30 Dec 10 Why the Cavaliers Really Won Sunday

The final score was 117-113, and the Cavaliers remain at 60-17. Lebron went to double Paul Pierce and gave up a crucial three to Ray Allen that really cemented the Celtics victory, but who really won? It's April, the Cavaliers with one more win will clinch the best record in the league for the second straight Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
season, and the Cavaliers are playing purely for pride at this point. No Anderson Varejao and no Shaq and the Cavaliers still gave Boston a run for their money. The Cavaliers were down by as much as 18 at one point last night and it looked like the game was out of reach. Lebron did what he does best and gave his team the lead with under two minutes left.As a 15 year veteran, does Kevin Garnett not see the same thing I do? An April meaningless game? He still stuck his nose into Lebron who merely laughed off his intimidation and walked off the Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
court in routine fashion. Have we watched SportsCenter lately KG? Your Celtics are being discussed a lot, and not in a good way. You're 34, Ray Allen is 34, Paul is 33, and you just signed Michael Finley who is 37. You're getting old, and this is more than likely your last run ever. Please, keep it down.Must Be a Full MoonThis is just a side note. I've seen lately on Twitter people banging Jamario for wearing his headband over his ears. I think it's hilarious. He's actually done this on every NBA team he's played on. It comes gradually too. He starts out theReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
season without many accessories and eventually adds on. Also for you people on Twitter hating about him always smiling, are you serious? I saw it a lot yesterday. Like I said above, it's a meaningless April game. You're really going to knock a guy for smiling all the time? Turn that frown upside down bro. Jeeze.This article is also featured onThe Anetzberger Verdict

29 Dec 10 NBA Playoffs 2010: Western Conference Short Predictions

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThis NBA regular was most definitely one of the best to date. The Western Conference once again was dominant, and the drama continued throughout the league.This year the West was hot. Each team that made the cut had 50 or more wins.The match-ups are great and NBA fans should be stoked. This is exactly why I am going to go over the Western match-ups.Battle for Pride: Lakers-ThunderAlready coach Phil Jackson is stirring the pot as he comments on how Kevin Durant is "babied" by referees.Durant had Carolina Panthers jersey
this to say, "If you say that I get superstar calls or I get babied by the refs, that's just taking away from how I play. That's disrespectful to me."This match up should be fantastic, as young superstar Kevin Durant begins a battle with former MVP Kobe Bryant. The Lakers have been playing horrible basketball lately this season, which is why I believe the Thunder will win this series, as they continue playing great ball. The Battle for Texas: Dallas-San AntonioA classic Texas battle will take place in the first round as the Mavericks and the Spurs face off.Dirk Nowitzki and his crew will have home court advantage. Dallas is tough to beat at home and the powerful Mavericks will defeat Tony Parker and company to move onto the second round.Battle of the Cripples: Blazers-SunsThe Portland Trail Chicago Bears jersey
Blazers have had a rough season, with injuries and drama (which won't stop; Brandon Roy is hurt again). But somehow they have managed to win 50 games and earn a sixth seed in the west. Rip City fans are as proud as can be.But unfortunately for Rip City, the Phoenix Suns are on a roll and cannot miss a three-point shot. Brandon Roy may not play in this series due to injury, but that is still not certain.Portland did win the series this season and will pull off a close one, despite injuries, and advance to the second round in six games.The Battle for the Blue; Denver-UtahNow here is a battle for the ages. Denver is most definitely one of the best teams in the NBA, but they have been playing very bad basketball. Melo and crew will need to clean it up if they want to win this series, because Utah is Cincinnati Bengals jersey
playing fantastic ball.This was a tough one, but Denver will clean up their act and use home court advantage to win in seven games to continue to the second round.It will be hard to predict the NBA Finals this year, but for a quick throw out, I see Cleveland playing Dallas before next season.Let start a discussion. What do you think of the western conference?

28 Dec 10 Is Ray Allen One of the Greatest Shooting Guards Ever?

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesMy top playoff shooting guards list has been controversial, so I am providing my top SG list of all time, aside from finals success. This is all about overall production per minute, not just scoring, but it still takes into consideration finals wins.My formula is at play in this list:41 Ricky Pierce 40 Reggie Lewis 39 Del Curry 38 Danny Ainge 37 Byron Scott 36 Darrell Griffith 35 Derrick Rose 34 Jeff Malone 33 Michael Finley 32 Latrell Sprewell 31 Rolando Blackman 30 Gilbert Arenas 29 Ron Harper 28 Ray Allen 27 Cincinnati Bengals jersey
Jeff Hornacek 26 Sam Jones 25 Manu Ginobili 24 Vince Carter 23 Joe Dumars 22 Bill Sharman 21 Dave Bing20 Hal Greer19 Reggie Miller18 Dennis Johnson 17 Micheal Ray Richardson16 Earl Monroe15 Mitch Richmond14 World B. Free13 Anferne Hardaway12 Sidney Moncrief11 David Thompson10 Fat Lever09 Alvin Robertson08 Paul Waestphal07 Pete Maravich06 Clyde Drexler05 Allen Iverson04 Dwyane Wade03 Jerry West02 Kobe Bryant01 Michael JordanThe G.O.A.T.

27 Dec 10 LeBron James To The Mavericks: Where Both Teams Win

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesLet face it; Cleveland has its hands tied.They either re-sign LeBron and try to go for another championship with their core group in a very competitive Eastern Conference (as far as the playoffs go), or they watch their superstar walk away and drift into nothingness.Cleveland without LeBron will be a boat without a captain, and also very incompetent sailors.UnlessThey work out a sign-and-trade with the Dallas Mavericks.The Mavericks are more than a dark horse in this year LeBron James sweepstakes.They are a dark Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
horse that actually provides Cleveland some breathing room to stay somewhat relevant and keep people in the stands.Let explore this scenarioThe Dallas Mavericks can send a combination of Erick Dampier and his $13 million non-guaranteed contract, Caron Butler and his $12 million contract that expires next season, Jason Terry and his $12 million, and JJ Barea or Roddy B, each with a cheap contract.Pack that up with a combination of cash and draft picks and you have yourself another Marc Cuban blockbuster deal.To better explain it, it would be something like this:LeBron James for Erick Dampier, Caron Butler/Jason Terry, JJ Barea/Roddy B, and a draft pick.You can throw in a Cleveland benchwarmer if rotations do not work.Personally, I believe the best scenario for both teams would be Damp, Butler, and JJ Barea.Why does this make sense for Cleveland?With Caron Butler, who is already familiar with Jamison, they will still have an athletic SF that can be productive.They will also have cap room to sign a free agent this summer Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
not named LeBron James by releasing Dampier.And if it does not work, someone like Butler expires next season, when someone like Carmelo Anthony will be available.Also, LeBron goes West for a long time, something Cleveland (and every other Eastern Conference team would not complain about).Looking at Dallas, does this make sense?It is LeBron James, so yes, it does make sense.

