Just two days before the beginning of the free agency period and on the eve of many March 1 signing bonuses, general managers are deciding which of their own players are worth retaining. Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome felt that the price tag for the all-time leading rusher in franchise history was too steep. Although they announced intentions to try and re-sign him, Jamal Lewis could be suiting up for another team next season. The Ravens were not the only active team today. Long time WR standout Eric Moulds was sent packing by the Texans, along with two of his veteran teammates. Reports out of Minnesota indicate QB Brad Johnson will be leaving town and Miami QB Joey Harrington will no longer be soaking up the sun in South Beach.
If neither Harrington or Johnson anticipate winning starting jobs next year, they could fall on to the Giants radar. With only Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen backing up Eli Manning, Big Blue would love a veteran understudy. I expect them both to pursue opportunities that would enable them to start, but there don't appear to be many open battles. With the Giants interest in Willis McGahee, it's obvious that RB is a pressing need in Jerry Reese's mind. Since the Bills are unlikely to accept the 4th round pick the Giants are dangling for McGahee's services, they could take a long look at Lewis. The Baltimore RB runs with the same bruising style of current back Brandon Jacobs. Reese has said he'd prefer a back who could change the pace when Jacobs sat, but a RB of Lewis' talent would be hard to overlook.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Florida Falls at Rocky Top
It seems like every bubble team in search of a signature win has been managing to get one. Last night that trend continued when unranked Tennessee defeated the fourth ranked Florida Gators 86-76 on senior night in Knoxville. The final margin is not indicative of how lopsided this game played out from start to finish. Behind Chris Lofton, the Volunteers ceized an early lead which would grow to 27 at one point in the second half. A frenzied full-court press enabled the Gators to cut the lead to single digits, but the game never really felt in doubt. One has to believe that some recent remarks by Gator Al Horford might carry a lot of weight.
The junior forward suggested his team gets lacksadasical on defense when they're not having success on offense. When they made their charge in the second half, the defensive intensity picked up as buckets started to drop. This could be an issue for the defending champs come tournament time. For now, people need to stop the "what's wrong with Florida" talk. They've lost three out of four and all of a sudden it's supposed to be crisis time in Gainesville. It's better to drop games in late February than late March. There's enough time for Billy Donovan to address the issues, which primarily seems to be a lack of focus to start ball games. They routinely fall behind, but often can overcome with their enormous talent level. He should also address their attitudes. Many times throughout last night's broadcast you caught glimpses of Florida players who seem to have a sense of entitlement. If they are to repeat as champions, they have to realize it is not a birth right.
Finally, I must applaud UT women's coach Pat Summitt's cheerleading cameo. A few weeks ago I praised Bruce Pearl, and the same goes for coach Summitt. These two really understand that college athletics is driven by school spirit. To see one of the most respected people in their profession demonstrate the loyalty that is necessary to succeed on the collegiate level was refreshing. While her rendition of Rocky Top may have not been the sweetest it's ever sounded, her passion for UT athetics was properly represented. Many have lauded these "side show" efforts, but it in no way detracts from the action on the court. I do not believe Mr. Pearl or Ms. Summitt's actions were anything but genuine and good-natured. They emobody the passion of the students, fans, and alumni whose fervent fanaticism sets collegiate sports apart from their professional counterparts.
The junior forward suggested his team gets lacksadasical on defense when they're not having success on offense. When they made their charge in the second half, the defensive intensity picked up as buckets started to drop. This could be an issue for the defending champs come tournament time. For now, people need to stop the "what's wrong with Florida" talk. They've lost three out of four and all of a sudden it's supposed to be crisis time in Gainesville. It's better to drop games in late February than late March. There's enough time for Billy Donovan to address the issues, which primarily seems to be a lack of focus to start ball games. They routinely fall behind, but often can overcome with their enormous talent level. He should also address their attitudes. Many times throughout last night's broadcast you caught glimpses of Florida players who seem to have a sense of entitlement. If they are to repeat as champions, they have to realize it is not a birth right.
Finally, I must applaud UT women's coach Pat Summitt's cheerleading cameo. A few weeks ago I praised Bruce Pearl, and the same goes for coach Summitt. These two really understand that college athletics is driven by school spirit. To see one of the most respected people in their profession demonstrate the loyalty that is necessary to succeed on the collegiate level was refreshing. While her rendition of Rocky Top may have not been the sweetest it's ever sounded, her passion for UT athetics was properly represented. Many have lauded these "side show" efforts, but it in no way detracts from the action on the court. I do not believe Mr. Pearl or Ms. Summitt's actions were anything but genuine and good-natured. They emobody the passion of the students, fans, and alumni whose fervent fanaticism sets collegiate sports apart from their professional counterparts.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Crawford May Miss Remainder of Season
You wouldn't have known it by the late three pointer he hit in last night's win over the Heat, but Jamal Crawford was playing with a stress fracture in his right ankle. That injury may keep him sidelined for the rest of the regular season and put a serious hurt on the Knicks postseason chances. The Knicks second leading scorer does not know when the injury occurred, but it may lead surgery. With Steve Francis continuously battling knee problems and David Lee confined to street clothes with a high ankle sprain, the Knicks could not afford to lose another weapon.
So what does this mean to the Knicks rotation? As long as Lee remains on the bench, it could spell more minutes for rookie Renaldo Balkman. He brings toughness to a team that lacks defensive intensity and has the quickness to defend on the perimeter. The Knicks could also turn to diminutive Nate Robinson. He's fallen out of grace after December's brawl and relative ineffectiveness, but could infuse the team with some energy for the stretch run. As opposed to Balkman or Jared Jeffries, he has the ability to compensate for some of the offense that will be lost with Crawford's injury.
So what does this mean to the Knicks rotation? As long as Lee remains on the bench, it could spell more minutes for rookie Renaldo Balkman. He brings toughness to a team that lacks defensive intensity and has the quickness to defend on the perimeter. The Knicks could also turn to diminutive Nate Robinson. He's fallen out of grace after December's brawl and relative ineffectiveness, but could infuse the team with some energy for the stretch run. As opposed to Balkman or Jared Jeffries, he has the ability to compensate for some of the offense that will be lost with Crawford's injury.
Combine Goes Out In A Flash
After several days of weighing, prodding, and examining the talent pool for the 2007 NFL Draft, the anuual Scouting Combine comes to a close today. Judging by the early results, it's going out in style. Under today's microscope were the defensive backs and many have made an impression with their times in the 40 yard dash. Michigan's Leon Hall, who many felt needed to prove he had enough speed to man the outside, may have answered many of his critics with a time of 4.38 seconds. That time, paired with strong results in the vertical and broad jumps, should have seperated him as the first corner off the board. However, he may face stiff competition from workout warrior Chris Houston of Arkansas. The former Razorback clocked the fastest forty time at 4.32 and set the standard on the bench with an astonishing 27 reps. Giants fans should take note of that name.
With the Giants glaring need for a corner, today's showcase was extremely important. I have been wondering why many draftniks seem to dismiss the idea of the Giants drafting Jim Thorpe award winner Aaron Ross. He has good size, is great in run support, and has a record of making plays on the football field. In a "Moneyball"-esque philosophy, I've always been concerned with people who quickly dismiss what guys have accomplished on the field. With circuses such as the scouting combine, people get obsessed with measurables. Ross, formerly of the University of Texas, has an impressive track record. Even though his performance today seemed to be middle of the pack, it shouldn't be the final indicator of his projected draft status.
A full list of today's results can be seen here.
With the Giants glaring need for a corner, today's showcase was extremely important. I have been wondering why many draftniks seem to dismiss the idea of the Giants drafting Jim Thorpe award winner Aaron Ross. He has good size, is great in run support, and has a record of making plays on the football field. In a "Moneyball"-esque philosophy, I've always been concerned with people who quickly dismiss what guys have accomplished on the field. With circuses such as the scouting combine, people get obsessed with measurables. Ross, formerly of the University of Texas, has an impressive track record. Even though his performance today seemed to be middle of the pack, it shouldn't be the final indicator of his projected draft status.
A full list of today's results can be seen here.
