Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 169 of 1503)

      Chargers to use the franchise tag on Vincent Jackson?

      February 10, 2011 /

      Fans hoping that their favorite team had a shot at acquiring free agent Vincent Jackson this offseason may have to wait another year. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jackson expects the Chargers to use their franchise tag on him in 2011.

      Jackson, according to someone familiar with the player’s thinking, expects the tag and plans to play for the more than $10 million it would guarantee him.

      That is, if the franchise tag is part of a new CBA.

      The NFL Players Association says teams have no right to a franchise tag since the current Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire March 3. The NFL says the franchise tag is included in the CBA under which the league is operating.

      I have to side with the NFLPA on this one. If the current CBA deal is set to expire March 3, then how is it fair that teams can use their franchise tags for the 2011 season when the current contract applied to the 2010 season? I get that the NFL wants to keep things business as usual because it believes that a new deal will eventually be worked out. But how about the league just work on getting a new deal in place before worrying about whether or not teams can use their franchise tags. If the owners and NFLPA agree to a new CBA deal, then everything can go back to normal and all of this becomes a moot point.

      Getting back to Jackson, his situation comes down to money. He sat out most of last season because the Chargers were only willing to pay him for one year at $3.2 million. If he’s tagged for the 2011 season, he’ll make roughly $10 million for one year and then the Chargers can let him walk in 2012 while accepting a future compensatory draft pick.

      External Sports, NFL

      Rockies won’t pursue trade for Young

      February 9, 2011 /

      D.J. Short of Hardball Talk writes that the Rockies are no longer interested in Rangers’ DH Michael Young (or at least not at his current price). Colorado had been a potential destination for Young since the winter meetings and when he formally requested a trade earlier this week, the Rockies seemed like a logical fit.

      Or not.

      Texas Rangers’ Michael Young talks to the media as the Rangers prepare to take on the New York Yankees in the ALCS at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas on October 14, 2010. Game one of the best of seven series will be on October 15, 2010 in Arlington. UPI/Ian Halperin

      A major league source tells Troy Renck of the Denver Post that the Rockies are out on Young.

      Young’s remaining salary and the Rangers’ demands are two significant reasons why talks have broken down. According to Renck, the Rangers’ demands changed once Vladimir Guerrero agreed to sign with the Orioles. The Rangers are reluctant to simply give Young away, because they feel they don’t have an adequate replacement for him in the lineup. At least that’s what they are saying. It’s still possible that talks could be revived, but a deal between the two teams appears doubtful right now.

      Young has been the ultimate Ranger throughout his career but his declining defensive skills and contract are going to make it tough to move him. If Texas hopes to deal him, it may have to eat a lot of his salary. And if that’s the case, why wouldn’t the Rangers just keep him and make him the DH?

      Of course, there’s that little problem of Young being upset with the franchise. He’s made it clear that he wants out and the Rangers may not have much choice but to take less for him in a trade? Short also mentions the Dodgers as a possible landing spot, but they too are leery of his defense and salary. The situation doesn’t seem like it’ll be resolved easily.

      External Sports, MLB

      Cardinals have yet to make a contract offer to Albert Pujols

      February 9, 2011 /
      St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols swings for a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on August 13, 2010. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

      Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports writes that the Cardinals have not made an offer to Albert Pujols yet.

      All indications suggest that Pujols and the team that drafted him a dozen years ago are not close to an agreement, and that eight days won’t be time enough to negotiate and consummate not only the richest contract in club history, but possibly the richest in the history of the game. As of the weekend, the Cardinals hadn’t made a concrete offer.

      In calculations using metrics of player comparison, estimated production and age curves, hardballtimes.com valued Pujols as high as $275 million over 10 years (almost exactly A-Rod money), fangraphs.com put his value at $267 million over 10 years, and sabernomics.com – factoring in the normal increases in player salaries and league revenues – came in at $350 million over eight years.

      Businessinsider.com, which determined Pujols – given his production – was underpaid by as much as $130 million over the life of his current contract, said Pujols’ next eight seasons would be worth as much as $240 million.

      To me, there’s no debate over whether or not Pujols deserves the money. As the best player in baseball, he should be paid in the A-Rod range.

      But it’s not hard to see where the Cardinals are coming from here. What if Pujols’ production declines sooner rather than later? What if they aren’t able to build a competitive roster around him? Their team payroll often doesn’t exceed $100 million and now they’re going to pay one player nearly $300 million? They’re in a tough spot.

