Johnson busts Patriots, Brooks talks Buffs

Ted Johnson, still the fourth-leading tackler in CU history (409 total sticks) over a decade after leaving Boulder, continues to point fingers at his former pro team, the New England Patriots, over health isssues. Those words are now growing louder after stories were printed in New York and Boston.

Johnson claims coach Bill Belichick put him in harms way with big hits in practice while the linebacker was trying to heal from a concussion, even though the team trainer advised against participating, according to an Associated Press story.

The reason Johnson is talking this up is because he's not functioning right, physically, "There's something wrong with me," he told the New York Times. "There's something wrong with my brain. And I know when it started."

Black and Gold Truth: Everyone who has played the sport knows pro football is a beast. It makes hamburger out of human beings. Injured players are often left on an island, as though they aren't soldiering on. Coaches expect you on the field unless you have lost a limb.

Johnson, obviously feels the Patriots were negligent and wants to bring it to light, yes, maybe for money, but more so because he is frightened over his health concerns and what he is to become because of them. Attacking Belichick or the New England organization, a model franchise to many, is not going to be an easy sell, seeing the coach is already a legend. It will take other players stepping out in support of Johnson's claims, others who have been similarly affected.

The educated guess here is this story is going to raise awareness, spawn a news magazine expose or two as well as magazine articles and force the NFL to implement new guidelines on how to deal with such injuries. It might, the way things roll these days, end up before congress.

Johnson trails only the overworked Barry Remington, the powerful Matt Russell and overachieving, gritty Greg Biekert on the all-time list at CU for tackles.

Brooks backs Bohn

The BGT and B.G. Brooks of the Rocky Mountain News got together to talk CU, the Big 12 and basketball on a national level, hitting on CU athletic director Mike Bohn, coaching and whom to build a team around. Here is that conversation.

BGT: Is Mike Bohn doing the right thing by allowing Ricardo Patton to continue to coach this team through the season and is that truly the only choice he has at the time?

Brooks: I can't see another option. I can't see anyone on that staff being an interim head coach.

There are those who say (Patton) doesn't deserve to coach the rest of the seaon by the way he handled (his resignation) but on the other hand you have a guy who's been there 12 years, he's been the head coach for 11 and I think there is a certain way you handle it and let him go out.

BGT: How has all this affected the team this season?

Brooks: I don't think they can help not thinking of next year and who might be coaching them and how things might change.

BGT: Is Bohn taking unfair hits for how this season has unfolded or is Patton taking the cheap shots regardless of his servitude to the school and fielding a young team? Where is that line of truth on the matter, B.G.?

Brooks: I don't think had Patton's employment status been handled any differently I don't think you would have seen results that would have differed dramatically from what you are seeing right now. You have a very young team.

BGT: KU or Texas A & M -- who's better and who wins the conference?

Brooks: I think Kansas wins it. I like the way A & M plays defense and I wouldn't discount Texas either, with Kevin Durant and the guys around him. I wouldn't throw them too far down in the pile.

BGT: Your early front-runner for coach of the year in the Big 12, on what the guy has done for the whole season?

Brooks: I really like what Sean Sutton has done at Oklahoma State, like the way he has taken over and what he's done. I'd cast a vote for him right now.

BGT: B.G. Brooks' top team in the country?

Brooks: North Carolina.

BGT: You're a college coach and both Greg Oden and Kevin Durant want to come play for you, but only if they can be the sole big man on campus. Who do you want to build your program around, even if but for a season or two?

Brooks: I like Durant. I think he's more versatile. Oden is certainly a guy who does some things for you defensively with shot blocking and overall defense but I like Durant's game. He can do anything from most any place on the court.

BGT: You've been around a while -- when you look at that Texas slim jim, how does he measure up to other greats in conference history?

Brooks: I haven't seen teams defend him well at all this year and I wish he'd stay around a little while just for people to get a full appreciation of what he can do but given today's climate and market that's probably unrealistic.

Big-12 Courts

This Saturday might be the best schedule yet for competitive basketball in the Big 12. Just look at the matchups and regardless of rooting interest there should be some quality games.

Get in your stance and let's break it down together.

No. 12 Oklahoma State at Colorado -- Another bad matchup for the Buffaloes as the Cowboys know no one can check Mario Boggan. Think he'll get some touches? And when CU tries to collapse on him, watch JamesOn Curry shoot or slice to the basket, watch Terrel Harris score and watch the relative unknowns on the OSU frontline get their highlight clips. For the Buffs, Richard Roby must get his confidence going early, Dominique Coleman has to have the overall floor game he is capable of and has showed at times and the team has to be gritty, creating turnovers, diving for loose balls, getting offensive rebounds and actually punch the clock on defense. This doesn't look good on paper but a big game from Roby could inspire his teammates to play above their heads.

No. 10 Texas A & M at no. 9 Kansas --the word here is that coach Billy Gillispie's Aggies are the best team in the conference, the talent in Lawrence not withstanding. That said, winning on the road at Allen Fieldhouse is going to be a monster. A & M has to keep the score down and play the game in the 60's or 70's to maximize its's chance to win. If the teams start running and the scoreboard shows 80 points or more, the Jayhawks come out victorious. Acie Law has to come up big, Josh Carter has to score and Joseph Jones must be physical down low and own the soft interior of KU, something Jayhawks' coach Bill Self bemoaned last week.

Kansas State at no. 22 Texas -- the Wildcats are hot with six-straight victories, David Hoskins and Cartier Martin scoring and real confidence while the Longhorns have dominating Kevin Durant, his helper D.J. Augustin and his runnin' buddy, A.J. Abrams, scoring points in bunches. Look for Kansas State to be competitive but in the end, find its' tank on empty and get run over.

Texas Tech at Oklahoma -- a strong matchup. The Red Raiders, having upsets of Big-12 powers Kansas and Texas A & M, have fallen flat against Missouri and Texas while the Sooners have been playing more consistently. Texas Tech should rebound and play well. Bob Knight will demand that much. However, in Norman, where OU is 10-1, it says here the Sooners will grind one out for a victory.

Nebraska at Missouri -- two capable teams who are living in the projects of the conference. The Tigers have lost seven out of 10 games but have been close in four of those defeats. They beat Texas Tech in Columbia. The Huskers have talent but are having great difficulty scoring. Missouri is the likely pick here.

Baylor at Iowa State -- the Bears have lost six of their last eight despite some outstanding talent and depth in their backcourt and one horse up front in Kevin Rogers. That team is learning to play together. The Cyclones are just overmatched in most games. They play well at home but are a team sliding. Even though Baylor is a poor road team, the confidence they have after pasting Colorado offensively should carry over and help them win in Ames.