Month: April 2009 (Page 10 of 53)

      Your 2009 Rumor Riser: Tyson Jackson

      April 25, 2009 /

      Every year a rumor emerges in the days leading up to the NFL draft that sends all the talking heads in the media into an absolute frenzy.

      This year’s rumor? LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson moving into the top 10, no wait, the top 5! Wait! Late word is that the Lions have scratched their choice of Matthew Stafford and are now taking Jackson with the top overall pick!

      A month ago, Jackson was projected to go in the top 20, but no higher than No. 13 to Washington. Scouts dumped on his pass-rushing ability, but said he would be a nice addition to a team that needed a big-bodied run-stuffer on their defensive line.

      But just less than a week ago, the National Football Post ran a story that the Chiefs were reportedly “in love” with Jackson and could take him No. 3 overall. Then Gil Brandt of the New York Daily News wrote that Jackson’s stock was rising and that KC was “smitten” with the defensive end. Now, fading (and I do mean fading) draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has the Chiefs slated to take Jackson in his latest mock draft.

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      NFL, NFL Draft

      Curry, Lawson and Ellington enter loaded pool of guard talent in NBA Draft

      April 25, 2009 /

      Stephen Curry

      As all eyes turn to today’s NFL Draft, why not take a moment for a little speculating about June’s NBA Draft.

      Three significant underclassmen guards announced their entry into the NBA Draft this week – Davidson’s Stephen Curry and North Carolina’s Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson – joining a talent pool already loaded with guards.

      Here are list of a few more who figure to be in the running to be top 20 picks in this year’s draft:

      Ricky Rubio, Spain

      James Harden, Arizona State

      Tyreke Evans, Memphis

      Brandon Jennings, Italy

      DeMar DeRozan, USC

      Eric Maynor, VCU

      Gerald Henderson, Duke

      Jrue Holliday, UCLA

      Terrence Williams, Louisville

      Jonny Flynn, Syracuse

      Jeff Teague, Wake Forest

      Patrick Mills, St. Mary’s

      The question is, where are these three newcomers going to go? ESPN’s Chad Ford doesn’t even have Ellington in his top 30 available prospects, and while he did come up big in the Tar Heels’ championship run this season, he had to withdraw from the draft last year because of a lack of interest from NBA teams.

      Lawson’s stock is up this year, and he has the reputation of being one of the fastest end-to-end point guard prospects in the draft. But will NBA GMs side with him over the just-as-quick and better-shooting Jonny Flynn, Eric Maynor or Jeff Teague?

      Same goes for Curry. From a production standpoint, he’s light years ahead of everybody on this list except perhaps Lawson or James Harden. But he would likely enter the NBA as the league’s skinniest player, and given teams’ tendencies to let workouts and physical potential rule the day, it may be tough for them to take Curry over say, a DeMar DeRozan, Tyreke Evans or even a Jrue Holliday – all players with NBA-ready bodies and major upside.

      College Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft

      What will the Rams do at No. 2?

      April 25, 2009 /

      Now that the Detroit Lions have settled on quarterback Matthew Stafford with the top overall pick, the NFL draft world turns its attention to the St. Louis Rams, who for the second year in a row hold the No. 2 selection.

      The latest buzz coming surrounding the Rams is that the team purchased a plane ticket for Mark Sanchez to fly to St. Louis on Sunday. But does that mean that they’ve settled on the former USC quarterback or is it a move generated to lure a team into trading up to their spot?

      Marc Bulger is still the starter in St. Louis for now, but after signing a six-year, $65 million contract extension in late July of 2007, he has seemingly mailed it in the past two seasons. And considering Bulger has compiled a QB rating of 70.3 and 71.4 respectively the last two seasons, maybe the Rams really are set to take Sanchez so that they can develop him for the future.

      But chances are the purchase of the plane ticket was just a bluff that other teams are going to call. Bulger is set to make a base salary of $6.5 million in 2009, $8.5 millon in 2010, $9 million in 2011 and 2012, and $11.5 million in 2013. Granted, only (only, ha!) $27 million of his contract is guaranteed, but still, it’s doubtful that they draft Sanchez soak that much money into the quarterback position.