26 Dec 10 LeBron James or Kobe Bryant...Why Not Both?

Kobe vs. LeBron has become the new Brady vs. Manning.In the early part of the '00's, Brady had the rings, but Manning had that stats. Then Manning won a ring, and the consensus seemed to be that Manning was the better of the two. Enter Randy Moss into the equation, and Tom Brady sets the NFL record for touchdown passes (passing Manning's mark) while leading the Patriots to 16-0 regular season. Unfortunately Brady's knee got torn up during the first game of the next season and Manning won his third MVP award. The next season Manning Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
won his second consecutive MVP and led the Colts to a 14-0 start, and a Super Bowl appearance. Manning was again the victor in the Brady-Manning duel.We overreact to bad games by great players. Manning threw the game losing pick right into Tracy Porter's hands, and kick started the "Manning is a choker" arguments up again. LeBron put up a 15 point stinker at home in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics, and initiatedthe same the thing for himself.Meanwhile, Kobe's Lakers were on their way to the Western Conference Finals after sweeping the banged up Utah Jazz, and then behind a great Kobe performance, finished off the Suns to make their third NBA Finals in three seasons.This seemed to validate the argument that Kobe Bryant was better than LeBron James. But again, sports fans are some of the most short sighted, irrational people in the world sometimes. Can we really totally disregard the past two regular seasons that were owned by LeBron, and the past two landslide MVP award races?At the same time, Kobe has had great regular seasons the past two years as well, along with winning a title, and his first Finals MVP.In short, Kobe has been the playoff MVP of the past two season, and LeBron has been the regular season MVP. But which one is the better individual player?Let's break it downPost GameEdge: Kobe Kobe has one of the best post games of any guard to ever play the game, at this point in his career. He worked with post move master Hakeem Olajuwon this offseason, and frequently adds new moves. If LeBron learned how to play in the post, he should be unstoppable because of his mix of strength, size, and quickness; but Kobe is a much better post player right now.ShootingEdge: Kobe LeBron gets criticized a little too much for his "poor" shooting, but in reality he's really not a bad jump shooter. He's a better jump shooter than Allen Iverson was, and people weren't always complaining about Iverson's lack of a reliable jump shot.The fact is when LeBron gets in the zone, he can make four threes in a row. However, Kobe is a better jump shooter, and free throw shooter. Shooting is more a part of Kobe's game that LeBron's right now, since Kobe's body isn't quite what it used to be, and that's to Kobe's credit for working on his shot so much. Consistency is the key to shooting, and Kobe is a more consistent shooter than James. SlashingEdge: LeBron With the possible exception of Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
Dwyane Wade, there is no other player in the NBA that attacks the basket with the same effectiveness as LeBron. Nobody wants to get in the way of a 6'8" monster built like a linebacker. And nobody does.At one time Kobe was a great slasher in his own right, but his body isn't what it used to be. However, he was never as good as LeBron in this category anyway.PassingEdge: LeBronJames is easily the best passing non-point guard in the game today. It's not even close. He always knows where his teammates are and finds wide open teammates for easy layups and open jumpers all the time. His constant driving to the hoop draws the defense to him and allows LeBron to find teammates open on the perimeter.Kobe is by no means a bad passer, but he's not a special passer like LeBron. LeBron has the passing gene only a few have ever possessed in NBA history. This is a huge part of LeBron's game that is sometimes overlooked when comparing him to other players.DefenseEdge: Even Both players have made the All-Defense team the past couple of years, so this one is extremely difficult to judge. One on one, Kobe might be a better defender than LeBron, but that's not the only part of defense. LeBron is a better help defender, and blocks shots regularly. LeBron can also guard a larger variety of players, and is a better rebounder. Both are great defenders in their own areas of expertise.LeadershipEdge: Even LeBron interacts with his teammates better than Kobe, and never fights with his teammates. Kobe, of Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
course, had the long feud with Shaq, and has been called out by teammate Pau Gasol for not giving him the ball enough. Throughout his career, Kobe has been spotted rolling his eyes at his teammates, and being harsh on them. LeBron is always patting his teammates on the back, and goofing off with them.However, LeBron's leadership style isn't necessarily the best type. Michael Jordan was never Mr. Nice Guy, but his teammates revered him, and that's the same type of leadership Kobe is trying to emulate. He doesn't lead as well as Jordan, but as the leader of his team, he equals James.Clutch AbilityEdge: Kobe This is one area where Kobe just keeps getting better, and better. Ironically, Kobe's buzzer beaters have been the only part of his game that is missing in the playoffs. Twice have his bricked/air balled game winners been rebounded, and put in at the buzzer by teammates.LeBron is one of the best players at the end of the game as well, but Kobe is simply the best in the NBA in the final twenty seconds (The All Time Clutch Power Trio: MJ, Kobe, Bird), and it's really not even close. Supporting CastEdge: Kobe This is Kobe's biggest advantage over LeBron (along with being in the league twice as long). LeBron has only played with two All-Stars (meaning they were an All-Star the year that he played with them) during his entire Cavaliers tenure (Mo Williams, Ilgauskas), and those were both questionable selections. The Cavs acquisition of Antawn Jamison was supposed to be a big help for LeBron, but he proved to not be clutch and choke in the deciding Game 6 (five points, and five rebounds in 30 minutes counts as choking right?).Kobe has one of the best offensive post players in the NBA, and one of the leagues top defenders on the wing. When Bynum is healthy, he gives them an extra dimension down low as well. Lamar Odom might be better than anybody on Cleveland besides LeBron, and he's the Lakers fourth option. Kobe won a title last season, but if LeBron had switched places with him he would probably have done the same.The Final VerdictThis is really too close to call. There isn't a definitive answer either way. If LeBron was still in the playoffs, and the Cavs were dominating, LeBron would be the choice, but he's not. Personally I still believe LeBron is the best player in the world, but I can accept people who say Kobe is (as long as they aren't obnoxious about it).Basketball is a team sport, and Kobe has a better team. If we could Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
clone the Lakers and put LeBron one Lakers A and Kobe on Lakers B which team would win? We'll never know. And we might never know ifLeBron or Kobe is better. That is until LeBron wins five titles in a row in Chicago with Derrick Rose. (Just kidding....maybe)For now, let's just stop hating and enjoy Kobe, and LeBron for the great players that they are, and reevaluate this when both of their careers are finished.LeBron still has plenty of time to win some titles and pile up the stats, and Kobe isn't going away any time soon.Here's to hoping we'll get a Lakers-whoever LeBron plays for Finals before 2015.

25 Dec 10 Shaquille O'Neal: Why The Diesel Will Not Bring Celtics an NBA Crown

The Celtics are alegendary and historicteam. Who have had great players on their teams throughout the year. From the great Bill Russell to Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and now Shaquille O'Neal?O'Neal was recently inked by the Celtics to the veterans minimum of $1.4 million over one season with Boston.Many reports and articles have said that "O'Neal is the missing piece or the player they needed in order for the Celtics to win a championship come next season and knock off the Heat, Magic, and Lakers.But I am here to give reasons on St. Louis Rams jersey
why I think adding O'Neal to the Celtics roster is nothing more than adding a has-been body that is going to be sitting on the bench and giving the Celtics a few minutes here and there.Just before you hate on me put aside the name "Shaquille O'Neal", and take in what he hasaccomplishedover the past few seasons (or what he has not accomplished) depending on how you put it.Over The HillShaq is going to going to be 38-years-old heading into the 2010-11 season. I ask myself, does he really think he can still contribute at a high level for an NBA team? Well the answer is now in my opinion: I think that as Shaq has gotten older over the past few years, his productions is decreasing, and his overall value towards a team is lessening and lessening as he is getting older.What Has O'Neal Accomplished Over the Past Few Seasons?Shaq has bounced around from team to team over the past few seasons accomplishing nothing but shot playoff stints for his respected team. He has not been able to produce the numbers, and place as big an impact, as he has in his career prior to the mid-Miami Heat days.No moreDieselin the TankThis is the main factor bringing Shaq down to ground. Shaq has nothing left over teams. Yes, he may score 10 points or what not, but at what price doesTennessee Titans jersey
that cost you when you're defending players like Dwight Howard, Kendrick Perkins, and Amar'e Stoudemire on a nightly basis? He is getting heavier and heavier as the seasons go by, (and it sure as hell is not muscle he is gaining). He can barely run up and down the floor without sweating up a storm, and when he is able to get down the floor you are always seeing him as the last man trailing behind of everyone coming down into the offensive sets.Shaq is still one of the leagues worst free throw shooters, a stat he has had his whole career, and it will not improve. Especially with the Greg Popovich implemented "Hack A Shaq", Shaq could be at the line more times than wanted for him.Lastly, how many minutes do you honestly think Shaq will be able to handle, being a year older? He played only 23 minutes last season with the Cavaliers.What Can Shaq Bring in a Very Limited Role?The last main point is, how valuable can Shaq be if he is playing less than 20minutesa game? We all know that Shaq is at his best getting the ball dumped into him and everyone watching him go to work. But he is getting older and his body is not able to blow by defenders like his days in Orlando and Los Angeles. As well with Rondo improving drastically, and his style of getting in front of everyone on Washington Redskins jersey
the fast break, is not Shaq's forte, to say the least.As I close this article, by last point is just a shout out to Shaq, that instead of tarnishing his image my jumping from team to team in order to get one more chance at a ring.He should just hang up the shoes, call it quits, be happy with his four NBA rings, and relax with his multi, multi-millions.

24 Dec 10 Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors: What Would Be Fair Value For the Denver Nuggets?

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesIt is fairly common knowledge by now that Carmelo Anthony would like to continue his NBA career elsewhere.After reaching the playoffs in each of his seven high-scoring seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Anthony now believes that the grass will be greener somewhere else—New York, New Jersey or Chicago to be specific.There is a school of thought that insists on believing that Anthony can still be convinced to remain with the Nuggets. This school draws a parallel between Anthony and Chris Paul, in that they see both players as wanting to see the direction the team is heading before making a commitment.This idea loses credibility when you look at the realistic directions in which the Nuggets can actually head.Kenyon Martin, Arron Afflalo, J.R. Smith all come off the books at the end of the season. Chauncey Billups' contract includes a $3.7 million buyout this summer. Nene's contract is a $11.6 million team option. Assistant coaches Tim Grgurich and Jamahl Mosley, both close to Anthony, are Oakland Raiders jersey
gone. George Karl is in the final year of his deal. Front-office execs Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman were let go.Clearly an unstable franchise at the moment, with only two real paths from which to choose.The Nuggets, in an effort to show Anthony that they are committed to keeping the current window open, could extend the deals of Martin and Smith. This is highly risky, as the Nuggets would then be stuck with two players they didn't want when Anthony leaves anyway.The other pitch they could make to Anthony is for him to be patient while they blow things up a bit and rebuilt the team around him. This obviously won't be terribly appealing to Carmelo.No, there is really nothing that Denver can do or say that can realistically sway Carmelo Anthony. If the offer of a short extension with maximum dollars, especially given the uncertainty of the labor situation this coming summer, doesn't influence Carmelo to sign, then nothing will.Carmelo Anthony will not be a Denver Nugget next season. That is as close to a fact as you can get in this situation. Even his former college coach knows it."He wants a place he can win," Boeheim told the New York Daily News recently. "And I hope he can do that. He's in the prime of his career. He'd be a great foundation to build a franchise on."The Denver brass have made it pretty clear what they hope to get back in a trade for their star forward. They want a young player with star potential. They would also like one or more high first-round draft picks, and a decent veteran Philadelphia Eagles jersey
with an expiring contract.The Knicks, Anthony's top choice, has not, and probably can not, put together an attractive enough package. Anthony's second choice, the Chicago Bulls, refuse to include Joakim Noah in any trade with the Nuggets. The Nuggets wisely consider that to be a deal breaker.It is highly unlikely Anthony agrees to a trade to Philadelphia or the Clippers, two other rumored destinations.Any deal is obviously contingent upon Anthony agreeing to extend his contract. No team would be willing to meet the Nuggets' asking price for a one-season rental.There was a highly publicized, four-team deal floating around last month that had the Nuggets receiving power forward Derrick Favors, the third pick in the 2010 draft, from the Nets and Andrei Kirilenko from the Jazz, as well as the Nets'protected (1-7) first-rounder in 2012.Despite reports that Anthony blessed the deal, the Nuggets backed out of the negotiations. It is distinctly possible that the Nuggets' management duo of Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri were over their heads in attempting to work out such a complex, and important, deal.The Nuggets have recently hired salary cap whiz Pete D'Alessandro, potentially speeding up the process of finding a suitable trade for Carmelo Anthony.The Nuggets will continue to shop Anthony, but might be waiting until after December 15. That is the first day that free agents signed this summer can be included in deals.So what would constitute a fair deal for the Nuggets?It is important the Nuggets are realistic in their demands. The team is at a critical juncture, and losing Carmelo without compensation will cripple this team for years to come. Anthony is doing the right thing in giving the Nuggets ample time to move him, so the team simply cannot blow this.The previously reported four-team deal needs to be revived. It is more than fair compensation for a player determined to walk at season's end.The Nuggets have almost no leverage in this situation. Carmelo holds almost all the cards. If he is silly enough to want to play for the Nets, the Nuggets would be extremely wise to grab the Nets' offer and begin the process of rebuilding their team.The New Jersey Nets are the only team with a realistic shot at trading for Anthony. The longer this process drags on, the more the New York Knicks can just sit back and wait for Carmelo to come to them as a free-agent.There is no way Denver can get equal value for Carmelo. None. With that as a known, the Nuggets Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
have to come to grips with the fact that they are going to have to blow up the team and start over. They need to hope Favors can blossom into a star. They need to trade Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith,preferablyfor more draft picks. A painful season or two would get them a chance at even more talent through the draft.The Nuggets lucked into Carmelo in the first place. He gave them seven playoff seasons. The time is now for them to hoard draft picks and hope to luck into another franchise player. Maybe even someone with a more well-rounded game.

