Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 297 of 1503)

      Patriots apparently want to re-live their 2002 season, may trade for Branch

      October 7, 2010 /
      SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 26: Wide receiver Deion Branch of the Seattle Seahawks makes a catch against Donald Strickland of the San Diego Chargers at Qwest Field on September 26, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 27-20. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

      Even though knee injuries have severely limited his production of late, the Patriots are interested in trading for Deion Branch says beat writer Danny O’Neil.

      Branch’s best season came as a Patriot in 2005 when he caught 78 passes for 998 yards and five touchdowns. But in ’06, bad blood between him and the team started to form due to a contract dispute and he wound up filing a grievance against the Pats. He claimed that New England failed to complete a fair trade between him and another team that was willing to give him a contract extension. Finally on September 11, Branch was traded to the Seahawks in exchange for a first round pick in the 2007 draft.

      Now the Patriots want him back and apparently Tom Brady has even been lobbying for the team to pull off a trade.

      The Seahawks have a couple of young receivers that they would like to get on the field more, so moving Branch would be in their best interest – especially if they can get a mid-round pick for him. Obviously the Patriots have a need at receiver after trading Randy Moss on Wednesday, but will Branch want to return to the team that he cried foul play on? He didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms.

      That said, it’s not like Branch has too many years left in the league and he may be willing to let bygones by bygones in hopes of having another chance to win a ring. The Seahawks are currently in the thick of things in the NFC West, but how long will that last? The Patriots still offer him the best opportunity to win.

      External Sports, NFL

      Should Vikings hold off on giving Randy Moss an extension?

      October 7, 2010 /
      New England Patriots Randy Moss (L) catches a touchdown pass next to New York Jets Darelle Revis (R) in the second quarter during their NFL football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in this September 19, 2010 file photo. According to reports in the U.S. Media, Moss was traded by the Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2011 draft pick on October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

      One would think that since the Vikings parted with a third round pick to acquire Randy Moss from the Patriots that they wouldn’t waste any time signing him to a new deal. But given his age, Minnesota might be better off waiting a few weeks.

      The NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reported on Wednesday night that Moss is seeking a contract extension in the range of $10 million per year. Even when you factor in his productivity in New England the past three years, that’s a ton of dough to hand a 33-year-old who some believe is in decline.

      Outside of potentially pissing him off, what’s the harm in holding off a few games to make sure that Moss is as hungry as the Vikings think/hope he is? There’s no sense giving up a third round pick and paying a player $10 million if his production is going to be no better or worse than Bernard Berrian. The Vikings already have a Bernard Berrian on their roster.

      Speaking of which, it appears as though Moss and Percy Harvin will become the full-time starters now in Minnesota, which means Berrian could see his targets drop dramatically. With Moss, Harvin and Adrian Peterson all deserving of touches in Brad Childress’ offense, there may not be enough to go around for Berrian come Sundays.

      In semi-related news, the Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that Darrelle Revis may not shadow Moss in coverage on Monday night when the Jets host the Vikings. Revis is still battling a hamstring injury and he admitted yesterday that had there been a game on Wednesday, he wouldn’t have been able to play.

      External Sports, NFL

      Yankees’ postseason experience shines in Game 1 of ALDS

      October 7, 2010 /
      New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira hits a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the seventh inning of Game 1 of their MLB American League Divison Series baseball playoffs in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Andy King (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      The Yankees entered the playoffs losers of eight of their last 11 games. But no matter how much they’ve struggled or how many chinks in the armor they may have shown, this is still their time of year.

      For five innings Wednesday night, the Yankees were making Twins’ starter Francisco Liriano look like Cy Young. They trailed 3-0 in the top of the sixth, but after Nick Swisher struck out swinging to start the inning, Mark Teixeira doubled to deep left, Alex Rodriguez walked and then Teixeira scored on a Robinson Cano single to right.

      After Marcus Thames struck out, Jorge Posada lined a single to right to score A-Rod and move Cano to second. Curtis Granderson delivered the big blow by tripling off the wall in deep right center to score Cano and Posada to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

      They never trailed after that.

      The Twins scratched across a run in their half of the inning, but Teixeira blasted a 355-foot home run in the top of 7th to give the Yankees a 6-4 lead. After allowing two base runners to reach in the ninth, Mariano Rivera got Jim Thome to pop out to third to end the game and give New York a 6-4 victory.

      This is the time of year when the Yankees are never out of any game. They may have showed their age throughout the regular season, but there’s no replacement for postseason experience. When the stakes are high, this is when the Bombers are at their best.

      Of course, this is still a team that’s going to struggle to win it all. Their pitching is a major concern and Joe Girardi’s stomach must have been in knots watching his ace C.C. Sabathia struggle in the early innings last night before finally settling in. He’s supposed to be the rock of the rotation and if he struggles, then the Yanks are doomed.

      Game 2 is set for tonight at 6:07PM ET, as Andy Pettitte will take on former Yankee Carl Pavano.

