the nation when he played at Michigan in the late 1980s and early 90s. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1991 after scoring an incredible 23 touchdowns, 19 of which were catches. In the NFL, however, Howard was more of a return specialist. He played for five different teams in 11 seasons, caught 40 passes during his best year in 1994 and never caught more than 26 after that. His best NFL season was 1996 with Green Bay, when Howard led the NFL in return yards and returned a kick 99 yards for a touchdown against the Patriots in Super Bowl 31.

Because most of his NFL success came as a punt and kick returner, Skip Bayless recently labeled Howard “The Kick Returner.” Howard, who works with Skip at ESPN, was not pleased when he heard about the new nickname, so he decided to give Bayless a name of his own.

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Last month Desmond Howard was angering Michigan fans with some of his comments. Now he’s doing more of the same to Ohio State fans. In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald via Sporting News, Howard said Woody Hayes would be embarrassed by Jim Tressel’s actions at Ohio State.

“If Woody Hayes was around now, I’m thinking he would grab Jim Tressel by the collar and punch him in the throat,” Howard told the World-Herald. “Because what he has done to that program, it’s just embarrassing.”

Howard didn’t stop there. He also said that Ohio State’s actions tarnished the clean, wholesome, Midwest morals image of the Big Ten. To which we say what about the violations and questionable recruiting by Rich Rodriguez at Michigan?

Howard believes that players selling merchandise is irrelevant and shouldn’t be a crime, and he thinks the NCAA should review its rules. He also is disappointed about what happened with Ohio State because he wants to beat his opponent’s best.

As for the point that Hayes would have punched Jim Tressel in the throat, I imagine it would have been a right to the collarbone:

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Former Michigan Heisman Trophy winner and current college football “analyst” Desmond Howard spoke at the Black Coaches and Administrators convention recently, and a portion of his words angered Michigan fans. In his speech, he talked about how young players get too great of a sense of self because of all the butt kissing they get from coaches and recruiting services. His main point was that programs and teams were bigger than any and all individuals, including figures like Bo Schembechler. And then came the kicker, which was written in the St. Petersburg Times:

I’ll give you a perfect example: Michigan fires coach Rich Rodriguez,” said Howard. “All the noise in Ann Arbor is, ‘Is Denard Robinson going to stay or leave?’ I’m like, ‘Hey, if the kid wants to go, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. You looked fantastic for five games against nobody. That’s what you did.’ I’m not going to deny his talents, but, ‘You ain’t won nothing in Ann Arbor, son! Not so much we need to worry about if you’re going to be here next year or not.’ “

Three Michigan officials in attendance for the speech didn’t think anything of that portion, Howard wrote on twitter Friday. He defended himself saying “3 Mich staff members were there and TOTALLY understood them in context. Pt. was about fans/media.” I don’t deny that that was a minor portion of his entire speech, but the fact remains he said Robinson won five games against nobody and that he hasn’t won anything. That’s worth discussing.

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Former Giants Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms apparently got somewhat confrontational with fellow former NFL player, Desmond Howard this weekend. Both players are current TV analysts — Simms for CBS and Howard for ESPN. Simms saw Desmond at the NFL Xperience at the Super Bowl this week, and brought up an insult he heard Howard make on TV during the college football season. From Howard’s twitter via MK Rob:

“At NFL-Xperience and Phil Simms just threatened 2 hit me b/c I said his son was 1 of the worse QBs in the SEC. I told him “LET’S GO! … I am DEAD serious about the Phil Simms thing. We all thought he was joking, but he kept going and said he wanted 2 take a swing at me!! During the season we talked about the Tenn v LSU game and I said “u will see 3 of the worse QBs in the SEC” That’s what Phil did not like.”

Even though Phil is a former player who’s endured criticism and understands the role of playing an analyst on TV, he’s still a father, and that would make sense if he got defensive. He also must have a memory like LeBron to raise that issue with Des. When reached by phone, Matt said he was unaware of the incident. We’re awaiting word from Phil on the story.

UPDATE: Phil issued a statement through CBS via Richard Deitsch “”Desmond and I were having a private conversation that became heated. But at no time was there ever a chance of any physical confrontation, or that I felt the police officer assigned to me by the event planners for my appearance needed to separate the two of us.”

Simms’ wife, Diana, told LBS “that’s not normally like us,” regarding her husband’s actions. She also says she thinks her son Matt is proud of his father for defending him.

For more on this story and much more, keep up with LBS on twitter

When Reggie Bush officially decided to “forfeit” the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005, I said it would end the hotly debated topic. Boy was I wrong. A good portion of the day was spent discussing the morality of Bush giving back the Trophy, and maybe Desmond Howard made the best point of all. For someone who didn’t have a lot of opinions on all matters college football last week, the former Michigan Heisman Trophy winner was outspoken on College Football Live Wednesday. He called out new USC athletic director Pat Haden for a hypocritical act:

“Pat Haden, the new athletic director, earlier in the month he said ‘If I were Reggie Bush with Pat Haden’s soul, yes I would give back the Heisman.’ OK, the Heisman’s given back. But Pat Haden, what are you going to now as far as correcting these transgressions? They played with an ineligible player, they went to BCS Bowl Games with an ineligible player, you don’t have the wins no more but you still have the money. What is your soul telling you to do with that money now that you got with an illegal player? That’s the big question that I want to hear answered now.”

Howard’s not the first person I’ve heard say USC should pay back the BCS money they earned while Bush was an ineligible member of the team, but he did a good job relating Haden’s “soul” comment with what Bush finally did. He’s absolutely right. Bush gave back something for which he gave his butt off and rightfully earned on the field (but lost based on what he did off of it). Where’s Haden now to make good on his end? Wouldn’t that be the right, just, and moral thing to do too? Desmond’s absolutely correct. Next move is on you, Pat.