23 Dec 10Extinct Dino: Raptors Ship Jarrett Jack to New Orleans

Bayless will be a piece for the future in Toronto.Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThe Toronto Raptors announced Saturday night they shipped Jarrett Jack, Marcus Banks and David Andersen to New Orleans for three time all-star Peja Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless.A lot of people seem to be upset with Chicago Bears jersey
this deal, but let's go ahead, break it down and look at it logically.Peja is a great three-point shooter and could be very useful down the stretch even if he only gets 20 minutes a game. He's very experienced and can help the team quite a bit.The best part about acquiring Peja though, is his beautiful expiring contract. This contract will get the Raptors a little under $15 million of cap space this offseason and could help them make a run at a player such as Marc Gasol.Bayless is certainly a downgrade from Jack for now but has tons of potential and could end up being a great point guard in the future. He's quick, athletic and can dunk the ball very well. Defensively, he's not bad either, and I'd say he's going to be a good piece for the Raptors future.He doesn't seem to be a pure point Cincinnati Bengals jersey
guard, but there's tons of potential here, and a lot of it was unrecognized playing behind Chris Paul.Jose Calderon is going to have a much larger role now as the starter and could end up playing like his former self, which was a very reliable starting point guard.Was This a Good Deal for the RaptorsWas This a Good Deal for the RaptorsYes, these players will make a huge impact this season.33.5%Yes, but only long term. 58.0%No, Jack was a huge piece and we'll struggle without him. 5.9%No, we lost too much depth. 2.7%Total votes: 188Also, with Andersen gone, Ed Davis will have minutes when he returns from injury.Losing Jarrett Jack will be tough to handle, he played with such great heart and will be missed, but it was for the best, long term. David Andersen was solid at times Cleveland Browns jersey
but didn't make a big enough impact to make his departure painful, and Marcus Banks was a great defender, but didn't really have a role with this team.I wish Jack all the best with the Hornets, and hopefully he will get some minutes at the shooting guard position with Chris Paul playing point guard.Both players are expected to be in uniform Wednesday against the 76ers, and it should be fun to watch

2010 NBA Free Agency: Why Chicago Bulls Need To Build Around Derrick Rose

Elsa/Getty ImagesPart 1: Breaking Down Who Chicago Should Sign With the what feels like long awaited report of LeBron James' decision announcement unveiled, the NBA faithful across the nation hope and pray it will be their lucky team.Would every Chicago Bulls' fan be ecstatic if LeBron signed with New York Giants jersey
their favorite team? You bet.Would it be considered the smartest move by every Chicago Bulls' fan? Don't think it for a minute.With Chicago being blessed following the unlikely drafting of point guard Derrick Rose, there have been many spots open for debate in the Bulls' lineup.First off, ever since Ben Gordon bailed for money's sake, Michael Jordan's house hasn't seen a consistent outside-the-paint threat.Derrick Rose is improving his longer range shooting, but is only coming into his third year and has always been regarded as the player to spark things up inside.Ray Allen, who is currently listed as a free agent, is one of the most prolific three point and long range shooters of all-time.Is he old? Sure. Can he still produce back-to-back seasons at a decent level with consistent shooting? Definitely.Regardless of age, if Allen is on the floor, the opposing defense is on their heels for long range shooting.Although we talk about his offensive skills, Ray isn't a bad defender, either.Allen has always been regarded as a solid defensiveman since coming into the league in 1996. He can help both ways.In fact, his play could increase slightly.With the Celtics stellar defense in tact and Rajon Rondo coming around, Allen gets open shots from multiple sources.First, fastbreaks.With the Bulls New York Jets jersey
among the best in rebounding, there will be many fastbreaks to choose from in 2010.Allen rushes up to the three point line, steps back to open some space, and sinks a bucket with ease.Second, picks.Joakim Noah is an up-and-coming center in the NBA. Nearly making the All-Star squad in 2009, Noah will certainly be a top rebounder in time.With Glen Davis getting nice picks in-the-paint, the 13-year-veteran had plenty of leverage on many of his shots. Noah will be able to use his size for advantage and pick off defenders to open up space for Mr. Allen.Lastly, screens.Believe it or not, Ray Allen can become physical when he needs to be.Throughout the NBA Finals, you saw multiple shots from Allen produced by screens.With Rose blossoming into an assist machine, coming off a fast break or successful field goal attempt, Derrick can routinely graze up past half court and nail a pass to Ray Allen in the corner to put up three in the Bulls' column.The famous shooting guard possibly has a couple of good to decent years left in the tank. A 10 or 12 million salary for two years in the United Center sound good, Ray?Also, Kyle Korver, a career 41% three point shooter,is anothergood shootingguard. Adding him for depth if Allen is somehow injured, and you still don't miss the consistent shots.To finish it all out, sign forward David Lee to a near-max contract.Lee's work ethic and ego is by far superior to the likes of Chris Bosh.Coming off consecutive seasons of starting every game, Lee averaged 16.0 points-per-game and Oakland Raiders jersey
20.2 the following season. In both seasons, he averaged 11.7 rebounds-per-game.He is also an excellent free throw shooter, which accounts for more points compared to what people think, coming off a .812 free throw percentage and averaging 77.4 percent in his entire five year career.Part 2: Why the Bulls Should Intend to Build Around Derrick Rose Whether you refuse to come to grip with this or not; Derrick Rose is the reason whythe Chicago Bullshave been to the playoffs the only two seasons he has played.Lately, there have been knocks on D-Rose. Some of that criticism includes his height, defense, and ego.Let's start with his personality check.First, Derrick has never spoken in a negative way when asked about a coach or player. While keeping composure, you've never witnessed him go off on a teammate or fellow team member (cough Kobe cough).His height is a problem? I sure didn't see his 6'3" stature affecting the Bulls in a negative way when he just put up 26.8 points-per-game and 7.2 assists-per-game.You can't expect a point guard to have the greatest defense, but he locks on his target tight throughout the playoffs. The addition of Tom Thibodeau should help tie up some loopholes in that aspect.Wouldn't you feel like your toes are being stepped on if they brought in a LeBron James, who would attempt to take over the game himself, respectively?Rose is the reason why Chicago has been halfway decent the past two years, and the reason why we're even considered among the top free agent contenders.If you add some key parts around Rose, who should be considered Chicago's centerpiece, then you have a more complete team based off chemistry and even-keeledness.Look at Boston. Sure, they have some superstars, but each one is controlled by a respected head coach and know how to rely on each other. Their bench is a backbone to complete the team.With Rose as the undramatic, humble sun, the planets can revolve around him in a much smoother manner Philadelphia Eagles jersey
through the draft or free agent additions to create an entire team.Thank you for reading my article. I appreciate any feedback you leave me and criticism that would help me become an improved writer for the future.Props to Bleacher Report for establishing the wonderful site that can help young writers' dreams come true, and the great editors and staff that assist my work in perfection. Comecheck out chicitysports.com,wherethis articlewas originally written.- Dustin Brown

Freddie Freeman and Ryan Klesko: Is There Any Correlation?

Freddie FreemanKevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesBravesfans everywhere remember Ryan Klesko's 1994 season. Robbed of finishing a solid rookie campaign by the strike-shortened season, Klesko still managed to hit 17 homeruns in just 245 at bats in his first "full" major league season.16 years later, it would Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
appear the Braves have another powerful left-handed hitter destined to make his presence known at the big league level. Freeman and Klesko had very similar careers up to this point. Both were drafted out of highschool by the Braves, both are left-handed hitting first basemen and both rely on their tall frames to put of power numbers. But apart from their several obvious similarities, are there really any key likenesses between the two?Could a 21-year-old Freddie Freeman make the same impact that a 23-year-old Ryan Klesko made during the early part of his career?At first glance, you might assume that Freeman's minor league numbers were inferior to Klesko's. With Klesko's claim to fame being power numbers, it would be easy to assume that he averaged more than 15 home runs a season in the minors, right?Looking at stats are always helpful. Over Freeman's 2008-2010 seasons in the minors, he has posted and average of 15 homeruns, 32 doubles, 80 runs batted in, and a .308 batting average.Now let's look at Ryan Klesko's same numbers. Over his 1990-1992 seasons in the minors, he averaged 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 60 runs batted in, and a .272 batting average.Freeman has put up better offensive numbers in the minor leagues than Klesko did during the same stage in his career.Freeman's average number of at bats until a home run was 30.4, while Klesko's was almost two at bats higher at 31.9. This could be a sign of things to come. Freeman could be able to make the type of impact Klesko made in '94 this Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
coming season. Though Freeman is two years younger than Klesko was at that time, the maturity and consistency he has shown thus far leads me to believe Freeman will arrive with a bang this season.Knowing that Klesko finally found his power stroke in his fifth professional season, Freeman could find himself energized accordingly in his fifth professional season. And if that happens, Braves fans will need to warm up their hips: Apache is going to be played a lot at Turner Field in 2011.

