Pro Football News

The Times-Picayune to Marshall Faulk: We fumbled the ball in 1990

Twenty-one years ago when the prep staff of The Times-Picayune selected the 1990 All-Metro football team it didn't find a spot for you on the 24-player squad.

I know. How could we have left off one of the greatest football players in history, a man who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday , becoming the first New Orleans native to have a bust in Canton, Ohio?

The short answer: We're not perfect.

I often joke with friends who point out typos in the sports section that, "Hey, what do you expect for just 75 cents?" The serious response is that we take great pride in publishing the best daily sports section that we can, one that offers interesting and comprehensive coverage of the sports that matter to New Orleanians. A section that has compelling stories, informative statistical packages, strong commentary and is above all, accurate. Each and every mistake that gets into print -- whether it's a typo in a Major League Baseball roundup or a misspelled name of a high school basketball player -- makes me cringe.

Our policy is to run a correction on every mistake we make, so Marshall, please take this column as a long, long overdue correction:

Marshall Faulk, star tailback, defensive back, quarterback, receiver and kicker for the Carver Rams should have been included in the All-Metro football team that was announced Nov. 22, 1990.

So how did Marshall get left off?

There was no conspiracy against Faulk or Carver High School.

We try very hard to select the most deserving players for the All-Metro team, but the process isn't perfect. The reporters who cover high school sports gather in a meeting room with the editor, who is directing our coverage of prep sports. Reporters bring up players they believe belong on the team, present the relevant statistical information and make a case for his selection. Bedlam ensues for the next three or four hours.

Each reporter has his or her opinion on who should be on the team. In a number of instances, not everyone selecting the team has seen each and every player being debated. Different reporters stress different qualities. Some believe strongly in stats: Player A ran for 1,500 yards, so he is better than Player B who just ran for 800. Others emphasize strength of competition, devaluing numbers put up against sub-standard foes. Others rely strictly on their judgment based on years of experience covering high school sports. They know an All-Metro player when they see one.

Pro Football NYC: Giants News: Bradshaw Signs; Osi Can Seek Trade

Jerry Reese said this morning he needed to continue to trim salaries from his roster if the Giants were going to be more active in free agency.

The team has been attempting to sign several of their own free agents but has not gotten far enough under the cap to earnestly negotiate with Kevin Boss, Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith and others.

Today, the Giants gave disgruntled DE Osi Umenyiora the green light to pursue a trade and then re-signed RB Ahmad Bradshaw.

Umenyiora may not yield the first-round selection the Giants are seeking, he may be dealt for a package of picks i.e. a No. 2 and change. This appears to be the first step in a process that will result in the end of Osi's Giant career.

The Giants will apply part of the cap savings they will earn by trading Umenyiora towards paying Bradshaw, who agreed to terms this afternoon after the Giants met with former Falcons' RB Jason Snelling.

The Pro Football Historical Abstract, A Hardcore Fan's Guide to All-Time Player Rankings

2006 Pro Football Guide, The Ultimate 2006 Preview and 2005 Review

Pro Football Register, The NFL from A to Z

King Football, Sport and Spectacle in the Golden Age of Radio and Newsreels, Movies and Magazines, the Weekly and the Daily Press

The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia 2009-2010