      That said, it’s nearing that time where St. Louis either has to sh*t or get off the pot. They’re hoping that Pujols (who wants to stay in St. Louis) will eventually accept a discount, but his camp seems unwilling to budge on their demands.

      External Sports, MLB

      Ward frustrated over lack of opportunities on final drive of Super Bowl

      February 9, 2011 /
      Pittsburgh Steelers Gary Russell (L), Hines Ward (C) and Mike Wallace enter the field before the start of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on February 6, 2011. UPI/David Silpa

      Hines Ward expressed his frustrations to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about not having more opportunities to make plays on the Steelers’ final drive against the Packers in Super Bowl XLV. But as usual, he was professional about it.

      Ward thought they’d do it right until the end, when they had a first-down on their 13 and two minutes to go. However, without criticizing anyone, he was not happy he did not get much of an opportunity on that drive. Heath Miller caught the first pass for 15 yards. Ward caught the next for 5 yards — which wasted about 30 seconds because Antwaan Randle El acknowledged he lined up on the wrong side. The next three passes all were aimed at Mike Wallace but never connected.

      “I’m thinking deja vu, here we go again,” said Ward, who caught seven passes for 78 yards and one touchdown in the game. “Two minutes, let’s go down there. I really felt like I was in a zone, that anything that came my way it was going to get caught no matter what. I didn’t get an opportunity. I would like to have gotten opportunities [on the final series] but it didn’t happen.”

      Spoken like a true competitor. Ward has been around long enough to know that criticizing coaches or teammates gets you nowhere fast. If you’re a winner, you want the ball in your hands in crunch time and there’s no doubt Ward is a winner. I’m sure Mike Tomlin appreciates that his veteran receiver wanted more chances to make plays in the clutch and expressed his frustrations without throwing anyone under the bus.

      On a related topic, Ward will have two surgeries this week, one on his left knee and the other on his left thumb. As of right now, the Steelers expect him to be back in uniform next year if there’s a season.

      External Sports, NFL

      Report: Mark Sanchez hooked up with 17-year-old girl

      February 9, 2011 /
      New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez reacts with fans after the game against the Buffalo Bills in week 17 of the NFL season at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on January 2, 2011. The Jets defeated the Bills 38-7 and advance to the playoffs. UPI /John Angelillo

      Clearly still rattled by the loss to the Steelers in the AFC title game, Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez apparently decided to find comfort in the open arms of a 17-year-old girl. She’s a senior at her Connecticut high school and reportedly is the daughter of a preppy dad who is a “super-wealthy financier.”

      From FOX News New York:

      Sexy rich girl Eliza Kruger not only bragged on Facebook about “MARK F–ING SANCHEZ” texting her after they flirted at a hip Manhattan nightclub on New Year’s Eve — she also took photos of a mussed-up bed in his boudoir as “proof” of their huddle just days later.

      “We went back to his place in Jersey after dinner. He lives on a golf course. There was a big storm,” Eliza told Deadspin.com, according to that Web site, which identified her only as E.K.

      Asked if she “hooked up” with the 24-year-old Sanchez that night — after they dined together at Midtown hotspot Nobu the first week of January — the Greenwich high-school senior said, “Yeah,” albeit somewhat reluctantly, according to Deadspin.

      When a Deadspin editor told her he would research the legality, Eliza reportedly replied that the age of sexual consent in New Jersey is “16. I checked.”

      “He’s a really nice guy, you know,” Eliza told the site. “He’s one of the kindest people, and he’s a genuine person.”

      Hey, you can find love in all kinds of different places but what in the name of Fireman Ed is Sanchez thinking? I don’t care if she is a bombshell: she’s 17 and he’s a public figure. The age difference between the two is only seven years but maturity-wise, they might as well be 40-years apart. (By the way, this may or may not be a photo of her.)

      He’s the quarterback of the New York freaking Jets and she’s still in high school. I just don’t know what goes through these athletes’ heads sometimes. The guy has dated models before and he’s taking a high school senior to dinner and back to his place? How stupid.

      The only saving grace for Sanchez may be that he didn’t know how old she was. Seventeen-year-olds can look 24 these days and they met at a nightclub, so maybe he thought they were the same age (or at least 21 since she was in a bar). Unless the female looks super young, I don’t know any dudes that card a girl before they attempt to pick her up at a club.

      If he didn’t know how old she was, then they best thing for him to do is come clean and be honest. The fact that he didn’t know her age is certainly more tolerable than him knowingly dating a high school senior. Or hey, maybe this story isn’t even true and she’s a liar. I hope for Sanchez’s sake that that’s the case.

      External Sports, NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