Friday, July 31, 2009

Buckeyes picked to win Big Ten


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State is the team to beat in this year's Big Ten football race.

The Buckeyes were picked to win it all by voters at the conference's football media day. The results were announced Monday. Penn State was the runner-up, followed by Michigan State.

"Almost every day when you walk into our building you're reminded of the tradition Ohio State has -- what you're trying to live up to," coach Jim Tressel said. "Then you lose 28 seniors and three juniors (who left early). All of a sudden you come back in and your preseason ranked again."

Tressel said the prediction would serve as incentive for his team.

"I guess it's just another reminder: That's what's expected of Ohio State," he said. "We have a lot of work to do to live up to that."

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was selected as the preseason offensive player of the year and Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones was singled out on defense.

Pryor is set to lead the Buckeyes following a season in which he was named the conference's freshman of the year. He led the Big Ten with a pass-efficency rating of 151.3 in conference games, making him the first freshman to top the Big Ten in the category since the stat was introduced in 1980. Pryor produced an 8-1 record as a starter and became the first Ohio State true freshman since 1978 to start at quarterback.

The Buckeyes are pursuing their fifth-straight Big Ten title after going 10-3 a year ago and tying Penn State for the title with a 7-1 mark. Twelve starters will be returning for Ohio State.

Tressel became just the fourth coach in Big Ten history to win five or more titles in his first eight years with a conference team.

Penn State ended last season with an 11-2 overall record. Last year's Big Ten title marked the program's second in the last four years and the school's third overall in football. At the helm once again for the Nittany Lions is Joe Paterno, the winningest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A). Penn State welcomes back nine starters from last year's squad.

Michigan State went 9-4 overall with a 6-2 mark in conference play a year ago. MSU is led by third-year head coach Mark Dantonio, who has guided his team to back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1997. The Spartans return 15 starters, including eight on defense, led by Jones.

Jones was third in the Big Ten with 127 tackles in 2008 while earning first-team All-Big Ten and ranking among the conference's top 10 with 14 tackles for a loss.

The 114th season of Big Ten football kicks off on Sept. 3 when Indiana hosts Eastern Kentucky. The conference open two days later.



Big Ten trying to change perception
www.msnbc.com
CHICAGO (AP) -Between a 1-6 bowl showing last season and some high-profile upsets in recent years, the Big Ten's reputation is as bruised as an unprotected quarterback.

For coaches and players, those are painful hits.

"Everybody in this room wants to change it," Ohio State defensive lineman Doug Worthington said Tuesday at the conference's media day.
Around the conference, Michigan and Indiana are touting sparkling training facilities, and Minnesota is welcoming football back to campus after 27 years with a stadium set to open. But that new shine alone isn't enough to restore an image that could use a polish.

The Big Ten is 9-20 in bowl games the past four years - including two BCS championship game losses by Ohio State - and has not had a winning postseason record since 2002. Things have been particularly bad in BCS games, with the conference in an 0-6 slide the past three years, only one of those losses by fewer than 14 points. That includes a nearly decade-long dive in the Rose Bowl, where the conference has dropped six straight since Wisconsin beat Stanford 17-9 in 2000.

"I feel like every team in the Big Ten needs to take that as a sign of disrespect," said quarterback Daryll Clark of Penn State, a 38-24 loser to Southern California in the Rose Bowl.

He realizes the critics have plenty of ammunition. The same goes for Illinois coach Ron Zook.

"Until we go win the bowl games and obviously win the games out of conference, there's not really a whole lot we can say," Zook said.

The bowl losses aren't the only elements fueling the idea that the conference isn't what it used to be, feeding the misguided perception that it's plodding and antiquated. The Big Ten has taken some high-profile shots in the regular season, and had Michigan, one of its two flagship programs, collapse last season.

It would help if Ohio State beat Southern California in September and avenged a 35-3 blowout last year or if the Wolverines rebounded from a dreadful 3-9 showing in its first year under coach Rich Rodriguez.

The Wolverines also have also been on the short end of two huge upset the past two seasons. In 2007, it was Appalachian State walking out of the Big House with a victory. Last season, Toledo did the same.

Northwestern didn't help matters in '07 by falling at home to a Duke team that had lost 22 straight, although the Wildcats rebounded last season to go 9-3. Illinois, however, fell to 5-7 after reaching the Rose Bowl, losing to Western Michigan along the way.

As for Michigan?

"You expect Michigan to be playing in a January Bowl game or potentially in a BCS game and in the top ranks," Rodriguez said.

He sees a connection between Michigan's swoon and the perception of the Big Ten.

Wolverines linebacker Stevie Brown isn't so sure.

"I don't feel we have to be great for the Big Ten to be great," he said. "I think all the schools in the Big Ten are good."

Yet, something isn't quite working.

The physical play is what attracted the 6-foot-6, 276-pound Worthington to the Big Ten. But even though spread offenses can be found throughout the league, from State College, Pa., to Minneapolis, the league just doesn't seem as sleek as others.

"Some guys who are 150 pounds and run a 4.2 wouldn't want to play in this conference," Worthington said.

The coaches seem fixated on the schedule.

Most are pushing for a break from the tradition that had no conference games scheduled after the Michigan-Ohio State game just before Thanksgiving. The idea is to avoid the long layoffs they believe are allowing other conferences to feast on the Big Ten in top-tier bowls.

That would mean adding an open date and/or playing into December.

Or, as Penn State coach Joe Paterno suggests, add a 12th team, split into two divisions, and play a championship game the way the SEC, Big 12 and ACC do.

"I'm trying to get people to talk about expanding so we could have a playoff, but I don't think there's a lot of enthusiasm for that with some of the presidents," Paterno said. "That's obviously their call. ... I'm just putting on the table an idea."

While Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany indicated expansion won't happen anytime soon, the scheduling shift is gaining momentum. Illinois has two open dates and two games after the Ohio State-Michigan weekend - at Cincinnati on Nov. 27 and Fresno at home on Dec. 5, the same day Wisconsin visits Hawaii.

5 Things Michigan Needs to do in order to WIN

CHICAGO - Last year, Rich Rodriguez plus July equaled silly speak. All the talk was about the job he used to have (West Virginia, its fans and its buyout), the job he could have had (Alabama) and the circumstances around the Michigan job he still has today. Football became a footnote for the Big Ten's most gregarious man.

Michigan went 3-9 in Rodriguez's first season in Ann Arbor.

This time through the conference's media days? Some straight talk, for a change. And in the middle of it, this doozy, which frames Rodriguez's predicament, and the state of the Wolverines, as the 2009 season dawns.
"If we're not in a bowl game," Rodriguez said, "we're all going to be ticked."

So maybe that's the new equation: Michigan plus Motor City Bowl equals success? Or at least a sigh of relief? Here's a certainty: Wolverines football is broken, with each of last year's school-record nine losses and 347 points allowed adding to the evidence. And whether you think Rodriguez is the guy who ruined it, or whether you absolve him of blame, you're faced with the reality that he's the guy charged with fixing it.

So to assist Rich Rod in his reclamation project, here's a five-point plan to keep the ticked folks to a minimum at the holidays.

1. Find a quarterback
Point No. 1 hits on question No. 1 in Ann Arbor: Who in the name of Bo Schembechler will be behind center Sept. 5 against Western Michigan? Candidate No. 1 is Tate Forcier, the California kid who enrolled in January and put up big numbers in the spring game. Candidate 1-A is Denard Robinson, a fellow freshman who showed up five weeks ago and already has impressed coaches during summer workouts.

"Within two weeks," Rodriguez said, "he was making all the runs and doing the stuff that some of the guys who have been here a year and a half aren't doing."

Rodriguez likes Forcier and won't count out Nick Sheridan, who looked like a bantam among the varsity when he took snaps last season. But Rodriguez has a crush on Robinson, whose speed (or the stories of his speed) conjures two words: Pat White. Give the ball to Forcier, sprinkle in Robinson in Chris Leak/Tim Tebow fashion, and hope the pair of freshmen can deliver seven wins.

2. Hold on to the ball
Michigan's 18 fumbles and minus-10 turnover margin ranked last in the Big Ten and was the primary reason for the squad's struggles in '08. Only East Carolina, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Georgia Tech and Army coughed up the ball more than the Wolverines.

"We'll win more games just by taking better care of the ball," Rodriguez said.

More consistent quarterback play should help, but the key to a change here might be the offensive line. The group made its usual gains in the weight room, but Rodriguez sounded especially excited about the mental improvements. Translation: This year's starting five should crash into the other team's defensive line more than it crashes into each other.

3. Tackle, tackle, tackle
The positives from Year No. 2 of this Michigan offense might be muted by the pains from Year No. 1 of this Michigan defense. Greg Robinson arrives to replace Scott Shafer as defensive coordinator and plans to install a 3-4 scheme that could look more like a 3-3-5 as the season wears on.

Scheme, of course, doesn't matter if those players again perform as though they're allergic to ballcarriers. So, Coach Robinson, anything bigger than the basics might be too much for a starting 11 that could feature only one senior.

"We're going to be solid in the fundamentals," Robinson said this spring. "That's the focus. You've got to tackle the other team's guy with the ball."

4. Bring back the belief
The Wolverines move into a new indoor facility next week, the completion of a nine-year project that cost more than $25 million. A new-look Michigan Stadium opens in 2010. Rodriguez said Monday he likes the spirit around his program even more than his players.

Slide show

The Week in Sports Pictures
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"They've come closer together in the last five or six months than I ever could have hoped for," he said.

Of course, about 119 other Division I-A coaches say the same thing this time of year. But the changes on campus, combined with a strong 22-man recruiting class expected to report in full for the opening of camp next week, give his words some backbone.

5. Beat a big boy
Notre Dame in Week 2. Michigan State or Penn State in October. Ohio State in that Motor City Bowl tune-up. As Rodriguez said Monday, his faith in the maize and blue won't spread to the masses until the program starts winning more than it loses. Beating an old rival, or the team up Interstate 96, or a fellow traditional power expected to threaten the BCS, might accelerate the Rich Rod reclamation.

If nothing else, it might keep some folks from feeling ticked for a while.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Bye Bye Cliff Lee and Bye Bye Indians



All of the different articles on the Indians trading Cliff Lee! What is Cleveland coming to? I guess they may know what they are doing, but as a fan I have no idea what they are doing and wonder why they feel they need to release everyone. Any true Indian fans out there that have some sorta perspective or thoughts on this club right now????????





PHILADELPHIA - Looking for an ace to bolster their so-so rotation, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Cliff Lee from the Indians, who traded the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner for the second straight season.

The defending World Series champion Phillies are sending Cleveland four minor league prospects for Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco, a baseball official familiar with the trade told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The deal is pending medical reviews. Those reviews could take a while because three of the players the Indians are getting from Philadelphia have dealt with recent injuries.
The NL East-leading Phillies are sending Triple-A pitcher Carlos Carrasco, infielder Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson along with Single-A pitcher Jason Knapp to Cleveland.

Last year, Cleveland dealt CC Sabathia, then the reigning Cy Young winner and in the final year of his contract, to the Milwaukee Brewers. Sabathia helped pitched the Brewers into the postseason before signing a $161 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees.

