Thoughts Going into the 2012 NFL Draft

A Heisman runner-up and a Heisman winner had the biggest impact on the 2012 NFL Draft pre-draft day and it’s not the two players you’re probably thinking.  Yes, the first two picks will be Andrew Luck (two-time Heisman runner-up) and Robert Griffin III (Heisman winner), potentially franchise-changing quarterbacks, but the teams for whom they’ll play would be different if not for Peyton Manning (Heisman runner-up) and Carson Palmer (Heisman winner).  If Peyton Manning doesn’t miss last season, the Colts would not have the first pick (they’ve averaged 10.8 wins during his career).  Even if he did miss last season, if he were further along in his recovery, or if he wasn’t coming off a fourth neck surgery, the Colts likely would have opened the number one pick up for auction.  That auction scenario, just as was the case with the second overall case, was greatly impacted, in my view, by the Carson Palmer trade last season. 


Palmer, a “retired” 31-year-old quarterback who had only two winning seasons, played in one playoff game, was selected to only two Pro Bowls,  and had a major leg injury was traded for 2 (potentially) first-round draft picks (a first rounder in this year’s draft and a conditional second rounder that becomes a first rounder if certain conditions are met)  If that guy is worth two first-round picks, it’s certainly reasonable for a team holding one of the first two picks in this year’s draft to demand more than that in order for a chance at Luck or RGIII.  As a result, the Rams received three first-round picks (swapping this year’s 2^nd pick for this year’s 6^th pick and a first-round pick in the next two drafts) and a second-round pick this year.  The NFL Draft is one of my favorite days of the year and here are ten thoughts I have going into the first round:  


1.  Luck and RGIII are locks and for good reason.  Luck doesn’t seem to have any weaknesses.  The two that were perceived weaknesses (a lack of athleticism and arm strength) have seemingly been pushed aside.  His combine measurables weren’t very far off from the unquestioned athlete in RGIII (he even ran a 4.59 40) and during his pro day, which was by all accounts very windy, he chose to throw against the wind for the duration and impressed all in attendance.  One of the things that frustrates me about RGIII talk is that so many describe him as a running quarterback.  This guy is a pocket passer who throws one of the best deep balls I’ve seen in many years.  He just happens to have world-class speed (who had aspirations of being an Olympian runner and ran the fastest 40 at the combine since Michael Vick).

2.  Ryan Tannehill is an interesting prospect.  I think a top-ten pick is a reach for him, but often times someone is picked higher than makes sense due to a demand at the position.  I doubt he gets past Miami at 8 (his college coach Mike Sherman is now their Offensive Coordinator), but if he does, I think he either goes 11 (someone trading up with Kansas City), or 12 to Seattle.  One of the big stories this off-season is how Tim Tebow will bring something to the Wildcat (for the Jets) that we haven’t seen because he’d bring a true passing threat out of that formation.  Given all 32 teams have some Wildcat packages, I think Tannehill also brings something to the formation we haven’t seen before.  For the first time, when the quarterback motions out to the wide receiver spot, he’s a legitimate threat given that he was a productive receiver at the college level for a season and a half.  Sure, we’ve had college quarterbacks that have become NFL wide receivers, but when have we had college wide receivers that become NFL quarterbacks?  I haven’t seen one that I can recall off-hand.

3.  The Vikings should draft Matt Kalil unless … they get some great offers from a team that wants to beat Cleveland to Trent Richardson or Tampa Bay to Morris Claiborne.  Depending on how far they’d have to drop in the first round, and I wouldn’t picture them dropping too far, they may even be able to still get Kalil.  He won’t be picked at Cleveland (4), Tampa Bay (5), or St. Louis (6).  Jacksonville at seven is a possibility, but rumors are swirling that they are aggressively shopping that pick and I’m not sure any of the teams that are thinking of making that move would be doing so for Kalil.  Miami has a great left tackle in Jake Long, and are likely to draft Ryan Tannehill, so they won’t take him.  Carolina will likely draft a defensive player.  Buffalo at ten has interest in Kalil but I think they’ll trade down into the teens, accumulate an extra pick, and draft Reilly Reiff out of Iowa. So, I think the Vikings may very well end up with their guy and earn more draft picks.


