THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Chase Daniel will play in two college All-Star games in the next couple weeks (the East-West game and the Senior Bowl.) Is Daniel an NFL prospect already, or will his performance in these games determine whether or not he’s selected in the NFL draft in April?

VAHE GREGORIAN
Despite completing about 75 percent of his passes this season, Daniel’s tendency to turn the ball over and apparent happy feet through much of the second half of the season leaves him needing a profile boost — especially since his profile only is about 5-11. His performance in those games will matter, as will further scrutiny by NFL teams.

BRYAN BURWELL
Daniel’s NFL appeal suffered greatly this season and he’ll need strong workouts during practice weeks building up to those games as well as decent shows in the all-star games to revive his draft appeal.

JEFF GORDON
Actually, how Daniel practices will say a lot about his draft status. That may help (or hurt) him more than the games. Scouts will be all over the scene, watching each session closely. How will Chase perform outside of the spread offense? The revelation of his late-season thumb injury will help his case, since scouts noticed his inability to throw the ball downfield with much authority in the Big 12 Championship Game and the Alamo Bowl. Daniel can’t get any taller between now and the draft, but he CAN change perceptions about his passing ability. Can he throw the ball into the small windows of NFL defenses? And can he make those throws as a drop-back passer? The coming practice sessions will say a lot.

STU DURANDO
Daniel’s stock clearly dropped as the season progressed and it’s tough to find anyone who ranks him among the top 10 quarterbacks for the draft. I read one well-researched analysis that listed him No. 25. Sometimes good college players just don’t translate into NFL prospects. At this point, I think he’s just trying to play himself back into the draft. I would hope his performances in the all-star games don’t have any impact on his status.

DAN O’NEILL
I think what will be a determining factor is how many times the camera crews at those games focus on the Daniel family in the stands. If it is as often as they did during the waning moments of the Alamo Bowl, his chances of becoming an NFL prospect will not be greatly increased, but his chances of getting a new sitcom — “Meet the Daniels” — will be improved dramatically. As far as improving his NFL prospect status, I only see that happening if he is going to play tailback in the games. He had a great career as a college quarterback, but where Daniel’s chances of being an NFL quarterback are concerned, two words, sung in A-minor flat: “Ohhh Canada.”

TOM TIMMERMANN
The prototype college quarterback and the prototype NFL quarterback are two very different things. Daniel is a good college quarterback who can run, but that doesn’t always translate into NFL success. He’ll need to show he can excel in an NFL-type offense and not the spread. The all-star games will be the first steps for that. I think he’ll get drafted, but these all-star games will determine how high.

KATHLEEN NELSON
He can help himself a lot. A pack of his most vocal critics call Daniel a system quarterback. Perhaps he can prove otherwise by working with unfamiliar personnel outside Missouri’s version of the spread offense.

BILL COATS
He’s a prospect already. Daniel might not have all the “measurables” that NFL scouts like, but intangibles such as his leadership and competitiveness will earn him a shot. I’d guess he’s a middle-round pick.

****

MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

THE COLTS AND THEIR COACH: So you’ve got an NFL team that has been to the playoffs seven straight seasons, won five the last six AFC South titles and won at least 12 games in six consecutive seasons. And you’ve just lost a big-time, big-name coach in Tony Dungy. So who do the Indianapolis Colts put in charge? Well it was pre-ordained that Dungy’s longtime assistant Jim Caldwell would take over when Dungy left. That transition has now transpired. And one of the most potent teams in the NFL in recent years is now being run by a man who’s only head coaching experience consists of 26-63 record coaching Wake Forest.

Huh, I don’t get it. But it appears the folks in Indianapolis are buying it. Here’s what Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star had to say: “No, he’s not a sexy choice. … He’s not a Mike Shanahan or a Bill Cowher or a Marty Schottenheimer, not a choice who demands big, brassy headlines. But for the Indianapolis Colts, who said goodbye to a giant as coach Monday, Caldwell is the right choice at the right time.”

It’s hard to imagine the Colts not having success given the talent they’ve got, but it all starts with the head coach. We’ll see how Caldwell holds up a couple years down the line when the team begins to take on his identity.

ANAHEIM THROWS IN THE TOWEL: It appears the city of Anaheim is giving up its legal challenge against the Los Angeles Angels … formerly known as the Anaheim Angels. Can you believe it’s been four years already since new owner Arte Moreno made the marketing move that rocked the city of Anaheim and robbed the good citizens there of that civic pride? It also cost those citizens $4 million in legal fees fighting the name change in court.

Well, I guess the people of Anaheim could recoup some of that money and stick it to the man by not attending the Angels games anymore. It’s similar to what many Cardinal fans are threatening to do this offseason due to a lack of movement in the free agent market. But here’s what I’m guessing: With a powerhouse team like the Angels and a historically devoted fan base like the Cardinals have, neither team will have much trouble putting fannies in the seats … regardless of the public outrage.

****

THINGS TO PONDER

HOW ’BOUT THEM COWBOYS: Former Cowboys wide receiver and current television commentator Michael Irvin has had his own run-ins with the law. But earlier this week Irvin became the victim when he apparently found himself looking down the wrong end of the barrel of a gun. Check out this story on how Irvin got out of this precarious situation just by talking football with a couple of would-be thugs … who turn out to love the Cowboys more than they do armed robbery.