Lee turns 31 next month and his contract includes an $8 million club option for next season.

Hours before the trade was completed, Lee sat in the Indians clubhouse in Anaheim, Calif., talking to reporters as rumors swirled that he might soon be headed to Philadelphia.

“Obviously the Phillies are the defending world champions, they’re a good team and they’re in first place,” Lee said before the Indians played the Angels on Wednesday afternoon. “Honestly, it’s an honor and I look at it as a good thing. If other teams are wanting me and are willing to trade some of their key players and future players for me, it’s a compliment.”

Philadelphia pursued Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, but shifted its attention to Lee because Toronto’s asking price for the six-time All-Star is high. The Phillies balked at trading top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, who was the 18th overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft.

Philadelphia acquired Lee without giving up Drabek, rookie left-hander J.A. Happ, who was 7-1 going into his start at Arizona, or highly touted minor-league outfielders Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown.

Asked in Seattle whether he felt the Blue Jays dodged a bullet by the Phillies acquiring Lee instead of Halladay, Toronto manager Cito Gaston said with a chuckle, “Yeah, I guess. Who knows? They may come back and get (Halladay), too. That’d be a pretty good staff there, wouldn’t it?”

Lee gives the Phillies another top starter to join Cole Hamels. The left-hander is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts this season after going 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA last year. Hamels, the MVP of the World Series and NLCS last fall, has been inconsistent this season. He’s 7-5 with a 4.42 ERA, though he pitched well in a victory at Arizona on Tuesday.

The Phillies have a comfortable lead in the division — seven games ahead of second-place Florida going into Wednesday’s games. They’ve sought pitching help since No. 2 starter Brett Myers had hip surgery in June. Jamie Moyer leads the staff with 10 wins, but he is 46 and has a 5.32 ERA.

The addition of Lee means Philadelphia has to drop someone — possibly Rodrigo Lopez — from its starting rotation. Lopez, though, is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA in four starts. The Phillies also have Pedro Martinez rehabbing in the minors. The three-time Cy Young Award winner signed a $1 million, one-year contract during the All-Star break.

Francisco, who is batting .250 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs, upgrades Philadelphia’s bench, which has lacked a solid, right-handed hitter.

The Indians have been a major disappointment this season and their decision to deal Lee for prospects is another to blow to Cleveland fans, who have seen stars like Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Sabathia leave via free agency or trade.

The club had hoped to sign Lee to an extension but talks broke off during spring training. A succession of injuries and dismal relief pitching dropped the Indians out of contention and forced general manager Mark Shapiro to begin rebuilding.
The Indians traded infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa to St. Louis last month, sent reliever Rafael Betancourt to Colorado last week and dealt first baseman Ryan Garko to San Francisco on Monday.

Carrasco may be the closest to joining Cleveland’s roster. The 22-year-old right-hander struggled early this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but has pitched well recently. He was 6-9 with a 5.18 ERA in 20 starts, and had 112 strikeouts in 114 2-3 innings.

The 18-year-old Knapp was Philadelphia’s second-round pick in last year’s draft. He’s 6-foot-5, 215 pounds and possesses an overpowering fastball, with 111 strikeouts in 85 1-3 innings. But he hasn’t pitched since July 11 because of right shoulder soreness.

Marson, 23, was hitting .294 with one homer and 24 RBIs in 63 games at Lehigh Valley. He was 4-for-17 in seven games with the Phillies. Donald, 24, recently returned from knee surgery and was batting .236 with one homer and 16 RBIs in 51 games at Lehigh Valley.






Edge of the Cliff
Cliff Lee is moving to Philadelphia and a ballpark that tends to punish fly-ball pitchers. Lee has fly-ball tendencies (54.5 pct of balls in play), but when the ball goes into the air, he keeps it in the park. A look at the pitchers with the lowest fly-ball to home run percentage for pitchers with a minimum 900 batters faced (2008-09):

Player/Team HR/FB Pct.
Tim Lincecum, SF 3.3
Cliff Lee, CLE 3.4
Jair Jurrjens, ATL 3.8
Ubaldo Jimenez, COL 4.0
Mike Pelfrey, NYM 4.1




Unable to land this year's leading contender for the American League Cy Young Award, the Phillies did the next-best thing on Wednesday by acquiring last year's AL Cy Young winner.

In a deal that demonstrated the trade deadline at its best, the defending world champs picked up lefty starter Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco, while the Indians acquired four of the Phillies' Top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America's preseason rankings (No. 2 Carlos Carrasco, No. 3 Lou Marson, No. 4 Jason Donald and No. 10 Jason Knapp).

It is a trade that gives both teams exactly what they were seeking. The Phillies get a front-of-the-rotation starter to keep the rest of the NL East at arm's length and bolster a potential run at a second straight World Series title, while the Indians restock with a bevy of talented young players, at least three of whom could be ready to make an impact at the major league level as early as next season.

This is just the latest sign that the Phillies intend to be annual contenders for the world championship that eluded them for all but one of their first 125 seasons. Not only do they get Lee this year to help defend their crown, but because of his extremely reasonable 2010 club option of $8 million, they can re-load for another championship push next year as well, and all the while get first crack at signing the 31-year-old to an extension.

Though he has been unable to duplicate the success he had in 2008, Lee is enjoying what may be the second-best season of his career, despite his 7-9 record. Along with ranking seventh in the AL with a 3.14 ERA and leading the league with 152 innings pitched, his HR/9 ratio is nearly identical to what it was a year ago (which will come in handy in the bandbox that is Citizen's Bank Park) and his ERA+, BB/9, K's/9 and K/BB ratios are all better than any season of his career except for 2008.

As much as the Phillies would like Lee to be the pitcher he was while leading the league in wins and ERA last year, they don't really need that to solidify their status as a top title threat. With a battle-tested Cole Hamels -- who won both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards last year -- the acquisition of Lee gives the Phillies a 1-2 punch atop their rotation that is as good as any in the National League. The Phillies don't need Lee to win their third straight division title -- they have a seven-game lead over the underwhelming Marlins and Braves at the moment -- but it was hard to envision them repeating as world champs without upgrading their rotation in some manner. The acquisition of Lee not only improves the top of their rotation but it gives them additional strength for a short series. One area of concern might be how they stack up against a team like the Dodgers if the two were to meet for a postseason rematch. With Hamels, Lee and J.A. Happ, the Phils' three best starters are all left-handers, and the Dodgers have feasted on lefties this season, with a .290 batting average (third in the majors) as well as a .375 OBP and .444 slugging percentages.

That is a concern for October. In the meantime the Phillies not only improved themselves this year, but they also managed to hang on to both of their top starting pitching prospects, Happ and Kyle Drabek, to help ensure that they will be a contender for years to come. It is a sign of the strength of their farm system that they remain stocked with quality young talent even after dealing away four of their Top 10 prospects.

Those four players should quickly help the depleted Indians retool in what has been, along with the NL West, the most mediocre division in baseball in recent years (both of those divisions have placed four different teams in the postseason over the past three years). Marson, who was named the top minor leaguer in the Phillies system last year, has had a cup of coffee in the bigs but has spent the majority of his year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he was batting .294/.382/.370 in 63 games. Though he hasn't shown much power in the minors yet, he is a high on-base guy (he had a .433 OBP in 2008 at Double-A, the highest by any player at that level -- and is .388 for his minor league career). And despite being in his sixth minor league season, he just turned 23 last month. He has received rave reviews for his handling of pitchers and will be increasingly valuable if the Indians follow through on their rumored trade of All-Star catcher Victor Martinez. Should that occur before Friday's deadline, the only catcher on the Indians' active roster would be .199-hitting Kelly Shoppach.

Along with Marson, Donald had long been considered a bright part of the Phillies' future. Though his path to the majors had been blocked by the presence of Jimmy Rollins, Donald impressed by batting better than .300 with double-digit home run totals in the minors in 2007 and 2008. He has struggled somewhat at Triple-A, batting just .236 with a .297 on-base percentage and only one home run. He had played shortstop exclusively until this season, but has received some spot time at both second and third base, perhaps in an effort to either find him a home in Philadelphia or make him more attractive to potential trading partners. Positional versatility out of Donald is a nice bonus for Cleveland, especially in an infield with Jhonny Peralta and Asdrubal Cabrera (both players have been effective at shortstop this year, with Peralta also playing 52 games at third base and Cabrera logging 28 games at second). Donald gives the Indians several options for playing time, and could even open up further trade possibilities for general manager Mark Shapiro.

While Marson and Donald are nice, it is pitching where the Indians were really hurting, and this deal helps them greatly. Unlike last year, when they dealt CC Sabathia at the deadline but still had Lee in the rotation, now the Indians are left with a highly questionable rotation in which Carl Pavano is the wins leader (8) despite a 5.66 ERA. (Not to mention he's on a one-year contract and may not even be around next year.)

To shore up the rotation, the Indians received Carrasco and Knapp. Carrasco, a 22-year-old righty, has been projected as a top-two starter and boasts an effective changeup to complement a low-90s fastball. He was outstanding during his first Triple-A stint last year, posting a 1.72 ERA and 11.3 K/9, but this year he has regressed to a 6-9 record and a 4.18 ERA while notching 8.8 K/9.

Knapp is still just 18 years old, and he has a fastball that reaches 97 mph, two attributes that make him much more attractive than his 2-7 record and 4.01 ERA would suggest. He has struck out 111 batters in just 85.1 innings this year.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Big Ten isn't doomed to terminal inferiority -- but it needs to adjust



Big Ten isn't doomed to terminal inferiority -- but it needs to adjust
www.si.com
I love Stewart Mandell's college football mailbox this time of year and thought you all might too. What do u think of some of the answers????

Last week, media from across the country convened in Hoover, Ala., for what amounted to three days of gushing over Tim Tebow, Eric Berry and the league's new multi-billion dollar TV deal. I wasn't even there and still felt compelled to join the SEC love-fest.

This week, the spotlight shifted to other locales including Chicago, where the Big
Ten held its own season kick-off event. The tone, however, differed substantially. There, topics included the league's recent bowl woes, Michigan's worst season in school history ... and the league's recent bowl woes.

My inbox flooded with concerns on both counts.

As a non-SEC fan in the South, I take solace in your oft-repeated mantra of "conference strength is cyclical." Does the SEC TV contract make that no longer true? Are we in for decades of SEC dominance?
-- Glenn Boylan, John Creeks, Ga.

Stewart my friend, I need your help. How do I continue to defend the Wisconsin Badgers and the Big Ten when they seem to want me to hate them? It just seems like the Big Ten doesn't realize it's been passed by other conferences even though every big-time inter-conference game ends with a Big Ten loss. You've stated in the past that it's cyclical, but I feel like the Big Ten has been declining for years with no end in sight.
-- Niko, Baraboo, Wis.

Let's all take a few deep breaths here. Yes, conference strength is cyclical. We addressed that prior to last season, when SI.com compared the first five years of the BCS era to the second five years and showed that during the first period, the now-sullen Big Ten was actually the No. 1 conference nationally.

