Wednesday, February 29, 2012

NBA Power Rankings - NFL Draft Risers and Fallers



PLEASE CLEVELAND!!!!!!





NBA Power Rankings
Feb. 29, 2012
1

Last Week: 1 Miami Heat (27-7)
The bad news for Heat opponents is that Dwyane Wade is flashing his vintage scoring prowess. After injuries reduced his dribble-penetration and cut his shooting percentage to 44.4 to start the season, Wade has shot 55.7 percent and gotten to the rim more than seven times per game in February. He has also dramatically reduced his three-point attempts, a wise strategy given his career 29.0 percent accuracy and bevy of teammates who can spread the floor from long distance. His return to form cements the NBA's most fearsome offensive unit, as four Miami's starters are making more than half their shots -- and Chris Bosh isn't too shabby an outlier at 49.4.

2

Last Week: 4 Oklahoma City Thunder (27-7)
The Thunder closed out the first half with offensive fireworks against the Nuggets and Celtics and then a hard-fought victory over the Lakers played at the more deliberate pace of their taller opponents. The Thunder get the least respect of any of the NBA's four elite teams because they concentrate their scoring load among three players and produced a defensive efficiency that was just league-average in the first half. But OKC's "Big Three" are all 23 or younger, are continually refining their prodigious talents and have benefitted from 17 games of playoff experience last year. As for the defense, the player who makes the greatest impact at that end of the court, wing stopper Thabo Sefolosha, has missed 16 games with a foot injury -- the Thunder are 16-2 when he plays and 11-5 when he sits. He's expected to miss at least another three weeks, and OKC is looking at a rough road trip to Philadelphia, Orlando and Atlanta before returning home to face Dallas. But if Sefolosha can return in time to re-establish his place in the rotation before the playoffs, the Thunder will be a tough matchup for anyone.

3

Last Week: 2 San Antonio Spurs (24-10)
Gregg Popovich has punted two games -- the overtime loss in Dallas last month the shellacking in Portland last week when he rested Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. But the latest setback for Manu Ginobili (strained oblique) has already compromised the Spurs' veteran leadership heading into the second half. And second-guessing Popovich on personnel matters involving players with whom he has won multiple rings doesn't seem wise from where I sit. When Ginobili is healthy, four of San Antonio's starters are 29 or older. And Pops is keeping three of them under 30 minutes per game, while honing a bench that can help the team weather the second half and, hopefully, a deep playoff run. The strategy is paying off so far.

4

Last Week: 3 Chicago Bulls (27-8)
Center Joakim Noah is quietly having an excellent year. He's played every game for a team that has been besieged with injuries for much of the first half, and even in this lockout-shortened season, he's on pace to set a career high in total minutes. His triple-double (13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in fewer than 30 minutes) against Milwaukee in the final game before the All-Star break punctuates his career-best 2.4 assists per game, which he has accomplished while reducing his turnovers. His active hands and vigilance on the boards helps extend possessions without requiring touches or shots in the offensive sets, an ideal complement to point guard Derrick Rose, who is shooting just 35 percent in the 200-plus minutes he has been on the court without Noah. Perhaps most importantly, Noah is versatile enough to play against both smaller, quicker teams and opponents who feature a classic low-post center, a flexibility that helps the Bulls retain continuity in the playoffs.

5

Last Week: 8 Los Angeles Clippers (20-11)
The Clippers benefitted from Chris Paul aggressively looking for his own shot during the first half, and they need more of the same, plus continued good health, from their superstar point guard to maximize their chances of a deep playoff run. Paul is dropping dimes at the lowest rate (8.6) since his rookie season while shooting nearly as often as in his career-best seasons in '08 and '09. Most significantly, his three-point attempts (3.2 per game) and accuracy (44 percent) are career-highs, creating space in the half-court offense for Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan near the hoop and Caron Butler and Mo Williams in the corners. Consequently, the Clippers' offensive efficiency has leapt from 22nd a year ago to fourth in the NBA this season. They're scoring 15.75 more points per 100 possessions with Paul on the court compared to when he sits thus far this season.

6

Last Week: 7 Los Angeles Lakers (20-14)
Assuming Kobe Bryant's broken nose doesn't keep him off the court, Mike Brown's division of point guard minutes between Derek Fisher and Steve Blake will be one of the more intriguing second-half developments for the Lakers. Since Blake returned from a rib injury, the two have been statistically indistinguishable over the past 10 games, averaging approximately six points per game on woeful 37.7 percent shooting, with Blake getting the slight edge in playing time. Thus far, all but four of Fisher's 866 minutes this season have been played with Kobe, but according to NBA.com's StatsCube, Kobe has been more aggressive and the team has performed better when he and Blake share the backcourt. Of course numbers alone can't account for Fisher's extensive history with Kobe in crunch time and his proven ability to thrive under pressure, with the latest example being Fisher's crucial fourth-quarter jumpers in the win over Dallas last week.

7

Last Week: 5 Dallas Mavericks (21-13)
Vince Carter has been an unsung hero for the Mavericks this season. According to Basketball Value, Dallas scores more points per possession and allows fewer points per possession with Carter on the floor than with any other player. Overall, the team improves by a whopping 19.47 points per 100 possessions when he plays -- 12.80 on offense and 6.67 on defense. Yet a look at his individual numbers shows that he's boosting his team by becoming a complementary player; only his three-point shooting percentage stands out. After being much-maligned for selfishness and a lack of effort at various times over his 14-year career, Carter has remade himself into a glue guy who has dished out five or more assists more often than he's scored 20 or more points. Dallas is 13-6 when he starts, 11-4 when he plays more than 25 minutes and barely over .500 without that level of contribution.

8

Last Week: 6 Orlando Magic (22-13)
Dwight Howard, one of the game's three or four best players, has asked to be traded, and in similar situations with other teams, the superstar almost never changes his mind. If the Magic are convinced Howard will be leaving anyway, it would behoove them to make a deal. If they believe the additional money they can offer him under the collective bargaining agreement, along with the team's strong showing this season, is enough to keep him, they should sit tight. Why would Howard engage the distraction and strained goodwill of openly flirting with leaving town if he wasn't serious about a change in scenery? That's the question the Magic brass need to ask themselves, instead of the more plaintive "How are we ever going to replace Dwight Howard?"

9

Last Week: 10 Houston Rockets (20-14)
While the Rockets have established themselves as good bets to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009, shooting guard Kevin Martin has had a difficult season. Martin, who was part of the blockbuster Chris Paul trade that was voided, is making four fewer trips to the line per game this season, resulting in 3.5 fewer conversions (a significant ding in anyone's scoring average), is the only one of Houston's starters who improves the team's plus/minus ratio when he sits (primarily due to his porous defense), and played 28 minutes per game in February, down from 32.6 on the season. Martin's five-year, $53-million contract doesn't expire until the end of next season, making him virtually untradeable. His accuracy from the free-throw line is valuable in clutch situations. But Houston has enticing back-court alternatives, including subbing Courtney Lee for Martin, or going with the point-guard tandem of Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic.

10

Last Week: 11 Indiana Pacers (21-12)
The Pacers need to regain the defensive momentum that propelled them to a 16-6 record to start the season. With a pair of 6-8 wings in Paul George and Danny Granger and 7-2 center Roy Hibbert to protect the rim, Indiana is long and rangy at three positions. And with Dahntay Jones, Tyler Hansbrough and (when healthy) Jeff Foster among the backups, its second unit is laden with physical grinders who aren't afraid to intimidate. But that ruggedness and zeal mysteriously disappeared during a five-losses-in-seven-days stretch in February, when the team that once led the NBA defensive field-goal percentage was allowing at least 46 percent. Not coincidentally, combo guard George Hill was out with a chip fracture in his ankle most of the month, depriving the Pacers of the flexibility of better defending taller point guards or quicker off guards.




21. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-18)
The next two weeks will provide a stern test for Cleveland's chimerical playoff quest. After hosting eight-seeded Boston on Tuesday, the Cavs play the Knicks, Nuggets and Thunder on the road, and the Bulls and Rockets at home among their next eight games. Fortunately, point guard Kyrie Irving shows no signs of hitting the fabled "rookie wall," following his dreadful 2-of-13 shooting display in an ugly loss to New Orleans to close out the first half with an MVP performance in the Rising Stars game during All-Star weekend. A declining field-goal percentage is the only significant consequence of Irving's increased playing time, and even that is counterbalanced by slightly greater accuracy from three-point territory and 94.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line in February. Best of all, Irving has cut down on his turnovers. If he and Antawn Jamison can tighten up their defense until Anderson Varejao returns from a fractured wrist, the Cavs could defy expectations and play meaningful games well into the spring.






