2010年12月30日星期四

30 Dec 10 All-NBA Teams: Let The Arguments Begin

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesEach year, the NBA names 15 players to its three all-NBA teams. With half a dozen games left, Ill indicate whom I would pick. I know that people will disagree with some of my picks. That fine. I will not spend much time discussing the no-brainers. Ill focus on the close calls. But first, a couple of preliminary explanations:No David Lee: In terms of his individual statistics, David Lee belongs somewhere on the three all-NBA teams. Just last night he had an incredible line of 37 points, 20 rebounds, and 10Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
assists! In a losing effort. To the Golden State Warriors. The point is, it is extremely difficult to evaluate a player production on losing teams playing meaningless games. Would Lee average 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds on the Cavaliers or the Lakers? Not a chance. Hed play, of course, and no doubt be a valued contributor, but it impossible to tell at what level. My all-NBA teams will strongly reflect the league best and winningest teamsthey will consist in the players who did the most to make those teams among the best and the winningest. No one makes my list whose team isn currently projecting to a minimum of 45 wins. Sorry David.No Denver Nuggets: But there are a few teams who make that mark who aren represented, namely Denver, Portland, and Milwaukee.People will scream about Carmelo. Well, sorry, but Melo is only second on his team in overall production, in terms of season totals (he behind the steady Nene). He missed 13 games, yet Denver has managed to cruise along without him. In fact, Denver has managed to cruise along in spite of Melo 13 missed games, Chauncey 9 missed games, Kenyon Martin 21 missed games (and counting), J.R. Smith 7 missed games, and Ty Lawson 17 missed games. It a remarkable testimony to George Karl coaching skills, as well as to Nene and Chris Anderson, whove basically been the steady reliable guys.But the result is that Denver, who project to 53 wins and the 7th best record in the NBA, do not have one guy who has the overall numbers (season totals, not averages) to justify, in my mind, a spot on one of the all-NBA teams. Similar factors apply to Portland. Milwaukee just barely makes the cutoff of the best teams, in any case, and they have been a very balanced team rather than a team led by one standout player.OK, then why does Pau Gasol make your list, who has missed 17 games? The Lakers have won more than Denver, and Gasol contribution has been significant enough to warrant his inclusion.How can you have Tim Duncan as a center? Because he plays center. In fact, San Antonio has no other centers on their roster. They persist for some reason in listing McDyess as their center and Duncan as their power forward, but Duncan jumps center at the beginnings of Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
games, he defends the other team center, and he is defended by the other team center. A rose by any other name is still a rose.I have allowed myself some flexibility in positions, with the focus on choosing the best five players for 1st team, the next best five for 2nd team, etc. Josh Smith plays the four for Atlanta, but I think we can all agree that he can play the three without any difficulty, so if I can make a better all-NBA second team with Smith at the three, that where Ill put him.One last note: I do not necessarily consider that the players listed below are the best players at their positions. I believe they are the players who have earned their spots on the 2010 all-NBA teams based on their contributions to their teams success. Thus, I believe that Brandon Roy is a better player than Joe Johnson, but I have Johnson at 3rd team all-NBA because Roy has missed 15 games and because the Hawks have been better than the Trailblazers. OK, so here are the teams:1st TeamF: LeBron JamesF: Kevin DurantC: Dwight HowardSG: Kobe BryantPG: Steve Nash*2nd TeamSF: Josh Smith*PF: Dirk NowitzkiC: Pau Gasol*SG: Dwyane WadePG: Deron Williams*3rd TeamSF: Lamar Odom*PF: Carlos BoozerC: Tim DuncanSG: Joe Johnson*PG: Rajon Rondo* The asterisks indicate the choices where I expect some contention. I have already discussed Joe Johnson and Josh Smith (also Tim Duncan at center). Ill talk about the other controversial choices.I assume that for almost everyone, four players are a lock for 1st team (James, Durant, Howard, and Bryant). I don care that James and Durant both play the three. A team with Howard, James, and Durant on its front line would have no rebounding problem, nor any problem defending the other team four. Im betting that people will not like the choice of Nash on 1st team. Let me say, first of all, that for me Nash is barely ahead of Wade, Deron Williams, and Rondo, and that the last half-dozen games could scramble the places of those four entirely. Is Wade the second best guard in the NBA? Certainly, but I feel that, as of right now, Nash has earned the 1st team spot, by a slight margin.For now, the fact is that the Suns are tied with Dallas for 2nd best record in the tough Western Conference, they project to win 54 games, they do it mostly with offense, and like it or not, Steve Nash (not Amare Stoudemire) is the key to their offense. Nash is one of the most efficient and productive offensive players in the NBA, and throwaway players from other teams (Frye, Dudley, even Grant Hill) come to Phoenix and suddenly look like top-notch offensive players, because of Nash.If Amare ever does finally go somewhere else, I think we will see a different player without Nash to get him the ball in those pick-and-rolls. Does Nash suck on defense? Pretty much, but the Suns are able to cover enough for his weaknesses that they still average 4.7 points per game more than their opponents. Should Nash have won back-to-back MVP awards? No, but we can keep punishing him for that. He is a great offensive player. Im also guessing that some folks in Laker nation will actually object to Gasol being 2nd team, and Odom being 3rd team (and Im Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
aware Odom mostly plays the four, but it a given that he can play the three equally well). All I can say is that without their production, L.A. would not have the second best record in the league. Is Odom better than Carmelo? No, but he's done as much to maintain L.A. at the top as Carmelo has done to maintain Denver near the top, but not quite. I guess some folks will object to Rondo, but again, without Rondo, there no way the Celtics would be where they are. That about it. Let the carping begin! Release the Kracken!

30 Dec 10 All-NBA Teams: Let The Arguments Begin

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesEach year, the NBA names 15 players to its three all-NBA teams. With half a dozen games left, Ill indicate whom I would pick. I know that people will disagree with some of my picks. That fine. I will not spend much time discussing the no-brainers. Ill focus on the close calls. But first, a couple of preliminary explanations:No David Lee: In terms of his individual statistics, David Lee belongs somewhere on the three all-NBA teams. Just last night he had an incredible line of 37 points, 20 rebounds, and 10Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
assists! In a losing effort. To the Golden State Warriors. The point is, it is extremely difficult to evaluate a player production on losing teams playing meaningless games. Would Lee average 20.3 points and 11.3 rebounds on the Cavaliers or the Lakers? Not a chance. Hed play, of course, and no doubt be a valued contributor, but it impossible to tell at what level. My all-NBA teams will strongly reflect the league best and winningest teamsthey will consist in the players who did the most to make those teams among the best and the winningest. No one makes my list whose team isn currently projecting to a minimum of 45 wins. Sorry David.No Denver Nuggets: But there are a few teams who make that mark who aren represented, namely Denver, Portland, and Milwaukee.People will scream about Carmelo. Well, sorry, but Melo is only second on his team in overall production, in terms of season totals (he behind the steady Nene). He missed 13 games, yet Denver has managed to cruise along without him. In fact, Denver has managed to cruise along in spite of Melo 13 missed games, Chauncey 9 missed games, Kenyon Martin 21 missed games (and counting), J.R. Smith 7 missed games, and Ty Lawson 17 missed games. It a remarkable testimony to George Karl coaching skills, as well as to Nene and Chris Anderson, whove basically been the steady reliable guys.But the result is that Denver, who project to 53 wins and the 7th best record in the NBA, do not have one guy who has the overall numbers (season totals, not averages) to justify, in my mind, a spot on one of the all-NBA teams. Similar factors apply to Portland. Milwaukee just barely makes the cutoff of the best teams, in any case, and they have been a very balanced team rather than a team led by one standout player.OK, then why does Pau Gasol make your list, who has missed 17 games? The Lakers have won more than Denver, and Gasol contribution has been significant enough to warrant his inclusion.How can you have Tim Duncan as a center? Because he plays center. In fact, San Antonio has no other centers on their roster. They persist for some reason in listing McDyess as their center and Duncan as their power forward, but Duncan jumps center at the beginnings of Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
games, he defends the other team center, and he is defended by the other team center. A rose by any other name is still a rose.I have allowed myself some flexibility in positions, with the focus on choosing the best five players for 1st team, the next best five for 2nd team, etc. Josh Smith plays the four for Atlanta, but I think we can all agree that he can play the three without any difficulty, so if I can make a better all-NBA second team with Smith at the three, that where Ill put him.One last note: I do not necessarily consider that the players listed below are the best players at their positions. I believe they are the players who have earned their spots on the 2010 all-NBA teams based on their contributions to their teams success. Thus, I believe that Brandon Roy is a better player than Joe Johnson, but I have Johnson at 3rd team all-NBA because Roy has missed 15 games and because the Hawks have been better than the Trailblazers. OK, so here are the teams:1st TeamF: LeBron JamesF: Kevin DurantC: Dwight HowardSG: Kobe BryantPG: Steve Nash*2nd TeamSF: Josh Smith*PF: Dirk NowitzkiC: Pau Gasol*SG: Dwyane WadePG: Deron Williams*3rd TeamSF: Lamar Odom*PF: Carlos BoozerC: Tim DuncanSG: Joe Johnson*PG: Rajon Rondo* The asterisks indicate the choices where I expect some contention. I have already discussed Joe Johnson and Josh Smith (also Tim Duncan at center). Ill talk about the other controversial choices.I assume that for almost everyone, four players are a lock for 1st team (James, Durant, Howard, and Bryant). I don care that James and Durant both play the three. A team with Howard, James, and Durant on its front line would have no rebounding problem, nor any problem defending the other team four. Im betting that people will not like the choice of Nash on 1st team. Let me say, first of all, that for me Nash is barely ahead of Wade, Deron Williams, and Rondo, and that the last half-dozen games could scramble the places of those four entirely. Is Wade the second best guard in the NBA? Certainly, but I feel that, as of right now, Nash has earned the 1st team spot, by a slight margin.For now, the fact is that the Suns are tied with Dallas for 2nd best record in the tough Western Conference, they project to win 54 games, they do it mostly with offense, and like it or not, Steve Nash (not Amare Stoudemire) is the key to their offense. Nash is one of the most efficient and productive offensive players in the NBA, and throwaway players from other teams (Frye, Dudley, even Grant Hill) come to Phoenix and suddenly look like top-notch offensive players, because of Nash.If Amare ever does finally go somewhere else, I think we will see a different player without Nash to get him the ball in those pick-and-rolls. Does Nash suck on defense? Pretty much, but the Suns are able to cover enough for his weaknesses that they still average 4.7 points per game more than their opponents. Should Nash have won back-to-back MVP awards? No, but we can keep punishing him for that. He is a great offensive player. Im also guessing that some folks in Laker nation will actually object to Gasol being 2nd team, and Odom being 3rd team (and Im Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
aware Odom mostly plays the four, but it a given that he can play the three equally well). All I can say is that without their production, L.A. would not have the second best record in the league. Is Odom better than Carmelo? No, but he's done as much to maintain L.A. at the top as Carmelo has done to maintain Denver near the top, but not quite. I guess some folks will object to Rondo, but again, without Rondo, there no way the Celtics would be where they are. That about it. Let the carping begin! Release the Kracken!