4.  We may break the record for most first-round trades.  There are a lot of slots that are very tradeable and a lot of players that teams are eyeing this year.  The Vikings at 3, Jacksonville at 7, Buffalo at 10, Kansas City at 11, are all likely trade spots.  The Eagles, Jets, and Patriots are all very interested in moving up.  Some of the players that teams might try to move up to get:  Trent Richardson, Fletcher Cox, Michael Floyd, Ryan Tannehill, Mark Barron, and Stephon Gilmore.  We know New England’s history of trading down, so it’s likely they will trade their second pick in the first round (29) to a team wanting to move back into the first round.  I can see Cleveland or Detroit being a trade partner with them.  Look for between 10 and 12 trades involving first-round picks this season!

5.  Teams looking at the cornerback position -- don’t panic.  Morris Claiborne out of LSU will be the first corner taken, that’s not really up for debate.  Stephon Gilmore out of South Carolina will likely be the next one to come off the board and maybe also in the top ten.  The third guy is likely Dre Kirkpatrick out of Alabama, although word is that several teams want to move him to safety due to his “short arms” and they think putting him in the open field will give him better chances at interceptions (he only had three in his college career).  Because of this, he may fall much farther than some people think.  Teams that have a need at corner but aren’t able to get one of these three guys -- look at Janoris Jenkins (started at Florida and transferred to North Alabama).  Talent-wise, I think he’s the second-best pure cover corner behind Claiborne.  However, his “character” issues will cause him to fall into the second round despite having first-round talent.  Another lesser-known corner option is Montana’s Trumaine Johnson, is 6’2” and has a 35” vertical, which could be tempting for a team, drafting in the second round, that faces Calvin or Andre Johnson twice a year.

6.  Roger Goodell did the Saints wrong.  I realize he’s really upset about the bounty scandal and he has to do his due diligence, but to make the Saints go through the draft without knowing which players and how many will be suspended is just weak.  Perhaps this is another way of punishing them without having to officially call it a punishment.  Jonathan Vilma will be suspended for sure after personally offering a $10,000 “bounty” on Brett Favre, luckily, the Saints have already addressed that via free agency by signing two middle linebackers.  However, I think the Saints deserve to know which defensive positions they need to focus on this weekend, Roger Goodell obviously disagrees.  

7.   Cleveland -- don’t blow your draft.  Cleveland has the 4th and the 22nd pick (from Atlanta in the Julio Jones trade last year) and has a wonderful opportunity to help their chances this season after winning a mere four games last season.  GM Mike Holmgren has been reported as being interested in Ryan Tannehill because of his upside and his background running the west-coast offense.  The top ten is already a stretch for Tannehill, but fourth overall would be a reach Mr. Fantastic couldn’t make.  Additionally, Colt McCoy shouldn’t be given up on so quickly.  He hasn’t had any weapons around him to give him a fair chance.  So, the Browns need to draft a running back and wide receiver with these two picks in whichever order they see fit.  If they have Richardson ranked above Justin Blackmon, they should take him at four, if he’s still there.  If he’s gone, draft Blackmon at four and either Doug Martin out of Boise State or Lamar Miller out of Miami at 22.  If they get Richardson, they should follow up with either Kendall Wright out of Baylor or Alshon Jeffery out of South Carolina (Michael Floyd will be gone, folks).  Then, I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded back into the late first round, perhaps with New England, to draft 29-year-old Brandon Weeden.  I don’t hate that move, but I don’t think it’s necessary with Nick Foles, Kellen Moore, Russell Wilson, Brock Osweiler, and Kirk Cousins available in later rounds.

8.  Alabama may tie for having the second most first rounders in one draft.  It’s possible, and actually quite likely, that Alabama will have five players drafted in the first round this year tying the 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes,  the 2002 Miami Hurricanes, and the 1968 USC Trojans.  The only team with more was the 2004 Miami Hurricanes with six players drafted in the first round.  Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dont’a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw, and Dré Kirkpatrick are all likely first-round picks this year.  Richardson is a virtual lock to be a top-ten pick (top-five really) and Mark Barron is climbing up draft boards quickly and may join him up there.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drafted seventh, ninth, or tenth.  As I mentioned before, Kirkpatrick’s stock is falling a bit, so it’s possible he falls into the twenties despite early projections having him being a mid-teens pick.  The Tide also have one of the most underrated prospects in the draft in center William Vlachos.  He may not get drafted until day three, but he’ll be a starter in the NFL sooner than later.

