0 30 Dec 10 Los Angeles Clippers Playoff Preview: What Might Have Been 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 02:22

With the regular season winding down and the playoffs around the corner, it's time to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Clippers as they prepare for what should be a long playoff run. The Clippers started this season with high expectations and did nothing to disappoint. Like his team, Blake Griffin did nothing to disappoint. The mocking taunts when the Clippers took him first in the draft were silenced by the favorite to win the ROY award in his first pro game. Nothing like a 28/15 game to silence your critics. Sure, he hit a rookie slump during the middle of the season and he failed to get calls early on, but look at him now. The power forward finished the year on a tear averaging 23 and 12 over his last 10 games, the Clips winning all but one.Griffin will finish the Washington Redskins jersey
season healthy and primed to showcase his talent on a national level again, this time in the NBA playoffs. Where are the taunts of a "Clipper Curse" now? In addition to how seamlessly Griffin fit in with the team from Los Angeles, the Clippers have to point to the evolution of Baron Davis as a key to this season.The player who willed his eighth-seeded Warriors to a victory over the then No. 1-seeded Mavericks was back.Davis showed a keen ability to shoot when needed and to dish as needed. He played the point in a way L.A. hasn't seen since the days of Magic Johnson. Eric Gordon had some big scoring games and looked great holding up that Slam Dunk trophy while wearing a Clipper jersey. The revitalization of this once perennial doormat was in full bloom at that moment. We all know now, of course, that the real transformation occurred about a month earlier. The Clippers were winning, Staples was rocking and the team was playing well. Los Angeles, however, wasn't convinced. The city has been fooled by the Clippers before. They needed to see something substantial and the Clippers delivered. Jan. 15 was the day all Clipper fans can point to as the official coming out party of the team that now rules L.A.It was on that day that the Clippers met the Lakers in what was a Laker home game. With the Clippers enjoying success to start the year the crowd had a substantial Clipper-feel to it. Something rarely seen at Laker home games. In years past a Clipper home game against the purple-and-gold felt like an away game for the Clips. The chants were pro Lakers, the cheering came for the visiting team and the stands were peppered with yellow jerseys. This time, Clipper fans began to repay the favor. It wasn't a rush of Clipper support, but it was enough to catch the attention of both teams. "Yeah, we all noticed it today. Clipper Nation was here tonight and I think it helped them, energized them" was how Kobe Bryant put it just after the game. The energy in the stadium was palpable from the the opening tip. This had the feel of a playoff game, in fact, it was more.This had the feel of a battle, a battle for respect, a battle for the hearts and minds of Los Angeles. This was more than a game and everyone watching understood that. Every rebound was fought for, every loose ball was chased; this was a game neither team wanted to lose.It was the Lakers, however, who seemed to have the game in hand. In a game that saw 23 lead changes it was Kobe Bryant who took over in the fourth.That ridiculous shot by Bryant with 4.3 seconds left with Marcus Camby all over him was amazing and left the Clippers with a three-point deficit.Bryant, aware of the significance of Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
the shot, jumped up, pulled his jersey to expose his heart; that was the dagger. Then, things changed in Los Angeles. It's funny how you can look back and pinpoint the exact moment. With 4.3 seconds left on the clock, this was a Laker town, all it took for the shift to occur was 4.3 measly seconds. Incredible. You know how it went, but I love reliving it. The ball came in to Davis. He didn't hesitate, driving past Derek Fisher as if his shoes were glued to the floor.The Lakers collapsed, they weren't going to let an easy layup and a foul tie this game. In hindsight, they should have given Davis the layup."I concur, it was a bit of a mental mistake by our squad," Phil Jackson said later. Instead, the teams competitive nature took over and with four Lakers converging on him, Davis made that amazing one-bounce pass to Rasual Butler. How did that pass get there? How did he see Butler? Who knows, but the rest is L.A. history. Butler calmly picks up the ball, checks his feet to make sure he is behind the 3-point line and sets up to make his smooth-as-silk shot.The Clippers' modern-day Jamaal Wilkes doesn't hesitate even as Lamar Odom races towards him. The shot is released, Odom charges, barrels into Butler, the crowd goes absolutely quiet. So quiet you could hear the swish as the basket drops in, followed by the blow of the referees whistle, then the final buzzer. Everyone was stunned. With apologies to Jack Buck and his amazing call of Kirk Gibson's home run against Dennis Eckersley, everyone, from the players, to the fans felt the same way, "I can't believe what I just saw."The NBA has seen possible four-point plays before, but never in this type of game, never to win a game on a last second shot, never to capture a city.That shot was beyond huge. All that was left was to ice Butler which the Lakers did with the last time-out. He hits the free throw, the Clippers somehow pull off a victory, He misses, its on to overtime.Remember the end of Rocky I where Apollo Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Creed is clutching Rocky as the final bell is rung? "Ain't gonna be no rematch." Rocky's reply, "I don't want one."Sure, both teams would have hit the floor for the extra time, but neither wanted to. They had given there all in this amazing battle. No player in the history of the game has ever come to the line with more on the line than Butler. The game, the city, respect for his team.It all came down to one shot. He walked there alone. Just before he shot, Davis walked up to him and whispered something in his ear. The pair laughed, it seemed to settle everyone, including Butler.What did Davis say? "I ain't telling" he bristled as he walked away. "That will stay a Clipper secret forever". Whatever it was, it had its desired effect. With the Lakers and all of L.A. watching, Butler hit the free throw. The Clippers won. The party lasted much longer than normal for an NBA game. All the more shocking when this was, technically, a road game for the Clippers. That 104-103 victory was the catalyst, the turning point. The Clippers used to it push to an NBA-best 15-game winning streak. The Lakers, well, could never regroup. With word today that Kobe Bryant will officially opt out of his Laker deal at season's end, it seems to mark the end of an era for the once-proud franchise.There is little doubt then that Phil Jackson will not return and although the likelihood of convincing Mike Krzyzewski to leave Duke to lead this team next season is slim, all the more so now that the Lakers will be Kobe-less, they will no doubt find someone to lead them. The new coach, however, will not have a team that Laker fans are used to. The Artest mid-season trade for Caron Butler was more of a flop than the Artest experiment was, with Butler going down in his second Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
game with a career ending knee injury. The Lakers find themselves with an injury prone center, a soft power forward and little else as they limp to the end of season. Its sad really. Clipper fans refuse to gloat, however. The Lakers had a good run, but this is a Clipper town now. A great run in the playoffs, which is well within reach, will make Clipper Nation more than a catch-phrase, it will make it a USA reality!A Clipper fan can dream, can't he?

0 29 Dec 10 NBA Playoffs: Don't Expect Suns To Pity Blazers' Injury Woes 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 05:27

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesHurts, don't it?That's what Steve Nash and others associated with the Suns over the last five years are saying to themselves after Portland's Brandon Roy became another victim to the injury bug.Roy has decided to undergo surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus, and Blazers fans, management, and observers are already putting asterisks and "It's too bad..." next to their takes on the Suns/Blazers first-round matchup.Just don't expect the same pity from Phoenix.Look, Phoenix has suffered their own playoff misfortune over the Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
last few years. Ridiculous suspensions aside, their recent postseason history has been equally marred.First and most obvious, the Suns are without their one legit center in Robin Lopez. Jarron Collins is a banging bit player-turned-starter and Channing Frye is a shooting softy who won't rebound or use his length consistently on defense.Delving into postseasons past, you'll find Phoenix headlining the league's IL.2005 Joe Johnson fractures an eye socket after Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse performs the always ill-advised chase-down block attempt, which sent Johnson to the floor and the emergency room.Behind Johnson on the depth chart? An overachieving Jimmy Jackson and undeveloped Leandro Barbosa (7.1 minutes-per-game).Johnson, the do-everything facet of the Suns high-octane offense, was unavailable until the middle of the following round. By that time, the Spurs had already seized momentum of the series.2006, Part One After their '05 exit to the Spurs, the Suns were picked by many to hold their first Larry O'Brien trophy after getting their necessary and cliche "playoff experience."Instead, word trickled out of training camp that Amare Stoudemire's knee was troubling him, and that he would undergo a precautionary MRI. That in turn revealed theReebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
need for the dreaded micro-fracture surgery, 86-ing Amare's season.It's funny how nobody pitied the Suns like they're pitying the Blazers despite both teams having injury-riddled, 50-win seasons.2006, Part Two Despite Amare's absence, the Suns overachieved by coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Lakers, ousting the Clippers in seven games, and facing a Mavericks team that had just overcome the Spurs in seven games of their own.Up to that point, the Suns' most consistent playoff performer had been Raja Bell, who took it upon himself to add a shooter's killer instinct to his defensive tenacity.Of course, that must have just drawn the basketball gods' attention. Bell suffered a partially torn calf muscle early in the series and attempted in vain to play through it the rest of the way.2007If you're looking for suspension talk, sorry to disappoint. I've already hashed that out before , and besides, we're talking about injuries here.Instead of Game Four of the Suns/Spurs semifinal series, I'm shifting focus to the closing minutes of Game One. In a collision intentional only on the part of the basketball gods (whose sole purpose is to ensure Phoenix never wins a championship), Steve Nash had his nose ripped open.After pudding wads of bandages that came to resemble semi-solid bubble gum, Nash gamely kept playing, making clutch shot after clutch shot.But the blood kept coming, and as a result, Nash had to sit the final few possessions. This was when the Nash-or-nothing effect was still present, so Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
without Nash, the Spurs took Game One.With Nash on the floor playing the way he'd been playing up to that point? Intriguing, isn't it?The point is, the Suns have gone through (and are still going through) what Portland is currently undertaking: playing with key players injured. Phoenix understands this better than anyone except the '89 Lakers.Just don't expect Phoenix or their fans to pity them for it.