2010年12月29日星期三

29 Dec 10 Five Reasons Why LeBron James Might Not Come To New York or New Jersey

Chris Graythen/Getty Images1) No City Clause in His Nike ContractWithout comparison, LeBron biggest source of income comes from his Nike contract, which he recently re-signed without a city clause in it.Many athletes have included city clauses in their contracts in recent years to ensure that they get fairly Philadelphia Eagles jersey
compensated if they expose a company brand to a larger number of people as a result of playing in a major market. LeBron wasn interested in this, which begs the question, why not? 2) He Will Be 26 This DecemberIf LeBron decided to sign with the Knicks or the Nets, it would probably be at least two years (and most likely longer) before he had any chance at winning an NBA title. LeBron knows that there only one way to achieve basketball immortality, and that to win NBA titles. Do you think he wants to wait until he 29 before he has another reasonable chance at winning an NBA title? The Cavs just won the Eastern Conference.3) He Does Not Want To Be Painted With the Alex Rodriguez BrushThings started to go downhill for Alex Rodriguez when he signed a $200-million contract with the Texas Rangers.Prior to that deal, Rodriguez was simply viewed as an unbelievable talented young ball player.After that deal he was viewed as a money-hungry prima donna.Had Rodriguez stayed in Seattle and signed a very high yet Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
not overly excessive contract, one could only assume that his image would be less tarnished than it is today.4) Other Teams Also Have Money To SpendThe Knicks and the Nets have a ton of cap space this offseason. But theyre not the only two teams with cap space.Miami, Chicago, and Oklahoma Cityall of whom have made the 2010 playoffswill also have a large amount of cap space.And what about the Cavs?They will have plenty of money to VERY fairly compensate LeBron throughout the duration of his next contract. 5) How Do We Know if He Likes New York? Many people are simply assuming that LeBron likes the New York/New Jersey area, but how do we know that for sure?Not everyone likes New York or New York sports fans.For all of the players that have signed with theSan Diego Chargers jersey
Yankees and Mets in recent years, there have been many more that have had no interest in playing in New York.LeBron has spent his entire life in Ohio. In New York the atmosphere is different, the people are different, and the culture is different.Some people like that difference and some don.

2010年12月28日星期二

28 Dec 10 Celtics Need The Bench to Stop LeBron

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesLet's start by stating the obvious, the Celtics are an old team by NBA standards at least.The Celtics went on a downturn at the end of the season, that had analysts and fans all accepting the end of the Celtics current run of domination. Then, the Celtics found their NBA Playoff Fountain of Youth, beating the Miami Heat in five games.Not many people thought the Celtics could make the Cavaliers series competitive. The Celtics fed those doubts Saturday night. After game 1, the Celtics let a late lead slip away. The New York Jets jersey
claims of old legs led the headlines.Last night the Celtics repeated their impressive performance, this time completing the victory and evening up the series at 1 -1 .The start of the series has everyone wondering if those old legs of the Celtics can last long enough to win the series. The key may not be the old legs, but the young ones coming off the bench.In game 1 of the series, the Celtics starters played a total of 196 of a total 240 minutes. Game 2 the story changed, with the Celtics starters only playing a total of 180 minutes. That's a difference of 16 minutes, a little more than a full quarter. The Celtics closed out the game strong, winning by 18 points.The difference doesn't stop with just the number of minutes played. The Celtics bench only put up 12 points in the first game of the series. The Oakland Raiders jersey
Cavaliers back-ups more than doubled that total with 26 points.Game 2, the benches canceled each other out with 27 points each. The benches will be crucial. By giving the 'Big Three' an opportunity to sit, the Celtics keep their ability to win down the stretch. It also puts the pressure back on the Cavaliers.Unlike many on the Celtics bench, the Cavaliers lack real playoff pressure experience. Mo Williams carried the pressure of high expectations into the post-season, after a disappointing performance against the Orlando Magic. Jamison must deal Philadelphia Eagles jersey
with real championship expectations for the first time.Now that LeBron reportedly must deal with an injured elbow, the pressure increases.Game 3 will be critical to winning the series. With a win, the Celtics would be in position to take control of the series with another game in the TD Garden. In order to accomplish that, the Celtics bench, will have to continue it's winning ways.

2010年12月27日星期一

27 Dec 10 Pau Gasol Delivering Spectacular Postseason Quietly, Efficiently

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesPau Gasollacks the forceful personality and handsomefeatures that made Magic Johnson such an icon in Los Angeles.What Johnson didn't have, though, was Gasol's wonderful post game.Gasol may not be George Clooney in a jersey, but his interior offensive playoffers Houston Texans jersey
alesson inbeauty.Gasol laid his skills outfor all to see in the fourth quarter of LA'sWednesday night victory over Phoenix. Just as the Suns seizedthe tempo, Pau and Kobe Bryant went to work.Their two-man pick-and-roll game caused fits forthe Phoenix defense. The scorekeeper should have prematurely awardedLA two points, just to save everyone time, whenever Gasolshowed the high screen.Pau made the right move on each offensive series, either rolling off the initialcontact and beatingthe defensive switch by at least a step, or flashing to the bucket after recognizing that Phoenix hadovercommitted to thepick.His signature post move, where with the ballslightly abovechest level he shows left, spins right, and shoots with the left hand high, also worked wondersin Game Two.Gasol clinched the contest with an array ofuncontested lay-ups and baby left hooks. He benefited from a handful of Bryant's spot-on passes. But Gasolconsistently found the right spot.It's a recurring theme in his game.With his stellar performance on Wednesday, Gasol finally enjoyed the solo spotlight for the first time in his Lakers tenure. While he's always received justified credit for pushingLA from a run-of-the-mill club to a championship contender, Pau has rarely dominated the closing minutes of a close game in such a primetime atmosphere.Blame Kobe for being too good of a closer, I guess.As the Lakers closed to within two games of their third consecutive Western Conference championship, all with Gasol roaming the low block, the national viewing audience finally observed a loud showing from the passionate player. It was a showcase worth discussing around the office, or at the gym, or on campus the next day.Damn, that Pau Gasol can play basketball, theyd say. Truth is,throughout the headline filled 2010 NBA playoffs, the man has softly been plugging along at an MVP-caliber pace.Gasol basketball IQ on a given night is better than most point guard on a career night. If you cloned his brain, and sent four other position players with the same mental makeup on the floor, hardwood fans would never turn the channel.Itd be a lovely show, filled with a smorgasbord of crisp passes to backdoor cutters, leading to effortless bucket after effortless bucket. The back to the basket play and splendid ball movement would make any coach, from pee wee to the pros, rewind the action and hit record on the DVR.You couldn teach such precision without a visual aid.Gasol is a superstar, though his team Indianapolis Colts jersey
oriented game sometimes fails to get the point across. There no stat line for the heady passes and great positioning that make life easier for other scorers.Paunever misses a slasher and rarely forces the issue with the ball in his grasp. He an interior jack of all trades-calculated but often flashy, patient but quick to spot the open cutter. While the talent is pure, his postseason play has been even richer.Gasol second season stat line, 21-12-4 on 58 percent shooting, looks pretty darn good from the outset. Dig deeper and youll find that he posted four straight double-doubles going head-to-head with Carlos Boozer in LA lopsided, second round series sweep over Utah.He shot under 50 percent in just one of the Lakers 12 playoff games. He made up forthat rocky 47 minutes and 59.5 seconds by tipping in a Bryant miss, in the right position once again, for a series clinching win against Oklahoma.The general public knew Gasol, along with fellow tree Andrew Bynum, caused nightmare problems for opposing coaches. The public also knew that Pau could play.But they didn know he could dominate. Surprises can be fun to witness.The bullet points of his excellent 2010 playoff resume (series clinching bucket, manhandling Boozer, and picking apart a Suns team everyone had come to fear) Jacksonville Jaguars jersey
stacks up well against any ball player recent body of work.If not for Rajon Rondo well-rounded masterpieces and Bryant consecutive scoring flurries, Gasol would be the toast of the playoffs.If he keeps up this extremely high level of play, Gasol could hoist a Finals MVP trophy sometime next month. As part of the honor, hell have to give a postgame speech on the platform as confetti showered the court.Pau will probably make that look easy, too.