      The most logical pick for the Rams at No. 2 has been and still is offensive tackle Jason Smith of Baylor. After releasing Orlando Pace this offseason, left tackle remains a huge need and considering the Rams’ offense revolves around keeping Bulger upright and giving franchise running back Steven Jackson room to run, Smith seems like the most logical selection.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Top 10 active RBI leaders

      April 25, 2009 /

      You want a telling statistic in baseball? How about the good ol’ run batted in (RBI)? This is a stat usually dominated by home run hitters, but it’s also a good indicator of productivity at the plate. The guys on this list have been doing it over time, as well, whether they have been chemically enhanced or not, and to qualify, they must be currently on a major league roster:

      1. Ken Griffey, Seattle Mariners (1774)—I can’t think of a classier player in the last 20 years. And how about these numbers….from 1996 to 1999, the last four years of Griffey’s first tenure with Seattle, he had 567 RBI. That’s an AVERAGE of 142 per season. Just sick.

      2. Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers (1738)—For all the fun we poke at Man Ram for being a goofy, lazy, eccentric superstar, we always temper our joking with “but the guy sure can rake.” You want sick numbers? From 1995 when Manny began playing regularly (okay, it was technically 1994 but that season was cut way short) through 2008, he has averaged 111 RBI per season. Think about that.

      3. Gary Sheffield, New York Mets (1634)—It’s hard to believe this guy has been in the big leagues longer than Griffey. And unlike some of the other guys on this list, Sheffield’s 1634 RBI is more about longevity, as his career high is only 132.

      4. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (1606)—A-Rod is almost a lock to pass 2000 RBI, and when you hear the other three names that have done that, it will blow your mind….Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Cap Anson.

      5. Carlos Delgado, New York Mets (1504)—Another guy with a nice, long career, and he’s topped 100 RBI nine times….so far.

      6. Jim Thome, Chicago White Sox (1498)—38 years old and he’s still mashing. I know I’ve written this before, but it’s hard to believe the Indians had Thome and Man Ram in the lineup as well as Albert Belle and Eddie Murray, and didn’t win like five titles.

      7. Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves (1378)—Come to think of it, it’s hard to believe the Braves didn’t win more than one World Series after winning fourteen straight division crowns. But don’t blame Chipper.

      8. Garret Anderson, Atlanta Braves (1292)—He’s lost some pop the last few seasons, but still a solid, productive player.

      9. Jason Giambi, Oakland Athletics (1285)—He juiced, he admitted it, and everyone still loves this guy. Maybe that’s because he didn’t lie about it. And Giambi’s 32 homers and 96 RBI last year at the age of 37 proves he didn’t need the juice to begin with.

      10. Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels (1271)—Another freak of nature type hitter who has averaged 117 RBI per season over the course of his career. And Vlad is still only 34.

      P.S. Did anyone else notice there are no Red Sox players on this list?

      Source: Baseball Reference

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Lions sign Matthew Stafford to six-year, $78 million deal

      April 24, 2009 /

      Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports that the Detroit Lions have signed quarterback Matthew Stafford to a six-year, $78 million contract and will select him with the top overall pick in Saturday’s draft. The deal also includes $41.8 million in guaranteed money.

      Some scouts and draft pundits don’t feel as though Stafford is a franchise-type quarterback and they might be right. If he were to come out next year, there’s a good chance he would be the third or fourth best quarterback prospect behind Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and/or Tim Tebow.

      But the bottom line is that if new GM Martin Mayhew believes that Stafford can lead his team, then he had to take him. The money is ridiculous, but unfortunately that’s the way the rookie salary structure is currently set up. In the end, Mayhew couldn’t be scared off by the contract demands if he felt that Stafford turn the Lions into a winner.

      For fans sake, let’s hope this was a football decision above all else, and not an opportunity for William Clay Ford Sr. to sell jerseys, hats and tickets. Hopefully Ford allowed Mayhew to get the player that he wanted or else this is going to be the Matt Millen era all over again. (Okay, well maybe it won’t be that bad, but you get the point.)

      Time will only tell if the Lions made the right choice in Stafford. Obviously there are no sure things in the draft, but maybe he can follow in the footsteps of ’08 first round quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Stafford certainly has the arm strength to make all the passes at the next level and appears to have a good head on his shoulders. The Lions needed a quarterback and they got one.

      Hopefully Mayhew got the right one.

      NFL, NFL Draft

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