Month: July 2010 (Page 31 of 62)

      I guess Brett Favre is going to drag this thing out even longer

      July 15, 2010 /
      Greg Lewis (L) and Brett Favre, both of the Minnesota Vikings, accept the award for best play at the 2010 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 14, 2010. UPI/Jim Ruymen Photo via Newscom

      While accepting the award for “Best Play” at Wednesday night’s ESPYs, Brett Favre didn’t speak in past tense when he mentioned the Vikings. Just based on that, one could make the assumption that he’s coming back in 2010.

      Of course, assuming anything when it comes to Favre’s retirement decision is like assuming Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger are going to keep their hands to themselves when they go club hopping on a Friday night. (What? Too much?)

      Apparently Brett isn’t done with his annual tap dance routine and has decided to prolong this agonizing situation even more by not fully committing to his return.

      From ESPN.com:

      “It starts with the ankle,” Favre said in an interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm backstage at the ESPY Awards. “I can walk fine, but you don’t walk in football.”

      Favre said that he is still not completely healthy. “I guess at 40 I may never be,” he said.

      Favre said he thought his recovery from ankle surgery — this Friday will mark eight weeks since the operation — would have been quicker.

      “I had hoped it would have been a little bit better at this point,” he said.

      “I would love to play and be the best I can possibly be,” he said. “That’s what I’m working toward right now.”

      Favre had hoped to make a quicker decision on a return this time around, but that didn’t happen.

      “It’s not desire,” Favre said.

      If he hadn’t bobbed and weaved so many times throughout the years when it came to whether or not he would return for another season, I’d almost respect the fact that he didn’t want to definitively say he’s coming back. But seeing as how he loves to drag his feet when it comes to making decisions, I find everything he said above utterly annoying.

      As I’ve stated many times on this blog over the past couple of months: he’s coming back. If he weren’t, you would have seen more panic out of the Vikings this offseason, most notably from Brad Childress. But Childress’s wait-and-see attitude is a clear indication to me that he has always known that Favre is coming back.

      Let’s just hope Brett doesn’t get any ideas from LeBron and host a one-hour special to announce his decision.

      External Sports, NFL

      Steve Smith back by Week 1?

      July 15, 2010 /
      CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 20: Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers breaks free upfield against the Minnesota Vikings at Bank of America Stadium on December 20, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora is reporting that the Panthers are hopeful receiver Steve Smith (broken arm) will be back for their final preseason game. According to La Canfora, Smith is making good strides in his recovery and he should return by Week 1 of the regular season if he can’t play in Carolina’s final preseason game.

      It’s an understatement to say that the Panthers need a healthy Smith in order to compete this season. It’s good that his injury has opened the door for Armanti Edwards, Brandon LaFell and Dwayne Jarrett to get more reps this offseason, but Matt Moore and the Panthers’ passing game couldn’t survive without Smith.

      Edwards has turned heads in OTA sessions this summer, but he’s only a rookie and it’ll take time for him and LaFell to grasp the nuances of being a pro receiver. Most rookie wideouts struggle with route running in their first season, so without a veteran presence like Smith in the lineup to help take the pressure off, they’re likely to fail over the course of an entire season.

      But if La Canfora’s report is correct, then the Panthers have nothing to worry about in regards to Smith’s injury. He’ll be rusty upon his return, but having him healthy and playing in Week 1 is the only thing that matters at this point and it appears like that scenario will become a reality.

      External Sports, NFL

      Chris Johnson reiterates that he’s not playing until he receives a new contract

      July 15, 2010 /
      LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 14: NFL player Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans winner of the Best Breakthrough Athlete Award poses in press room during the 2010 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images for ESPY)

      While appearing at the 2010 ESPY’s on Wednesday night, Titans’ running back Chris Johnson made it known that until he receives a new contract, the team can expect him not to show up for training camp next month.

      From the Nashville Tennessean:

      When ESPN reporter Erin Andrews asked Johnson how contract negotiations were going, Johnson offered this reply: “The contract negotiation, it’s at a standstill right now. I’m just praying right now, hopefully by the time camp comes we’ll have something worked out. If it’s not a long-term deal, just have something to get me to play this year.’’