2010年12月26日星期日

26 Dec 10 Fountain of Youth: Rivers' Plan Keeps Celtics Healthy and Fresh

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesHe not the best coach in the NBA, and he not the best coach remaining in the playoffs (both of those honors go to Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers.)He isn some master whiz with X and O, and he not the new coach on the block looking to make a name for himself.But he isReebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
exactly what the Boston Celtics needed.Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has proven to be the valuable piece that Boston has needed to ensure that the Celtics Big Three didn go out on a down note.After Christmas, as Boston struggled to a 27-27 record and losing seven of 10 games down the stretch heading in to the playoffs, the basketball world had conceded that the window had closed for Boston and that the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett was over the hill and that their NBA talents were now no longer sufficient to compete for a title.In many ways, those fears and concerns were valid, as Boston could never maintain any consistency, and home losses to teams such as the New Jersey Nets had the Celtics closer resembling the 2007 debacle rather than the 2008 championship team.Rivers is not the greatest coach to walk the planet. He not the coach that can come in and totally alter a franchise that is down and is filled with young, developing players.If you want proof of that, just look at his track record with the Celtics prior to the 2008 season.It was a team filled with talented, young players such as Kendrick Perkins, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, and others like them.But, once he was equipped with a veteran team, the wins for the Celtics began piling up and the Celtics hung championship banner number 17 from the rafters of the TD Bank Garden.Looking back, Rivers was a mere side note on the 2008 squad, as the common belief was that anyone with a basic fundamental understanding of the game of basketball would be able to win with a roster that featured three future Hall of Famers.However, as Boston Big Three aged and injuries caught up to the them, it was Rivers who proved to be arguably Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
the most important piece for Boston as the team looks to grab its second national title in three years.Unlike many coaches in professional sports, Rivers has a firm understanding and appreciation for all 15 of his players, and he not only understands how they all fit into his system, but he also understands how each and every one of them functions.Rivers understood as the Celtics struggled through a dismal second half of the season that, as long as his team was healthy, he could develop a game plan that his starting five would execute, and he knew that his starting five, when healthy could matchup with any team in the league.While the rest of the world doubted, Rivers stayed the course, believing that, at some point, all of the regular season struggles were going to pay off and that the Celtics had what it took to make noise come playoff time.I thought it was the right plan, Rivers said. But it didn look right because we were losing. But guys were resting and conditioning, and I thought that was the only chance we had.Rivers knew what he had, and he knew what needed to be done to extract the best out of his squad.According to Allen, even when the superstar laden Celtics resisted the idea of fewer minutes and reduced roles, all in the name of getting healthy, Rivers insisted that the team would stay the course and would not falter.As players, we kind of fight a little bit, Allen said. We need to do this, we need to do that. Doc would come in to the locker room and say were not changing anything. He stuck to the script the whole time.Even though Boston stars wanted to play and they wanted to experience the immediate success on the court that teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic were experiencing, Rivers knew that by forgoing playoff positioning and regular season wins for health and fresh legs, his team would be far better equipped to compete come playoff time.In many situations, NBA players would revolt, fight back, and reject their coach if he suggested limited roles, especially of the team was losing like the Celtics were down the stretch.But Doc Rivers is a master motivator, and even when there seems to be nothing left, he knows how to pull every last bit from his players, a talent that only Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
a handful of NBA coaches have.His steady hand, his motivating speeches, and his thorough understanding of the players on his team enabled Rivers to put the Celtics in a situation to achieve something that most NBA fans never thought possible.Following the Celtics Game Six win over Orlando that propelled the Celtics to their 21st NBA Finals appearance, Rivers said that, as a unit, his starting five had never lost a playoff series, and he knew that, when healthy, he had one of, if not the, best team in the league.While he is not the best coach patrolling an NBA sideline, Rivers is one of the best coaches in the league.Had it not been for Rivers, Boston would not be where it is today.Just maybe, as the Celtics prepare to play for their league-leading 18th NBA title, Rivers is the most important piece Boston has.

2010年12月25日星期六

25 Dec 10 Los Angeles Lakers Favored Big Over Los Angeles Clippers Tonight

Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Lakers will open their seven-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight. With both teams playing at the Staples Center, it may look like an away game for the Lakers, but it certainly won't feel like one. The current NBA odds have the Lakers favored by eight points over the Clippers with the over/under sitting at 206.The Lakers have now won two straight since losing four in a row and could be primed to go on another big run. With the return of Andrew Bynum to the lineup, Pau Gasol Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
and Lamar Odom will not have to continue playing long minutes, which will be beneficial as they have looked a little worn out early in the season. Gasol, who is averaging just under 15 points over the last five games, surprisingly looked fresh in the Lakers' win over the Wizards last night, scoring 21 points to go along with 14 rebounds, eight assists, and five blocks.Kobe Bryant went for 32 points on 12-23 shooting last night against the Wizards. It was his best shooting performance since Nov. 17th when he went 11 of 20 against the Suns. However, he was just 1-6 from three-point range and has really struggled from downtown lately, only making two of his last 15 attempts.Tonight will mark the first game for the Lakers against Blake Griffin, who has really been outstanding to start the Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
2010 season. Griffin has been a highlight waiting to happen, averaging 25.6 points and 13.6 rebounds so far. He will face a tough challenge, however, going up against the sizeof the Lakers.The Clippers will be a little light on the depth chart tonight, as center Chris Kaman re-injured his ankle, Brian Cook is serving the second game of his suspension, and Baron Davis is a game-time decision. The Clippers beat the Spurs at home last Wednesday without Kaman and with little help from Cook and Davis, but are going to need a monster game from Griffin and Eric Gordon to take down the Lakers at less than full strength, especially with all the size the Lakers have down low.I think the tempo of this game will decide who wins. I believe the Clippers have to play at a fast pace to win this game. The Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Lakers are a bit of an older team and don't always handle playing well on back-to-back nights, but if they can slow the game down and avoid getting into a shootout, I think they will easily take home the win.Can't decide who to take against the spread? Check out what our experts have to say in their highly rated NBA picks.

2010年12月24日星期五

24 Dec 10 Kobe Bryant: 5 Reasons Why Kobe Is Headed For Breakout Season

He's back and he's been sharpening his toolkit.Clive Rose/Getty ImagesTo say Kobe's headed for a great season is kind of a strange thing to say. On one hand, he's had so many great seasons that it makes you question my attentiveness, assuming he could have a relatively better one. And on the other, Kobe will be entering his 15th season, which is longer than the average career. Physical decline is expected.But every year Kobe surprises me by sharpening another aspect of his game. Whether it's learning to trust his teammates more, Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
polishing his post game or finding a way to nail seven game-winners in a season, Kobe is continually padding his resume and repertoire.So I decided to come up with some reasons why Kobe will come out with a better version of himself this season. In no particular order:1. Steve BlakeI know that adding another player isn't a reason why Kobe will improve, but Blake should be a great complement for him. He's faster than Derek Fisher, which allows him to maneuver through defenses better and run in the open court, creating more opportunities for Kobe to score.Blake will spread defenses because of his long-range shooting prowess, which clears out more room for the Mamba and help get him more assists. Plus, he's a willing passer (unlike say, Shannon Brown or occasionally Fisher), which is something Kobe certainly isn't opposed to. 2. Tough and CautiousIt's a slightly ironic combination, I'm aware, but Kobe has earned recognition for these particular traits in his last couple seasons. After taking a beating playing through so many injuries and still managing great success, Kobe has amassed a lot of confidence in his ability to prevail against adversity.Kobe will also be more careful with his health because he knows he needs to be at full strength when facing a team like the Heat to give the Lakers a chance to win.3. New KneeHis knee is better! Kobe's back to his old, athletic self! Well, maybe not, but after undergoing knee surgery last summer he'll be able to get more leg into his shots and take the Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
ball to the basket more when he gets to full strength. An improvement over last season.A season without injuries. Imagine the possibilities!4. Fire Fueled By HeatNo one is buying it when Kobe says the Miami Heat don't give him extra motivation. In almost every situation when some roadblock is in Kobe's path, he puts everything into overcoming the hurdle. With the window closing even further on his career, I don't think he'll just go through the motions with a team like that looming ahead in a possible Finals matchup. Let's see what tricks he has up his sleeve this season.Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesExtra Motivation Honorable Mentions: Tough preseason, overlooked as the premier player in the league by many critics and Michael Jordan's recent comments (top-10 guards? Really?).5. More RestThe Lakers are a lock for the playoffs; we already know that. They're also the favorite to make it back to the Finals. Kobe's going to need to be fresh when he gets there, and adding more depth with the additions of Matt Barnes and Steve Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
Blake are exactly what the doctor ordered. Less minutes for Kobe = more success for the team.Now Kobe could have a breakout season and the Lakers still might not capture the three-peat. His teammates might get injured, or the Heat might be too good. But this is a player that's tough to bet against when he wants something.Let's see what he has in store.

