Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 235 of 1503)

      The Eagles better figure out a way to protect Michael Vick

      December 3, 2010 /
      Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing brings Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick down on the Houston 18-yard line after a 6-yard gain during second quarter Philadelphia Eagles-Houston Texans game action in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field December 2, 2010. UPI/Eileen Angelino Photo via Newscom

      How many times can Michael Vick take a big hit, stumble to his feet and limp back to the huddle before Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg figure out a way to protect him?

      Vick was once again impressive in the Eagles’ 34-24 win over the Texans on Sunday night. He completed 22-of-33 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 48 yards and another score. He still doesn’t see the whole field well (late in the second quarter he missed a wide open DeSean Jackson in the red zone after the receiver made a great move on the defender) and he did throw his second interception in as many weeks, but he’s light years ahead of where he was in Atlanta in terms of a passer.

      That said, he also takes too many hits. He’s a running quarterback so to some degree, he’ll always be pulling himself off the ground. The Eagles don’t want to take that part of his game away because that’s what makes him so dangerous, but if you combine what the Bears and Texans did over the last two weeks they’ve laid out a blue print on how to stop Vick.

      Not every team has a defensive line like the Bears do, so not every team will be able to rush four, drop their linebackers and safeties into coverage and still get pressure on Vick. But even the Texans, whose D-line is good but not to the level of the Bears, were effective because they were able to hit him throughout the game. After the third time Vick got up gingerly on Thursday night, Reid and Mornhinweg should have started calling more run plays. It’s not like “Shady” McCoy wasn’t doing just as much damage as Vick was to the Texans’ lousy defense, so he should have been more involved.

      I know the Eagles won and I know I may be nitpicking, but they’re an incredibly dangerous team that nobody will want to face in the playoffs. But what makes them so dangerous is Vick and if he’s on the sidelines come January, then obviously they take on a much-different look as a team. Reid and Mornhinweg have to figure out a way to minimize the blows their quarterback is taking right now or we’ll be seeing Kevin Kolb again at some point.

      External Sports, NFL

      Red Sox pursing Jayson Werth, Carl Crawford

      December 2, 2010 /
      Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth bats 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 Photo via Newscom

      Apparently Boston GM Theo Epstein is out of his slumber and ready to make some moves. Losing yet another middle-of-the-order bat like Victor Martinez will do that to a GM.

      According to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, the Red Sox have stepped up in their pursuit of free agent outfielders Jayson Werth and Carl Crawford. Epstein met with Crawford in his hometown of Houston, Texas and apparently came away “very, very impressed” with the meeting.

      Crawford is a favorite of the organization and why shouldn’t he be? He hit a career-high 19 home runs last season and battled .307. He also drove in 90 runs, swiped 47 bases and plays outstanding defense.

      Werth falls right behind Crawford in terms of best available outfielders this offseason. Werth has better overall power numbers than Crawford, plays a solid right field and would be cheaper than the former Rays’ outfielder. But if the Sox are looking for the complete package, Crawford is it. The only question is whether or not they’ll commit to Crawford (who is reportedly seeking an eight-year deal and $20 million per season) and if they do, whether or not the Yankees will step in at the final second and steal him like they did Mark Teixeira). (I guess that’s two questions.)

      The Red Sox have yet to make an offer to either player, but one may be forthcoming soon.

      External Sports, MLB

      2010 NFL Week 13 Odds

      December 2, 2010 /
      New York Jets Jayson Taylor forces a fumble and sacks New England Patriots Tom Brady in week 2 of the NFL season at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 19, 2010. The Jets defeated the Patriots 28-14. UPI /John Angelillo Photo via Newscom

      Jets (9-2) @ Patriots (9-2), 8:30PM ET, Monday
      After that 49ers-Cardinals debacle last Monday night, ESPN owes fans one. Fortunately for them, we get to cash that favor this week with a battle of two 9-2 AFC East teams fighting for the top seed in the playoffs. Round 1 went to the Jets back in Week 2 and if they can beat the Bill Belichick’s again this Monday, they’ll essentially be up two full games over their division rivals. Tom Brady completed 20-of-36 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns against Rex Ryan’s defense earlier this season, but he also threw two costly interceptions. Can he get the best of gang green this time around?
      CURRENT ODDS: PATRIOTS –3.5

      Steelers (8-3) @ Ravens (8-3), 8:20PM ET
      The Sunday Night Football game hits another home run this week. The Ravens own a tiebreaker over the Steelers by virtue of their win earlier this season in Pittsburgh, but that victory came during Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension. Big Ben was in a walking boot after the Steelers’ win in Buffalo on Sunday and could be limited in practice throughout the week. He says he’ll play, but if he’s immobile then the Ravens’ aggressive front seven could have a field day. Pittsburgh better hope its banged up offensive line is up for the challenge this week. This should be a knock-‘em-down, drag-‘em-out kind of a fight between two heavy-hitters in the AFC North.
      CURRENT ODDS: RAVENS –3