20 Dec 10 Falcons-Ravens: Will Thursday Be a Preview of Super Bowl XLV?

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesBaltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons Thursday November 11th, 2010 8:20 PM EST Line: Atlanta -1 Overview We could not ask for a better Thursday night matchup. The 6-2 Ravens could be the best team in the NFL. They have endured a brutal schedule thus far and this week will be no different. They travel to Atlanta to take on the red hot Falcons, who are also 6-2.We will see a clash between some of the best teams each conference has to offer and the one point spread could easily become Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
a pick’em game by kickoff. Keys to the Game Michael Turner has been held under 50 yards twice this year. Each have resulted in a Falcons loss. The Falcons rely heavily on Turner to open up the offense.After getting off to a slow start, he has rushed for 100 yards four out of the last six games and has done so in each of his last two outings. Turner will see a Ravens defense that allows 104.8 yards a game on the ground, but plays more stingy than their numbers indicate. Haloti Ngata is one of the best 3-4 nose tackles in the entire game. Ray Lewis is able to roam free while Ngata punishes centers and gets push into the backfield. While he leads the Ravens with five sacks this season, Ngata’s contribution to the team will not show up on a stat sheet.In a 3-4, it is imperative that the nose is ruthless and dominates the line of scrimmage. The interior offensive line becomes so wrapped up in Ngata that they aren’t able to get to the second level. If Ray Lewis is able to come free, it is going to be a long day for Michael Turner.Fabian Washington and Chris Carr don’t stand a chance against Roddy White. While both are capable corners and speed is not the issue, Roddy White is an unstoppable machine. White has racked up 796 yards already this season. What is even more telling of how much the Falcons rely on White is his 88 targets this season. Matt Ryan makes no secret about who his favorite target is. While teams know he is going to get the ball, they have still allowed him to rack up huge numbers.The Ravens need to call upon Ed Reed to roll over in coverage when possible or White could produce his fifth 100-yard game of the season.Ray RiceReebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
doesn’t have the same effect on the Ravens productivity as he had last year. While his numbers are down, his performance doesn’t have a correlation with the outcome of games.He averages 71.83 yards a game in their six wins and 87.5 yards a game in their two losses. While Rice contributes more to the offense than just running the ball-catching the ball out of the backfield well and being solid in pass protection, the Ravens have improved in their passing game.The key to Baltimore’s success is offseason acquisition Anquan Boldin. The Ravens have historically had average to below average receivers. Derek Mason has been adequate, but Boldin is possibly the most talented receiver they have had in franchise history. For a team that prides itself on toughness and grit, the Ravens could not have found a more perfect match than a receiver like Boldin. He was never given the respect he deserved in Arizona, playing second fiddle to Larry Fitzgerald, but has become Joe Flacco’s favorite receiver, amassing 546 yards already this season.Having a receiver like Boldin has allowed the Ravens to open up the playbook and add a new dimension to their offense without losing their physicality. Both teams have franchise left tackles and dominant pass-rushing defensive ends.Baltimore left tackle Michael Oher will be going up against John Abraham, who has racked up six sacks this season. Atlanta’s Sam Baker will have his hands full against Terrell Suggs, who has 4.5 sacks this season and constantly finds himself around the quarterback. While I don’t see either tackle letting their respective opponent having a multiple sack day, both matchups will be fun to watch as the game goes on. Who covers on Thursday?Who covers on Thursday?Falcons36.8%Ravens63.2%Total votes: 57Wrap Up The Ravens are 2-2 on the road, but they are playing their best football right now. Both teams are playing outstanding football and the Falcons are undefeated at home, but the Ravens should be able to break that streak on Thursday. They have too many weapons in too many places.Ray Lewis and the Ravens will be on a mission to proveReebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
to the nation that they are the best team in football. The Falcons will be trying to prove they can compete against anyone in the NFL. If you don’t have NFL Network, this might be a great time to contact your cable company. Free NFL Pick: Baltimore +1

19 Dec 10 Pittsburgh's Giant Step Back: Spygate and Steeler Nation's Embarrassing Act of Denial

Al Bello/Getty ImagesWe had made progress. We had become enlightened. Well, leave it to Steeler Nation to drag us back. I'm using the term "Steeler Nation" because I don't mean to single out the fans. I'm trying to include everyone who follows the Pittsburgh Steelers—professionally and unprofessionally. The issue is Spygate. The hot-button topic of 2007 was just that: a trendy subject three years ago. Talk, rumors and accusations have died down and pretty much out since then, save for a few revivals to insult Patriots fans in everyday Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
banter. It still follows the team to a degree. A sign at Heinz Field for last Sunday's Steelers-Patriots matchup read "Six rings, no cheatin," according to the Boston Globe's Shalize Manza Young. Whatever. That's from the fans, and is to be expected. What we got from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Joe Starkey, however, was not. Starkey felt like tackling a topic that is no longer relevant in serious football circles, mentioning that it was New England's first trip to Heinz Field since the controversy erupted in September of 2007. He reminded readers that the Steelers can feel robbed of Super Bowl berths, and that the fans can still look at the Patriots as thieves, crooks and swindlers. It's a reach that smacks of desperation and sounds hollow. And it represents an irrational group that simply can't accept reality. The truth is that the Patriots were a better team than the Steelers both times they played in the playoffs. Not both years, but both games. The 2001 Patriots were not as good as the Steelers. The 2004 Patriots, however, were better than Pittsburgh that year. On both occasions, however, New England took the field and outplayed the Steelers on the latter's home field. And "cheating" had nothing to do with it. As Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti pointed out on the daily Felger and Mazz show, the 2001 game came down to special teams. New England scored on a punt return and a blocked field goal in a seven-point win. The offense struggled to move the ball during the game. Stealing defensive Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
signals, if it happened, had no effect. A similar performance by the Miami Dolphins this season got a coordinator fired. Blame for such an effort belongs on the coordinator, not the opponent. In the 2004 AFC Championship Game, New England faced a Pittsburgh team that had thumped it during the regular season, and returned the favor. The Patriots did use footage of the Steelers for that game, but it was game film. The Patriots beat the Ravens last year at home, then got crushed by the same Baltimore team—at home—in the playoffs. Same principle. The Patriots were better in 2004, the Ravens were better last year. And if Pittsburgh fans are still adamant that there are questionable victories in the books, they can look at themselves. The Steelers had championship teams in 2005 and 2008 that were completely legitimate. The 2005 squad was a resilient group that rose from a sixth seed to win four playoff games, including two in difficult places to play (Indianapolis and Denver). The 2008 team was one of the decade's best defensive teams. But those titles don't go without skepticism. Super Bowl XL is universally considered to be one of the worst officiated games of recent memory. The Steelers in 2008 won a title in which they didn't have to go against their nemesis, Tom Brady. I won't even go into the steroid accusations surrounding the Steelers teams of the 1970s. I'm not suggesting the Steelers' titles are tainted. They went head-to-head with quality opponents each time and came out on top. They deserve their accolades. But if Pittsburgh fans want to cry foul, there's plenty of ammunition for the other side. Starkey's point represents a Pittsburgh culture that just doesn't want to believe the facts. So it doesn't. The Steelers Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
can't lose a Super Bowl. It must have been taken from them. The evidence suggests otherwise. Doesn't matter. New England won twice in Pittsburgh in the playoffs. The Steelers, on the other hand, have never beaten the Patriots in the postseason. The Steelers lost home AFC Championship Games in 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2004. Those are facts. Unpleasant ones. So the Steeler culture is to hide from them. Spygate's a dead issue. Sorry to have brought it up. But Steeler Nation, you left me no choice.

18 Dec 10 The Jets Move To 7-2 After An Exciting and Intense Overtime Battle In Cleveland

Leon Halip/Getty ImagesThe New York Jets—also Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
known as the overtime kids—do it again. The football gods can take that Tie and and keep it in Cleveland because the Jets were not settling for a draw. Just an absolutely outstanding effort all around (except you Nick Folk) for the Jets on this beautiful Sunday. And how about No. 6? The franchise quarterback is blossoming into the terrific leader we all thought he would eventually be one day when he was drafted. He showed it all today. He never panicked, even when the pocket was collapsing around him in overtime and on the Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
road. Brilliant poise. In all honesty, this might have been Sanchise's best game in the NFL thus far. Evading tackles, finding receivers on dead plays and being decisive when he had to think quick. In my opinion, Sanchez showed all the Jet faithful out there today that he's got what it takes to bring big fortunes to this team. Just when things were looking bleak, Mr. Sanchez just put the team on his back and won it for them. New York Jets football is definitely at an all time high as they have now moved to 7-2. Clearly the play of the Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
game was the slant to Holmes to seal the victory. Is that play even stoppable when Santonio is running that route? It basically won the game against Detroit and once again this time in Cleveland. Not to mention, massive props to Brian Shotty on calling a fantastic game for this offense.Next week the Jets should be able to push there stellar record to 8-2, as they welcome the slumping, yet very talented Houston Texans.