9.  A pick I’d like to see happen is …  Stanford TE Coby Fleener falling out of the first round to the Indianapolis Colts at 34 (keep in mind that the Colts do not have the first pick in every round due to having the same record as the Rams; so they alternate with the Colts having the first pick in odd rounds and the Rams having it in even rounds; the tie was broken by strength of schedule which gave the Colts the first pick).  There are plenty of teams in the bottom of the first round that have interest in Fleener, so it’s unlikely he falls, but if there are as many trades as I think there will be, the shakeup may be enough to let him slip.  With the Colts gutting their roster and basically only leaving Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie for Luck to throw to (TEs Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme are gone), it’d be great for luck to have a TE to count on.  Who better than the first-round caliber and former college teammate Fleener?  I don’t think he’s worth the Colts trying to move up to get him, but if he falls to them they should have their pick turned in immediately.

10.  A few first-round draft pick notes:  Cleveland, Cincinnati, and New England all have two picks in the first round while Oakland, Atlanta, and New Orleans have none.  Of the three with two picks only Cleveland has a top-ten pick (4) and 22.  Cincinnati has 17 (from Oakland in the Carson Palmer Trade) and 21.  New England has 27 (from New Orleans as part of the trade to move up and draft Mark Ingram last year) and 31.  Oakland actually doesn’t have a pick until 95th overall which is a compensatory selection (as is their next pick at 148).  Atlanta has a pick in every round except the fourth which also went to Cleveland in the Julio Jones trade.  New Orleans doesn’t have a second-round pick either as it was forfeited in the punishment for the bounty scandal.  Luckily for them, they have a pick in every subsequent round -- although defensive drafting priorities have been handicapped by Goodell's inaction, or slow action, in suspending players for the aforementioned bounty scandal.


Let the fun begin!

A Mother's Magic

A mother is a mythical being as much as a person,

She beholds a magic that defies all senses.

Why, a mere kiss can make a pain disappear,

While her disappointment in you can make you feel defenseless.

She's the one who dried your eyes when you cried,

And the one who tucked you in when you were afraid.

She's the one that made you all better when you were sick,

And who both worried and cheered while you played.

Whether she's with you today, or a thousand miles away,

Even if she's left us and in a better place,

Think of her today, and every other day,

She deserves the thought, and you deserve a smile on your face.

Side by side, or a million miles apart,

She's there for you, and has been from the start.

A mother is the beginning … yet she's there for you 'til the end.

Happy Mother's Day.

I love you, Mom!

Stop Passing The Buck!

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/15/woman-sues-mcdonalds-over-happy-meals/?hpt=Sbin&hpt=C2

I find it strange that, despite my having no children, I feel so strongly about parenting, or a lack thereof, in the world today. I'd venture a guess that many people who read this article (link above), especially those without children, would come away from it thinking about how overly litigious our society is and perhaps how ridiculous it is that this kind of suit is even allowed face time in a courtroom. Some may read it and be bothered by the fact that our civil legal system has been reduced to being little more than a lottery. I understand those interpretations, and I agree with them all, but when I read it, parenting is the glaring issue.

Monet Parham of California is suing McDonald's because of Happy Meals, specifically because of the influence the toys therein have on child behavior. “We have to say no to our kids so many times and McDonald's makes that so much harder to do. I object to the fact that McDonald's is getting into my kids' heads without my permission and actually changing what my kids want to eat."

It irritates me that parenting today too often is a pass-the-buck institution. Instead of the actual parents bearing the responsibility of raising their children, they place that responsibility on anyone else they can. They expect the teachers and school administrators to raise their children during the day but still maintain the ability to focus on educating them. They expect the leader of their extracurricular activities to parent while they're practicing a sport or an instrument. They expect PlayStation 3 to keep them busy and quiet until it's time for them to go to bed or go back to school on Monday.

They pass that buck so they don't have to do any parenting and if something goes wrong they have someone else to blame. If their kid learns the term “oral sex” then it's the school system's fault because they carry dictionaries that include the term. If a kid gets into a fight or shoots up a school then it's the video games or the music or the movies that exposed, and encouraged, violence to their kids. If a kid throws a tantrum because they want a Happy Meal with an Aladdin toy then it's because McDonald's is “dangling a toy in front of a small child”.

Yes, companies will market towards children and they'd be silly not to do so. Children are potential new regular customers of their product for a lifetime. Children may be the only demographic whose tastes are a constant. All children like toys, candy, and Disney movies. Additionally, since there is no sign that people are going to stop making babies (given how much we enjoy the process that leads to conception), it's a demographic that is here to stay.

