Appearing in Playboy, without the photos

There is a local flavor in the September issue of Playboy, but no photographic proof.

Oklahoma is picked No. 1 in Playboy’s Pigskin Preview. Defending champ Florida was No. 2, followed by Texas, USC and Penn State. Oklahoma State was tabbed 10th.

Due to budget cuts, there was no Pigskin photo shoot last spring, a time when team members normally gather at a sunny location.

Had there been a photo shoot, the magazine’s quarterback likely would have been a no-show, and so would two backup selections.

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was chosen as this year’s All-American quarterback. OU officials said they would not have nominated Bradford for the honor and firmly believe he would not have attended a photo shoot (had there been one) because of moral differences.

OU defensive tackle Tommie Harris and Sooners linebacker Rocky Calmus previously turned down invitations to appear in Playboy for the same reason.

The magazine likely would have had to defer all the way down to its fourth choice at quarterback.