2010年12月23日星期四

23 Dec 10Greg Oden: Another Setback

HopefulJed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesGreg Oden stands at 7 feet, 269 pounds with broad shoulders—an NBA-ready body. He has a vast untapped potential and a mark of greatness to his already impressive college career. Portland never doubted in signing Oden, against Kevin Durant, they knew Oden would be the safest pick.In January of last year Greg scored a career high of 24 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a 102-85 win against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, that was the only glitter in Oden’s career as a series of Miami Dolphins jersey
micro fracture injuries has hampered his growth while playing only 82 games in three years. It’s still a long road to redemption for Oden, but the big question is will Portland commit to an $8.8 million contract extension next season? Portland seems to learn and live the life without Greg for the past three seasons. It seems it would be a rarity to see him compete a full 82-game schedule. Greg could only put his head down and say “sorry,” and it seems this is Oden’s hardest word after all. It wasn’t his fault that he got injured, but still he took all the blame to himself knowing everybody had high hopes in him. But this wasn’t the only franchise letdown for Portland. That distinction was first owned by Sam Bowie, a 7'1" center who was Minnesota Vikings
Portland’s 1984 draft pick, second overall and a pick ahead of one of the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan. Sports Illustrated listed Bowie as the biggest draft bust in NBA history with an injury-laden career, including a somewhat familiar 63 games over four seasons.Portland seems to have an inclination on not signing Oden to a contract extension. But he can find solace with the fact that only five members of his draft have been given an extension. However, there is still so much to prove, so much uncertainty and a lot of doubt to conquer. Portland made the mistake of choosing what they needed instead of choosing talents. They chose Sam Bowie’s height that could help them in the middle instead of Jordan. And now they chose Oden, who is a perfect complement to LaMarcus Aldridge, instead of the overall talent of Kevin Durant. The time when Oden was in the court he was productive, but there is just too much heartache now to take another risk.At 22 years old, New England Patriots jersey
Oden’s career is far from over. They say some big things come from small packages. But big things usually come with big expectations and somehow Oden failed to live it up to that. He knows there are still time but opportunities somehow becomes limited. Oden needs that chance and somehow ask Portland for another risk, the fans needed assurance this time and hopefully if all goes well that risk will be all worth it.

2010年12月22日星期三

LeBron James Has Decisions To Make, but He Can Learn From Allen Iverson

Matt Stroshane/Getty ImagesAfter all the nostalgia of the 16th title for Los Angeles has subsided and the NBA draft festivities have concluded, the one thing that is bubbling is free agency.The potential of blockbuster deals is the talk of the summer and certain players are at the center, but what makes these players a commodity?Is it actual performance or is it the potential of dollars that can be brought to a franchise for years to come?While we examine this, let’s look at LeBron James and Allen Iverson. These are two players who revived their initial franchises desperate need of winning. Their transcendent impact also put them at the forefront of the NBA.After years of facing tremendous pressure, one was forced to leave under bad circumstances, and the other has a chance to Tennessee Titans jersey
change the face of his city and the league forever.In Iverson’s case, he peaked early in terms of winning with the Philadelphia 76ers. From year one to year five Iverson’s teams went from 22 wins to 56. Every year, they showed steady improvement, with the only constant being Iverson.In year two, Larry Brown came and forced Iverson to become more efficient with the ball, averaging 22 points a game, which was a point and a half down from his rookie season, but raising his field goal percentage to 46 percent (a career high to this point).Brown knew he needed Iverson’s scoring prowess and in the process put hustle players around him who would rebound and play defense to go along with Iverson's flair and grit for Philadelphia.In Allen’s third year, the 76ers finished sixth in the East and upset the Orlando Magic and all things were looking up. Iverson won his first scoring title and was selected to his first All-NBA team.In the next two seasons, Iverson continued to increase his scoring and individual success followed, with two All-Star games to his belt, including one of the most memorable All-Star game performances ever leading the East squad back from a 21 point deficit.He took home the game's MVP award in the process. That season also saw Iverson lead the Sixers to the finals, even winning the first game against the Los Angeles Lakers, which capped a legendary playoff run.Despite losing the next four games, all looked well in Philly, but it clearly wasn’t.Individual success over the years came easy for Iverson, but wins were hard to come by because of the teammates Allen had around him.Throughout the years in Philadelphia Iverson had run-ins with management and his off-the-court activity often Washington Redskins jersey
overshadowed the fact that Iverson was forced to play with players that would never start on any other successful team, but Philadelphia was a constant in the playoffs throughout the prime of Iverson’s career.The same can be said for LeBron James. Cleveland has not really placed the necessary pieces around him for them to win a championship, but somehow James has found ways to get the best out of the talent around him.Like Iverson, he has never complained about any of these circumstances.That silence was Iverson’s gift and curse. Players such as: Glen Robinson, Keith Van Horn, Todd MacCulloch, a well past his prime Chris Webber and countless other over paid players put management in a position where they could not get quality players.This also made management lazy, because they saw that Allen could be very successful with less talented players, which took pressure off of them.From 1999-2006, Iverson scored 15,570 points, averaging 29.6 points and playing just over 42 minutes a game. He also averaged 5.9 assist being the primary play-maker for teammates for players who could not create for themselves.His brutal style of play also took a toll on his body while age and attrition had the last word.In that eight-year span, Philadelphia went to the playoffs six times, averaging 44 wins in seven full seasons (28 wins in the strike-shortened season), but other than the Finals run in 2001, Philly did not get past the second round.Some would say that Iverson could not carry his team, but contrary to popular belief each team the Sixers lost to was clearly better than them and some of the series that they won Iverson was the reason they were in that position.In the process, Iverson contributed some of the best playoff performances of Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
all-time and often pushed those better teams to the brink with extraordinary performances. Perception is seen totally different though.This is something that James can escape with one summer.In LeBron’s seven years with Cleveland, he has averaged 27.8 points while playing just over 40 minutes per game.He also has been the primary play-maker for his team averaging seven assists.

2010年12月21日星期二

Cliff Lee Signs With the Philadelphia Phillies

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesSorry Yankee fans. Sorry Ranger fans. And sorry fans of any team in the National League not located in Philadelphia. Cliff Lee is back.Lee shocked the baseball world by turning down the Yankees and Rangers- the two teams with the most rumored interest- to return to Philadelphia, the team that traded him last offseason. The deal is believed to be worth $100 million over five seasons. The Yankees had previously offered $150 million over seven seasons.Lee, 32 years old and coming off a season that saw him split time in the AL West between Texas and Seattle, ended the season with a 12-9 record, 3.18 ERA, and an unheard of 185:18 K:BB ratio while battling injuries. While Lee helped lead Texas to the World Series, he uncharacteristically struggled against a weak San Francisco Giants Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
offense, going 0-2, 11.1 IP, 14, H, 9 ER, 13 K, 1 BB, 1 HR. A native of Arkansas, many believed Texas was the perfect place for Lee, as it allowed him to be close to home while pitching in front of a great offense in a fairly easy division. But Lee often lamented the trade to Seattle from Philadelphia, and the chance to join a rotation already featuring NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels was too much to pass up. The Phillies, who made the World Series back-to-back years before falling to the Giants in the NLCS this season are now the clear-cut favorites to again make it out of the NL. .

Cliff Lee Signs With the Philadelphia Phillies

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesSorry Yankee fans. Sorry Ranger fans. And sorry fans of any team in the National League not located in Philadelphia. Cliff Lee is back.Lee shocked the baseball world by turning down the Yankees and Rangers- the two teams with the most rumored interest- to return to Philadelphia, the team that traded him last offseason. The deal is believed to be worth $100 million over five seasons. The Yankees had previously offered $150 million over seven seasons.Lee, 32 years old and coming off a season that saw him split time in the AL West between Texas and Seattle, ended the season with a 12-9 record, 3.18 ERA, and an unheard of 185:18 K:BB ratio while battling injuries. While Lee helped lead Texas to the World Series, he uncharacteristically struggled against a weak San Francisco Giants Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
offense, going 0-2, 11.1 IP, 14, H, 9 ER, 13 K, 1 BB, 1 HR. A native of Arkansas, many believed Texas was the perfect place for Lee, as it allowed him to be close to home while pitching in front of a great offense in a fairly easy division. But Lee often lamented the trade to Seattle from Philadelphia, and the chance to join a rotation already featuring NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels was too much to pass up. The Phillies, who made the World Series back-to-back years before falling to the Giants in the NLCS this season are now the clear-cut favorites to again make it out of the NL. .

2010年12月19日星期日

20 Dec 10 Darron Thomas: Why He Is The Shining Star of The Oregon Ducks

Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesThe very first possession ended with an interception. Oregon had roared downfield and appeared ready to score when Darron Thomas dropped back, fired...and suddenly he was racing downfield, trying to catch a defender.It wasn't what anyone had hoped to see from Oregon's new starting quarterback. It was what many had half-expected, though, and the collective thought was:Uh-oh.This was against New Mexico in the season opener. Oregon eventually won 72-0, and it turned out th e Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jerseyquarterback hadn't misread the defense—an offensive lineman had missed a block, allowing a defender to intercept the screen pass.But we point out the moment because as the Ducks prepare for the season finale Saturday at Oregon State, they're 11-0 with the inside track to the BCS Championship, and their sophomore quarterback is the biggest reason why."Uh-oh" long ago became "Oh, my."Let's backtrack a bit. Last January, when everyone did their very early preseason rankings, Oregon was a chic top 10 pick. The Ducks were Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey coming off a Pac-10 title and a loss in the Rose Bowl to Ohio State, but they were bringing back almost everybody for 2010, including a playmaking quarterback.Steve Dykes/Getty ImagesThen Jeremiah Masoli ran into some trouble, and suddenly even the most optimistic fans figured it was time to turn down expectations a notch, or maybe two.Thomas and Nate Costa would compete to replace Masoli. Regardless of who won the job, the thinking was Oregon would be good. But the concern was how much an inexperienced quarterback would limit a very talented offense."We don't have too many question marks," Costa said last summer. "Quarterback is one of those."As another wet winter settles in, though, quarterback isn't a question mark, but Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey an exclamation point. A third-year sophomore, Thomas is the best quarterback Chip Kelly has had in four years at Oregon (two as offensive coordinator, two as head coach).Better than Masoli. Better than Dennis Dixon in 2007, when the Ducks last made a serious run at the BCS title.Sophomore running back LaMichael James isa Heisman Trophy candidate, and the rest of the roster is filled with talent and speed.But Thomas is the biggest reason Oregon is one step away from making its first appearance in a BCS Championship game.