Risers and Fallers

Dane Brugler -- (Updated 2/28/2012)


Risers

1.
Robert Griffin III QB Baylor Whether he was really half-second faster than his "official" time or not, Griffin III did nothing but inflate his rising draft stock in Indianapolis. Cool with the media and cornerback fast in the 40, Griffin might not make the Colts second-guess what to do with the top pick -- that Luck guy proved to be quite athletic himself. But Griffin's ascent could be huge for the St. Louis Rams, who hold the No. 2 overall pick, and now have the demand for Griffin as a ruby under the rug, a found jewel they can cash in for other valuables that will benefit 2010 No. 1 pick Sam Bradford in St. Louis. The Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins -- and many other teams -- have to take a hard look at paying whatever freight necessary to land the Heisman Trophy winner.
2.
Stephen Hill WR Georgia Tech Well, everyone knew he was fast. But I don't think many predicted he was that fast. Hill ran a blazing 4.36 40-yard dash, an impressive feat for a player with his size and frame (6-4, 215), which tied for tops among receivers. He had just 28 catches and 5 scores in 2011 as a seldom used weapon in Georgia Tech's triple option offense. However Hill surprised many and decided to forego his senior season and his performance at the 2012 NFL Combine gave us a glimpse why he felt he was ready for the NFL. Hill will look to follow in the footsteps of Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas who had limited production in the same offense, but turned a head-turning pre-draft performance into a first round pick in 2010 (22nd overall and the first receiver drafted that year). Hill won't be the top receiver drafted this year, but he could elevate his draft stock much higher than anyone thought, maybe into the top-50 discussion.
3.
James Hanna TE Oklahoma Not sure many would have believed me if I predicted the Sooner tight end would run a faster 40-yard dash than Alabama speedster Joe Adams. But that's what happened over the weekend as Hanna tested off the charts, headlined by his 4.49 40-yard dash, which was easily tops among tight ends (and several receivers). He was also among the top performers in the vertical jump (36"), 3-cone drill (6.76), short shuttle (4.11) and long shuttle (11.43). Hanna also proved to be more than just an athlete with 24 reps of 225-pounds on the bench, good for fourth among his position. He wasn't a substantial cog in the Oklahoma passing attack, finishing fifth on the team with just 27 catches in 2011. However, Hanna has showed enough in the pre-draft process to be worthy of a late-round draft pick as a developmental tight end.
4.
Dontari Poe DT Memphis Think you can't be a 6-3, 345-pound man without being a sloppy pile of wobble (ahem, Andre Smith)? Then you probably missed Poe running the 40-yard dash in 4.89 seconds and blowing through the 225-pound bench press testing with a 2012 Combine-best 44 reps. You might have also ignored another big body, Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn, earning a bit of money with a very solid showing two days earlier. Poe sets up as a classic risk-reward draft choice in that his athletic ability indicates his potential is infinite, but his production merits modest reviews and a grade somewhere in the middle of the draft. If he takes to NFL-caliber coaching and continues to grow -- the Memphis-born junior is just 21 years old -- the glossy finished product could make some GM look like a genius a decade from now.
5.
David Wilson RB Virginia Tech Explosive in workouts and impressive in interviews -- he donned a suit and tie for his sessions with team decision-makers as most prospects, following the typical path of past classes, trudged to these formal meetings in NFL-issued workout gear -- Wilson has plenty of upside beyond his track speed. He still has to convince scouts his unconventional, upright running style can work in the NFL and that he'll be as explosive against NFL-level talent. The natural, quick-twitch suddenness pushes him up the draft board. His 41-inch vertical, 4.49 40-yard dash and broad jump of 132 inches are credentials he can stand on to be one of the top backs off the board.


Fallers

1.
Mike Adams OT Ohio State The Ohio State left tackle held his own at the Senior Bowl and might not fall far, but pushing up just 19 reps of 225 on the bench might give credence to questions in scouting circles about whether he has enough strength to survive on his 6-7 frame against elite NFL defensive ends. At right tackle, he'd need more power and bulk and he's not a rare athlete as a left-side prospect.
2.
Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State Usually an intense competitor, Blackmon decided not to run the 40-yard dash, instead opting to wait for his March 9 Pro Day in Stillwater, but not all eyes can be on the Cowboys that date, which is shared with Alabama, Wisconsin and Mississippi State. He did participate in the on-field drills, but didn't blow anyone away, looking hesitant and indecisive in his movements, a far cry from the demonstrative presence scouts were accustomed to seeing in the college setting. Blackmon, who measured-in at just 6-1, isn't the tallest or fastest, but he plays bigger and quicker than he'll time during drills. But regardless, he did little in the minds of scouts to convince them he's an elite-level receiver worthy of a top-10 pick. Blackmon will need a strong Pro Day performance to avoid losing ground at the position.
3.
Michael Brockers DT LSU The 6-5, 322 pounder created quite a buzz during the measuring process once scouts put the tape to his 35-inch arms. Scouts love long arms on defensive linemen as it can give them an advantage when fighting blocks. Because of this fact, scouts won't be too worried about the fact that Brockers finished tied for last among all defensive linemen performing in the bench press drill (19). Simple physics make it more difficult for long-armed athletes to impress in the bench press and Brockers' strength is obvious on tape. Brockers performed just as poorly in several other Combine tests which should raise red-flags for scouts projecting the one-year starter as an immediate impact defender in the NFL. Brockers was clocked at an alarmingly slow 5.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash. This time was the third worst among the 49 defensive linemen tested in Indianapolis this year. The only two defensive linemen with a time more than a hundredth of a second slower than Brockers were Missouri's Dominique Hamilton and Southern Cal'sChristian Tupou. As a point of comparison, Brockers is currently rated as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 8 rated prospect overall. Hamilton and Tupou are rated 360th and 378th, respectively. Think the 40-yard dash time is an anomoly? Think again. Brockers finished among the worst in defensive linemen tested in the vertical jump (26.5 inches), broad jump (105 inches) and short shuttle (4.81), as well.
4.
Vontaze Burfict ILB Arizona State Once regarded by some scouts as a surefire first-round pick, Burfict might not even belong in the second day of the draft, making him no better than a fourth-round pick. After his showing on the field at Arizona State last season, he needed to make a splash at the Combine, but he might instead have become the fly in the punch bowl, first intimating coaches were responsible for his poor 2011 season and then looking slower and less explosive than expected despite dropping weight. That 5.09 40-yard dash is miserable but any standard and won't soon be forgotten. This could've be remembered as the week scouts let the hammer fall on the nails Burfict himself tapped in his NFL coffin.



Mike Adams (6-7/323), Ohio State - My biggest issue all along with Adams has been his inconsistency, specifically his reaction timing and soft play style. His bench press number of a measly 19 reps backs up those concerns. Some may argue the low total was due to Adams' long arms (33 7/8"), but Cal WR Marvin Jones weighs 199 pounds with arms less than an inch shorter and put up 22 reps. I just don't know where Adams fits. His feet and reaction time are too slow for left tackle, and he lacks strength to match up with strong-side ends. I think Adams will be over-drafted as a tackle and have a career similar to Bears 2008 first-round pick Chris Williams.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

OSU Basketball - Ohio State 2012 NFL Combine Results - Matta, finally, calls out his Buckeyes



Matta, finally, calls out his Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's loss to Wisconsin on Sunday started on Saturday, when coach Thad Matta had to throw his team out of practice because the Buckeyes weren't ready to go.
All season, especially after their six losses, the No. 8 Buckeyes have said they've played like they've practiced, for good and for bad. So to lose to the No. 16 Badgers, 63-60, with now just two games remaining in the regular season, was yet another exasperating result that yielded another round of the players talking about not playing together.
"It's real concerning," said William Buford, who has his Senior Day marred by the loss. "We should be together by now."
It led Matta, typically protective of his players, to call out his team maybe as much as he ever has in his eight years in Columbus. He volunteered the info about booting them from practice after the players failed to mention it.
"I think at times they don't understand what I see in our approach," Matta said. "As we said, guys have got to look themselves in the mirror and come back and be ready to go."
Asked if it was a function of the immaturity of his young team, which includes four sophomores and a senior in the starting lineup and five freshmen, two sophomores and junior on the bench, Matta said, "No, because my freshmen always come to practice. They do a great job. Honestly, I don't know the answer."
Clearly, though, his questions lie with the players he relies on the most. The OSU freshmen, combined, average less than 30 minutes of the 200 minutes available each game on the floor. Although the Buckeyes' three losses in five games have come against teams currently ranked in the top 15 -- No. 6 Michigan State, No. 11 Michigan and No. 16 Wisconsin -- it's how they have occurred that is more troubling.
Matta said the Buckeyes had two great days of practice before Tuesday's win against Illinois, which is why he was "so upset yesterday at practice, because it wasn't where it needed to be."
That led to the postgame parade of long faces and repeated responses. Ohio State committed 10 first-half turnovers, so the Buckeyes' 55 percent shooting yielded only a 29-29 tie at the break. The Buckeyes were 8-for-16 from the foul line in the second half, including Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft combining to go 1-for-7, so Wisconsin (21-8, 10-6 Big Ten) was able to stage in range after OSU had stretched its lead to eight with eight minutes to play.
When the Buckeyes called time out with 25 seconds to play and trailing 61-59, they wound up getting a double-pump 3-pointer from the top of the key by Deshaun Thomas, who scored a game-high 23 points, that never had a chance.
"I didn't like the shot, obviously," Matta said.
The Buckeyes (23-6, 11-5 Big Ten) are now tied for second in the conference with Michigan, two games behind Michigan State, which has clinched at least a share of the title. The Buckeyes can only get a share of their third straight title if the Spartans lose at Indiana on Tuesday, and the Buckeyes win at Northwestern on Wednesday and at Michigan State on Sunday.
"I just think it's a long season and it's tough to get through this and to come into practice every day still wanting to get better and come in with a good attitude," Craft said. "It's tough but we're still learning and we're a young team and we can figure it out."
But while shot selection and defensive lapses aren't new issues, Sullinger's recent lack of production must leave the Buckeyes stymied. They must do more to feed him the ball, but the sophomore All-American also must do more to get himself open. Following his nine points and six rebounds against Illinois, he had eight points and six rebounds against the Badgers.
Those were his first two healthy games this season in which he scored less than 10 points.
Matta said he didn't know what the issue was with Sullinger, but said, "I know this, when Jared is playing his best basketball, he's engaged and into it."
It would be hard to use that description on much of anything associated with the Buckeyes right now.
"Somebody's got to step up and be that guy and say 'this is enough,'" Thomas said, "and bring us all together."
That probably needs to happen in practice -- if Matta lets them stick around.






Ohio State 2012 NFL Combine Results
By Brandon Castel

It has been a long, tumultuous year for Ohio State’s outgoing senior class.

Much of that was their own undoing, but everyone is ready for a fresh start, and that includes Michael Brewster, Mike Adams, DeVier Posey and Daniel “Boom” Herron.

