Talking Points: Peyton Manning on Jonathan Crompton and Lane Kiffin

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jun 23, 2009 1:00 PM EDT in Rocky Top Talking Points

The doctor is set on draining me of every ounce of blood I can produce, thus the missing Talking Points this morning. And because it's lunchtime, it's time for SBN links, so . . . Wondertwin powers, activate!

Tennessee football

Peyton Manning's in town and reporters are turning each of his quotes into their own stories. First up, Manning's old:
"I had a kid last year tell me he likes watching me play on ESPN Classic. I'm not comfortable with that, either," he joked. "I don't think I'm that old. ESPN Classic to me is Jets-Colts 1967. It's not Tennessee-Georgia 1995."

Yeah. It doesn't get any better, either, Peyton. Next, Manning's a Crompton fan:

"Very talented player. He's got a very live arm, which is important. But obviously the mental side of it is important as well. I think that's where he's continuing to learn and grow. There's no question - not that it's an excuse - this will be his third system in three years, which is a challenge. That's not easy for a young player. In fairness to him, that has been a challenge. I think for him, he just needs to learn as much as he possibly can about this system. I think the key is getting as comfortable as he possibly can with the receivers. You want to know exactly where each receiver's going to be so you're not having to look for them and hope they're there. You trust that they will be there. That comes through time and through experience.

"I'm pulling hard for him. I want him to have a great year. It's special being a quarterback at this school and this conference. I hope he has a good year. I hope the receivers and running backs surrounding him really help him out."

Peyton's not so sure about Kiffin, though, instead opting for the wait-and-see approach:
I used to say 'this guy is great and on and on.' "My answer now is ask me in two years. I'll tell you how we did in the draft. I think it's kind of that same way (with Kiffin)."
More on the Pahokee players who made it to camp this past week.

I think this is a bit old, but Toney Williams did indeed suffer a torn ACL and will miss this season. Speedy recovery, Toney.

Sporting News asks Jonathan Crompton the same question three consecutive times before Crompton finally makes it clear he's not going to answer it.

Black Jerseys? Ghost does not approve.

Sigh. This from Mike Griffith:

So let's get this straight: The University of Tennessee is cutting 500 positions and raising tuition nine percent. Meanwhile, the Vols' football program is paying $400,000 to let go a strength coach, Mark Smith, that it just hired.

To me, this is simply a story of Kiffin's mistake. It was a bad one with significant expense associated with it. But to couple it with the bad economy and the cutting of jobs and the rise in tuition gets it backwards, I think. When things are tough, you don't just start cutting everything, including the cash cow's udder. Feed the cow, because it's what's going to make it possible to bring some of those folks back.

Not only is Chris Lofton back in town and playing ball, so is JaJuan Smith. And Smith is even playing defense, so everybody take note, please.