Larry Brown Sports

Alabama offensive tackle James Carpenter was picked by the Seattle Seahawks 25th overall in the first-round of the draft Thursday evening. The pick was stunning to most people because Carpenter was projected as a mid-second round pick by several analysts. Hearing Carpenter’s name get called was even shocking for Bama coach Nick Saban, who was sitting at running back Mark Ingram’s table. Check out their priceless reaction to the pick:

Nick Saban said to himself “James Carpenter went in the first round?” while Ingram said “Did they call James? I’m happy for him.” Either Saban was listening to too much Mel Kiper and Mike Mayock talk and was caught off guard, or he didn’t think his former player was a first-round talent. Something tells me it’s a combination of the two factors, and that can’t be a good sign for Seattle.

As for the Seahawks, GM John Schneider explained the pick saying “Quite frankly, our top-rated guy came to us and he stayed there the whole time.”

Carpenter himself admitted the pick shocked him. Was it a good pick or a reach? Only time will tell, but if this is who Seattle had at the top of their board, they made the right move.

Also see: Mark Ingram crying during his draft day interview

The New Orleans Saints traded draft picks with the New England Patriots to move up and select Alabama running back Mark Ingram in the 2011 NFL draft. Ingram went 28th overall and actually had to wait longer than some people expected him to. After getting picked, he was interviewed by ESPN’s Suzy Kolber who got personal with him. Kolber read a message Ingram’s father had sent to him from prison, and the emotion caused Mark to break down and cry:

Mark Ingram Sr. played 10 years in the NFL, six for the Giants, and helped them win the Super Bowl in 1990. In 2008 he was sentenced to seven years in prison for bank fraud and money laundering. He’s not expected to be released until late 2014, but there’s little doubt his impact on his son is profound.

Also see: Ingram’s reaction to the James Carpenter pick

My first thought after hearing the New Orleans Saints had drafted running back Mark Ingram was “so much for Reggie Bush.” Apparently he was thinking the exact same thing. Not long after the selection, he sent off this blast on twitter:

And just like that, a new catch phrase was born. Bush was set to make nearly $12 million in the upcoming season so the team was going to ask him to take a paycut anyhow, but now with such a crowded backfield (the Saints also have Pierre Thomas), it just makes it more clear that New Orleans is moving on.

To say Bush was a bust with New Orleans is like saying JaMarcus Russell is chubby. The Heisman Trophy winner* was supposed to be the next superstar when he entered the league. The Houston Texans were ridiculed for passing up the seemingly superhuman Bush in the draft, but they turned out to be right.

Read The Rest of the Story…

While Michael Vick and Peyton Hillis will battle for the Madden ’12 cover in the NFL, it was announced early Tuesday morning that Alabama running back Mark Ingram would be the cover boy for NCAA Football ’12. Ingram won an online vote that took place on facebook, and he beat out Jake Locker, Nick Fairley, and DeMarco Murray. I’m sure Bama fans will view it as another victory for the Tide over Auburn. Here’s a picture of the cover via Roll Bama Roll:

No surprise, the folks at EA say Ingram was the vote leader most of the way. Kegs ‘n Eggs has a video of the trailer for the game, and it’s pretty sweet. Check it out.