Cam Ward Wins Davey O’Brien Award

University of Miami senior Cam Ward has been voted the 2024 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award winner, as announced on ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards Thursday evening.

Ward is the third Hurricane to garner the country’s oldest and most prestigious quarterback trophy, joining Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992).

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound signal caller leads the nation in passing touchdowns (36) and quarterback rating (88.0), while ranking second in passing yards (4,123), points responsible for (254) and total offense (359.9).

Ward set new single-season school records for both passing touchdowns and passing yards, becoming the first Miami player to tally seven straight 300-yard performances.

The Hurricanes’ first ever ACC Player of the Year has thrown for at least 300 yards and totaled three touchdowns on 10 occasions.

A fifth-year senior, Ward matched Houston’s Case Keenum for the most career passing touchdowns (155) at the NCAA Division I level.

Ward and the Hurricanes have mounted the top offense in the country, as Miami paces all FBS programs in scoring offense (44.2), total offense (538.3), yards per play (7.6), first downs (327) and third down conversion rate (56.5)

The West Columbia, Texas native has guided the Hurricanes to their first 10-win campaign in seven years.

During the regular season, Ward tied for the nation’s lead in Davey O’Brien Great 8 selections, racking up five weekly honors.

DEAL ACCEPTED: New Orleans Saints Pull Blockbuster Deal to Land Star Quarterback Jared Goff from Detroit Lions, Bolstering Offensive Arsenal for Next Season..

New Orleans Saints Pull Blockbuster Deal to Land Star Quarterback Jared Goff from Detroit Lions, Bolstering Offensive Arsenal for Next Season
In a groundbreaking move, the New Orleans Saints have finalized a blockbuster trade to acquire star quarterback Jared Goff from the Detroit Lions. This surprising development sends ripples through the NFL, as the Saints look to solidify their offensive lineup and build on their ambitions for next season.

The Details of the Trade
The Saints reportedly offered a lucrative package to the Lions in exchange for Goff. The deal includes multiple draft picks, including a first-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, and two prominent players from New Orleans’ current roster. While the exact terms are still unfolding, insiders suggest the Saints spared no expense in landing the Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.

This trade marks a significant shakeup for both teams. The Lions, who are in the midst of a roster rebuild under head coach Dan Campbell, have chosen to part ways with Goff after two seasons in Detroit. Meanwhile, the Saints are betting big on Goff’s experience and talent to lead their offense to new heights.

Goff’s Credentials
Jared Goff, 29, entered the league as the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, selected by the Los Angeles Rams. During his time with the Rams, he led the team to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2018 season and earned two Pro Bowl nods. Known for his strong arm, accuracy, and leadership on the field, Goff transitioned to the Lions in 2021 as part of a trade involving Matthew Stafford.

In Detroit, Goff showcased resilience and poise, amassing over 4,000 passing yards and 29 touchdowns in the 2023 season. His performance highlighted his ability to thrive under pressure and manage games effectively. The Saints are undoubtedly counting on these attributes as they aim to contend in the competitive NFC South.

What This Means for the Saints
The acquisition of Goff signals a shift in strategy for the Saints. Head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Mickey Loomis have made it clear that their focus is on winning now. With Goff at the helm, the Saints have a proven leader capable of elevating their offense, which struggled with consistency in recent seasons.

Goff’s addition also raises expectations for the Saints’ talented roster. Wide receiver Chris Olave and running back Alvin Kamara are expected to benefit significantly from Goff’s ability to distribute the ball efficiently. Paired with the team’s robust offensive line, the Saints could emerge as a top contender in the NFC.

Reaction Around the League
The trade has garnered widespread attention across the NFL. Analysts and fans alike are weighing in on the implications for both teams. ESPN’s Adam Schefter described the deal as “a bold move that underscores the Saints’ urgency to compete at the highest level.” Meanwhile, critics have questioned whether the Lions received enough value in return for a quarterback of Goff’s caliber.

Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees also chimed in, expressing optimism about the team’s future. “Jared Goff is a tremendous talent and a great leader. He’s exactly what the Saints need to make a deep playoff run,” Brees said in a statement.

The Lions’ Perspective
For the Lions, the trade represents a commitment to rebuilding with a long-term vision. By parting ways with Goff, Detroit creates opportunities for younger talent and adds valuable draft capital to reshape their roster. While fans may lament the departure of a dependable quarterback, the move aligns with the Lions’ goal of constructing a sustainable winning culture.