      Falcons (9-2) @ Bucs (7-4), 4:15PM ET
      Do the Falcons ever catch a break? After facing the Bucs, Ravens, Rams (on the road) and Packers in consecutive weeks, Atlanta will once again face a playoff contender when it travels to Tampa this Sunday. The good news is that the Falcons face the Panthers twice in their last five games. The bad news is that the Saints and Bucs are breathing down their necks in the NFC South, so they can’t afford to take a week off. Both of their losses came on the road this year and the Bucs played them tough in the Georgia Dome a month ago. Bettors, be weary of a trap.
      CURRENT ODDS: FALCONS –2

      Cowboys (3-8) @ Cowboys (6-5), 4:15PM ET
      Given what has transpired over the past couple of weeks, this game is incredibly intriguing. Thanks to interim coach Jason Garrett, the Cowboys are playing with a renewed sense of confidence and could have beaten the Saints last week had Roy Williams not fumbled in the closing minutes, which set New Orleans up for its game-winning touchdown drive. On the other side, the Colts have looked overmatched the last two weeks and are now on the verge of dropping to .500 on the year. Peyton Manning looked horrid last Sunday night against the Chargers and while Dallas’ defense can be had, the ‘Boys are playing much better on that side of the ball these days. If Peyton Manning puts together his third straight poor performance, there will be no doubt that someone in the media will start to question if age is starting to catch up to him.
      CURRENT ODDS: COLTS -5

      2010 NFL Week 13 Odds & Over/Under Totals

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL

      Brett Favre: “I’m done.”

      December 2, 2010 /
      LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 28: Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings against the Washington Redskins at FedExField November 28, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Vikings won the game 17-13. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

      Brett Favre reiterated on Wednesday that this will be his final season.

      “I’m done, I’m done,” he told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

      Uh, huh.

      John Paulsen asked me if I thought Lord Favre meant what he said. My response? I think he means it………………right now.

      Favre has had a tough year but we’ve been through this all before. He said at the beginning of the season that this would be his last, but he’s complemented retirement before only to return the following year. He even held a press conference with the Packers saying that he was retired and then – surprise! – he changed his mind and wound up in a New York Jets uniform.

      Favre needs the spotlight, although even I have to admit that after this Jenn Sterger debacle he may mean it this time. His play has also fallen off a cliff and unless he puts up MVP-like numbers over these last five weeks, it’s doubtful that he’ll convince himself that he still has it and return for another year.

      That said, his word means nothing when it comes to retirement. Until he files the paperwork and is nowhere near a NFL stadium for the opener of 2011, I don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth.

      External Sports, NFL

      The NCAA is playing with fire in Cam Newton ruling

      December 2, 2010 /
      TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Cam Newton of the Auburn Tigers celebrates their 28-27 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      If Cam Newton had nothing to do with his father shopping him around as if he were an item on eBay, then he shouldn’t be punished. That’s only fair. But what exactly is the NCAA saying when it deems Newton eligible and slaps his father on the wrist despite coming to a conclusion that rules had been broken?

      In case you haven’t heard, Auburn will have its starting quarterback this Saturday for the SEC title game. And when/if the Tigers beat South Carolina, they’ll have him for the national championship as well.

      This was all made possible by the NCAA, which ruled that a violation of Newton’s amateur status had occurred but he had nothing to do with it. He is now cleared to play and more than likely, he’ll win the Heisman because of the NCAA’s “findings.”

      Newton’s father, Cecil, got the worst of it from the NCAA. He now only has “limited” access to Auburn’s football program during his son’s stay there. That’s right: he shops his son’s athletic skills to the highest bidder and then is told to lay low when he’s caught. When Reggie Bush and his family got caught accepting free housing, suits and cars, the USC program was dealt a two-year bowl ban and the loss of scholarships. When Dez Bryant had dinner with Deion Sanders (and subsequently lied to the NCAA about it), he was deemed ineligible for the rest of the 2009 season.

      But Newton’s father tries to cash in on his son’s athletic talents and the only thing that happens to him is that someone will have to let him in the side door when he goes to the Georgia Dome this Saturday.

      Again, I don’t think Cam should be punished if Cecil committed the wrongdoing. But what happens the next time a situation like this occurs? What’s stopping another father from shopping his son to two schools? After all, if he gets caught, he just has to make sure that his son had nothing to do with it and he’ll essentially get off without punishment.

      The NCAA botched this one. If it wants to play tough with programs like USC and players like Bush and Bryant, then it should have played tough with the Newton’s, too. If Cam were made ineligible for the SEC title game and Auburn were to have been stripped of all its wins this year, then maybe the next father who tried to cash in would think twice about his actions. Maybe he would consider how Newton lost his chance to play for a national championship and win a Heisman and not taken the risk.

      Instead, the NCAA just created a huge loophole for the next father with a gifted son.

      College Football, External Sports

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