Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 1001 of 1503)

      Jet player: Favre created resentment in the locker room

      January 1, 2009 /

      According to an unnamed Jets player, quarterback Brett Favre created resentment in the locker room this season by being distant and unwilling to socialize.

      Brett Favre“There was a lot of resentment in the room about him,” a Jets player told Newsday yesterday. He requested anonymity because team owner Woody Johnson has stated publicly that Favre is welcome to return next season if he wants to. (Favre reportedly will take until the end of February to decide about returning.)

      The 39-year-old quarterback is not as welcome with his teammates, according to this veteran. After the Jets traded for Favre Aug. 6, the sure Hall of Famer made no effort to ingratiate himself with the already assembled team, the veteran said. He said Favre spent most of his down time at the practice facility in an office specially designated for him near the equipment room, not with teammates in the locker room, even after the media departed.

      “He never socialized with us, never went to dinner with anyone,” the player said. Asked to describe Favre in a word, he said: “Distant.”

      There was more of the same sentiment from Thomas Jones, who was interviewed on Hot 97 FM Tuesday. Jones wanted to make it clear he wasn’t blaming only Favre but said, “At the same time, you can’t turn the ball over and expect to win. The other day, the three interceptions really hurt us. You don’t like it. I don’t like it and I know everybody else on the team doesn’t like it, but all you can do is fight [through it].”

      Jones reinforced comments made by other Jets Monday, when the team broke up for the season in complete disarray after Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Dolphins.

      On Monday, Kerry Rhodes said: “If he’s dedicated and he wants to come back and do this, and do it the right way … and be here when we’re here in training camp and the minicamps and working out with us … then I’m fine with it. But don’t come back if it’s going to be halfhearted or he doesn’t want to put the time in with us.”

      If you read between the lines, you get the feeling that while Favre did want to play this final year, his mind wasn’t entirely into it. Not that he didn’t work hard or loafed, but I think Brett got to the Big Apple and then said, “What the f**k am I doing?” He probably didn’t allow himself to get close to anyone in the locker room because he just wanted to play football and go home.

      Obviously this is all just speculation on my part, but these recent comments by Jet players paint the picture that not all was right in the locker room this season and Brett was at the hub of the issue. Either way, I think the Favre is done in New York. The experiment failed and now it’s time to go in another direction with a new coach.

      NFL

      Vanderbilt achieves first winning season since 1982

      December 31, 2008 /

      Thanks to their 17-16 victory over Boston College in the Music City Bowl on New Year’s Eve Day, the Vanderbilt Commodores secured their first winning season since 1982 and just their fourth seven-win season in the past 50 years.

      The last time Vandy made a bowl appearance was 26 years ago, so it was a pretty cool site seeing their players douse head coach Bobby Johnson when Myron Lewis intercepted a Dominique Davis’ pass with under two minutes remaining in the game to cap the win.

      Despite the loss, this was a pretty impressive year by BC. Not many college football pundits thought they would do much this season after Matt Ryan was drafted, but they went to the Big East Championship and a bowl game, which speaks volumes to the job head coach Jeff Jagodzinksi did this year.

      Hopefully both of these teams remain competitive next year, because they were fun to watch in 2008.

      By the way, Vandy’s D.J. Moore declared for the NFL Draft following the game. That guy was a sick returner this year.

      College Football

      Angels sign closer Brian Fuentes

      December 31, 2008 /

      The Los Angeles Angels found their replacement for Felix Rodriguez at closer in former Rockies’ reliever Brian Fuentes, who signed a two-year, $17.5 million contract with the Halos.

      The 33-year-old Fuentes was a three-time NL All-Star. The lefty was 1-5 with 30 saves in 34 chances and a 2.73 ERA for Colorado this season and then became a free agent. He struck out 82 in 62 2-3 innings.

      Rodriguez posted 62 saves for the Angels this season to break Bobby Thigpen’s single-season record of 57. K-Rod signed a three-year, $37 million contract with the New York Mets three weeks ago.
      Fuentes could serve as the Angels’ closer or as a setup man for either Scot Shields or Jose Arrendondo. Fuentes has a 17-27 career record with 115 saves and a 3.41 ERA in 438 appearances for the Seattle Mariners and Rockies.

      Fuentes left the Rockies as their all-time career saves leader. He also finished as Colorado’s all-time leader in strikeouts by a reliever.

