Spurrier: Ex-Apollos QB Gilbert deserves shot with Cowboys
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With Andy Dalton and Dak Prescott both injured, the legendary Steve Spurrier has been wondering when the Dallas Cowboys would give Garrett Gilbert, his former quarterback with the Orlando Apollos, a chance to start in the National Football League.
Now the Head Ball Coach might finally get his wish. Last week in a 23-9 loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys went with seventh-round draft pick Ben DiNucci, who completed just 21 of 40 passes for 180 yards with four sacks and two lost fumbles in his first start. But now Dallas coach Mike McCarthy says he will either ride with Gilbert or Cooper Rush this week against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. Said Spurrier on Wednesday: “I hope Garrett gets a chance. If he does, I think he’ll show those NFL boys that he can play in their league.”
Spurrier has been lobbying for Gilbert to get a chance in the league since the former University of Texas and SMU quarterback led the Apollos to the top of the Alliance of American Football during the AAF’s brief stint as a professional league in 2019. Spurrier told me then, “Garrett certainly should have an opportunity to play in the NFL. He’s got a natural God-given gift of throwing the football. He’s a beautiful passer who throws a perfect spiral almost every time. Our receivers rarely have drops because his passes are so catchable. And
I love his attitude. He does extra work and he’s totally invested in this team. He’s voted captain every week by his teammates, so that should tell you something.”
In fact, when Gilbert was playing for the Apollos, the Jacksonville Jaguars had just signed Nick Foles to an overinflated four-year $88-million contract.
Said Spurrier then: “The only difference between Nick Foles and Garrett Gilbert is that one makes $22 million a year and the other makes $70,000.”
Short stuff: UCF didn’t waste any time getting rid of four starting football players — senior defensive back Antwan Collier, junior defensive end Randy Charlton, redshirt senior defensive tackle Kenny Turnier and redshirt senior linebacker Eric Mitchell — who last week were involved in an ugly incident in which some players were pulled over at 3 o’clock in the morning carrying loaded assault rifles and handguns and other players began shouting obscenities at UCF police who were simply doing their job.
One question, though: How do the Knights ever expect to get into a Power 5 league when they actually take a strong stand on serious disciplinary issues instead of sweeping them under the rug? … Antonio Brown has not only been activated by the Tampa Bay Bucs and is scheduled to play this week against the New Orleans Saints, he has moved into Tom Brady’s mansion in Tampa. So not only is Brady going to pass Brown the ball at football games, he’s going to pass Brown the mashed potatoes at the dinner table. …
When will the NBA season start — before Christmas like the league wants or mid-January like the players want? Correct answer: Whenever LeBron wants. … If you ask me, Orlando City rookie sensation Daryl
Dike is the most exciting young talent we’ve had in Orlando since Dwight Howard was drafted. … With starting QB Gardner Minshew injured this week, what does it say when the Jaguars are bypassing their backup QB veteran Mike Glennon to start rookie sixth-round draft pick Jake Luton? I’ll tell you exactly what it says. It says, “Tanking for Trevor!!!” … The only punishment that could have possibly been lighter than the SEC fining Florida Gators coach Dan Mullen a minuscule $25,000 fine for his part in the benches-clearing melee against Missouri last week would have been if league commissioner Greg Sankey had sent Mullen to bed without dinner. …
Mikey likes: Gators over Dawgs by 10 in Upset Special, FSU over Pitt by 3, Miami over NC State by 9, Memphis over USF by 20, Clemson over Notre Dame by 7, Bucs over Saints by 6, Texans over Jaguars by 11, Dolphins over Cardinals by 3 in Upset Special II, Biden over Trump or Trump over Biden by Christmas. … Why did the officials pick up the flag for pass interference on the Tampa Bay Bucs during the potential game-tying two-point conversion for the New York Giants on Monday Night Football? Because Daniel Jones threw the pass and not Tom Brady. No matter what the sport is, don’t ever forget this: The studs get the calls and duds don’t. … As far as debuts go, Tua Tagovailoa’s first NFL start reminded me of Billy Joel’s first album: Forgettable.
Mail bonding:
(One of many readers responding to my column comparing Florida Gators coach Dan Mullen to Donald Trump): “Dude, stop being a sensationalist. Comparing Mullen to the Trump of college football is one of the most crybaby outbursts I’ve heard in a while. … I guess I could compare you to the AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) of journalism — babyish, parents told you that everything was supposed to be fair growing up, lashing out when you don’t get what you want. … You think masks are going to stop the virus? Dumb.” — Thomas
Thomas: How dare you call me the AOC of journalism. I am actually anti-socialism when it comes to college football. For instance, I don’t think Vanderbilt should get the same amount of money from the SEC that Alabama does!!!”
Last word: Kudos to former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, a Republican who won a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama on Tuesday. Tuberville went 85-40 overall at Auburn and had tremendous success against rival Alabama, finishing with a 7-3 record against the Crimson Tide. During the campaign, Tuberville won over Bama fans by playfully reminding them, “Hey, if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have Nick Saban.”