19 Dec 10 NFL Fantasy Football Hot Pickup Alert: Mike Williams is Only 39 Percent Owned

Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesSeattle Seahawks No. 1 wide receiver Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
Mike Williams, aka Big Mike Williams (BMW), is only 39 percent owned in Yahoo! fantasy football leagues despite having three tremendous performances in the last five weeks. BMW was slowed by an injury in a matchup where he faced off against arguably the NFL’s best cornerback in Nnamdi Asomugha, and struggled while still dealing with the injury with the inept Charlie Whitehurst under center against the Giants.Matt Hasselbeck took the helm once again Sunday afternoon and drove the BMW for 11 receptions and 145 yards receiving.Must Read: 10 Best Fantasy Football Performances of the Last 20 YearsThis former first-round "bust" has really come into his own under former college coach Pete Carroll, and he is enjoying a career resurgence playing for him once again.Over the past five weeks, Big Mike Williams has amassed 35 receptions, 32 of them coming in just three contests. And while this indicates he may still be inconsistent, he is now an every-week starter as a WR3 and in PPR formats he has Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
officially entered the WR2 threshold.Mike Williams had a slow start to the season after being a popular draft-season sleeper but has really come as of late and could prove invaluable to his owners down the stretch of the fantasy football season.Add in all leagues. This article can also be found at Win My Fantasy League.

2010年12月18日星期六

18 Dec 10 Patriots-Steelers: Tom Brady Signs The Patriot Act

Following a horrendous loss to the Cleveland Browns, the New England Patriots were able to redeem themselves in Week 10's Game of the Week. In defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road, New England again proved its legitimacy in the AFC.This very well could have been a playoff preview that theReebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
world saw on Sunday night. If that's the case, then clearly the Steelers need some work. They've struggled against New England in the past and it really showed this weekend.Their rivalry has developed and grown drastically over the past decade or so. It has transformed into one of the AFC's better out-of-division rivalries and always serves as an important contest.These two teams have battled not only for regular season AFCsupremacy, but also at times in the postseason. Though in the instance of last night's showdown supremacy in the AFC was only a smaller part of the big picture, it still added to the rivalry.Honestly, the story was of the Patriots' revenge from the previous week's loss and how they would respond to such a poor performance. They were able to follow up with perhaps their most dominant victory in some time. Another thing that many people were talking about prior to this game was how the Patriots had seemingly had the Steelers' number throughout this rivalry. Well, not a whole lot changed last night. The Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
Patriots were again able to take advantage of Steeler miscues and translate that into another victory. Who is the Best QB in the NFL?Who is the Best QB in the NFL?Peyton Manning6.9%Tom Brady89.7%Phillip Rivers0.0%Drew Brees0.0%Aaron Rodgers3.4%Total votes: 58Tom Brady took control of this game early on and exposed a very good Dick LeBeau defense. Brady remains a force in the NFL as again his Patriots are in the elite. Even without a key weapon in Randy Moss, "Terrific Tom" is always able to make it work in Foxboro.It's games like last night that remind us exactly why Thomas Brady is the NFL's best QB. He's a pure winner and boasts a GQ image to boot. Evidently Brady's current favorite target is rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez. WOW!Ben Roethlisberger looked out of sorts on Sunday. His ability to extend plays with his legs and create more opportunities was wiped away by New England's defense. When Roethlisberger is able to bide time it works wonders for his game. Not to mention he's the hardest QB to bring down in the NFL.Hines Ward's injury really plagued the offense throughout. Not just his receiving, but equally as important, his blocking was missed greatly. Without Ward, the running game was a non-factor.The real story of this game though as the night developed was another New England tight end. This wasn't Hernandez, though, but rather Rob Gronkowski. On three separate occasions, Gronkowski was able to find holes in the Steeler D Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
and gash them for touchdowns. One thing that we learned from this showdown above all else was just how good New England can be at times. To be able to follow-up on such an ugly loss against Cleveland really speaks volumes of this team and the Bill Belichick Factor.Again, we are reminded of why the Patriots are this good and how their system has been able to produce such a consistent winning formula.

2010年12月17日星期五

17 Dec 10 Fantasy Football Hot Pickup Alert: Fred Jackson Is Available in Many Leagues

Fred Jackson is somehow still available in 32% of fantasy football leagues.Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesFred Jackson is currently the starting running back for the Buffalo Bills and the fantasy community needs to react accordingly.Fred Jackson is only 68 percent owned and with C.J Spiller out he Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
should be owned in all leagues.He has had back to back strong performances as the Bills feature back and shows no signs of slowing down.Jackson finished Sunday’s game with two touchdowns and 116 yards rushing and has been on a tear since C.J Spiller went down with an injury last week.He has solid RB2 value as long as C.J Spiller is on the mend.

2010年12月16日星期四

16 Dec 10 Did the Green Bay Packers Get Brad Childress and Wade Phillips Fired?

Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesIt's no coincidence that two NFL coaches got the ax within weeks of one another. That usually happens in a profession where results are demanded on a weekly basis.Wade Phillips and Brad Childress were fired from their head coaching jobs. That wasn't a Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
surprise, because both the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings were in a downward spiral.That wasn't the case last season when both teams made the playoffs and played each other in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.Both Dallas and Minnesota are long shots to make the playoffs this year and the Green Bay Packers helped determine the fate of Wade and Childress.I say that because when the Packers beat the Vikings at Lambeau Field, they ruined Brett Favre's homecoming and his ego. His spirit was crushed after they lost to the Packers at home and were swept by their arch rivals to the south.That whole soap opera in Minnesota was unraveling before Green Bay came to the Metrodome, Nov. 21. It came to a head when the fans chanted for Childress to be Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
fired.Let's see. Favre and the other players didn't listen to Childress and no one trusted the head coach. As a result, most of us believe that Childress lost control of the team.Down in big"D", Jerry Jones was as disappointed of an owner could be. They were already 1-6 when they rolled into Lambeau on Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
Nov. 7. The Packers dismantled them so badly that Jones didn't allow Phillips to ride on theteam plane.Jones, to his credit, just wanted to havehis lastman-to-man discussion with Phillips before he laid the hammer on him.The whole world knew what was really going to happen.Both teams had problems beforeGreen Bayplayed them. The Packers' dominance made thecoaching futures of Wade and Phillips less painful for fans of both teams.