Just because a commercial or a gimmick or a shiny toy on the end cap of the aisle at the drug store catches the eye of a child and tempts the child to want it, it doesn't mean the child has to get it. I was about ten or eleven when the original Nintendo was released. It was on everyone's Christmas and birthday list. My parents weren't budging on their decision not to buy one. Despite my wanting to play “Mario Brothers” and “Contra” and “Double Dragon” as my friends were doing, it wasn't going to happen … at least not at our house. If I wanted to waste my allotted play time at a friend's house playing video games, I was free to do so. They knew I wouldn't do that very often, however, because they knew my love for playing outside (remember that?) was too strong. They knew I'd much rather spend my allotted play time shooting baskets, or playing playground football or baseball. In my parents' mind it didn't make sense to buy a Nintendo anyway, because it was limited in functionality. Why let their children having something that is only used for video games when we had a computer on which we could play games and had the option to do something educational? They didn't, they said no.

No.

No, I think, is the most important word in child-raising. If it is said often enough, and followed through upon, it's quite powerful. No is more than a response to a question. No is integral in distinguishing right from wrong. No is the foundation for character. It is the basis of safety. Life, whether we realize it or not, is often more about not doing than doing. We say no to things far more often than we realize and that's because saying no to those things have become a part of our natural reactions, our routines, and our habits. We say no every time we use pot holders (no to pain), or put on a jacket (no to potential illness), or even wiping our shoes against the mat before entering a house (no to disrespect). We say no every time we go to work or school (no to laziness and to letting others down).

No is what leads to respect, responsibility, and fairness; without no, they cannot exist.

Parents stop blaming everyone else for your inability to say no and/or your ability to follow through with it. No is only as effective as its permanence. Saying no and changing it to a yes only makes saying no useless; that's the kryptonite to the superpowers no possesses. If you don't want your kids to eat at McDonald's then don't give them McDonald's. If you don't like that the Happy Meal has a toy, don't order a Happy Meal, or throw the toy away.

Children can't be reasonably expected to learn restraint when the parents don't have the wherewithal to demonstrate it themselves.

It's not McDonald's' job to teach your kids restraint, nor is it their job to teach you how to be an effective parent. Stop passing the buck to others for your lack of parental control.

Is it really everyone else's fault?

No.

The Bright Side is the Right Side

When it comes to attitude, people are mostly reactive. That is to say that their attitude is gauged by their surroundings. We clearly are capable of looking at the positives in our life if we’re provoked to do so. Funerals, birthdays, a well-publicized tragedy, and any special occasion leads to an appreciation for the positives in our lives: friends, family, employment, food, shelter, etc. It doesn’t have to be that way. That’s not a feeling that should be experienced only a few times a year; it can happen everyday. In a world that is already dominated by a media that focuses on the negative, sensationalizes it and makes it even more negative, there's no reason that we have to live a life that does the same. I do believe it's important to be aware of the negatives of life, of a situation, to ensure that they don’t sneak up on you. Awareness is never bad; however, being aware and being focused are very different. Focus on the positive, to focus on the alternative only breeds worry, fear, melancholy, or contempt. You don't want those things; neither do those around you.

We’re all familiar with the cliché about misery loving company, and while trite, I couldn’t agree more. I like to say negativity breeds negativity. A negative comment, negative demeanor, negative outlook will usually result in another negative comment, another negative demeanor, and another negative outlook. It makes sense too. If someone’s sad, that person doesn’t want to be sad alone. If someone’s angry, that person doesn’t want to be angry alone. It’s probably not even a conscious decision to do so, but pulling someone into his or her negativity is almost an instinct. Negativity is very powerful, if we let it be. What people seem to ignore is that positivity breeds positivity too! A positive comment, positive demeanor, positive outlook will often result in another positive comment, another positive demeanor, and another positive outlook. It’s the reason smiles are contagious. When you smile at a baby it will usually smile back because even though the baby isn’t completely sure what’s going on, it feels the positivity … the goodness.

It’s easy for us to pretend that the childhood adage about sticks and stones is always true, but deep down we know it isn’t. Sometimes words do hurt. Clearly some get hurt by words too often or too easily, but that isn’t the norm. If the right word(s) is spoken at the right time from the right person, it can have a huge effect. We don’t like to admit that though because we grew up with the idea that words shouldn’t hurt us. To a large degree, I’d agree; we are far too sensitive as a society. However, once again, we seem to forget or ignore that the opposite is just as true! If something is said to someone at the right time from a positive person, it can also have a huge effect. Words are more powerful than we often give them credit for being. That being the case, why not use more positive ones than negative ones? So words can hurt us sometimes, but they can help us just as profoundly.