That said, the SEC was by far the strongest conference over the entire 10-year period, and that will continue to be the case -- generally speaking -- for the foreseeable future. There's simply more fan interest, more money being invested and more homegrown talent in the South than other parts of the country.

But as I've always contended, every season is different, and every league has its "up" and "down" years. In fact, I'd argue the SEC had a "down" season last year. It produced the national champion (Florida), but LSU, Tennessee, Auburn and Arkansas all dropped off significantly and Alabama had a great year but suffered an embarrassing Sugar Bowl loss to Utah. Meanwhile, the four-week gauntlet Texas went through in the Big 12 at one point last season -- Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech -- was more rigorous than anything the Gators faced.

The Big Ten, on the other hand, struggled yet again (1-6 in bowl season, six straight BCS losses), and it may not be much better this year. But that doesn't mean the conference is doomed to terminal inferiority -- it just means it needs to adjust.

Remember when Nebraska kept losing to Florida State and Miami in bowl games in the late 1980s and early '90s? Tom Osborne eventually modified his approach by placing a greater emphasis on defensive speed and won three national titles in four years (with all three bowl wins coming against Southern teams). The Big Ten is in the early stages of attempting the same type of adjustment. Teams such as Michigan and Purdue raided Florida last recruiting season in search of some game-breakers. Ron Zook and Tim Brewster have been doing the same at Illinois and Minnesota, respectively. Ohio State's roster is filled with more talent than most SEC teams. The Buckeyes' Achilles heel the past couple of years was their awful offensive line, not a lack of blue-chippers; coach Jim Tressel addressed that area heavily in his past two classes.

Addressing the ubiquitous "negative perception" question, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said this week: "All it takes is one or two big wins in a [BCS] bowl game and all that will go away. And that's going to happen, and it's going to happen when we're better than all the other teams we play."

I don't know whether that will come this year or next, but it will happen. In the meantime, non-SEC fans worried about "decades of SEC dominance" should pray for the one event that's always preceded that conference's down periods in the past: a massive wave of recruiting scandals and NCAA sanctions.

I'm a die-hard football fan who wakes up on Saturday morning and doesn't go to bed until the last game is over, but I hope this $3 billion SEC TV contract blows up in ESPN's face. Most fans grow up watching teams from our own home state/conference. I know the SEC is the best conference (for now), but I will not sit and watch a great SEC matchup over a good ACC or Big East game. I think it's ludicrous that ESPN thinks all ACC, Big East, Pac-10, Big Ten or Big 12 fans will now follow SEC football.
-- Bob Pearson, Newport News, Va.

There are a couple points I wish I'd brought up in my column last week that I will hit now. For one, just because ESPN will be showing more SEC games does not mean it will be showing fewer ACC or Big East games. They're simply adding more programming time, be it on ESPNU, ESPN Classic or in syndication. Secondly, I don't think anyone's expecting fans will stop following their own team/conference and switch over to SEC games instead. It's more a recognition that SEC teams tend to play in a lot of big games with BCS implications that fans from any part of the country would be interested in seeing.

But I also think it's important to understand an unspoken motivation behind the deal, which is ESPN could not afford to let the SEC create its own network. Big Ten and SEC football are the two most attractive television properties in college sports. If both leagues started their own networks, and both proved successful, who's to say 10 years from now they wouldn't abandon their outside partners altogether? I believe ESPN purposefully put together an over-the-top proposal -- not just monetarily, but in terms of unique branding, ambitious syndication efforts, etc. -- to take away any possible motivation the SEC may have had to go that route.

With the recent announcement that Virginia Tech will play Boise State next season, I am wondering if any school has had a tougher nonconference schedule over the past 10 years. The Hokies have faced USC, LSU, Alabama, Nebraska, East Carolina, Texas A&M, Marshall and now Boise State.
-- Greg Roach, Fairfax, Va.

I certainly give the Hokies props for scheduling those games, but in most cases you're talking about one such game per year. Those matchups have been mixed in with the likes of Furman, William & Mary, Northeastern and Kent State.

While I have no quantitative data to back this up, you'd be hard-pressed to find a school with a more consistently tough out-of-conference schedule than USC (which makes its string of seven straight 11-win seasons that much more impressive). In addition to its annual series with Notre Dame, the Trojans have had home-and-homes since 2000 with Ohio State, Auburn, Arkansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas State, BYU and Hawaii as well as neutral-site games with Penn State and Virginia Tech. During that time, they have played 73 percent of their nonconference games against BCS-conference foes and Notre Dame. The national average last year among BCS-conference schools was 36 percent.

If anyone has data to suggest another school can top that, feel free to submit it.
Can Joe Cox pull off a D.J. Shockley-type senior year for Georgia?
-- @Meat686 (via Twitter)

First of all, congratulations to "Meat." I noticed this was his first tweet, sent the day he signed up -- and it proved Mailbag. Dreams really do come true.

Now, onto the question. In 2005, Shockley, a fifth-year senior, led the Bulldogs to a surprise SEC championship after spending four years as David Greene's backup. Cox is also a fifth-year senior who spent the past three seasons backing up No. 1 draft pick Matthew Stafford. While I don't necessarily see an SEC title in Cox's future -- that would require knocking off Florida -- I would not be surprised at all if Cox and Georgia surprise some people this fall.

For one thing, Mark Richt's past two BCS bowl teams (2005 and '07) both started the season outside the top 10, and it appears this Georgia squad will do so, too. That's good news, because the Dawgs don't seem to fare as well when expectations are high (see last year). Secondly, the last time we saw Cox in meaningful action as a redshirt freshman in '06, he came in and led an impressive comeback against Colorado, throwing two touchdown passes. And finally, he'll have a good supporting cast -- no Knowshon Moreno, but an experienced offensive line, star receiver A.J. Green and the underrated Michael Moore (not the filmmaker; the guy who had six catches for 97 yards in the Capital One Bowl).

I think we can say with reasonable certainty the SEC will place two teams in the BCS, and that one of those teams will be Florida. But your guess is as good as mine as to which of four teams -- Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU or Georgia -- will be the other.

When talking about Kansas State in your July 22nd Mailbag, you asked the following: "Will they become a perennial top 10 program again?" My question: Were they ever?
-- Savage, Omaha, Neb.

The Wildcats finished in the top 10 six out of eight years from 1995-2002 (and then won the Big 12 in '03). To put that in perspective, Nebraska has currently gone seven years without a single top 10 finish. Pretty astonishing on both fronts.

I know you usually write about the powerhouses of the Big 12, but I thought I could sneak in a question on Colorado. I had high hopes with the hiring of Dan Hawkins, but have you seen any improvement? The father/son combo from Boise State hasn't really panned out the way I expected.
-- Andrew, Washington, D.C.

I had high hopes for Hawkins, too, but I knew he would need time to rebuild. Negative publicity from a litany of alleged sexual assaults by players and subsequent recruiting restrictions in 2004 decimated that program and left a fairly empty cupboard when Hawkins arrived in December 2005. But this is now Year 4, and Hawkins knows there's no more room for excuses. He went so far as to publicly predict 10 wins this season, a risky and unusual move (though one in keeping with Hawkins' personality).

On the surface, it would appear the Buffs regressed last season, slipping from an Independence Bowl berth the previous year to a 5-7 record last fall. However, there was more to it than that. Colorado showed its potential with an early season upset of West Virginia, but a rash of injuries (10 season-enders) plagued it the rest of the way. The Buffs were relying heavily on freshmen and sophomores by the end, yet still managed to give fans a tease in the season finale at Nebraska, holding a 33-31 lead until the final two minutes, when Huskers kicker Alex Henery nailed a 57-yard field goal to steal the victory.

So it's hard to say whether Colorado has "improved" to this point, but I see no reason why the Buffs can't make a breakthrough this year and perhaps even contend for a title in the wide-open Big 12 North. Sophomore running back Darrell Scott had a big spring game and seems poised for a breakout. The biggest issue may well be the father/son combo of which you speak. Quarterback Cody had a rough sophomore season, and if he struggles out of the gate again this year, there'll be problems.

Should the Pac-10 reduce its conference schedule by one game?
-- Todd, Mission Viejo, Calif.

That's a tough one. On the one hand, I find it admirable the conference goes its own way and settles its champion on the field, thus avoiding controversies like the Oklahoma/Texas Big 12 situation last year. On the other hand, the ninth game is probably hurting the league more than it helps. As Pac-10 aficionado Ted Miller recently pointed out, the conference guarantees itself five extra losses than other leagues, thus making it that much harder to produce a BCS champion, or even a second BCS team (which the league hasn't done since 2002).

From a purely on-field standpoint, it would probably behoove the Pac-10 to take the SEC approach and replace those 10 extra conference games with 10 games against I-AA foes. Voters don't seem to put much emphasis on nonconference scheduling; if you lose, you drop, as much of the conference did last September. However, there's one challenge most Pac-10 teams face that their SEC counterparts don't: filling their stadiums. LSU fans will turn out whether the Tigers are facing Alabama or Arkansas State, but that's not the case at Arizona State, UCLA or Stanford. Those teams need as many meaningful home games as possible.

Mailbag Crush suggestion ... I mean, demand. Not sure if you're an Entourage fan, but Emmanuelle Chriqui is the New Orleans Mailbag Crush selection. You can have your own, but put us down for this simplistic beauty.
-- Mickey Triche, New Orleans

I was a huge Entourage fan -- until this season. Am I the only one who's found it borderline unwatchable? Turtle is suddenly a kept man (and a whiny one at that), Johnny Drama has had no storylines built around him (which is inexcusable), the Ari-Lloyd "challenge" should, in theory, be fantastic but thus far has provided no amusement and E ... well, E was always unbearable, so that hasn't changed.

Friday, July 24, 2009

NBA Summer League Stats and Stars

Overall Rankings - Summer League


1. Blake Griffin(notes), F, L.A. Clippers
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
5 34.6 19.2 10.8 3.2 1.0 .4 .500 .143 .459

Drafted: 1
Blake Griffin wasted little time proving he's the real deal. Griffin was a man among boys in Las Vegas (granted, against guys who may not soon—or ever—see an NBA roster), averaging a double-double (19.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg) in the Clippers' five games. No wonder ESPN.com's J.A. Adande is already wondering whether Griffin will go down as "one of the greatest No. 1 picks ever." If Las Vegas was any indication, that may just happen.




2. Jonny Flynn(notes), G, Minnesota Timberwolves
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
5 27.8 15.0 2.4 7.4 .8 0.0 .480 .583 .909

Drafted: 6
Who needs Ricky Rubio(notes) when you have Jonny Flynn? The Timberwolves' second point-guard pick looked like a starter (and talked like one, too, in this NBA TV interview), showing off his unbelievable quickness while averaging 15.0 points and 7.4 assists. Flynn was in control and may just end up being the better of the Wolves' two rookie point guards.




3. Tyreke Evans(notes), G, Sacramento Kings
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
5 30.2 19.2 6.2 4.2 1.0 .2 .403 .286 .784

Drafted: 4
Outside of Griffin, no one looked more NBA-ready than Evans. His best game came in a showdown with Brandon Jennings(notes) in which Evans had 33 points (getting to the line 19 times), nine boards and seven assists. The Bucks got the win, but Evans' quickness and defensive mindset impressed many in Las Vegas.