2010年12月15日星期三

Denver Should Fire Josh McDaniels? How His Plan Blew Up and Why He Loses His Job

An embattled McD did not need another problemChris McGrath/Getty ImagesIn the wake of a media firestorm, and after being outplayed by a team that had not won on the road in over a year, Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels must now recognize that like his team, he no longer controls his own destiny.For the first time this season, the Broncos are actually getting national media attention. Unfortunately, it is not out of acclaim, but infamy.After another failed attempt at espionage in London, McDaniels is now faced with 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
not only the sanctions that the league may enforce on the team, but the fate of his own coaching career in Denver as well.Differing ViewpointsThere are going to be two different angles that both the fans and the media alike will take from Sunday’s loss. The first could be that the team showed true grit after falling behind by 20 points, they were resilient in their efforts to attempt to come back, almost culminating in a game tying field goal.The second will be to look at this game as a testament to what the Broncos have become: a bottom tier team that was beaten on its own turf by a squad that had one victory last year and had not won a road game since beating the hapless Lions over a year ago.For the sake of this article, one must go with the latter.Sometimes it does not only come down to wins and losses, but in the way that a team wins or loses. Sunday’s loss was a microcosm of the entire season prognosticated with a bit of foreshadowing of things to come.Kyle Orton--Master of Yards ATOTSPPDJustin Edmonds/Getty ImagesOnce again, the Denver Broncos allowed a mediocre offense to run roughshod over their inept defense, and once again, Kyle Orton threw for 350 yards, but when needed most he could not muster a single yard.Orton had 172 yards and zero touchdowns BTOTSPPD (Before the Opposing Team Started Playing Prevent Defense) including four straight punts and a fumble. It was not until ATOTSPPD (After The Opposing Team Started Playing Prevent Defense) that Orton found his “rhythm”. I wonder how many ATOTSPPD yards Orton has accumulated this season? It should be a new statistic.The other guy, the one that we traded for Orton, is now 15-12 as a starter in Chicago—compared to Orton’s record of 11-16. I am not trying to get a rise out of the Orton contingent I am merely relaying facts.Regardless of who is to blame, with the negative attention that has now come to Denver, the inevitable blame will fall to Josh McDaniels; who is now 5-16 in his last 21 with less than winnable games left on the horizon.Now Everybody KnowsI have always been puzzled by the amount of national media coverage that a sports team gets and how it is solely predicated upon the city in which that team plays. Those of you who are Broncos fans know of the fact to which I speak.What's Worse?What's Worse?Losing 16 of 21 games--Winning is Everything16.7%Cheating--No Excuse For That, the Losing I Can Forgive6.1%Cheating and STILL Losing--What the &^%*!33.0%McDaniels Potentially Lying About Cheating AND Still Losing44.3%Total votes: 264We could have the best team in the league and Steelers 10 Santonio Holmes jersey
Denver would still lack the coverage that a pitiful Cowboys team would get (Denver’s Super Bowl runs of the late ‘90s are indicative of this, also the current Cowboy demise). The media coverage is never evenly proportioned unless something extraordinary or awful has transpired.This angered me when Denver was playing really well, now that they are not, it has been quite the luxury. However, that all changed when Denver played against the Chargers on Monday Night Football last week.Now everybody knows exactly how asinine the head coach has been, the bevy of talent that he squandered away and the horrific personnel decisions that have been made. Cutler, Smith, Hillis, Marshall, Tebow—it is no longer a secret: Josh McDaniels has ruined the Denver Broncos. He has taken a franchise that was accustomed to competing, to the laughing stock of the league.Everybody knows about it now, which means owner Pat Bowlen hears about it now, which means McD has nowhere left to hide. The losing was kept silently under the radar, but not anymore.What Killed His Plan? There have been several articles written to the topic of McDaniels obstinate and questionable personnel decisions, but this is where the plan started to fall apart. I would be remiss in my duties if I did not mention three things that will continue to stick in McDaniels’ side.Peyton Hillis haunts McD in his sleep...Matt Sullivan/Getty ImagesThe first fact is Peyton Hillis keeps scoring touchdowns. To beat an old drum, after this weekend he has over 1200 yards of total offense and 13 touchdowns!The second factor that continues to plague McDaniels is his lack of awareness or concern when it came to the defensive side of the ball. Upon arrival, instead of blowing up Denver’s second ranked offense, maybe he should have shored up some more talent on the defensive side of the ball.That way instead of using first round picks for offense, they could have been used to accompany Robert Ayers on defense. His inability to keep Mike Nolan on staff did not help either.Coupling in both of these factors, it is imperative to note that if the Broncos were able to maintain the momentum that fueled them during the “honeymoon”, the first six games of last season, all of this would be moot.The fact remains, that is definitely NOT what has happened. Alphonso Smith plays in Detroit, our first round equivalent for Cutler is still a journeyman tight end, Moreno has not completely hit his stride and the Browns still do not miss Brady Quinn. Yet all of these things may pale in comparison to McDaniels latest display of narcissism; the final straw that just might seal his fate.What Happened to Moral Turpitude and Character?Upon hearing of the taping allegations, the first thought that came to mind was, “I thought we had a team built on the foundation of moral character?” After all, that is why McD got rid of Marshall, Cutler, Hillis and Scheffler. They did not have a “team first” mentality.Its kinda like the mafia, when one goes down, you don't recognize them anymore. After claims against McD, he could expect the same responseMatt Sullivan/Getty ImagesPersonally, whether McDaniels knew of his assistants actions is irrelevant. I am inclined to agree with Bill Cowher on this issue and say that he did, but I digress.The simple fact that he was willing to have Steve Scarnecchia on his staff after knowing of his prior transgressions makes him out to be a hypocrite. Just so we understand this: we cannot have a guy on our team that wants to get paid (i.e. Marshall), or that gets angry when he hears—not from his head coach, but from the media—that he is involved in trade talks (i.e. Cutler), but we can have an individual who not only condones, but is an advocate for cheating, on our staff?It is one thing to put an inept team on the field, it is another thing entirely to give the organization a black eye with regard to its operations. I have written before that I thought there was no way that Pat Bowlen would pay three head coaches.After this incident, I have to reconsider my stance.If the NFL levies a Vikings Brett Favre jersey
heavier punishment on the Broncos (such as the one levied against the New England Patriots in 2008) then one would be inclined to think that Bowlen will let McDaniels go; regardless of salary requirements. From Bowlen’s standpoint, he spent millions more to build the franchise. To see it all swept away, along with his good name, by some Belichick prodigy, is unthinkable.Waiting For the Miracle to ComeDoes McDaniels have the common sense to concede?Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesAt this point, it would take a miracle to save McDaniels job. Although McDaniels may not be able to perform said miracle, there is someone who can at least help him save face here in Denver: Tim Tebow. I say this solely for the purpose that McD can leave knowing that in light of the fact that he traded away any semblance of offensive talent, and he completely destroyed a franchise, he can at least tell the critics that he got the Tim Tebow pick right.The only problem with this is playing Tebow at QB will officially designate that McDaniels has conceded. This entire season, McDaniels has kept Tebow at arm’s length; he never wanted to show the fans or the media too much.This way he could always keep us enamored with the idea that Tebow might play. He knew that everybody would continue asking, “I wonder what kind of QB Tebow will make in the NFL?” And McDaniels could bank on that—at least until next season.Tebow was the proverbial ace in the hole. It was almost as if he was afraid to play Tebow extensively out of the fear of backlash if he played poorly.If he is forced to play him now (which fans are calling for, as might Bowlen) then his ruse may be exposed. If Tebow comes in and stinks, then the gig is up. McDaniels is fired and is known as the idiot who blew up the Broncos, drafted Tim Tebow, and we see him on one of those Top 10 Lists on NFL Network: “How to Blow Up a Team in Two Seasons”.However, 4 Brett Favre White jersey
if it works, and Tebow is great (or at least shows promise), then McDaniels can put it on his resume that he was the only guy with the onions to go out and take a chance on Tim Tebow.Sadly, he probably does not recognize this fact, and that could be the fourth thorn in his side. The list will continue to grow, and he will have more to think about during his next job—as a coordinator.

2010年12月13日星期一

“Moss-Less” Patriots Better Off With Deion Branch Against the Jets

Deion Branch's Quickness May be a Matchup Problem for the JetsThe Patriots took a 14-10 lead into halftime against the Jets during their first matchup in the New Meadowlands Stadium, but Darrelle Revis injured his hamstring on the long touchdown to Randy Moss.
His injury was a blessing to the Jets.
Obviously Revis is an outstanding football jerseys
corner, but so is Antonio Cromartie. The difference between the two is that Revis can cover anyone, while Cromartie excels at defending speed receivers.
Jets Defense, With Moss in the Game
When Moss was hurt, Cromartie was defending Wes Welker, and Wes was tearing Cromartie to shreds. Cromartie did not have the quickness to match Welker’s abilities, and he is too tall and lanky to stick with Welker on quick cuts.
When Revis went down, Cromartie was put on Moss while Kyle Wilson was put on Wes Welker. Wilson was much better at handling Welker than Cromartie, and Antonio shut down Randy Moss, who is a speed receiver.
Essentially, in the first game, Tom Brady had one person to throw to if there was heavy pressure: Welker.
Brady’s Quick-Out Weapons
Now, Brady has three. Wilson and Revis will be covering Deion Branch and Wes Welker. Branch is a wily old veteran who still has the quickness and route-running ability to beat a young corner like Wilson.
We have never seen Revis cover Wes Welker, but we have to assume that Revis will keep a not-fully-healthy Welker in check.
Nonetheless, Welker is still an option on Cowboys jersey
quick routes where Brady needs to dump it off in a hurry.
Brady’s other option is Danny Woodhead. I expect Woodhead to have a monster game against the Jets because of his abilities in the passing game. When the Jets defense gets after the quarterback, Brady will be able to dump it off to Woodhead.
If linebackers shade over to watch Woody over the top, then 6-11 yard passes will be open on their side of the middle of the field.
Brady is the best in the game at hitting his receivers in stride, so his receivers should be able to turn up-field after catching the pass and gain an extra few yards.
Overall, Brady now has three guys he can rely on when there are heavy blitzes, and initially against the Jets, he only had one.
Further, the Jets better have a plan for stopping Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski has the speed to beat every Jet linebacker (with the exception of Calvin Pace, who will likely be pass rushing in most situations) and the size to run over the Jets safeties.
Gronk should be an absolute terror for the nfl throwback jerseys
The 5′ 8″, 185 pound Jim Leonhard and the 6′ 2″, 205 pound Brodney Pool.

“Moss-Less” Patriots Better Off With Deion Branch Against the Jets

Deion Branch's Quickness May be a Matchup Problem for the JetsThe Patriots took a 14-10 lead into halftime against the Jets during their first matchup in the New Meadowlands Stadium, but Darrelle Revis injured his hamstring on the long touchdown to Randy Moss.
His injury was a blessing to the Jets.
Obviously Revis is an outstanding football jerseys
corner, but so is Antonio Cromartie. The difference between the two is that Revis can cover anyone, while Cromartie excels at defending speed receivers.
Jets Defense, With Moss in the Game
When Moss was hurt, Cromartie was defending Wes Welker, and Wes was tearing Cromartie to shreds. Cromartie did not have the quickness to match Welker’s abilities, and he is too tall and lanky to stick with Welker on quick cuts.
When Revis went down, Cromartie was put on Moss while Kyle Wilson was put on Wes Welker. Wilson was much better at handling Welker than Cromartie, and Antonio shut down Randy Moss, who is a speed receiver.
Essentially, in the first game, Tom Brady had one person to throw to if there was heavy pressure: Welker.
Brady’s Quick-Out Weapons
Now, Brady has three. Wilson and Revis will be covering Deion Branch and Wes Welker. Branch is a wily old veteran who still has the quickness and route-running ability to beat a young corner like Wilson.
We have never seen Revis cover Wes Welker, but we have to assume that Revis will keep a not-fully-healthy Welker in check.
Nonetheless, Welker is still an option on Cowboys jersey
quick routes where Brady needs to dump it off in a hurry.
Brady’s other option is Danny Woodhead. I expect Woodhead to have a monster game against the Jets because of his abilities in the passing game. When the Jets defense gets after the quarterback, Brady will be able to dump it off to Woodhead.
If linebackers shade over to watch Woody over the top, then 6-11 yard passes will be open on their side of the middle of the field.
Brady is the best in the game at hitting his receivers in stride, so his receivers should be able to turn up-field after catching the pass and gain an extra few yards.
Overall, Brady now has three guys he can rely on when there are heavy blitzes, and initially against the Jets, he only had one.
Further, the Jets better have a plan for stopping Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski has the speed to beat every Jet linebacker (with the exception of Calvin Pace, who will likely be pass rushing in most situations) and the size to run over the Jets safeties.
Gronk should be an absolute terror for the nfl throwback jerseys
The 5′ 8″, 185 pound Jim Leonhard and the 6′ 2″, 205 pound Brodney Pool.