Of the members of Ohio State’s senior class this past season, only Brewster was able to steer clear of the controversy surrounding the Buckeyes and the departure of beloved head coach Jim Tressel.

All four of them will make the journey to the NFL together, and while it started with the Senior Bowl last month in Mobile, Ala., it swung into full gear over the weekend with the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.

More than 300 prospects swarmed into Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis over the weekend to show coaches, scouts and general managers what they are capable of. After having nine players invited to last year’s combine, Ohio State only had the foursome of Brewster, Adams, Posey and Herron competing in this year’s combine.

All four of them will get another chance to show NFL scouts what they can do when Ohio State has its pro day on March 9, which is also when fellow seniors J.B. Shugarts, Tyler Moeller, Andrew Sweat, Nate Ebner and others will get a chance to show off their skills.

Posey Starts Things Off Fast

It was an important weekend for all four Buckeyes, especially the three members of the “Tattoo Five” who missed a large chunk of their senior season at Ohio State. Posey was the one who missed 10 games because of suspension, so he really needed to show up well in Indianapolis, and he got off to the right start.

After checking in at a legitimate 6-2, 211 pounds, Posey ran an unofficial 40 times of 4.37 that turned out to be an official time of 4.5. That was barely good enough to be among the top 15 wide receivers at the combine, but it was a huge number for Posey.

The Cincinnati native has good size, strength and route running ability. He has to work on his hands, but the biggest question mark for him at the next level was going to be his speed. A 4.5 flat doesn’t make him one of the fastest players in the draft, but it does tell NFL front offices that he is plenty fast enough to get open at the next level.

Adams Disappoints on Bench

One of the fastest rising and most talked about prospects in the entire draft heading into the NFL Combine was Mike Adams. Ohio State’s left tackle checked in at 6-7, 323 pounds and he looks every bit the part of a starting tackle in the NFL.

There were some draft experts projecting he could climb as high as the middle of the first round, especially after an impressive week at the Senior Bowl, but Adams took a step back at the combine.

It started with his 5.4 official in the 40-yard dash, but where Adams really fell flat was on the bench press. Naturally long-armed, Adams was only able to do 19 reps on the bench, which was fewer than many tight ends and running backs. It was also 10 fewer than classmate and fellow OSU lineman Michael Brewster.

Herron is Who We Thought He Was

Boom Herron’s official 4.66 in the 40-yard dash left something to be desired over the weekend, but Herron proved himself to one of the quicker and shiftier backs at the combine.

Only Florida’s Chris Rainey posted a better time than Herron in the 20-yard shuttle, which is designed to test lateral speed and coordination. Herron also finished among the top backs at the combine in the 3-cone drill, which is used to evaluate agility, quickness and fluidity of movement.

Herron was always a quicker back than he was speedy. He never had the true breakaway speed during his time at Ohio State, but he did show great agility and especially fluidity of movement, which should make him attractive to some team in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft.

Here is a complete look at how the four Buckeyes faired at this year’s combine. We've also included the results for the top performer at the same position at the combine for comparison.

MIKE ADAMS – OT
Height – 6’7”
Weight – 323lbs
Arms – 34”
Hands – 10 7/8”

Official 40 time – 5.4 seconds (Donald Stephenson, 4.94)
Bench reps at 225lbs – 19 (David Molk, 41)
Vertical – 28.5” (No. 15 OL) (Donald Stephenson, 35.5)
Broad jump – 8’4” (Donald Stephenson, 9’6”)
3 cone drill – 7.94 seconds 3
20 yard shuttle – 4.95 seconds

MICHAEL BREWSTER – OL
Height – 6’2”
Weight – 312lbs
Arms – 31 ½”
Hands – 9 1/2”

Official 40 time – 5.35 seconds (Donald Stephenson, 4.94)
Bench reps at 225lbs – 29 (No. 13 OL) (David Molk, 41)
Vertical – 25” (Donald Stephenson, 35.5)
Broad jump – 8’0” (Donald Stephenson, 9’6”)
3 cone drill – 7.73 seconds (No. 15 OL) (David Decastro, 7.30)
20 yard shuttle – 4.6 seconds (No. 6 OL) (Rishaw Johnson, 4.53)

BOOM HERRON – RB
Height – 5’10”
Weight – 213lbs
Arms – 32”
Hands – 9”

Official 40 time – 4.66 seconds (No. 16 RB) (Lamar Miller, 4.40)
Bench reps – 22 (No. 7 RB) (Doug Martin, 28)
Vertical – 35” (No. 12 RB) (David Wilson, 41')
Broad jump – 9’9” (No. 12 RB) (David Wilson, 11’0”)
3 cone drill – 6.97 seconds (No. 6 RB) (Chris Rainey, 6.50)
20 yard shuttle – 4.04 seconds (No. 2 RB) (Chris Rainey, 3.93)
60 yard shuttle – 11.6 seconds (No. 5 RB) (Chris Rainey, 11.06)

DEVIER POSEY – WR
Height – 6’2”
Weight – 211lbs
Arms – 31 5/8”
Hands – 9 5/8”

Official 40 time – 4.5 seconds (No. 15 WR) (Travis Benjamin, 4.36)
Bench reps – 14 (Jerrell Jackson, 22)
Vertical – 36.5” (No. 15 WR) (Kashif Moore, 43.5)
Broad jump – 10’3” (No. 10 WR) (Stephen Hill, 11’1”)
3 cone drill – 7.03 seconds (Junior Hemingway, 6.59)
20 yard shuttle – 4.15 seconds (No. 12 WR) (Junior Hemingway, 3.98)






First Thoughts From a 63-60 Loss to Wisconsin
By Tony Gerdeman
great read!!!!

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As far as unexpected outcomes go, this was certainly one of them. I never saw a loss for the Buckeyes coming, and apparently Ohio State never saw it coming either.
We watched a team that reminded me of my college days—doing just enough to get by. Eventually, however, you take a class that has different plans for you.
The Buckeyes turned the ball over ten times in the first half, yet only twice in the second half. But the damage was already done. Wisconsin was confident and Ohio State was unsettled.
Even when the Buckeyes got out to their 50-42 lead, the Badgers were still calm. They closed the game on a 21-10 run to win it, and didn't seem all that shocked to do so. Ohio State, on the other hand, was either glassy-eyed due to the outcome, or their indifference to it.
Obviously not everybody has checked out on this team, but you have to think maybe a few have. Following the game, I was thinking that this is maybe just a glimpse at a team that is done with the regular season and wanting to move on to the NCAA Tournament.
After all, you only have to win six games, and you only have to be great in your last three games. This is a team that is certainly talented enough to flip a switch and be very good for three games and great for three more.
However, after reading postgame comments from Aaron Craft, specifically about outside issues and bad practices, I can't come to any other conclusion than some members of this team are ready to move on.
It's okay to lose games, every team does it, but this was a bad loss, and the Badgers didn't do it alone. They had plenty of help from the Buckeyes, and it's not a good trend for Ohio State if they want to do anything in the postseason this year.

First Thought

Deshaun Thomas finished with 23 points and seven rebounds, yet what many will remember of him from this game is his double-pump three-point attempt in the final 30 seconds. Yes, it was a bad shot, but that's where the play was designed. It was simply defended well.
But if that's all you want to remember from Thomas in this game, then that's a ridiculous stance to take. He was the only consistent offensive threat for the Buckeyes, and his 23 points were a game high.
With this being William Buford's last home game, and likely Jared Sullinger's as well, there has been chatter that this could also be it for Thomas.
If that's the case, then it would be a great disappointment to everyone who wants to see what Thomas could do if he was this team's main scoring threat.
We've seen him score in a number of ways this season, and he has been a dominating scorer at times, but leaving for the NBA before he got to showcase his talents completely would be a mistake. He's just not ready.
Not to mention the fact that he would have to guard NBA small forwards, and he struggles to handle skilled power forwards in the Big Ten at the moment.
Thomas' stock can only go up with another year in college, but it just depends on whether or not he wants to put off the pay day.

Forced Thought

Some people criticize Jared Sullinger for forcing shots, and while I can't deny that he certainly does force shots, I tend to think much of it comes after being completely ignored on offense for a number of possessions in a row.
The cure for this would seem to be making sure that the Buckeyes don't go possessions without involving Sullinger in the offense.
I understand that the Buckeyes have same talented scorers, but they all need others to get them the ball in order for them to score. They realize that their offense is started by others, so they should also realize that their teammates need help from them to get their own offense going.
You would think this would bring about extra passes and passing up good shots for great shots. But if that was the case, the Buckeyes would never have a game with just ten assists.
This is not a selfish team, but that doesn't mean they couldn't stand to be more selfless. An extra pass gets more players involved and keeps them from feeling like they need to force a shot when they finally get the ball.
That being said, I think this team could also stand to have Thad Matta grab them by the neck and shake them every now and again.

Senior Thought

It's not a coincidence—William Buford starts the game 2-2 from the field and the Buckeyes are playing well early. He then proceeds to make two of his final nine shot attempts and the Buckeyes lose a close one.
It's a pretty perfect example of Ohio State's fortunes this season where Buford is concerned.
But this is not William Buford's loss, it's a team loss. It's just hard not to see the connection when the Buckeyes mirror Buford in actions and subsequent results.

Effort Thought

How many times did we see Jared Berggren take an open three while Jared Sullinger watched from the free throw line?
I'm puzzled by this. Sullinger isn't a shot blocker, and admittedly doesn't want to get into foul trouble, so he avoids contact when he can defensively. So why would he be sagging so far off of somebody like Berggren repeatedly?
The Buckeyes certainly paid for it as Berggren hit 3-7 threes, including a dagger
late, and scored 18 points, which was ten more than Sullinger scored.
I've talked about this before, but if Amir Williams isn't playing because he can't close out on the perimeter, how is that any different than what anybody else does in the front court?

