30 Dec 10 What LeBron James Needs To Be the Next Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan

Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesOk, first of all, let's see who Lebron James must compete with to make this top 10 list.1. Michael Jordan2. Kobe Bryant3. Shaquille O'Neal4. Wilt Chamberlain5. Bill Russell6. Magic Johnson7.Larry Bird8. Kareem Abdul Jabbar9. Hakeem Olajuwon10. Tim DuncanWhy Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
Aren't Wilt and Bill Higher? And Where Is Oscar?Those players played when the league was less competitive and only featured a small number of teams.Also basketball has changed and it has become harder to score. It is IMPOSSIBLE to average 27 rebounds and 50 points per game in a season nowadays.These guys are more like myths of the past; even though they were great players and would have been if they were in the NBA today.The Accomplishments of the GreatestWe have the Chicago Bulls' legendary Michael Jordan and the Los Angeles Lakers' living legend Kobe Bryant.The two men have a combined 10 Championship rings, both have been NBA Finals MVPs, and the two boast 26 All-Star game appearances combined. Both are slam dunk champions, first team All-NBA members, first team All-Defense members, and former scoring champions.One scored 81 in a regular season game, and the other scored 63 in a Playoff game. Both have multiple clutch performances and both have countless game winners.Assassin's MentalityWhat separates these two from the pack is their mind. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have so much in common, including their assassin's mentality.No matter how great James is, or how great he WILL be, he needs the assassin's mentality of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan in order to go down in the books as the greatest.Their will to win and their willingness to do anything to leave with a "W" are why MJ and Bryant perform so well in the clutch.That assassin's mentality provides Jordan and Bryant the ability to perform extremely well when hot.You know when Kobe is about to drop 40-plus. It's that hard shot he makes, that shot that he has no hope of draining but it goes in anyway. Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
That's when he becomes almost unstoppable. It only takes that ONE shot, that one little shot, to spark a bomb.James does have hot streaks, but he doesn't ride the flow as well as Bryant and Jordan.Jordan and Bryant are, without a doubt, the best finishers in basketball history. When they have got you down, no matter how bad, they want to step on you. They want to spit on you, and keep you down.When on the receiving end, however, they will topple that leadand take over.Kobe Bryant Doin' WorkAnother big thing James needs to learn is how to work.Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan were both consummated professionals. Bryant especially, is the hardest worker on the planet.Bryant will not take time off for the big screen like his counterparts, James and Shaq, have.Well, James never has, but he will star in a movie this summer, missing international play.Bryant will play the game, no matter how hard, or easy. Through injuries or not, this warrior will not only rise, but take over.Bryant is immortal compared to James.While James is enjoying his popularity and flashy lights, Bryant is in a dark place working.Even when Bryant was young, he denied party invitations, just to practice basketball.James, now an MVP, parties with celebrities nonstop.He may be the people's champion, but it takes hard work to be the best.Jordan Doin' WorkJames may have been gifted with his talent, his inhuman speed and size, but Bryant and Jordan were not. They had to work for it, and that is why they are more respected by peers.Bryant and Jordan both have hatersBryant especiallybut peers know just how great they really are.Bryant can be the best perimeter defender in the league when he faces starsthe likes of James, Wade, 'Melo, Johnsonbut he is often lazyReebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
with lesser ballers.Jordan was the best perimeter defender of all time. He played that same defense Bryant plays, but he played it ALL the time, which is why Jordan tops Bryant on the basketball mountain.James will need to learn how to take apart the opposing team, piece by piece. He WILL learn to immobilize opponents with his mindset alone.When he gets this assassin's mentality, I might consider putting LeBron next to Jordan, then Kobe Bryant.

29 Dec 10 LeBron James Can Not Be a Knick in 2011

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesIn 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers took a 19-year-old phenom straight out of high school with the first pick of the NBA draft. Six years later, LeBron James is standing on top of the basketball world entering the final year of his contract with Cleveland. The Cavs finished the 2009-2010 regular season with a 61-21 record which was good enough to clinch the NBA's best record, as well as home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.James finished the season in MVP fashion, finishing with 29.7 PPG, 8.6 APG, and 7.3 Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
RPG.Everything looks set for James to bring a championship back to Cleveland, so what can possibly be the problem?Over his young career, James has dazzled basketball fans everywhere with his emphatic scoring and thunderous dunks. He has been compared to some of the best ever. He has been swept in the NBA Finals. And now he is contemplating leaving the franchise that has made him into a superstar.The New York Knicks seem to have the inside track on signing James to one of the richest deals in NBA history. James' intriguing decision will generate interest all over the world during the offseason as he contemplates signing with a big-market team. Will signing with the Knicks have the entire sporting industry eating out of James' hands? Yes. Will signing with a big-market team make James one of the richest athletes in the world? Sure. But if James decides to become a Knick in 2011, not only will he lose respect from his Cleveland fans, he will tarnish his legacy forever.Signing with the Knicks will create havoc for anybody Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
who has respect for the game of basketball. James belongs in Cleveland and everybody would probably agree. To leave a championship-caliber team for a rebuilding, money-market franchise is ridiculous and absurd. If you add the fact that Cleveland has the cap room to sign James to a rich deal, only one can ask themselves, "What is LeBron going to do in New York?"If James ever wants to be considered one of the greatest of all time, he will remain in Cleveland for the rest of his career. If James has an ounce of loyalty and respect for the game of Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
basketball, he will remain a Cavalier for the rest of his career. If James wants to win multiple NBA championships and be mentioned in the same breath as Michael, Larry, and Magic, he will remain a Cavalier for the rest of his career.Mickey Mantle was a Yankee, Michael Jordan was a Bull, Joe Montana was a 49er, Larry Bird was a Celtic, James Worthy was a Laker, Emmitt Smith was a Cowboy, and hopefully, LeBron James will be a Cavalier.

28 Dec 10 Basketball Commentator Power Rankings 2010

Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesWith the recent announcement of NBA awards, I have been thinking about player rankings. There are so many metrics! Were all familiar with the stats per game metrics, assist to turnover ratio, +/-. These metrics are simple- there are plenty more complicated stats like PER, true shooting percentage, usage rate, value added, etc. These metrics aren always clear, but they give us a variety of ways to try and quantify a player value to a team. My dream job is to be a basketball color commentator, so IReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
set out to rank commentators in my first Commentator Power Rankings column. How will I evaluate commentators in a fair and balanced way? I propose a new metric with which we can judge a commentators value to a broadcast:Commentator Efficiency Rating:[ (interesting insights) x (catch phrases) ] annoying factor + number of made up words used + former player?For non math-majors, things on the top of the fraction make a commentator better, the higher the stuff on the bottom, the lower the CER will be. Now let get down to business- here is my commentator power rankings for 2010:473. Steven A. Smith I think this one is self-explanatory. But to be fair, there is nothing that we can learn from the sideline of a basketball game that the crew at half-court couldn tell us. Ric does ok, but, is it just me or is it possible Ric is a robot? And his orange hue is shocking Tan much?28. Mike TiricoStick to the Masters MikeNot horrible, but too friendly for my taste, Mike Tirico comes in at 28 this year. Seems to have a low basketball IQ. You know what youre getting with Mike- a solid but uninteresting broadcast.27. Jalen Rose Does pretty well for a former player, but Im not impressed. Hampered by inconsistent dress choice and one of the worst broadcasting voices, Jalen analysis on ESPN is standard at best. Better choices among former players include Reggie Miller, Gary Payton, and Brent Barry.26. Cheryl Miller Cheryl is my favorite sideline reporter if only because she is taller than many of the players she interviews. You better be nice toReebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
Cheryl, shell kick your ass if you aren.25. Jon Barry The worst baller of the Barry clan, Jon adds little to the ESPN halftime shows. He lacks personality and is nowhere near as funny as brother Brent. To compound these shortcomings, he lacks the basketball clout to make up for his uninspired television performances.24. Stu Scott Stuart Scott CER just keeps on falling. A stalwart of the 90s, Stu has become a one-trick pony. His overuse of one-word, staccato, declarative street phrases has gotten stale. This is national television Stu, not The Best of Rucker Park on the WB.23. Magic Johnson Great player, poor broadcaster. He makes no effort to try and hide his pro-Laker bias. His interviews with big-time players are lame. I might even prefer Jon Barry to Magic. Look for his CER to fall next year.22. Doug Collins Where to start? Doug Collins talks too much. Way too much. He has a severe case of diarrhea of the mouth. He will talk for minuets without stopping if you let him; the play-by-play guy has a hard time getting a word in edgewise. Doug is my least favorite color commentator. I hope he accepts a coaching job so we don have to listen to him anymore.21. Kenny Anderson Kenny Pictures is not a great segment. Rarely, if ever, does Kenny say anything noteworthy or particularly revealing. I like the banter he shares with Charles, but that alone was not enough to move Kenny any higher than 21.20. Mike Fratello The Czar is nothing special as a color commentator. Like the distinctive voice, but not sure about his analysis at times. Somewhat obnoxious. Actually, straight up obnoxious. Don have anything horrible to say about The Czar, but nothing great to say either.19. Tim Legler Tim does a solid job as a basketball commentator on SportsCenter. His opinions are well grounded, and he is not obnoxious. Could lose the 90s flip hairstyle though; I keep expecting to see him with frosted tips.18. Avery Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
Johnson Avery has one of the most distinctive voices in all of television. I like this enthusiasm and passion for the game. Have to wonder why this guy doesn have a coaching job yet. If I had a team, preferably one in Seattle, and I couldn hire Jeff Van Gundy, Id hire Avery. My confidence in his coaching abilities didn help his CER though.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ghbtjykb-0feature=player_embedded17. Mark Jackson Mark Jackson struggles as a color commentator are even more visible when he works with Kevin Collabro. Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy seem to bring out the best in Mark, whose strongest commentary comes in the form of arguments with former coach Jeff. He overuses his catchphrase Momma there goes that man, which I don find particularly strong to begin with. I know he is a former player, but I think Mark could do better. I wonder if Momma is pleased her son is ranked 17th16. Chris Webber Chris Webber is a bit of an enigma. Funny at times, but not so articulate on basketball analysis, he is someone whose reputation as a player has become greater because of his broadcast career. When I see him on TV, and he says something funny or smart, I think to myself, Yeah. Chris was a great player, he knows what he talking about. Looking back at Chris stats though, we can see that he had a great career but was not an all-time great. His strong on-air personality makes us forget about his attitude problems that got him traded from Golden State to the Bullets after his Rookie of the Year season. Has potential to be a really solid broadcaster- not sure he is sharp (or interesting) enough to become the next Barkley.15. Austin Carr Austin Carr, or Mr. Cavalier as his friends call him, is the local TV color commentator for the Cavs.