2010年12月12日星期日

New England Patriots Are 3-Point Favorites at Chicago Bears

Elsa/Getty ImagesThe Chicago Bears (9-3) and New England Patriots (10-2) go toe-to-toe Sunday in a Super Bowl XX rematch, which could prove to be this season’s Super Bowl matchup. NFL odds makers aren’t expecting the Bears to put the hurt on the Pats like they did in nfl jerseys
that Super Bowl showdown. In fact, they have listed the Patriots as three-point favorites with the total set at 40.5. New England is tied with Atlanta for the best record in the NFL. The Patriots certainly looked like the best team in the league when they destroyed Rex Ryan’s New York Jets by 42 points on Monday Night Football. The Patriots have averaged 40.0 points during their four-game win streak. The Bears enter Sunday’s showdown having won five in a row. They were not particularly impressive in last week’s 24-20 win at Detroit, but they were in a 31-26 home win over Philadelphia the previous week. This one is being billed as a classic battle of offense versus defense. The Patriots boast the league’s top scoring unit (31.6 points per game) while the Bears have the NFL’s third-best defense in terms of yards (300.3) and points (16.0). New England has been winning the battle against strong defenses lately. In addition to completely dismantling the Jets, the Pats put up 39 points on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Nov. 14 win. Getting one less day than Chicago to prepare, however, could loom large. Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesThe Bears have found ways to win against teams quarterbacked by Tony Romo, Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre and Michael Vick, but beating Tom Brady appears to be an even taller task. Brady has thrown 17 touchdown passes with no interceptions the last seven games. He has 27 touchdown strikes and only four interceptions on the season. His 27 touchdown passes lead the league and so does his 109.5 passer rating. While New England boasts one of the best offensive attacks in the league, its defense leaves plenty to be desired. In fact, it ranks 31st in the NFL in total defense, giving up 390.9 yards per game. The Patriots have especially struggled to defend the pass, giving up 276.8 yards per game through the air (31st in the NFL). The Bears will have an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the New England defense if Jay Cutler can continue his efficient play. During Chicago’s five-game win streak, Cutler has thrown 10 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. He has thrown for five scores with no picks the last two weeks. The Bears have taken some of the pressure off Cutler by sticking with their running attack. Chicago has run the football a minimum of 28 times during its win streak while going over the century mark in each game. Offensive balance will continue to be the key to football jerseys
victory this week. If the Bears try to force the issue through the air, the chances of Cutler throwing some costly interceptions will increase greatly.It is worth noting that the Bears are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games as an underdog of 3.0 or fewer points.Be sure to visit our site this season for winning NFL picks from our expert football handicappers.

2010年12月11日星期六

Steelers re-sign DE Brett Keisel April 13 2005

Colts jersey
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed restricted free agent defensive end Brett Keisel to a 1 year deal worth $656,000. Keisel has served as a backup on defense while playing on special teams with the Steelers.The 6'5", 285 lbs. DE registered 9 tackles in 13 games during 2004.The Brigham Young product has played all 3 seasons as a pro with Pittsburgh. He has accumulated 13 tackles and 1 fumble recovery in 18 games over that span. The Pittsburgh Steelers restructured left tackle Marvel Smith's contract. The move freed up $2.55 million of salary cap space.Smith will be4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
paid the league's minimum wage, with a base salary of $540,000 in 2005. He had been scheduled to receive $3.95 million under his previous agreement. The remaining $3.4 million was paid to Smith this week as a signing bonus.The 6'5", 321 lbs. LT agreed to a 6 year contract in 2003 which included a $6 million signing bonus. Smith restructured his base salary and received a $1.7 million bonus in 2004.Smith has been given $11.1 million in bonus money while making the NFL minimum in salary since 2002. The former Arizona State Sun Devil enters his sixth NFL season, all with Pittsburgh. He has started 63 of the 66 games he's played, including all 16 last season.The Steelers need the money to sign their upcoming draft class and give them the flexibility to offer long-term contracts for young players such as Chris Hope and Verron Haynes. After 35 years of being a team announcer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Myron Cope is retiring. Over the past few years he has been experiencing some health problems and has decided not to spend another season as the announcer. Cope has a unique voice that is matched by no other. His voice may be considered screechy, but it has also filled the airwaves with an abundance of enthusiasm over the years. Back in the 1970's, Cope became known a recognized voice throughout the US when the Pittsburgh Steeler's won a string of Super Bowl Championships. His popularity rivals that of baseball announcers who usually gain more recognition because there are so many more baseball games than football games to announce per season.Cope is known for his unique phrases such as "Yoi!" He also added to team spirit with his creation of the Terrible Towel. To this day one can still see fans waving around their Terrible Towel at the games. The creation of the Terrible Towel made Myron Cope a "part of the team." This good luck charm of sorts was thought to ignite team spirit during crucial moments of Steelers' Games. There have been millions of dollars in sales of Terrible Towels over the years. Most proceeds have gone to charities. Over the years Cope's announcing has inspired fans and the team. He is probably as popular and respected as the players he announces for. Cope never planned on being a sports announcer. In fact, it was not until he was 40 that he had the opportunity. At the time he was a sportswriter. A WTAE radio executive brought up the idea for Cope to announce for Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
the Pittsburgh Steelers. The executive thought that Cope's one of kind voice and sports knowledge could bring more recognition to the team who at the time was not as popular as they are today. Over the years, the fame of the Steelers grew, along with Cope's own popularity. Myron Cope will be missed by players and fans alike. This year there will be two men announcing play-by-play action. Bill Hillgrove and Tunch Ilkin will announce from the radio Booth. Ilkin, who is an analyst, joined Cope in the booth a few years ago.

2010年12月9日星期四

San Francisco 49ers Alex Smith

In week 15, the San Francisco 49ers suffered yet another loss as they were taken down 10-9 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 49ers, currently at 2-12, should take solace in the great play of their running back as well as their defense. Having a chance to win in the fourth quarter against a now 10-4, playoff-bound Jags team is quite an accomplishment for a 'Niners team that will end up with the first or second pick in April's draft. Anyway, let's get to my grades for the 49ers...Offense:Quarterback... D-. Rookie Alex Smith played poorly but sadly, it was the 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
best start that the youngster has had all season. He completed just 8/24 passes for 123 yards and a crushing interception in the waning minutes of the game. Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, has worried the 49ers' organization with 10 interceptions and no touchdown passes in his first five NFL starts.Running game... C. Rookie running back Frank Gore came to the forefront and starred for the 49ers as he rushed for 79 yards on 19 carries. Other than Gore's effort, Alex Smith rushed for 30 yards but none of the other runners contributed. Gore added 57 yards receiving to add to his solid day on the ground.Wide Receivers/Tight Ends... D. Brandon Lloyd, the team's top receiver, was shut down as he caught only one pass for 6 yards. Jason McAddley had a team high 38 receiving yards, and veteran Johnnie Morton added 28. The only tight end to make a catch was Terry Jones and it went for negative yardage. It's hard to blame the receivers when the guy throwing the ball to them has very limited accuracy at the moment.Offensive Line... B-. The line surrendered only two sacks to a solid Jaguars defense and managed to get a decent push when it came to run blocking. Smith had some situations where he was pressured but it wasn't anything too daunting for the young quarterback. It was probably one of the finest games of 2005 for the struggling 49ers' offensive line.Overall Offensive grade... D. The running game and offensive line were the highlights for the offense but the quarterback and receivers simply didn't get it done. There is just no semblance of a passing game in San Francisco right now. Luckily for the organization things probably can't get any worse. 9 points just isn't going to win you many (if any) football games. Defense:Defensive Line... D. They generated only one sack and got very limited pressure on Jags quarterback David Garrard. The line also was instrumental in the defense allowing 134 yards rushing for the Jags. San Fran simply doesn't have much talent on their defensive line and it continues to manifest itself every week.Linebackers... B-. The unit accumulated one sack and didn't allow the Jags' tight ends to make any difference in the passing game. It's hard to criticize the linebacking corps for the team's loss.Secondary... B. David Garrard attempted 40 throws and managed to complete just 21 for 216 yards and no scores. Undoubtedly, the defensive backs for the 49ers had almost everything to do with that. Despite the fact that the defensive line was getting no pressure on Garrard, the secondary hung tough and played it close to the vest against the Jags' receivers. Surprisingly, it was their inability to stop Jags receiver Reggie Williams that really came back to bite the 49ers. Williams pulled in four catches for 65 yards. The Jags' top receiver, Jimmy Smith, was contained somewhat as he finished the day with 70 receiving yards.Overall Defensive grade... B-. The 36 Bettis White Jersey
unit didn't force any turnovers or generate much pressure on Garrard but holding a team to 10 points has to count for something in today's NFL. The fact that the offense didn't show up shouldn't be blamed on the gutsy 49ers' defense that did everything they could to win the ballgame. It's certainly an unfortunate outcome for a defense that played well overall.There you have it, the grades for the 49ers. It was a tough loss to swallow on Sunday but many lessons could be taken away from this loss. It can serve as yet another step in the development of a young, gritty 49ers team.