17 Dec 10 Brad Childress Fired: Latest Updates on the End of His Minnesota Vikings Reign

Matthew Stockman/Getty ImagesBrad Childress Fired. To many Vikings fans, it's about time. The Vikings had such high expectations coming into this season, and for a slew of reasons have been a tremendous disappointment. To owner Zygi Wilf, yesterday's 31-3 home blowout loss to division rival Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
Green Bay was the final nail in Chilly's coffin. Wilf fired Childress this morning and named defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier the interim coach. Only more questions and speculation will follow this move. Here are some. 03:09 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Players Didn't Have His BackPlayers Didn't Have His BackRegardless of all the troubles with Brett Favre and the Randy Moss fiasco, Childress was fired because he "lost the support of the locker room." Or at least that's what it appears.Earlier this year, there were published...Read more » 02:47 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Future Hall of Famers Take A Look At FavreBrad Childress Fired: Future hall of famers take a look at Brett FavreAn hour ago, Kurt Warner tweeted the following: Kurt Warner kurt13warner It would really bother me if 1 of my coaches got fired in the middle of my watch... I would partially b...Read more » 02:26 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: A Timeline of his Mis-stepsBrad Childress Fired: A Timeline of his Mis-stepsThe Vikings loss to Green Bay on Sunday was just another in the long line of mistakes Childress made during the past calendar year.Here are the top 10 reasons he is now unemployed:10: Losing the NFC...Read more » 02:01 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Head Coach Is Not The Only Question MarkHead coach is not the only question mark for the Minnesota Vikings and owner Zygi Wilf this offseason.Even if Leslie Frazier wows the front office and leads the team to a great finish, Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
earning the head coaching gig in 2011, the club has several hu...Read more » 01:46 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Head Coach Releases A StatementFired head coach Brad Childress released a statement to the press.According to a Minnesota ABC affiliate's website, Childress has said the following. "The past five years have been a tremendous experience for my family and I as the Head Coach of ...Read more » 01:30 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: The Rest of 2010 Will Be Hard On The ClubBrad Childress Fired:For weeks one major question around the NFL has been whether or not the Vikings can get back into the playoff race.They still aren't officially mathematically eliminated yet, so Minnesota fans can hold out hope. After all, sin...Read more » 01:14 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Offensive Decline In Minnesota Is To BlameOffensive decline in Minnesota is the main reason why the Vikings let Childress go. At least in terms of the on-the-field element.Last year, the Vikings finished fifth in the NFL (third in the NFC) in total yards per game and second in points scor...Read more » 01:05 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Who Is Leslie Frazier?Who Is Leslie Frazier?Even before joining the Vikings staff in 2007, Leslie Frazier was very familiar with the teams in the NFC North.A defensive back from Alcorn State, Frazier was an undrafted free agent signed by the Chicago Bears in 1981 and p...Read more » 12:53 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Adam Schefter Starts The ComedyBrad Childress Fired:There are sure to be plenty more of these types of quips, but in the early going, ESPN's Adam Schefter had the first great one.On his twitter account, Schefter wrote:"So I guess Brett Favre can now Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
drive Brad Childress to the ...Read more » 12:45 PM ETBrad Childress Fired: Front Office Sent Mixed Signals To The PressBrad Childress Fired:Owner Zygi Wilf will address the media at 4 p.m. today regarding the decision.But the front office sent mixed signals today, when they released the standard weekly itinerary for the team which included head coach Brad Childres...Read more »

