Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 156 of 1503)

Teams like the Browns could suffer the most if there’s a lengthy lockout

February 27, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

You have to appreciate Browns’ new coach Pat Shurmur trying to stay focused and positive in difficult times for NFL teams.

While recently speaking to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Shurmur said that even though the Browns are one of a handful of teams that have changed coaches, they won’t suffer more hardships than any other team during a lockout.

“Whatever happens, 32 teams will be in the same situation. I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I feel as though we’ve hired some great teachers and the systems we’re going to teach and employ are proven. I trust and am confident that we’ll get it done.”

What is Shurmur supposed to say? That the Browns are screwed? They’re doomed if a lockout goes into September and he can’t meet with his players? That the Browns shouldn’t even bother playing if there does happen to be a season next year?

No, he’s not going to make excuses for himself or his team, nor is he going to cast any doubt in his first couple of months on the job. That would be extremely unwise and it would make him appear weak.

That said, I couldn’t disagree with him more. Teams like the Browns, Panthers, Broncos and 49ers are at a distinct disadvantage because they changed coaching staffs and are implementing new schemes. Sure, every team will be affected in some ways by a lockout, but Aaron Rodgers already knows how to run Mike McCarthy’s offense. The Steelers’ defenders already know their responsibilities in Dick LeBeau’s zone blitz scheme. Imagine running a five-hour marathon and you have to start an hour behind everyone. You could catch up, but it’ll be difficult and that’s what teams like the Browns, Panthers, Broncos and 49ers face if the lockout lasts months.

In that same article by the Plain Dealer, it’s mentioned that the Browns were one of several teams reminded this week by the NFL that players are not supposed to “meet” with coaches or be given playbooks during this time. Thus, Shurmur can’t even give his extremely young quarterback Colt McCoy his freaking playbook.

External Sports, NFL

2011 NFL lockout Cleveland Browns Colt McCoy NFL CBA NFL CBA deal NFL lockout Pat Shurmur Tim Tebow

Yankees keeping a close eye on Liriano?

February 27, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that the Yankees are keeping a close eye on Twins’ starter Francisco Liriano, while Minnesota is keeping a close eye on the Yankees’ prospects.

From Rotoworld.com:

Interesting. We heard earlier this month that the Twins’ front office could be open to the idea of dealing Liriano, and the Yankees, of course, immediately popped up as a potentially interested party. The southpaw is under team control through the end of next season, but if the Twins don’t think they’ll be able to lock him up on a long-term deal, exploring a trade does make some sense. Liriano, who had 201 strikeouts in 192 innings last season, would force the Yanks to give up at least one blue chip prospect.

The Yankees will need to make a move at some point because their starting rotation looks like a poorly constructed Jenga tower right now. CC Sabathia is the bottom holding everything together, while Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett, Bartolo Colon, Ivan Nova and Sergio Mitre comprise the rest of the shaky tower.

But I wonder whether the Yankees and Twins are a match. The Bombers have two catching prospects in Jesus Montero (who is probably viewed as un-tradeable) and Gary Sanchez that would fetch them a major-league starter, but it’s not like the Twins need a catcher. It would be interesting to see what Minnesota would ask for in exchange for Lirinao.

External Sports, MLB

Francisco Liriano Minnesota Twins New York Yankees

The comparisons to Ryan Leaf continue to mount for Ryan Mallett

February 26, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Ryan Mallett certainly looks the part of a NFL quarterback. He stands 6’6 and 238 pounds, has a cannon for a right arm and is the pocket passer that teams covet. One would think that he would have plenty of success in a vertical offense once he got familiar with the playbook and the complexities of the pro game.

But the more that’s released on Mallett leading up to the draft, the less there is to like. He stood at the podium on Saturday at the NFL scouting combine and instead of extinguishing the idea that he has questionable character, he only ignited the suspicion.

According to ESPN.com, Mallett refused to discuss the rumors that he’s an alleged drug addict.

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was on the podium for about eight seconds when a reporter asked him about foggy allegations regarding illegal drug use.
“First one, huh?” Mallett replied Saturday afternoon at the NFL scouting combine.
He forced a smile.
“Nah, I’m not going to talk about that right now,” Mallett said. “I’ve got interviews with the teams, and the teams need to know what they need to know, and I’m going to leave it at that.”
Mallett hinted at ulterior motives for the rumors.
“Obviously, somebody did it for a reason,” Mallett said, “right before the combine, right before the draft.”
Mallett insisted innuendo “doesn’t bother me” and “when I saw that stuff, I laughed about it.”
But Mallett declined to address any issues directly or make any denials.

According to Sporting News.com, a reporter told Mallett the rumors would not go away if he did not answer the questions and at that point, Mallett said, “Thanks,” and walked away from the podium.

