Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 439 of 1503)

      Roy Williams ready to fight to retain his job

      May 13, 2010 /

      Cowboys’ receiver Roy Williams is well aware that rookie Dez Bryant wants to get on the field this year. And in order to do so, he’ll have to unseat Williams, who is the incumbent starter at the position opposite Miles Austin in the offense.

      “This ain’t my first rodeo,” Williams said. “I got recruited [to Texas] with B.J. [Johnson] and Sloan Thomas, so those are two top-notch guys. I came in and did my thing. I was the third one on the totem pole in that deal, and I came out No. 1. I don’t really see it as a competition thing. I see it as us getting better.

      “But I know in the back of my mind and the back of his mind, he wants to play, the only way he’s going to play is to get No. 11 off the field, and that’s going to be tough to do. But it’s going to make us better as a football team.”

      In preparation, Williams has been catching 200 balls a week off the JUGS machine according to the Dallas Star-Telegram. He’s also catching 40 or 50 balls from Tony Romo during the week while trying to ensure that he won’t drop as many passes as he did last season.

      “It won’t even be half,” said Williams, who had the 12th-most drops in the league last year, according to STATS Inc. “Do you want to take that bet? I won’t even come close. Promise you.”

      Williams has the right attitude, but he’ll have his work cut out for him competing against Bryant. While it’s always best to keep expectations somewhat tempered when it comes to rookies, Bryant is just flat out better than Williams. He’s faster, has softer hands and projects to be more of a playmaker. There’s a reason why the Cowboys drafted him and it wasn’t so he could watch Williams (whose contract may have saved him from being released by now) play.

      That said, Williams is right in that Bryant makes the Cowboys a better football team. Competition breads success and the addition of Bryant should make Williams more focused and determined to produce.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Brady calls out the Patriots’ mental toughness

      May 13, 2010 /

      While the tone of the interview was more or less positive in nature, Tom Brady questioned the Patriots’ mental toughness last year during a recent interview with WEEI.

      From the Boston Globe:

      “Coach always used the [phrase] ‘mentally tough’ to us, and I always agree with him. When the going got tough, we didn’t get going. We weren’t a mentally tough team last year.

      “I think that’s been a big point of emphasis for Coach this offseason. Hopefully, we’ve found ways to address it.’’

      Brady also insinuated that the team lacked leadership.

      “All of us, we need to do a better job of leadership,’’ he said. “And I was one of the leaders last year, and obviously I sucked at doing that.

      “So I’ve got to do a better job at that, I’ve got to do a better job of playing quarterback. And that’s what I’m prepared to do.

      Again, the interview was positive in nature so I don’t want to spin this into a story about how Brady ripped the Patriots. Plus, what he said was true – on a whole, the Pats played flat last year. Their effort against the Ravens in the playoffs was pitiful and it served as a reminder that they’re not the same team as they used to be. Opponents aren’t going to fear them anymore either.

      The Pats have gotten by throughout the years thanks to a solid core of veterans and great game plans. But as those veterans have aged, younger players haven’t stepped up to help the team overcome its weaknesses. The Patriots have never had the most talented overall team (save for their 18-1 squad), but you could be rest assured that they would always be prepared and had the mental fortitude to beat you in crunch time. If they’ve lost that, then the Patriots will be in rebuilding mode sooner rather than later.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Bad year for Pittsburgh sports

      May 13, 2010 /

      Let’s recap 2010 for the Pittsburgh faithful:

      – Ben Roethlisberger is accused of sexually assaulting a woman…for the second time in less than a year. His six-game (which might be reduced to four games) suspension leaves the Steelers with Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon as their starting quarterback to start the 2010 season.

      – While nobody expects anything from them anyway, the Pirates, although currently not in last place, are six games below .500 and on pace to finish in the NL Central cellar once again this season (although not if the Astros can help it).

      – The defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins were shocked by the Canadiens Wednesday night in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals – on their home ice, no less. What’s worse is that the game was damn near over with 3:30 left in the second period as Montreal somewhat cruised to a 5-2 victory. The Habs have become a great story, but the Pittsburgh faithful can’t be too thrilled that the Pens lost to a less superior team. (I know, I know – “on any given day.”)