0 28 Dec 10 Can Steve Nash Reach Magical Heights? Greatest PGs Ever 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 00:43

Elsa/Getty ImagesThe 2010 playoffs currently showcase awesome point guards like Deron Williams and Tony Parker, not to mention Steve Nash and Jameer Nelson. But do they stack up on the all-timegreatestpoint guard list?I created a formula that indicates how productive a player was per minute in their greatest season, and then combined it with a title wins/finals appearances list, then divided them. This list is a reflection of that final result.31 Mark Jackson 30 John Lucas 29 Brandon Roy 28 Derek Harper 27 Damon Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
Stoudamire 26 Reggie Theus 25 Rod Strickland 24 Terrell Brandon 23 Norm Nixon 22 Baron Davis 21 Walt Frazier20 Chauncey BillupsHits the big shots and won a ring in 2004 against Lakers.19 Gail GoodrichLed LA to 1972 title and could score like crazy.18 Mark PriceSweet passer and shooter, especially from the charity stripe.17 Maurice CheeksWon it all in 1983 with Dr. J to pass to; a steals wizard.16 Michael AdamsPlayed for Denver so wan't exposed but he was amazing. Check his stats. At only 5'9", to do what he did was great.15 Jason KiddStill seeking a title but can pass like no other player in history.14 Tim HardawayDid the UTEP Two-Step all over the NBA, even as a rookie. At 5'11" he was second place for NBA Rookie of the Year in 1989 to 7'1" David Robinson.13 Tony ParkerBeing an awesome scorer and teammate has helped him win three titles with the Spurs, and maybe four after this year.12 Calvin MurphyAt 5'9" he was great atcontrollingthe pace of the game. He scored 17,949 points in the NBA and dished out 4,402 career assists and made it, but lost in the 1981 finals.11 Lenny WilkensThe true and pure point guard scored 17,772 career points, passed off 7,211 assists, and grabbed 5,030 rebounds in 1,072 career games. He's not a bad coach either.10 Kevin JohnsonPut up great numbers in his career, amazing really, and he went to the finals in 1993, and lost to...Jordan.09 Chris PaulRushed up this list because of astronomical per-minute stats, but he has never won anything. Has the potential to be top three all time.08 Gary PaytonPlayed glove-like defense throughout his career and could score too. Had winning drive but met Michael Jordan in the 1996 Finals, and of course lost. Then in 2004 he had a chance to win Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
one with Shaq, Karl Malone, and Kobe Bryant, but they somehow lost. Finally, in 2006 his Heat beat the Mavs and he earned his ring, and then soon after retired. Nice career GP.07 Steve NashIs two years older than me and damn he's in awesome shape to still be in the mix of a title possibility in round two vs. the Spurs. This dude is sick, but he's never won a title, so I guess his two MVP awards say a lot.06 Bob CousyThe Houdini of the Hardwood led the Celtics to multiple titles and designed for future generations how to play point guard. He'd be a sweet passer now.05 Nate "Tiny" ArchibaldAnother UTEP product who, despite his size (6'0", 150 pounds), was an amazing player and who won championships with Boston in the '80s. In 1972-73 Archibald did what no one ever had or ever will do: "Tiny" led the league in scoring and assists in the same season. Check this out: 80 games played and 46.0 minutes per game! Shot .488 from the field and .847 from the line and averaged 11.4 assists and 34.0 points. What?04 John StocktonMan, I feel so bad for this guy; having to go up against Jordan two years in a row and losing. If it weren't for that, he'd be the perfect point guard.03 Isiah ThomasAt 6'1" Zeke was able to do anything. I mean anything and he did. If he were 6'6" he'd probably be the greatest ever. He is one of a few guys that destroyed Jordan teams well before Jordan figured the Bad Boys out. He was the first player ever to have over 1,000 assists in an NBA season.02 Oscar RobertsonReebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
The "Big-O" was a walking triple double,averagingone for an entire season. This guy is what LeBron wishes he was. He won a title in 1971 along with Jabbar.01 Magic JohnsonWonfivetitles in nine tries. He went to the finals nine times! He was awesomein every single way. The most successful point guard of all-time.

0 27 Dec 10 2010 NBA Draft: Talking Hoops With Wizards Beat Writer Rashad Mobley 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 05:08

Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesOn late Thursday afternoon, I was lucky enough to sit down with Rashad Mobley, Washington Wizards beat writer for HoopsAddict.com. I recorded the interview, unfortunately, there was no way to post the audio on B/R. However, you can listen to everything over atTennessee Titans jersey
my site, www.aarontorres-sports.com.Rashad gave incredible insight into the playoffs, but started with the NBA Draft process discussing the following subjects:- How he found out that his beloved Wizards ended up with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. It's not how you think!- How much different Washington will look next year, regardless of who they take with the No. 1 pick- Will a potential backcourt of Gilbert Arenas and John Wall work?- What the Wizards need to do going forward to make themselves a playoff team againWe continued our conversation about the NBA Playoffs, as Rashad broke down each of the four remaining teams. Amongst his insights:- Why he thought since before the playoffs that the Celtics would give the Magic trouble - What the Celtics need to do to win the next two games and close out Orlando on their homecourt- If this is the best we'll ever see from Dwight Howard offensively- Can the Suns do anything to even make their series with the Washington Redskins jersey
Lakers interesting? - And much, much more...Again, if you're an NBA basketball fan, this is an absolute must-listen, as Rashad gives insight that can't be found anywhere else

0 26 Dec 10 Celtics-Lakers: Good for the Casual Fan, Terrible for the Rest of Us 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 23:37

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesAnother Lakers-Celtics NBA Final? Excuse me while I yawn my way to the remote.Spare me that Two storied franchises line, which I heard as a kid by Brent Musburger in 1987. Yes, I know they are. Ive seen it for years. Go ahead, show all the pictures/film of Jacksonville Jaguars jersey
Cousy, Russell, Chamberlain, Havlicek, West, Cowens, Kareem and Magic, Bird and McHale, Worthy, Parish, Shaq and Kobe and Pierce, Allen and Garnett. My response will be Really? After following this league my whole life, I had no freakin idea! After all, I got the same history lesson two years ago.Admittedly, one fact must remain: They did win it. They did beat all the competition - this year and in the past - to achieve this. I can say how much they deserve it before the mid-1980s, when I began following the game, but to call it a good thing for the casual fan is an insult to armies of hardcore fans who has sat hungry at the expense of two franchises who have feasted.Want an interesting stat? When the Celtics ended their agonizingly long drought of 22 years without a ring, the average drought for the entire league was22 years*. There 30 teams in the league. Fourteen of them have never held the Larry OBrien trophy. Of those 14, 11 are over 20-years-old.. Go ahead. Sell expansion of championship-level basketball. Yeah.Eleven cities arestill waiting, so why should your city sign up, especially if the league celebrates an NBA Finals tradition that doesn include you?(Another stat: In the past 25 years, over $4 billion has been spent on new arenas.)Lakers-Celtics, v. 12.0 now means that for the past 28 years, only seven teams will have won it all. After this years finals, that average drought number becomes almost 25 years. Logically, that would mean that fan-bases in a clear majority of the NBA have waited at least a generation for their first, maybe second title. All while the Lakers and Celtics go deeper into the teens.If you look up my profile, Im a Cavs' fan. And yes, I can hear it now: This is just sour grapes about your LeBron's choke job Kansas City Chiefs jersey
against the Celtics. I write this for the fans who had the nerve over the years to support any of the other 28 teams with the exception of Jordan Bulls, who took up the dynastic slack while these two storied franchises took the decade off championship-wise. The Cavs, anointed by Magic Johnson as the Team of the 90 ran into them. My beef is more with them and Jordan Shot than The Lakers-Celtics rivalry. Besides, our drought still ranks tied for only fourth longest.Were tied with the Clippers, whose four decades of futility is hardly due to the Lakers or Celtics. However, we are surpassed by the 42 years the Suns fans have waited. That franchise hasn exactly shamed the basketball world with Alvan Adams, Larry Nance, Charles Barkley, and now Amare Stoudamire. Still, 42 years. All that fan loyalty. No rings.The most tragic is the Kings franchise. Their last title was in 1951 when they were the Rochester Royals. Then they moved to Cincinnati, where they didn even play in an NBA Finals. Then to Kansas City. Bupkiss. Then for the past 25 years, it was Sacramento, where they ran into the wall of the Lakers, just like they did when they were in Cincinnati and the Lakers were in Minneapolis. Look up the story of Maurice Stokes and wonder how that wouldve fit into the annals of the NBA if he played for Red Auerbach.Seattle waited 29 years before the team bolted. Their Pacific Northwest neighbors, the Blazers, have waited 33 years since Rip City. The Jazz have existed 36 fruitless seasons. The Bucks last won 39 seasons ago. The Hawks, have gone over a half-century. The list goes on and on.Since Im not watching the series, can someone post an answer to a curiosity I have? Im wondering how heavily, ABC will use the series to Minnesota Vikings
promote their new cop drama Rookie Blue and their new criminal forensics show Body of Proof. Itd only be fitting since it already being watched by people who don mind the same old thing.* ABA titles were not included, but I only included post-merger seasons as franchises of the NBA as part of their drought.

0 25 Dec 10 Isiah Thomas: New York Knicks Bring Back Thomas 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 01:16

Isiah Thomas is coming back to the New York Knicks organization. Many fans of the team are likely to be unhappy about this move. Thomas will not be the team's head coach. At least not yet. The former Knicks coach is rejoining the organization as a consultant. He will assist senior management in various ways, Atlanta Falcons jersey
including recruiting players. This move seemed to be coming for a while. Thomas was part of the team that was put together to try and get LeBron James signed. He also helped the team with other free agents, including the signing of Amar'e Stoudemire. Thomas was the team president from December 2003 until April of 2008. During that time, the Knicks had the league's highest payroll but failed to make the playoffs. He served a dual role of head coach and president during his final two seasons. He was dismissed after compiling a record of 23-59 in the '07-'08 season.The former coach remained close with team owner James Dolan and Knicks current team president Donnie Walsh. Thomas will continue his job as head coach of Florida International University.The rumors floating around Baltimore Ravens jersey
are that Thomas could become the team's next general manager or possibly even coach the team once again. Knicks fans are surely not happy about that. Read more NY/NJ Sports News at Double G Sports.