16 Dec 10 NFL Quarterbacks: Race Still a Factor, According to ESPN's Jemele Hill

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesIs the headline above a bit of a stretch? An over-exaggeration of Jemele Hill's point in this ESPN article? Certainly. But so is every one of her points that were made in yet another claim that racism still plays a dominant role in professional sports, more so with NFL quarterbacks.I've read a few of Hill's article before, and most of the time she comes across as having a respectable and honest opinion.In her latest piece, her opinion may be honest, but it's far from respectable.Rather than simply spit back my Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
opinion on the subject at hand, I think the smarter move would be to address each and every point Hill made in her commentary.Let's begin."Has anyone else noticed all the drama surrounding black quarterbacks during this NFL season?• Jason Campbell, who has been fighting for his job all season in Oakland, was benched for the second time this year against Pittsburgh on Sunday.• Six-time Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb was replaced by Rex Grossman during the final 1:50 of a close game against the Detroit Lions earlier this month because Redskins coach Mike Shanahan claimed Grossman was better suited to run the team's two-minute offense. Shanahan questioned McNabb's "cardiovascular endurance."Chris McGrath/Getty Images• On Sunday, Titans coach Jeff Fisher demoted Vince Young to benchwarmer after Young threw a tantrum following Tennessee's 19-16 loss to Washington. Although thumb surgery is the official reason Young's season is over, Fisher made it clear before he knew the severity of Young's injury that his 27-year-old quarterback was being removed as the starter.The Raiders' Jason Campbell watched the fourth quarter of the Pittsburgh game from the bench.In 2007, McNabb told HBO's "Real Sports" that black quarterbacks in the NFL face more pressure and tougher criticism than white quarterbacks do. The responses were predictable.Racism is not an issue in the NFL.Stop pulling the race card.Quit whining.But if you've paid attention to how some of the league's black quarterbacks have been treated this season, McNabb's words seem even truer now than they were three years ago.I'm not calling anyone out for being racist, and I realize this might seem like an odd conversation to have considering that Michael Vick is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated and his comeback is one of the best sports stories of the year.Jared Wickerham/Getty ImagesI'm also not overlooking the facts that Campbell played poorly in the games in which he was benched, that Young's antics in Tennessee are largely to blame for his problems with Fisher, and that Shanahan has had difficult relationships with plenty of white quarterbacks in the past.But it still seems as if race is playing a role in how some black quarterbacks are treated, managed, perceived and, ultimately, judged."Certainly I've noticed the drama surrounding quarterbacks this season.But they're quarterbacks, not black quarterbacks.Brett Favre has been scrutinized over the past three seasons more than any black quarterback to play the game.Ben Roethlisberger faced enormous scrutiny for his irresponsible behavior this past off-season.Do you turn a blind eye to those situations, only to pull out the race card when three black quarterbacks face the smallest scrutiny?I hadn't heard a peep about Campbell's benching all season before this, and he's been downright terrible Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
when he's played.Donovan McNabb is 28th in the league in passer rating, and has more interceptions thrown than he does touchdowns.Marc Serota/Getty ImagesVince Young walked out on his team Sunday, and it isn't his first tantrum with the Titans.A number of white quarterbacks have been benched this year, not because of their skin color, but because of their performance.The same goes for black quarterbacks.The number of contradictions just in these first few paragraphs is humorous more than anything. The last four paragraphs are filled with double-takes and 180's every other sentence."McNabb's words seem even truer now than they were three years ago...I'm not calling anyone out for being racist...I'm also not overlooking the facts that Campbell played poorly in the games in which he was benched, that Young's antics in Tennessee are largely to blame for his problems with Fisher, and that Shanahan has had difficult relationships with plenty of white quarterbacks in the past...But it still seems as if race is playing a role in how some black quarterbacks are treated, managed, perceived and, ultimately, judged."Alright, let's try and decipher this. McNabb's remarks on racism are still true today, but you're not calling anyone racist. You're not overlooking the justification made for benching these quarterbacks, but it still "seems" as if race is playing a role?Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesSo what exactly is your point?I'm currently in high school, and on a daily basis in my English class I am reminded to keep "weaker" words such as think, believe, hope, seems, etc. out of my essays.Yet your basis for your points early on is that it "seems" like race is playing a role.You know, it seems like you don't have much factual basis for your argument, either.No, scratch that. You don't."The first time Campbell was benched this season was during halftime of the second game of the season.The impatience the Raiders have shown with Campbell is stunning. They gave up a fourth-round pick to get him, and were convinced he was the answer after things went south with draft bust JaMarcus Russell, another black quarterback.Campbell will start on Sunday against Miami, but it's baffling that he's still fighting with Bruce Gradkowski—whose career record as a starter is 5-11—for the No. 1 job.When he's good, Vince Young is very good. But he's also been immature at times.I know race doesn't completely explain the Raiders' treatment of Campbell or why he didn't work out for the Redskins. But Campbell's shortcomings are rarely clarified with the same perspective as some white quarterbacks.You hear about his 25-35 record as a starter, but you don't hear that he's played for a different offensive coordinator in every season since the Redskins drafted him in the first round in 2005.Most African-Americans are familiar with the notion that we have to be twice as good just to be considered equal with whites. And considering that there are only six black starting quarterbacks in the NFL, there isn't a lot of room for error."Campbell was benched after halftime of the second game because of how poorly he was playing. A 69.7 rating after week one, followed by a 42.9 rating in week two would have any quarterback on a team like the Raiders riding the pine.The fact is, Campbell wasn't performing.Pointing out JaMarcus Russell doesn't help, seeing how many chances he was given to redeem himself in Oakland—and how miserably he failed.Of course race doesn't explain the treatment of Campbell. It's performance.I've read countless times that he's played for a different offensive coordinator in each of his NFL seasons. The fact that he's lasted this long with a 25-35 record in today's NFL is shocking, really.When you say most African-Americans are familiar with the notion that they have to be twice as good to be equal, do you really believe that?Yes, there are only six black starting quarterbacks in the NFL. But there are also 31 black starting running backs (leaving one white).Last season, there weren't any white starting runningbacks.In 2005, not a single white halfback Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
received a carry. Why isn't this a problem?Adding to that, (according to Wikipedia) surveys show that about 57-61 percent of players in the NFL are non-white. Why is this not a problem? And this expands to all other professional sports as well.In the NBA, the percentage of white players hovers around 20 percent. Where's the hoopla on this one?In baseball, blacks argue that there aren't enough African-Americans playing the game today. But is that because of race, or because basketball has taken over the inner-city lifestyle?In the NHL, there are only a handful of black players. Why isn't there a stink made?Couldn't it just be that blacks don't want to play baseball and hockey and they are better at basketball and football in today's world?Why ignore the other side of the racism topic, you know, the facts.The numbers in the professional sports world are in favor of the African-American population. You don't hear about the need for more white players or fair treatment for them only because white's don't care.We realize what's going on has nothing to do with race. When will you?"Young and Fisher have had a number of problems over the years; and let's not pretend that Fisher, who I consider to be a good coach, is totally blameless.Young is 30-17 as a starter, and you could argue that he saved Fisher's job last season after the coach reluctantly inserted Young into the starting lineup following the Titans' horrific 0-6 start.As the starter, Young led the team to an 8-2 record down the stretch. Had he started the entire season, the Titans might have been a bigger threat to make the playoffs.During his time in Tennessee, Young certainly has shown some immaturity. He sulks. He refused to re-enter a game because the fans were booing him. He got into an altercation in a strip club this past summer, reportedly because a man insulted his school, the University of Texas. His behavior, at times, has been inexcusable, and it has undermined his incredible talent.But is it possible that some of Young's actions are a result of Fisher's lack of confidence, which has been a persistent issue since the Titans drafted Young against Fisher's wishes?Fisher and Young had completely different accounts of what unfolded after Sunday's loss to the Redskins. Undoubtedly, Young didn't handle himself like a professional; but then again, I don't know of any quarterback who would be happy about being replaced by a third-stringer.Young wanted to play despite a busted thumb. If Brett Favre had done that, we'd say he was being fiercely competitive.But this is Vince Young, so he's being a brat."Where you went wrong is making excuses for Young's actions because of Fisher's "lack of confidence."Vince Young is a 27-year old man. He is accountable for his actions, on and off the field. You agree that his behavior has been inexcusable at times, then go on to make a possible excuse. It's not Fisher's fault, it's Young's. Simple.The reason Young is looked as being a brat is because of his past. He's done this before, over and over again.You even stated his poor behavior.Why isn't Brett Favre looked at as a brat if he wanted to play despite injury? Well, it's because he's done it time and time again. We know he's a fierce competitor on the field.Young has shown almost nothing to earn that title.Plus, Brett Favre is widely considered a brat all across the nation. Just not for his on-field performance.Attempting to justify Young's tantrum by saying no quarterback would be happy about being replaced is a little off. Sure, no single player would like being replaced. But most would be professional about it.For example, Kevin Kolb was deemed the Philadelphia Eagles' franchise quarterback after McNabb's departure this past off-season. Not even a half into the season he was hurt, and Michael Vick went on to take over his starting job. Kolb wasn't exactly given his fair chance to prove himself, but he took the demotion professionally.And guess what? It was to a black quarterback."I don't question whether black quarterbacks receive opportunities in the NFL, because it's obvious they do. But how fair are those opportunities? Despite all the progress that's been made by black quarterbacks, why does it still seem as if they are held to a different standard?'Any franchise Caucasian quarterback will get unlimited opportunities to realize their potential,' says Shaun King, an African-American who quarterbacked the Tampa Bay Bucs to the NFC Championship Game in 1999. 'If Jay Cutler left Chicago, and even if he played badly, he's always going to be viewed as a franchise QB. For African-Americans, their value is strictly tied to their current performance. It's tough to stick up for Vince Young because his immaturity has been a consistent issue, but a Caucasian QB that has been as successful as Vince Young wouldn't be pulled as much as him.'In that interview with HBO, McNabb said this about quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning: 'Let me start by saying I love those guys. But they don't get criticized as much as we do. They don't.'He's Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
right. Manning has a Hall of Fame résumé and is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the position. But he isn't facing an avalanche of criticism from the fans and media for the interception against the Patriots on Sunday that ended the Colts' comeback attempt and sealed the game for New England.Manning accepted responsibility for the mistake, of course. But had that been McNabb, the reaction would have been downright vitriolic."Held to a different standard? No, they're held to the standard of performing as a professional NFL quarterback. If you call Young's antics and McNabb and Campbell's lackluster performance the standard of NFL quarterbacks, you're mistaken.Why don't Manning and Palmer get criticized as much as black quarterbacks? Well, who would criticize one of the best NFL quarterbacks of all time? He's been successful, he's won a Super Bowl, and he's been a professional in each and every way.Palmer has received more and more criticism with each season that goes by. But at the time, what was there to criticize? He was a winning quarterback who was one of the best in the league at the time. He didn't stir trouble. There wasn't a reason to criticize.What about Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo, Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Alex Smith, etc? These are all white quarterbacks who face scrutiny. Whether it's because of their on-field performance or off-the-field antics, the criticisms are there."People are still searching for ways to blame newcomer Terrell Owens for the Bengals' disappointing 2-8 season, even though Palmer has guided the Bengals to only two winning seasons and hasn't won a playoff game during his seven years in Cincinnati.So why doesn't Palmer get the Jason Campbell treatment? Why isn't he labeled an underachiever like McNabb?Palmer and Manning certainly have been criticized, but rarely in their careers have they faced the same microscope or backlash that McNabb, Vick, or most other black starting quarterbacks have.Hard to imagine that Donovan McNabb, an 11-year veteran, doesn't have the 'cardiovascular endurance' for the Redskins' two-minute offense.The late Steve McNair and the Titans had such a bad relationship at one point that the organization locked him out of the Titans' facility. On Tuesday, according to a report out of Nashivlle, Young showed up at the Titans' practice facility and was asked to leave.'When you're an African-American president, you have to be mentally tough. If you're an African-American heading American Express, you have to be mentally tough,' says Doug Williams, who is still the only black quarterback to win a Super Bowl (for the Redskins in 1987.) 'It's a lot of stuff we kick under the rug. As an African-American, there's just some credit you're not going to get.'And there's a certain amount of respect black quarterbacks still can't seem to earn.McNabb, who despite being an 11-year veteran who has been to five NFC title games, had to listen to his coach essentially call him too out of shape and simpleminded to run his offense.McNabb, by the way, has led 17 fourth-quarter comebacks and 25 game-winning drives in his career.I'm not saying black quarterbacks are above criticism or that race plays a role every time one of them loses his job. White quarterbacks are benched and second-guessed, too, same as black ones. It comes with the position, regardless of race.But if most of us agree that racism is still an issue in this country, how can we dismiss its influence in sports?The history of black quarterbacks in the NFL isn't pretty. Things have come a long way since Williams played, but it would be foolish to think that lingering perceptions and biases don't still exist. Let's not forget that while Vick was imprisoned for dogfighting, more than a few analysts suggested he should change his position when he returned to the field. That's what NFL scouts once told Warren Moon he had to do if he wanted to be drafted at all.After McNabb made his comments to HBO, Campbell and Young were quick to say they didn't feel like race was a factor in how they were perceived.I wonder if they feel that way now."Who would blame Owens for the Bengals' poor season? That's reaching for something that isn't there. Again, Palmer and Manning aren't criticized as much because there isn't much to criticize.McNabb irritated a lot of fans in Philadelphia because of how he came off as unenthusiastic and apathetic. Nobody viewed him as a black quarterback. He was just a quarterback who felt the need to label himself as a black quarterback.Then there's Michael Vick.The man mercilessly tortured and murdered countless dogs. He was never a model citizen and showed plenty of irresponsible behavior while with the Falcons. If that's not justification for criticism, what is? And now he's begun to redeem himself in the national spotlight. He's been given yet another chance, and people are accepting him once again.Blacks need to be mentally tough? We all need to be mentally tough.NFL coaches today are being shoved out the door in what feels like a weekly basis. Most of those coaches are white.Almost every position in the NFL is never secure, so no matter who's on the the field starting on Sunday's, they each need to be mentally tough.Regardless of color.I don't care if it "seems" like black quarterbacks can't get respect these days. It's simply not true.Nobody can really get respect these days. One day you're in the spotlight, the next, you're out.Whether you'd like to believe it or not, McNabb received the loudest ovation when entering the field of any player each and every Sunday during his tenure with the Eagles. He wasn't traded away because of lack of respect. It was due to the fact that he couldn't win a Super Bowl. In fact, the Eagles showed tremendous respect by sending him to a team he requested to go to, a team in their very own division for that matter.That's respect.NFL Scouts tell players all the time they need to change their position, or that they simply won't make it in the league. Color has no influence on that. Using two examples of Vick and Warren Moon is pathetic, honestly.I beg to differ that most of us country-wide see racism as a lingering problem in sports. It's only those narrow-minded thinkers that are too ignorant to realize that racism is a thing of the past.It's people like Campbell and Young that are right when they say race is not an issue. Bryant Gumbel is also frequently making note of the fact that color is no longer a problem.If blacks really wanted to be equal, can't they just be quarterbacks? Why does Donovan McNabb have to regard himself as a black quarterback? Never once have I heard a white man call any African-American player a "black" quarterback/ running back/etc.Quit reaching for what is not there.Racism does not exist in today's world of sports.Enough of the soft-shell feelings and paranoid attitudes.This is 2010.Our President is African-American, and one could argue that his race is a huge reason as to why.If anything, the professional sports world is more favored to blacks.The Rooney Rule forces teams to interview at least one minority coach before hiring any candidate.The quarterback Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
position is dominated by whites, yet the running back, wide receiver, and secondary positions are dominated by blacks.The facts are the facts, don't ignore them.You can use perception and gut feelings all you want, but in the end all that leads to is biased and irrational thinking.Donovan McNabb, Jason Campbell, Vince Young and Michael Vick are not black quarterbacks. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Carson Palmer and Tony Romo are not white quarterbacks. They're quarterbacks.The only way for true equality is to eliminate these monikers based on race and religion. And quite frankly, these labels are coming from the one's crying out for equality in the first place. If you wish to be equal, don't separate yourself from the rest.The problem of racism doesn't lie in the hands of those taking the criticism. It lies within those dishing it out. Take a long, hard look in the mirror and maybe you'll see that, too, Jemele.