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Rest Is Covered By Smoot
While the NFL world has its attention on the scouting combine in Indianapolis, it's hard not to look ahead to the fastly approaching Free Agency Period. Beginning this Friday, it's shopping season and several NFL owners are sure to have their checkbooks ready. Giants fans are hoping that new GM Jerry Reese will bring home some new gifts, preferably a playmaking cornerback who can shut down opposing number one receivers. According to Adam Schefter of NFL.com, another prized candidate could hit the open market. Fred Smoot, of "water covers two-thirds of the earth, Smoot covers the rest" fame, is likely to be cut this week before he receives a bonus from the Vikings. If he becomes available, the Giants should certainly join the Smoot sweepstakes.
Aside from his cockiness and propensity to say a foolish thing or two, injuries have to be a red flag. He's played all 16 games only once in his 6 year career. His interception numbers have declined every year since a career high 5 in his rookie year, but that seems to be more indicative of teams throwing in the opposite direction. I'd also be wary of potential character issues. Smoot played a central role in the "love boat" scandal that rocked the Vikings two offseasons ago. Not to sound insensitive to the issues in that situation, but it's not shocking that wealthy young men would act in those ways. I don't think it's an indictment on many of their characters. Before digressing in to that, he can bring a lot of positives to the table. He's shown an ability to make plays and can stick with any receiver in the league. His price tag could be similar to fellow free agent Nate Clements, which at this point is too steep for the Giants pockets. With a recent "decline" in production he could come cheaper, which would be crucial in a potential Giants pursuit. He could be a very enticing solution to the Giants cornerback problems.
Aside from his cockiness and propensity to say a foolish thing or two, injuries have to be a red flag. He's played all 16 games only once in his 6 year career. His interception numbers have declined every year since a career high 5 in his rookie year, but that seems to be more indicative of teams throwing in the opposite direction. I'd also be wary of potential character issues. Smoot played a central role in the "love boat" scandal that rocked the Vikings two offseasons ago. Not to sound insensitive to the issues in that situation, but it's not shocking that wealthy young men would act in those ways. I don't think it's an indictment on many of their characters. Before digressing in to that, he can bring a lot of positives to the table. He's shown an ability to make plays and can stick with any receiver in the league. His price tag could be similar to fellow free agent Nate Clements, which at this point is too steep for the Giants pockets. With a recent "decline" in production he could come cheaper, which would be crucial in a potential Giants pursuit. He could be a very enticing solution to the Giants cornerback problems.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Giants Show Interest In McGahee
When Tiki Barber walked away from the Giants in January, the heir apparent to his position seemed to be backup Brandon Jacobs. He may face some stiff competition for RB 1 if Jerry Reese can strike a deal with Buffalo to acquire Willis McGahee. The Bills announced that their starting running back, who will be a free agent after the 2007 campaign, is up for grabs. They've been pursuing trading partners and the new Giants GM has voiced his interest. Despite his talent, it makes sense for the Bills to shop him. He's vocalized issues with Buffalo and they run a real risk of letting him depart next offseason with nothing to show for it.
As surprising as it may sound, I don't know how much sense it makes for the Giants to pursue McGahee. They have needs at several other positions and are sure to lose early round picks to acquire a player of his caliber. The Giants would also have to work out an extension with the young back, which would cost them cap room for a long time to come. It's also a bit surprising, given his injury prone past, that Reese would be so intrigued. Reese has cut ties with several veterans with red flags about their health. On the bright side, he is only 25 and has shown tremendous ability in this league. He'd instantly upgrade an offense in need of another weapon and take a lot of pressure off Eli Manning.
As surprising as it may sound, I don't know how much sense it makes for the Giants to pursue McGahee. They have needs at several other positions and are sure to lose early round picks to acquire a player of his caliber. The Giants would also have to work out an extension with the young back, which would cost them cap room for a long time to come. It's also a bit surprising, given his injury prone past, that Reese would be so intrigued. Reese has cut ties with several veterans with red flags about their health. On the bright side, he is only 25 and has shown tremendous ability in this league. He'd instantly upgrade an offense in need of another weapon and take a lot of pressure off Eli Manning.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Wade Sidelined Indefinitely
The defending NBA champions were dealt a huge blow last night as superstar Dwayne Wade suffered a dislocated shoulder. Replays of the incident are tough to watch, especially watching a wheelchair bound Wade wheeled off the court writhing in pain. It's a frightful reminder that injuries play a much larger role in basketball than most people will acknowledge. On a broader scale, this injury could be a major factor in determining the Eastern Conference playoffs. Wade will be sidelined indefinitely and the Heat are sure to struggle in his absence. They're clinging to the 8th seed, only two games ahead of the Nets. If your a Heat fan, Shaq's 20 points and 16 rebounds have to be an encouraging sign. Head coach Pat Riley also returned to work, but the Nets are involved in trade talks and a change of personnel could energize them.
It will be interesting to see if the injury forces the Heat in to a deadline deal. There is a good chance Wade will miss the remainder of the regular season, possibly even longer. Another thing to keep an eye on is Scottie Pippen. One of the NBA's 50 greatest of all time, Pippen has expressed interest recently in joining a contender. He would not make an immediate impact, but could get his legs back in time for a playoff push.
The deadline is fast approaching and only a few minor deals have been completed. Across the river, New Jersey seems to be the most active shoppers but the Lakers appear unwilling to meet their asking price for star guard Jason Kidd. Although the deadline is at 3 PM EST, things probably won't be clear until this evening.
It will be interesting to see if the injury forces the Heat in to a deadline deal. There is a good chance Wade will miss the remainder of the regular season, possibly even longer. Another thing to keep an eye on is Scottie Pippen. One of the NBA's 50 greatest of all time, Pippen has expressed interest recently in joining a contender. He would not make an immediate impact, but could get his legs back in time for a playoff push.
The deadline is fast approaching and only a few minor deals have been completed. Across the river, New Jersey seems to be the most active shoppers but the Lakers appear unwilling to meet their asking price for star guard Jason Kidd. Although the deadline is at 3 PM EST, things probably won't be clear until this evening.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Bernie to Play The Waiting Game
Lost in the A-Rod-Jeter "love-lost" fest has been the story of longtime Yankee Bernie Williams. As the two infielders indulge the reporters with sound bites on their relationship, Williams continues to sit sans-media attention and wait for a little more respect. Many players are standing up for the loyal centerfielder. The Yankees are walking a fine line with regards to how their treating a long time veteran and signs of a rift between the organization and closer Mariano Rivera are evident. It's obvious that pinstripe lifers Jorge Posada and Rivera, as well as their leader Joe Torre, are doing all they can to ensure Williams spot on the roster.
On the surface this issue seems complex. Do the Yankees owe him better treatment? There's a lot of grey area. Yes, he's had an amazing career. Yes, he's still capable of producing. Does that necessarily mean they have to guarantee him a coveted roster spot? Unfortunately, no they do not. It's actually surprisingly simple. Brian Cashman's decision to platoon at first and shift Giambi to DH keeps the team from holding on to a fifth outfielder. Anyone capable of rational thought knows that Melky Cabrera is better suited for the primary backup slot, so it leaves no room for Williams. The bigger problem I have is that, with the re-signing of Miguel Cairo, they're planning to keep four players on the roster capable of playing first base yet only four capable of playing the outfield. Considering two corner outfielders got injured last year, this does not seem to make a whole lot of sense. Forget his years of loyalty. Forget what the organization owes to him. Even put aside what it could mean to the future of Rivera in pinstripes. The Yankees need Williams in camp because a fifth outfielder is more important than carrying three first basemen.
Hopefully the team re-considers their roster plans and makes sure Bernie is in camp. According to Jon Heyman of SI, the waiting game may indicate he's more willing to take the Yankees offer.
On the surface this issue seems complex. Do the Yankees owe him better treatment? There's a lot of grey area. Yes, he's had an amazing career. Yes, he's still capable of producing. Does that necessarily mean they have to guarantee him a coveted roster spot? Unfortunately, no they do not. It's actually surprisingly simple. Brian Cashman's decision to platoon at first and shift Giambi to DH keeps the team from holding on to a fifth outfielder. Anyone capable of rational thought knows that Melky Cabrera is better suited for the primary backup slot, so it leaves no room for Williams. The bigger problem I have is that, with the re-signing of Miguel Cairo, they're planning to keep four players on the roster capable of playing first base yet only four capable of playing the outfield. Considering two corner outfielders got injured last year, this does not seem to make a whole lot of sense. Forget his years of loyalty. Forget what the organization owes to him. Even put aside what it could mean to the future of Rivera in pinstripes. The Yankees need Williams in camp because a fifth outfielder is more important than carrying three first basemen.