0 24 Dec 10 Detroit Piston Austin Daye Set to Break Out, As Long As T-Mac Stays Away 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 00:41

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesSo far this exhibition season, Detroit Pistons fans have been treated to some rough basketball. Of course this is not the type of rough basketball they are accustomed to, with hard elbows, tough blocks and clutch rebounds.This type of basketball is rough on the eyes.It is not as though Detroit has not been competitive this preseason. They have, losing the last three games by an average of six points.What is tough for Pistons fans is how they have been playing, more importantly the style in which Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
they are competing.Their most recent loss against Charlotte was a reminder of how far they have strayed from prototypical "Pistons basketball". The most striking aspect was the fact that the coach on the other side of the court was none other than "play the right way" Larry Brown.The Pistons right now are not playing Larry Brown basketball.Brown became a Hall of Fame caliber coach by stressing ball control with minimal mental errors on offense, even fewer three pointers, and strong, hard-nosed defense.The Pistons are playing essentially the exact opposite way, launching three pointers at will and doing their best to outscore rather than out defend their opponents.This reminds me of something in my own life. The year after I graduated from college, I had an opportunity to coach girl's basketball in my home town. The high school coach had asked me to take over at the middle school since I had had some experience coaching at that level. When we first got together to discuss coaching philosophy, he told me he believed in two shots: the layup and the three.Needless to say, I turned down the job.For a Pistons fan, we know first hand that this style of basketball does not lead to long term success. However, when I watched this coach's teams that year, I realized that his roster was such that this would be the only way he could field a competitive team.John Kuester is in a similar situation. He is a disciple of Brown and he knows about playing the right way. But he has been saddled with a roster that will not allow this style of basketball, so his only hope to keep Detroit out of the lottery is to run and gun.And while the preseason has been ripe with terrible play and sloppy ball handling, the one player that has stood out is Austin Daye.The second year player out of Gonzaga looked primed to break out during the Summer League, showcasing a (slightly) bigger body, and a new trick: a post game.Personally, I thought Daye looked like a stud and I was curious to see what kind of impact he Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
would make for the big club during the season. It appeared that Pistons president Joe Dumars had the same thing in mind, basically running the offense directly through Daye on every possession.But a funny thing happened on the way to a breakout sophomore season: Dumars signed Tracy McGrady.While this signing was a head-scratcher for a number of reasons, the biggest seemed to me the fact that McGrady's minutes were almost sure to come directly at Daye's expense.So why do you force feed Daye during the summer if you are only going to take away his minutes for T-Mac?Let's compare the two. McGrady is an over-the-hill, ex-superstar that hasn't played defense in nearly a decade. Daye is just a shade over 22 and has a very bright future ahead of him.McGrady has had his career derailed by injuries, robbing him of anything resembling quickness. This has left him stuck on the perimeter exclusively.Daye, on the other hand, can shoot with anyone in his face due to his long arms, he has the quickness to get past defenders, and he now has a back-to-the-basket game.This should be a no-brainer.Just take a look at this preseason. In the first exhibition game against Miami, McGrady saw his first and likely last look during the preseason. He played eight minutes and looked terrible.By comparison, this was the only game this preseason in which Daye played fewer than 20 minutes. He still managed to put in 12 points in only 17 minutes.The real story has been what Daye has done during the rest of the exhibition season. He has easily been the MVP of the exhibition for Detroit, averaging 16 points and six boards per game.Coach Kuester has been trying his hardest to find a winning combination amongst his guard and forward heavy roster. As a result, Daye has lined up all over the court, even starting at power forward.The Pistons have a ton of holes and hopefully once the ownership situation gets resolved Dumars will be able to pull the trigger on some deals and Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
clear up this roster mess.But in the mean time, Kuester is going to have to find a way to get Daye meaningful minutes. If that means sitting McGrady every game and only putting him in when the game is a blowout (a la Darko Milicic), so be it.Detroit has to make the full transition from winning now to building for the future. There is no greater example of this than the situation with Daye and McGrady.Daye is the future, and McGrady is the past.The fans will be patient if they see reason for optimism on the roster. What they will not tolerate is a slapped together, rag tag bunch of past their prime vets trying to squeeze their way into the playoffs. We have been there before and nobody likes that.The key to the future is finding out which of the young players will be big time contributors to a future winner, and that starts with Austin Daye.

0 23 Dec 10Boston Celtics: Playing Without Rajon Rondo Is the Team's Krypto-Nate 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 07:17

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesThere has been a lot of hypothetical discussion around how the Boston Celtics would fare without their starting point guard and assist machine, Rajon Rondo. With Rondo hurting his hamstring we have all got to see just how the Celtics can survive without their best player.The Celtics lost both games without Rondo, the first against a Kevin Durant-less Oklahoma City, going down by five points, and the second against the Toronto Raptors, a team with no stars and nine losses to their name, by a mere point. While the Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
results may not look great, the Celtics showed they can still be a fearsome team without Rondo.While a loss against Oklahoma City without Kevin Durant doesn't look good on paper, Oklahoma City is a young team with a lot of future all-stars like Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green (who didn't player either) and they are going to pull off surprise wins all through this season as they develop into the dominant team they will certainly become.The Toronto Raptors are undeniably one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference at the moment, and will certainly bruise the Celtics' pride. This however may not be an awful thing, as hopefully Boston will learn not to expect a victory against teams that have less talent and so they won't go into the game with a forgone conclusion mentality.Both losses exposed the biggest flaw in the Celtics current game, the teams inability to play a solid four quarters of their high-intensity defence. Boston are among the best teams defensively in the NBA, though, possibly due to the ages of the starting line-up, the team are having a lot of trouble playing the full four quarters. If they can find away to translate their solid three quarters into a full four, they could be as dominant as the Lakers currently are.Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
biggest upside to the couple of losses without Rondo was the excellent games played by the back-up point guards. While Boston obviously heavily relies on Rondo to create plays—with 15 assists a game it would be impossible not to—the team has a quality back-up on the bench, to come out and score in a way that Rondo, at the moment, cannot.Delonte West took a leadership role in the game against the Thunder and Nate Robinson started against the Raptors. Both players have checkered histories in the NBA but seem to have fit into the Celtics team perfectly (despite reports of West punching the disappointing Von Wafer at a practice).Delonte West's game against the Thunder did not show statistically why he is such a talented player, only playing 17 minutes. He ended the game with one rebound and seven points to his name, though he took control when the Celtics fell behind in the third quarter. This may seem disappointing after his excellent debut, but apparently he is struggling with back issues. Despite his personal problems, West has always played at a high calibre and there is no reason to think this won't continue with the Celtics.Nate Robinson's start against the Raptors, playing 35 minutes, showed fans why he can be such an explosive player. While he doesn't create plays like Rondo, finishing with only two assists, he is fast and athletic, and outscored each of the big three with 22 points. While Robinson will not always fit into the starting line-up, he will hopefully be able Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
to provide a lot of energy and production off the bench in a short amount of time—scoring 16 of his 22 points in the first quarter.Rondo is not an injury prone player, and should be back any time, though it is good for Celtics fans to know that the team can survive without the star point guard. Despite two losses, the team was still able to be very competitive against teams who played very well.

0 The Window Is Closing on The Los Angeles Lakers 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 06:06

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty ImagesThe San Antonio Spurs have won four NBA Championships since 1999. They have put together one of the greatest decades by a team in history. In David Robinson and Tim Duncan, they have featured two of the greatest post players of all-time. They have given Spurs fans everything that they could possibly have hoped for, and then some.And it's all coming to an end.No one expects a franchise to maintain its dominance forever. Inevitably, the team will hit a dry spell in the draft (think the recent drafts of Arizona Cardinals jersey
the New England Patriots), or willsuccumb to Father Time's influence on an athlete's body. Every great team is eventually forced to go through The Season. It is the year in which the dominance is officially over, the year where no fan nor expert can reasonably predict another magical playoff run or one more special game. It is The Season in which we bid our final farewells to the dynasty, and welcome in a new era in a sport.While San Antonio has not yet reached that point, it is approaching quickly. For the 1960s Celtics, it was the 1970 season, in which a team that had won 11 out of 13 titles finished with a losing record. The 1970s Miami Dolphins, following a run of 67-16, fell to 6-8 in 1976. For the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, it was 1994, when the team missed the postseason for the first time since 1976. The great Bulls of the 1990s failed in 1999, albeit a bit predictably.While each of these great teams dominated to different degrees, the common theme among them is eventual failure. This failure is brought about in different manners; for the '60s Celtics, it was the retirements of Bill Russell and Bob Cousy; for the '70s Dolphins, it was the departures of running backs Mercury Morris, Jim Kiick, and Larry Csonka; for the '80s Lakers, it was the retirements of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson; for the '90s Bulls, it would be the exits of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson. While the common theme among each of these dynasties is the departure of great players, another major factor in the dissolution of Atlanta Falcons jersey
a dynasty is age. The 1980s Celtics declined with the aging of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. The New England Patriots of the previous decade suffered defensively as Teddy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, and Ted Johnson reached into their mid-30s. And the current San Antonio Spurs have begun the same process.Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili have begun to reach into sports prehistory. Before them, it was Brent Barry, Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, and Michael Finley. Age has begun to break up one of the NBA's great teams. While Spurs fans have undoubtedly begun to cope with this fact, Lakers fans have not yet reached that point. But make no mistake; that point is approaching. Fast.Ron Artest is 30 years old. Derek Fisher is 35. Pau Gasol will be 30 during the 2010-2011 season. Phil Jackson is 65, and entering his final season as an NBA coach.While these players may not seem to be aging that fast, with Gasol and Artest arguably at the tops of their respective games, age comes faster than anyone expects. Three seasons ago, when Tim Duncan was devastating teams throughout the NBA Playoffs on the way to a title at the age of 31, it looked like he could play forever. Three seasons later, we are beginning to witness the end of another great.The aging of Artest, Fisher, and Gasol, as well as the pending retirement of Jackson, has not overshadowed the biggest elephant in the room: Kobe Bryant's massive career workload.Kobe Bryant will retire as one of the five greatest players in NBA history. He is the last great player from the previous generation. He remains one of the mostirresistibleforces in all of sports. Despite this undeniable greatness (and it is undeniable, even for his biggest detractors), he will begin the down Baltimore Ravens jersey
slope sooner than later.While he may only be 31 years of age, Kobe Bryant is one of two NBA players who is presently travelling in uncharted territory. He and Kevin Garnett are the first two players in the modern NBA to enter the league directly out of high school. As a result, they are the first of a long-term experiment about how games played as a teenager effect play late in a career.Garnett, at 34 years of age, began his decline in 2009. After carrying the Minnesota Timberwolves from the age of 19, his body had broken down early. While Duncan remains a feared player at age 34, his contemporary rival has declined rapidly. The two players are actually from the same high school class (1994) and are the same age. The difference: Duncan spent four years in college, while Garnett went through the grind of the NBA season. Kobe Bryant faces this same situation today. He has played in upwards of 1,000 regular season games. His postseason total is the sixth highest in NBA history at 198 total games. He has played through numerous injuries. He has played in more playoff games than Michael Jordan, and more postseason games than the greatest of all-time. It is truly amazing that he has maintained his level of play through this grueling run.The implications of this massive workload are obvious: Bryant, despite being just 31 years old, will begin to falter before the Lakers are ready. As unbelievable as it may seem as we watch him today, there will come a time that Kobe Bryant can not carry the Lakers anymore. He will be a jump-shooting, 20-point per game scorer, much like Michael Jordan as a Wizard.When that time comes, and it is coming faster than we realize, the Laker's supporting cast will be called upon to win games. However, as it stands today, that supporting cast will be made up of players who are aged themselves. It is at this point that the Lakers will find themselves faced with The Season. L.A. has a window of opportunity as good as any team in NBA history; they bring back a two-time defending championship team with its entire core intact, with the greatest coach of all-time at the helm, and the eventual second-greatest player of all-time on the court. If they win one or two more titles with this group of Buffalo Bills jersey
players, it will surprise no one. What the Lakers need to realize, however, is that the window is closing fast. In 2013, Kobe Bryant will be turning 35, Pau Gasol will be turning 33, and Ron Artest will be 34. Phil Jackson will have been gone for two years. L.A. will likely be watching the NBA's most recent dynasty ride off into the sunset. The window will be shut, and a new team will take over. And the newly-opened window will begin to slide shut on that team.