      External Sports, MLB

      Roy Halladay wanted to impress in his first postseason game, so he didn’t allow a hit

      October 6, 2010 /
      Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Roy Halladay delivers a pitch to the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning in Game 1 of the MLB National League Division Series baseball playoffs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 6, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATESSPORT - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

      Roy Halladay had never pitched in a playoff game before Wednesday evening in Philadelphia.

      Apparently he wasn’t nervous.

      In the Phillies’ 4-0 win over the Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS, Halladay threw a no-hitter in the postseason for only the second time in baseball history. It was his second no-hitter of the season and he now joins Don Larsen, who is the only other pitcher to throw a no-no in the playoffs

      Halladay’s only blemish on the night came in the top of the 5th when he walked Jay Bruce with two outs (the audacity!). Otherwise he was perfect while striking out eight hitters on just 104 pitches. And because he only threw 104 pitches, he could probably pitch again in Game 4 if the Phillies get into trouble in these next two games.

      He also got into the act at the plate by singling home Carlos Ruiz in the second inning to make the game 2-0. He scored on a Shane Victorino single later that inning as the Phillies built a 4-0 lead, which was all the scoring they would need thanks to Halladay.

      This isn’t exactly the start the Reds or their fan base envisioned when the club made the postseason for the first time since 500 B.C. Everyone knew Cincinnati would have trouble with Philadelphia’s pitching, but to get no-hit in the first game is a little appalling given some of the hitters the Reds have in their lineup.

      They’ll try to pick up the pieces on Friday when they take on Roy Oswalt.

      External Sports, MLB

      2010 NFL Week 5 Odds

      October 6, 2010 /
      MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 26, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Lions 24-10. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

      Chiefs (3-0) at Colts (2-2), 1:00PM ET
      If somebody had said before the season that the Colts wouldn’t be the undefeated team in this matchup, I would have called them a liar and punched them square in the mouth (hey, that’s not nice). The Chiefs have a golden opportunity to prove that they’re for real and have had two weeks to prepare for this game. Of course, this is an Indianapolis team that is still stewing from their last-second loss to the Jaguars last Sunday. If KC can get their running game moving with Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, they’ll have a shot to pull off the upset.
      Current Point Spread: Colts –8

      Packers (3-1) at Redskins (2-2), 1:00PM ET
      Thanks to their victory over the Eagles last Sunday, the Redskins are keeping pace in the NFC East. Today it was discovered that Clinton Portis would miss the next 4-6 weeks due to a groin injury, which means Ryan Torain will now be the featured back in D.C. Speaking of backs, the Packers either never considered a trade or failed to pull the trigger in time to acquire Marshawn Lynch from the Bills. Their running game has struggled thus far and the offense continues to be reliant on Aaron Rodgers. If Washington can drum up a decent pass rush, another upset is within its reach.
      Current Point Spread: Redskins +2.5

      Giants (2-2) at Texans (3-1), 1:00PM ET
      The pass rush that helped the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl four years ago showed up last Sunday night against the Bears. The G-Men will need that type of pressure again this week if they’re going to take down a Texans team that should get Andre Johnson back from injury. Of course, Houston has already proven that it has the capability of being balanced offensively thanks to running back Arian Foster. But can the Texans’ poor pass defense slow Eli Manning this week?
      Current Point Spread: Texans –3

      Vikings (1-2) at Jets (3-1), 8:30PM ET, Monday
      ESPN couldn’t have asked for a better matchup on Monday night. Brett Favre will make his not-so-triumphant return to the Big Apple after retiring his way out of New York following the 2008 season. He’ll have a new weapon at his disposal in Randy Moss, who was acquired from the Patriots on Wednesday. Moss will arrive just in time to face Darrelle Revis, who held him to only two catches a couple of weeks ago when the Jets beat his former team in New York. Of course, Moss also scored twice and will no doubt get plenty of looks from his new quarterback.
      Current Point Spread: Jets -4

      2010 NFL Week 5 Point Spreads & Over/Under Totals

      411 Denver Broncos +7 (39.5)
      412 Baltimore Ravens –7 (39.5)

      413 Jacksonville Jaguars +1 (41)
      414 Buffalo Bills –1 (41)

      415 Kansas City Chiefs +9 (44)
      416 Indianapolis Colts –9 (44)

      417 St. Louis Rams +3 (43)
      418 Detroit Lions –3 (43)

      419 Atlanta Falcons –3 (41)
      420 Cleveland Browns +3 (41)

      421 Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7 (38)
      422 Cincinnati Bengals –7 (38)

      423 Chicago Bears -1.5 (35)
      424 Carolina Panthers +1.5 (35)

      427 New York Giants +3 (47.5)
      428 Houston Texans -3 (47.5)

      429 New Orleans Saints –6.5 (46.5)
      430 Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (46.5)

      431 San Diego Chargers –5.5 (44.5)
      432 Oakland Raiders +5.5 (44.5)

      433 Tennessee Titans +6.5 (41.5)
      434 Dallas Cowboys –6.5 (41.5)

      435 Philadelphia Eagles +3.5 (38)
      436 San Francisco 49ers –3.5 (38)

      437 Minnesota Vikings +4.5 (37.5)
      438 New York Jets –4.5 (37.5)

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      External Sports, NFL

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