Hopefully the team re-considers their roster plans and makes sure Bernie is in camp. According to Jon Heyman of SI, the waiting game may indicate he's more willing to take the Yankees offer.
Jeter: "There is no rift"
A day after reporters enjoyed personal revelations from Alex Rodriguez, they were unable to pry similar information from Derek Jeter. As always, Jeter steered clear of his personal life as the media looked for a response to Rodriguez' remarks about their friendship. From Jeter's reply today, a few things remain very clear. No matter how much the New York media would love to expose Jeter's personal life, he will keep it hidden. Whether it's a fling with a celebrity, or personal relationships with teammates, they'll never get the full story. He alluded to that fear of "opening the flood-gates" with this:
"I understand my job is public, but your personal life is your personal life. Once you open that door, it doesn't stop," he said. "Away from the field, people want to keep tabs on how many times we go out to eat, things like that. That has no bearing on what we're trying to do."
Jeter has, and always will be, all about winning. He understands that teammates don't need to hold hands. They just need to be willing to fight for a common goal. The big knock on Jeter during the A-Rod era has been his reluctance to embrace the embattled star. I've said this before in a column about Mike and the Mad Dog, but I think it's ridiculous to suggest that Jeter needs to be more vocal of his defense of their third basemen. The captain acknowledged this today, continuing his emphasis that he will not tell the fans how to treat any of his teammates.
Many media types are quick to point out that Jeter seemed more supportive when Giambi endured his hardships. In a recent radio interview, Joe Torre gave a great explanation. He made a distinction between the two issues. Giambi's problems stemmed from off-field incidents, A-Rod's were a direct result of his poor on-field performance. They needed to be handled as seperate problems, and the captain acted accordingly. I really do not believe that Jeter has failed to back his teammate due to a perceived rift. Hopefully now that both players have weighed in on this issue, reporters can begin to look for a new story.
"I understand my job is public, but your personal life is your personal life. Once you open that door, it doesn't stop," he said. "Away from the field, people want to keep tabs on how many times we go out to eat, things like that. That has no bearing on what we're trying to do."
Jeter has, and always will be, all about winning. He understands that teammates don't need to hold hands. They just need to be willing to fight for a common goal. The big knock on Jeter during the A-Rod era has been his reluctance to embrace the embattled star. I've said this before in a column about Mike and the Mad Dog, but I think it's ridiculous to suggest that Jeter needs to be more vocal of his defense of their third basemen. The captain acknowledged this today, continuing his emphasis that he will not tell the fans how to treat any of his teammates.
Many media types are quick to point out that Jeter seemed more supportive when Giambi endured his hardships. In a recent radio interview, Joe Torre gave a great explanation. He made a distinction between the two issues. Giambi's problems stemmed from off-field incidents, A-Rod's were a direct result of his poor on-field performance. They needed to be handled as seperate problems, and the captain acted accordingly. I really do not believe that Jeter has failed to back his teammate due to a perceived rift. Hopefully now that both players have weighed in on this issue, reporters can begin to look for a new story.
Monday, February 19, 2007
A-Rod Confirms Strained Relations with Jeter
Does anyone remember the Yankees brawl with Seattle in which Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez playfully chatted as their teammates fought? Jeter's actions, and Chad Curtis' resulting harsh criticism, sent Curtis packing and proved to players league wide that the two shortstops were the best of pals. In an interview with reporters this morning, Rodriguez confirmed what everyone knew for years. Those days are long gone. He really picked an interesting day for this revelation. Today marked the first day of Spring Training for position players, a day already being hyped at Legends field due to the absence of long-time Yankee Bernie Williams.
Given a few hours to reflect on Rodriguez's comments, I've come to the following conclusions. First of all, it's almost refreshing to see A-Rod go against the grain. Since arriving in New York he's been so careful with his words, but anyone with a pulse could tell things were clearly strained from his published criticism of the Yankee captain. He figured he'd have to field questions about his and Jeter's relationship, so it was good to see him take the offensive. However, it will open the flood gates on the speculation that he'll opt out of his contract after this season. People will blow these comments out of proportion and it could be a lingering issue in the press. Any signs of tension between the two will be front page news and could serve as an unnecessary distraction. Will it actually be a problem? I think not. Athletes are too competitive to let petty differences affect their performance on the field. They both realize they need each other to play well in order to achieve their common goal of winning the World Series. Hopefully this disclosure, albeit not a surprising one, will start to put this issue to bed.
For more on this, check out this article available at MLB.com.
Given a few hours to reflect on Rodriguez's comments, I've come to the following conclusions. First of all, it's almost refreshing to see A-Rod go against the grain. Since arriving in New York he's been so careful with his words, but anyone with a pulse could tell things were clearly strained from his published criticism of the Yankee captain. He figured he'd have to field questions about his and Jeter's relationship, so it was good to see him take the offensive. However, it will open the flood gates on the speculation that he'll opt out of his contract after this season. People will blow these comments out of proportion and it could be a lingering issue in the press. Any signs of tension between the two will be front page news and could serve as an unnecessary distraction. Will it actually be a problem? I think not. Athletes are too competitive to let petty differences affect their performance on the field. They both realize they need each other to play well in order to achieve their common goal of winning the World Series. Hopefully this disclosure, albeit not a surprising one, will start to put this issue to bed.
For more on this, check out this article available at MLB.com.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Bears Franchise Briggs
For all Giants fans who thought Lance Briggs would test free agency to sign with New York, the Bears gave everyone a definitive answer. The Bears have chosen to designate Briggs as their franchise player. As per the guidelines of using this designation, Briggs will receive a one year deal in line with the average of the five highest players at his position. He's the perfect fit in their Tampa 2 scheme and it is no surprise that Chicago brass exercised this option. They will use the next couple months to work on an extension or else Briggs could become available next offseason. Teams still can acquire Briggs, but it would cost several draft picks and the Bears unwillingness to match the offer.
So where do the Giants go from here? Many Giants fans speculated the recent roster moves to free up cap space would lead to Briggs landing in New York, but it would have shocked me if the Bears didn't lock him up. Honestly, while he's a fantastic player, the skill set of Adalius Thomas could be a better fit with new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. anyway. I'm relatively certain he will not become an option, but the Ravens are extremely cap strapped. It would be foolish for them not to at least franchise him, but there's a chance he could sneak through the cracks. If he becomes available, although the Giants are in desperate need of a playmaking corner, he should be their top priority.
So where do the Giants go from here? Many Giants fans speculated the recent roster moves to free up cap space would lead to Briggs landing in New York, but it would have shocked me if the Bears didn't lock him up. Honestly, while he's a fantastic player, the skill set of Adalius Thomas could be a better fit with new coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. anyway. I'm relatively certain he will not become an option, but the Ravens are extremely cap strapped. It would be foolish for them not to at least franchise him, but there's a chance he could sneak through the cracks. If he becomes available, although the Giants are in desperate need of a playmaking corner, he should be their top priority.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Hardaway Fires Shot at Gay Athletes
I have the perfect premise for TV's next reality hit. It will be appropriately titled "Athletes Say The Dumbest Things" and will feature such gems as Tim Hardaway's gay bashing on Dan LeBatard's Miami radio show yesterday. Hardaway may have had a killer crossover, but he never could drop jaws the way he did on the air yesterday in one of the most disturbing bigotry-laced tirades in recent history. It's a re-inforcement of how backwards thinking some people in this country can be. The worst part? His lame excuse for an apology. It essentially amounted to "I shouldn't have said it when so many people would hear it BUT I mean every word of it".