If we're not careful, we can be sucked into the negativity very easily because it's part of the daily routine of so many we encounter. Mondays are an excuse people use so often. “How are you today?” “Eh … it's Monday.” People say the word Monday like it's so terrible because it's the first day of the work week or the school week. They see it as just a sign that the end of the work or school week is so far away. Mondays can be enjoyed just as much as any other day, after all, it's us taking the first step towards Friday … we're on our way! People often tend to complain about how terrible their job is. Firstly, is it really that bad or are you exaggerating? I'm betting 99% of the time it's an exaggeration, given that I've never met someone who cleans portal-potties or who worked in a sweatshop as a child. Secondly, having a job compared to unemployment will always win. I think we'd all agree that life is so much easier when we're in a good mood, so let's try and make that our mood as often as possible.

So since we've established that positivity breeds more positivity, I say, pass a smile. I often send text messages with silly and random phrases just because I know the person reading them will smile. Sometimes I post something on someone's Facebook wall for the same reason. I wish people a happy day (regardless of which day of the week, which means I don't discriminate against Mondays). I try to give a compliment everyday. As a general rule, I try not to give compliment in the obvious situations. In other words, don't only compliment someone on their appearance when they “get dressed up”. Don't compliment someone on their performance at work, or school, or in sport only when they get an award or some other recognition.

Life will have adversity, but when knocked down, we get back up and we must move forward.  We will get angry, but it's important that we don't hold onto the anger too long.  Holding grudges gains nothing, and only leaves you in a bad mood longer than normal and usually longer than the person against whom you hold it.

Smiles are contagious and we have a lot more to smile about than we often realize, so pass a smile to remind those around you and yourself of that.

Focus on the positive, to focus on the alternative only breeds worry, fear, melancholy, or contempt. You don't want those things; neither do those around you.

A Father

Some have a man who left before he could be a father,

Some have one who stayed but didn't want the bother.

Some have a father who are distant while a few feet away,

Some have a father who have a darkness while in the light of day.

Many have a busy man who can't devote the time he wished he could,

Many have a closed man who can't show the emotions he knows he should.

Many have a father who is always ready to offer a round of applause,

Many have a father who is there no matter what the cause.

Few have a father who they'd pick if they could do it all over again,

Even fewer have a father that they don't just call father, they call him friend.

-- Christopher Williams

I am a fortunate member of the few.  Happy Father's Day, dad.

Welcome Back, Tiger!

Finally, it’s time to talk about a golfer -- playing golf. Take that in for a moment and think about how simple yet complicated that is. The best golfer on the planet, and perhaps the greatest golfer ever to tee off, but sadly the planet has been consumed with his off-the-course bogeys. I’m sure there will be jokes about his final-round score and its inherent sexual innuendo. Instead, I’d like to focus on Tiger’s return to the game and his performance at Augusta.

This was not his best performance in a tournament, in a major, or even this major. His layoff was most evident in his inability to get into a consistent rhythm. He hit some very inaccurate tee shots, and a few bad second shots, and then followed them with outstanding shots that saved the hole score from getting out of hand. Anyone watching, though, knew that his putting was the difference between the fourth-place finish and the green jacket.

K.J. Choi, with whom he tied, played perhaps one of the best rounds of his career. He played as consistent as is possible until a couple of bogeys the last few holes. Comparatively, his partner for every round, Tiger, played very inconsistently and ended up with the same score. I think that is merely evidence of his greatness. He can play a round, or a tournament, far from his best and still be in contention.

He had his lowest first round at the Masters, a tournament he’s won four times, he’s ever posted. He tied the record for most eagles during a Masters with four (he also had two other eagle attempts hit the lip of the hole).

I know there will be much made of his demeanor this weekend. People will make a big deal about his few “outbursts” after some bad shots. He didn’t curse, at least that I heard, and he didn’t slam down any clubs. He did let one fall to ground during his follow-through. I know the media will harp on the fact that during his press conference that he intended to be more respectful of the game on the course by controlling his outbursts, both positive and negative. He was caught on microphone on Saturday saying, "Tiger Woods, you suck Goddamnit!"  While it isn't a great thing to say, there isn't a competitor out there who hasn't said the same.  His biggest celebration was a big smile and raising his two arms as an eagle drops in on his second shot on the 7th hole on Sunday. He hasn't made the transition completely yet, but there is no switch to flip, and a change was evident.  There were no f-bombs and no fist pumps. It’s a big adjustment he’s trying to make, and one I find unnecessary, but it’s difficult to approach a game without passion and still keep the ultra competitive fires burning.