27 Dec 10 What If Magic Johnson Had Played His Career with the Chicago Bulls?

You can't have a discussion about the 1980's Los Angeles Lakers without mentioning the name Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The former Michigan State star led the team to five NBA titles during the decade, teaming up with the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.However, Johnson in Lakers purple and gold almost didn't happen.In 1979, years before the draft lottery, the Lakers and the Chicago Bulls participated in a coin flip for the top overall pick. The Lakers won and selected Johnson, while the Bulls took UCLA forward David Greenwood.Johnson went on to become the greatest point Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
guard ever, while Greenwood turned out to be well, David who? No, seriously Greenwood did have a few solid seasons in the league, but he wasn't a Hall of Famer or even an All-Star like Johnson. Fortunately, the Bulls drafted Michael Jordan in 1984 and you know how the story goes.But imagine if Chicago won the coin flip and drafted Johnson. Supposedly, he stated that he would have remained in school rather than join the Bulls since the only reason he opted to go to L.A. was to play alongside Abdul-Jabbar.Well, let's say he chose to play for the Bulls.Johnson wouldn't have won a championship as a rookie like he did in Los Angeles. So that means no memorable 42 point, 15 rebound and seven assist Game Six in the NBA Finals.Johnson however, still would have put together a brilliant rookie year in Chicago.The Bulls would have sported a pretty solid trio of Johnson, Reggie Theus, and Artis Gilmore. Not quite a Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant/Dennis Rodman, but nonetheless competitive in the early '80s.Chicago may have never reached the Finals since they would've had difficulty getting past talented Eastern Conference teams like the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit "Bad Boy" Pistons.That said, Johnson just might have joined the likes ofReebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing as all-time greats whom never won a championship.The Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry probably still would havetook place, but in the Eastern Conference playoffs instead of the Finals.With Johnson not with the Lakers, the Celtics may have won a few more titles in the '80s. But then again, you never know who the Lakers would have acquired to team up with Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy.And it's also unclear what pieces Bulls management would have surrounded Johnson with. They likely wouldn't have been lousy enough to get the opportunity to draft Jordan or Pippen, so they might have landed Malone in 1985, who was the 13th pick.Johnson and Malone paired together could have meant the Bulls win multiples titles, maybe even six like Jordan and co. brought to Chicago.Who knows?Maybe a statue of Johnson instead of Jordan gets built outside of the United Center and No. 32 hangs in the rafters instead of No. 23.And with Johnson in Chicago, where does Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
Jordan and Pippen wind up? MJ possibly lands out west with the Dallas Mavericks and maybe Pippen never gets traded by the Seattle SuperSonics.There's a lot of things that could have happened if Magic had become a Bull.But we'll never know.

26 Dec 10 Confessions Of A Laker Fan: Steve Nash Hasn't Gotten Enough Credit

It happened in the most ironic way possible.Anything that would matter had already been said or done and the Phoenix Suns season ended prior the NBA Finals, as it usually does.After all of his big talk, Amar'e Stoudemire hurried off to his team locker room, Kobe Bryant was celebrating on the same court where he had been dealt such pesky frustration only three years ago, the majority of the Suns team congratulated the Lakers, which Steve Nash had already done and Nash was in the home team locker room, crying.Here was Steve Nash New England Patriots jersey
was at his lowest moment. He had been driven to tears, his team had been broken and finally beaten, but only after witnessing that vulnerable moment did I finally get it.Id been disrespecting one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game.I haven't exactly been alone in that folly. How long has Nash been associated with the word "soft" and with his inability to capture the NBA title?Yet, here was this man who had literally given his blood, sweat and tears in his attempt to capture the championship. Hell, hed given bucket-loads of all the above repeatedlyisn that all you can ask of a leader?My gripe with Nash was never his offense. In fact, I firmly believe that the only hands-down better playmaker the NBA ever seen at the point guard position is Magic Johnson.I had my gripes with Nash defense. Sometimes it just didn seem like he was even trying. Other times he looked almost confused, as though he was on the wrong end of the court.My biggest gripe with Nash was his complacency.Here was a man with unsurpassed passing skills and one of the purest shots on this side of Larry Bird, yet he chose to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns after they had failed to even qualify for the playoffs, without as much as a moment hesitation.He made no demands for an improved roster, he made no attempt to recruit other players to his team at least not publicly, but yet here he was, at 35 years old signing an extension with a team that hadn even feigned contending for years.An MVP doesn do that, or at least I didn think so.Then there were the consistently nagging excuses Nash made on behalf of his team failures, both regular-season and playoff related. My personal favorite was nobody gave us Pau Gasol for nothing.But in the Western Conference New Orleans Saints jersey
Finals, Steve Nash made no excuses.He never quit, never surrendered and never stopped encouraging his team. In fact, Nash was all that kept the Suns in Game 5 until the very closing seconds. He hit shot after shot over the 7 foot Pau Gasol, whom Phil Jackson frustratedly sicced on Nash in the game's final moments.Nash confidently hit each shot, despite the intrusive defensive of Gasol, who averages nearly 2 blocks per game in this post-season.Even Nash defense stepped up. Nash had not only been matched against Kobe Bryant time and again, he even managed to stay in front of him. In fact, Im not sure if Kobe scored on Steve Nash in the entire series.The fact of the matter is that this Suns team isn very talented top to bottom. Im not even sure the Suns have a player with anything resembling an all-around game.Yes the Suns have Stoudemire, but Stoudemire only averaged six rebounds a game in the biggest series of his life. (Small forward indeed, Sir Charles).Yes, the Suns have a bunch of guys that can shoot well, but no one who can consistently create their own shot.Yes they have another playmaker in Goran Dragic, who is undoubtedly reaping the benefits of playing behind a talent like Nash, but Dragic can be a hero one game and then become nothing short of tragic the next.Don get me wrong, Nash isn LeBron James.He isn capable of literally winning games by himself. Nash needs more than four other guys to serve as ricocheting brick walls after passing to them but there no question that Nash is one of the most empowering, inspirational leaders the game has ever seen.The only reason the Suns made it as far as they did is because of their chemistry.A lot of the credit for that goes to coach Alvin Gentry, who I believe New York Giants jersey
should have gotten far more consideration for the Coach of the Year award than he actually did but the rest of it is solely because of Nash.Im not ready to repeal my belief that Nash two MVPs put him in a category where he doesn belong.He has the talent, but still lacks the physicality and nastiness required to lead a team to a championship title but he doesn lack the heart.I see that now