49ers-Cardinals: Monday Night Football Battle To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
Monday November 29, 2010 8:30 PM EST
Line: San Francisco -2
Overview:
Here we are in Week 11 and the Cardinals and 49ers are both a miserable 3-7. Both teams have shown flashes of what they could be if they put it together, but poor quarterback play and an underachieving defense puts them tied for last place. That being said, the winner of this game will move to 4-7, putting them one game out of first place in the NFC West.
Keys to the Game:
Frank Gore needs to get a lot of football jersey
carries. Frank Gore always does well against the Cardinals and on Monday Night Football. When Gore does well, the entire offense clicks. Troy Smith showed last week that his game is obviously lacking in some areas. Gore will need to have a big day, which will be more difficult with two rookies on the field and two 49ers offensive linemen, Eric Heitman and Joe Staley, sidelined with broken legs.
How bad will the Cardinals be on offense? Larry Fitzgerald has been improving lately, but he still hasn’t taken over games like he did when Kurt Warner was there. The Cardinals will have a tough time running the ball, as Parick Willis leads a defense that is built to stop the run. The Cardinals are splotchy on offense and will need to limit mistakes in order to make this one close.
The Cardinals need to keep Troy Smith contained. Last week, Troy Smith had a tough game against the Buccaneers. The Bucs kept Smith contained in the pocket, which didn’t allow him to extend plays and get the ball down the field. Troy Smith got the start over Alex Smith because he showed he could get the ball to Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore. The Cardinals need to be aggressive on the outside with their pass rush and contain Troy Smith within the confines of the pocket. Joey Porter is going to have to have a big day for the Cardinals.
The 49ers defense needs to focus on the run. If the Cardinals get their run game going, they will be less apt to put the ball in the air, where they make mistakes. Last week, they allowed the Bucs to pound the football tirelessly. The 49ers have the personnel to shut down the run game, but they can get caught up in playing safe and making plays five yards down field, rather than at the line of scrimmage.
Taylor Mays should be back in the lineup. cheap nfl jerseys
Mays has done everything the 49ers have asked him to do. He might be shaky in coverage, but the 49ers need his sense of urgency on defense. He is a great tackling safety and he has been making plays this year. The 49ers needed to make changes after the slow start, but punishing Mays for doing everything they have called on him to do is unfair. The best 11 should be on the field and Taylor Mays is one of the best 11.
Troy Smith Vs. Derek Anderson
Troy Smith looked like he had complete command of the offense in his first two games. While a regression was obviously anticipated, the lackluster performance against Tampa Bay has fans wondering if they will ever find a legitimate starting quarterback. I anticipate he will get back on track this week. He doesn’t make a ton of mistakes, but he holds onto the ball far too long. The offensive line isn’t good enough to hang onto the ball and wait for things to develop.
Derek Anderson is one of those quarterbacks that fans have to hold their breath every single time he drops back to pass. Anderson still struggles to utilize his targets and he has meltdown potential. The winner of this quarterback battle will likely win the game. It is likely both will struggle, but whoever struggles less could come away with the victory. Playing mistake-free and allowing the other to self destruct could lead to a victory.
Wrap Up:
The Cardinals have dropped five games in a row. While the 49ers certainly have nothing to brag about at this point in the season, they have won two of their last three games and three of their last five. Both of these teams are definitely in panic mode at this point.
They need a win on Monday Night Footballto nfl jerseys
allow them any shot at creeping into the playoff talks. Both teams are obviously vulnerable. While it’s obviously the worst Monday Night matchup of the year, someone is still going to cover. I’m taking the 49ers, because the Cardinals don’t look they are going to be able to get out of their downward spiral.
Free NFL Pick: San Francisco -2

NFL Odds: Denver Broncos Getting Almost Double Digits at Kansas City Chiefs

Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesThe AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs have recorded blowout victories over Arizona and Seattle the last two weeks, but they were blown out at Denver three weeks ago. The Chiefs will try to avenge that lopsided defeat when they meet the Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday.NFL oddsmakers expect Kansas City to have its revenge. They have listed the Chiefs as a 9-point favorite with the total set at 48.5.Kansas City, who leads San Diego by one game in the West, can’t afford nfl jerseys
a letdown before meeting the Chargers in San Diego next week. But the Chiefs didn’t fare well in their first showdown with Denver. They fell behind 35-0 in the first-half of their embarrassing loss in the Mile High City.Motivated by that loss, Kansas City has bounced back strong. It crushed Arizona 31-13 on Nov. 21 and rolled past Seattle 42-24 last Sunday. The Chiefs racked up a season-high 503 yards of offense against Seattle.Quarterback Matt Cassel had one of his best days as a pro with four touchdown strikes. Three of them went to underrated wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who leads the NFL with 14 touchdowns. Bowe has now caught at least one touchdown pass in seven straight games.In all, he caught 13 passes for 170 yards and now ranks fifth in the league with 885 yards receiving.Kansas City’s league-leading rushing offense (174.3 yards per game) wasn’t to be outdone as it racked up 270 yards. Running back Jamaal Charles gained 173 of those yards on 22 totes to break 1,000 yards on the season.Kansas City does not want to fall behind early Sunday as that would keep it from establishing its running game. That was the case three weeks ago in Denver. The Chiefs should be able to find some running room against a Denver defense giving up 141.6 yards per game on the ground (30th in the NFL).Kansas City has to be happy to return home, where it is undefeated (5-0) and winning by an average of 14.2 points.The New Orleans Saints jersey
Broncos are just 3-7-1 against the spread in their last 11 trips to Arrowhead.Since blowing out the Chiefs three weeks ago, Denver has gone backwards. It fell 35-14 at San Diego on Nov. 22 and 36-33 to St. Louis last week. The Broncos trailed the Rams 33-13 before scoring 20 points in the fourth.Denver’s Nov. 14 win over the Chiefs is its only victory both straight up and against the spread in its last seven games. The Broncos are just 5-16 in their last 21 games since starting last season 6-0.While Denver’s playoff hopes are all but shot, it does have a chance to sweep the Chiefs for the first time since 2007.The Broncos just may be able to get that done if quarterback Kyle Orton continues his awesome play. Orton leads the NFL with 3,370 passing yards after throwing for 347 against St. Louis.The Purdue product picked apart the Kansas City secondary to the tune of 296 yards and four touchdowns last month. Orton certainly had a November to remember as far as personal accolades go, throwing eight touchdown strikes and only one interception.Playing just a few hours from his hometown of Altoona, Iowa, Orton may be poised to put on a show for friends and family making the trip.The Chiefs are just football jerseys
3-9-1 against the number in their last 13 games as a favorite.Jimmy Boyd brought home the bacon in Week 12, and he’s ready for another profitable week. Cash in big by betting the same NFL picks as this world champion handicapper!

Week 14 NFL Power Rankings: Focus on the Oakland Raiders

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesAt my site—www.GuysNation.com—I do a weekly power ranking of all 32 NFL teams. It's a hugely subjective process in which I account for a team's strength of schedule, margin of victory, good wins and bad losses.Where do the Chicago Bears jersey
Oakland Raiders currently rank?I'll admit it, I was starting to buy into the Oakland Raiders. Leading into their bye week, they went on three-game streak of victories, with two lopsided wins—against the Broncos in Denver and then while hosting the Seahawks. Their Week 9 victory over the Chiefs wasn't by a large margin, but the Chiefs are a good team and again, it's a division game.Following the bye week, I wondered what to expect as the Raiders traveled to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. Although the margin of victory was fairly large and Oakland didn't score a touchdown, every team is allowed to slip up here and there.Then I figured the Raiders would have a good follow-up as they hosted Miami in Week 12, but again they fell far short of victory, though not by a huge margin.In a very encouraging win, Oakland took down divisional opponent San Diego for the second time this season, bringing them to 4-0 against the AFC West this season which is very impressive as teams often lose three games on their schedule in the away games in their division. Two of those road games are already accounted for, making it even more of a resume shining star.Does it seem like the Raiders will be a playoff team? They could certainly cause havoc if they reach the postseason, and they've definitely got a leg up on San Diego after beating them twice. But the Chiefs have a two game overall record advantage over Oakland, so even if the Raiders beat Kansas City again this season it's going to be tough to overtake them for the division, so it's going to be all about the wild card.Twelve teams make the playoffs...do I have the Raiders in that group?For the complete rankings and analysis, check out the article on my website, Unlike Power Rankings you see elsewhere, nfl throwback jerseys
your comments could help persuade me to rank your team better after Week 13!You also will probably enjoy voicing your opinion through voting in nearly a dozen polls set up to help get people's feedback on the Power Rankings!You also might like the dueling NFL Week 14 picks article on GuysNation.com, a new(ish) feature where the games on a given week's NFL schedule are debated amongst myself and another author on my site (who just happens to be a LIFE LONG PHILADELPHIA EAGLES FAN, so you KNOW he's got a high opinion of his opinion!)