      He became the third free agent to return to the Angels this offseason, joining left-handed reliever Darren Oliver, who accepted salary arbitration, and outfielder Juan Rivera, who signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract.

      The Angels also give up their first-round pick with this signing, but they had already picked up first-rounders form the Mets and Yankees, as well as two supplemental picks, so that isn’t a huge blow.

      With Scott Shields, Justin Speier and Darren Oliver already on the roster, the addition of Fuentes gives the Halos a solid bullpen.

      Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Rich McKay would be a solid choice for Browns’ next GM

      December 31, 2008 /

      The Cleveland Browns were given permission by the Atlanta Falcons to interview president (and former GM) Rich McKay for their current general manager position.

      Rich McKayMcKay was stripped of his general manager duties after last season. He stayed on with the Falcons to help in several capacities.

      McKay has stepped into the background this season as Thomas Dimitroff took over the football operations. He’s been instrumental in helping Dimitroff with the salary cap, contract negotiations, the Falcons’ pursuit of new stadium options and several other business operations.

      The Falcons went to the NFC Championship game in McKay’s first year, but things went sour with his hirings of Jim Mora and Bobby Petrino, poor free agent signings, like Ed Hartwell, and failed high draft picks in DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams.

      To McKay’s credit, he did select guard Justin Blalock, wide receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins and make the trade for defensive end John Abraham.

      McKay’s tenure with the Falcons has endured the federal dogfighting investigation that landed quarterback Michael Vick in prison.

      The article fails to mention that McKay also drafted current starters Michael Boley, Jonathan Babineaux, and Chris Houston, as well as playmaker Jerious Norwood, who shares carries with Michael Turner. None of those picks were first round picks, either, which is a testament to his ability to draft in the middle rounds.

      Of his bad decisions, the hiring of Bobby Petrino was just as much owner Arthur Blank’s fault as it was McKay’s because Blank had to have a big name for his coach. And when the Falcons signed Ed Hartwell, he hadn’t missed a game in his entire career and then blew both knees out in his first two years in Atlanta. Is that on McKay?

      Signing Vick to a huge contract extension turned out to be a disaster, but nobody knew he was fighting dogs in his spare time. Jimmy Williams was a total bust, while Hall was overrated and cocky, but he did make a Pro Bowl and never finished with less than four interceptions after his rookie year.

      McKay would be a great fit in Cleveland because he’s won before and would give the Browns much-needed direction. He built the Buccaneers 2002 Super Bowl team and got the Falcons to the NFC Championship Game in 2004. He wouldn’t be a better choice than the Patriots’ Scott Pioli, but the Browns could do a lot worse than a guy who turned around once morbid franchises in Tampa and Atlanta.

      Not every move a general manager makes is going to be a home run. But McKay has had more hits than misses in his career and even though he lost his GM role with the Falcons last year, it spoke volumes to his credibility that Atlanta wanted to keep him as president. It should also be noted that McKay’s name once came up to replace Paul Tagliabue as NFL commissioner.

      NFL

      Larry Fitzgerald in trouble?

      December 31, 2008 /

      TMZ.com is reporting that Arizona Cardinals’ wideout Larry Fitzgerald has been ordered to stay away from the mother of his 11-month-old son after he allegedly was involved in a physical altercation with her last October.

      Larry FitzgeraldAngela Nazario claims she brought the couple’s son to visit Larry at his Phoenix home last October when the former lovers began arguing.

      Nazario alleges in her legal papers filed in Arizona, Fitzgerald attempted to “diffuse the situation” by raising his fist and challenging her to a play fight. Nazario admits she responded by swinging at him and “may have hit his face.”

      Fitzgerald then turned from playful to enraged, allegedly pushing Nazario down to her knees. She claims he “grabbed me by my hair with both hands on the back of my head very very hard and tossed me across the room.”

      Later, when she tried to leave with her son, Nazario says Fitzgerald “grabbed the back of my neck and slammed me down on the marble floor … [I] was disoriented for awhile and could not get up, I remember he mumbled something about ‘that’s what happens when you try taking my son away from me.'” As she got in the car to leave she realized she had lost “chunks” of hair.

      Well this is a fine mess right before the Cardinals’ playoff game, now isn’t it? Keep in mind the source, though – the story has yet to surface on any major media site.

      NFL

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