Putting aside one man's beliefs, let's look at the bigger picture. The whole scene started by host Dan LeBatard simply asking for Hardaway's take on John Amaechi's recent publication. Just a quick summary, former Orlando Magic Center John Amaechi became the first retired or active NBA player to reveal his homosexuality. It's created a media craze; one in which I felt to be completely unwarranted at first. However, since everybody feels the need to comment on it, inevitably people were going to make off-color remarks. Exhibit A, Shavlik Randolph. The former Dukie, and now Portland Trailblazer, would not want a gay teammate to "bring his gayness" on him. Even King James who suggested he couldn't trust a teammate who chose to hide their sexuality from the team needs to insert his foot in his mouth. Luckily for them, they've been pushed to the back of the bus by Hardaway's "I hate gay people" rant. Before sounding off on that, let me explain why I felt this issue received excessive attention.
For a former player to make a stunning revelation to increase book sales (and hopefully awareness, I don't mean to belittle his biographical efforts), I didn't think such disclosure from a former journeyman could impact today's league. If a current player made this kind of announcement and the league had to deal with the ramifications in the locker rooms, I would have found it to be monumental. It just doesn't seem that how an ex-player dealt with being in the closet during his playing days impacts what it would be like for a player to be openly gay in the league right now. Until an active player deals with the obstacles, it seems like these kind of stories are obsolete. However, I'm singing a slightly different tune after the vast opinions being shared.
Surprisingly, "I'm not a role model" Charles Barkley has had the most positive feedback. He has emphasized that he has many gay friends and would have supported gay teammates. He even went so far as to assert that he knew of a few players that were gay, but opted not to out them because it is clearly their decision. It's a shame that counterparts such as Hardaway are not as enlightened. Now I'm not naive. There are plenty of people in this country who do not condone homosexuality, and probably never will. But to come out and say "I HATE gay people" relatively unprovoked is indefensible. Even if the question was "Do you like gay people", his answer wouldn't have had to be so inflammatory. He purposely took cheat shots at an already alienated section of the population simply because he had the captive audience for it.
Sadly, Hardaway will now field countless interview opportunities to defend his statements. That's why "Athletes Say The Dumbest Things" would be such a hit. The dumber the better, and the opportunities to "one up" yourself in stupidity are infinite. Now I just have to find someone to pitch it to.
Putting aside one man's beliefs, let's look at the bigger picture. The whole scene started by host Dan LeBatard simply asking for Hardaway's take on John Amaechi's recent publication. Just a quick summary, former Orlando Magic Center John Amaechi became the first retired or active NBA player to reveal his homosexuality. It's created a media craze; one in which I felt to be completely unwarranted at first. However, since everybody feels the need to comment on it, inevitably people were going to make off-color remarks. Exhibit A, Shavlik Randolph. The former Dukie, and now Portland Trailblazer, would not want a gay teammate to "bring his gayness" on him. Even King James who suggested he couldn't trust a teammate who chose to hide their sexuality from the team needs to insert his foot in his mouth. Luckily for them, they've been pushed to the back of the bus by Hardaway's "I hate gay people" rant. Before sounding off on that, let me explain why I felt this issue received excessive attention.
For a former player to make a stunning revelation to increase book sales (and hopefully awareness, I don't mean to belittle his biographical efforts), I didn't think such disclosure from a former journeyman could impact today's league. If a current player made this kind of announcement and the league had to deal with the ramifications in the locker rooms, I would have found it to be monumental. It just doesn't seem that how an ex-player dealt with being in the closet during his playing days impacts what it would be like for a player to be openly gay in the league right now. Until an active player deals with the obstacles, it seems like these kind of stories are obsolete. However, I'm singing a slightly different tune after the vast opinions being shared.
Surprisingly, "I'm not a role model" Charles Barkley has had the most positive feedback. He has emphasized that he has many gay friends and would have supported gay teammates. He even went so far as to assert that he knew of a few players that were gay, but opted not to out them because it is clearly their decision. It's a shame that counterparts such as Hardaway are not as enlightened. Now I'm not naive. There are plenty of people in this country who do not condone homosexuality, and probably never will. But to come out and say "I HATE gay people" relatively unprovoked is indefensible. Even if the question was "Do you like gay people", his answer wouldn't have had to be so inflammatory. He purposely took cheat shots at an already alienated section of the population simply because he had the captive audience for it.
Sadly, Hardaway will now field countless interview opportunities to defend his statements. That's why "Athletes Say The Dumbest Things" would be such a hit. The dumber the better, and the opportunities to "one up" yourself in stupidity are infinite. Now I just have to find someone to pitch it to.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Love Lost; Tiki fires shots at Coughlin
Don't expect Tom Coughlin to send Tiki Barber a Valentine's day card. Coughlin's workhorse of the last three years had some tough words for his former coach upon being announced as a new member of the Today show. Barber believes that Coughlin's demanding practices took an excessive toll on his body and ultimately caused him to retire prematurely. While undoubtedly he will go down as one of the greatest Giants in history, as a die-hard fan, I'm begging Barber to stop with the disparaging remarks. Nothing can ever tarnish his legacy in Blue, but he's doing his best to alienate loyal fans.
As I've discussed in the past, Tiki's focus on life after football while still playing didn't sit well with many fans. We all understand he's articulate, intelligent, and well-suited for his post-football career. But he's decided to take a page out of Jerome Bettis' playbook. A year ago the Steelers great had an emotional farewell tour with a storybook ending. Very shortly after, he began speculating on his coach's future and rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. It's unfortunate that these stars feel such a desire to quickly acclimate themselves to their new professions that they step on the toes of the people who helped make their previous careers such a success. Now I am by no means an ardent Tom Coughlin supporter, and if you read the statements thoroughly they're not quite as malicious as headlines would suggest, but there's no reason for these parting shots. Hopefully Barber does not feel the need to create bad blood with an organization that treated him so well for 10 years and put him in a position to chase dreams of being alongside his hero Matt Lauer.
As I've discussed in the past, Tiki's focus on life after football while still playing didn't sit well with many fans. We all understand he's articulate, intelligent, and well-suited for his post-football career. But he's decided to take a page out of Jerome Bettis' playbook. A year ago the Steelers great had an emotional farewell tour with a storybook ending. Very shortly after, he began speculating on his coach's future and rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. It's unfortunate that these stars feel such a desire to quickly acclimate themselves to their new professions that they step on the toes of the people who helped make their previous careers such a success. Now I am by no means an ardent Tom Coughlin supporter, and if you read the statements thoroughly they're not quite as malicious as headlines would suggest, but there's no reason for these parting shots. Hopefully Barber does not feel the need to create bad blood with an organization that treated him so well for 10 years and put him in a position to chase dreams of being alongside his hero Matt Lauer.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Whitfield joins Barber in Retirement
Not often does a team undergo radical changes in February, but the Giants managed to do so yesterday. On top of the release of three veterans, two more filed for retirement. The paperwork was a mere formality in the inevitable retirement of Tiki Barber, but he was joined by veteran tackle "Head-Butt" Bob Whitfield. For those keeping score at home, the Giants lost two tackles, two linebackers, and a running back in one day. Aside from cutdown days in the summer, roster shakeups rarely take on this grand a scale. Given a little more time to think about the moves, the only plausible explanation is injury concerns. All three released yesterday have battled injuries, and two are rehabbing from catastrophic setbacks.
Fortunately, the Giants now have pretty considerable cap room and should be shoppers when the Free Agency period begins March 2. Unfortunately, they now have a lot of needs. The importance of a left tackle can not be devalued, and Luke Petitgout handled the role more than capably. Many people already felt outside linebacker was a need and it becomes amplified by the losses of the two guys who opened 2006 as the two starters. Everyone expected to see Emmons out the door, but Arrington is still very puzzling. He would have only cost the Giants significant money if he played well, and if he did, I don't think anyone would care about the extra money. The move cost the Giants against the cap and will only be validated if Arrington retirement rumors hold any weight. It seems that he and Spagnuolo would have made a great pair with the new coach's aggressiveness.