      Andrews then asked what kind of timetable Johnson was looking at: “It’s all up to Tennessee to be honest with you,’’ Johnson said. “Whenever they’re ready to get me into camp, they’ll do something. And when they do something, I’ll be proud to be there and get with my teammates.’’

      Johnson had a separate interview session with ESPN reporter Colleen Dominguez, when he said, “We’re losing time right now, so hopefully within the next week or two we can come around and can agree on something.’’

      Dominguez then asked him about conflicting reports on whether he would report to camp: “It depends on the Titans,” Johnson said. “If they pay me, I’m in camp. If they’re not, I’m not in camp.’’

      There’s really only one way this situation will go down: the Titans will pay Johnson, but it’s not going to be what he’s asking for. At least not right now, anyway.

      The Titans are hamstrung by the “30 percent” rule, so they can’t break the bank for him and they don’t want to either, seeing as how he still has three years left on his rookie contract. But they’re going to have to give him some sort of raise or else they risk having their best player proceed with a nasty holdout.

      I don’t see one side caving in. I see an eventual compromise that will work for this season and then talks between the two parties resuming once the new CBA deal is signed.

      External Sports, NFL

      MMA 2010 Half-Year Awards

      July 15, 2010 /
      PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Chris Leben (L) battles UFC fighter Jake Rosholt (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

      Who has been the best fighter over the past half year in MMA? What about the best fight or the biggest upset?

      Heavy.com compiled its half-year awards for 2010 in MMA, handing out honors to the best fighter, the best knockout, the best submission and much more.

      Chris Leben was the recipient of best fighter.

      This is one tough category to pick. Most contending fighters have only one fight for us to judge them by, meaning you’re looking at a virtual crapshoot when it comes to picking between them.

      Because of that, I went with a guy who not only has three fights, but two of them came within two weeks of each other. Leben’s victory over Aaron Simpson was surprising. He went into the fight as a significant underdog who should’ve been overwhelmed by Simpson’s wrestling. Instead, Leben used a surprisingly well-rounded skill set to stop Simpson’s takedown and batter him into a second-round TKO.

      Two weeks later, he went into the cage against Yoshihiro Akiyama on short notice and, in one of the most thrilling fights of the year, submitted Akiyama in dramatic fashion to score the biggest win of his career. On top of the two biggest wins of his career, he’s got a win over Jay Silva in January, giving him three solid victories in a year where many fighters only have one.

      To check out all of their first-half awards, click here.

      External Sports, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC

      Lee willing to waive his no-trade clause?

      July 14, 2010 /
      April 23, 2010- Milwaukee, WI. Miller Park..Chicago Cubs Derrek Lee runs to third base, Lee had 1 hits in his 3 at bats tonight. .Milwaukee Brewers lost to the Chicago Cubs 1-8. .Mike McGinnis / CSM.

      According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Cubs’ first baseman Derrek Lee may be willing to waive his no-trade clause in the right deal.

      Derrek Lee has remained noncommittal on the issue of his no-trade clause. But some friends of the Cubs first baseman said this week that they believe he would accept a deal to the right team.

      And if the Cubs formally decide to sell, it’s hard to imagine a better fit than the Angels.

      The Angels, 4.5 games back in the American League West, are still looking for an upgrade at first base because of Kendry Morales’ season-ending injury. And they prefer someone who isn’t under contract for next season.

      Why? They plan to pursue Carl Crawford as a free agent and would like to have the flexibility of sliding Bobby Abreu into a DH role once Morales returns to first.

      The article notes that Lee lives in California during the off-season and would “probably be comfortable” playing in Anaheim. He’d also have the opportunity to play for a contender, which the Cubs are definitely, positively not.

      Assuming he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause, then a trade to the Angels makes a lot of sense for all parties involved. The Halos need a replacement for Morales in order to try and keep up with the Rangers in the AL West, while the Cubs could take the opportunity to restock their farm system.

      That said, it’s unknown if the two teams have even had trade discussions involving Lee yet, so we’ll have to see if this story develops.

      External Sports, MLB

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