25 Dec 10 Delonte West: Should He Come Back To the Boston Celtics?

Elsa/Getty ImagesHave you ever been unfortunate enough to have a team lose a game on a last second shot to finish the season? Like the way Duke fans might have felt if Butler's half court heave had fallen in the NCAA finals? This means for many months you have anticipated holding some silverware, only to have that taken away with one play.You may experience an overpowering feeling of shock, nausea, or ultimately, hopelessness, and may not be proud of your immediate behaviour at a later review.Luckily, that is if you have Buffalo Bills jersey
not incited a riot or started a bar fight and subsequently have to deal with the law, you will recover and move on; but for people suffering from bipolar disorder, this is a constant feeling.Bipolar disorder is a mental illness which can see sufferers experience depression, paranoia, and hallucinations. As this disease is hard to diagnose, many celebrities use it as an excuse for erratic behaviour.From Britney Spears shaving her head and holding the media hostage to her melodrama, to Robert Downey Jr.'s illegal drug affair, to Jean Claude van Dam plummet into cocaine snorting and spousal abuse, bipolarism is the common theme (or so they say).Welcome to the life of Delonte West, who has had a history of sullen silences, and out of the ordinary behaviour. In 2008, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave him time off to seek treatment and he has been seen speaking to the team psychologists on numerous occasions, plus his teammates have even accepted his short comings.Do you think the Celtics should pursue WestDo you think the Celtics should pursue WestYes63.4%No36.6%Total votes: 715"We've been around this block before with Delonte, so we know how to handle it," LeBron James said, commenting on West unexcused absence at the start of training camp last season.This history gives the story merit that the guard does suffer from bipolar disorder after police pulling him over on a three-wheel motorbike armed to the teeth with a 9mm Berretta in his waistband, a Ruger .357 strapped to his leg, a shot gun inside a guitar case, on his back, and also carrying an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife.Amanda from Health.com did an interview with Kenneth Robbins, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison last year. Although he was not familiar with West individual case, he was able to shed some light on the illness.The vast majority of the time, when they not manic and they not depressed, these people are just like everybody else, says Dr. Robbins. So if they commit a crime, the bipolar disorder should only play a role if they were either depressed or manic at the time.If somebody is manic, they are not thinking clearly and;particularly if they psychotic;that could certainly play a role in their poor decision making and should be taken into consideration when it comes to sentencing.That probably why he was only given eight months of home detention after pleading guilty to the weapons charges as a first-time offender. The guard was also given two months Carolina Panthers jersey
probation and ordered to undergo counselling.If he truly suffers from this illness, adjusting to NBA life must not have been easy, as some of the symptoms are paranoia, hallucination, and depression;especially with all the hangers on, double agents, and the usual con-men looking to fleece a young millionaire.West has always been a loner, according to a blog on Celtics Green published in 2006. He grew up in a tough neighbourhood of Washington DC, and his only outlet was emulating Michael Jordan moves on the basketball court on his own.His family was evicted three times and at one point he had to share a bed with his mother and two siblings. He attended three different middle schools and had a tough time keeping up with his academics as a result.Moving from an impoverished childhood to the bright lights of the NBA must have been tough for someone who suffers from paranoia. Like West, Buzz Aldrin suddenly shot to fame after his trip to the moon and had trouble adjusting to his new life.John Noble Wilford, who did a fantastic story on the astronaut said, Mr. Aldrin problems began almost immediately as he struggled to adjust to life in the limelight. This made him increasingly uncomfortable, which led to erratic behaviour and eventually, depression and alcoholism. In any event, he was hospitalized for severe depression.Aldrin has never been officially linked to bipolar disorder; however, this proves the point of ordinary people, unlike actresses and performers who welcome the attention, who are suddenly thrust into a celebrity lifestyle has to deal with.West attorney told the court that there was no nefarious purpose and that the player was merely transporting the weapons from one of his homes to the other, which are 12 miles apart. But, West father was reported to have said that the NBA player had thought that that someone was out to get him.This fits the behaviour of someone being manic, as Dr. Robbins alluded to earlier. Why on earth would someone transport three guns to an alternative site, loaded with a bowie knife to boot?To make matters worse, the route he undertook was not the most direct between his pads.Currently a free agent after being recently waived by Minnesota Timberwolves, West possesses a skill that sets him apart from most players in the NBA. He could get his jump shot off at will and he has a high basketball IQ.This will come in handy for any championship contender for the coming season. On top of that, any team that signs him may do so at a cut price, considering the player legal issues and the NBA has yet to hand out any punishment to him.Three teams interested are the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, and Boston Celtics.Since losing Eddie House, the Celtics have not had a reliable backup for Ray Allen. The Bulls need a consistent bench after hopelessly releasing almost their entire roster to attract LeBron James, and the Mavericks could benefit from some youth in their back court.It would be a shame ifChicago Bears jersey
there are no takers for this talented young man considering he has said that he was off his medication at the time of the gun incident. Taking on someone with this kind of baggage is risky, but as Dr. Robbins pointed out:If people don know what he going through, it runs the risk of further stigmatizing mental illness and looking like he taking advantage of the system. But it also an opportunity to educate people and help them understand what he struggling with and how, with treatment, he likely to respond and these events will hopefully not continue to take place.

24 Dec 10 2010-2011 NBA Predictions: Dirk Nowitzki and 3 More Dark Horse MVP Candidates

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThis could be the most anticipated NBA season in the history of the league. Mostly, we have LeBron James to thank for that. His move from Cleveland to Miami was one of the most visible in the history of professional sports, and now fans all over the world Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
want to see how that decision will play out on the court.Since entering the league in 2003, LeBron's production has been nothing short of remarkable. Even though he's going to play with two other top 10 caliber players, I expect his numbers to wow us once again. I recently questioned whether anyone would challenge LeBron for the MVP award this year. His team should lead the NBA in regular season victories, and it's quite possible that James could be in the top 10 in both points and assists. That would be hard to look past on an MVP candidate's resume.LeBron, along with Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, are probably the top four challengers for the award. Is there anyone else who could possibly make a run at it?Dirk Nowitzki– He took home the award in 2007 after averaging 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. The Mavericks won 67 games that year, and many people thought they might avenge their controversial Finals loss to the Miami Heat.As we all know, Dallas was upset in the first round by eighth-seeded Golden State, and they've been known for playoff busts ever since.A lot of different things would have to fall in place for Dirk to win his second MVP award this year.Dallas would have to be contending with Los Angeles for the best record in the West at the end of the regular season, and Kobe's numbers would have to be down due to increased production from guys like Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest.Dwyane Wade and Lebron James would have to take plenty of MVP votes from each other, and Kevin Durant and his team may have to take a slight step back from where they were last year.Plus, Dirk has to produce of course. Of everything I just laid out, Dirk producing is most probable. His style will allow him to be successful for years to come. Andrew Pierluissi recently laid out how Dirk can reach 30,000 points for his career.This season, he will average at least 22 points per game and his percentages will once again be high. To get very serious MVP consideration, he may need to average closer to 25 or 26 points per game.Likely? Maybe not. Possible? Absolutely.Dwight Howard- The interstate rivalry in Florida is about to start searing. The Magic have Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
had an iron grip on the division for the last three seasons, but you can almost feel that loosening up already.Who Will Win the 2010-2011 NBA MVP Award?Who Will Win the 2010-2011 NBA MVP Award?Lebron James22.3%Kevin Durant29.9%Kobe Bryant15.1%Dwyane Wade4.8%Other27.9%Total votes: 251A lot of people have already handed the Southwest Division title to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat. They're obviously the most upgraded team in the league, and arguably the most talented.The fact that so many have written off Dwight and the Magic should be a good source of motivation for the league's best center.To win the MVP, Howard will need to have the best offensive season of his career. If he can average 22 to 23 points per game, he'll likely be in the conversation.We already know he'll be among the league's best in rebounds and blocked shots.Also, the Magic would most likely have to beat out the Heat for the Southwest Division title. This task may be more difficult than any individual goal on Dwight's plate.Orlando's advantage at center is huge since Miami is one of the weakest teams in the league at that position. So, Howard will have a leg up in head to head matchups between these two teams. Those games could go a long way toward deciding the division this year.Steve Nash- He's already won the award twice, and his numbers last season weren't far off what they were the year he won his first MVP. Nash is not slowing down, and this year he may have to carry more of a scoring load after the departure of Amar'e Stoudemire. Nash will play off the ball a little bit this year due to the emergence of backup point guard Goran Dragic and the acquisition of point forward Hedo Turkoglu. He'll get more catch-and-shoot opportunities, which is scary considering how good he is at shooting off the dribble.Statistically, Nash may be the greatest shooter of all-time. His career percentages are 49 percent from the field, 43 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line. Like I said before, most of his shots come off the dribble. Typically, that is much more difficult than spotting up, catching the ball and shooting it. That being said, his percentages could be above his career numbers this year.So, Steve may score a few more points this year. But come on, this is Steve Nash we're talking about. He is still the best playmaker in the NBA. You can be sure he'll average at least 10 assists per game once again.What really holds his chances at the award in the balance is the overall success of the team. A lot of people have already written off the Suns. Some don't even see them making the playoffs. If Steve can lead them to around 55 wins again, while averaging somewhere in the neighborhood of 19 points and 11 assists a game... he should be in the conversation.David Ramos/Getty ImagesPau Gasol- OK, I know you just called me crazy as you read that name, but hear me out.Pau averaged 18.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game last season. He shot 54 percent from the field and finished 10th in player efficiency rating (Kobe finished 15th in that category).Kobe has put a lot of basketball miles Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
on his body and he is starting to wear down. For the Lakers to be a dominant team, he may have to defer to theSpaniarda bit more. Gasol could average around 22 to 23 points and 11 rebounds per game.If the Lakers lead the NBA in regular season wins, and Pau is once again more efficient than Kobe, he'll have a chance at the award.Concerning the Lakers having the most regular season wins: it could happen. If Lakers players would ever adopt the kind of mentality that teams like Boston and San Antonio play with, they'd likely win at least 65 games. A high percentage of Los Angeles losses are due to their own apathy.Who Will Win the Award?LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade are the favorites for the MVP award this year. However, it's not set in stone (obviously, we haven't even seen a single game yet). I've laid out some dark horse candidates that may steal the show from the favorites.Is there anyone else who could crash the Party? Or, will one of the favorites win? Who's going to be the MVP of the most anticipated season in history?

23 Dec 10LA Clipper Superstar Blake Griffin Has Record-Breaking Performance in Loss

Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesLos Angeles Clippers Rookie of the Year candidate Blake Griffin had a record-breaking performance on Saturday in a game against thethe New York Knicks,but it was not enough as the Los Angeles Clippers losttothe New York Knicks by a score of 124-115 before Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
a home crowd at the Staples Center on Saturday.Griffin, the leading candidatefor Rookie of the Year honorsin the NBA this season, came out of the loss with 44 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, two steals, and one blocked shot. Griffin's performance was nothing short of spectacular as he continues to show why he was the obvious first pick of the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2009 NBA Draft.Griffin totally dominated every aspect of game from the power forward position but was not able to help the Los Angeles Clippers gettheir second win of the season. The Clippers fell to a record of one win against 13 losses despite the incredible performance by Griffin and third-year shooting guard Eric Gordon.Gordon, had 25 points and 4 assists for the Clippers as they continue a terrible season where they are in last place of the Pacific division.The New York Knicks were led by Amare Stoudemire's 39 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two block shots. The Knicks also got a great performance from Danilo Gallinari who scored31 points, snagged four rebounds, and came up with 4 steals.Why do the LA Clippers continue to lose?Why do the LA Clippers continue to lose?Poor coaching and front-office decisions24.0%Lack of team chemistry13.3%Injuries Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
to key players Davis and Kayman30.7%Losing culture continues to jynx them16.0%They are not making Griffin the number one option in the offense16.0%Total votes: 75Griffin was 14-of-24 from the field, and 16-of-23 from the free throw line. Griffin did an incredible dunk where he leapedreallyhigh into the air, and came down with a one-handed spectacular dunk that was reminiscent ofthe "Superman dunk"that Dwight Howard did in the NBA Slam DunkContest.Thething that made Griffin's dunk so incredible was that he dunked overa New York Knicks player player listed at nearly 7-feet tall.Click on Blake Griffin's name above to see that amazing dunkalong with a complete assortment of dunks from hisrecord-setting performance.One reporter described Griffin's dunk as"the dunk of the year" so far in the NBA and called Griffin's performance on Saturday as one of the greatest performances ever recorded bya rookie in the NBA.The Los Angeles Clippers' losing woes continue as they continue to lose game after game both at home and on the road. Veteran starsBaron Davis and Chris Kayman sat out with injuries and were sorely missed as the Clippers look fora way to salvage a season that already looks like a lost cause.The Clippers have Reebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
the worst record in the NBA but have the best rookie in Blake Griffin. Rookie point guard Eric Bledsoe, has filled in admirably for the injured Baron Davis and coach Vinnie Del Negro continues to look for a winning combination to get his Clippers off the snide.