Although in the immediate aftermath I've been put off by these moves, it becomes clear that Jerry Reese must have some plans. He's not going to be passive, which hopefully translates to an aggressive pursuit of free agents. With experienced talent and coming off a second consecutive playoff berth, hopefully these are not signs of rebuilding. Reporters have also been speculating that Chad Morton and Tim Carter are on their way out as well. If Morton were to be cut, it would be long overdue. He no longer can contribute offensively and proved to be woefully ineffective returning kicks. Tim Carter has proven all "measurables" theorists wrong. Let me explain. This time of year scouts are salivating over fast 40 times and excessive reps on the bench. Coming out of Auburn, Carter was a "measurables" stud. His blazing speed and impressive strength made him a coveted second round selection, but he's been a bitter disappointment in Blue. Hopefully a change of scenery wouldn't revitalize his career because it would be painful to watch him succeed after the wealth of chances he received with the Giants.
If you can say one thing definitively, it's that this offseason should get very interesting. Hopefully the Giants are gearing up for some big moves, but we'll have to wait a few more weeks to see for sure.
Fortunately, the Giants now have pretty considerable cap room and should be shoppers when the Free Agency period begins March 2. Unfortunately, they now have a lot of needs. The importance of a left tackle can not be devalued, and Luke Petitgout handled the role more than capably. Many people already felt outside linebacker was a need and it becomes amplified by the losses of the two guys who opened 2006 as the two starters. Everyone expected to see Emmons out the door, but Arrington is still very puzzling. He would have only cost the Giants significant money if he played well, and if he did, I don't think anyone would care about the extra money. The move cost the Giants against the cap and will only be validated if Arrington retirement rumors hold any weight. It seems that he and Spagnuolo would have made a great pair with the new coach's aggressiveness.
Although in the immediate aftermath I've been put off by these moves, it becomes clear that Jerry Reese must have some plans. He's not going to be passive, which hopefully translates to an aggressive pursuit of free agents. With experienced talent and coming off a second consecutive playoff berth, hopefully these are not signs of rebuilding. Reporters have also been speculating that Chad Morton and Tim Carter are on their way out as well. If Morton were to be cut, it would be long overdue. He no longer can contribute offensively and proved to be woefully ineffective returning kicks. Tim Carter has proven all "measurables" theorists wrong. Let me explain. This time of year scouts are salivating over fast 40 times and excessive reps on the bench. Coming out of Auburn, Carter was a "measurables" stud. His blazing speed and impressive strength made him a coveted second round selection, but he's been a bitter disappointment in Blue. Hopefully a change of scenery wouldn't revitalize his career because it would be painful to watch him succeed after the wealth of chances he received with the Giants.
If you can say one thing definitively, it's that this offseason should get very interesting. Hopefully the Giants are gearing up for some big moves, but we'll have to wait a few more weeks to see for sure.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Giant Shakeup
Reports are sufacing that the Giants have released offensive tackle Luke Petitgout and linebackers Carlos Emmons and LaVar Arrington. As a loyal Giants fan, I have to ask why. It is no surprise that the Giants were expected to cut ties with the veteran Emmons, but letting go of Arrington and Petitgout is puzzling. Both had several years left on their contract and were expected to play big roles in the 2007 season. In terms of saving money, as most veterans become "cap casualties, the moves don't free up too much money. In fact, if my research is correct, it will actually cost the Giants $1.6 million to release Arrington.
Think you have theories about why the Giants collapsed in 2006? If you ask New York Sports shock jock Max Kellerman, he'll be glad to tell you it was the injury to Petitgout. I can't wait to hear what he has to say on this topic during his daily radio show tomorrow. Say what you want about his past issues with false starts, he's been rock solid protecting Giants quarterbacks blind sides since they drafted him. One of last year's fourth round selections, tackle Guy Whimper, does not seem ready to fill the void. As for Arrington, it seems that bringing in blitzing Steve Spagnuolo to run the defense perfectly fit his skill set. All reports were that he was ahead of the curve in his rehab and he signed a 7 year deal in the past offseason. With the departure of Arrington and Emmons, there are huge needs at the linebacking position.
To his credit, Jerry Reese is shaking things up in his early days as GM. Unfortunately, these moves do not seem to be the ones the Giants needed. I could understand if they were trying to rebuild, but they have the talent to compete right away. I'd be curious to hear what veteran Michael Strahan has to say about these moves, a man who's time to win a ring is quickly winding down. I'm not going to sugar coat it any further, these moves seem flat out nonsensical. I'm sure the decision makers are previewed to a lot more information, but on the surface these roster changes look to really hurt Big Blue.
Think you have theories about why the Giants collapsed in 2006? If you ask New York Sports shock jock Max Kellerman, he'll be glad to tell you it was the injury to Petitgout. I can't wait to hear what he has to say on this topic during his daily radio show tomorrow. Say what you want about his past issues with false starts, he's been rock solid protecting Giants quarterbacks blind sides since they drafted him. One of last year's fourth round selections, tackle Guy Whimper, does not seem ready to fill the void. As for Arrington, it seems that bringing in blitzing Steve Spagnuolo to run the defense perfectly fit his skill set. All reports were that he was ahead of the curve in his rehab and he signed a 7 year deal in the past offseason. With the departure of Arrington and Emmons, there are huge needs at the linebacking position.
To his credit, Jerry Reese is shaking things up in his early days as GM. Unfortunately, these moves do not seem to be the ones the Giants needed. I could understand if they were trying to rebuild, but they have the talent to compete right away. I'd be curious to hear what veteran Michael Strahan has to say about these moves, a man who's time to win a ring is quickly winding down. I'm not going to sugar coat it any further, these moves seem flat out nonsensical. I'm sure the decision makers are previewed to a lot more information, but on the surface these roster changes look to really hurt Big Blue.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Tiki Gears Up For Final NFL Game
The Pro Bowl doesn't traditionally attract a big television audience, but many New Yorkers will feel inclined to tune in for a bit tonight. Long time Giant great Tiki Barber will be suiting up for the final time before submitting his formal retirement papers when he returns from Hawaii. With Frank Gore set to start and Steven Jackson waiting in the wings, touches may be limited for Barber. That won't matter for Tiki. He's just happy to be playing in a third straight Pro Bowl with twin Ronde. To make things even better, he'll be coached by Sean Payton, a man he credits for elevating his career to new heights. Given the circumstances I expect Payton to involve Barber in some fun ways, but I expect Tiki to baske in all of the interview opportunities he'll have throughout the game.
Out of the four all-star competitions for major spots (yes, I loosely include hockey), the Pro Bowl is the only post-season game. In seasons past they used a clever advertising scheme "One last, final last, game' to try and rope in NFL enthusiasts for one last time before a long offseason, but there's little attention surrounding this year's game. CBS is telecasting on a Saturday as opposed to the traditional Sunday, and the game is having trouble attracting stars. Many of the competitors from last Sunday's Super Bowl have pulled out for a variety of reasons and even Golden Boy Tom Brady opted for a Pebble Beach Pro-AmGolf tournament then to fill in for the injured Philip Rivers. The NFL has benefitted from a wealth of attention to its offeason, so a lack of interest in it's all-star festivities has not hurt the sport. Following the draft has become as intense a passion to the fans as regular season play, so the "offseason" does not last quite as long. Once the final whistles blows tonight, expect Draft 2007 coverage to hit the accelerator.
Out of the four all-star competitions for major spots (yes, I loosely include hockey), the Pro Bowl is the only post-season game. In seasons past they used a clever advertising scheme "One last, final last, game' to try and rope in NFL enthusiasts for one last time before a long offseason, but there's little attention surrounding this year's game. CBS is telecasting on a Saturday as opposed to the traditional Sunday, and the game is having trouble attracting stars. Many of the competitors from last Sunday's Super Bowl have pulled out for a variety of reasons and even Golden Boy Tom Brady opted for a Pebble Beach Pro-AmGolf tournament then to fill in for the injured Philip Rivers. The NFL has benefitted from a wealth of attention to its offeason, so a lack of interest in it's all-star festivities has not hurt the sport. Following the draft has become as intense a passion to the fans as regular season play, so the "offseason" does not last quite as long. Once the final whistles blows tonight, expect Draft 2007 coverage to hit the accelerator.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
National Signing Day Creates College Football Buzz
Certain regions across the country have their eyes glued to their computer screens today to check out high schoolers. No, not in a perverted way. It's the day when blue-chippers around the country sign their national letters of intent to play college football. Unfortunately with the extensive coverage paid to high school sports, most of the luster has been taken from this day. Most people know who is headed to their favorite program well before, but everything becomes official today. Not surprisingly the top classes are headed to USC and Florida, but the excitement extends well beyond those programs. It's being felt in football madhouses like the SEC country in the South, and the middle of the country powered by Big 10 fanatics. If your looking for a relative "Cinderella", it may be South Carolina. Having famed recruiter Steve Spurrier helps, but ESPN ranks them as the 4th best class in the country. Not bad for a team that only finished 8-5 a year ago.