4. James Harden(notes), G, Oklahoma City Thunder
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
9 27.9 14.7 3.3 2.4 1.6 0.2 .506 .375 .811

Drafted: 3
One thing is clear after the Thunder's Summer League stints in Orlando and Las Vegas: Harden will compete for the starting two-guard spot. Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said recently that Harden will have to fight for minutes, but you have to think Harden will be able to steal the minutes from last year's starters (Kyle Weaver(notes) and Thabo Sefolosha(notes)).




5. Brandon Jennings, G, Milwaukee Bucks
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
5 32.4 14.6 2.6 8.2 3.6 0.2 .379 .429 .778

Drafted: 10
The Bucks went 4-1 in Las Vegas thanks in large part to Jennings' pass-first mentality. Jennings led all rookies with 8.2 assists per game, but his loud-talking play caught the attention of at least one team exec. "He better keep his mouth shut," the anonymous player personnel director told NBA.com's Art Garcia. "He's a wise ass. And what's going to happen is he's going to go into the lane and one of those monsters is going to knock him on his ass and he's going to be sorry he was a smart aleck. He's been that way most of the games." Good thing he's got this guy to help him out.




6. Ty Lawson(notes), G, Denver Nuggets
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
5 35.8 16.6 7.0 3.6 0.6 1.0 .397 .154 .771

Drafted: 18
After two brutal games, in which he was just 1-for-15 from the floor, Lawson picked up steam. In the Nuggets' final three games (all wins), Lawson averaged 23.6 points on 57 percent shooting and looked like the quick-yet-polished point the Nuggets traded for on draft night to back up Chauncey Billups(notes).




7. Dante Cunningham(notes), F, Portland Trail Blazers
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
4 31.5 18.3 5.8 0.8 1.5 0.5 .476 .000 .722

Drafted: 33
With as much depth as the Trail Blazers have, it's unlikely Cunningham will have much impact in his rookie season. But that didn't stop Portland's second-round pick from showing off his potential in Las Vegas. Cunningham's performance—the Villanova product was fifth among rookies with an 18.6 scoring average—came as no shock to teammate Jerryd Bayless. "I've said it from the start—I think Dante has a chance to be special," the point guard said earlier this week.




8. DeJuan Blair(notes), F, San Antonio Spurs
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
3 25.0 16.3 8.7 0.0 0.7 0.3 .529 .000 .813

Drafted: 37
Dropping into the second round may end up a blessing in disguise for Blair. Not only will the Pitt All-American join a perennial contender in San Antonio, but he may be able to contribute right away. Blair averaged 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in three games and could prove to be a steal for the Spurs, who could use his toughness off the bench.




9. Austin Daye(notes), C, Detroit Pistons
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
5 33.8 17.0 8.8 1.0 1.4 0.4 .471 .294 .762

Drafted: 15
The No. 15 overall pick answered questions about his bulk and athleticism (or lack thereof) by averaging 17 points and seven rebounds as the Pistons went 4-1. Still, it was the Pistons' second-round pick, DaJuan Summers(notes), that may have had the more surprising week. Summers, the 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward out of Georgetown, led the team in scoring (18.0 ppg).




10. Tyler Hansbrough(notes), F, Indiana Pacers
G MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% 3P% FT%
5 25.3 18.2 5.6 2.0 1.0 0.4 .444 .400 .854

Drafted: 13
Hansbrough is out to prove he's more than just an inside presence. At North Carolina, Hansbrough took just 12 treys in his four-year career. In Orlando, the 6-foot-9 forward hit two of his five attempts and while averaging 18.2 ppg in the Pacers' five games."He can really shoot," Pacers teammate Roy Hibbert(notes) told the USA Today. "People don't really know that. Obviously, with me in the post, it sucked people in and he hit 3s. That'll widen up the floor for us."





Other notable performers: DeMar DeRozan(notes), Raptors—Looked like the real deal, showing quickness while averaging 17.0 points on 49 percent shooting; Marcus Thornton(notes), Hornets—Only played three games, but led all rookies in scoring with a 20.7 average; Stephen Curry(notes), Warriors—His 2.4 steals per game overshadowed his poor shooting (.325 percent from the field); Rodrigue Beaubois(notes), Mavericks—the athletic guard had 34 points and eight assists in a win over Houston; Hasheem Thabeet(notes), Grizzlies—The No. 2 pick looked disinterested and outmatched. Averaged 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds and it's hard seeing him having much impact offensively for the Grizzlies.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

10 biggest stories for NFL training camp

I agree with most of these storylines, but I think Vick and Favre will be the two most talked about all year long and not just in camp!

www.msnbc.com

10. Looming labor issues

While the NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have had damaging labor stoppages since 1990, the NFL has avoided that strife. And it’s probably no coincidence that, of the four major team sports, the NFL is the most profitable and popular.

But after agreeing to give the players 60 percent of total league revenues beginning in 2006, the league’s 32 owners want to scale that back. They don’t claim to be losing money, only making less profit. The players, meanwhile, don’t want to give back one of the first knockout victories in their long one-sided negotiations with owners.

If the two sides can’t reach an agreement before next March, there will be no salary cap or salary floor in 2010, meaning that teams will be allowed to spend as much or as little on players as they choose. That’s a threat to parity and parity is one of the things that makes the NFL so compelling. That and the guys knocking each other down.


9. The future of Michael Vick

July 20 marks the end of Michael Vick's 23-sentence for his deep involvement in an interstate dogfighting enterprise. Will he have served his debt to the NFL?

Vick, suspended indefinitely since August of 2007, will try to plead his case for reinstatement to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The commissioner wants to see genuine remorse from Vick. If he gets that, will Vick get immediate reinstatement? And if he does, which team or teams will decide to wade through the negative PR tide that signing Vick would bring?

And when he returns, how good can he still be?


8. Irate wideouts

In Arizona, Anquan Boldin’s been agitating for a new and improved contract for more than a year. In Denver, Brandon Marshall’s been trying to extract more money all offseason. All is quiet on the Chad Ochocinco front at the moment but he could flare up and get weird at any moment and there’s always T.O.

In other words, all is right in the world of wideouts where unpredictable behavior and tantrums over passes not thrown run rampant.

At present, the biggest problem appears to be with Marshall, who hasn’t yet backed off on his offseason trade demand and is a potential training camp holdout.


7. Romo & the Cowboys

Lavished with praise, attention and lofty expectations, the Tony Romo Cowboys have so far proven to be underachieving gag artists.

The faceplant at last year's finish line kept Dallas out of the playoffs and led to the team moving on from Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson.

The Cowboys have a new, more circumspect attitude entering 2009. They promise to be more exacting, less self-impressed, more single-minded than the Cowboys of the recent past. Whether they can make a sea change with coach Wade Phillips still at the helm is debatable. Still, with a new stadium opening up and a roster dotted with Pro Bowl talent, the Cowboys will remain — as always — watchable


6. Competition under center, front and center

The Raiders, 49ers, Browns, Lions, Jets and Buccaneers enter training camp with first-round quarterbacks trying to nail down the starting spot.

JaMarcus Russell (1st overall in 2007), Alex Smith (1st in 2005), Brady Quinn (22nd in 2007), Matt Stafford (1st in 2009), Mark Sanchez (5th in 2009) and Josh Freeman (19th in 2009) represent an awful lot of money spent.

Will Stafford, Sanchez and Freeman avoid the fates of Russell, Smith and Quinn — guys who haven’t yet shown they are the no-questions-asked franchise hood ornament? The brouhaha over whether young quarterbacks need the velvet glove or iron fist will rage as these guys try to give their teams some return on their investments.


5. The flight of the Cutler

In Denver, Jay Cutler didn’t like that new coach Josh McDaniels considered trading for another quarterback, Matt Cassel. The tantrum that ensued, nobody expected.

Cutler was so peeved that he went on wildcat strike and issued trade demands. Efforts to smooth things over fell flat and when Cutler refused to take calls from owner Pat Bowlen, it was the last straw. So arguably the league's best young arm was shipped to Chicago for a bounty of draft picks and Bears quarterback Kyle Orton.

Now, the pressure is on Cutler to rehab his sourpuss image and show that he’s more than just a guy with a $40 million arm and a ten cent attitude. And the pressure’s on McDaniels to make sure he doesn’t lose his hold on the Broncos rudder before the ship’s out of the harbor.


4. Turnover at the top

Eleven new coaches were hired this offseason, meaning more than a third of the NFL is working under new management. Now, in two cases the new head man is a former interim hired full time (Tom Cable in Oakland, Mike Singletary in San Francisco).

But at other addresses, the change is significant. Foremost on that list? Indianapolis, Denver, Tampa Bay and Seattle. For Jim Caldwell, Josh McDaniels, Raheem Morris and Jim Mora Jr., the pressure of their predecessor’s successes will shadow them all year. And the potholes have already been run through in some places.

For instance, McDaniels ticked off his young franchise quarterback, mercurial Jay Cutler, and wound up having to deal him to the Bears. Meanwhile, there’s a new vibe in New York where button-pusher Rex Ryan is talking brash and promising a devastating defense.

Meanwhile, three highly-regarded coordinators — Jim Schwartz, Todd Haley and Steve Spagnuolo — take over moribund franchises in Detroit, Kansas City and St. Louis respectively and try to avoid getting stuck in dead-end situations.


3. T.O. shuffles off to Buffalo

After three entertaining seasons, Terrell Owens officially wore out his welcome in Dallas and was released. But it didn’t take long before a coach on the ropes looked at Owens and saw him as the key to his continued employment.

The coach was Dick Jauron and the Bills — 7-9 in three consecutive seasons — are the team.

Will Owens be a savior or a lead-filled life preserver? Considering he’s never had a starting quarterback he didn’t end up skewering (Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and now Tony Romo), young Trent Edwards will need to watch his back. Of course, since Owens knows an image rehab is in his best interests, he’ll be on his best behavior early and will become bigger in Buffalo than Niagara Falls.

Two things are certain. First, Owens will produce — even at 35, he’s a physical menace. Second, he will flip the switch at some point and go rogue. Getcha popcorn � you know the rest.




2. Brady's back!

In 2007, Tom Brady threw 50 touchdown passes, the Patriots’ offense scored 589 points and New England went 18-0 before getting struck dumb in the Super Bowl by the Giants, 17-14.

In 2008, Brady played seven minutes before getting his left knee blown out by Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard. Now, nine months removed from surgery to repair his ACL and MCL and recovered from an infection that set in after surgery, we find out if Brady’s able to pick up where he left off in 2007.

So far, he’s flown through every physical checkpoint but he hasn’t yet had an opponent chase him down in anger, nor has he been through demanding day-after-day practices in training camp. The Patriots were 11-5 without Brady last year. With him returning and the team adding veteran offensive weapons like Fred Taylor, Joey Galloway and Greg Lewis, the New England offense could once again be a monster.



1. Brett Favre, The Return (Part Deux)

For the second straight year, Brett Favre has demonstrated that goodbye doesn’t mean forever. We think. Any day now, Favre and the Minnesota Vikings will end their game of footsie and make his return official.

