FanHouse EarlCampbell

The University of Texas has had two Heisman Trophy winners, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. Both of them expressed opinions recently on the legal situation involving another former Longhorn, Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson. We'll start with Williams because his comments are funnier.

After Williams told the Austin American-Statesman that Benson invited him to the boat party at which Benson was arrested for boating while intoxicated, Williams said he's sorry he declined the invitation. Williams said that if he had been there, he has a feeling that none of this would have happened:

"I think if I had come down, things might have worked out a little bit differently," Williams said Wednesday. "I find I have a calming influence on people I'm around."

Yes, Ricky, we know all about your calming influence.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Earl Campbell barely follows the NFL anymore, and he's not real happy with the league, seeing as it left him crippled and his old team, the Houston Oilers, doesn't exist anyway.

But there's one thing that makes him even more unhappy: Patriotgate. Here's what he had to say about Patriots coach Bill Belichick and the videotaping of opponents' signals, according to Chad Peters of the San Antonio Express-News.

"I think if I was the commissioner, I would fire him," Campbell said. "And I'd also fix it so he couldn't coach in the NFL anymore. And those teams that played (and won three Super Bowls), I'd consider that a tie. The other teams would get a ring, too. .

"We try to teach our young kids how to be honest and all that," Campbell said, "and here we've got grown people. ..... (Belichick) is no better than those guys in baseball taking them steroids.

"..... If they win the Super Bowl, I think there should be an asterisk by the Patriots' name. And if they don't win, I still think there should be an asterisk by their name. Because that's wrong. A lie is a lie."

Yeah, not so sure about that idea to give Super Bowl rings to the 2001 Rams, 2003 Panthers and 2004 Eagles. (Has the whole world forgotten that the 2003 Panthers did their fair share of cheating too?)

Overall, though, I think Campbell is one of those people who has given so much to the game of football that his opinion is worthy of respect, even if it comes off as a tad harsh.

Former Texas Longhorn and Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Early Campbell was involved in an auto wreck Sunday. There's not much else we can add, but they say he's a-ok:

Campbell, a Heisman Trophy-winning running back for the Texas Longhorns before a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, was driving eastbound on Interstate 20 near Tyler when his car left the road about 1 p.m. Sunday, according to the Smith County sheriff's office. An ambulance took Campbell to a Tyler hospital.

An assistant to Campbell told the American-Statesman that the 52-year-old has returned to Austin, is doing well and plans to participate in activities when the Heisman Winners Association meets here beginning Thursday night.

This is one of those sad moments in life where fantasy collides with reality. Campbell was famous for trucking and plowing over the gnat-like presence of defenders during his college and NFL career. Automobiles, however, can do a bit more damage than the seemingly indestructible Campbell. I'm recalling something about force, mass and acceleration and middle school science here.

At least he's alright.