0 NBA Free Agency: Are Shannon Brown's Days As a Laker Numbered? 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 06:06

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesThe Los Angeles Lakers filled a need at point guard when Steve Blake reportedly accepted a four-year, $16 million offer, but their silence about reserve guard Shannon Brown's future has been puzzling.Blake's steady play and decision making is an upgrade over Jordan Farmar, Denver Broncos jersey
who would appear to be on his way out of Los Angeles, and the Lakers have previously said Brown and Derek Fisher are their biggest free agency priorities.But, if the Lakers were able to make a deal for a more attractive free agent, would it signal an end to Brown's time as a Laker?The Lakers were rumored to be interested in Washington Wizards guard Mike Miller, and if he is available, would general manager Mitch Kupchak pull the trigger on a deal?Miller does have advantages to his game, which would appear to make him an upgrade over Brown, at least on the surface.Miller is bigger than Brown at 6'8", but it's his superior shooting ability from long range which has Lakers fans drooling, because consistent perimeter scoring was a missing element from last season's championship team.Kobe Bryant was the Lakers most dependable long-range threat in 2010, but Miller would give Los Angeles the type of perimeterpotential which has been missing from their roster since the days of Glen Rice.Miller could also serve as a secondary ball-handler, and his presence on the roster would lessen the need for a true point guard in certain situations, which could multiply the Lakers' size advantage.The only major knock on Miller's game is his perception as a poor man-to-man defender, Detroit Lions
and that aspect coupled with Brown's presumed lower asking price could weigh the scales in Brown's favor.The Lakers were rumored to have offered Miller a five-year, $30 million deal, but they could possibly sign Brown for a much lower figure than Miller's $6 million a year asking price.Brown's youth, athleticism, and familiarity with the Lakers' scheme are other factors which must be taken into consideration, and the issue of team chemistry also stands out.Chemistry was a major reason the Lakers were able to capture a second consecutive NBA championship, and maintaining that chemistry should be one of their biggest offseason priorities.Blake is an intelligent player who should blend seamlessly into the Lakers' rotation, but why risk adding another player that could potentially disrupt that dynamic?The silence coming out of Los Angeles could mean that the Lakers are prepared to move into the future with their roster intact, and the signing of Blake fills the team's biggest need.Some observers have said the Lakers could also Green Bay Packers jersey
use an extra forward, but Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter are much cheaper alternatives to Miller, and Ebanks is already a better defender.The prospects of Miller launching threes from the perimeter is a nice dream, but in reality, the Lakers may be better off with the proven results of Brown and his cheaper price tag.

0 Arizona Fall League: Pitcher Reports on Those Who Could Make an Impact in 2011 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 01:51

About two weeks ago, I wrote a piece on the position players I viewed as making an impact in the major leagues, many as soon as the 2011 season.This report is about the many pitchers I saw in the Arizona Fall League, which I attended for the first time in early November. I highly recommend talking in a week or so in the future out there Cleveland Browns jersey
watching great baseball played by rising stars in perfect weather.That might be the trifecta.Most of the time out in the AFL, the pitchers are sent to increase their innings, work on certain pitches or see what they can do against better competition. Some organizations use the AFL to assess whether certain pitchers are worthy of Rule 5 protection by adding them to the 40-man roster.As a rule, the AFL teams carry about 18-20 pitchers, but only seven are active on any one day. That is the one reason why the Phoenix Desert Dogs and manager Don Mattingly had to stop their game early in late October. Also, the starters rarely golonger thanfour innings, so relievers dominate the rosters.There were very few impressive starting pitchers in the AFL this season. I only had an opportunity to see Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Mike Montgomery once (in the Rising Stars) game, getting him on a bad effort. I did not see Danny Duffy or Casey Kelly at all.STARTING PITCHERS1) Manuel Banuelos—You already know how I feel about ManBan. Good fastball touching 95, plus change-up, a pretty good curve, which he can throw to both sides of the plateand outstanding mound demeanor. He can be a top of the rotation guy and is still only 19 years old.2) Mike Montgomery—AsI mentioned earlier, I only saw Montgomery once and that was in the Rising Stars game. He started the game (opposite Banuelos) and was a little nervous, showing very little command of his fastball (which hit 96) or change up (81-82), bouncing a few but not with any swings and misses. He also hung a few curves, which weren't tight. He has a smooth delivery and a good frame, standing a lanky 6'5". Like Banuelos, he isn't afraid to throw back-to-back change-ups or start hitters off with off-speed pitches.He had some elbow issues this year but his dominating performance in the Pan Am games and his high velocity AFL appearances have lessened any injury worries. Montgomery obviously is much better than he showed in the Rising Stars Dallas Cowboys jersey
game, but I would like to see better consistency in his off speed pitches.I also feel his stride could be lengthened to develop even more velocity but would not affect his overall delivery.3) Alex Cobb—Rays are taking their usual one level at a time approach with Cobb (like they did with Jeremy Hellickson), and he was out in the AFL to boost his innings. I saw him versus the Phoenix Desert Dogs (PDD), and he did well but against an inferior Desert Dogs lineup, clearly the worst in the AFL. He was behind the count on many occasions but then overpowered the weak lineup.Cobb was hitting low-to-mid 90s repeatedly with a good change-up, but all over the place with his fastball. His walk rates in his career are OK, but his command needsto be there in order for him to succeed. Will start in Triple A Durham but has no shot at the majors in 2011, based primarily on organizational philosophy.4) Josh Collmenter—Accurately nicknamed "Iron Mike" because of his straight over-the-top delivery. I saw him pitch this game, also against the PDD, and he was dominant.His fastball was never above 90, but generated lots of swings and misses, mostly on high fastballs. He has that deceiving delivery in which he hides the ball well, then before a hitter realizes, the ball is on top of him.Collmenter literally tilts his upper body and throws straight over the top. Many of his swinging strikes were on high fastballs out of the zone, but appear to be strikes coming out of his delivery. He had a curve ball with good downward break, and he was able to throw it for consistent strikes. He was also not afraid to throw it behind in the count or as a first pitch offering.Collmenter utilizes what I call "reverse sequencing" pitching. That is getting ahead with soft stuff and, when the hitter has two strikes and looking for junk, gets a moderate fastball blown by him. This method is better utilized by pitchers who do not throw hard.While he will not be a top guy in any rotation, Collmenter will get his shot sometime this season in Arizona. After his AFL Denver Broncos jersey
performance, he was placed upon the team's 40-man roster.Brad Brach with a strong post position5) Eric Hurley—After missing all of 2009 and 2010 with shoulder (labrum) surgery, this former major leaguerthrewhis firstmeaningful pitch in two seasons out in the AFL. Hemuch sharper later in the AFL, showing good arm strength and said he had no fears about going all out.If the Rangers do not re-sign Cliff Lee, Hurley has an opportunity to make the Rangers staff this season.RELIEF PITCHERS1) Brad Brach—I am very partial to this kid because he is a local Jersey Shore product. He has exceptional numbers during his career,including a great 2010 campaign in the heavy hitting High-ACalifornia League where he recorded 41 saves to go along with a stellar 2.47 ERA.He continued his dominance in the AFL with a 2.87 ERA and .873 WHIP.He only allowed a base runner in five of his 11 AFL appearances, and although he did not strike out many, he showed pitches which moved and commanded well. During the Rising Stars game, he allowed a runner to reach third base on a two base error and a wild pitch.Brach proceeded to get two strikeouts sandwiched around a weak ground ball to short and got out of the inning.Brach throws a sinking 91-92 MPH fastball with good movement and located the ball well on both edges of the plate, often coming inside to lefties. His slider is a true out pitch and is rarely hit hard. He throws strikes with a career SO/BB ratio of 7.00. But he does throw across his body some which could lead to arm issues down the line.Although Brach is more of a fly ball pitcher, it has yet to haunt him (career 7 HRs allowed, 6 in the Cal League) and should play well in spacious Petco Park.I can see him (who will be 25 next season) starting in Double A but getting some time in San Diego late this season if he continues performing.2) Jeremy Jeffress—Everybody was buzzing about Jeffress hitting 101 on the gun in the Rising Stars game, but he also threw 21 pitches that inning, only 10 for strikes. Although this sounds bad, his command in the AFL was much better than when I saw Jeffress back in July in the Florida State League.There he showed the power FB (up to 97), but as I wrote back then in my notes, "can't locate to save his life." Reminded me of Daniel Cabrera without the height.In the AFL however, Jeffress dropped in some hearty breaking balls for strikes, and if he can continue to throw the curve for strikes with upper 90s heat, he may have a shot to stay in the majors.Personally, I never want guys who can't locate pitches, but with an arm like that and an effortless delivery, Jeffress will always be given tons of opportunities.However,give me a guy with less "stuff" but with command and ability Detroit Lions
to pitch any day.3) Chris Carpenter—Showed great velocity and command of his fastball (hit 99-100 MPH) in rising Stars game, but overall walked almost a batter per inning out here. He has a career walk rate of 4.0 per 9 IP.While working as a starter most of his pro career, Carpenter was relieving in the AFL. His change-up was not good, but his slider was devastating on several occasions and weak on others. However,like Jeffress, if he can not locate his fastball and get ahead in counts, the plus pitches do not matter much.The Cubs say this guy will stay as a starter but with a hard fastball and two other average pitches, his future role is definitely as a reliever who can be given time in Chicago this season.4) Craig Heyer—I wrote about Heyer in the AFL here. For an unknown reason, Heyer was left unprotected by the Yankees for the Rule 5 draft, and I anticipate him being selected by another organization. With the way Kevin Towers likes to build solid bullpens, I can't see Heyer passing by Arizona. Heyer's ground ball tendencies will play well in cozy Bank One Ballpark.5) Ramon Delgado—This is my sleeper guy. Delgado is a complete strike throwing machine. Saw him in my first game out in the AFL, and he was first pitch strike all the time. He can throw any of his three pitches (FB, sinker, slider) for strikes and will throw them in any count.But mainly Delgado is first pitch fastball at the knees come right at you type of guy. The first time I saw him pitch, he got through the inning in six pitches. Delgado is a quick worker (funny how that happens when you throw strikes) who throws from a low 3/4 slot and gets good ball movement. The movement is tough to "square up" for hitters.Very similar to Heyer in that he also was left unprotected, but Delgado did get some work this season at Double A, where he posted a 1.10 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16 IP.This is a guy who is quietly efficient. He throws strikeswithgreat career walk and strikeout rates while keeping the ball in the park. Who couldn't use Green Bay Packers jersey
a pitcher like that in their bullpen?I would also grab this guy in the Rule 5 next week. Look for the Texas Rangers (his AFL pitching coach Brad Holman loved him) to grab him if he lasts that long.There were other pitchers who I saw and liked including starter Daniel Merklinger (Milwaukee)—good curve and change, also saw him in July in the FSL and was placed on the Brewers 40 man roster this month; Josh Zeid (Philadelphia)—nice fastball, slider combo, throws strikes; Josh Fields (Seattle) - throws heat but lacks command; Josh Lueke (Seattle)—good fastball and biting slider. However, teams with teeth (and big rocks) would need to overcome his background.

