Month: February 2008 (Page 5 of 30)

      Broncos involved in their own spygate?

      February 26, 2008 /

      SPORTSbyBROOKS (via YAHOO!) has this tasty treat about the Broncos possibly videotaping Chargers’ practices in the past.

      The Yahoo article stated that the Chargers “increased their security ’several years ago’ during weeks in which they played the Broncos because Denver spies were videotaping Chargers practices.”

      But in a response that’s become commonplace in the NFL, neither the Chargers nor Broncos would comment on the allegations.

      San Diego GM A.J. Smith admitted that security had been beefed up at the team’s facilities since 2003, but wouldn’t further elaborate: “Why’d I go into those procedures? I won’t go down those roads.”

      The Chargers’ & Broncos’ reluctance to discuss the matter seems similar to the Steelers brushing off charges of the Patriots spying on Pittsburgh, with Steelers chairman Dan Rooney calling the videotaping a “non-issue”.

      Bill Belichick just got a gift.

      Seriously, give us back our sports. I’d like to wake up one day without seeing another freaking sports scandal. Steroids, illegal videotaping, refs gambling – where does it end? I need to go watch high school games more often.

      NFL

      40 times overrated?

      February 26, 2008 /

      Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News writes how the 40-yard dash is a vastly overrated tool in gauging how good potential NFL prospects will be.

      But while the 40-yard dash is the most glamorous and most popular pre-draft measuring tool, it’s not a make-or-break event by any means. If it were, track stars would consistently become football stars. From Renaldo Nehemiah and others who have tried and failed over the decades, we know that just doesn’t happen.

      And how often do running backs get a chance to run 40 yards down an NFL field unimpeded? And when that happens, it usually is the result of five bigger, stronger, slower guys imposing their will to open that kind of a lane.

      I agree, but I’ve never heard a GM say on draft day, “John Paulsen’s 40-yard dash really blew us away and that’s why we chose him first overall.” The 40-yard dash is just one small aspect of what these teams put prospects through in pre-draft workouts. If anything, the media and fans blow it up more than the teams do.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      NFL Offseason Odds & Ends: 2/26

      February 26, 2008 /

      – The Bears extended Kyle Orton’s contract. He received a one-year, $3 million contract.

      – The Denver Post has backed off their initial reports that Lions’ defensive tackle Shaun Rogers will be a Bronco by Friday.

      – The Vikings have agreed in principle to send WR Troy Williamson to the Jaguars for a sixth round pick. What a bust.

      – According to the Czar at Fox Sports.com, Randy Moss and the Patriots aren’t close to a new deal.

      – The 49ers are expected to add DeShaun Foster.

      NFL

      Bonds to Rays? Oh hell no.

      February 26, 2008 /

      Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg Times writes about the potential baggage the Rays would have to deal with if they sign Barry Bonds.

      Over the years, the Rays’ clubhouse has been a bad place, an awful place, for a young ballplayer to work. It has been a place where apathy devoured ability, where some veterans scoffed at enthusiasm and effort. Only now has it been scrubbed clean of the sour influences.

      So it’s a good idea to thrust the Godzilla of sour influences into the room?

      In any discussions – even the informal, internal discussions that teams have about every available free agent – there are a few questions that have to be answered about Bonds.

      What would he mean to the clubhouse? Odds are, it wouldn’t be good.

      At this point in his career, doesn’t the bad outweigh the good with Barry? For the 25-plus home runs that he’s going to hit, is it worth it to soil the clubhouse? The Giants are going to be awful – maybe the worst in baseball even. But read the articles coming out of San Fran so far in spring training; all the players are ecstatic because they’re not walking on eggshells anymore.

      MLB

      Could Ryan fall out of the top 10?

      February 25, 2008 /

      John Clayton of ESPN.com details how Boston College’s Matt Ryan – the top rated signal caller in April’s draft – could fall with teams at the top of the draft being gun shy about a young quarterback.

      If Ryan falls to Baltimore at No. 8, it would be as perfect a fit as Ben Roethlisberger’s falling to the Steelers at No. 11 in 2004. Of course, if Ryan slips past the fifth pick, don’t be surprised if the Carolina Panthers — drafting 13th — make a phone call to the Patriots to inquire about trading up to the No. 7 pick in hopes of getting the heir to Jake Delhomme’s starting job.

      And despite the Bears’ signing of Grossman, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if they tried to trade up from No. 14 to get the consensus top quarterback in the draft.

      The Ravens, Panthers and Bears would be better fits for Ryan than the Dolphins and Falcons. They have better rosters. They have the running game. And they have the patience to not rush Ryan until he’s ready.

      Teams sacred of making a mistake by drafting a quarterback too high need to look no further than the 2003 Cincinnati Bengals as a positive example. Cincy drafted David Klinger with their first pick in 1991, and Akili Smith with their first choice in 1999. Both were colossal flops – especially Smith. Yet when 2003 came along, the Bengals could have been scared off by the idea of using their first pick on another young quarterback. But they weren’t, and chose Carson Palmer, who turned out to be a franchise QB.

      Yeah, the draft is a dangerous minefield, but you can’t be scared of taking a guy you have highly rated because you were burned before.

      NFL, NFL Draft

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