Unfortunately, College Football does not have the same stranglehold in the Northeast. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are relative "hotbeds" for college talent, but the college programs have never quite caught up. Aside from Rutgers rise to prominence this season, there isn't much to get excited about in the Tri-State area. A once proud Syracuse program can't get out of the cellar in a diminished Big East and many Northeast programs are Division I-AA. The few big time recruits that arise in this area typically head to more traditional football schools like USC. Until New York and surrounding states start improving on the prep level, the College programs will continue to lag behind.
Unfortunately, College Football does not have the same stranglehold in the Northeast. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are relative "hotbeds" for college talent, but the college programs have never quite caught up. Aside from Rutgers rise to prominence this season, there isn't much to get excited about in the Tri-State area. A once proud Syracuse program can't get out of the cellar in a diminished Big East and many Northeast programs are Division I-AA. The few big time recruits that arise in this area typically head to more traditional football schools like USC. Until New York and surrounding states start improving on the prep level, the College programs will continue to lag behind.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Pierce Headed to Hawaii
There will be two Giants playing for the NFC in the Pro Bowl after all. Middle Linebacker Antonio Pierce earned a trip to Honolulu after Bears MLB Brian Urlacher canceled his. He joins Tiki Barber as the only Giants representatives. Tight End Jeremy Shockey had been voted in, but will sit out with a nagging ankle injury. While Pierce is there, it is rumored that he will put the full court press on soon to be free agent Lance Briggs. The two were teammates at the University of Arizona and Pierce reportedly has been in touch with the Bears LB about signing with the Giants. Briggs' pricetag will likely be too high for the Giants even if he hits the open market, but I fully expect the Bears to either put the franchise tag on or sign him to an extension.
It's great to see Pierce get a chance to prove he is one of the elite linebackers in the game. He's been the leader of the defense since signing before the 2005 season. Hopefully the Giants can get LaVar Arrington and Michael Strahan healthy next season to relieve some of the burden. If the Briggs rumors carry any weight, it will also be nice to have Pierce on a recruiting mission. His recruitment abilities are well documented by the Arrington signing. With Carlos Emmons most likely to be released and an aging Brandon Short headed for free agency, linebacker could be a pressing need this offseason.
It's great to see Pierce get a chance to prove he is one of the elite linebackers in the game. He's been the leader of the defense since signing before the 2005 season. Hopefully the Giants can get LaVar Arrington and Michael Strahan healthy next season to relieve some of the burden. If the Briggs rumors carry any weight, it will also be nice to have Pierce on a recruiting mission. His recruitment abilities are well documented by the Arrington signing. With Carlos Emmons most likely to be released and an aging Brandon Short headed for free agency, linebacker could be a pressing need this offseason.
Manning MVP But Ground Game Carries Colts to Championship
Super Bowl XLI will be remembered for Peyton Manning winning his first championship and Tony Dungy becoming the first African-American coach to hold the Lombardi trophy. Neither of that would have been possible without the superlative efforts of running backs Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes. While not as highly touted a duo as their Bears' counter-parts, Addai and Rhodes carved up the Chicago defense for nearly 200 rushing yards. Both contributed in a variety of ways with Rhodes contributing over 100 yards on the ground and Addai setting a Super Bowl record with 10 catches out of the backfield. Either would have been strong candidates for MVP, but it's hard to knock the voters for selecting Manning. After an early interception, Manning rebounded to go 25 of 38 for 247 yards with a touchdown and that lone pick. As long as he didn't hurt their chances to win, it was pretty obvious that number 18 would walk away with the top individual honor.
It's hard to wrap-up the Super Bowl with any thoughts that haven't been played over and over on ESPN, but a few things really stood out in this game. First, it's unbelieveable how long the Bears stayed in this game. Despite moving with relative ease down the field, the Colts did not score with the same efficiency they're accustomed to. Sure, some credit belongs to the Bears, but it seemed Tony Dungy didn't want to embarass his friend. Even clinging to only a 5 point lead early in to the fourth quarter, the Colts played closer to the vest than I've ever seen from them. They're usually full throttle for 60 minutes and would let Peyton fling it with multiple touchdown leads. I'm sure the conditions factored in, but Dungy's decision not to kick a field goal late raises suspicion.
The Tampa 2 defense that the Bears often run allows for underneath stuff that Manning and Addai took advantage of. It's typically provides a bend, but don't break defense which it did for most of the night. However, the coverage breakdown that lead to Reggie Wayne's early touchdown proved the Colts should have taken more shots. Chicago safeties Chris Harris and Danieal Manning, although good players, will get caught out of position. Even through the rain and the effective running tandem made it smart to keep it on the ground, it seemed the Colts never really stepped on the gas pedal. Maybe they never intended to, but this was certainly not a typical Indy win. That being said, since they didn't do it in their traditional ways, maybe this victory is even more impressive. They came in and roughed up a more physical team. Even though the Bears raced out to the lead, the Colts were the more dominant team throughout.
Finally, the Chicago Bears must be concerned with Rex Grossman's psyche after his fourth quarter collapse. Unfortunately for Rex, most people won't remember that he started off the game relatively effective. He didn't take unnecessary risks and even made a terrific throw on his touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad. As the game progressed, Grossman started falling down a slippery slope. His footwork fell apart, leading to a pair of Colts sacks, and he got sloppy with the football under center. The two fourth quarter interceptions were poorly thrown balls, although the second seemed to be a result of a wet football. Bears managment has to determine whether he's their franchise quarterback or whether it's a need they might address in the draft. In fairness, this was his first full season as a starter and he guided this team to the ultimate game. He's a former first round pick and has the support of Lovie Smith. It doesn't seem that one quarter of poor play in the Super Bowl will weigh that heavily on the minds of Bears executives, but it's something to pay attention to in the offseason.
It's hard to wrap-up the Super Bowl with any thoughts that haven't been played over and over on ESPN, but a few things really stood out in this game. First, it's unbelieveable how long the Bears stayed in this game. Despite moving with relative ease down the field, the Colts did not score with the same efficiency they're accustomed to. Sure, some credit belongs to the Bears, but it seemed Tony Dungy didn't want to embarass his friend. Even clinging to only a 5 point lead early in to the fourth quarter, the Colts played closer to the vest than I've ever seen from them. They're usually full throttle for 60 minutes and would let Peyton fling it with multiple touchdown leads. I'm sure the conditions factored in, but Dungy's decision not to kick a field goal late raises suspicion.
The Tampa 2 defense that the Bears often run allows for underneath stuff that Manning and Addai took advantage of. It's typically provides a bend, but don't break defense which it did for most of the night. However, the coverage breakdown that lead to Reggie Wayne's early touchdown proved the Colts should have taken more shots. Chicago safeties Chris Harris and Danieal Manning, although good players, will get caught out of position. Even through the rain and the effective running tandem made it smart to keep it on the ground, it seemed the Colts never really stepped on the gas pedal. Maybe they never intended to, but this was certainly not a typical Indy win. That being said, since they didn't do it in their traditional ways, maybe this victory is even more impressive. They came in and roughed up a more physical team. Even though the Bears raced out to the lead, the Colts were the more dominant team throughout.