0 MLB Hot Sove: Can Money Beat Misery? Just Ask Jayson Werth 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 01:51

Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesWhen I saw the latest MLB news was that ex-Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth had signed with the Washington Nationals, I ran right to my computer to Google the truth.To my utter disbelief, it was true. Werth signed with the Nationals for the next seven years and $126 million dollar paycheck.Werth had many options as one of the coveted free agents this offseason, with teams like the Red Sox, Angeles and his own Phillies in the mix.So, signing with the not-going-to-win Nationals was shocking—until you saw the price tag and remember Miami Dolphins jersey
he hired a new agent named Scott Boras.Moving from the Phillies, who won the 2008 World Series and four straight NL East titles, to one that finished in last place in 2010 with a 69-93 record and has yet to have a winning record since 2003 makes absolutely no sense for three reasons.1) Playing for the Nationals and your chances of even getting in playoff contention is slim. Hope rolling in dollar bills can make up for having to play everyday and losing consistently.2) From the franchise's prospective, it makes no sense to spend that money on a 31 year old that made $2.5 million in 2010.What a way to piss off all the other teams the day before the Winter Meetings, especially Los Angeles Angels GM Tony Reagins, who must be ready to kill Boras and the Nationals, along with every other GM in baseball because prices just went up.Will Jayson Werth Regret Signing With The Washington Nationals For 7 Years & $126 Million?Will Jayson Werth Regret Signing With The Washington Nationals For 7 Years & $126 Million?Yes.34.9%No.29.2%Who cares Werth just became irrelevant.35.8%Total votes: 1063) For Werth, a lesson will be learned because playing 162 games for a losing ball-club, who will have an empty park, is worth no amount of money. Werth was an All-Star as a Philly Minnesota Vikings
too. Remember that Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg is out for the entire 2011 season and that was the only time fans showed up. This reeks of Scott Boras. Boras tends to get his players to go for the green instead of where they can utilize their skills. Yes, it usually means less of a payday, but gaining personal achievements to be a tad less rich is a no brainier.Boras brainwashes his clients that the better deal pays more, as if the team that is showing Werth the money appreciates his value more.It couldn’t be further from the truth, as Boras is looking for himself. Boras gets the bigger payday at what price because his job is done, it’s the player who has to weather the consequences.Teams, like the Nationals, have to offer players, such as Werth, a reason to take such a professional step down and bring their talents to a losing team.Werth lead the National League in 2010 with 46 doubles, 27 homers and 85 RBIs.Guess that speaks volumes about Jayson Werth’s goals, as he is playing for a paycheck and it won’t be easy at all.One person is going to reap the Boras benefits is free agent Carl Crawford, who is having a party as we speak.Werth just made him a richer man and one that will get paid from a contending club like the Los Angeles Angels and don’t New England Patriots jersey
count out the New York Yankees either.Werth is going to miss being a superhero in Philadelphia, playing in an always filled Citizens Bank Park but most of all he will miss being an athlete on a winning team.As a Yankee fan, I was am happy that Werth is not a Red Sox or an Angel.Now Jayson’s worth just became irrelevant in the world of baseball, which is a darn waste of a fun player that now no one will watch.

0 20 Dec 10 Fantasy Football Bye Week Replacements: Jacob Tamme Appears Legit 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 20:49

Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesAs we descend upon the last byeReebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
week of the season, many fantasy football players have stepped up and established themselves as contributors while others have fallen behind. In a week where studs like Phillip Rivers, Darren McFadden and Greg Jennings will take a timely breather, finding players to step in will prove to be tough. A new name and two blasts from the past find their way into the column this week. Jacob Tamme has transformed into Dallas Clark lite in Indianapolis while Bernard Berrian and Nate Burleson have both risen from the land of the dead back to relevance.Teams on a bye in Week 6: Green Bay, Oakland, New Orleans and San DiegoKey Player On A Bye: Antonio Gates (SD)Suitable Replacement: Jacob Tamme (IND)With an additional week at his disposal to rest an ailing foot injury, Antionio Gates will be looking to bounce back strong. For this week though, he will have to be replaced. Jacob Tamme appears ready to handle those duties. With Dallas Clark suffering a season ending injury, Peyton Manning has wasted no time in getting acquainted with his replacement.Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesAs we learned last year with his WR, Manning throws often and always finds time to get his weapons involved. In terms of fantasy production, Tamme has been quite reliable these last few weeks, finding the end zone twice already. Since he figures to be an integral part of the offense from here on out, Tamme should be owned and started with extreme confidence.Key Player On A Bye: Greg Jennings (GB)Suitable Replacement: Nate Burleson (DET)Greg Jennings has been far from consistent this season, but playing in the prolific Green Bay offense has afforded him plenty of chances to put up points. He will assuredly be difficult to find a substitute for. Nate Burleson is an interesting case because there is some doubt that his quarterback Matthew Stafford will even play this coming week, but he deserves some attention regardless. With Megatron continuing to draw double teams on the other side of Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
the field, Burleson has been able to rack up 14 catches in the last two weeks with a touchdown thrown in for added value. The Lions will face a Buffalo defense that is respectable against the pass, but opportunities should still be plentiful.Key Player On A Bye: Darren McFadden (OAK)Suitable Replacement: Ronnie Brown (MIA)After spending his first two unimpressive years in Oakland failing to live up to his draft hype, Darren McFadden has emerged. He is finally proving to be the workhorse-back many thought he would and will almost certainly leave a gaping hole in fantasy lineups this week. Ronnie Brown is an intriguing name to keep an eye on in week 10. Ricky Williams was all but forgotten in the Dolphins game plan against the Ravens, which leaves Ronnie Brown with some surprising value in an offense that runs primarily off its passing attack. While he isn’t guaranteed to get all the touches next week against the Titans, Ronnie Brown should still see enough of the field to warrant a start in all fantasy formats.Key Player On A Bye: Marques Colston (NO)Suitable Replacement: Bernard Berrian (MIN)Being Drew Brees' No.1 option is never a bad spot to slide into and Colston has done everything he can with it once again this season. Brees has been more erratic than in years past, but Colston is still getting his and therefore won’t be easy to replace in your fantasy lineups. Most folks would have assumed Bernard Berrian had retired from the league after not seeing him Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
do anything over the first eight weeks of the season. With Randy Moss gone and learning his third playbook this year already, Berrian has assumed the role of deep threat until Sidney Rice returns. A quick look at the schedule shows that Berrian has a date with his former team this week and there is no doubt he is going to want to put on a show. Grab him and hope for some fireworks

0 19 Dec 10 Fantasy Football 101: Week 11 Pickups and Other Quick Hits 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 01:47

Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesWeek10 is in the books and the bye weeks are over, meaning your lineup choices will be about matchups and injuries. With some NFL teams' season virtually over, be sure to keep an eye out for young players teams will take a look at down the stretch. With injuries mounting, depth becomes a key focus now that bye week fill-ins are no longer needed (although these players can be the same). Ultimately, your playoff prognosis will influence your roster moves. Here is a look at this week's waiver wire options.Please note, list excludes recommendations from the past two weeks. Click here to view last week's article.(Note: last week included Mike Thomas) Note: To qualify as a pickup, a player must be owned in less than 40 percent of Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
Yahoo leagues as of this writing (11/14). Quarterback: Tyler Thigpen,Miami (owned: 0 percent): Thigpen may be the team's third-stringer, but this year's Dolphins rely more on the pass than recent editions and Thigpen flashed fantasy potential during his first extended action back in 2008. Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesJon Kitna, Dallas (owned: 17 percent): With Jason Garrett at the controls of the team, the offense appeared to play looser and flashed their elite skill players against the Giants this week. Kitna needed just 13 completions to accumulate 327 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing the team's big-play ability. Running Back: Bernard Scott, Cincinnati(owned 3 percent): Cedric Benson has struggled all season, and with an expiring contract the team may give Scott increased chances down the stretch to determine how big a role he can play in the future. He's primarily a Benson handcuff, but given the slim pickings below the 40 percent owned line, he has the upside to merit a look. Darren Sproles, San Diego (owned 39 percent): With Ryan Mathews perpetually banged up, Spoles has played a bigger role than expected this season and it is likely to continue given a shaky defense, banged up receiving corp and must-win situation. Value is best in PPR formats. Wide Receiver: Mike Williams, Seattle(owned39 percent): A must-get if he is available. While the Seahawks are far from a consistent attack, he is the team's clear-cut No. 1 wideout and has a marshmallow-soft schedule down the stretch.He has 10-plus catches in three of the last five games. Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesJames Jones, Green Bay (owned 18 percent): Like Williams (Seattle version), Jones lacks consistency but he is one guy I would love to have on my bench. Has 100-plus yards in two of his last three games. Legedu Naanee (owned 5 percent): Naanee is scheduled to return next week and any Chargers receiver with a starting job is worth a roster spot (and perhaps spot starts until two of the following return: Antonio Gates, Malcom Floyd and Vincent Jackson). Arrelious Benn (owned 4 percent): More of a keeper prospect, Benn has scored a touchdown in back-to-back weeks and appears to be adjusting to Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
the pro game. Don't be surprised if his role increases down the stretch.\ Tight End: Anthony Fasano(owned 17 percent): Exploded with a five-catch, 107-yard, one-touchdown effort this week, and while he won't likely duplicate those numbers, don't be surprised if his role continues to increase with Tyler Thigpen under center. Ben Watson (owned 36 percent): His stock slid the past few weeks, but Watson remains the No. 1 receiving target in the Browns' modest passing attack. A capable fill-in for the multitude of tight end injuries. Rick Stewart/Getty ImagesDefense: Cincinnati(owned 24 percent): With the bye weeks over, teams are less likely to need a defense, but if you are looking for a matchup play this week, the Bengals are playingBuffalo and the defense has played much better the past two weeks even if thefantasy stats don't show it. Other thoughts: - Mike Thomas' Hail Mary touchdown may have been a fluke but the other seven catches for 99 yards weren't. He is a solid option in PPR leagues (and was a nfldraft101 pickup pick last week). - Until OT Russell Okung comes back, forget about playing TE John Carlson (donut this week and just 9 catches in the last 6 games). - Speaking of Seahawks disappointments, RB Marshawn Lynch has broken the 48-yard barrier just once since joining Seattle five games ago. - After throwing for 316 yards on Sunday, Matt Ryan is on pace for a 4,000-yard season, exceeding expectations. He has three games with three touchdown passes on the season and has thrown at least one in all but one game. - Lions RB Jahvid Best has not broken the 50-yard mark since Week 5 and has not scored a touchdown since Week 2. - Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson's descent continues as he has failed to break 57 yards since Week 5 and has not found the end zone since Week 6. He still has value in PPR leagues, though, as he has caught five or more ballseach of thepast three weeks. - One of the most under-reported stories of the week is Bengals WR Terrell Owens giving up on his team in the fourth quarter, most notably walking back to the line of scrimmage on the team's final drive. This has absolutely nothing to do with fantasy, although he is not a guy I would feel comfortable trusting come playoff time. - Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham caught nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter on Sunday. The big question is whether the team will ever learn to use the athletic rookie down the field (all but one catch was a dump-off underneath). - It is amazing how fast Randy Moss has fallen: just two catches in his last two games. At least fantasy owners don't need to worry about him playing a 17-game schedule anymore. - Buccaneers RB LaGarrette Blount has looked good the past month and is a player to watch as the Bucs head down the homestretch in need of a balanced offense. - Panthers RB Mike Goodson exceeded expectations with a Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
23-carry, 100-yard effort. He is worth starting in deeper leagues until Stewart or Williams comes back. - Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe has eight touchdowns the past five games and a soft schedule down the stretch. - Rams WR Brandon Gibson has 14 catches for 139 yards the past two games. Chris Maier is Senior Editor for nfldraft101.com. He can be reached at cmaiernfldraft101.com. Follow me on twitter: nfldraft101. Check out NFLDraft101's 2011 early season Mock Draft.

0 18 Dec 10 Donovan McNabb Signs a Long-Term Deal on Gameday 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 03:34

Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesFourteen days removed from what was arguably the biggest controversy in what has been a very controversial 2010 Washington Redskins season, the Redskins look to take the field this night at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the biggest news of Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
the day arrived before the game. News broke in the afternoon that the Redskins and quarterback Donovan McNabb agreed to a new contract. The deal is rumored is to be worth five years. The Redskins did not disclose details of the contract. For over two weeks, Washington citizens and opinion movers were left to discuss what Mike Shanahan’s benching of McNabb meant in the closing minutes of the Redskins' 37-25 loss to the Detroit Lions. Most believed this was the end of any McNabb/Redskin talks on a contract that ended at the end of the season. However, with the Redskins looking forward to tonight’s NFC East tilt against the Eagles, today’s news has overshadowed much of the pregame hype. Now Washington fans can look forward to the next few years with McNabb at the helm of an offense that Shanahan and offensive coordinator/son Kyle Shanahan must be able to improve. Everybody agreeably scratched their head at the benching on October 31st. With a chance to win the game on a last-minute drive, Shanahan inserted backup quarterback and turnover-prone Rex Grossman into the game. The formidable Lions pass rush quickly entered the backfield on the first play of the drive, forced a fumble, and Lions rookie defensive end Ndamukong Suh trotted into the end zone with the football to seal the win. After the game, Shanahan explained that Grossman “gave us the best chance to win in that scenario.” Citing Grossman’s knowledge of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
the two-minute offense, Shanahan defended his decision. However, most were apt to disagree based on McNabb’s experience and Grossman’s inability to throw footballs to receivers wearing the same jersey. Which makes today’s news even more surprising. After the Lions game, McNabb was stoic in the press conference in expressing any kind of disappointment, but most of Washington assumed this was the end of this relationship which begun in August with the equally shocking news of McNabb heading to FedEx Field via trade.It will be interesting to see tonight if McNabb is able to go out and calmly direct the Redskin offense with a new contract in hand—especially playing against his previous team of 11 years. The deal can be easily criticized as it is cheered. It will take McNabb with the Redskins until he is 39 years of age. However, at the current moment McNabb gives the Redskins the best chance to win. He has shown that in certain spurts this season, but he has also shown Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
he can be prone to interceptions through forcing passes—which he was heavily criticized for in Philadelphia. Washington now has a veteran quarterback for the next five years. He faces his old team for the first time knowing in his mind that he will finish his career as a Washington Redskin.

0 17 Dec 10 NFL Fantasy Football Hot Pickups: Week 12 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 04:19