BASEBALL’S CLASSIC DILEMMA: New York Mets ace Johan Santana says he is unsure whether he’ll be able to pitch in the World Baseball Classic this spring. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is rehabbing from offseason knee surgery. Santana joins a number of other players who are backing away from the WBC, though not all of those players are taking a pass due to injuries. Some simply say it’s more important that they stay with their teams in spring training to prepare for the season. Makes sense to me. The WBC is an attempt to create more interest in MLB worldwide … however, isn’t it more important that players (and pitchers in particular) are going through the proper work in spring training to have them primed for Opening Day? I just don’t see taking chances on multi-million dollar players getting hurt or being thrown out of rhythm for what is essentially a glorified exhibition game. And if MLB really wants to conduct this Classic, why can’t they do it in a warm-weather climate at the END of the season rather than risking injury before the season. I’m a simple man. I just don’t understand.

****

STAT OF THE DAY

$120 million — That’s the ballpark amount that QB Eli Manning is likely to get in his new seven- or eight-year contract to stay with the Giants. According to the New York Daily News, that would make the 28-year-old Manning the eighth quarterback to top the $100 million barrier, and would put him near the top with Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb (12 years, $115 million), Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer (nine years, $118.75 million), and former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick (10 years, $130 million). It would also mean he’d be making about a million more per year than big brother, Peyton. Ouch.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Assuming the St. Louis Cardinals do acquire a couple more players via free agency or trade sometime before the season starts, are there any players you’d specifically like to see the team pursue?

JOE STRAUSS
Randy Wolf, Jon Garland and Braden Looper are names I’d key on at the first suggestion of a continued problem with Chris Carpenter (or any other member of the rotation). Let’s be blunt. Since acquiring Carpenter, the Cardinals have reached the postseason every year in which he’s delivered 28 or more starts (’04, ’05, ’06). They’ve tanked every year in which he has failed to do so (’03, ’07, ’08). There remains an alarming lack of depth within the rotation. I have a feeling one of the previously mentioned three would be willing to accept a one-year deal plus an option with the opportunity to re-file for free agency in a better economic climate. I frankly believe the Cardinals have a better chance of surviving the season with Jason Motte and Chris Perez closing than with their rotation exposed without Carpenter (or Wain’o). If Carpenter reaches spring training ready to go, great. But listing Kyle McClellan, Mitchell Boggs, Brad Thompson, Jesse Todd, etc. as a “No. 6 starter” suggests more crunch time for the bullpen.

RICK HUMMEL
I’m a big fan of lefthanded starting pitching. I’d like to see the Cardinals get either Randy Wolf or Oliver Perez. I would even take a chance on oft-injured righthander Ben Sheets.

DERRICK GOOLD
The more I look at what the Cardinals have done to improve the left side of the bullpen, the less convinced I am that they can 100-percent bank on actually being improved. Trever Miller is a clear upgrade, but the Cardinals themselves questioned his health. The other candidates are intriguing, but there’s isn’t a guarantee. So much hinges on the integrity of Miller’s labrum. To assure that the left side of the bullpen is better in 2009 than it was in 2008, bring on Will Ohman. Believed to be one of the first lefties who was going to sign this winter— with Atlanta, no less — Ohman is still out there. They wanted him in July, they can still get him in January. Beyond Ohman, for me the most fascinating free agent is — cue Joe Strauss’ signature derisive chuckle — Smoke Laval’s former ace, Ben Sheets. Sure his health is a concern, but he’s made at least 20 starts in all but one season and did pitch 198 innings in 2008. Roll the die on Cy: Get either Sheets or Chris Carpenter healthy and pitching to form and the Cardinals are in position to contend. Get both … and they are a favorite.

JEFF GORDON
This team needs a capable left-handed starter. In this favorable marketplace, it appears Oliver Perez could slip through the cracks IF the Mets sign Derek Lowe. Perez is a guy with huge potential. Maybe Dave Duncan could make him into something on a two-year basis. Failing that, Randy Wolf would be a good fit if the Dodgers don’t go overboard to bring him back to the West Coast. He’s been hurt a lot, but he knows how to pitch. This team also needs a stronger left-handed relief option. It would be a shame if the Cards struggled there this season after taking a pass on more credible lefties in the market. John Mozeliak has every opportunity to upgrade the left side of his pitching staff. Do it!

****

MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

RICKEY MIGHTY HAPPY FOR RICKEY: Rickey Henderson, baseball’s all-time stolen bases and runs scored leader, and power-hitting outfielder Jim Rice were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Henderson got in on the first ballot, while Rice made it in on the last time he would be eligible. The pair will be inducted into the Hall July 26. Players must be named on 75 percent of the ballot for induction. Mark McGwire received just 21.9 percent of the vote.

Speaking of McGwire, I’m beginning to wonder if his omission from Hall of Fame voting has less to do with his suspected used of performance enhancers and more to do with how poor his Hall of Fame induction speech might be when he got to the podium and simply said, “I’m not here to talk about the past.”

SO LONG, TONY: 53-year-old Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy is expected to announce his retirement at a press conference this afternoon. Dungy’s success as head coach is undeniable … after 13 seasons (six with Tampa Bay and seven with the Colts), he ranks 19th in all-time victories in the NFL, leading his teams to 148 career wins including the playoffs, and he led the Colts to the 2006 Super Bowl championship. Dungy also ranks 3rd all-time in winning percentage for a coach who has coached at least 50 games with one team, going .759 with the Colts.

The NFL has lost a truly great coach, and perhaps even more importantly, an inspirational leader and a true gentleman of the game. We wish him the best in future endeavors.

****

SOMETHING TO PONDER

LIFE OF REILLY: I’ve read a lot of articles and columns belittling the BCS bowl process and the fact that an undefeated Utah team got completely snubbed in the process. But of all I read, perhaps no one said it better than Rick Reilly. If you’re not tired of the subject, check out what he had to say.

****

STAT OF THE DAY

1 — Number of black head coaches to win a Super Bowl. That would be Tony Dungy.