NBA Free Agency: We Will All Be Witnesses To the First NBA Signing Day

I can see it now.LeBron will be on ESPN with a Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers hat in front of him.At 8:01 p.m. he grabs the Clippers hat, holds it up to the camera, does a Dikembe Mutombo Carolina Panthers jersey
finger wave and throw it to the side. He then glances over the remaining caps and picks up the Heat fitted cap. LeBron bends the bill a little in an attempt to break it in. He then points at it before launching it David Letterman style just shy of the camera lens. Pat Riley then orders Miami management to place him back in his custom cryogenic suit until Kevin Durant is a free agent. Alright, down to the Bulls, Knicks, Nets and Cavs.New York is next.Everyone is like "I knew he was going to the Knicks the whole time." Wait... LeBron ponders and takes off the Knicks hat and dons the Nets garb. (Oh, of course. Jay-Z is his boy and the Russian billionaire owner promised him the world. How could he turn that down? Having Beyonce sing the national anthem before every game would be nice) In a mildly shocking turn of events, LeBron turns the hat backward, Ken Griffey Jr. style, and slowly lets it fall off his head and onto the floor. Knicks fans in scream in anger. Some curse owner James Dolan. Others challenge Spike Lee to a fight outside of Sal's Pizza.The remaining fans blame President Obama. "We tanked for two years to overpay for Amar'e? I'm voting this administration out in 2012, " a man yells. Nets fans Chicago Bears jersey
accustomed to the disappointment shrug and go back to... well... being irrelevant. After a brief TV timeout, LeBron takes a quick sip of Vitamin Water and stares at the Bulls cap.The red and black color scheme with the bull logo glaring at James seems to mesmerize him. Chicago sports fans from the South Side to the West Side lean a closer to the screen hoping King James selects the Windy City. Nothing would be sweeter for LeBron, Rose and Noah to embark on a six-championship run part two.My cousin already can see a LeBron statue outside the United Center. Right next to the Michael Jordan statue erected shortly after the greatest player in the game retired following the 1998 season. LeBron picks up the cap and smashes it all the way down on Cincinnati Bengals jersey
his head almost covering his eyes. He has a big smile on his face. This is it. This is it. LBJ is in Chicago. Get the Grant Park rally ready for June 2011. LeBron all of a sudden takes off the hat holds it up about his head and shoots it in a nearby wastebasket, mimicking Jordan's patented fade away jumper in the process. "Pay back for Craig Ehlo baaaaaaaaabbbbbbyyyyyy!" LeBron shouts. "Born here. Bred here. Stays here," the two-time NBA MVP says while placing the Cavs hat on his head. And there you go. The first ever NBA Signing Day.

Orlando Summer League: Day Two Rookie Recap

Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesGame One: Utah Jazz 78, Orlando Magic 73Gordon Hayward, UTAH Continued to play passive, yet efficient. Seems hesitant to make things happen, but did have a more substantial day two. Hit a clutch three down the stretch to help seal the win. My money is Houston Texans jersey
on him coming out of his shell today.Jeremy Evans, UTAH Much improved from his first performance. More active on both ends of the court, recording six points, five boards, two blocks, and a steal. He’ll need to keep improving, but this was much better.Daniel Orton, ORL Easily the favorite for biggest disappointment of the Summer League, as his struggles continued into day two. Orton went 0-for-6 from the floor and had only two rebounds in 17 minutes. At least this time he wasn’t ejected.Stanley Robinson, ORL The former college standout has been nothing spectacular, playing very passively and not shooting that well when he does get the ball. He put up four points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.Jerome Randle, ORL Has really good handles and doesn’t have turnover issues, but he is really inconsistent with his jump shot, especially from three-point range where he was 0-for-5 in both games.Game Two: Charlotte Bobcats 86, Oklahoma City Thunder 85 Sherron Collins, CHA Coming off the bench in this game, Collins was limited to only 10 minutes of playing time, with two points and two assists. We’ll see if the Jayhawk gets any more action today.Marquis Gilstrap, CHA Limited to only 1:28 of playing time.Latavious Indianapolis Colts jersey
Williams, OKC Straight from high school to the D-League, Williams is still attempting to mature to an NBA level. Only two points, one rebound, and six fouls in 13 minutes.*Check out The Rookie Wall for the entire Day 2 Rookie Recap!

Colorado Rockies Hit Homerun With Troy Tulowitzki Contract Extension

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe Colorado Rockies didn’t want to have another young star slip through their fingers and end up being traded away like Matt Holliday. That is why the Rockies gave All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki a seven-year, $134 million contract extension.Tulowitzki was still under contract with Colorado for threeHouston Texans jersey
more years, but was rewarded for his loyalty and eagerness to remain with the Rockies instead of going to a bigger market. Now Tulowitzki’s mullet will be covered with a Colorado Rockies hat until 2020.Tulowitzki won the National League Gold Glove at shortstop, was in contention for the batting title (.315 BA) and also won a National League Silver Slugger award despite missing 40 games in 2010, 33 of those games with a broken wrist.After returning from the wrist injury, Tulo went on a Pujols-esque tear during the month of September, crushing 15 homeruns and 40 RBI while slugging .800 in the process.The mega-deal only reinforces Tulowitzki’s expectations of the possibilities of the Rockies."We're going to win here. We're going to do it," Tulowitzki said. "We've got a good team here. If we don't win a Indianapolis Colts jersey
World Series around here, then it's a failure. I have high expectations, and we're going to meet them."With the 26-year-old Tulowitzki under contract for another decade, the Rockies have a chance do something really special and have the face of the franchise to build around.

Brewers Acquire Starting Pitcher Shaun Marcum from Blue Jays for Brett Lawrie

Michael Heiman/Getty ImagesTom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported via Twitter that the Milwaukee Brewers are in the process of completing a trade for RHP Shaun Marcum, 28, of the Toronto Blue Jays. It appears to be a done deal with only the formalities and paperwork remaining.A Canadian source has confirmed New Orleans Saints jersey
to Haudricourt that Milwaukee Brewers' top prospect and 2008 First Round pick 2B Brett Lawrie will be going to the Blue Jays in the deal. Originally it was believed the Jays would be getting pitching prospects in return.Obtaining Lawrie is a no-brainer for Toronto, as Lawrie is Canadian native born in Langley, British Columbia. He also played for the 2008 Canadian Junior National Team, as well as their 2008 Olympic squad. He has steadily moved up the ladder in the Brewers' minor league system.Marcum has proven to be an effective starting pitcher for the Jays and is a solid addition to the middle of New York Giants jersey
the rotation. However, he is not a top of the rotation difference-maker. He does do something many of the Brewers' starters have struggled with in recent memory.He gets hitters out.I am a bit stunned to see Lawrie involved in a trade for Marcum. I would think that, for the organization's top prospect, Doug Melvin could have a aimed a bit higher. I New York Jets jersey
like Marcum, but he's a number three starter in my opinion. I just hope Melvin didn't give up any other high level prospects in the deal.This probably means a contract extension for 2B Rickie Weeks isn't far off.

20 Dec 10 NFL Fantasy Football Week 10: Start-Sit Open Advice Thread

Larry French/Getty ImagesWith Week 9 of the 2010 NFL season wrapped up, it's time to continue the march toward the playoffs.While everyone considers themselves to be "Fantasy Football Experts," we all need a helping hand or second opinion once in a while.List the players you're currently having Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
trouble deciding on starting or sitting for the upcoming week (time permitting, as I will attempt to explain my justification for each pick).You have a better chance at getting a response, and will get priority over others if you follow these rules:1. List League Format (e.g. Standard or PPR)2. List League Scoring Settings if they deviate from the default options3. List player matchups (i.e. Opposing team they're facing)4. List first initial or team for common last names (e.g. Jackson, Smith, etc.)5. Keep questions Start/Sit related, no trades or waiver wire hereWhile I promise to Reebok New Orleans Saints #9 Drew Brees Realtree camo Jersey
try and answer all your questions, I can't guarantee that I will get to them all.Your best chance of getting a response will be to get your question in before Saturday for Sunday games.Check out my Week 10 NFL Player Stock Market Watch.Archives: Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

19 Dec 10 Terrell Owens Once Again Calls Out Donovan McNabb

Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesTerrell Owens loves him some him, but it's been obvious that he doesn't love him some Donovan McNabb.Last night T.O. tweeted this "How do u justify a 78 million dollar contract w/this type of performance?"Granted last night wasn't McNabb's nor the Reebok New York Giants #27 Brandon Jacobs Realtree camo Jersey
Redskins' finest hour, but the Redskins (with the exception of last night) have looked better then the Bengals.When told today on his weekly radio show on ESPN980 McNabb laughed it off and then asked "What is his record again, oh yeah 2-6"Perhaps if you weren't so worried about McNabb or your terrible talk show with the equally disappointing Chad Ochocinco, the Bengals might be competition for other AFC North teams.It's amazing to me how Owens can constantly rag on the only quarterback that got his cancerous ass to the Super Bowl.Why can't he just move on?Some how I think it goes deeper than just Owens being shown the door in Philly (like he was in San Fran, Dallas, and Buffalo).I honestly think Owens is jealous of McNabb.Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesExactly what I'm not completely sure, but I think it might have to extend from the fact that McNabb is just so likable and T.O.—well I was always taught if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.I've had plenty of co-workers and bosses that I couldn't stand but once I moved on I never put anymore thought into them.Yet for some reason Owens can't seem to let McNabb go.He's like a scorned lover from a thriller movie, I'm thinking Glen Close in Fatal Reebok New York Jets #6 Mark Sanchez Realtree camo Jersey
Attraction.One thing you can say is that the guy holds a grudge.I wonder what it's going to be like after the inevitable break-up of T-Ocho at the end of this season?(Can't wait for that Twitter battle.)Speaking of Twitter, follow me (jomac006) for more sports ravings and complete self-loathing of my Redskins.