Keiland Williams is this weeks hottest pickup with Clinton Portis likely sidelined for the rest of the year.Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesKeiland Williams is still available in too many fantasy football leagues despite going off for three touchdowns on last week on Monday Night Football.Ryan Torain was ruled out this Sunday and Clinton Portis aggravated his groin injury during the first half, so Williams dominated the second half touches and finished with 68 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving, not eye popping numbers like last Monday but there is a reasonable chance that Keiland Williams will get the start next week.View him as a low-end RB2/high end RB3 while both running backs are on the mend. He is currently available in 62 percent of leagues.Fred 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 with injury, he should already be owned in all leagues.He has had Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
back-to-back strong performances as the Bills feature back and shows no signs of slowing down.He finished Sunday’s game with 2 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.Christopher Ivory placed himself back on the fantasy radar with a 99-yard and one touchdown performance against the Seahawks.Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush should be back in the next few weeks but Ivory projects to remain a major part of this backfield going forward.He is currently sitting at just 14 percent owned and should be added by those in deeper leagues.Those in dynasty leagues will want to add this surprising rookie if he is still somehow available.Consider him a solid flex option the rest of the way.Mike Williams, despite going off on four of his last six games, is sitting at only 44 percent owned and he needs to be owned in all leagues.He is the No. 1 receiver for the Seahawks and gets a ton of targets every game.He suffered a foot injury in the loss to the Saints and we will tweet an update when available.Check your waiver wire and make the add if he is available.He is a WR3 the rest of the way.Robert Meachem exploded against the the Seahawks for two touchdowns and has placed himself firmly back in the fantasy radar.He is currently sitting at only 46 percent owned and this number is too low for such a talent.The targets will be inconsistent but Meachem is a home run threat and should at least be on fantasy benches.He is a flex option in deeper leagues but as he showed this week he has significant upside.Mike Goodson got another start for the Panthers and he responded with 120 yards rushing and 31 yards receiving for 151 total yards.Goodson will likely retain some semblance of fantasy value even when Jonathan Stewart returns and should be added as depth at the very minimum.He is still available in 70 percent on Yahoo! leagues. He is a low-end RB2 as long as Jonathan Stewart remains on the mend.Mike Thomas had another strong week scoring a touchdown off of 5 receptions and 36 yards and is worth an end of the bench add in the 57 percent of leagues he is still available in.He is a solid flex Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
option in deeper leagues the rest of the way.Emmanuel Sanders has now scored in two consecutive weeks and this talented rookie is gaining the trust of Big Ben.He is a must-add in dynasty leagues and those in deeper leagues may want to add him to the end of their bench.This is still Hines Ward and Mike Wallace’s show but Sanders is likely in the Steelers long term plans which bodes well for his fantasy value going forward.He is no more than a flex2 right now but as his role increases for the Steelers so will his fantasy value.Jacoby Ford had only 2 receptions for 27 yards, but no one expected him to excel against the Steelers in the first place.Ford is still getting plenty of snaps with Darrius Heyward-Bey sidelined with an injury and is worth an add in deeper leagues.He is no more than a flex2 in deeper leagues but possess considerable upside that could see him produce WR3 numbers any given week.Donald Jones, playing in only his second game off the season following the Roscoe Parrish injury, went off for 5 receptions and 70 yards and a TD.He seems to be gaining Ryan Fitzpatrick’s trust and that bodes well for his fantasy value.Only make the add in the deepest of leagues.Nate Burleson finished Sunday with 7 receptions for 97 yards and a TD.Nate Burleson now has 37 receptions, 433 yards and 3 TDs over his last five games and he is worth serious consideration for the stretch run.David Gettis had a touchdown this Sunday for the Panthers and this former popular waiver wire pickup is worth another gander in the deepest of leagues.He is no more than a flex2 in the deepest leagues due to the Carolina Panthers quarterback issues.Joel Dreessen went off in Owen Daniels’ absence for 4 receptions, 106 yards and a touchdown.He is worth a roster spot while Daniels is out and is a high upside TE2 for that period of time.Andre Roberts of the Arizona Cardinals has been really coming on as of late and added 6 receptions for 52 yards a week after scoring a touchdown.He has no value outside of the deepest redraft leagues but is someone dynasty league managers will want to put on their watch list.Brandon Pettigrew has turned it to a serious PPR force with Shaun Hill under center and finished Sunday’s game with an impressive 8 receptions for 75 yards.He is currently looking like a better start than players like Dustin Keller.Consider him a low-end TE1 the rest of the way.Maurice Morris got the first carry of the game for the Lions with Jahvid Best’s turf toe acting up and he stands to have some significant fantasy value going forward.He finished Sundays game with 10 carries for 31 yards and 4 receptions for 40 yards.Kevin Smith Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
was recently placed on injured reserve and Best aggravating his turf toe means that Maurice Morris is next in line to start.Morris has proven capable in a fantasy setting in previous years and is looking like a must-add in all leagues.Whether you need him or not you need to make the add if simply just to block your opponents from doing so.Blair White went off for two touchdowns off 5 receptions and 42 yards and got some burn this Sunday after Austin Collie was forced to leave the game with an injury.He is worth the add in deeper leagues especially if Collie’s injury proves to be serious.He is pegged as a flex option as long as Collie is battling injury.This article can also be found on Win My Fantasy League.

0 16 Dec 10 NFL Game Preview: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 00:12

The New York Giants almost did it. They had Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in check, and all Giants quarterback Eli Manning had to do was hold on to the ball. When Manning fumbled away the Giants chances of beating the Eagles, many NFL betting experts wondered if Michael Vick is as lucky this season as he is good. The scores that Vick and the Eagles have been putting up are exceeding predictions, but the question remains as to whether or not the Eagles are really the best team in the NFC.
The Chicago Bears are hanging with the Green Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
Bay Packers at the top of the NFC North, but every week the experts keep waiting for the Bears to tumble back to the bottom of the division. The Bears have a decent defense, but their offense has not been very helpful all season long. Running back Matt Forte and the Chicago running game has been a disappointment, and quarterback Jay Cutler has been as unpredictable as always. In this game we will find out what has been keeping the Bears going.
Offense
The Bears have the 30th ranked offense in the league. It is unusual to see a division leader with an completely ineffective offense, but that is what is going on in Chicago. Quarterback Jay Cutler is having an average season putting up 2,064 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and throwing 10 interceptions. Running backs Matt Forte and Chester Taylor have combined for just under 800 total yards rushing. The Bears offense has no kick and no punch. There is also the turnover issue with Cutler beyond the interceptions as he is prone to putting the ball on the ground when he is under pressure as well.
Not much can be said about Michael Vick and the Philadelphia offense that has not already been said. Vick has matured as a quarterback and now looks for the pass in scrambling situations rather than instinctively taking off to run. People forget that Michael Vick possesses a cannon for Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
an arm, and when he uses it right he can be a very dangerous passer. Vick and the passing game help to compensate for a weak offensive line. But that offensive line could be the undoing of the Eagles against an attacking defense like the Bears.
Defense
It is almost impossible for a team to get any serious yardage off the Bears defense within five yards of the line of scrimmage. But once you get past Urlacher and the rest of the Bears linebackers, the task of picking up yards against the Bears becomes a bit easier. If Vick can keep an eye downfield and find DeSean Jackson roaming in the secondary, then the Philadelphia offense could completely dismantle the Chicago defense.
The Philadelphia defense was able to stiffen against the Giants, but if Eli had not fumbled that ball then it would have been a different football game. The middle of the field seems to always be open in the Eagles defense, but the Bears do not have the weapons to exploit the middle of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
the field.
The Bottom Line
The Eagles run on a little more than Vick magic, they know how to exploit a bad opposing secondary and the Eagles defense knows how to pressure a quarterback. This game will be close, but the Bears offense will wind up cracking before the game is done.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles

0 Denver Broncos: The Defense Of an Utterly Defenseless Franchise 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 02:11

It seems that the fans chirping at this once respected franchise Dallas Cowboys jersey
have been uttering the same garbage that we have all been hearing, and I couldn't quite figure out why. Everything posted by rival fans have been reiterating what ESPN had been saying about this Denver squad last year...and then it hit me.
ESPN as well as other non-local media have simply not been talking about the Broncos save for the meaningless Tim Tebow banter. He should be starting...it's still too early for him to start...Tim Tebow this, Tim Tebow that...Kyle who?
Then it happened. McDaniels gets fined for videotaping the 49ers walk-through, and the fans want him gone. We get lit up on Monday Night Football, the fans want him gone. We get beat by the Rams and Raiders at home..you get the picture. My goal is not to say McD is not at fault for any of this, but I am going to sit here and not only defend him, but this franchise as well. Here goes...essentially nothing.

1. McCheater should be fired for the "Spygate II."
Well, no he shouldn't. This isn't a relapse of the Patriot's incident for several reasons. Number one, the Broncos coach didn't even look at the tape. Secondly, the league agrees that it wasn't as severe, as evident in the $50,000 fine he received (BB was fined $500,000) and Denver wasn't stripped of a draft pick. McDaniels had nothing to do with this, so get over it.
2. Orton is: a horrible QB/can't score/sole reason Denver is terrible/a dink and dunk passer.
Orton is leading the league in passing this year, and we are entering Week 13. THIRTEEN, not three. Not only that, Philip Rivers was on a blistering pace to break Dan Marino's single-season passing record, and Orton still stuck with him. Not only THAT, he's doing it without Brandon Marshall, the only reason Orton did as well as he did last year, say the naysayers.
Orton is also currently tied for seventh in the league with Aaron Rodgers for TD passes with 20, and I have yet to hear anyone say he is having trouble getting the ball in the endzone. Not only that, he has three fewer picks than Rodgers. Just for a frame of reference, the league leaders in TD passes are Brady, Brees, Rivers, and Eli Manning with a whopping 23. Also, how many potential TD's has Tebow taken from Orton? If you assume Orton would have scored HALF the time Tebow did, that puts him at 22.
So it turns out Orton is scoring...but people aren't aware of this because nobody on TV is telling them what to think. As for the dink-and-dunk passing, Orton is currently second in completed passes of 20+ yards at 50 (Rivers has one more), and second in completed passes of 40+ yards with 11(again one behind Rivers with 12).
Anyone that blames Orton for being the sole reason Denver is 4 Brett Favre White jersey
terrible is simply turning a blind eye to this team. I can't remember the last time the league leading passer was the biggest problem a team had. I can understand it if he is putting up Jay Cutler/Brett Favre type of interception numbers, but that simply isn't happening. I don't blame Orton one bit for constantly losing games where we surrender 33-59 points on a regular basis.
I remember back with Cutler people liked to cite that he was something similar to 14-1 when the defense allows 21 points or fewer...so wheres Orton's stat concerning his defense and points allowed per game? Is there any question that with this offense and the Bears defense that he would have the exact same number as Cutler? Of course not.
3. "Ok he's second in the league in deep passes, those are all five- to 10-yard plays that his WR took for 40 yards."
Well, not really. Brandon Lloyd is the league leader in receiving with 1,122 yards, with 176 yards after catch. To put that into perspective, for every 100 yards Lloyd obtains, 15 of them come AFTER the catch has already been made. In other words, the other 85 yards are gunned from the arm of Kyle Orton. Even more impressive is Lloyd's average yards per catch, with 19.3 (Roddy White, the second leading receiver is averaging only 12.7). Why is that important? Because his yardage isn't coming from 100 10-yard passes, rather 58 20-yard passes.
Jabar Gaffney isquietly second in receiving yards on the team with 665, and 123 YAC. Not quite the 15 out of 100 YAC Lloyd is getting, but not much worse at 18 per 100. For the record his longest pass this year is 40 yards, and Eddie Royal's longest pass checks in at 41.
4. Tim Tebow should be starting once we are out of playoff contention.
No, for several reasons. The most important one is that it will destroy Orton's trade value...and I'm not talking about stats. If we lost to KC next week and drop to 3-9, and Tebow comes in and does to Denver what Vince Young did to Tennessee last year and wins out, they will pin that on Orton.
Yes he has great stats, but he wasn't winning...maybe he just isn't a true leader...or just can't lead a team to victory, etc. If teams peg Orton as a stats guy and not a guy that can win then we won't get nearly what we should for him (which better end up being a defensive player averaging eight sacks a year or better).
For those of you saying Orton won't go for more than a fifth and Jets 6 Sanchez AFL50th jersey
sixth rounder as well as a mediocre defensive guy, I promise you the league leader in passing will. Minnesota will pay for him, and even Tennessee looks like they might throw their hat into that ring.
The last reason I don't want Tebow on the field yet is because he's McDaniel's last hope. If he fails than McD is probably gone, and we will spiral into further obscurity. Give him the time that Cable has been given with the Raiders and watch him springboard back to the top, assuming he actually drafts some defense.

