Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 149 of 1503)

      Ten reasons why Tiki Barber’s un-retirement is a great thing

      March 8, 2011 /

      How can you not love Tiki Barber? Dude retired in 2007 because of the physical toll the game took on his body (not to mention he also wanted to be a TV star), yet on Tuesday he filed paperwork with the NFL so that he could officially come out of retirement…at age 36.

      I’m sorry Tiki, did you think the NFL has gotten any less physical since the last time you buckled your chinstrap?

      Either way, I love the idea. In fact, here are 10 reasons why I love it.

      10. The Giants needed a new towel boy.

      9. For once, somebody actually stole Brett Favre’s unretirement thunder.

      8. Maybe this will inspire Barry Sanders to also come out of retirement, because who among us wouldn’t pay to watch Barry lace ‘em up again?

      7. He’ll stop torturing us with his “analysis” on television.

      6. Last time I checked, Al Davis and Dan Snyder are still in the league…and you know they’re going to be interested.

      5. Because chicks dig the fumble.

      4. If things work out, he can become the spokesperson for Divorce.com. “Hi, I’m Tiki Barber reminding you that alimony isn’t cheap. Had I gone to Divorce.com, maybe I wouldn’t have had to unretire at the age of 36 and play football with men who are 10 years younger, faster and flat out better than me.”

      3. He just birthed about 20 new ideas for fantasy football team names.

      2. He and Charlie Sheen can promote Gatorade’s new “Tiger Blood” drink line. Because if you’re going to play running back in the NFL at age 36, you better have tiger blood in your veins.

      1. This is proof that karma does, in fact, exist. You can’t cheat on your pregnant wife with a 23-year-old NBC intern and not be publicly ridiculed when you have to unretire from the NFL just because you need money to pay for your divorce.

      External Sports, NFL

      Sizing up Kevin Kolb’s trade suitors

      March 8, 2011 /
      Philadelphia Eagles QB Kevin Kolb (4) dances away from San Francisco 49ers Manny Lawson (99) and Ray McDonald (91) in the second quarter at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on October 10, 2010. The Eagles defeated the 49ers 27-24 UPI/Terry Schmitt

      Kevin Kolb has become the hottest name on the trade market, which is interesting when you consider:

      A) The Eagles have yet to make him available
      B) The NFL and NFLPA have yet to agree to a new CBA deal

      Thus, even if the Eagles wanted to trade Kolb they couldn’t. But you know the internet, always whoring around with any rumor it can find.

      Make no mistake: Kolb is unlikely to be dealt if a new CBA is not reached until after the draft. The Eagles aren’t going to leave themselves exposed by trading Kolb and rolling the dice that Michael Vick will make it through an entire 16-game season without getting hurt. It’s too big of a gamble on their end and they’re not going to trade a valuable commodity in Kolb without reaping immediate rewards (i.e. 2011 draft picks). The Eagles also won’t know whether or not they have to draft Kolb’s replacement if he a new CBA isn’t in place by the end of April.

      But let’s take a trip down the hypothetical highway for a moment and assume that a deal will be reached before the draft, and the Eagles do plan on trading Kolb. Which teams make the most sense?

      1. Seattle Seahawks
      Matt Hasselbeck is a free agent and Charlie Whitehurst is Charlie Whitehurst. The Hawks could get bye with Hasselbeck for another season, but I’m not sure Pete Carroll is comfortable handing the keys to his offense over to Whitehurst. Kolb is a fit for a couple of reasons. First, the Eagles likely will want a first round pick for Kolb and the Seahawks have the No. 25th overall selection in the first round. The No. 25th overall pick is certainly fair value for a starting-caliber NFL quarterback and if the Hawks were thinking about taking someone like Jake Locker with that pick, why not go with the 26-year-old Kolb instead? Also, Kolb is a perfect fit for Darrell Bevell’s West Coast Offense after spending a couple of years under Andy Reid. Lastly, there have been reports that Seattle was interested in Kolb last spring and if that’s true, then why wouldn’t they be interested again this year?

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL

      Jim Tressel to be fired because he was aware of violations? Please.

      March 8, 2011 /

      Will Jim Tressel be fired if the allegations are true that he knew his players violated NCAA rules last year by selling memorabilia to the owner of a tattoo shop? Ha! You’re adorable.

      Winning coaches don’t get fired in college football. This situation would present the perfect opportunity for a program to get rid of a lame duck coach, but not someone like Tressel who has compiled a 106-22 record in 10 seasons at Ohio State. Not someone who has led his program to six straight BCS bowls and two national championship appearances.