18 Dec 10 Eagles v. Redskins MNF Live Coverage: McNabb Gets New Deal, Looks To Sweep

Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesIn a game with major division implications and enough drama to create its own soap opera, tonight's battle between the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles should be nothing short of entertaining. Below is live coverage of the game's biggest stories, stats, flounders and gamebreakers. After losing the first game in Philadelphia, the Eagles look to rebound and save a sweep by the Redskins this season. In the teams' last matchup, Michael Vick went down early with an injury and Kevin Kolb was called upon once again. Tonight, Vick returns and looks to continue his impressive and surprising play in 2010. The Redskins, who currently sit atop the NFC East with a 2-0 division record, have been plastered all over the news for the past two weeks. Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
From the benching of Donovan McNabb and the criticism of Mike Shanahan to today's news of McNabb's new contract, the Redskins are looking for nothing more than another division win. The NFC East is wide open this season and these two teams are strong players in the playoff hunt. FedEx Field is jumpin', the drama is there, talent smothers the field and tonight is set to be arguably the best Monday Night Football matchup we've seen this season. Be sure to drop by frequently to catch the game's latest developments, news and reactions! 12:02 AM ETMonday Night Football: Eagles Cream "Fresh" Redskins, Split SeriesIn a game that was never close, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Redskins in a Monday Night Football routing.While the Redskins were able to gain 375 yards, they were also able to turn the ball over three times and fail to con...Read more » 11:42 PM ETMonday Night Football: Williams Adds Another Touchdown, Starters Stay InA special thanks to rookie running back Keiland Williams for showing up tonight prepared and ready to play professional football. Also, a special thanks to....(silence).With Williams scoring his three touchdowns tonight, he now leads the tea...Read more » 11:24 PM ETMonday Night Football: Impossible To Find the Good From the Redskins Remember during the first quarter when you told yourself it couldn't get any worse? Here's some food for thought...The Eagles currently lead the Redskins 59-21 and Washington has yet to convert a third down.The Eagles are on pace to break th...Read more » 11:04 PM ETMonday Night Football: Redskins Defense Can't Handle Vick and the EaglesWe could pick the entire Redskins team apart if we wanted to, but we don't have enough time.The defense, which ranks 31st in the NFL anyway, has been nothing short of it's numbers. Michael Vick is having a field day against the secondary and...Read more » 10:51 PM ETRedskins Start Second Half Nicely, Keiland Williams Continues To ImpressTo open the second half, the Redskins pieced together a halfway decent scoring drive, capping it with a powerful run by rookie running back Keiland Williams.After getting the starting nod somewhat last minute, Williams has stepped-in and don...Read more » 10:32 PM ETMonday Night Football: Eagles All Over the Redskins At HalftimeAlthough I didn't think it'd be this lopsided, I can at least take credit for predicting that this game would be an exciting one. After one half of play, the Eagles lead 45-14 and you're probably wishing you had taken the over.The Redskins' ...Read more » 10:12 PM ETMonday Night Football: Redskins Momentum Dies, Vick Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
Continues DemolitionAfter two scores by the Redskins that cut the Eagles' lead to 35-14, momentum looked to be on Washington's side. But, as Lee Corso says, not so fast my friend!Donovan McNabb threw an ugly interception that completely eliminated any wind that may h...Read more » 09:48 PM ETEagles v. Redskins: Michael Vick Opens Up Shop, Begins ClinicWith McNabb's new contract signed, sealed, and delivered; it's probably time to start gauging Michael Vick's potential contract after this season.According to Vick, he read a lot of books while incarcerated and he did a lot of thinking about...Read more » 09:31 PM ETMonday Night Football: Is This Real Life? Bits and Pieces From the First QuarterAfter one quarter of action (sigh), there's probably some questions swirling around.Where is Ryan Torain?The Train apparently busted a rim, perhaps in the pre-game warm-ups. Torain re-visited the locker room during warm-ups after repor...Read more » 09:16 PM ETMonday Night Football: Andy Reid's Playbook Is Wide OpenAt first, I thought the Redskins would be the aggressor in this game. Homefield, coming off the bye, a lot of recent criticism, huge dividends, etc. But after just ten minutes of play, I can see that I couldn't have been more wrong.I underst...Read more » 08:55 PM ETRedskins Start Game With Questionable Play-Calling and Trail 14-0After giving up an absolute sling-shot pass from Michael Vick that hit DeSean Jackson in stride to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead, the Redskins offense takes the field and only worsens the team's ugly start.Without reminding anyone that Jackson...Read more » 08:44 PM ETDonovan McNabb Extension: The Truth Behind the DealFirst reported by ESPN and later confirmed by Comcast SportsNet, Donovan McNabb's new contract is a five-year deal worth $78 million, $40 million of which is guaranteed.While the contract's numbers may alarm some people, the structure of Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
McN...Read more » 08:19 PM ETChipper Attitude Already Hits FedEx FieldAs I mentioned before, emotions are high and players are pumped for tonight's game. The Redskins and Eagles have already engaged in some physical activity, well before opening kickoff.The tussle between the two teams centered around Eagles' speeds...Read more » 07:43 PM ETInactives for Tonight's Game: Torain Train To Start, Brandon Banks TooTonight, the Redskins' active list may be a bit more surprising than the team's inactive list.Inactive: John Beck (3QB), Kevin Barnes (CB), Chad Simpson (RB), Clinton Portis (RB), Derrick Dockery (OL), Anthony Bryant (NT), and Jeremy Jarmon ...Read more »

17 Dec 10 Colt McCoy: Cleveland Can Sleep Easy, They Have Their Franchise Quarterback

Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesSince 1999, the Cleveland Browns have been looking for a leader under center. 12 years later, it appears they have found their man in rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy may be hampered by an ankle injury he sustained in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
2-3 record as a starter goes far beyond that on paper. Whenever you hear about NFL quarterbacks, you hear words like poise, confidence, leadership, etc. McCoy has all of these plus much more. Falling all the way to the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the winning-est quarterback in college football history was sitting on the board when the Browns were ready to choose using their No. 85 overall pick. New team president Mike Holmgren, a mastermind of developing quarterbacks and offense in his time coaching, looked over to new general manager Tom Heckert and said to pull the trigger on McCoy now. Holmgren pulled rank in the Browns' war room since Heckert was not convinced about McCoy's abilities and the Texas quarterback was getting a ton of negative press about his short stature and arm strength. But when a guy like Holmgren, who has the résumé to back up his historic run on NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks, says to pick a quarterback, you have to listen to the man they call "The Big Show." Browns fans all know WRs are needed in 2011, but where is the best place to look?Browns fans all know WRs are needed in 2011, but where is the best place to look?Free Agency31.5%The Draft56.1%Via Trade12.4%Total votes: 451Now Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
fast forward seven months to the present and McCoy has solidified his position as the future of the Browns. This means no more talk of Ryan Mallet or Andrew Luck or whichever college's top prospect quarterback is for the 2011 NFL Draft. Music to Browns Backers' ears! Now the Browns can focus on adding weapons after the 2010 NFL season ends, and by add weapons, I refer specifically to wide receivers. As said in a recent article about the Browns' lack of receiver talent, the Browns do have a good young core of promising players which include: McCoy, Peyton Hillis, Josh Cribbs, Montario Hardesty (barring any further injuries) and Evan Moore. Even though the Browns might have taken a hit with McCoy reportedly in a walking boot and the next quarterback on the Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
roster to have a high ankle sprain, the Browns are not making the playoffs with a 3-7 record right now. At least they have the confidence in McCoy for 2011 and beyond. Follow Bleacher Report's 2010 NFL coverage on Twitter by clicking here.(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: The Cleveland Browns Source)

16 Dec 10 Fantasy Football Week 12 Thanksgiving Day: New England Patriots at Detroit Lions

Week 12 Match-up: New England Patriots(8-2) at Detroit Lions(2-8)
Rankings based on top 16 QBs, 32 RBs, 48 WRs, and 16 TEs
(brought to you by pyromaniac.com)

New England Patriots (Patriots Schedule)
Opponent Defensive Ranks
Detroit Pass Defense—2010: Yards Allowed/Game T-13th—TDs Allowed T-17th
Detroit Rush Defense—2010: Yards Allowed/Game 26th—TDs Allowed T-28th

New England Offensive Cast
Tom Brady (QB Week 12 Ranking: No. 9)
2010 Season: 215/329—for 2,362 yards & 19 TDs
I don’t expect more thanReebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
250 yards and two TDs in this one for Brady.
Could it happen? Absolutely, but this has the look and feel of a game where the Patriots try to establish an equal sort of dominance between the run and the pass.
The Lions' defense can be had in both ways, so why not use both ways to beat them?

BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB Week 12 Ranking: No. 11)
2010 Season: 133 carries for 568 yards and seven TDs || Seven receptions for 57 yards and zero TDs
The Lions have given up 11 rushing TDs so far this year (tied for fourth most in the league) while allowing opposing running backs to gain 4.6 YPC.
The Firm may not be the most dynamic or frightening of RBs, but he can rack up the stats on you if you don’t pay attention to him.

Danny Woodhead (RB Week 12 Ranking: No. 26)
2010 Season: 56 carries for 312 yards & three TDs || 22 receptions for 217 yards & one TD
I am going to repeat this statement until he’s recognized as a household name: The records this kid set at both his High School in North Platte, Wisconsin and at his D-II school at Chadron State College are simply staggering.
I mean Madden 2011-style staggering. As in the kid averaged 183 rushing yards/game over FOUR YEARS at Chadron State (212.0 was his highest average—Junior Year) and had 109 total TDs during that time (38 was his most—Junior Year).
He rushed for more than 200 yards in a game 19 of his 39 appearances and scored in 37 straight contests, both NCAA records.
To top it off, Woodhead also ran track in High School for one year and broke his school’s 100-meter record with a time of 10.5 seconds.
Undrafted in the NFL or not, this kid is special.

Fred Taylor (RB Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)
2010 Season: 25 carries for 98 yards & zero TDs || Two receptions for six yards & zero TDs
I can’t even remember what Fred looks like at this point.

Wes Welker (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 30)
2010 Season: 57 receptions for 502 yards & four TDs
Welker should be able to gather in a good eight catches or so in this one as Brady has finally figured out how to get him the ball without Randy Moss in the lineup drawing coverage.
I can’t envision a ton of yards for the Slot Machine, but a short TD is definitely a possibility against a Lions D that has allowed 25 points per game in the last five contests.

Deion Branch (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 33)
2010 Season: 43 receptions for Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
432 yards & two TDs
The Lions' corners have had a tough time this year, and the Brady-Branch combo won’t make their lives any easier.
Branch has an average of nine targets, seven catches and 70.5 yards over the past two games, numbers I can certainly see repeating themselves this Thanksgiving.

Brandon Tate (WR Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)
2010 Season: 18 receptions for 301 yards & one TD
Tate isn’t getting enough targets to be worth having on your team at this point, much less actually starting him.

Aaron Hernandez (TE Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)
2010 Season: 35 receptions for 444 yards & three TDs
The reason I have Gronkowski ranked over Hernandez this week is because of what Belichick and the Pats showed me a couple of weeks ago against the Steelers.
Against teams with a heavy pass rush (as the Lions actually have), they need a tight end in there more suitable for blocking. The more you’re on the field, the more chance you have of catching some balls, so even though Hernandez may be better as a pass-catcher, Gronkowski is a much better blocker.
Also: Gronkowski—6’6”, 265 pounds; Aaron Hernandez—6’1”, 245 pounds.
‘Nuff said.

Rob Gronkowski (TE Week 12 Ranking: No. 11)
2010 Season: 20 receptions for 245 yards & six TDs
See above.

Detroit Lions (Lions Schedule)
Opponent Defensive Ranks
New England Pass Defense—2010: Yards Allowed/Game 31st—TDs Allowed T-27th
New England Rush Defense—2010: Yards Allowed/Game 17th—TDs Allowed 17th

Detroit Offensive Cast
Shaun Hill (QB Week 12 Ranking: No. 10)
2010 Season: 188/305—for 1,921 yards & 12 TDs
The kid is doing a fantastic job in relief of the perennially injured Matthew Stafford.
In the six games he’s started and finished this year, he’s averaged 290.3 yards and 1.8 TDs per game.
He’s also averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game (basic scoring system) which would rank him eighth in the league, just ahead of Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

Jahvid Best (RB Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)
2010 Season: 127 carries for 382 yards & four TDs || 49 receptions for 375 yards & one TD
Best is just too banged up at this point to be considered a viable fantasy threat.
Sit him down until he's healthy enough to make a difference...which could be for the rest of the year.

Maurice Morris (RB Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)
2010 Season: 21 carries for 41 yards & zero TDs || 11 receptions for 94 yards & zero TDs
With Best being as hobbled as he is, Morris will be the one getting most of the touches this week. However, that in no way means you should actually play him.

Calvin Johnson (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 2)
2010 Season: 55 receptions for 725 yards & 10 TDs
Oh my! In the games that Shaun Hill has started this year, Calvin has averaged almost 10 targets, just fewer than six catches, 80.9 yards and exactly one TD per game.
With the Patriots pass defense ranking in the bottom five of the league across the board, Megatron could be in store for total domination this Thanksgiving.

Nate Burleson (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 29)
2010 Season: 37 receptions for 433 yards & four TDs
Burleson continues to reap the benefits that come with playing next to a force like Calvin Johnson.
Over the past three weeks, Nate has averaged almost nine targets, six catches and 85.7 yards a game while hauling in two TDs.
The Pats D allows for two WRs to have nice days against them, so you can bet Burleson will do at least a little bit of damage.

Brandon Pettigrew (TE Week 12 Ranking: No. 2)
2010 Season: 50 receptions for 487 yards & three TDs
Shaun Hill loves his big tight end Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
and with Scheffler possibly missing this Thanksgiving Day game, there’s nobody to stop Pettigrew from racking up a ton of stats this Thursday.
New England also happens to be one of the worst teams in the league at defending opposing tight ends.

Tony Scheffler (TE Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)
2010 Season: 32 receptions for 283 yards & one TD
Scheff is dealing with a rib injury that could keep him out of Thursday's game. Sit him if you haven't already dropped him.

NFL Monday Night Fantasy Football Versus: Week 12

Can Fitz and the Cards put a dent in the 49ers' playoff hopes? Monday night’s 49ers-Cardinals showdown may not jump off the page, but, believe it or not, it actually has NFC playoff implications.
Yes, a pair of 3-7 teams squaring off has playoff implications. Oh, you crazy NFC West.
Now, just because these teams have 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
losing records doesn’t mean that the game doesn’t havefantasymeaning as well.
Trying to set your last-minute lineup to help you overcome a deficit? You’ve come to the right place, as you know by now.
Quarterbacks
Troy Smith (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Derek Anderson (Arizona Cardinals)
We’ve seen Alex Smith, David Carr, and Troy Smith all play quarterback for the disappointing Niners this season.
For the Cardinals, first it was Matt Leinart (now holding a clipboard in Houston), then Derek Anderson, then Max Hall, and now they’re back to Anderson.
Smith followed an impressive 356-yard performance against St. Louis with a lackluster effort in the loss last week to the Buccaneers, and may be playing for his starting job at this point.
The Cardinals are amongst the dregs of the league in terms of defending the pass, so there’s at least a favorable matchup here.
Anderson has always had a knack for turning the ball over, but he’s been able to put up respectable fantasy numbers in each of the last three games.
Also factor in the fact that he’ll be throwing to Larry Fitzgerald and (possibly) Steve Breaston, and there’s some real potential here.
While the 49ers’ defense is more stingy against the pass, I’m still leaning in the direction ofAnderson over Smith.
Running Backs
Frank Gore (49ers) vs. Beanie Wells/Tim Hightower (Cardinals)
Gore is the only 49er that qualifies as a weekly must-start, so this one is a no-brainer.
Wells and Hightower have shown flashes at times in Steelers 43 Polamalu jersey
the past, but they’re both too inconsistent to be taken seriously here, especially in comparison to Gore.
Wells is “the guy” as long as his knee holds up, but he’s still scored just twice on the year and hasn’t run for over 75 yards in any single game to this point.
Gore is the guy here,without a doubt. If you must rank the Cardinals, you go Wells and then Hightower.
Wide Receivers
Michael Crabtree (49ers) vs. Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
We’re all still waiting for the greatness that was college football’s Michael Crabtree to show himself in the NFL, but not much has gone well thus far.
It certainly can’t help that the 49ers have had problems establishing a quarterback, and Crabtree has just one game this season in which he picked up more than 61 receiving yards.
Fitzgerald, a fantasy football staple during the Kurt Warner years, has seen his stock fall this season.
Fitzgerald’s production dip can be attributed to shaky quarterback play as well, but he’s still actually putting up decent WR2 numbers.
He’s recorded at least six catches in seven of Arizona’s 10 games this season, and has scored five touchdowns.
Fitzgerald over Crabtree.I’d rank Steve Breaston No. 3.
Tight Ends
Vernon Davis (49ers) vs. Ben Patrick (Cardinals)
Davis, one of last season’s biggest surprises, has been battling an ankle injury of late, but it looks like he’ll try to play.
A limited Davis (38 catches, 516 yards, four touchdowns) is still a far superior fantasy option to Patrick, who has just 15 catches for 123 yards without a score on the season.
Needless to say,Davis over Patrick.
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fantasy football as well as breaking NFL news.
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Green Bay Packers: Some Quick Facts About Their Game Against the 49ers

Last year the Packers defeated the 49ers 30-24. The last time the Green Bay Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers in regular season game was in 1990. That was also the last time the Packers lost to the 49ers at home. I don’t think those streaks will be put to an end this Chargers jersey
Sunday.
The 49ers are coming into the game with a 1-4 road record, and they will be without star RB Frank Gore. On top of that, the 49ers have the second worst scoring offense in the NFL this season; meanwhile, the Packers have the best scoring defense andAaron Rodgers has been lighting it up lately. He went from an 80.1 passer rating in the month of October to a 130.2 passer rating in the month of November.
Check out some more interesting facts about the game:
The Packers have a 33-26-1 all-time record vs. the 49ers, and they have won the last seven games in the series. In all seven of those victories the Packers have scored the game’s first touchdown.
In their last three games vs. the 49ers, the Packers have dominated the second quarter, outscoring the 49ers 37 to 6. In all three of those games a Packers receiver has caught a 60+ yard touchdown reception. Those aforementioned players would be Greg Jennings (64-yard) last year, Donald Driver (68-yard) in 2006, and Javon Walker (66-yard) in 2003.
The 49ers are the only NFC West team the Packers 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
will face this regular season. Since 2002 the Packers are 15-5 vs. the NFC West.
The last shutout in the series occurred in 1967, when the Packers beat the 49ers 13 to 0.

