Mizzou Links, 8-1-12

Wait ... it's August already? Really? Are we sure about this?

So the MUtigers.com site is having some issues this morning, and as a result ... this is a really small set of links. Somehow we will have to figure out how to go on with life...

Mizzou Football Links

• Elvis
  KBIA Sports: Missouri's secret weapons could be return of Elvis Fisher, strength of offensive line
• Gabs
  Big Cat Country: Jaguars Training Camp: Day 3 Thoughts & Highlights (From Someone Who Was Actually There)

  The receivers had a terrible time getting open against the secondary, particularly when the first team was on the field. That coupled with the pressure coming from the ends made for a practice that resembled a lot like the offense we saw in 2011.

  Where the change is in that offense from '11, however, is that the pressure is not Gabbert getting "spooked" by non-existent rushers or forcing plays with his legs. Rather, it's more of a result from a receiving corps that is frankly missing it's best receiver, and is having a hard time finding any separation and/or consistency in catching the football once they do gain position on the defender.

  Despite what many in the national media, who have NOT attended a single Jaguars practice since last summer, may say about the lack of progression in Gabbert, myself and anyone who has attended a practice can tell you there is a lot of evidence that this is an improved player from what we saw on New Year's Day.

  That said, the receivers and offensive line need to pick it up in a big way, and they need to get Blackmon into camp ASAP.

  Big Cat Country: Day 4 Thoughts & Highlights

  All in all, the practice was much more crisp on the offensive side, considering how out of sync they appeared on Monday. The receivers finally began to help out both quarterbacks a little, and it was good to see guys like Robinson and even Thomas, flash the ability that is plainly there.

  Both quarterbacks had much better days, though Gabbert continues to assert himself as the starter of this team, despite what a national football blog, and/or a former fantasy football writer who writes for them, would want to lead you to believe.

• NFL
  The Trib (Dave Matter): NFL Camp Reports: Spoon, Gabbert, Smith(s)
• Two Days
  We Are Mizzou: 2 Days Until A New Era Begins

Other

• I See What You Did There...
  Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician: Sports Journalist Realignment Out Of Control, Driven By Greed

  There was a time when I could expect to go to ESPN.com and see silly columns written by Pat Forde with pictures of girls young enough to be his daughter strewn throughout. Now I have to go sifting through Yahoo! Sports for that.

  Used to be you could turn on ESPN Radio to hate-listen to Doug Gottlieb or turn on ESPN to hate-watch him. Now it's unclear where I can do my hate-listening and hate-watching.

  There was a comfort in knowing Erin Andrews was getting a lot of attention for doing a useless job on ESPN for college football. Now she'll be doing that useless job for the NFL? Will that uselessness even translate??? [...]

  The world is ruined and it's all because these sports journalists threw away years of honor and code and loyalty just so they can accomplish personal goals, take care of their families and do what's best for them.

  SHAME. ON. THEM.

  Thank God for people like Chris Berman and Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps, who come out week after week, doing the same schtick every single time and never changing or improving or doing anything other than settling into a caricature of their former selves. Because that's what doing the right thing looks like.