And by pulling the ripcord on retirement and parachuting into the Minnesota huddle, Favre has left legions of Packers fans feeling conflicted. For 16 seasons, they cheered, laughed and cried with him. Now, he’s so bent on exacting revenge on Packers management for forcing him out of Green Bay last summer, he goes to a hated division rival to try and make life miserable in Wisconsin.

Unlike last season when he became part of a flawed Jets team, Favre’s joining a Vikings team with a top-tier defense and the game's most explosive runner, Adrian Peterson.

The nagging questions? How well will Favre’s surgically repaired right arm hold up? Is a head-to-toe, feel-it-in-your-soul commitment to helping Minnesota win a Super Bowl there for Favre, or are the Vikings just a vehicle for him to try and prove a point? Will he be the Favre of 2007 who brought Green Bay to the brink of a Super Bowl or the Favre that’s been in evidence since he turned 35 — impetuous and inconsistent?

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Complete Details from the Complaint Filed Against Ben Roethlisberger





This could get very interesting for Big Ben. I really hope this is not true for his sake. He seems like a good guy. Any thoughts on this big story???

www.msnbc.com
We've finally obtained a full and complete and reliable copy of the complaint filed against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Nevada.
The complaint contains very specific allegations, which either helps prove that the event actually occurred -- or which demonstrates that the plaintiff, Andrea McNulty, has a very active imagination.
McNulty, who says in the complaint that she has worked at Harrah's since March 2003, alleges that she was assigned to serve a concierge-style function on the Penthouse floor of the hotel during the 2008 American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.
McNulty alleges that, on July 10, she and Roethlisberger had a conversation about fly fishing, and that they talked about the fact that McNulty is an avid fly fisherman. (Though, on the surface, the exchange isn't relevant, the contention -- if true -- shows that there was at least a minor relationship between McNulty and Roethlisberger prior to the incident.)
As to the incident itself, it allegedly occurred on Friday, July 11. McNulty claims that, at approximately 10:00 p.m. local time, Roethlisberger returned to his room with a young woman, who left roughly 20 minutes later.
McNulty says that Roethlisberger walked the woman to the elevator, and that Roethlisberger then stopped to talk to McNulty and other staff, for roughly 20 minutes. (Obviously, it'll be critical to determine who these other staff members are, and what they have to say.)
As he was leaving, Roethlisberger allegedly told McNulty that the sound system on his television wasn't working. She offered to have someone from engineering fix it, but Roethlisberger said he would call her about it later.
Roethlisberger allegedly called her a few minutes later, and he said that the television was still broken. She offered to have someone go to the room and fix it. He allegedly asked her to come and "take a quick look" at it.
McNulty claims that she tried to call a couple of other colleagues to handle the situation, but that she couldn't reach anyone. She alleges that Roethlisberger called again and asked her when she was going to fix the television.
Citing a direction from management to ensure that Roethlisberger had an enjoyable trip, she decided to try to fix it herself.
McNulty claims that, when she arrived at the room, he was wearing a T-shirt and athletic shorts. She adds, for no apparent reason other than to show the clarity of her recollection, that the room was a mess.
Roethlisberger showed her the television that was malfunctioning, located in suite's bedroom. Using the remote, she determined that there was no problem with the television or the sound system.
She claims that, as she tried to leave the room, Roethlisberger blocked her path, and that he "grabbed [her] and started to kiss her."
She claims that she was "shocked and stunned that this previously friendly man, that appeared to be a gentleman in her previous contacts with him was suddenly preventing her from leaving, was assaulting and battering her."
McNulty admits that she didn't try to fight Roethlisberger, citing his size and strength. She claims that she "communicated her objection and lack of consent," and that he nevertheless began "fondling [her] through her dress and between her legs."
She claims that he pushed her onto the bed, and despite her alleged protests he "pulled her underpants off and proceeded to penetrate her."
McNulty claims that she told him, "You don't want to do this." She also claims that she said, "Please don't," and that she told him she was not on any type of birth control.
She claims that he said in response, "Don't worry, I'll pull out," which he ultimately did.
At that point, he allowed her to get off the bed. McNulty claims that she went to the bathroom, and "tried to pull herself together." When she emerged, she claims that Roethlisberger asked, "There are cameras on this room, aren't there?"
She responded by saying, "Yes, there are cameras everywhere."
McNulty alleges that he then seem worried, and that his tone became "stern."
"If anyone asks you, you fixed my television," he allegedly said. "You fixed my television. Now go!"
We'll be posting separately the allegations relating to the coworkers at Harrah's, most of which are based on conduct occurring after the alleged assault.
Again, these are only allegations in a civil complaint. There is, to our knowledge, no criminal complaint or investigation, and Roethlisberger through lawyer David Cornwell has strongly denied the contention.
Still, if the allegations set forth above are true, and if sufficient evidence can be compiled to prove that, then this thing could get very ugly for Roethlisberger.

More details about Roethlisberger's accuser

Less than 24 hours ago, Andrea McNulty filed a civil sexual assault case against Ben Roethlisberger. It's safe to say curiosity about her is already piqued.

TMZ has released seven pictures which they report to be of McNulty.


Roethlisberger denies civil allegations of sexual assault
In a complaint that reads like the rape allegations made several years ago against NBA star Kobe Bryant, Harrah's employee Andrea McNulty alleges sexual assault against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a lawsuit filed last week in Washoe County, Nevada.

But lawyer David Cornwell strongly denied the allegations Monday night, in a statement released to PFT. "Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone; especially Andrea McNulty," Cornwell said.

In the civil suit, which Cornwell confirms was served on Roethlisberger over the weekend and a copy of which our own Gregg Rosenthal has obtained, McNulty alleges that Roethlisberger asked her to come to his hotel room to fix the television, and that he thereafter forced her to have sex with him.

Roethlisberger faces one civil count of assault, one civil count of sexual assault and battery, one civil count of false imprisonment, one civil count of false pretenses, one civil count of fraud, and one civil count of intentonal infliction of emtional distress.

McNulty also claims that the coworkers named in the complaint thereafter defamed her by making allegedly false and inflammatory statements, and by allegedly serving as aiders and abettors of Roethlisberger's alleged misconduct after the fact.

Cornwell, a finalist for the position of NFLPA Executive Director who has represented in the recent past Saints running back Reggie Bush and Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth, points to the fact that no criminal complaint has been filed, and that no criminal investigation has occurred.

"The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct," Cornwell said. "If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated."

It's unknown at this point whether McNulty ever has attempted to file criminal charges as a result of the incident, which allegedly occurred in July 2008.

"Ben will not be baited into a public discussion about his personal life, but we will defend
him vigorously," Cornwell said. "The limited value that Ms. McNulty derived from public disclosure of these viciously false allegations is the only value she will ever receive from Ben in this case."

Regardless of how this one turns out, it has the potential to serve as a significant distraction for Roethlisberger as the 2009 season approaches, especially if the lawsuit triggers a criminal probe.


Other sites have alleged links to her myspace page, but they are unconfirmed.

We can confirm McNulty is a Canadian immigrant who had a visa to work at Harrah's Casino in Lake Tahoe.

Our source also told us on Monday the exact same story that Mr. Florio passed along from TMZ Tuesday morning.

The source alleges that McNulty was involved a bizarre episode that is unrelated to Roethlisberger. TMZ reports that McNulty received psychiatric care as a result of the incident.

The accusations about McNulty are not exactly surprising.

In fact, they are essentially contained in the civil case that PFT has been able to look at.

McNulty is suing many Harrah's employees for making false and inflammatory statements about her physical and mental health.

McNulty claims in the case that any hospital stay was related to being sexually assaulted.

She also alleges that the defendants/co-workers made inflammatory statements about her "relationship with other men" and accused her of serious sexual misconduct.

She is claiming that she sustained damage to her profession as a direct and indirect result of such statements.

As the story grows, which is inevitable despite ESPN's efforts, we will surely continue to learn plenty more about McNulty.

From both sides of the case

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Ocho-Cinco Learns from the Words of Denzel Washington


I thought this was a good read for everyone in Ohio that is wondering why 'ocho-chinco" has been quiet lately. Maybe he is going to take Denzel's advice. I can't believe I am going to say this, but I think he will and he will have a decent year!!!!

Oscar-winning actor gets in ear of Ochocinco
www.yahoosports.com

It was one of those typically incestuous Tinseltown celebrity convergences, an impromptu conversation between an athlete who changed his name to enhance his fame and an actor who need only drop his first name to receive the red-carpet treatment.
Yet when Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chad Ochocinco met Denzel Washington at a Los Angeles Lakers game this past spring, it wasn’t the mutual fawning session you might expect. Rather than compliment the receiver formerly known as Johnson for his athletic excellence, Washington called him out, portraying Ochocinco’s lost 2008 season as a self-inflicted nightmare.
“He got on me about the way I handled myself last offseason,” Ochocinco recalled in a phone conversation last week. “He wasn’t being gentle. He said, ‘You know what? You need to straighten up and stop fussin’ about something you have no control over. Make it fun again because it sure looks better when you do it that way.’ That’s all I needed to hear, especially from somebody like him.”
Is it possible that the NFL’s presumptive 2009 comeback player of the year could owe an assist to a man who owns two Oscars? We’re getting ahead of ourselves, but two things are clear as what’s left of the offseason melts away: 1) Ochocinco, 31, believes he’s headed for a monster season; and 2) Washington successfully imparted a stop-being-a-knucklehead sentiment that so many people shared last year as the formerly ebullient Pro Bowler devolved into the NFL’s de-facto grumpy old man.
From 2004 to 2007, Ochocinco (or, to be accurate, Johnson) thrived on the field – he led the NFL in receiving yards (5,515) and was second in catches (372) over that four-year span – while doing his best to remind us that football isn’t war. He proposed to a cheerleader in the end zone, gave CPR to a football after another touchdown and kept a conspicuous checklist in his locker featuring the cornerbacks he planned to burn each week.
When I profiled him for Sports Illustrated before the ’05 season, Ochocinco guaranteed that the Bengals would make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, a prediction that proved to be accurate. But after a pair of disappointing follow-up campaigns, Ochocinco decided he wanted out of Cincinnati – a time-honored tradition of disgruntled Bengals skill players (Carl Pickens, Corey Dillon(notes)).
Predictably, he was not subtle in expressing his wishes.
In the days leading up to Super Bowl XLII in Arizona, Ochocinco did a series of interviews in which he openly campaigned to be traded to various teams. He skipped all of the team’s offseason workouts and, in April of ’08, reiterated that “I don’t want to play for the Bengals.”
Bengals owner Mike Brown was adamant that the team would not give in to the receiver’s wishes, and Ochocinco was clearly perturbed upon reporting for training camp. He separated his left shoulder in a preseason game and, with star quarterback Carson Palmer(notes) out most of the season with a torn elbow ligament, caught just 53 passes for 540 yards in a 4-11-1 season.
A heart-to-heart conversation with Brown in January put Ochocinco’s mind at peace, he says, and he began an ambitious offseason training program that included regular boxing workouts. The dressing-down from Washington – think head coach Herman Boone in “Remember The Titans” – convinced him to start channeling his inner Muhammad Ali.
“My checklist is going back up this year,” Ochocinco says. “The bottom line is that football is fun. A lot of people, they forget about that. This is a business, a harsh business. We’re all one play away from having our careers cut short. The one thing I do is, I play the game like a kid. Last year, I let the business side get the better of me. This year, I’m bringing the fun back.”
His comical Twitter feud with San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman(notes) (inadvertently instigated by Y! Sports’ Charles Robinson, though he’s too shy to admit it) was a taste of the old Ocho with a new catchphrase: “Child, please.” You’re going to be hearing it quite a bit over the next few months, especially on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”
Few athletes express themselves so creatively. After skipping most of the Bengals’ offseason program, Ochocinco surprisingly showed up in early June for several OTA sessions in advance of a mandatory minicamp. Asked by reporters about his relationship with Palmer – which has had its share of tension – Ochocinco insisted all was well, saying, “We’re like Brokeback Mountain.”
Before the minicamp, Ochocinco got an unexpected phone call from Washington.
“He was in Europe, filming a movie, yet he took the time to reach out,” Ochocinco marvels. “He wanted to make sure my mind was clear. He is the coolest individual I’ve ever met. Seriously.”
Ochocinco plans to repay Washington by having a great year and smiling all the way to the finish.
“The good thing is, he says he’s gonna come watch me play, and I can’t wait,” Ochocinco says. “That might be the game where I get 500 yards. There’s no doubt that I’ll be back this season. It’s common sense. When I’m running my mouth and I’m happy, good stuff happens.
“I didn’t want to play last year; I didn’t want to be there. I was forced to stay. That’s behind me now. This will be a record-breaking year – I’m ready to rock and roll.”
Can advice from a rock star be far behind?