Mike Singletary Needs To Know: Why Are 49er Players and Coaches Quitting?

Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesSATIRE ; Was it something he said? Is it bad breath? Halitosis? Why? As a customer service representative once told me when an angry customer wanted to speak to a supervisor, "He's asking me all these 'Why' questions. 'Why? Why? Why?'"I don't know.It's not like any of Indianapolis Colts jersey
these guys were taking the 49ers to the Super Bowl, but still.I thought I might track these guys down and ask them a few questions.Glenn Coffee was first. I couldn't get a hold of him, though. The last word was that he escaped from a Department of Transportation Road Crew. He's kept up his Twitter account, frequently posting things like, "Gotta keep moving, keep those legs churning." "Run to daylight." "Hit the hole."Sounds like he's staying in shape. Maybe he wants to come back.Next was Kentwan Balmer. Balmer has had an excellent season since leaving the 49ers, then being traded to the Seattle Seahawks. Turning his career around completely, he's thrown 20 touchdown passes and passed for over 3,000 yards. Oh, wait, that's Carson Palmer. My bad.How about Michael Lewis? He hasn't traveled far either, landing with the St. Louis Rams and compiling two tackles against the 49ers five weeks ago. That's twice as many as he's gotten the rest of the season as a member of the Rams. Clearly harboring some hard feelings there and taking them out on his old friends on the Niners.Now Secondary coach Johnnie Lynn has quit for "personal" reasons. Personal!? doesn't he know there is no "personal" in team? There's not even room for all that.There are others as well, but Jed York has kept that under wraps. Frank Gore out with a hip injury. Uh huh. Joe Nedney's knee? He's a KICKER!! Kickers aren't allowed to get hurt, are they?With all these players leaving, why, oh cheap nfl jerseys
why does Alex Smith keep coming back? Does anybody remember the old running joke on Saturday Night Live? General Francissimo Franco is still dead? Well, Alex Smith is still our starting quarterback.Now I get it.It's a running joke!

Pittsburgh Steelers "Tomlin made the right decision with Polamaulu"

Jerry Rice, widely considered the greatest wide receiver to ever play in the NFL, was famous for more than his unbelievable performance on the football field. He was also quite renowned for his legendary workouts.By legendary, we mean hard.Rice used to do two hours of 43 Polamalu black jersey
cardiovascular training in the morning and three hours of strength training in the afternoon six days per week. Within his cardio routine, the former Super Bowl MVP used to do a hill-running workout that makes you tired just hearing about it. Anyone willing to say that Rice should have followed whatever routine the San Francisco 49ers had recommended instead? Didn’t think so.So when Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, on his way back from knee surgery and further injuries last season to his ribs and the oblique muscles in his abdomen, asked for permission to return to his own individual workout routine in California rather than resuming spring practices on Tuesday with the team, head coach Mike Tomlin had to consider it. Soon after, Tomlin gave Polamalu permission to pursue his plan."It probably works for him because he's sold on it, and that's part of it," Tomlin said last week. "The reality is he's recovering from an injury, he's unable to participate in organized team activities, so it provides an opportunity for him to do what he feels good about."The bottom line is that Tomlin made the right decision regarding his star safety.First, as was indicated earlier, some of the workouts that these players do outside of camp have proven to be just as good as (or better than) the workouts they would’ve been doing with the team. Such is likely the case with Polamalu, who plans on working out with Marv Marinovich at his sports lab in Orange County, Calif. Polamalu began utilizing Marinovich and his training techniques back when he was with the USC Trojans. Interestingly, he did not train with Marinovich the past two seasons, both of which could be construed as somewhat injury plagued. Second, as Tomlin aptly pointed out, Polamalu is sold on the workouts he does with Marinovich, which is important. In fact, it’s hugely underrated when it comes to training. Players simply must believe in what they are doing.Third, Polamalu wasn’t going to be able to participate in team activities anyway, so his decision to train in California is likely going to be much more individually focused than what would’ve happened had he attended spring practices.And finally, Polamaulu is a true standout player 4 Brett Favre White jersey
and a leader through example for the Steelers. In other words, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.Thus, Tomlin’s decision to let Polamalu miss spring practices so he could train out in California was clearly the right one. It will be interesting to see if Polamalu will be able to stave off the injury bug in 2008. If so, expect him to get the green light on similar activities in the future.

San Francisco 49ers Frank Gore vs. New Orleans Saints

If you're a fan of power football, then this is the perfect weekend for you. On Saturday, the annual Army/Navy battle will take place in Philadelphia, and to say Navy likes to run the ball a little bit would be like saying an aircraft carrier is "kinda big." On Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers will travel into the Big Easy to square off against the New Orleans Saints, and rest assured, there will be quite a bit of running in that contest as well. Or, at least there will be if the 49ers expect to leave town with a victory.Here's an interesting fact that you may not know: When Frank Gore 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
carries the ball 19 or more times a game, the 49ers are 5-1. Any less than 19 and the Niners are 0-5. Against the Saints, handing the ball to No. 21 and letting him perform his magic is especially important. You see, the Saints' run defense is comparable to a sieve. Through 11 games, the Saints are giving up 140 yards per game at a rate of five yards per carry. In those two categories, they rank 29th and 31st in the league, respectively. Meanwhile, Gore is playing the best football of his young professional career. In the past three games, he has rushed for an astounding 505 yards on 65 carries. For those of you who didn't bother to pay attention in third grade math class, that's 7.7 yards per carry, and it's going to open up all sorts of possibilities for the San Francisco offense.The Saints' defensive ends (Will Smith and Charles Grant) like to speed rush up the field to pressure the quarterback. Between them they have 13 ? sacks, and they are both very effective on the edges. The problem with that is, if they speed rush to the outside against the 49ers, Gore is going to run between them for five or six yards a pop. If they crash inside, Gore will bounce outside for 15-plus. If they stunt (ie: end-tackle twists), they'll likely get caught in a trap play by the Niners' offensive line and Gore will break off a 40-plus-yard run. In order for the Saints to contain the Niners' running game, their defensive ends are going to have to play straight-up, assignment football, meaning the two DEs will most likely not be crashing outside. Instead, they'll try to play face up against the offensive line and plug holes rather than create them. When they do rush, the Saints will be forced to bring a safety or two up to help fill the gaps in the line. All of this means two things: 1. On most plays, Smith is going to have time to stand in the pocket and throw the football.2. The probability of catching a safety peeking into the backfield on a running play will be much higher than normal. Here's a little something to think about: In the Ohio State-Michigan game a few weeks ago, the Buckeyes faced a second and short play from inside the 50-yard line. They broke the huddle, sprinted to the line, and lined up in a goal-line/short-yardage formation as if they were trying to get off a quick running play to pick up the first down. The Michigan defense had very little time to react thanks to the speed in which the Buckeyes sprinted to the line, and the Wolverines did not notice that Ted Ginn, Jr., arguably the fastest player in college football, was lined up on the line as a tight end. Quarterback Troy Smith took the snap, faked a handoff to the running back and the defense took a step forward. At that point, all it took was a decent pass from Smith for an easy touchdown. You don't have to be a fan of Dallas Cowboys jersey
either team to appreciate the nuances of this play. Then again, you don't have to be an NCAA team to run something like this either. Norv Turner is a fantastic offensive coordinator. He spots defensive tendencies quickly, and is excellent at anticipating when to call a play to catch the defense out of position. Also, with Vernon Davis finally back at 100 percent the playbook is suddenly much deeper, and a play like the one Ohio State ran is something that could work against New Orleans.Question? Comment? Gripe? E-mail Thomas at tsorrell .

San Francisco 49ers "San Francisco in the midst of an 'if only' season

The San Francisco 49ers are in the midst of an ;if only ; football season right now. Sunday ;s upset of the previously red-hot New York Jets gave the 49ers and their fans hope for next season. With a 5-8 record, it is almost impossible for San Francisco to sneak into the playoffs this season. One 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
Wild Card contender in the NFC has nine wins and two others have eight, so even if the 49ers win their remaining three games it will be an uphill battle in order to qualify for postseason play.Nevertheless, the 49ers are playing their best football of the 2008 season. Even if they don ;t make the playoffs, winning will help build momentum for 2009 and will help coach Mike Singletary remove the ;interim ; tag from his title.The 24-14 win over the Jets puts the 49ers in an ;if only ; mode. Like: ; If only Mike Nolan had been fired earlier and had been replaced by Singletary, maybe the playoffs would be a real possibility. ; If only Shaun Hill had been the quarterback the entire season, maybe the 49ers wouldn ;t be on the outside looking in for postseason play. ; If only the defense had been playing all season like it has the past two games against the Buffalo Bills and the Jets, maybe the playoffs wouldn ;t be a stretch this season.Under Nolan, the 49ers were a rudderless team that seemed to be going nowhere. San Francisco was 2-5 under Nolan ;s leadership and had lost four-straight games when he was fired. Singletary has helped the 49ers regroup and has led the team to a 3-3 record and a 3-1 mark over the last four games.If only San Francisco management had pulled the trigger sooner on Nolan, the 49ers might be standing at 6-7, 7-6 or even better. A 6-7 mark would still give the 49ers hope for the playoffs at this point in the season. If only Hill had been the starter all season instead of the inconsistent J.T. O ;Sullivan, maybe the 49ers would be in a better position. When he was the starter this season, O ;Sullivan only threw eight touchdown passes and tossed 11 interceptions. He also only averaged 186.4 passing yards per game.Hill, however, has thrown 10 touchdown passes and only four interceptions since taking over for O ;Sullivan. He has also averaged 225.3 yards per game through the air. If only San Francisco ;s defense had played in its first 11 games like it has in the past two, the team ;s record would be much better than 5-8. In San Francisco ;s last two wins over Buffalo and the Jets, the defense has only given up a total of 17 points. Against Brett Favre and the potent New York offense, the 49ers only allowed a total of Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
10 first downs and 182 yards of offense.It is probably too late for the 49ers to make a playoff run, but it ;s not too late to win the last three games and end the season with a respectable 8-8 record. The 49ers haven ;t had a non-losing season since 2002, so a .500 record would be a big boost for this franchise.