Granted, being able to speak to the media doesn’t have anything to do with a quarterback’s ability to read a defense, throw a perfectly timed pass to beat a blitz or lead a team in the fourth quarter. But Mallett appears to be rubbing people the wrong way. The fact that he’s taken a hardened stance with the media isn’t really the issue, nor is his confidence. (To a certain degree, quarterbacks have to play with arrogance because of how much is expected of them.)

The issue is that this is the time of year when Mallett has to sell himself and all people want to do is compare him to Ryan Leaf. That alone should make Mallett strive to act like Ghandi for the next two months.

College Football, External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

2011 NFL Draft Ryan Mallett Ryan Mallett drugs ryan mallett interview ryan mallett press conference

More concerns about Cam Newton’s attitude

February 26, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Count former Ravens head coach Brian Billick as one who has concerns about Cam Newton’s diva-like attitude and even referred to him as “LeBron James-ish.”

From NFL.com:

“A player having confidence never concerned me,” Billick said. “It takes conviction and passion to play this game. However, coming from a Cam Newton, with all of the issues that have surrounded him at Florida and Auburn, and the questions coming into this league. I find the comments very disturbing and they put a big red flag up to this young man’s ability to perform in the NFL. I have major, major questions about Cam Newton.”
“There is no question that as a staff and a coach you have to have some sense of any athlete drafted high in the NFL will handle all that goes along with being a high pick,” Billick said. “The pressures to play and produce. The emotional transition from college to pro. Finding yourself in a major metropolitan area. And dealing with all of the outside pressures with being in the NFL. All of it. …
“When you look at some of the actions of Cam Newton at the end of the season — the workout for the media, the comment about being an icon and entertainer — it shows me a lack of understanding on his part what that transition to the NFL is going to be about. And these actions show me that he has surrounded himself with people with questionable judgment.”

The biggest concern surrounding prospects, especially those taken in the top 5, is how they’re going to act when they’re handed millions of dollars. Some understand the responsibility that they inherit when they’re drafted, while many, many others fall victim to their fortune.

Newton is a tremendous athlete and I know he dazzled the college football world with his play last year, but let’s be frank here. When a prospect says that he’s an “entertainer and an icon” before ever attempting his first pass in the NFL, that’s a concern. In fact, one NFL coach told SI.com that Newton’s comments “really turned me off.”

“That really turned me off when I heard that. That’s exactly the wrong message to send. You want your quarterback to be the exact opposite of a guy who’s interested in something like that. I can’t believe he’d actually say something like that, but that’s a guy I want no part of.”

You worry about whether or not Newton is someone who gets it. JaMarcus Russell never got it and he was out of the league in three years despite his immense athletic talent. Even the staunchest of Newton supporters have to admit that the concerns about his attitude are warranted.

College Football, External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

2011 NFL Draft brian billick Cam Newton cam newton attitude cam newton comments

Bobby Jenks calls Ozzie Guillen, White Sox front office a “problem”

February 26, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Following the path of Jayson Werth and other scorned lovers, new Red Sox reliever Bobby Jenks sounded off about his former manager and team on Saturday.

From ESPN.com:

“A lot of the stuff with Ozzie [Guillen] and the front office gets old,” the right-hander said of his former manager, according to the Chicago Tribune. “It has been a problem for a long time. It was a problem before last year. It was a problem before last year. … It’s going to be nice for me to see how things are done here.”

Jenks went on to say that he did “like it in Chicago” and that it was a good place for his family. But why make comments about Guillen or the front office? I appreciate when athletes speak their minds and don’t revert to default answers like “no comment,” but maybe Jenks needs a reminder of his early years in baseball.

For those needing a brief history lesson, the Angels drafted Jenks in the fifth round of the 2000 draft and then watched him spend most of his time on the DL because of elbow problems. In 2002, he was suspended for repeatedly bringing alcohol on the team bus of the Halos’ Double-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers. By 2004, he was designated for assignment and seemed destined to be a career minor league (or out baseball entirely).

It was GM Kenny Williams and his scouting staff, along with manager Ozzie Guillen (who joined the White Sox in 2004) that gave Jenks new life in Chicago. He repaid them with a couple of solid years and helped them win a World Series in 2005, but none of that wouldn’t have happened had the Chicago front office not taken a flier on him.

Granted, you wouldn’t have to look hard to find someone who agrees with Jenks’ point of view on the ChiSox’s front office and/or Guillen. But maybe Jenks should show a little more humility considering how he arrived in Chicago in the first place.

External Sports, MLB

Bobby Jenks bobby jenks comments Boston Red Sox Chicago White Sox

Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 156 of 1503)

Teams like the Browns could suffer the most if there’s a lengthy lockout

Yankees keeping a close eye on Liriano?

The comparisons to Ryan Leaf continue to mount for Ryan Mallett

More concerns about Cam Newton’s attitude

Bobby Jenks calls Ozzie Guillen, White Sox front office a “problem”

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