Expensive Thought

Free throws are free, until you miss them. That's when they cost you.
The Buckeyes were 10-19 from the charity stripe and Sullinger and Craft combined to go 1-7.
I have always said that there is no excuse for a guard to not be a good shooter, and that's especially true at the free throw line.
Heck, look at Greg Oden's freshman season. He taught himself to shoot left-handed, and he did it fairly well. The only excuse for not being able to shoot is because you don't take it seriously enough.


Missing Thought

While everybody wants to talk about this team missing Jon Diebler's shooting touch, I contend that they'd be just fine if they had somebody who could pass into the post as well as he did.
Right now, passes into the post come under the Woody Hayes warning of "two of the three things that can happen are bad".

Final Thought

Isn't it amazing that a team ranked so highly can have so many issues? Or is it that all we're looking for right now are those issues, and so that's all we're finding?
There is no denying that this was a bad loss. However, no team is perfect, and certainly no team would pass a microscopic inspection looking for faults.
As I said, all a team has to do is win six games in a row. Last year, Connecticut lost four of their final five regular season games before winning eleven consecutive postseason games.
This is not a great shooting team, but it is a team that can get hot at the right time in order to survive and advance.
I do believe that this is a team that absolutely wants to get to the postseason, but I don't know if they'll be able to simply flip a switch like they apparently think they can.
Something tells me, however, that we won't have to wait too long to find out one way or the other.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Browns expected to make a play for Matt Flynn - Daytona 500 Lineup




REALITY CHECK!







Browns expected to make a play for Matt Flynn
Oh, Please no!!!!!!

There has been a lot of chatter at the Combine about the Browns trying to trade up for Robert Griffin III.
But what if Cleveland has already invested big bucks in a quarterback well before the draft?
Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository writes the Browns brass “will make a play for Matt Flynn” with the hopes of making Flynn the team’s starter. They will have competition, though.
“There will be a budget that will not be exceeded in the play for Flynn,” Doerschuk writes.
That budget may have to include draft picks if the Packers use the franchise tag on Flynn. The Green Bay Press-Gazette believes that’s a “real possibility.”
Doerschuk believes the Dolphins are ultimately the favorites for Flynn. Miami might not be confident in their ability to get a rookie quarterback to build around and coach Joe Philbin’s history with Flynn gives Miami inside knowledge. (Let’s assume that’s a positive.)
Teams like Cleveland and Washington are in a tough spot. They may want Griffin, but can they wait for him and risk getting stuck in another season without a real quarterback?





Sprint Cup - Daytona 500 (Daytona International Speedway)


[+] 1 1 Carl Edwards 99 Ford 0 Running
[+] 2 2 Greg Biffle 16 Ford 0 Running
[+] 3 3 Tony Stewart 14 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 4 4 Matt Kenseth 17 Ford 0 Running
[+] 5 5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 88 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 6 6 Regan Smith 78 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 7 7 Marcos Ambrose 9 Ford 0 Running
[+] 8 8 Jimmie Johnson 48 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 9 9 Jeff Burton 31 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 10 10 Elliott Sadler 33 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 11 11 Michael McDowell 98 Ford 0 Running
[+] 12 12 Joey Logano 20 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 13 13 Kevin Harvick 29 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 14 14 Kyle Busch 18 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 15 15 A.J. Allmendinger 22 Dodge 0 Running
[+] 16 16 Jeff Gordon 24 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 17 17 Robby Gordon 7 Dodge 0 Running
[+] 18 18 Ryan Newman 39 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 19 19 Jamie McMurray 1 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 20 20 Kasey Kahne 5 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 21 21 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 6 Ford 0 Running
[+] 22 22 Mark Martin 55 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 23 23 Brad Keselowski 2 Dodge 0 Running
[+] 24 24 Dave Blaney 36 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 25 25 David Ragan 34 Ford 0 Running
[+] 26 26 Martin Truex Jr. 56 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 27 27 Aric Almirola 43 Ford 0 Running
[+] 28 28 Kurt Busch 51 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 29 29 Danica Patrick 10 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 30 30 Clint Bowyer 15 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 31 31 Denny Hamlin 11 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 32 32 Bobby Labonte 47 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 33 33 David Gilliland 38 Ford 0 Running
[+] 34 34 Joe Nemechek 87 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 35 35 Juan Pablo Montoya 42 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 36 36 Casey Mears 13 Ford 0 Running
[+] 37 37 Paul Menard 27 Chevrolet 0 Running
[+] 38 38 David Reutimann 93 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 39 39 Landon Cassill 83 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 40 40 Trevor Bayne 21 Ford 0 Running
[+] 41 41 Tony Raines 26 Ford 0 Running
[+] 42 42 David Stremme 30 Toyota 0 Running
[+] 43 43 Terry Labonte 32 Ford 0 Running

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wall St.’s highest-paid players of all time - 10 things to watch at combine -


Relieved Woods survives long, mistake-filled first round

MARANA, Ariz. -- Tiger Woods walked off the 18th green and found a phalanx of friends, adversaries and funny trash talk awaiting him as he ambled across the practice putting area.
Woods had been on the course nearly five hours, trading kicks in the shins with his first-round opponent at the Accenture Match Play Championship, barely surviving a match that was as entertaining as it was sloppy and uneven. Or perhaps specifically because of it.
"Slowpoke," caddie Brett Waldman deadpanned.
Woods, relieved to have merely advanced, laughed and didn't bother denying it.
"When you are hitting it here and here," Woods said, pointing extended arms in both directions, "it takes a long time."
Woods was nearly three holes down to Spain's careening Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano at one point, dodged several major bullets, hit a shot left-handed and spent much of the day in the prickly pear and cholla, but somehow gritted his was to a 1-up victory after saving par from the sand on the 18th hole.
"It was the epitome of match play," Woods said.
He was right, though it wasn't so much a case of artistic ebb and flow as it was staunch and cauterize. They chased each other into the desert, missed all sorts of potentially momentum-shifting putts, and left a swath of mangled Mother Nature in their wake.
"Neither one of us had our best stuff out there," Woods sighed, quite accurately.
Remember all the thrust-and-parry from the twosome before the match, about whether the other was "beatable." Turns out they were both right. If they had played nearly any other guy, they might have been tied to a Saguero and left as buzzard bait.
Both players would have posted 1-over 73s, and they mustered a combined two birdies on a back nine that was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Sure, it started entertainingly enough, sort of like watching insults being traded on a Married ... With Children rerun.
On the second hole, Woods slashed his tee shot into the native flora, and had to flip over an iron and hit a ball left-handed to get back in the fairway. Had he not made a six-footer on the third, he would have been 3 down. "If there was one day to beat Tiger Woods, this was it," said Fernandez-Castano. "And I didn't take the opportunity ... He played far away from his best."
Woods played far away from the golf course at times, too. At times, it was equal parts riveting and repulsive, like watching some NASCAR guy peeling what was left of his car off the wall at Daytona. A couple of times, it was like they were both determined to give away the match, with both hands, but the other guy was coughing up chunks of lung himself.
Theories quickly surfaced as to why they nicknamed Woods' adversary "Gonzo," and it mostly related to where he was hitting his tee shots. Woods was nearly as wild. On the 10th, after Woods had carved a driver deep into the desert, Gonzo wisely downshifted and pulled a 3-wood to keep the ball in play.
Trouble was, he hit the ball within a few yards of Woods, too, and had to take an unplayable drop when his ball was found squarely in a huge cactus. No worries, because Woods found his ball buried in a creosote bush, and when he took his stance, branches were peeking out between his legs. He chopped out the ball, but it hit squarely in the middle of a Saguaro cactus, and dropped straight down.
"We were both slapping it over there on the left on No. 10, he's taking an unplayable, I'm in the bushes and cactus, or cacti, whatever," Woods said.
OK, so he definitely learned that the plural for cactus is cacti, just on that hole alone. His next shot obliterated a small desert bush and landed in a rocky waste area short of the green, prompting Woods to issue a string of colorfully hyphenated words not fit for public consumption, none of which were "Fernandez-Castano."
By the time the hole was over, the Spaniard had won it with a bogey. Starting on the ninth, Woods played the next three holes in a gag-inducing 4 over, but was lucky only to lose two of the holes.
On the par-5 11th, Gonzo sliced his drive into a flash-flood area and had to hack it out, while Woods had a clean look at the green from 267 yards. He promptly pulled a 5-wood into yet another bush, moved his next shot about three yards, and bogeyed again.
As they bobbed and staggered into the back nine, Gonzo repeatedly had chances to put Woods on his heels, but could not deliver a single clutch putt. He missed an eight-footer on the 13th, and inexcusably left a 15-footer short on the 14th that would have won the hole and put Woods 2 down with four holes to play. After missing his birdie effort, he conceded a three-footer for par to Woods, who missed five putts from five feet in his last competitive round at Pebble Beach.
Aye carramba.
Fans didn't know whether to cheer or jeer, though most were definitely cheering on the American and openly pulling against the Spaniard, fair or not. At one point, five scantily clad Hooters girls emerged from a hospitality tent and lined up alongside the 14th tee, and a friend snapped a photo just as Woods walked past behind them, actually oblivious to their giggles, jiggles and cleavage.
As for the photo itself, we'll let you write your own caption for that one.
Woods hit one terrific shot down the stretch, driving the green on the 323-yard 15th, where he once lost a match to Tim Clark, for an easy birdie, his first since the eight hole. It also squared the match. Woods took the lead when Gonzo bogeyed the 16th.
Woods had a chance to win the match with a 9-footer on the 17th, and remarkably, blew it four feet past the hole and had to grind out the par putt to keep from giving the hole away. After missing the green from the middle of the 18th fairway, Woods saved par from nine feet at the last and won when Gonzo's birdie effort a moment later missed.
The two had exchanged a laugh about something a moment before they putted on the 18th, though Woods was unable or unwilling to explain the crux of the joke. Maybe they were just glad it didn't go extra holes, which goes double for most of the fans who were watching.
"I had my chances and I didn't take them," Gonzo said. "You can't do that with one of the greatest in history."