In the end, although it will be difficult for him to be, I am proud of Tiger’s eleven-under performance in his return to the game. He will walk away unsatisfied, as I would, because he didn’t perform as well as he knows he can. He will work feverishly on his putting and his follow-through on his approach shots (he had several on Sunday during which he followed-through with one arm). He’s proven he can correct mistakes, within a hole, a round, a tournament, and certainly within a season. He came back after a five-month layoff and finished a major in fourth place with an eleven under. I realize his expectation is to win an event when he enters it, but if this is a sign of things to come, I expect a successful 2010 season.

It was a comeback from a long, hard, fall from grace. A mental, emotional, and psychological trial-by-media took over the sports world. At the end of the day, imagine, a great golfer stepping on the course and it resulting in a good score posted. All this time we were worrying about a golfer as a person, maybe now we can get back to worrying about a golfer as a golfer.

My Plea as a Charger

The feelings are blue, clothes are black, cheeks are damp, and hearts are heavy. A week ago, three people died in a school shooting at the college I attended. Unfortunately, school shootings are becoming somewhat of a commonplace in recent years, which results in the shock factor being a bit weaker when we hear that kind of news than it once was. When the headline first reached me, I imagine my first thought was like that of many people: How many students were killed this time and I can’t believe this happened at my school! It turns out this one was different from any school shooting that I can ever remember hearing about because each of the victims were teachers and the shooter was a teacher. As I bowed my head, in a moment of silence to honor the fallen, it occurred to me there are two tragedies that lie before us. The first is the long list of victims that are left in the aftermath: the three that died, the three that were shot and survived, the families of both the fallen and the wounded, the family, especially the children, of the shooter, and the current and former students of the University of Alabama - Huntsville. The second is that it takes something terrible, unprovoked, reckless, and fatal for a certain group of people, too often overlooked, to get the appreciation they deserve. Teachers are most underrated and underappreciated and while we take this as a cue to mourn for the recently fallen, it is also a cue to ensure we show our gratitude to teachers going forward.

Teachers are a selfless group with a mission very few dare accept. They have to be teachers, role models, authority figures, and caretakers. They have to tightrope the line between being stern and approachable. They have to reach student after student, and allow themselves to be reached. They come to work everyday in the hopes that today they get to see that look on a student’s face -- you know that look -- the look that a person has when their eyes have a sudden sparkle as they “get it”.

Teachers dedicate their lives and their careers to putting that sparkle in our eyes.

We’ve all seen it and we’ve all had it. We’ve all taught something to someone, had the luxury of seeing that facial expression, and felt the satisfaction that comes along with it when it happens. We’ve all opened our eyes wide as the cartoon light bulb illuminated above our head and we finally understood something that previously eluded us.

Let’s not allow the six bullets that found six bodies on that day to reach more teachers than they did.

If you have children, make them understand the value teachers have in all of our lives and encourage them to extend a thank you or good job to theirs. During the next PTA meeting perhaps you should too. Any friends you may have that are teachers pass along your congratulations. Remember that one doesn’t need a certificate, or a Master’s, or a PhD to be a teacher. The next time someone shows you how to do something you didn’t know about at work, be sure to say thank you. The next time someone asks you to explain how to do something at work, or at home, or at the bank take comfort in knowing that you helped make someone’s day better. Often you may just be doing so in passing, or helping with something you find unimportant, but that doesn’t mean it had no impact.

We all have teachers from our past, whether it be a third grade teacher, a tenth grade teacher, a college professor, or that guy who taught you how to change a tire, that we will always remember. We all have teachers that we deem our favorite teacher, and our least favorite, and the nicest one, and the weirdest one. Do we remember any other professions that distinctly and for that long?

Teachers are a big part of our lives, yet when it comes to thank you notes they seem to get the least of them.

It is my plea to all of you that as you mourn for the fallen, wish speedy recoveries for the wounded, pray for the families, and console one another, take a moment to thank a teacher. I wish I had left more apples on the desks of mine, but it’s not too late to show appreciation to all those who teach, from trigonometry to tying shoes.

Teachers don’t teach to get thank yous, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get them.

Again, let’s not allow the six bullets that found six bodies on February 12th to reach more teachers than they did.