The Top 10 Reasons to Draft a Lineman

How important is it to pick a quarterback high in the NFL draft?

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press did some research and found it’s not very significant. For instance, the last two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks--Kurt Warner in 2000 and Trent Dilfer in 2001--both went into their championship seasons as training-camp backups, Warner as a free agent.

“There have been 15 quarterbacks taken among the top 10 picks since the 1990 draft,” Sharp wrote. “Only three have participated on divisional playoff weekends for two consecutive years--Drew Bledsoe, Steve McNair and Donovan McNabb.

“And who can forget David Klingler, Heath Shuler and Cade McNown? Chances are, you have.”

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Trivia time: How many times have the Winter Olympics been held in the United States?

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On the tee: New Washington Redskin Coach Steve Spurrier is known for his short practices and busy golf schedule. This prompted Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune to offer a suggestion.

“Spurrier will be the only NFL coach with an alarm clock on his desk set for 5 p.m. [He] should bring in Ryan Leaf. Instead of third-and-long, they could discuss the third hole and how long their tee shots were.”

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More on Spurrier: Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel: “Nothing in Gator Nation could have been more sudden and surprising than the retiring of Steve Spurrier. Unless it was the sudden and surprising hiring of Ron Zook.

“In a matter of five days, the Gators have handed the headsets from Spurrier to Zook, which is like leaving a supermodel for Plain Jane.”

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The old days: Norbert Schemansky, winner of four Olympic medals, is considered one of the world’s greatest weightlifters. Now 77, he told Jerry Green of the Detroit News how times have changed.

“There aren’t any more Olympics,” he said. “They’re the money games. There’s no more real Olympic spirit. I was looking at a picture of a kid skiing in Sports Illustrated. He’s got 13 endorsements. His headband’s got a name on it. The poles got a name on it. The skis got a name on it. His laces got a name on it.”

Schemansky never had an endorsement. “You couldn’t take anything,” he said. “If I was competing now, I’d be a millionaire. Budweiser would sponsor me.”

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Attention, NFL: A rhythmic gymnastics judge who was suspended for poor standards had his appeal rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. The International Gymnastics Federation said the unnamed judge had been “guilty of scandalous, unsportsmanlike behavior and serious mistakes.”

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If you’re interested: England defeated India by 16 runs in a one-day cricket match in Calcutta. From the AP report: “Durham all-arounder Paul Collingwood, with 71 not out, and Yorkshire’s Michael Vaughan, 63, were England’s top batsmen as the tourists made 250-7 from their 50 overs.”

Got it?

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Trivia answer: Three, Lake Placid, N.Y., in 1932 and 1980, and Squaw Valley, Calif., in 1960

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And finally: Fuel pumps for NHRA top fuel and funny cars deliver 65 gallons of fuel per minute, which is equal to eight bathroom showers running at the same time.

Shav Glick