10 things to watch at combine
john clayton espn.com
Indianapolis hosted perhaps the best-run Super Bowl in the game's 46-year run. This week's return to Indy for the NFL scouting combine should be a breeze.
A total of 327 draft prospects started converging on downtown Indianapolis on Wednesday to be poked, probed and tested by NFL teams in the next seven days.
More than just draft research, the combine is to pro football what the winter meetings are to baseball. With the official league year starting shortly after the conclusion of the combine, teams will start talking trades, determining the value of potential free agents, working on getting under the salary cap and making other plans for the 2012 season.
Virtually every scout, coach, general manager, agent and most of the top draft prospects will be in town. Here are 10 things to watch in the 2012 combine.

1. Figuring out the quarterback hierarchy: Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is expected to go to the Indianapolis Colts as the first pick in the draft. Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is the next quarterback pick, and, if the Rams can begin shopping his talents, a team will move up to the No. 2 selection to take him. But who's No. 3? Most teams have different ratings on the quarterbacks behind Luck and Griffin. The list includes Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M, Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State, Brock Osweiler of Arizona State, Kirk Cousins of Michigan State and Nick Foles of Arizona.

Luck and Griffin might run 40-yard dashes, but they won't be throwing Sunday, reserving their shows for their pro days in March. Tannehill is injured and won't work out. The rest of the quarterbacks need to do as much as they can to sort out this year's class. Each has to overcome questions. For Weeden, it's his age. He's going to be a 28-year-old rookie. If Osweiler measures out close to 6-foot-8, that could be a negative because very few quarterbacks that tall succeed. A good combine could help Cousins and Foles improve some second- and third-round grades.


[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Dave Martin
Trent Richardson is trying to prove he's worthy of being a top-15 pick.
2. Placing the running backs: It's tough to be a running back these days. The move to a passing league has devalued featured backs. Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy in 2010, but that netted him only the 28th pick in the first round, when the Saints traded up to get him. The next back didn't go until the 38th pick.

This year's backs will be battling similar problems. Trent Richardson of Alabama is clearly the best back in the draft. In many circles, he's a top-10 pick. But he either has to run a good 40 time or convince a top-15 team in need of a running back that he's too valuable to pass up. As with the quarterback position, the combine starts the battle to see who is the No. 2 back and whether that back merits first-round consideration. Among the candidates are Lamar Miller of the University of Miami, Chris Polk of Washington, David Wilson of Virginia Tech and Doug Martin of Boise State.

3. QB-WR match game: A recent successful trend has been drafting a big, fast wideout to become the go-to receiver for a talented, young quarterback. The Falcons traded up to acquire Julio Jones to help out Matt Ryan. The Bengals had instant success putting A.J. Green with Andy Dalton. The Calvin Johnson-Matthew Stafford and Andre Johnson-Matt Schaub pairings created major problems for defenses.

Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State is considered the best receiver in a deep class of pass-catchers. The Rams found out last season that they lacked the receiving threats to advance the development of Sam Bradford. They have the second pick in the draft and could trade down to a team that needs Griffin, but trading down too much could cost them Blackmon. The Panthers, a team that used to emphasize defense and the running game, advanced into the quarterback age last season with the success of Cam Newton. They might be willing to trade up to get Blackmon.

Most of the top receivers, such as Michael Floyd, Mohamed Sanu, Alshon Jeffery, Rueben Randle and Stephen Hill, have great size. Good 40 times and great workouts could excite teams.

4. Hot corners: One of the highlights of the upcoming draft is the depth at cornerback. More than 10 corners could go in the first two rounds. Because recent combines have been on television, corners have treated combines like track meets. They train hard, and, if they have speed, they don't fear running at the combine. More defenses are looking for man-to-man corners, and the bigger and faster the better.

Taller cornerbacks such as Dre Kirkpatrick of Alabama, Stephon Gilmore of South Carolina and Trumaine Johnson of Montana could really help themselves with great workouts. Because there are so many good prospects at corner this year, the combine will start sorting out where they might go.

5. Figuring out the hybrids: Because quarterbacks are getting rid of the ball so quickly, the premium in drafts is finding pass-rushers. One of the problems, though, is determining whether they fit as a 3-4 linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end. Melvin Ingram of South Carolina and Courtney Upshaw of Alabama are 270-plus-pound linebacker prospects, but 4-3 teams such as the Seahawks have to watch the workouts carefully to see whether these players could work as defensive ends in a 4-3. Nick Perry of Southern Cal and Whitney Mercilus of Illinois are undersized defensive ends. Would they fit better in a 3-4? Their workouts could help the teams in need of pass-rushers answer those questions.

6. Bulking up the middle of offensive lines: Guards and centers do not get selected often in the first round because teams in need of blockers prioritize the tackle position. But the recent successes of interior blockers such as Maurkice Pouncey of the Steelers and Mike Iupati of the 49ers have allowed teams to appreciate guards and centers more in the first round.

That's what makes this an interesting combine for guards David DeCastro (Stanford) and Cordy Glenn (Georgia) and center Peter Konz (Wisconsin). DeCastro has the dimensions of a tackle, but, because he's so dominant in the middle, he could go in the top 15. Glenn (6-6, 346 pounds) could be switched to tackle. Konz (6-5, 315) is considered the best center prospect. With a few more teams shifting to the 4-3, the value of guards and centers to protect the pocket of the quarterback will influence this combine.



Vincent Muzik/Icon SMI
If the Rams hold on to the No. 2 pick, USC's Matt Kalil could be their guy.
7. Competition at tackle: Matt Kalil of Southern Cal is considered the best offensive tackle in the draft and could go as high as the second pick if the Rams can't pull off a trade. Offensive line coaches will be hoping many offensive tackles work out to see which ones have the footwork to be a left tackle and protect the quarterback's blind side.

Left tackles are on islands blocking defensive ends and pass-rushing linebackers. Good combines could only help Riley Reiff of Iowa, Mike Adams of Ohio State, Jonathan Martin of Stanford and others.

8. Will the great run on tight ends continue? Thanks to Vernon Davis, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and others, the NFL is in a golden era of tight end play. All of a sudden, it's hard to win without a top tight end who can stretch the seam or have a big presence in the middle of the field.

There are 14 tight ends at the combine, and all will be trying to prove themselves. Among the names to watch are Coby Fleener of Stanford, Dwayne Allen of Clemson and Orson Charles of Georgia. This doesn't appear to be a deep class, but the combine will begin to show whether it's a good one.

9. Franchises and franchise players: Starting Monday, teams with unsigned players will have 15 days to decide how they'll use the franchise tag. With agents for the top players here in Indianapolis, negotiations on long-term deals will be intense. With more than $700 million of cap room and more than 470 free agents, something has to give. Agents and general managers will be huddling up in coffee shops, restaurants and suites throughout the city.

10. Trade discussions, salary-cap cuts and Peyton Manning: The new collective bargaining agreement rolled back the value of top draft choices. Instead of six-year contracts that topped out at $78 million, the top pick settles for a $22 million, four-year deal. For the first time in years, teams won't fear trading into the top five. The Rams might as well set up a trading post to service teams such as Cleveland, Washington and Miami, which might want to trade up to acquire RG3.

It's not out of the question for swaps of draft picks to start as early as March, but the foundations of those discussions could start in Indianapolis. This week, teams should find out the final salary-cap number, which isn't supposed to go much higher than $120.375 million. And yes, the big offseason story remains Manning. Colts owner Jim Irsay could meet with Manning this week to sort out whether he will stay a Colt or be released.








While previous methods may have missed all-time greats, we ranked players from all eras.

This is 24/7 Wall St.’s highest-paid players of all time.
11. Alex Rodriguez
• Salary ratio: 10.18
•Sport: baseball (third baseman)
•Highest salary: $33 million (2009)
•Average player salary: $3.29 million (2009)
Story behind the salary

10. Babe Ruth
• Salary ratio: 10.66
• Sport: baseball (right fielder)
• Highest salary: $80,000 (1930)
• Average player salary: $7,500 (1930)
Story behind the salary

9. Bobby Hull
• Salary ratio: 10.8
• Sport: hockey (left wing)
• Highest salary: $270,000 (1973)
• Average player salary: $25,000 (1973)
Story behind the salary

8. Sergei Fedorov
• Salary ratio: 10.85
• Sport: hockey (center)
• Highest salary: $14 million (1999)
• Average player salary: $1.29 million (1999)
Story behind the salary

7. Wayne Gretzky
• Salary ratio: 11.07
• Sport: hockey (center)
• Highest salary: $3 million (1991)
• Average player salary: $271,000 (1991)
Story behind the salary

6. Ted Williams
• Salary ratio: 11.11
• Sport: baseball (left fielder)
• Highest salary: $100,000 (1954)
• Average player salary: $9,000 (1954)
Story behind the salary


Joe Montana is the only football player to make the list.

(Getty Images)
5. Joe Montana
• Salary ratio: 11.23
• Sport: football (quarterback)
• Highest salary: $4,000,000 (1990)
• Average player salary: $356,000 (1990)
Story behind the salary

4. Mario Lemieux
• Salary ratio: 11.5
• Sport: hockey (center)
• Highest salary: $11.32 million (1997)
• Average player salary: $984,000 (1997)
Story behind the salary

3. Ty Cobb
• Salary ratio: 12.59
• Sport: baseball (outfielder)
• Highest salary: $85,000 (1927)
• Average player salary: $6,750 (1927)
Story behind the salary

2. Michael Jordan
• Salary ratio: 13.98
• Sport: basketball (shooting guard)
• Highest salary: $33.14 million (1998)
• Average player salary: $2.37 million (1998)
Story behind the salary

1. Joe Sakic
• Salary ratio: 14.56
• Sport: hockey (center)
• Highest salary: $17 million (1998)
• Average player salary: $1.17 million (1998)




Michigan, Ohio State dominate recruiting

Is it time the Big Ten, long a title with an accounting error, be reclassified as the Big Two? That's exactly how national recruiting analysts are describing the Big Ten in terms of recruiting just days after Michigan made a monumental haul with eight commitments, including six last Saturday, to total 12 for the 2013 freshman class. That includes three players from Columbus, including receiver Jaron Dukes who committed on Wednesday. Ohio State, meanwhile, is working efficiently and has four pledges, including one five-star-rated prospect. ... Tom Lemming, the CBS Sports/MaxPreps recruiting guru said he's eager to sit back and watch how this plays out. "It looks now like the entire Midwest is down to Michigan-Ohio State."