Pittsburgh Steelers Antwaan Randle-El

The Pittsburgh Steelers' "One for the Thumb" year wasn't just a football season, it was a made-for-TV movie.The team's progress into the Super Bowl and beyond had all the thematic elements that Hollywood has grown to love -- happy times in the beginning, followed by a crisis (an injury to QB Ben Roethlisberger and three straight losses), then a dramatic resolution. The 21-10 Super Bowl victory over Seattle was dedicated not only to homecoming and retiring veteran RB Jerome Bettis, but to head coach Bill Cowher 4 Brett Favre White jersey
(frustrated in 10 previous trips to the playoffs) and the no-nonsense but lovable Rooney family. It was a heartwarming story indeed.But will it continue? Four key Steelers -- DE Kimo von Oehlhofen, DB Deshea Townsend, WR/KR Antwaan Randle-El and DB Chris Hope -- will be free agents, along with backup quarterback Charlie Batch. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, author of the trick play that produced one of three touchdowns against the Seahawks, almost took the ' head coaching job. Of course, all this is nothing new. There was some consternation in Steeler Nation last year when the team let WR Plaxico Burress walk, only to be replaced with cheers for bargain basement free agent replacement Cedrick Wilson. The question is whether or not they can afford to do the same with Randle-El, who is not only a solid receiver but one of the league's best punt returners and a guy who can play quarterback in a pinch.The team believes nickel back Bryant McFadden can step in for Townsend and Brett Keisel for von Oelhofen, and the Steelers will save $5.6 million if Bettis -- the Bus -- parks himself for good. That would seem to leave Randle-El and Hope as the key free agent targets, although Pittsburgh will also make a serious effort to resign Batch.Bettis was certainly on the downside of his career, although still thunderingly scary as a red zone back, but his departure will leave a hole the size of, well, a bus. While Willie Parker emerged as the starter in 2005, his performance was uneven (the 75-yard touchdown run against Seattle was his only significant touch all night).If Duce Staley can come back from the knee injury that sidelined him most of 2005, he'll probably step into Bettis' role. Verron Haynes is the third down back, Dan Kreider the fullback. And that's it.All of this makes the 2006 draft highly problematic, even beyond the fact that it's almost impossible to plan when you're picking last. If Randle-El stays, the Steelers are set at wide receiver. If he goes, they'll have to look elsewhere for another wideout. Center Jeff Hartings, although a Pro Bowler, is getting old and prone to injuries. Another running back has to be a priority, if only for reasons of depth. Should both Hope and Townsend escape as free agents, the secondary will be suddenly thin.It's also difficult to ignore the fact that Pittsburgh got some breaks along its difficult path (five straight victories on the road, three of them as a wild card in the post-season) to Detroit. Dallas Cowboys jersey
Cincinnati seemed poised to eliminate its old nemesis before QB Carson Palmer was knocked out of their playoff game early in the first quarter. Roethlisberger was in the right place at the right time to keep the Colts' Nick Harper from scoring on a last-ditch interception return. In the Super Bowl itself, the Steelers were the beneficiaries of several close officiating calls that could have gone either way, as well as subpar performances by both Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck.This is a very good team, in short, with one of the stronger defenses in the league. But it's probably not a dominant team.Noted coach Cowher in the Super Bowl afterglow: "It's going to be like starting over. We're going to be re-establishing our group of guys with the mentality and identity that's going to be different from this season."He has no choice. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, 2005-06 will never be duplicated.

San Francisco 49ers Ahmed Plummer Johnnie Morton Chris Cooper

On Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers took action to prepare their roster for the future. They did this by releasing CB Ahmed Plummer, WR Johnnie Morton, and DE Chris Cooper. The move sends a clear signal that head coach Mike Nolan only wants players on his team that have a chance to 36 Bettis Black Jersey
contribute in the future. This mode of thinking is in clear contrast to last season when Nolan joined the club with a 'win now' attitude. The change of direction occurred after another miserable season, and hopefully did not come a year too late.Ahmed Plummer was a former first round draft pick of the 49ers. He has been the team's longest-standing defensive back over the last few years – but most of his seasons have been plagued by injury and somewhat inconsistent play. Plummer was an average corner with the team, but his salary structure was far above his value to the team. The 49ers will have to take a salary cap hit of about $7.5 million for his release.Wide receiver Johnnie Morton brought a veteran presence to the team's young receiving corps and stepped in admirably for Cedric Wilson who left to the join the Super Bowl champion Steelers last offseason. Morton was benched for the final two weeks of the season despite being healthy as the team began preparing its roster for the future. The 49ers dealt with injuries to receivers all last season, and also lost Derek Hamilton, PJ Fleck, and former first-round pick Rashaun Woods to the injured reserve. This move likely raises the need to add some security to the teams' receiving depth chart. Morton's departure leaves the 49ers with about $75 000 in dead money.Defensive end Chris Cooper spent the season on injured reserve in 2005, and since the 49ers are likely to address their defensive line issues this offseason, they likely felt that Cooper was not in their long-term plans. Cooper signed a 2 year contract last offseason, and the dead money created by his departure will be quite minimal.49ERS WIN COIN TOSSAccording to various published reports the San Francisco 49ers 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
have won the coin toss between them and the that was held at the NFL combine on Friday morning.That means that the 49ers will have the sixth overall pick in this April's NFL draft while the Raiders will settle for the seventh overall pick.For the latest news, draft information, and resources about the 49ers visit 49ersparadise.com - you can also contact Bryan Hersh from there

San Francisco 49ers "Sidney Rice draft prospectus"

In Monday's column regarding Dwayne Jarrett and the chances he could be drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, I wrapped things up with the following paragraph:"In my opinion, Jarrett will be a very good pro ... (but) I really don't think the Niners are going to be taking him, especially when they could get the same type of Steelers 43 Polamalu jersey
receiver in the second round." The player I was referring to has a name that all football fans are familiar with. A name that helped define the 49ers franchise for nearly two decades: Rice. Jerry Rice, to be exact.Today's Rice, Sidney, is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver from the University of South Carolina who chose to declare for the draft after his redshirt-sophomore season. Although many scouts feel Rice should have returned to school for one more year of polishing, he is still a phenomenal athlete, and he has arguably the best hands of any receiver in the draft. Rice only played two seasons for the Gamecocks, but he put up remarkable numbers and dominated his SEC opponents each week. In 24 games he grabbed 142 passes for 2,233 yards (15.7 per catch) and 23 touchdowns.In the NBA, a prospect with a large wingspan and excellent vertical leap is referred to as "long," and the word is a fitting description of Rice. With his long arms, lanky frame and 39.5-inch vertical, he plays even taller than his substantial 6-3 height, and he has a natural advantage over the smaller cornerbacks in the NFL. Granted, Rice is not as well built as Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Jarrett or Dwayne Bowe, but he is physical enough to shield off defensive backs and knows how to use his body to his advantage. Also, he is excellent at catching the ball at its highest point, and he rarely used his body to make the catch. He knows how to set up cornerbacks when he runs his routes, too, and does not take false steps.Though Rice is not a speed demon like Robert Meachem or Ted Ginn Jr., he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, which is good enough for him to be a dominant force in the NFL in the right system. No matter what, he will be the type of red zone threat teams crave -- Chris Henry minus the baggage...and gun.In spite of all of his positive attributes, however, Rice is not projected as a top pick in the draft. NFLDraftCountdown.com says of Rice, "The key word is upside, and Steelers 43 Polamalu jersey
had he gone back to school for one more year he might have been a top five-10 overall pick in 2008...A bit of a project who teams will have to be patient with and develop, but he certainly has No. 1 wideout potential at the next level and could ultimately end up being a steal."Rice could certainly end up being a steal, because he will be almost assuredly be available in the second round when the Niners are on the clock. I hesitate to use the word "guarantee," but depending on your outlook on the class, there are five receivers who will likely go ahead of him: Johnson, Jarrett, Ginn Jr., Bowe and Meachem. But why? Well, for one, he has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career. He missed the 2004 season because of a hyper-extended left knee; he broke a finger and had to have surgery on it in 2005; and prior to the 2006 season, he broke his thumb.Big deal. Niners running back Frank Gore barely even played in college, and he had one of the most productive seasons in the history of the NFL last year.Another knock on Rice is his lack of experience. Again, big deal. As mentioned earlier, it's widely believed that had he waited to come out in 2008 draft, he'd have been a top-10 pick. He has all the talent and potential you can ask for in a receiver, and for the 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Niners, he is the perfect fit in the second round. San Francisco needs a receiver with height who can make plays in the red zone. As of right now, the 49ers simply do not have that player on their team, and they will not find someone with Rice's potential later in the draft. Question? Comment? Have a player you want to see profiled? E-mail Thomas at tsorrell .Stay up to date with the San Francisco 49ers and the rest of the NFL this offseason

Soft Schedule Early

Wasn't there a book called "A Tale of Two Seasons"?It's a question I should know the answer to, seeing as I was an English major during Reagan's second term. But my time now is spent watching football, following football news and then writing about football. So with that in mind, I tried to analyze the ' 2006 schedule. 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
And this year could truly turn out to be a tale of two seasons.This Sunday the Colts will beat up, I mean play, the Tennessee Titans -- a squad they manhandled 35-3 the last time they met. The matchup follows games against the Giants, Texans, Jaguars and Jets. After the Titans game, Indianapolis gets a week off to rest. Not exactly the toughest start to an NFL season, eh?Despite struggles in several of those contests, the Colts won all of their first four games and should, by all accounts, go into their bye with a 5-0 record to look back on.But looking ahead it's an entirely different scenario.First, the Washington Redskins come to town, a team just waking up and still clawing their way up the NFC East division standings. After that the Colts travel to Denver to play against the Broncos, who always play well at Mile High. Next they head to New England to try and avenge a few recent playoff losses to the Patriots. Then it's home against Buffalo, away at Dallas and home against Philly.To top it off they play three of their final five games on the road, where all football teams play a little bit better -- even the Titans.That stretch has to concern the team's top brass, to put it mildly. With the defense still missing standouts Corey Simon and Bob Sanders, and with Dwight Freeney not at 100 percent yet this season, there's reason to be worried. The Colts have not shut down an opponent's running game yet, and they've only succeeded in their own ground game against Houston and the Jets, two teams that haven't stopped anyone's backs.The 6 Sanchez White Jersey
Redskins, Broncos and Cowboys all run and defend against the run very well. Indianapolis should have a good gauge on how the season might turn out by the time those three contests are over in mid-November.Rest up, boys -- you're gonna need it. That undefeated feeling won't last long after the bye week.Original insights