Finally, the Chicago Bears must be concerned with Rex Grossman's psyche after his fourth quarter collapse. Unfortunately for Rex, most people won't remember that he started off the game relatively effective. He didn't take unnecessary risks and even made a terrific throw on his touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad. As the game progressed, Grossman started falling down a slippery slope. His footwork fell apart, leading to a pair of Colts sacks, and he got sloppy with the football under center. The two fourth quarter interceptions were poorly thrown balls, although the second seemed to be a result of a wet football. Bears managment has to determine whether he's their franchise quarterback or whether it's a need they might address in the draft. In fairness, this was his first full season as a starter and he guided this team to the ultimate game. He's a former first round pick and has the support of Lovie Smith. It doesn't seem that one quarter of poor play in the Super Bowl will weigh that heavily on the minds of Bears executives, but it's something to pay attention to in the offseason.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Super Bowl XLI Preview
Football fans have been inundated with Super Bowl coverage for two weeks and are more than ready for XLI to kickoff. All of the "experts" have thrown their hats in the ring and overwhelmingly feel Indianapolis will leave Miami with the Lombardi Trophy. Two thirds of ESPN.com experts support the Colts, with MVP honors going to Peyton Manning. They've been installed as 7 point favorites and many fans are rooting for Manning to silence his critics. The amount of love being thrown the Colts way is even a bit unsettling. However, with the improvements made this postseason on defense, the Colts should win this game.
The Bears Will Win If... they can control the clock. This matchup feels eerily reminiscent to Super Bowl XXV between the Giants and Bills. The Bills came in with a high powered offense against a stout Giants defense. Both the Bears and '90 Giants relied on tremendous linebacker play, a strong ground game fueled by a tandem of backs, and opportune plays in the passing game. If the Bears can implement the clock control offense the Giants employed in XXV to keep the high powered Colts offense on the sidelines, they have a terrific opportunity to win this game. Lovie Smith adopted the Tampa 2 from his days under Tony Dungy, so it's not going to catch them by surprise. The Colts operate under the same system, so their offense is used to practicing against it. However, Chicago's personnel makes it a lot more effective. A big key for the Colts this postseason has been TE Dallas Clark. With LB Brian Urlacher roaming the middle in the Tampa 2 scheme, the Bears have allowed only one TE (Pats Ben Watson) more than 40 receiving yards all season. Shutting down Clark (as well as backup TE's Bryan Fletcher and Ben Utecht) will be a big key in the game. They also need to get strong play from their inexperienced safeties. Chris Harris and Danieal Manning must not get caught up in all of Peyton's gesturing and false audible calls.
Offensively they need to run the football. First and foremost, it will help control the clock. Next, and almost equally as important, the Bears need to stay out of clear passing situations. The Colts are at their best when they can attack the QB and Rex Grossman is at his worst with pressure in his face. Indianapolis is undersized on defense, but extremely quick. They have had tackling issues all season, so Chicago should spread them out and force them to make open field tackles. The Colts secondary is a bit banged up with starters Nick Harper and Bob Sanders on the injury report this week. Grossman's greatest strength is throwing the deep ball and the Bears can't be afraid to let him wing a few downfield. A deep strike early could get Grossman's confidence up and really change the tide of the game.
An X-factor in this game could be return specialist Devin Hester, in both a good or bad way. Against the Seahawks in their first playoff game, Hester struggled with ball control. However, he set a new record for return touchdowns in a season during the regular season. He's an explosive playmaker who could swing field position in the Bears favor. Could have a similar impact on this game as Super Bowl XXXI MVP Desmond Howard.
MVP will be...Thomas Jones. They need to run the ball well and Jones gives them a better chance to win. Cedric Benson has stolen some carries, but Jones is a more polished back.
Sleeper MVP...Ricky Manning Jr. Anyone remember his 3 interceptions of Donovan McNabb to put the Panthers in the Super Bowl? A real ball hawk who could bait Manning in to a key turnover.
The Colts Will Win If... they take care of the football. All season long the Bears exceled by creating turnovers. With a rookie as their featured back, Joseph Addai needs to focus on keeping the ball protected. Although Manning makes great decisions and is extremely accurate, he will sometimes try to make a mistake trying to fit a ball in a tight space. He's turned the ball over several times this postseason after throwing only 9 interceptions in the regular season. The focus all week has been on the Colts vaunted stretch play. They must run it effectively to set up the play action. If Manning can trick the Bears in to reading the run, his TE's will be able to get open in the middle of the field. Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison has struggled this postseason, so the Colts should get #88 involved early and often. He's smart enough to take advantage of the inexperienced safeties of the Bears and could find holes in the defense.
Much has been made of their defensive struggles during the regular season, but the return of safety Bob Sanders has re-energized this unit. The Colts bring him in to the box to stuff the run and he also brings tremendous ball skills in pass defense. With Nick Harper a game time decision, expect Marlin Jackson to get more playing time. His interception of Tom Brady sent the Colts to XLI. A big key to this game will be the tackling of the Colts linebackers. Cato June, a pro bowler a season ago, struggled at times this season wrapping up ball carriers. This Colts team can not allow the Bears to continue drives with poor tackling. As mentioned earlier, the undersized defense is at its best when it can rush the passer. They have a tremendous set of rush ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. In sure passing downs, the front four is capable of bringing a lot of heat. Mid-season acquisition DT Anthony McFarland seems to finally be settled in the middle and has greatly boosted their ability to stop the run.
With all the attention being heaped on Bears KR Devin Hester, people overlook Terrence Wilkins. He's more than capable of a few big returns. The bigger story is Adam Vinatieri. Given a chance late in the game, the Colts know he will come up clutch. If the Colts play like they can, a field goal probably won't decide this game. His bigger impact could be how he kicks to Devin Hester. It'll be interesting to see if they give Hester a chance to burn them.
An X-Factor for the Colts will be Dallas Clark. If he can start getting behind Urlacher in the middle, the outsides will open up for Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. He leads the team in receptions this postseason, but his bigger impact on this game will be opening things up for the playmakers on the outside.
MVP will be... Peyton Manning. I hate going with the masses on this, but if he gives voters even the slightest reason to vote for him they will. Other players could have a bigger impact, potentially one of his receivers, but everyone is anxious to see Manning as the MVP.
MVP Sleeper... Cato June. A bulk of the responsibility for stopping the run will be on June's shoulders. He's also had an impact this season creating turnovers, including a multiple interception performance against Tom Brady.
Preview: With Steve Young aboard the ESPN Sunday Countdown Crew, the pundits in Bristol have beaten the "Peyton Manning getting the monkey off his back" angle to death for this game. Steve Young spent years getting beaten by the Cowboys, but once he got by them, he torched the Chargers for 6 touchdowns in the Super Bowl. Now that Manning has gotten by Belichick and Brady, they all feel it's his time. It's hard to argue. The Bears defense has been phenomenal all season, but they're not as dominant as many would like you to believe. The losses of Safety Mike Brown and DT Tommie Harris have made this defense susceptible to giving up big chunks of yardage. They rely on turnovers, so if the Colts can protect the footballl, they'll be able to move down the field. If their defense can contain the tough Bears ground game and force Grossman in to obvious passing situations, rush ends Freeney and Mathis could have a field day. A late developing situation is the weather. It could be wet and messy on the field, which would definitely favor the Bears. However, and this may be my heart talking more than my head, I fully expect the Colts to walk away victorious.
Super Bowl XLI: Colts 31- Bears 21
The Bears Will Win If... they can control the clock. This matchup feels eerily reminiscent to Super Bowl XXV between the Giants and Bills. The Bills came in with a high powered offense against a stout Giants defense. Both the Bears and '90 Giants relied on tremendous linebacker play, a strong ground game fueled by a tandem of backs, and opportune plays in the passing game. If the Bears can implement the clock control offense the Giants employed in XXV to keep the high powered Colts offense on the sidelines, they have a terrific opportunity to win this game. Lovie Smith adopted the Tampa 2 from his days under Tony Dungy, so it's not going to catch them by surprise. The Colts operate under the same system, so their offense is used to practicing against it. However, Chicago's personnel makes it a lot more effective. A big key for the Colts this postseason has been TE Dallas Clark. With LB Brian Urlacher roaming the middle in the Tampa 2 scheme, the Bears have allowed only one TE (Pats Ben Watson) more than 40 receiving yards all season. Shutting down Clark (as well as backup TE's Bryan Fletcher and Ben Utecht) will be a big key in the game. They also need to get strong play from their inexperienced safeties. Chris Harris and Danieal Manning must not get caught up in all of Peyton's gesturing and false audible calls.