San Francisco 49ers "As a rookie, Tarell Brown will be watched"

In light of the Tank Johnson and Pacman Jones situations, did it make sense for the San Francisco 49ers to select Texas cornerback Tarell Brown in the fifth round of the latest draft?Sure.In a strictly football sense, Brown probably would have been a second-round pick -- third at the worst -- had 10 Santonio Holmes black jersey
his off-campus shenanigans not scared off a lot of teams. His 2006 numbers weren't eye-popping at Texas, but sometimes that can be a plus for a defensive back. If other teams avoid you, you're not going to pile up interceptions, tackles and breakups. As it was, the former high school running back finished seventh in tackles on a very good defense and had eight pass deflections. Oh, yes, and two arrests.The latest was dismissed by the Williamson County, Texas, prosecutor's office three days before the draft when it was determined that marijuana found in a car in which Brown was a passenger apparently belonged to Brown's cousin, Christopher Hawkins."I would be wise for Mr. Brown not to ask Mr. Hawkins for a ride anywhere, ever," said prosecutor Jana Duty.If that was the only black mark against Brown, it could be dismissed as placing too much trust in a relative. But during Labor Day weekend, 2006, Brown was in the back seat of another vehicle pulled over by the police, this one driven by former Longhorn linebacker Aaron Harris. Once again, Brown was charged with pot possession but had the charge dropped when his drug test came up clean. What had to be more disturbing to teams thinking about drafting him was that Brown was found with a loaded 9 millimeter in his lap.Football is a sport that attracts tough people, and tough people are often drawn to the edges of the law. There's a fine line between aggressiveness on the football field (and Brown is definitely an in-your-face cornerback) and aggressiveness off it.To 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, his fifth-round pick just made a couple of bad decisions. One point in Brown's favor was his regular appearance on the UT academic honor roll. Of course, time will tell, especially with the emphasis NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is placing on "character issues."But it's not as if San Francisco really needs Brown this year. If there's any position the Niners are solid at, it's cornerback. Nate Clements was the prize catch of the free-agent season for the 49ers, coming over from Buffalo. Walt Harris was a Pro Bowl choice who picked off eight passes last season. Shawntae Spencer was a 2006 starter opposite Harris, Donald Strickland had 12 starts as 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
an Indianapolis Colt in 2003-04, and B.J. Tucker played some nickel back last season.Tarell Brown may not even make the team.If he does, however, he will be watched closely. And if he ever gets to the point of having an entourage, you can bet it won't include Chris Hawkins or Aaron Harris.As for the gun incident, give him Tank Johnson's phone number. In his cell block.Got a bone to pick with a newspaper columnist, talk show personality or television analyst? E-mail us at mediawatch . For more information, visit our Media Watch info page.

2010年12月2日星期四

Tennessee Titans "what awaits Vince Young in 2008"

Thursday was when Titans quarterback Vince Young returned from the University of Texas, where he is pursuing his degree. Upon his arrival, he will have the opportunity to finally meet a couple of new targets. But what will he make of them?Last season one of the reasons Young struggled so10 Santonio Holmes White jersey
(nine touchdowns against 17 picks, 71.1 rating) was because he didn't have receivers comparable to his abilities.If Young had reliable receivers, his stats certainly would have been a lot better and the offense may very well would have scored more touchdowns (and resort to less field goals).Offseason and the free agency comes, and fans are wanting...no, demanding good receivers. But the Titans blow opportunities to sign Jerry Porter, Donté Stallworth, Bernard Berrian or Bryant Johnson. Instead they signed 30-year-old ex-Falcon tight end Alge Crumpler, ex-Jet (and ex-Titan) receiver Justin McCareins and tight end Dwayne Blakley.Certainly Vince has been keeping up with who's going where, and who's coming aboard in Nashville. With the urgent need of top receivers replaced with these signings, one must wonder what went through Young's mind yesterday..."Tight ends?""No go-to guy?""How am I supposed to succeed with this?""Is this what I have to look forward to?""What's my agent's number?"On the other hand, Young may not need the top-top-toppest receivers to play catch with. All he may need is just some reliability. After all, he was on target quite a few times last season. But an aged (albeit decent) tight end and another tight end and receiver of whom neither got a lot of action is a cause for concern.Of course, Blakley will be used as a blocker, so in essence that's just two new throwing targets.Given these pickups while Young was away hitting the books in Austin, it makes one wonder if Young is secretly confident or skeptical of the upcoming 2008 season. The Titans epitomize the old expression, "you get what you pay for."It all started with the Titans' unwillingness to toss some big salad toward available top receivers, and now the club is in the red in the free agency.The team blew it on Jerry Porter, Donté Stallworth, Bernard Berrian and Bryant Johnson, who have signed with new teams. Now Tennessee is losing its depth at running back and at a time when the Titans are breaking in a new running backs coach in Earnest Byner, after longtime assistant Sherman Smith left for the Redskins. Not to mention a new offensive coordinator in Mike Heimerdinger.The recent news of backup running back Chris Brown leaving for the Texans via two-year contract is a nasty cherry on top of how general manager Mike Reinfeldt and coach Jeff Fisher have blown opportunity after opportunity this offseason.Before the news of Brown's departure, defensive tackle Randy Starks (Miami), defensive ends Antwan Odom (Cincy) and Travis LaBoy (Arizona), guard Jacob Bell (St. Louis) and tight ends Ben Troupe (Tampa Bay) and Ben Hartsock (Atlanta) have all bolted at the first good offer, and good offers are not what Tennessee is putting on anyone's table. The team has only retained two players, receiver Justin Gage and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.You can bet the bank that if Tennessee didn't stick the franchise tag on Haynesworth, who 10 Santonio Holmes black jersey
has been outspoken on his team's situation, he would be gone as well.Given the four new pickups (Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler, Eagles defensive end and ex-Titan Jevon Kearse, Jets receiver and ex-Titan Justin McCareins, and Colts guard Jake Scott), there doesn't appear to be anything that makes one do more than yawn. The best pickup appears to be Scott, who replaced Jacob Bell.The Titans brass' complete lack of urgency to improve last year's average team smacks of complacency. This isn't college football; talent is far more important than coaching, and the team is about to find that out the hard way.The Titans are about to experience another old expression, "you can pay now, or pay later."

Tennessee Titans "can't draft playmakers well"

Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher recently stated, "It seems like every year you have to remind people, 'Why don't you grade this draft four years from now?' That is how you grade drafts."So it takes four years for draftees to show up, at least in Nashville. OK, fine. Sounds a little too convenient, but it does make 36 Bettis Black Jersey
sense. Regardless, let's use this as a guide and grade how the Titans fared four drafts ago to attempt gauging how well the club makes their picks.The obvious starting point is Tennessee's first-round pick that year (2005), and guess who that was? Adam 'Pacman' Jones, the No. 6 overall choice. Anyone need further explanation?The Titans then selected offensive tackle Michael Roos in Round 2. Roos is an integral part of the team's solid offensive line right now, so he was a smart choice. The team then grabbed receivers Courtney Roby and Brandon Jones in the third round. Roby is now with the Colts and Jones has yet to show up (only eight scores over the past three years). The remaining players taken were defensive backs Vincent Fuller and Reynaldo Hill, offensive tackles David Stewart and Daniel Loper, receiver Roydell Williams, running back Damien Nash -- who is no longer with the team -- and tight end Bo Scaife. Of that group, Fuller, Hill, Stewart and Loper have proven themselves as great acquisitions. But Williams and Scaife are two charter members of the ball-catching squad that has trouble holding onto the rock.If you had to give this class a grade, it's hard to be any more generous than a C-minus. The Jones fiasco alone drops the grade automatically, and the only thing keeping it from a flat-out 'F' are the solid linemen the Titans landed.Given the way other Titans draft picks have fared over the years, it seems they're not that good at drafting big-time offensive playmakers. During this past weekend's 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
draft, there were quality receivers available, yet Tennessee chose Cal's Lavelle Hawkins, who doesn't deal well with contact and has inconsistent hands.Perhaps Fisher and company chose Hawkins because he would be a good fit on the team. That's probably truer than they realize; after all, Hawkins and his penchant for drops would fit in nicely with the existing corps of receivers.

2010年12月1日星期三

Art Shell Press Conference Notes Week 5

On Monday, head coach Art Shell was asked how his staff would handle future challenge-discrepancies.Very vaguely, he offered, "We talked about it as a staff this morning. We'll do something about it."Then, when asked who he talked to concerning the matter, the coach gave yet another unclear, 4 Brett Favre White jersey
inadequate response."There's a couple of guys that I ask," he said.In the essential turning point of Oakland's 24-21 defeat against the Cleveland Browns, Shell and the "couple of guys" he consults upstairs obliviously failed to challenge a blatant first-down completion to Ronald Curry, in effect severing a potentially game-winning drive."I knew we could challenge," Shell said on Monday. "My question was: should we challenge this play? From my vantage point, I'm standing behind the offense, so when the ball was spotted, I'm behind. So, I called upstairs and I asked, 'should we challenge?'"Evidently, the answer was "no," or perhaps, "I'm not sure, let me ask Al Davis."Positioned at the Cleveland 30-yard line, Shell opted to send his offense back on to the field to attempt a fourth-down run, rather than a game-knotting field goal. Orpheus Roye, a 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman, didn't like the idea, deciding to take matters -- and LaMont Jordan -- into his own hands."I was miffed, because we should have challenged it," Shell said afterward.Nowadays, NFL head coaches are seemingly heaving the red flag when the play at hand is undoubtedly incontestable. The reason, of course, is not only to clarify a point with the referees, but to also allow your staff to take a closer look at the previous play, and plan for the next. Instead, on Sunday, the staff kept their hands in their pockets and their timeouts in the vault.Perhaps Shell should listen to his own advice."It has to be in you. You have to have that Steelers 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
competitive nature about you...When you've got a team down, you've got to really turn up the volume, as they say, and we just didn't do that.""We can't afford to be complacent."The staff can't afford to be incompetent, either.Want to be in this Friday's article? Visit RaidersLive.com to submit your questions and comments for the Oct. 6 mailbag. Get more original analysis at . (17)