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Brady Quinn says Broncos had a lot of Luck - 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings - Week 1 - Buckeye Hoops



GQ: Brady Quinn Debunks Year Of The Tebow: 'We've Had A Lot Of ... Luck'
Probably why Brady Quinn will never see the field for any team is because he is a baby and doesn't work hard. Typical Notre Dame Alum, crying the blues and very overrated!!!!!
The Tim Tebow debate has raged into the off-season, and by now we know the usual detractors: guys like Terrell Suggs, Nick Barnett, Shawne Merriman, Brady Quinn ...
Wait. What?
That's right, in a thoroughly reported feature by Yahoo! Sports NFL writer Michael Silver in the March issue of GQ, one of the Tebow critics is actually fellow Denver Broncos quarterback Brady Quinn.
And it's not just one subtle jab, either. Early in his piece, Silver gets Quinn talking about how Tebow got promoted to starter:
Early in the season, there was a game when Kyle [Orton] got hurt and the coaches were calling for me to go in, but Kyle got up and finished the game out. So I was the second-string guy. Then, a few weeks later, they decided to put Tim in. I felt like the fans had a lot to do with that. Just ’cause they were chanting his name. There was a big calling for him. No, I didn't have any billboards. That would have been nice.
Silver continues on with an oral history of the season, sprinkling in choice quotes from the likes of Kurt Warner (who compares Tebow to a character in the Bible) and Suggs (who calls Tebow "terrible").
Then it's back to Quinn, who demystifies Tebow's late-game prowess:
The entire game, the defensive line is chasing the quarterback around, and that wears down the pass rush. Meanwhile, the defensive backs are chasing receivers, but you only throw eight passes, so they start to feel lazy. It only takes that one play, that one big pass, for a touchdown.
To be sure, others in the story feel similarly. Merriman, of the Bills, tells Silver, "His teammates are making him look a lot better than he is." Suggs, of the Ravens, says, "No matter how many bad games Tim Tebow is gonna have, it’s 'He’s great.' I'll never understand it."
But the most glaring quotes -- though not the most hard-hitting -- come from Quinn.
In one passage, Broncos star linebacker Von Miller gives credit to the team -- "I mean, you could just see our team's resiliency in action. Nobody was giving up" -- and then Quinn offers a different reason for the Broncos' surge: "We’ve had a lot of, I guess, luck, to put it simply."
Now, Quinn isn't saying anything that hasn't been thought by pretty much everyone. Tebow didn't win football games with dominance or cunning. It's hard to pin his leadership on anything other than his all-world will and, as Warner suggests, "divine intervention." But in this story we have everyone in the Broncos organization, from coach John Fox to president John Elway to Miller, saying all the right things. Then there's the backup quarterback, Brady Quinn.
And not everything Quinn says is about football. The former Notre Dame star also questions how Tebow prays.
"If you look at it as a whole," he tells Silver, "there's a lot of things that just don't seem very humble to me. When I get that opportunity, I'll continue to lead not necessarily by trying to get in front of the camera and praying but by praying with my teammates, you know?"
Will Quinn get that opportunity? Fox says he wants two new quarterbacks to contend for the top job in Denver in the fall. So despite leading his team to a playoff victory, Tebow will have plenty of headwinds when training camp opens.
And it's likely not all of the doubters will be outside the Broncos complex.







2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings - Week 1

1 Jimmie
Johnson 7
Last Week: 8 21 The 48 team spent the winter refurbishing aspects of the team it had been afraid to touch during The Streak. What they didn't do was mess with the core leadership group atop the pit box.
2 Kevin
Harvick 1
Last Week: 3 19 Another year, another third-place points finish. They're hoping the addition of crew chief Shane Wilson, with whom Happy won the '06 Nationwide Series title, will put the black Bud car over the top.
3 Carl
Edwards 1
Last Week: 2 26 A lot of people seem convinced that Cuz will suffer from the same crushing emotional letdown that plagued Denny Hamlin last season after fumbling away the Cup in 2010. I am not one of those people.
4 Matt
Kenseth --

Last Week: 4 20 The Wisconsin Kid has rediscovered the groove missing since crew chief Robbie Reiser's promotion out of the team. It'd be just like Mr. Stealth to get a second Cup nearly a decade after his first.
5 Jeff
Gordon 6
Last Week: 11 18 It's Drive For Five: Part 11 as he races toward fall's 20th anniversary of his Cup debut. The Artist Formerly Known As Wonder Boy is giddy about sharing a shop with new teammate Kasey Kahne.
6 Brad
Keselowski --

Last Week: 6 14 Psst. Hey, Brad, if the season starts to founder, you can always break the other leg. That seemed to work pretty well last year.
7 Denny
Hamlin 3
Last Week: 10 14 Hambone ended last season with momentum -- four top-10s in the final six races -- and was the big winner of Silly Season, landing just-crowned Cup champion crew chief Darian Grubb.
8 Dale
Earnhardt Jr. 1
Last Week: 9 12 In 2009, he finished 25th in points. In 2010, he finished 21st. Last year, he finished seventh. So spare me all the "Junior is washed up and should retire" emails. And yes, I get those all the time.

9 Tony
Stewart 8
Last Week: 1 19 He'll win races and make the Chase, but he can't replicate what happened last year, right? If things do go south, at least new crew chief Steve Addington has had plenty of practice being yelled at.
10 Kasey
Kahne 5
Last Week: 5 15 This is really the first time Ol' Blue Eyes has been in a financially stable ride since 2007. Time to finally cash in on all that early-career promise and potential.
11 Greg
Biffle 7
Last Week: 18 10 Speaking of early promise, the Biff is entering his 10th, perhaps watershed, Cup season. The clock is ticking on his push to become NASCAR's first Trucks-Nationwide-Cup triple championship winner.
12 AJ
Allmendinger 1
Last Week: 13 10 The Dinger's five-year career arc -- with points finishes of 43rd, 36th, 24th, 19th, and 15th -- would seem to be timed out perfectly with his arrival to Penske Racing. Stay tuned.
13 Kyle
Busch 7
Last Week: 20 18 I'm not saying he won't be near the top of the Power Rankings most of the summer. He probably will. But, by fall, he'll likely be right back here. The past four years, his average points finish is 10.75. For reals.
14 Ryan
Newman 2
Last Week: 12 17 The good news? The Rocket Man dodge his annual springtime slump. The bad news? It happened in the fall instead. Until he can eliminate slumps altogether, he'll keep bouncing on the Chase bubble.
15 Jeff
Burton 1
Last Week: 14 5 Kind of feels like now or never for The Mayor, doesn't it?
16 Clint
Bowyer 9
Last Week: 7 16 The Pride of Emporia, Kan., joins MWR via a salary tiff with RCR. Crew chief Brian Pattie is here because he was tired of testy JPM at EGR. Will a change in alphabet, er, address, do the two some good?
17 Marcos
Ambrose 1
Last Week: 16 12 You know he's good on road courses. But did you realize that he also earned 10 top-10s on ovals, including four of the last eight?
18 Paul
Menard 3
Last Week: 15 8 Posted eight top-10s in last year's 36 races, one more than the seven he had scrounged up over his previous 147 starts.
19 Martin
Truex Jr. 2
Last Week: 17 12 Remember what I said about Biffle and Burton entering watershed years? And what I said about Biffle and Kahne needing to finally cash in on their potential? All of that applies here.
20 Juan Pablo
Montoya 1
Last Week: NR 8 And here.






Thinking Out Loud About Recent Struggles on the Hardwood

By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a tough weekend for Thad Matta and his Buckeyes, who dropped their second game in a week to a school from the state of Michigan.

That is not going to sit well in Columbus, where I could not help thinking out loud about some of Ohio State’s recent struggles on the hardwood.

1. Ohio State lost two games in the last week it should have won. Take nothing away from the job Michigan State and Michigan did to close out those games, but these Buckeyes should never, and I mean never, lose a game when they allow fewer than 60 points. They gave up 58 to the Spartans and lost by 10, at home. The gave up 56 to the Wolverines and never once took the lead in Ann Arbor.

2. Give Michigan credit for some of the big plays made down the stretch to win that ballgame. They didn’t play a great game either, but they came up with the 3-4 plays they desperately needed when the game was on the line. Freshman PG Trey Burke made the two biggest baskets, but John Beilein is thankful to have two seniors like Stu Douglass and Zack Novak to knock down clutch shots at the end of the shot clock. That was the difference in the game.

3. Burke is quickly become one of the best guards in the Big Ten, regardless of age. The turnovers have to come down if the Wolverines are going to take the next step as a program, but what’s not to like about the youngster from Columbus at this point? After scoring three points in his first career game at Michigan, Burke has been in double figures 24 of the last 26 games, including 17 and five against the Buckeyes. He is a high-volume shooter right now (14 shots to score 17 points), but he is also the kind of creative force that Ohio State is lacking on offense. His ability to take defenders off the dribble creates chaos and forces defenses out of position the way Mike Conley Jr. used to do for the Buckeyes. It’s what I expected Shannon Scott to bring to Ohio State this season, and who knows, maybe he still will in the future.