Thursday, July 9, 2009

2009 NBA FREE AGENTS








Top free-agent point guards (according to CBSSports.com's NBA Player Rankings)
Rank Player Team Rating Free-agent status
1. Andre Miller PHI 82.15 Unrestricted
2. Jason Kidd DAL 79.45 Unrestricted
3. Raymond Felton CHA 78.54 Restricted
4. Mike Bibby ATL 77.05 Unrestricted
5. Nate Robinson NY 74.28 Restricted
6. Jarrett Jack IND 74.09 Restricted
7. Ramon Sessions MIL 70.29 Restricted
8. Ronald "Flip" Murray ATL 65.00 Unrestricted
9. C.J. Watson GS 64.38 Restricted
10. Anthony Carter DEN 58.10 Unrestricted




Top free-agent shooting guards (according to CBSSports.com's NBA Player Rankings)
Rank Player Team Rating Free-agent status
1. Ben Gordon CHI 83.47 Unrestricted
2. Grant Hill PHO 73.85 Unrestricted
3. Anthony Parker TOR 72.39 Unrestricted
4. Jamario Moon MIA 66.37 Restricted
5. Allen Iverson DET 60.01 Unrestricted
6. Eddie House BOS 58.78 Unrestricted/Player option
7. Dahntay Jones DEN 55.83 Unrestricted
8. Marquis Daniels IND 51.67 Unrestricted
9. Von Wafer HOU 47.33 Unrestricted
10. Keith Bogans MIL 45.80 Unrestricted




Top free-agent small forwards (according to CBSSports.com's NBA Player Rankings)
Rank Player Team Rating Free-agent status
1. Hedo Turkoglu ORL 79.83 Unrestricted
2. Ron Artest HOU 73.87 Unrestricted
3. Matt Barnes PHO 66.26 Unrestricted
4. Trevor Ariza LAL 65.55 Unrestricted
5. Kyle Korver UTA 63.74 Unrestricted/Early termination option
6. Marvin Williams ATL 63.69 Restricted
7. Linas Kleiza DEN 62.15 Restricted
8. Wally Szczerbiak CLE 58.02 Unrestricted
9. Joey Graham TOR 57.91 Restricted
10. Steve Novak LAC 51.03 Restricted




Top free-agent power forwards (according to CBSSports.com's NBA Player Rankings)
Rank Player Team Rating Free-agent status
1. David Lee NY 83.14 Restricted
2. Al Harrington NY 75.72 Unrestricted/Player option
3. Paul Millsap UTA 73.82 Restricted
4. Charlie Villanueva MIL 72.79 Restricted
5. Shawn Marion TOR 72.56 Unrestricted
6. Hakim Warrick MEM 65.75 Restricted
7. Rasheed Wallace DET 63.92 Unrestricted
8. Brandon Bass DAL 59.54 Unrestricted
9. Antonio McDyess DET 59.24 Unrestricted
10. Chris Andersen DEN 56.94 Unrestricted




Top free-agent centers (according to CBSSports.com's NBA Player Rankings)
Rank Player Team Rating Free-agent status
1. Mehmet Okur UTA 75.13 Unrestricted/Early termination option
2. Anderson Varejao CLE 66.71 Unrestricted
3. Zydrunas Ilgauskas CLE 60.39 Unrestricted/Early termination option
4. Zaza Pachulia ATL 55.70 Unrestricted
5. Rasho Nesterovic IND 51.08 Unrestricted
6. Francisco Elson MIL 38.72 Unrestricted/Player option
7. Joel Anthony MIA 38.50 Restricted
8. Kwame Brown DET 37.52 Unrestricted/player option
9. Johan Petro DEN 20.59 Unrestricted
10. Ryan Hollins DAL 18.42 Unrestricted





EASTERN CONFERENCE FREE AGENTS

ATLANTA HAWKS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Thomas Gardner SG 02/08/85 2 Restricted
Othello Hunter SF 05/28/86 1 Restricted
Solomon Jones PF 07/16/84 3 Restricted
Ronald "Flip" Murray PG 07/29/79 7 Unrestricted
Zaza Pachulia C 02/10/84 6 Unrestricted
Mario West SG 06/19/84 1 Restricted
Marvin Williams SF 06/19/86 4 Restricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Mike Bibby PG 05/13/78 11 Signed on July 8


BOSTON CELTICS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Glen Davis PF 01/01/86 2 Restricted
Stephon Marbury PG 02/20/77 13 Unrestricted
Mikki Moore PF 11/04/75 11 Unrestricted
Leon Powe PF 01/22/84 3 Restricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Eddie House SG 05/14/78 9 Does not exercise player option, returns to Celtics (June 30)
Additions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Rasheed Wallace PF 09/17/74 14 Acquired from Detroit (July 8)


CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Raymond Felton PG 06/26/84 4 Restricted
Juwan Howard PF 02/07/73 15 Unrestricted
Cartier Martin PF 11/20/84 1 Restricted
Sean May PF 04/04/84 3 Unrestricted
Sean Singletary PG 09/06/85 1 Restricted/Team option


CHICAGO BULLS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Aaron Gray C 12/07/84 2 Restricted
Lindsey Hunter SG 12/03/70 16 Unrestricted
Jerome James PF 11/17/75 8 Unrestricted/Player option
Subtractions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Ben Gordon SG 04/04/83 4 Signed with Detroit (July 8)


CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Joe Smith PF 07/26/75 14 Unrestricted
Wally Szczerbiak SF 03/05/77 10 Unrestricted
Anderson Varejao C 09/28/82 5 Unrestricted
Lorenzen Wright C 11/04/75 12 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Zydrunas Ilgauskas C 06/05/75 11 Opts not to terminate contract, returns to Cavs (June 30)


DETROIT PISTONS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Walter Herrmann SF 06/26/79 2 Unrestricted
Allen Iverson SG 06/07/85 13 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Kwame Brown C 03/10/82 7 Does not exercise player option, returns to Pistons (June 30)
Additions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Ben Gordon SG 04/04/83 4 Acquired from Chicago (July 8)
Charlie Villanueva PF 08/24/84 4 Acquired from Milwaukee (July 8)
Subtractions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Antonio McDyess PF 09/07/74 13 Agrees to terms with San Antonio (July 8)
Rasheed Wallace PF 09/17/74 14 Signed with Boston (July 8)


INDIANA PACERS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Maceo Baston SF 05/26/76 4 Unrestricted
Marquis Daniels SG 01/07/81 6 Unrestricted
Stephen Graham SF 06/11/82 4 Unrestricted
Jarrett Jack PG 10/28/83 4 Restricted
Josh McRoberts PF 02/28/87 2 Restricted
Rasho Nesterovic C 05/30/76 11 Unrestricted


MIAMI HEAT

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Joel Anthony C 08/09/82 2 Restricted
Mark Blount C 11/30/75 9 Unrestricted
Luther Head PG 11/26/82 4 Unrestricted
Jamaal Magloire C 05/21/78 8 Unrestricted
Jamario Moon SG 06/13/80 2 Restricted


MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Malik Allen PF 06/27/78 7 Unrestricted/Player option
Keith Bogans SG 05/12/80 6 Unrestricted
Francisco Elson C 02/28/76 5 Unrestricted/Player option
Damon Jones PG 08/25/76 11 Unrestricted
Ramon Sessions PG 04/11/86 2 Restricted
Subtractions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Charlie Villanueva PF 08/24/84 4 Signed with Detroit (July 8)


NEW JERSEY NETS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Maurice Ager SG 02/09/84 3 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Jarvis Hayes SF 08/09/81 6 Nets pick up team option (June 30)


NEW YORK KNICKS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Eddy Curry C 12/05/82 8 Unrestricted/Early termination option
Al Harrington PF 02/17/80 11 Unrestricted/Player option
David Lee PF 04/29/83 4 Restricted
Nate Robinson PG 05/31/84 4 Restricted
Chris Wilcox PF 09/03/82 7 Unrestricted


ORLANDO MAGIC

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Adonal Foyle C 03/09/75 11 Unrestricted
Marcin Gortat PF 02/17/84 2 Restricted
Anthony Johnson PG 10/02/74 11 Unrestricted
Tyronn Lue PG 05/03/77 11 Unrestricted
Jeremy Richardson SF 03/01/84 3 Restricted
Hedo Turkoglu SF 03/19/79 9 Unrestricted


PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Royal Ivey PG 12/20/81 4 Unrestricted
Donyell Marshall PF 05/18/73 15 Unrestricted
Andre Miller PG 03/19/76 10 Unrestricted
Theo Ratliff C 04/17/73 13 Unrestricted
Kareem Rush SG 10/30/80 5 Unrestricted


TORONTO RAPTORS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Carlos Delfino SG 08/29/82 4 Restricted
Joey Graham SF 06/11/82 4 Restricted
Shawn Marion PF 05/07/78 10 Unrestricted
Pops Mensah-Bonsu PF 09/07/83 2 Restricted
Anthony Parker SG 06/19/75 6 Unrestricted
Jake Voskuhl C 11/01/77 9 Unrestricted


WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Juan Dixon SG 10/09/78 6 Unrestricted


WESTERN CONFERENCE FREE AGENTS

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Brandon Bass PF 04/30/85 4 Unrestricted
Gerald Green SG 01/26/86 4 Unrestricted
Ryan Hollins C 10/10/84 3 Restricted
Jason Kidd PG 03/23/73 15 Unrestricted
James Singleton PF 07/20/81 5 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Devean George SG 08/29/77 9 Exercises player option to return to Mavs (June 30)
Additions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Quinton Ross SF 04/30/81 5 Acquired from Memphis (July 8)