0 Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks: Hawks Laying a Touchdown To Panthers 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 01:00

This Sunday the Seattle Seahawks will look to stay atop the NFC West when they host the struggling Carolina Panthers.
The Seahawks fell to 5-6 on the season after falling to Kansas City 42-24 last week but are still tied with the Rams for first place in the division.
The Panthers nearly pulled off the upset over the Browns last week, as John Kasay’s 42-yard field goal attempt just missed as time expired. The Panthers have now lost five straight for the second time this season.
If you are thinking about betting on the game this 43 Polamalu white jersey
weekend, the current NFL odds have the Seahawks favored by six points over the Panthers at home.
Carolina (1-10)
The Panthers showed a lot of fight last week against the Browns, as they responded with 16 unanswered points to take a 23-21 lead after falling behind 21-7 early, but even then the Panthers still finished on the wrong end, losing 24-23 against their former quarterback Jake Delhomme.
The Panthers got a big game out of running backs Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson. Stewart led the Panthers with 98 yards rushing on just 12 carries, while Goodson had 136 yards of total offense, including a team-best eight catches for 81 yards.
Expect the Panthers to try to get these two guys going again this week, as the Seahawks just allowed 270 yards rushing to the Chiefs last week and come in ranked 22nd in the league, giving up 120 yards a game.
It will be important for the Panthers to get the running game going, as they just haven’t gotten a whole lot out of the passing game this season. Jimmy Clausen went just 16-of-28 for 195 yards with no touchdowns and an interception last week against the Browns and now has just one touchdown to five interceptions on the season.
Seattle (5-6)
If the Seahawks plan on winning the NFC West, this is a game they have to win. Seattle is normally a very difficult place to play, but the Seahawks have lost two straight at home by a combined score of 83-31. The Panthers are 0-5 on the road this season, and the last thing you want to do if you are Seattle is let them win on your home field.
Last week the Seahawks managed just 288 yards of 43 Polamalu black jersey
total offense, with only 20 yards on the ground. Things should be a little easier for Seattle this week, as the Panthers allowed Peyton Hillis to run for 131 yards and three touchdowns last week.
Matt Hasselbeck went just 20-of-37 for 282 yards with two touchdowns to two interceptions but was without his go-to receiver in Mike Williams. It is looking more and more like Williams won’t be able to play again this weekend, as he has yet to practice with the team.
Ben Obomanu stepped in and caught five passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, and expect Hasselbeck to look his way a little more this week, especially if Williams doesn’t suit up.
Looking at the Odds
While the Panthers played Cleveland tough last week, it was just the second time this season they have lost by less than 10 points. I believe the Seahawks have the clear advantage in this game, and you simply have to play the odds and take them to win by more than six. My final score 4 Brett Favre White jersey
prediction is Seattle 34, Carolina 20.
Interested in making some money this NFL season? Check out what our expert NFL handicappers have to offer in their weekly NFL picks.

0 NFL Fantasy Football Week 14: Players To Start This Week 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 01:53

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesIf you are looking for an edge on your opponent this week, you can be thankful for our “Fantasy Football Start ‘Ems” for Week 14.Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) @ Houston Flacco threw for 266 yards and a touchdown without an interception nfl jerseys
against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, but did lose a critical fumble late in the game.He has now put up at least 12 fantasy points in every game since Week 2, with just three interceptions thrown in that span.Week 14 brings a very nice matchup against the Houston Texans, who have allowed the most passing yards (298.3 yards per game) and touchdowns (27) in the league this season along with 20 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.The fact the Ravens may want to run the ball a lot does limit Flacco’s fantasy upside some, but he still makes for a solid QB1 this week in a very favorable matchup.Darren McFadden (Oakland Raiders) @ Jacksonville McFadden had 19 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown along with three catches for 30 yards against the San Diego Chargers in Week 13. Backfield mate Michael Bush had 23 carries in the game, but the Raiders are likely to continue to use both backs and McFadden’s receiving ability may give him a slight edge heading into Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Rick Stewart/Getty ImagesJacksonville held Tennessee Titans’ running back Chris Johnson to 67 total yards (53 rushing yards) last week, but they have still allowed over Dallas Cowboys jersey
17 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season.Bush’s re-emergence certainly limits McFadden’s fantasy upside some, but he should still get enough touches to be a RB2 option with some upside this week.Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. CincinnatiWallace had five receptions for 76 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13, as he rebounded from a three-catch, 33-yard effort against the Buffalo Bills in Week 12.Prior to Week 12, he had three straight 100-yard games with four touchdowns over that stretch and could be in for a .rebound this week against the Cincinnati Bengals. When the two teams played back in Week 9, Wallace had five catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.The Bengals had allowed 23.8 fantasy points per game and 16 touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season (fifth-most in the league), so he should find some success this Sunday.Read more content here:Bruno Boys Fantasy FootballWeek 14 Fantasy Football football jersey
Start 'Ems Week 14 Pick Them UpWeek 14 Cut Them Loose Week 14 Quarterback Rankings Week 14 Running Back Rankings Week 14 Wide Receiver Rankings Week 14 Tight End Rankings Week 14 Kicker Rankings Week 14 Team Defense Rankings Week 14 Fantasy Football Sit 'Ems

0 Hines Ward and Willie Parker are willing to accommodate 发帖者 Johnny Depp | 时间： 02:41

You may recall Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger complaining earlier this year that the team needed a tall wide receiver. If so, then you might also remember the gist of less-than-tall Steelers receiver Hines Ward’s response to Roethlisberger’s call to arms. "I don't 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
buy into the hype you have to be tall,” said Ward. “You throw the ball up and give somebody a chance to make a play, I'll make as many catches as anyone.”Eventually, Roethlisberger and Ward made up, and the Steelers accommodated their franchise QB by picking big Texas wideout Limas Sweed in the second round of last month's NFL draft.But then there’s Pittsburgh’s running back situation. Though Willie Parker was leading the entire NFL in rushing until breaking his leg last Dec. 20, he finds himself in a new situation this season.He’s got competition in the form of Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh's first-round pick. When Mendenhall dropped to the Steelers at No. 23 overall, the club felt it had no choice but to take the former University of Illinois standout."I mean, I was a little surprised" said Parker regarding the fact that the team chose to draft Mendenhall.On many other teams, superstars would be unhappy that their employers used valuable draft selections on highly touted prospects who happen to play their positions. But not when the two players you’re discussing are Ward and Parker. After all, for these guys it’s about the team and not individual stats. In other words, they’re willing to accommodate as long as it helps the Steelers."Even though we drafted a guy, I'm not mad and there are no hard feelings,'' Ward said early in minicamp. "They felt like this guy could help us get to the next level and win a championship. Why would I be mad at that?"And Ward has a good point, particularly when he references the fact that Sweed just might be able to help the Steelers get to the next level. After all, he is the sixth-leading receiver in Longhorns history; and though Ward might not like to hear this, Sweed is tall (6-foot-5)."Yeah, I understand," Parker, referring to the Mendenhall pick, stated. "They felt like we didn't have no running backs when I went out. ... Now, let's go get better, man. I'm not trying to be average, I want to be the best and whatever makes me better, I'm all for it."What’s more, the class that Ward and Parker have demonstrated simply doesn’t end there. Ward has been seen regularly helping Sweed adjust to the pros. Further, when asked what Parker had already shown him, 6 Sanchez Purple AFL50th jersey
Mendenhall said, "Just how to be a professional. He's been here for a few years. How to work, what to do, how to carry yourself as a professional and as a man."In the end, the Steelers are lucky to have two low-maintenance stars at key skill positions. It's evident that all Ward and Parker want to do is win.
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标题: Pittsburgh Steelers "Ward just as classy with tall receivers"
内容: Remember what Ben Roethlisberger said back in January about his hope that the Pittsburgh Steelers would pick up a tall wide receiver in the offseason? Just in case you don’t, here's a refresher.“I'm always going to ask for a tall receiver," Roethlisberger said. "That's just me. Our receivers are unbelievable, but our tallest guy might be Hines [Ward]? Or Santonio [Holmes]? Hines is going to say he's 6 foot, but he's 5-11. It's nice to have a bailout guy, you know when you're in trouble and you just kind of throw it up," he 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
continued. "In the red zone its nice to have a guy like that. Obviously, we have a guy like Nate [Washington] who can jump out of this world. He can jump so high. It's nice to have that.”If you know the story, then you realize that Roethlisberger’s comments didn’t sit well with Ward, who's been one of the NFL's premier wideouts for years. "I don't buy into the hype you have to be tall. You throw the ball up and give somebody a chance to make a play, I'll make as many catches as anyone," countered Ward.After that, the million-dollar question became: Just how well were Ward and the new tall receiver in town, 6-4 second-round pick Limas Sweed, going to get along?Swimmingly, of course, and Pittsburgh fans would expect nothing less from the class act known as Hines Ward."Even though we drafted a guy, I'm not mad and there are no hard feelings,'' Ward said back on the first day of minicamp. "They felt like this guy could help us get to the next level and win a championship. Why would I be mad at that?" The only reason? If your ego was bigger than your desire to win. And once again, this is Ward we’re talking about, so that isn’t the case.Not only was Ward not sore about the whole thing, he actually spent a good portion of43 Polamalu white jersey
minicamp giving Sweed pointers. And apparently the pointers helped because the sixth-leading receiver in the history of the University of Texas history played well.Still, with all of the chatter about Ward getting old and Sweed waiting in the wings, you’ve got to think that eventually the talk will take its toll on the former Super Bowl MVP, right?Wrong."To this day, everybody is waiting for Hines Ward to fall off and I love that,'' Ward said early in camp. "That gives me motivation to go out and prove people wrong. It doesn't matter who we bring in, because I'm not going to change the way I play my game. I'm going to be Hines Ward, and No. 86 is going to continue to play the way he's always played.''Spoken like a receiver who regularly puts his body on the line for his teammates by blocking like a lineman.