4. Things are stagnant for Ohio State on offense. People are more than willing to put Ohio State’s recent failures at the feet of senior William Buford, but the reality is that nobody on the team is moving around or getting good looks on anything except the pull-up three. That doesn’t bode well for a team that cannot shoot the threeball consistently. There was a time not to long ago when the Buckeyes were among the best in the country at sharing the basketball. It was incredible to watch the way they made the extra pass and moved the ball around to find the open shooter. There was none of that Saturday in Ann Arbor. Instead, it was a lot of one-on-one basketball, and it’s difficult to play one-on-one in the Big Ten because the referees don’t know when to call a charge or a block.

5. Sullinger is having a great statistical season, but this is really starting to effect him. Everything for Sullinger is now backing down a guy or trying to roll off a defender and hit a fall away shot. Remember when Sullinger would dominate the offensive glass with putbacks? It’s a lot harder to putback your own shot, although Sullinger still manages to do it. They have nobody else who can get to the basket other than Buford, and his game is a mess right now.

6. Deshaun Thomas is turning the corner in a big way. The one enjoyable aspect of this team right now, other than Craft’s defense, is the play of sophomore Deshaun Thomas. If nothing else, Deshaun is living proof that an ugly freshman season can turn into a solid sophomore campaign. He has always been a natural scorer, but last year his game was all over the place. He is still going to have a few games where he just doesn’t have it, but Thomas is averaging almost 15 points and five rebounds per game this season. He has scored double-figures in 10 of his last 12 games and he is coming off the first double-double of his career.

7. Expect to see a lot more of those as Thomas matures. The kid is one of the most natural offensive rebounders I have ever seen, but Thomas said Saturday that Thad Matta challenged him about his defensive rebounding. Of his 126 rebounds this season, 64 have come on the offensive end while only 62 have been defensive. Compare that to Sullinger, who leads the team with 69 offensive rebounds and 160 defensive rebounds. Only Amir Williams (24 and 29) even approaches the ratio Thomas has on the boards. If he commits himself to rebounding at the defensive end, he could lead the conference in scoring and rebounding next season, assuming he’s back.

8. Maybe it is time to give LaQuinton Ross a chance. I have never been aboard this bandwagon and I hesitate to even write these words, but after what we have see this past week, what could it hurt? Maybe Ross is not ready to play big-time defense. So what? They have defenders. Maybe he isn’t much of a rebounder. They have that too. Maybe he is just an immature kid who needs time on the bench before he’s ready to step out there, but how can they know for sure without at least giving him chance?

9. The same goes for Jordan Sibert. Yes, we have all seen Sibert in action, and no, it wasn’t pretty. He was supposed to be the team’s spot-up shooter from behind the arc, but instead is shooting less than 27 percent from long-range. That is not going to get it done, but I think it’s a mistake to write him off completely. This is a kid who knocked down four threes when they played Northwestern back in December. He is just 1-for-12 from outside since then and has played one minute or less in eight of the last 10 games. Matta and his staff get to see Sibert in practice every day, so they may have a better idea of what is going on, but this team is desperate for someone to start hitting shots.

10. Next year’s team could be very interesting. I’m not ready to start thinking ahead to next year just yet, but the Buckeyes could have an interesting team next year. It seems almost impossible that Sullinger would decide to return for a third season in Columbus, although I don’t doubt his desire to win a title or his need for another year of rounding out his game. But the NBA drafts on potential and Sullinger has been a lock for the top-10 for two years now. The same cannot be said for Thomas, who would probably fall to the middle or later part of the first round if he left. Assuming he stays, it will be interesting to watch what players emerge to surround Thomas, Craft and Sam Thompson, who has all but cemented himself as a future starter for the Buckeyes. If the team is going to be any good, they will need guys like Amir Williams and Shannon Scott to take a big step forward.

Friday, February 17, 2012

College's extreme method to lure recruit - James not ruling out return to Cavs -



ITS HERE!!!!!!




James not ruling out return to Cavs

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James could picture returning one day to the place where his NBA journey began.
Back in Cleveland.
Imagine that.
After practicing in a gym where he refined his game for seven seasons, James said Thursday he would not rule out a return to the Cavaliers, a team he carried to the brink of a title before he spurned an entire region by leaving as a free agent in 2010 to chase a championship with Miami.
Asked if he could play for the Cavs again, James initially paused before giving his answer.
"I don't know. I think it would be great," he said. "It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. You can't predict the future and hopefully I continue to stay healthy. I'm here as a Miami Heat player, and I'm happy where I am now, but I don't rule that out in no sense.
"And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me."
James' comments may have been calculated, coming one day before the Cavs host the Heat for the third time since the superstar's infamous and messy exit from Cleveland. In mentioning a possible reunion, he may be trying to soften the negative response he'll get Friday night from fans who haven't forgotten what he did to them.
However, James appeared sincere when talking about a potential return to the Cavs, his fractured relationship with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and topics ranging from phenom Jeremy Lin to rookie Kyrie Irving following practice on the fourth floor of Quicken Loans Arena.
Perhaps it was because he was back in familiar surroundings that prompted James' remarks. Or maybe it's part of a larger agenda. Whatever the case, his past with Cleveland, and his decision to bolt from the Cavs, will always be a sensitive subject.
After all, James put Cleveland back on the NBA map by taking the Cavs to one finals and winning two MVP awards during his stay. He left the franchise during a summer in which he held an entire city at bay as it awaited his decision. After he announced he was joining the Heat during a nationally televised special, the Akron native was vilified by the same fans who cheered every one of his dribbles and dunks.
Time has healed some of the wounds - not all.
James said he has made no attempt to patch things up with Gilbert, who harshly criticized James in a scathing letter to Cleveland's fans. Gilbert promised to win a title before James, questioned his character and told The Associated Press he felt James quit on the Cavs during the playoffs.
James said he has no bitterness toward Gilbert. They have not spoken since James met with the Cavaliers on July 3, 2010, when they were one of several teams courting him to sign with them.
"I don't have any hard feelings. He said what he said and I've moved on," said James, who is under contract with the Heat for two more seasons. "But there's been no attempt to patch things up."
James, however, said he can envision being friends again with Gilbert.
"I don't hold grudges," he said. "I hold them a little bit, but I don't hold them that long. He said what he said out of anger and he would probably want to take that back. But I made a mistake, too, and there are some things I would want to take back as well.
"You make mistakes and move on."
But could he play for Gilbert?
"Dan is not the coach," he said. "I can play for any coach. We'll see what happens."
Attempts to reach Gilbert were unsuccessful. Two years ago, Gilbert was fined $100,000 for his comments about James following "The Decision."
It wasn't clear if by "mistake" James meant the way he announced his departure from Cleveland or joining the Heat. He insists he's happy in South Florida and committed to winning a title with the Heat, who are favored to win it all this season after losing to Dallas in the finals last June.
James acknowledged he's changed and enjoying hoops the way he once did.
"I'm back to how I was in Cleveland, having fun with the game, appreciating the game, loving the game and playing at a high level," he said. "I got away from that last year. It was a difficult year for me last year, making the whole transition, on and off the floor, going through everything I went through.
"I just got back to how I got to this point, back to playing the way I know how to play."
James' comments about a return to Cleveland - albeit unlikely - caught former teammate Antawn Jamison off guard.
"It surprises me that he's saying that now," said Jamison, who played 25 games with James in 2010 after coming over in a trade. "Three years down the road it wouldn't surprise me if he entertains the idea. But hey, after the first go-round, I don't think anything would surprise you as far as scenarios taking place."
Cavs guard Daniel Gibson can't envision Cleveland fans ever receiving James warmly again.
He may have moved on. They haven't..
"I don't think he'd be welcome," Gibson said. "Not with the way that went down. It was a pretty tough situation. I'm sure they wouldn't feel comfortable with that at all."
For the moment, and for at least the next two seasons, James is with the Heat. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has seen a renewal in James, who he believes will one day be warmly recognized by Cavs fans for his time in Cleveland.
"Time heals a lot of things and LeBron had many special years here," Spoelstra said. "There probably will be a time in the future where he will be embraced and acknowledged for the great run that they had here. It's a new chapter for their organization and they've got a bright future ahead."
James knows what's coming on Friday. He's prepared for a rough reception, but not as hostile as the one the seven-time All-Star got on Dec. 2 last season. James expects to hear boos, but maybe not as many obscenities.
"It doesn't sting anymore," James said. "The booing isn't as bad as it was last year so it's not even a big deal."
James' comments about a hypothetical return to Cleveland didn't surprise teammate Dwyane Wade, his running mate in Miami.
Even Wade, who stayed with James at his home Bath, Ohio, could imagine his friend reuniting with the Cavs - some day.
"Anything is possible," Wade said. "Hopefully, I'm retired."