Less spectacular, more efficient, same result

It wasn't highlight-show-dominating, field-stretching pass plays that propelled Indianapolis through a scare against a depleted Texans team that earned much respect, if not a divisional victory, in Week 3. True, Reggie Wayne had one huge pickup with his 64-yard reception in the third quarter, but that was the exception, as it was shorter gains by air along with steady amounts of ground progress that led to the Colts topping a resilient but outmatched opponent.Quarterback Peyton Manning's 110.3 rating for the day was typically impressive, but the most 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
important component was his 69 percent completion rate, high even by his standards. The Colts accumulated 273 yards passing thanks to his 20-of-29 performance, gaining a modest amount per completion but a strong 9.4 yards per attempt. Basically, he didn't connect on many long passes but did connect frequently overall regardless of distance.Historically, Marvin Harrison moved up a spot on the charts Sunday, as he is now fourth all-time in receiving yards, having passed Cris Carter. He's 84 yards shy of James Lofton for third place, and he would have finished the day even closer with a more typically sensational Harrisonesque performance. He caught six passes for, by his standards, a meager 53 yards, functioning less as a genuine deep threat and more as an effective possession-style receiver through the entire contest.Of course, Harrison does just about everything related to his job well, and his willingness to put his route-running skills on display as opposed to his ability to break away from the secondary is one of the core reasons why the team is successful offensively virtually every week. He doesn't feel neglected if he's not racking up 100 yards or bursting straight downfield for scores, and selfless play means Manning can focus more on being functionally proficient and less on padding his main man's numbers. Also playing along with the workmanlike theme was Joseph Addai, who averaged only 3.3 yards per carry but still provided a reliable ground attack. While giving a premier back 22 attempts is not exactly indicative of a wishbone-style philosophy, Indy's willingness to stick with the run prevents each week's defending coordinator from dropping too many of his pieces into coverage.Of course, of more importance than a gaudy average is getting into the end zone twice, and Addai's pair of scores means that he finished the job when he needed to. Even though his longest rush of the day went for an underwhelming 9 yards, his ability to grind away at the line is tremendously crucial toward setting up passes.And, when the guy throwing those passes happens to be Peyton Manning, it's easy to cast the shadow of doom over the opposing sideline. This is true even if Manning largely wins with more precise 36 Bettis White Jersey
attacks directed underneath the coverage than through a constant succession of successful huge bombs.The same can be said for Addai, who pounded the ball steadily instead of focusing on searching for huge pickups. Plus, the extraordinary effort and force of will he displayed on his first touchdown as he gracefully arced over a defender into the end zone provided sports anchors with something fabulous to feature during the game's recap. It turns out the Colts can win without excessively extending defenses and still be exciting.

Marvin Harrison quietly makes case for best ever

Do you know what Marvin Harrison sounds like? I'm having trouble recalling not just anything he's said but also his actual voice. He's one of the best at any position in the game, yet the only times I can remember hearing him talk are A) a profile of him I saw on ESPNEWS last year, and B) the times when Monday Night Football has had the players introduce themselves during the first possession of the game. In a position renowned for big egos and mouths, Harrison literally barely makes a sound. It's like how professional boxers never start bar 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey
fights: They already know they're good at what they do, so nothing else needs to be done to prove it.Harrison's strength is that he has multiple strengths. He's good at being any kind of receiver you'd like. Need a speedy threat, a possession receiver, someone to go over the middle, or stretch a defense? There are many receivers who excel at one of those dimensions but few who could be counted on in any situation. Harrison's ability to do everything is only matched by his willingness to do everything.It reads like the quote from a motivational poster underneath a photo of a sunrise or sailboats, but Harrison's success is a byproduct of his attitude. In a perfect reflection of his internally focused personality, he concentrates more on preparing himself than preparing for others. In lieu of locking himself in the film room, Harrison's always concerned himself more with running exactly precise routes. He can't control what those facing him are going to do, so he just goes about making sure he's going to be at his best Sunday afternoon. There's no need to do something like, say, announce to the media during the practice week that the cornerback he'll likely be facing is on a personal hit list: Harrison doesn't need the attention, and besides, everyone in the opposing secondary should be doubting themselves without a word spoken by their adversary.Of course, Harrison has benefited from his environment. Most of the passes he's caught happen to have been thrown by a quarterback who also already gets attention in any "best ever" category. Eric Moulds, chosen a few spots after Harrison in 1996, must struggle to avoid being bitter after spending parts of his career catching passes from the likes of Todd Collins and Rob Johnson. But one should never apologize for one's circumstances, and Harrison still has to go out there and get it done. Should Jerry Rice apologize for catching so may balls thrown by Montana and Young?And, like Rice, Harrison continues to find success without letup. At age 34, he's already in the four-digit reception club, and Rice's once-seemingly eternally insurmountable numbers are close to being challenged at a time when Rice could conceivably still play. Harrison's strength in virtually every aspect of the position, consistently overwhelmingly impressive numbers, and the fact there's been no evidence of any decline in his game, mean that Rice -- the one undisputed best ever player at his position -- has to face a challenger. Harrison has to maintain his consistency over the next few seasons, but he's already created at least a discussion.Any Harrison fan had to be happy with a statistically middling game for him: Super Bowl XLI. He had five grabs for 59 yards, which doesn't look impressive, but the more important stat involves the numbers 29 and 17. The Colts won, and they did so by focusing mostly on running the ball. Some of the diva receivers in the NFL would have pouted if they ended up with those sorts of 6 Super Bowl Champions jersey black jersey
numbers even in victory, but Harrison showed why he's the quiet class of the NFL. Just like another gentleman superstar who had a statistically modest Super Bowl, Walter Payton, Harrison is great not only for what he can do but also because he doesn't force his team to force him the ball. It's remarkable that someone so focused on keeping to himself has done more to improve teammates than maybe anyone in the league.Original NFL insight

Raiders Mailbag "Coach Chat & Plan for D-Line"

In his 15th mailbag editorial, Anthony Carroll -- a senior writer for -- responds to fans' questions and comments submitted via RaidersLive.com.If you'd like to be in the next mailbag, scheduled for Jan. 19, please visit RaidersLive.com and fill out the quick form to submit your entries.Richmond, 34, Houston, Texas: AC, I'm very happy that we fired Shell (I'm blowing up balloons as I type), but I worry the Raiders don't have the clout anymore to find a good head coach. What right-minded person would want to come into this madhouse and bring these guys out of the dumpster? It seems impossible to me.AC: Your doubts are understandable. Al Davis had to deal with the same scenario last year, only to end up settling with Art Shell after a handful of candidates declined an offer or 6 Sanchez Green Jersey
simply moved on. This offseason, with alluring franchises like Pittsburgh and Atlanta in the hunt, the 77-year-old owner may find it equally as difficult.A quick, reasonable solution would be to simply upgrade Rob Ryan's title from defensive coordinator to head coach. Ryan has been with the team for three years, and has formed a tight bond with his youthful defensive crew during his short tenure. Under the young coordinator, the Raider 'D' shot up to third overall in total yardage allowed and first in pass defense this past season. Most importantly, though, Ryan's players want to produce for him and consistently work hard, which is something the offensive side of the ball has been lacking for several years.If the idea of a defensive-minded coach frightens Davis, though, then Louisville's Bobby Petrino and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz are two intriguing options to mull over.Jon, 27, Los Angeles, Calif.: First of all, I just want to quickly say thanks for the daily read. I look forward to visiting the site everyday at work. My question is regarding the defense, and the one hole that prevented it from dominating this season -- the defensive line. What can they do to fix it for next year? Should they wait until the draft, bring in some free agents, or just work with the personnel they already have? Thanks, and keep up the good work.AC: Oakland already made a smart decision by moving quickly to try and lock up the defense's only unrestricted free agent, Terdell Sands. Standing 6-foot-7, 335-pounds, the 27-year-old defensive tackle is an ideal rotational player on rushing downs, and he proved it this season with a career-high 41 tackles. The soon-to-be free agent is one of the hottest commodities this offseason has to offer; the Raiders need to quickly find a way to get No. 90's name on paper, signed in ink.After locking up Sands, the Raiders should look to free agency and the draft to shore up their front four. Veterans Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp have proven to be dominant pass-rushing linemen, combining for 21 sacks in 2006. After the pair of pass rushers, though, Oakland is lacking an identify up front. Tommy Kelly is an athletic, but undersized defensive tackle who is weak in run defense, while Tyler Brayton is an underachieving end who has difficulty penetrating the backfield.Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, an unrestricted free agent from Green Bay, has recorded 64? sacks in seven years, and would complement Pro Bowl end 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Derrick Burgess very nicely.At tackle, the free agency pool is less than exciting, meaning the Raiders should look to find an able nose tackle in the later rounds of the draft -- after they address the offensive side of the ball.We'll talk more about that as April approaches.Want to be in the next Raiders mailbag? Visit RaidersLive.com to submit your questions and comments for the Jan. 19 mailbag. (28)