      – Pittsburgh doesn’t have a NBA team, but if they did, I’m convinced that they would be facing elimination right now in the playoffs. Either that, or gearing up for the NBA Draft Lottery.

      The Sporting News made Pittsburgh No. 1 for its annual “Best Sports Cities” rankings in October last year. I’m thinking “The Steel City” won’t take home the honors this year.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, MLB, NFL, NHL

      Is this a make or break year for Matt Forte?

      May 13, 2010 /

      After Matt Forte racked up 1,715 total yards and 12 touchdowns his rookie year in 2008, the Bears felt as though they had a star in the making. He drew comparisons to Edgerrin James, given the backs’ similarities in balance, body control and burst.

      But then something happened in Forte’s second year. His play dramatically fell off and while some like to chalk it up to a sophomore slump, the issues were deeper than that. The offensive line struggled to open holes for him and somewhere along the way he lost his confidence. He also had his knee scoped after the season, which might suggest that he played hurt too. It wasn’t just one thing that affected his play – it was a culmination of factors that limited him to fewer than 1,000 rushing yards and only four total touchdowns.

      Whether Forte is due for a bounce back campaign or not, there will be one significant change this year than there was in 2009. And he goes by the name of Chester Taylor. The Bears didn’t have an answer for a slumping Forte last year, but this season Taylor is ready and willing to take over at the drop of a hat. The former Viking isn’t a one-man wrecking crew, but he has proven to be an effective back over his career and won’t hesitate to seize the moment if Forte struggles.

      While suggesting that this is a make or break year for Forte is a bit extreme (after all, he’s only in his third year), he now has competition for touches. And maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe the presence of Taylor will help Forte stay fresh throughout the season and instill some of that confidence that he lost in ’09.

      Of course, no matter who runs the ball, the offensive line must do a better jump opening up holes. There’s reason to believe that the Bears’ O-line will be just as bad as it was last year, as GM Jerry Angelo did nothing to address the massive issue in the offseason. The additions of Taylor, defensive end Julius Peppers and safety Chris Harris certainly make this team better, but sliding Frank Omiyale from guard to right tackle doesn’t constitute fixing the offensive line. So it’ll be interesting to see if Forte can build off the success he had in his rookie year, or if the Bears’ running game will once again fall apart at the feet of their offensive line.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Hockey teams get to finish game 11 years later thanks to Gatorade

      May 13, 2010 /

      Gatorade put on a cool event in Detroit last weekend when they reunited members from the Trenton and Detroit Catholic Central schools in order to finish a 1999 game that ended in a 4-4 tie. Hockey legends Gordie Howe, Scotty Bowman and Brendan Shanahan all participated in the REPLAY.

      This time around, Trenton knocked off their counterparts, 4-2.

      For the honorary coaches it was a game of former player versus coach with Shanahan squaring-off against Bowman. Despite winning three championships while in Detroit, the two put those memories aside to focus on their teams.

      “We have a lot of fond memories of our time together in Detroit, and we are two very competitive people so it was great to coach against each other,” said Brendan Shanahan. “When Gatorade contacted me about REPLAY, I was already excited because of what the program does for these guys. Then I found out Scotty Bowman would be on the other bench and I knew it was something I couldn’t pass up. I’m going to end my coaching career one and zero.”

      Gatorade REPLAY re-stages classic games between some of the nation’s biggest high school sports rivalries. After a successful REPLAY Season One featuring the 1993 Easton Area and Phillipsburg high school football teams, a call for Season Two entries was made causing Trenton’s Kurt LaTarte to nominate his team’s rivalry with CC.

      “That year Trenton and CC were at the top of the rankings, and despite winning the state championship that year CC was 25-1-1 with their only loss and only tie all season to us,” said LaTarte. “I knew this was an awesome opportunity to get the teams together and close this chapter. Seeing how this came together it was definitely worth every ounce of sweat.”

      Read more about the event and check out photos here.

      External Sports, General Sports, High School Sports

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