College's extreme method to lure recruit
Four-star junior tailback Alvin Kamara of Norcross, Ga., couldn't believe what he found in his mailbox after getting home from school one recent day.
Or rather, what he found falling out of his mailbox.
Kamara is set to check out Florida this weekend.
"There were 105 letters from Alabama," Kamara told Rivals.com.
Seriously?
"I counted!" Kamara said. "And I took pictures. I was shocked. I didn't expect there to be that many in the mailbox. When I opened it, it was overflowing and some of them fell out."
Kamara said he's keeping all 105 of them in one shoebox.
And while he says hasn't read them all - there were simply too many of them - he thinks he already knows the meaning behind the Tide's mass mailing.
"It's because they want me," Kamara said.
They are not alone.
Alabama is one of nine schools that have offered the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder. His latest came from Mississippi State on Thursday.
"It's still exciting [getting new offers]," Kamara admitted. "Every time I get one, I'm like 'Yes!'"
Kamara, who rushed for 1,500-plus yards in 2011, is a solid all-around back known for his exceptional speed. He received his first offer last fall from Syracuse.
After a strong performance at the Rising Seniors Georgia Junior Bowl in December, he started getting even more attention. Now, Kamara is one of the Peach State's most sought-after juniors.
He already has visited the Tide. This weekend, he will check out Florida. In March, he will head to Clemson.
"Right now, I don't have any leaders, but I'll say a few schools stand out a little bit," Kamara said. "Alabama, Georgia and Syracuse. Recruiting wise, they stay in touch with me the most.
"Coach [Bryan] McClendon at Georgia stays in touch with me; Coach [Tyrone] Wheatley at Syracuse keeps in touch with me."
Alabama is just the most persistent.
"Coach [Kirby] Smart at Alabama - we talk two or three times a week," he said.
Asked who was recruiting him the hardest, Kamara's answer probably won't surprise you.
"I'll say Alabama, just based on what other schools are doing and what Alabama is doing," Kamara said. "I went there [for junior day] and it went well. I liked the atmosphere. It's SEC football. It's big-time football. You can feel it when you go up there."
Or when you open your mailbox.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Ron Jaworski is out at Monday Night Football - Rangers slugger Hamilton undergoing counseling - Ohio State Strength Coach Making an Impact

It’s Not Just a Color
Marotti Employing Unique Motivational Techniques
By Brandon Castel
great story by brandon on the buckeyes strength coach

Ohio State players are very clear on how to feel about maize and blue, but suddenly those are not the most dreaded colors in Columbus.
At least not until Mickey Marotti is done with his winter conditioning program.
Marotti has been called a master motivator, but how does someone motivate a group of players who are already used to being motivated? That was the task charged to Ohio State’s new strength and conditioning coordinator when he began winter workouts a week early.
His solution was simple: do what comes natural.
“We just try to focus on basic principles like accountability, discipline, effort, competitiveness and performance that we look at every day,” Marotti told a group of reporters in Columbus on Wednesday.
Competition and performance are at the core of everything Marotti does during the off-season. They are interchangeable in Urban Meyer’s program and if there is not a winner and a loser then players are just wasting their time.
“If a guy doesn’t run all the way through a drill or a cone, that gets evaluated,” Marotti said.
“We have ‘charters’ all over, team managers. So, if two guys are doing the pro shuttle, there’s going to be a winner and a loser. If a guy does the drill wrong, maybe has his wrong hand down, he gets a penalty.”
It is one thing to lose because of penalty, but players know they better not get caught dogging it or Marotti will bust out the dreaded “ lavender shirt” as a reminder for everyone at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
“You don’t want to wear those shirts at all,” senior linebacker Etienne Sabino said Wednesday.
They also serve as a reminder that there is a new sheriff in town. That isn’t a criticism of the former sheriff, but Meyer and Marotti and their own, unique, ways of doing things. That includes the lavender shirt for ‘loafing’ during a workout.
“If I win and I know I’m beating you by like 10 yards and I point at you or I go slow through the line – even though I still won – that’s called a ‘loaf,’ said Marotti, who worked with Meyer at Notre Dame and Florida.
“Any deceleration before the finish line and guys get a loaf. If they get two or more loafs, they have to wear a lavender shirt.”
Meyer’s system is all about training the mind and the body. It is about four to six seconds of relentless effort, not just in the first quarter, but on the final snap of overtime. In their minds, a loaf is nothing more than weakness, which is what Marotti is trying to yank out of his players, even if it has to come by force.
“Everybody in the building sees who out there is wearing the lavender shirt,” Marotti said of the shame that comes with getting caught loafing more than once.
“And also, it’s charted in the weight room. All the loafs are up there and guys have to do certain things depending on how many loafs they get. As a team, we can’t have that.”
The impact of Marotti’s program has been palpable around the workout facility, at least for Sabino, who said his body fat is down and he already he feels faster than he did a year ago.
“Speaking for the team, I think we’ve all seen great changes in our bodies,” said Sabino, who is now weighing in at 235 pounds.
“We’re just really pushing ourselves and trying to get the best out of each other each and every day.”
Marotti is taking notice. He remembers day one when he and Meyer were first getting a look at these players during conditioning back in January. He can barely even compare it to what he sees today.
“It’s not even close,” he said.
“You expect that. It’s something new and all of a sudden a month later, they understand who we are, what we’re about, what we’re trying to accomplish. It was very evident from day one that they knew my expectations and my staff’s expectations and I know they knew Coach Meyer’s expectations. Once you know what is asked of you, you just do it. We push them hard.”
As he expected, it was a rough start. Not everyone wanted to be a part of it, but as players started to buy in, Marotti saw a group of guys who wanted to embrace the idea of getting better and pushing themselves to the limits—both physically and mentally—of what they thought possible.
“I think obviously there’s a time period just to get adapted to what you’re doing, what we’re asking them to do,” Marotti said.
“The body adapts. They’ve been doing a great job. They have a great attitude. That’s all I look for. When you hear that door creak open and they walk through there, there can’t be any bad demeanor because our program is a high energy program.”
Meyer wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s why he made sure Marotti was with him, but the task is far from over.
“We’ve been excited about their effort and their enthusiasm, and we’re not there yet – not even close,” Marotti said.
“You just keep on going.”







Rangers slugger Hamilton undergoing counseling

NEW YORK (AP) -- Josh Hamilton is undergoing counseling individually and with his wife in the aftermath of his alcohol relapse, and the Texas Rangers slugger said he is "doing things right a day at a time."
In an exclusive interview Wednesday with Pastor James Robinson on Glenn Beck's live streaming video network, Hamilton said he knows his addiction is a serious issue.
The interview came just more than two weeks after Hamilton had several drinks during dinner in Dallas on Jan. 30 and continued drinking later that night. It was the second known relapse with alcohol in the past three years for the recovering drug addict.
"We're taking this as, obviously it's a serious issue," Hamilton said. "I had a slip-up in '09 and moving past that, it was, OK, I'm fine. OK, it was just one night, everything's over and we didn't really move back towards well, what caused some slip-up?
"So this time, it's not just, 'OK, it happened, we'll move past it and maybe it won't happen again,'" he said. "We want to find out why it continues to happen."
Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, said he feels shame about his mistakes, but is willing to admit them.
The outfielder, who relies strongly on his Christian faith, said he is digging deeper and letting God take control over past things he has done, and that is helping to free his mind.
"It's going to be a process," he said. "I'm learning from my mistakes. The work I've been doing isn't a fix-all at this moment. It's a learning process. ... It is a spiritual reprogramming."
Hamilton said he's doing well and so is his family.
At one point, Hamilton looked straight into the camera and thanked the people who have continued to pray for him and support him. He said he's not perfect and wants to be a better person, husband and father.
Hamilton was the No. 1 overall draft pick by Tampa Bay in 1999 before getting involved in drugs and alcohol. He missed more than three full seasons in the minor leagues because of several drug suspensions, and didn't make his major league debut until 2007 with Cincinnati.
After being traded to the Rangers, he became one of baseball's best players on a team that has won the last two American League pennants.










Ron Jaworski is out at "Monday Night Football."
ESPN announced Wednesday that the analyst would be removed from the network's signature broadcast beginning in August. Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden will operate as a two-man booth.
Jaworski will remain at the network and appear on various programs, including "Countdown" and "Matchup."
The longtime ESPN analyst had been in the MNF booth since 2007, replacing Joe Theismann after one season. He was supposed to add a respected football voice to a broadcast that included Tony Kornheiser. He dutifully played that role for two years until Jon Gruden was brought in as Kornheiser's replacement. It was all downhill from there.
When Jaworski appears on other ESPN shows, he's an insightful football mind who breaks down X's and O's with clarity. His "NFL Matchup" program is the best on television for real football analysis. There was none of that on "Monday Night Football." Jaworski stuck to talking points, spoke in cliches and offered little, if any, breakdown of what was happening on the field. It was like a college professor being forced to teach third grade and not having any idea how to relate to his new surroundings. The addition of Gruden exacerbated the problem. Suddenly there were two football guys in the booth and they seemed to be in competition for who could say the most without saying anything at all.
This paragraph, from a December article in The New Yorker about Gruden, was a perfect microcosm of Jaws' time in the booth:
When it was Jaworski's turn, he issued a stern proclamation. "Call me crazy, but I'm really excited for Tyler Palko tonight," he said, and a roomful of skeptical sports producers erupted in laughter. Jaworski had given himself the thankless task of building up the Chiefs, praising them as much as he could without putting his own credibility at risk. Perhaps viewers would buy into the idea, however far-fetched, that Palko would emerge as the night's underdog hero. Later that day, as Jaworski was making a cup of coffee in the ESPN bus, he tried the line again. "Call me crazy, but I'm excited about Tyler Palko," he said. He exhaled. "I've got to sell this," he said to himself.
He became a carnival barker, not a football analyst. That may have been his own doing or based on the suggestions of ESPN producers. Regardless, the mentality to promote the game rather than describe it, which seems to be shared by Tirico and Gruden, is a big reason why "Monday Night Football" has become borderline unwatchable in recent years. It's not a football game anymore; it's a promotional vehicle. (That's only going to get worse when Gruden is given a bigger stage.)
Jaws was out of place. His football knowledge didn't change, it was the forum he had in which to disseminate it.
ESPN played up Jaworski's new role in a press release, but it's hard to consider this anything but a demotion. He goes from being in the booth for the network's marquee telecast to fighting for airtime on "Sunday NFL Countdown" with Cris Carter.
"I am grateful for having the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of working on 'Monday Night Football' the past five seasons with Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and so many other talented people behind the scenes who make the show so great, and I look forward to bringing my passion and knowledge of the game to more fans in more places than ever before on any and all football topics," Jaworski said in the statement.
The last two-man booth on "Monday Night Football" was Al Michaels and John Madden. ESPN has used three-man teams since acquiring rights to the telecast in 2006.