DENVER NUGGETS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Anthony Carter PG 06/16/75 9 Unrestricted
Jason Hart PG 04/29/78 8 Unrestricted
Dahntay Jones SG 12/27/80 5 Unrestricted
Linas Kleiza SF 01/03/85 4 Restricted
Johan Petro C 01/27/86 4 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Chris Andersen PF 07/07/78 7 Signed on July 8
Steven Hunter PF 10/31/81 1 Did not opt out, will return to Nuggets (June 30)


GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Rob Kurz PF 03/05/85 1 Restricted
C.J. Watson PG 04/17/84 2 Restricted


HOUSTON ROCKETS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Von Wafer SG 07/21/85 3 Unrestricted
Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Trevor Ariza SF 06/30/85 5 Acquired from L.A. Lakers (July 8)
Subtractions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Ron Artest SF 11/13/79 9 Signs with L.A. Lakers (July 8)


LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Alex Acker G 01/21/83 2 Unrestricted
Fred Jones SG 03/11/79 7 Unrestricted
Steve Novak SF 06/13/83 3 Restricted
Brian Skinner PF 05/19/76 10 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Ricky Davis SG 09/23/79 10 Exercised player option to return to Clippers (June 30)


LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Lamar Odom PF 11/06/79 10 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Shannon Brown PG 11/29/85 3 Signed July 8
Additions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Ron Artest SF 11/13/79 9 Acquired from Houston (July 8)
Subtractions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Trevor Ariza SF 06/30/85 5 Signed with Houston (July 8)


MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Chris Mihm C 07/16/79 8 Unrestricted
Juan Carlos Navarro PG 06/13/80 1 Restricted
Hakim Warrick PF 07/08/82 4 Restricted
Mike Wilks PG 05/07/79 6 Unrestricted
Subtractions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Quinton Ross SF 04/30/81 5 Signs with Dallas (July 8)


MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Rodney Carney SF 04/05/84 3 Unrestricted
Jason Collins C 12/02/78 8 Unrestricted
Kevin Ollie PG 12/27/72 12 Unrestricted
Shelden Williams PF 10/21/83 3 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Bobby Brown PG 09/24/84 1 Exercised player option, will return to Wolves (June 30)


NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Ryan Bowen SF 11/20/75 8 Unrestricted
Melvin Ely C 05/02/78 6 Unrestricted
Sean Marks C 08/23/75 8 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Devin Brown SG 12/30/78 6 Exercises player option, re-signs with New Orleans (June 5)


OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Desmond Mason SF 10/11/77 9 Unrestricted
Malik Rose PF 11/23/74 13 Unrestricted
Robert Swift C 12/03/85 4 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Damien Wilkins SG 01/11/80 5 Does not use early termination option, will return to Thunder (June 30)


PHOENIX SUNS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Matt Barnes SF 03/09/80 6 Unrestricted
Grant Hill SG 10/05/72 14 Unrestricted
Stromile Swift C 11/21/79 9 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Louis Amundson PF 12/07/82 3 Suns pick up option for 2009-10 (June 30)


PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Channing Frye PF 05/17/83 4 Restricted
Raef LaFrentz PF 05/29/76 10 Unrestricted
Shavlik Randolph PF 11/24/83 3 Unrestricted
Michael Ruffin C 01/21/77 9 Unrestricted


SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Drew Gooden PF 09/24/81 7 Unrestricted
Ime Udoka SF 08/09/77 5 Unrestricted
Jacque Vaughn PG 02/11/75 11 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Michael Finley SG 03/06/73 13 Exercises player option, returns to Spurs (June 30)
Additions Pos DOB Exp. Status
Antonio McDyess PF 09/07/74 13 Acquired from Detroit, agrees to terms on July 8


SACRAMENTO KINGS

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Calvin Booth C 05/07/76 10 Unrestricted
Ike Diogu PF 09/11/83 4 Restricted
Bobby Jackson PG 03/13/73 12 Unrestricted
Rashad McCants SG 09/25/84 4 Restricted
Cedric Simmons SF 01/03/86 3 Unrestricted


UTAH JAZZ

Player Pos DOB Exp. Status
Morris Almond SG 02/02/85 2 Unrestricted
Jarron Collins C 12/02/78 8 Unrestricted
Brevin Knight PG 11/08/75 12 Unrestricted
Paul Millsap PF 02/10/85 2 Restricted
Ronnie Price PG 06/21/83 4 Unrestricted
Re-signed Pos DOB Exp. Status
Carlos Boozer PF 11/20/81 7 Exercises player option, returns to Jazz (June 30)
Kyrylo Fesenko C 12/24/86 2 Utah exercises team option (June 12)
Kyle Korver SF 03/17/81 6 Does not opt out, returns to Jazz (June 30)
Mehmet Okur C 05/26/79 7 Does not opt out, returns to Jazz (June 30)

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

2009 Big Ten Football Predictions and Spring Practice Results


Dennis Dodd's Big 10 Predictions from www.cbssportsline.com


This might be the worst I've seen the Big Ten in 11 years.

That's as long as I've been at CBSSports.com, so 1998 seems like a reasonable benchmark. In '98, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio State shared the title. Michigan was coming off a national championship. Wisconsin went to the Rose Bowl that year. Ohio State went to the Sugar Bowl.

For gosh sakes, in '98 John Cooper was about to win at least 10 for the fourth consecutive year.

Now? Illinois can't decide whether it is a contender or in the middle of the pack. Bret Bielema is feeling the pressure at Wisconsin. The only new coach in the league is aptly named Hope (Danny, at Purdue). Eleven years ago the Boilermakers won their last six in row, went to the Alamo Bowl and upset Kansas State with Drew Brees.

The 2009 Boilers are coming off their worst season (4-8) in 12 years.

Iowa wants to be good again but it could use less yapping from its fans and more production on the field. And Michigan ... where have you gone Wolverines? A total meltdown in Rich Rodriguez' first season has to be rectified, like, yesterday.

Indiana and Minnesota will be at the bottom of the league, a place with which they are familiar.

The Big Ten remains the leader in BCS bowls (19) but you don't have to be told the league has lost a step in recent years. The 28 NFL draft picks each of the last two seasons ranked fifth (2008) and tied for fourth (2009) among major conferences.

The league is only 9-20 in bowls (1-6 last season) since 2005.

Here's my best example for how average the Big Ten has become: Penn State has to replace 12 starters (the most in the league), including its entire secondary. It is a twisted ankle at quarterback away from finishing fifth. A good, not great, group of receivers have to be replaced by what might be good, not great, group of receivers.

Still, the Nittany Lions are a virtual pick-'em with Ohio State to go to the Rose Bowl.

By the way, the Rose Bowl is going to be it for the conference champ. I don't see a national title contender in the bunch. The letters U, S and C will burn the ears of Big Ten loyalists. USC has beaten Big Ten teams by a combined 60 points the past three Januarys. The Trojans will likely be waiting in Pasadena to lay the smack down once again.

Like the Woody and Bo days, it's still a two-team league. Unlike the Woody and Bo days, there's not much national buzz.

1. Ohio State -- How do you lose Beanie Wells, Malcolm Jenkins and James Laurinaitis and get better? You don't. But there is enough left for the Bucks to win the Big Ten again. They have won at least a share of the four previous titles. Everyone seems to be jumping on the Terrelle Pryor bandwagon this season. Look, I like the kid and the athlete. I'm still not convinced he's going to make that quantum leap this season. There will be more pressure on Pryor to carry the offense with his legs if either Brandon Saine or Dan Herron can't become the big dog at tailback. Much will be learned on Sept. 12 when USC visits. Give Jim Tressel a running game, a punter and 105,000 homers and he will field-position you to death. If Tres can't pull it off in September, there's a rematch waiting in Pasadena.

2. Penn State -- It's a miracle of modern science. No, not JoePa's body, I'm talking about the Penn State staff. It has stayed together (for the most part), remained loyal and helped Joe dig out of that 2000-2004 hole. The Nittany Lions are Rose Bowl contenders for the foreseeable future. The defense keeps its snarl with the return of linebacker Sean Lee. The unit did finish in the top 10 in total defense last season. Will the D miss defensive ends Aaron Maybin and Maurice Evans? As mentioned, Daryll Clark has to stay healthy. He has enough elusiveness along with tailback Evan Royster to win the league. Ohio State comes to Happy Valley on Nov. 7.

3. Iowa -- If only Shonn Greene had returned, we might be talking about the Hawkeyes giving Ohio State and Penn State a run. With quarterback Ricky Stanzi having a year of experience and three offensive line starters returning, the Hawks will be productive but in a different way. Stanzi likely will have to make more plays himself (hint: scramble) unless sophomore Jewel Hampton or freshman Jeff Brinson replace those Greene yards.

4. Michigan State -- The Spartans are the Big Ten's flavor of the month. Coach Mark Dantonio has averaged eight wins in his first two seasons in East Lansing and the program ready to take off. Even with the loss of his two best players -- quarterback Brian Hoyer and tailback Javon Ringer -- there is plenty of talent waiting offstage. Watch true freshman tailbacks Edwin Baker and Larry Caper. Sorry Penn State, Michigan State might have the best linebackers in the league starting with junior Greg Jones, a consensus preseason all-Big Ten pick. Dantonio has the two best leg men in the league in kicker Brett Swenson and punter Aaron Bates. Iowa, Penn State and Michigan come to East Lansing. Ohio State is off the schedule.

5. Illinois -- What's your legacy going to be Juice Williams? Two years ago Illinois' quarterback guided a stunning upset at Columbus. Last season Williams and the Illini slumped. In his senior season, Juice could go out as one of Illinois' quarterback greats. Even though he led the Big Ten in passing yards, Williams threw too many interceptions (16). He will hook up often with the incredible Arrelious Benn. New offensive coordinator Mike Schultz will try to squeeze some of the old Juice out of his new quarterback. Schultz oversaw a similar offense at TCU. We'll know about the Illini before Oct. 1. They play Missouri in St. Louis and Ohio State in Columbus in September.

6. Northwestern -- The Big Ten's annually pesky Wildcats figure to be that way again. After Tressel, Pat Fitzgerald might be the league's best coach. His team started 5-0 and came within an overtime loss to Missouri in the Alamo Bowl of winning 10 last season. There are too many holes this season to expect Northwestern to finish in the top half of the league but somebody's going to get punked by the purple in the parity-filled Big Ten.

7. Wisconsin -- Is it time to panic yet? Bielema started 21-5 in his first two seasons, then slumped to 7-6 last year. But it was the way it happened: Bielema still hasn't been able to find a serviceable quarterback. The Badgers looked lost on defense and the prospects aren't good for this season. The formula to beat Wisconsin hasn't changed: Let the tailbacks get their yards, smack the quarterback in the mouth, wait for the turnovers and control the ball against a poor-tackling defense.

8. Michigan -- I was at a Michigan scrimmage in April during the Final Four. Granted, you don't learn much from watching a scrimmage but it seemed to me the offense still struggled to move the ball. Rich Rod better hope that the early-enrolling Tate Forcier is the answer at quarterback. There isn't much behind him. The defense should toughen up. A bowl is a possibility but will a 5-7 season be considered progress?

