Month: June 2007 (Page 13 of 14)

Green finally traded, Culpepper wants release

FOXSports.com is reporting the Chiefs and Dolphins have finally completed a deal (pending a physical) for quarterback Trent Green. In exchange for Green, Kansas City will acquire a conditional fifth round pick from Miami that can upgrade to a fourth rounder if Green reaches certain playtime incentives.

Kansas City had every right to hold out for the best deal, but it was ridiculous to put a consummate professional like Green through the ringer during the process. The Chiefs first announced they would trade Green before the draft, found a partner in the Dolphins who were willing to give up a seventh round pick, agreed to deal him and then went back on the deal. Then KC wanted a sixth rounder, then a fifth, and then a fourth, all while Green painstakingly answers questions from teammates and the media on why the process was taking so long. Either way, it’s done and Green gets to go to Miami where he’s wanted to go the whole time.

The next order of business concerns Daunte Culpepper, who has e-mailed several media outlets asking the Dolphins to release him. In the e-mail, he expressed that he’s, “not interested” in being traded. I’m sure Miami would like to recoup the fifth rounder it lost in acquiring Green, but that’s a long shot with the way Culpepper played in four games last year. The only thing that looked worse last year than his reconstructed knee, was his decision making.

Update: Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that if Green appears in 70% of the Dolphins’ offensive plays next year, the Chiefs will get Miami’s ’08 fourth round pick. Anything less than 70% and obviously KC will get Miami’s fifth rounder.

Martinez throws for first time since surgery

New York Mets starting pitcher Pedro Martinez threw 38 pitches off a mound for the first time since undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder. Apparently the session went extremely well.

“I felt right at home,” Martinez said.

“He went into it with an understanding that he wasn’t going to push it,” Mets rehab pitching coach Randy Niemann told Newsday. “He wanted to be free and easy.”

Niemann told the newspaper that as long as Martinez feels good, his next bullpen session could be Friday.

Wow, the Mets already have the third best pitching staff in MLB with a collective 3.35 ERA. Throw in a healthy Martinez and that’s one dangerous club come the second half of the season.

Combine results are in

Much like the NFL, the NBA conducts measurements of (almost) every prospect at the Orlando combine. The numbers for this year’s group of prospects are in, and there are a few surprises. Click here for a Excel file of the results and here for a PDF file.

Regarding the Blazers’ decision between Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, the combine results probably put Oden over the top. He tested very well, especially for a big man. Even though he didn’t participate in the bench press due to concerns over his wrist, his lane agility drill and 3/4 court sprint shows that he has excellent speed. He ranked #62 amongst all participants, but would have been higher had he participated in the bench press.

Meanwhile, Durant didn’t test very well. His maximum vertical leap of 33.5 inches was average at best and, according to the numbers, he wasn’t able to press 185 lbs a single time. Moreover, Oden beat him in both speed drills. He finished #78 amongst all participants.

Other combine winners were Mike Conley (#4), Thaddeus Young (#7), Jason Smith (#8) and Rodney Stuckey (#10). Meanwhile, Corey Brewer (#42), Brandan Wright (#61) and Julian Wright (#66) didn’t test as well as expected. Yi Jianlian didn’t test at all. The Chinese government wants to be sure that he goes to a “good” situation so presumably, he’ll only test for those teams.

Tank suspended eight games

Roger “I throw down the law” Goodell suspended Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson for eight games. Johnson can, however, reduce that suspension down to six games if he complies with all the pending court requirements and avoids future run-ins with the law before October 1. Dusty Dvoracek, a 2006 third-round pick, is the most likely to take Johnson’s spot next to stud Tommie Harris on the Bears’ defensive line.

Memo to Tank: If you don’t stockpile your home with an arsenal of guns and then open up fire on the mailman, you can return to the NFL where you’ll make tons of money. It seems like a fair deal, so how about you stay out of trouble, huh?

By the way, how great is Goodell for the most popular league in sports? Johnson, eight games. Chris Henry, eight games. Pacman Jones, 16 games. Michael Vick…

Dye for Abreu swap a possibility?

The Chicago Sun Times is reporting the White Sox might be interested in trading outfielder Jermaine Dye to the Yankees for Bobby Abreu. Dye has struggled thus far this season, hitting just .228 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI. He’s also a free agent to be, making any trade rumors involving him viable.

Apparently Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is a good friend of Abreu’s, making this specific rumor worth following. Plus – according to the Sun Times’ article – the Sox feel that Abreu will heat up in the second half of the season considering his track record for being a notorious slow starter (he’s hitting just .244 with 7 home runs and 4 RBI this season). At 25-27, Chicago isn’t panicking by any means, but with both Dye and starting pitcher Mark Buehrle set to become free agents, this team is built to win now and may explore trades in order to make another World Series run.

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