Looking Ahead
As Goff prepares to don the black and gold, the Saints are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting season. The team’s schedule includes high-profile matchups against NFC powerhouses, and all eyes will be on Goff to see if he can deliver under the bright lights of New Orleans.

With this blockbuster trade, the Saints have sent a clear message: they are all-in on their quest for a championship. Whether this gamble pays off will be one of the most intriguing storylines to watch in the upcoming NFL season.

CONGRATULATIONS: Former Raiders QB and two-time Super Bowl champion Jim Plunkett has been inducted into the Hall of Fame after……

A long time ago, Jim Plunkett established the case for his football legacy. First, in East San Jose’s James Lick High School, a mural of the two-time Super Bowl winner adorns the campus quad.

The quarterback for Stanford then won the Heisman Trophy after leading his team to a resounding victory over Ohio State in the 1971 Rose Bowl.

Ten years later, in New Orleans, he won Super Bowl XV MVP honors after leading the Oakland Raiders to an upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the game’s favorite team.

The only player eligible with two Super Bowl rings as a starting quarterback who isn’t already inducted is Plunkett, and he is one of 31 Seniors category players being considered for the 2025 class by the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee.

Despite this, Plunkett claims he isn’t giving any thought to his football credentials. The 87-year-old former coach of Plunkett, Tom Flores, whose induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was long overdue, occupies Plunkett’s mind instead.

According to Plunkett, Flores is dealing with health problems following back operations. “During my recent visit to Flores’ home, I primarily discussed health and family with him,” Plunkett said. “The careers we’ve had.”

Flores and the Raiders gave Plunkett a second opportunity at a successful career a long time ago. In 1978, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis signed the 30-year-old quarterback as a backup after he had terrible spells with the Patriots and 49ers.

In 1980, after starter Dan Pastorini suffered a leg injury early in the season, Plunkett won nine of the final eleven games of the regular season and three more to earn a spot in the Super Bowl.

Michael Trevino, a 19-year-old from Gilroy, and three pals rode a Greyhound bus to the Super Bowl that year. Trevino used his connections with fruit growers in New Orleans to get $40 tickets on the Superdome’s 20-yard line.

As the Raiders were led to victory by Plunkett’s three touchdown passes, Trevino, dressed as “Mr. Garlic” from the Gilroy Garlic Festival, stood by and watched. Quarterback was chosen Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XVIII was won by the Washington Redskins by Plunkett and the relocating Los Angeles Raiders three years later. If Plunkett were to be admitted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it would mean everything, according to Trevino, who is currently co-chair of the Chicano-Latino Alumni Chapter at UC Berkeley.

It’s meritocratic, and it would have real significance for Latinos. Few Mexican-Americans played football for us. That was motivational. The Latino community flourished for the Raiders under the leadership of Flores and Plunkett.

We had these players. We had this squad. The induction of Plunkett “would serve as a powerful reminder of what s possible for our students, no matter their background or challenges,” wrote Lick High Principal Honey Gubuan in an email.

Dave Cortese, a Democrat from Silicon Valley and a lifelong resident of San Jose, was born and reared in an orchard farming family not far from Lick High School. Plunkett is “the guy’s an icon here,” Cortese said of him.

Despite all, he was just your average man from the neighborhood. His entire existence followed that enchanted path. Cortese went to the 1971 Rose Bowl as a youngster thanks to his dad’s impromptu ticket purchase in the stadium’s parking lot. Cortese, crammed into a stairwell above one of the Rose Bowl end zones, saw Plunkett’s fourth-quarter touchdown throw clinch Stanford’s victory.

The following day, while staying at a San Pedro hotel, the Cortese family unexpectedly ran across the Stanford football team. Just outside the hotel restaurant, Plunkett was hitched to a diner.

He autographed Dave’s game ticket. With Plunkett’s resurrection leading a Raiders squad that had failed to make the playoffs in 1978 and 1979, Cortese proclaimed, “It’s time” for Plunkett’s enshrinement.

“The whole team was struggling, so it wasn’t just him who made a major comeback.” Plunkett says he felt “extremely fortunate” to play in Oakland. Regarding his early years as a professional, he admits, “I struggled for a long time.”

For the Raiders, I discovered a calling. The way it turned out is something I’m grateful about. Before the team relocated in 1982, Plunkett was grateful for the support he had from Oakland fans.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced that nine players will be selected from the current group of thirty-one Seniors. Charlie Conerly and Ken Anderson are two other quarterbacks that are being considered.

Only on-the-field accomplishments are considered. Of the remaining nine players, the committee will select three for possible induction. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be announced in February in New Orleans. The enshrinement is in August in Canton, Ohio.