9. Minnesota -- Third-year coach Tim Brewster has a new state-of-the art stadium. That won't distract fans from asking if the five-game season-ending losing streak is the beginning of the end or just a nit in Goldy's fur. Watch the combination of quarterback Adam Weber and receiver Eric Decker.

10. Purdue -- There are spider webs in the cupboard left over from Tiller's era. Only two starters return on offense. The most experienced quarterback is fifth-year senior Joey Elliott who has played in 10 games in three seasons. Hope is looking at an 0-5 start if he can't beat Northern Illinois and Toledo early.

11. Indiana -- Kellen Lewis wasn't going to play quarterback anyway. Still, his dismissal from the team in April all but assures another down year in Bloomington. Lewis, the program's career passing touchdown leader, had been moved to receiver to make room for junior Ben Chappell. Lewis was the Hoosiers' best athlete. Without him there aren't many playmakers or much hope. Coach Bill Lynch might be on the hot seat.


www.espn.com Ranks the Buckeyes #6

Well, maybe that didn't go quite according to plan.


For quarterback Terrelle Pryor, a year of marinating as a freshman, with some spot duty here and there, turned into a one-way ticket to the barbecue of college football. Here's the ball, kid, remember to keep an eye out for those USC linebackers.

But was it worth it? Was it better to play Pryor and get him used to a group of skill position talents, all of whom have since left for the NFL?


Yes, says Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel.


"I don't care if you're a young quarterback or an old quarterback, you can talk about the receivers all you want," says Tressel, "if you don't have time to throw, it doesn't matter. But when you do, and you can stay on rhythm and have a chance to make your reads, it's going to mean the world to you."


In 2009, Pryor will get that chance.


And are you really worried about finding skill position talent? Ohio State has produced 243 NFL draft picks since 1967, including 50 since 2002. The Buckeyes' 10 first-round picks in the last four years are the most of any school. So while they have big holes to fill, they have an unmatched track record in finding that talent.
For Pryor, a new cast might even be good for him.

Big 10 Spring Practice Results from www.msnbc.com

We've come to the conclusion of spring practice in the Big Ten, and this signals a time of year when the fine folks in the Midwest begin to think the weather may actually warm up at SOME point. And some interesting events have transpired. Indiana named a starting quarterback before practice, Iowa has only seen single digit run-ins with the law, and Michigan is pinning much of its hope on a talented freshman quarterback.

So now it is time to weed through all of our notes of "rising" and "emerging" players and take a glance at how each Big Ten squad saw its spring develop.

Movers and Shakers
*QB Tate Forcier, Michigan
QB MarQueis Gray, Minnesota
QB Keith Nichol/Kirk Cousins, Michigan State
RB Vincent Smith, Michigan
RB Kevin Whaley, Minnesota
RB Ashton Leggett, Michigan State
RB Caulton Ray, Michigan State
RB Jeravin Matthews, Northwestern
**WR Kellen Lewis, Indiana
*WR DeVier Posey, Ohio State
WR Jarred Fayson, Illinois
WR Troy Stoudermire, Minnesota
* TE Brian Linthicum, Michigan State


* denotes draft worthy player in BCS-only leagues
** denotes draft worthy player in All-120 leagues



Illinois
Former Gator Jarred Fayson can now suit up on Saturdays in Champaign, and he made a good deal of noise this spring, however he's not the only one providing hope for a more explosive Illini offense in 2009. Battering rams Mikel LeShoure and Jason Ford have made an impact while Daniel Dufrene nurses his sore hamstring. We're thinking Dufrene should get well soon.

What does all of this mean? One, that the Juice will have more weapons at his disposal, and that super-freak Arrelious Benn may see some more single coverage. Benn and Juice still remain the only fantasy options for the Illini at this point, but the others could "emerge".

Indiana
Ben Chappell's move to starting quarterback without a real competition screams of a coach who will do everything to avoid a controversy, almost like throwing out all the cookies to avoid a late-night snack. This move makes Indiana much more traditional in offensive scheme, and as a result running backs Bryan Payton and/or Demetrius McCray may hold a little more value. Now what does this mean for Kellen Lewis, new full-time wide receiver in Bloomington?

If Kellen Lewis were just going to play wide receiver he'd hold little value. Because he can run like the wind blows and wing the pigskin, Lewis now becomes one of the more intriguing wideouts in the conference, and a sleeper candidate nationally.

Iowa
The bad news? The recent arrest of three players for public intoxication means that the Iowa football program appears hell-bent on keeping the local district court occupied. More bad news? Tight end Tony Moeaki continues to battle injuries.

Ricky Stanzi is the clear-cut number one guy at quarterback, and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos appears fully ready to emerge as a number one target. Both are only options in Big Ten-only leagues.

Jewel Hampton missed most of spring practice and sat out the spring game nursing a hamstring. So, much like last year with Shonn Greene, you'll have to take a leap of faith with Hampton on draft day. No, we still don't believe Paki O'Meara is a legit threat.

Michigan
Tate Forcier took first-team snaps, and Tate Forcier took some second-team snaps as well. Thanks to the transfer of Steven Threet and the injury to Nick Sheridan the Wolverines have all of their Easter eggs in Forcier's basket...at least until speed demon track star Denard Robinson completes that pesky high school. We are concerned over Forcier's size and subsequent ability to take a pounding as well as his lack of experience, but there is no doubt he will see the field this fall. This alone makes him worthy of our top freshman quarterback ranking.

Rich Rodriguez "would be disappointed if Brandon does not have a great senior year" and Brandon Minor is off to a good start by just staying healthy this spring. True freshman running back Vincent Smith is challenging Carlos Brown for carries behind Minor.

Michigan St.
Power backs Ashton Leggett and Caulton Ray moved up the running back depth chart, but no one truly emerged. Glenn Winston was also sentenced to 180 days in the clink for causing a real ruckus during an off-campus sock hop and punch party. This running back job will not be settled until August, when talented backs Edwin Baker and Larry Caper move into Case Hall.

MSU seems to be in good shape at QB with Keith Nichol and Kirk Cousins, both were outstanding in the spring game. But this does fantasy owners little good as there's a good chance we will see split snaps through the month of September. Each can play, and it may only be a hostile trip to South Bend that's capable of determining who should lead the green and white into the Big Ten battle royales. Our money is on the playmaking ability of Nichol. Regardless of the QB look for a different MSU offense this fall.

We are still high on sleeper Keshawn Martin and apparently so are his teammates. Martin was the first receiver taken during a players' draft for the spring game. It could be tight end by committee in East Lansing, but if the spring game is any indication, Charlie Gantt and Brian Linthicum are both draftable commodities.

Minnesota
Spring 2009 is a season of change in Minneapolis. A brand spanking new on-campus stadium is causing headlines as are new coordinators, with another another NFL guy, Jedd Fisch, running the offense. This new pro-style coordinator coupled with Adam Weber's limited spring (shoulder surgery) has us thinking that we may see a return to the Glen Mason run-dominated attack from a couple of years ago.

Duane Bennett returned from his season-ending knee injury, but he was held out of contact drills. He's worth a shot on draft day, but he is not as safe of a pick as we had hoped exiting spring ball. And while we're on the topic of fantasy question marks there are likely many Minnesota football fans who would like stud wide receiver Eric Decker to slow down on the diamond. Who does he think he is...Dave Winfield? A nice signing bonus offer in June and Minnesota may, I repeat may, be looking to replace their star wideout.

We should also see quarterback MarQueis Gray in situational play this fall. Wide receiver Troy Stoudermire racked up 274 all-purpose yards in the spring game. Keep an eye on him as well.

Northwestern
Fresh off the nice showing in San Antonio, Northwestern spent their spring looking to replace C.J. Bacher and Tyrell Sutton, a back who finally exhausted his eligibility. Thankfully for those that tailgate outside of Ryan Field, Mike Kafka and Stephen Simmons appear ready to lead the way. Both would be considered sleepers at this point. Though Simmons will see competition at running back.

Wide receiver-turned-running back Jeravin Matthews turned heads with his performance this spring, and he could be a factor in 2009. And if you can convince your good-for-nothing, lazy commissioner that Matthews is primarily a wide receiver he may be a real late-round steal in Big Ten-only leagues.

Ohio St.
The Buckeyes installed the pistol offense this spring, a formation that sounds much cooler than the spread. Terrelle Pryor will operate between the center and running back (think Colin Kaepernick) and it allows a little more versatility, but more importantly it puts more of the offensive onus on the team's best player.

The running back spot has become a bit more muddled. It won't be as simple as Beanie Wells giving Dan Herron the ball and wishing him godspeed. Brandon Saine will have a say in this running back battle; remember, Saine is a terrific athlete with speed to burn, and Jim Tressel saw fit to offer him a scholarship to Ohio State too.

Are we worried about Ohio State's offensive line losses? Just a little bit. Sure three big uglies, including Alex Boone, have moved on, but this is Ohio State, where they pick offensive lineman like a five-year-old picks his nose...with a purpose. Besides Mr. Pryor can erase a lot of early-season miscommunication on the offensive line with his freakish talent.

DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher exit spring as the starting wide receivers. We still love Posey's ability to stretch the field and based on spring reports, he is ready to break out. However we still worry about how much the Buckeyes will throw the football.


Penn St.
The question mark heading into spring was at wide receiver, and despite the optimism quarterback Daryll Clark has in the young group, it still is an area of uncertainty for fantasy owners. Chaz Powell was limited by a sprained ankle, making it hard to gauge if he will be the "next Derrick Williams". Graham Zug, Derek Moye and Brett Brackett exit spring as the starters. Like last year, spin the roulette wheel and hope for the best if you have your heart set on a Penn State WR.

The good news is linebacker Sean Lee was back, even if he wasn't allowed to hit anybody. The bad news is fellow linebacker Navorro Bowman could face more disciplinary action after admitting to smoking the ganja while on probation. Otherwise, not too much to report, except that incoming recruit Kevin Newsome will be an immediate factor in some fashion. Or at the very least a decent keeper selection.

Purdue

Thanks to an academic indiscretion, Justin Siller has been asked to leave Purdue, leaving Joey Elliott the starter in West Lafayette. Jaycen Taylor is still the favorite to emerge as starting tailback, though he was held out of spring contact drills and it sounds like he still has a ways to go on his rehab. If he is unable to go, Dan Dierking will likely be the guy. But keep an eye on incoming freshman Al-Terek McBurse. TE Kyle Adams returns, and Boiler tight ends have always been a factor. This teams appears to be in transition mode, so tread lightly.

Wisconsin
Charles Clay was limited with an ankle injury, and this plagued him last spring as well. Should owners be worried? Yes, unless you also own fantasy stock in Zach Brown. By all accounts Brown had a good spring and is a legit threat to vulture carries.

Quarterback Curt Phillips is making a push to overtake incumbent Dustin Sherer. The only shock is that he didn't challenge for the job last year. Or at least get a few looks. If you are drafting Wisconsin quarterbacks, take Phillips. Trust us on this one.