Offensively they need to run the football. First and foremost, it will help control the clock. Next, and almost equally as important, the Bears need to stay out of clear passing situations. The Colts are at their best when they can attack the QB and Rex Grossman is at his worst with pressure in his face. Indianapolis is undersized on defense, but extremely quick. They have had tackling issues all season, so Chicago should spread them out and force them to make open field tackles. The Colts secondary is a bit banged up with starters Nick Harper and Bob Sanders on the injury report this week. Grossman's greatest strength is throwing the deep ball and the Bears can't be afraid to let him wing a few downfield. A deep strike early could get Grossman's confidence up and really change the tide of the game.
An X-factor in this game could be return specialist Devin Hester, in both a good or bad way. Against the Seahawks in their first playoff game, Hester struggled with ball control. However, he set a new record for return touchdowns in a season during the regular season. He's an explosive playmaker who could swing field position in the Bears favor. Could have a similar impact on this game as Super Bowl XXXI MVP Desmond Howard.
MVP will be...Thomas Jones. They need to run the ball well and Jones gives them a better chance to win. Cedric Benson has stolen some carries, but Jones is a more polished back.
Sleeper MVP...Ricky Manning Jr. Anyone remember his 3 interceptions of Donovan McNabb to put the Panthers in the Super Bowl? A real ball hawk who could bait Manning in to a key turnover.
The Colts Will Win If... they take care of the football. All season long the Bears exceled by creating turnovers. With a rookie as their featured back, Joseph Addai needs to focus on keeping the ball protected. Although Manning makes great decisions and is extremely accurate, he will sometimes try to make a mistake trying to fit a ball in a tight space. He's turned the ball over several times this postseason after throwing only 9 interceptions in the regular season. The focus all week has been on the Colts vaunted stretch play. They must run it effectively to set up the play action. If Manning can trick the Bears in to reading the run, his TE's will be able to get open in the middle of the field. Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison has struggled this postseason, so the Colts should get #88 involved early and often. He's smart enough to take advantage of the inexperienced safeties of the Bears and could find holes in the defense.
Much has been made of their defensive struggles during the regular season, but the return of safety Bob Sanders has re-energized this unit. The Colts bring him in to the box to stuff the run and he also brings tremendous ball skills in pass defense. With Nick Harper a game time decision, expect Marlin Jackson to get more playing time. His interception of Tom Brady sent the Colts to XLI. A big key to this game will be the tackling of the Colts linebackers. Cato June, a pro bowler a season ago, struggled at times this season wrapping up ball carriers. This Colts team can not allow the Bears to continue drives with poor tackling. As mentioned earlier, the undersized defense is at its best when it can rush the passer. They have a tremendous set of rush ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. In sure passing downs, the front four is capable of bringing a lot of heat. Mid-season acquisition DT Anthony McFarland seems to finally be settled in the middle and has greatly boosted their ability to stop the run.
With all the attention being heaped on Bears KR Devin Hester, people overlook Terrence Wilkins. He's more than capable of a few big returns. The bigger story is Adam Vinatieri. Given a chance late in the game, the Colts know he will come up clutch. If the Colts play like they can, a field goal probably won't decide this game. His bigger impact could be how he kicks to Devin Hester. It'll be interesting to see if they give Hester a chance to burn them.
An X-Factor for the Colts will be Dallas Clark. If he can start getting behind Urlacher in the middle, the outsides will open up for Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. He leads the team in receptions this postseason, but his bigger impact on this game will be opening things up for the playmakers on the outside.
MVP will be... Peyton Manning. I hate going with the masses on this, but if he gives voters even the slightest reason to vote for him they will. Other players could have a bigger impact, potentially one of his receivers, but everyone is anxious to see Manning as the MVP.
MVP Sleeper... Cato June. A bulk of the responsibility for stopping the run will be on June's shoulders. He's also had an impact this season creating turnovers, including a multiple interception performance against Tom Brady.
Preview: With Steve Young aboard the ESPN Sunday Countdown Crew, the pundits in Bristol have beaten the "Peyton Manning getting the monkey off his back" angle to death for this game. Steve Young spent years getting beaten by the Cowboys, but once he got by them, he torched the Chargers for 6 touchdowns in the Super Bowl. Now that Manning has gotten by Belichick and Brady, they all feel it's his time. It's hard to argue. The Bears defense has been phenomenal all season, but they're not as dominant as many would like you to believe. The losses of Safety Mike Brown and DT Tommie Harris have made this defense susceptible to giving up big chunks of yardage. They rely on turnovers, so if the Colts can protect the footballl, they'll be able to move down the field. If their defense can contain the tough Bears ground game and force Grossman in to obvious passing situations, rush ends Freeney and Mathis could have a field day. A late developing situation is the weather. It could be wet and messy on the field, which would definitely favor the Bears. However, and this may be my heart talking more than my head, I fully expect the Colts to walk away victorious.
Super Bowl XLI: Colts 31- Bears 21
Thursday, February 01, 2007
His Airness' Heirs Struggle in Nationally Televised Game
Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan are used to being the center of attention at basketball games. At opposing gyms they're heckled ruthlessly. Last night, they took their show to ESPN 2. Unfortunately for them, North Central guard Eric Gordon looked like the heir to the airness' throne. Gordon dazzled the crowd with 43 points and showed why he is one of the nation's top recruits. He looked like a man among boys, moving at entirely different speeds and already sculpted like a college player. His efforts sparked a dominant effort for North Central as they handed Loyola Academy their first loss of the season. The Indiana-bound senior even had a highlight reel reverse slam that invoked images of the famous 23 in the crowd. North Central fans appropriately dub him "Air Gordon", and he no doubt impressed the man rooting against him.
While ESPN turned its attention to the royal family of basketball, Gordon's story is the most compelling. Aside from being a spectacular recruit, his college indecision will be a major storyline in the Big 10 next year. His junior year, the shooting guard orally committed to Bruce Weber and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Weber stopped recruiting that position figuring he already had the best of the bunch. Unfortunately for him, the Indiana native wanted to head to Bloomington and finally felt comfortable once Kelvin Sampson took over for the maligned Mike Davis. Gordon switched allegiances and signed his future over to the Hoosiers. Illini loyalists have already sent threats to Gordon and he will undoubtedly be a marked man when the Hoosiers travel to Champagne to take on the Illinois.
For the Jordan brothers, it was a rather forgettable evening. The boys combined for 8 points and several airballs. Neither opt to wear 23, choosing 32 (Jeff) and 11 (Marcus) instead. They did combine on a nice alley-oop, the younger Marcus to big brother Jeff, early in the first quarter but provided little else to get excited about. Jeffrey, a senior, was recently selected for the Jordan All-Star classic but is undecided on his college choice. Marcus, a sophomore, promises to be a more sought after recruit as he matures. Both seem to be better distributors than scorers and certainly play smart basketball. They also shoot lefty, a strange diversion from their right handed father. Luckily for them, even their father didn't develop until he was a senior in high school. Unfortunately, they faced an opponent who will no doubt make an impact on the next level.
While ESPN turned its attention to the royal family of basketball, Gordon's story is the most compelling. Aside from being a spectacular recruit, his college indecision will be a major storyline in the Big 10 next year. His junior year, the shooting guard orally committed to Bruce Weber and the Illinois Fighting Illini. Weber stopped recruiting that position figuring he already had the best of the bunch. Unfortunately for him, the Indiana native wanted to head to Bloomington and finally felt comfortable once Kelvin Sampson took over for the maligned Mike Davis. Gordon switched allegiances and signed his future over to the Hoosiers. Illini loyalists have already sent threats to Gordon and he will undoubtedly be a marked man when the Hoosiers travel to Champagne to take on the Illinois.
For the Jordan brothers, it was a rather forgettable evening. The boys combined for 8 points and several airballs. Neither opt to wear 23, choosing 32 (Jeff) and 11 (Marcus) instead. They did combine on a nice alley-oop, the younger Marcus to big brother Jeff, early in the first quarter but provided little else to get excited about. Jeffrey, a senior, was recently selected for the Jordan All-Star classic but is undecided on his college choice. Marcus, a sophomore, promises to be a more sought after recruit as he matures. Both seem to be better distributors than scorers and certainly play smart basketball. They also shoot lefty, a strange diversion from their right handed father. Luckily for them, even their father didn't develop until he was a senior in high school. Unfortunately, they faced an opponent who will no doubt make an impact on the next level.
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