      Don’t get me wrong: the allegations against Tressel are serious. Yahoo! Sports is reporting that he knew about the Buckeyes’ gear-for-tattoo scheme last April, which means he knew what his players were doing a good eight months before the school was made aware of the situation. If that’s the case, then he had a responsibility to the program to make the university aware of what was going on.

      But this is college football, where coaches lie, cheat and steal in effort to get ahead. If he’s guilty, I’m not suggesting that Tressel wasn’t wrong not to tell OSU officials as soon as he found out. But how many BCS coaches would have in that situation? How many coaches would submarine their chances to play in a national title game because a handful of their star players were caught trading autographs for “I Heart Mom” tattoos? (My guess would be less than half.)

      Whenever a story like this comes out, fans and the media want to get on their high horse or preach from their soapbox. But I’ve got news for you: the college football underworld is about as seedy as they come. I’m sure damn near every BCS team is breaking the rules in some way and while it doesn’t make it right, it is reality. Sorry.

      Assuming the allegations are true, I’d be shocked if Tressel were to lose his job over this. If he were coming off back-to-back 7-5 years and two-straight appearances in the Alamo Bowl, then it would be a different story. But unless he allegedly locked a player in a closet a la Mike Leach at Texas Tech, I don’t envision Tressel standing in the unemployment line anytime soon.

      Update: ESPN.com is reporting that Tressel will receive a two-game ban and will be fined. When asked if he ever considered firing Tressel, Ohio State president Gordon Gee said: “No, are you kidding? Let me be very clear. I’m just hoping the coach doesn’t dismiss me.”

      College Football, External Sports

      2011 Fantasy Outlook: What to make of Chase Utley’s knee

      March 7, 2011 /

      All 2011 Fantasy Articles | 2011 Position Rankings

      Man, Chase Utley has become a yearly case study for fantasy owners, hasn’t he?

      Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley waits on a pitch against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 2, 2010 in Denver. The Phillies lead the NL Wild Card race. UPI/Gary C. Caskey

      Two years ago Utley was coming off offseason hip surgery and owners were afraid to draft him, even at a thin second base position. Last year, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained thumb at the end of June and for the first time in five years he failed to score at least 90 runs.

      Now there are reports that the patellar tendonitis that he’s been battling in his knee may be worse than the Phillies initially thought. He recently received a cortisone injection and even GM Ruben Amaro said the knee hasn’t responded as the club hoped it would. The second baseman took batting practice over the weekend, but there’s no timetable for his participation in spring games and therefore, fantasy owners are left with yet another Chase Utley conundrum.

      Assuming you were planning on targeting him before the knee injury became an even bigger concern, do you still draft him in the second round (which is what his ADP is in a 12-team league)? Do you pass on him altogether and target the next best options in Dustin Pedroia, Dan Uggla or Ian Kinsler? Do you hope he falls and then scoop him up later when he represents more value?

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Cardinals, 49ers and Seahawks could all have interest in Kolb

      March 7, 2011 /
      Philadelphia Eagles quarter back Kevin Kolb dodges Washington Redskins cornerback Phillip Buchanon during third quarter Philadelphia Eagles-Washington Redskins game action in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field October 3, 2010. Kolb replaced Michael Vick who was injured in the first quarter. Washington defeated Philadelphia 17-12. UPI/John Anderson

      ESPN’s Adam Schefter writes that every team in the NFC West outside of the Rams may have interest in trading for Kevin Kolb.

      Teams still can discuss deals, just can’t complete them (like NBA in June). At least three teams debating deals for Eagles QB Kevin Kolb.

      Hard to pinpoint specific teams interested in Kevin Kolb, but every NFC West team except St. Louis has to consider him and deal with Eagles.

      Obviously the Cardinals, 49ers and/or Seahawks can’t do anything until a new CBA deal is in place, but Schefter’s report makes sense based on those teams’ needs.

      That said, would the Cardinals be willing to give up the fifth overall pick in the first round? Would the Niners we willing to give up the seventh? I could see the Seahawks parting ways with the 25th but I’m having a hard time believing that any team would be willing to trade a top-10 pick of Kolb. (Maybe that’s just me.)

      Another team that has to be considered as a potential landing spot for Kolb is the Vikings. They’re going to run a variation of the West Coast Offense under new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, so Kolb makes a lot of sense for Minnesota. The Vikes hold the 12th overall pick and if they’re willing to draft a quarterback at that spot, why not trade for a more seasoned WCO vet like Kolb instead?

      Of course, this is all based on the assumption that the Eagles even want to part ways with Kolb. I know they franchised Michael Vick, but given his injury history Philadelphia may want to hang onto Kolb for the time being.

      External Sports, NFL

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