Green Bay: Here comes Q and me, too

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One of the best parts of this job is getting to track Clinton County alumni in their post-high school careers. I’m in Green Bay, Wisc. to take in the first few days of Quinten Rollins’ professional football career.

But his career is off to a bit of a shaky start. The Packers placed Rollins on the Non-Football Injury list Wednesday, according to several reports on Twitter. A Packers media relations spokesman would not comment on the injury status of any player. Rollins could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

Rollins, the Wilmington High School grad, was a second round pick of the Packers in this year’s NFL Draft. The former Miami of Ohio basketball standout garnered plenty of national attention when he put on a show for the RedHawks football program in 2014 despite not playing football since his senior year in the orange and black.

Rollins is currently listed third on the cornerback depth chart as camp begins.

From the Small World Department, one of the corners listed ahead of Q is Demetri Goodson, who played three years of college basketball at Gonzaga.

Small World Department II. One of the corners listed behind Rollins is Kyle Sebetic from Dayton.

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Marie Matrka, a 2001 graduate of Wilmington High School, finished as the runnerup in the women’s single division at the 2015 Thomas E. Price Cincinnati Metropolitan Tennis Tournament.

Matrka, a 2014 inductee into the Clinton County Sports Hall of Fame, was defeated by Amina Ismail 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in the title match. Matrka defeated Ismail for the 2014 Met women’s singles championship.

Matrka won her 11th overall Met title when she teamed with Kaitlyn Zinn to win the women’s doubles championship. It was Matrka’s fourth women’s doubles title.

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At this time — and strictly on paper — I believe the Reds’ trade of Johnny Cueto landed a trio of prospects who all will see significant time in the Majors in 2016. I’m all for it. Good job, Walt.

Still, the roster is completely hamstrung by Joey Votto and his salary. I really, really wish someone would want to take him and relieve the Reds of that painful $20M-plus yearly payout.

I mean, either Votto needs to start earning that $20M (which he is since the All-Star break) or Cincinnati needs to deal him for a whatever they can get. It’s simply too much money over too long a period of time for hitter no better than Votto.

Look at the dreaded Cardinals. They didn’t get suckered into a long-term deal with Albert Pujols — a much, much better hitter than Votto. How’s that working out in St. Louis, first place St. Louis?

Don’t get me wrong. Votto is a good hitter. But good hitters make $13M or $15M a year.

Great hitters, hitters who consistently go .340 with 25 HR and 125 RBI or .300 with 40 HR and 125 RBI, get $20M or more.

So, there aren’t many great hitters in the Majors based on that criteria.

If I were the Reds, I’d deal Aroldis Chapman and Mike Leake as well, but only if I were 100 percent certain a “reasonable” long-term deal was not possible.

I fear, too, the Reds are backing themselves into a Votto-like position with Todd Frazier, who is oddly enough having a career year when he’s about ready to sign a mega-deal. Hmm….

Anyway, please no 10-year deals for Frazier unless you can trade Votto and then still NO! Five years max. It just doesn’t make good fiscal sense to go 10 years. Make it five and maybe pay a little more but at least you aren’t stuck for 10 years like Votto.

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Excited that my fantasy football team is getting back “on the field.” Our fantasy league draft was last weekend and I’m feeling pretty good about the Paperboys chances of unseating the Wildcatters from the AFL throne. Gotta make certain those pesky Muskrats don’t sneak up on me, though.

I’d like to know how many of you participate in fantasy football. Let me know how many leagues you are in, the number of teams in the league, dynasty or redraft and how many years the leagues have been in existence.

The AFL has been around nearly 20 years now. The Coop Football League — started by some guys from Blanchester — is a few years older but I know of no others in that age range.

Mark Huber may be reached at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports.

Banners of Green Bay legends are displayed in the lobby of Lambeau Field, home of the Packers. Quinten Rollins, the Wilmington High School graduate, was set to begin his professional career at training camp Thursday but was placed on the Non-Football Injury list by the club Wednesday.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/07/web1_Huber.Mark_2.jpgBanners of Green Bay legends are displayed in the lobby of Lambeau Field, home of the Packers. Quinten Rollins, the Wilmington High School graduate, was set to begin his professional career at training camp Thursday but was placed on the Non-Football Injury list by the club Wednesday.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/07/web1_Lambeau.Lobby2_.jpg

Mark Huber

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Mark Huber may be reached at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports.

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