Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 515 of 1503)

      Eagles release Westbrook – will McNabb be jettisoned next?

      February 23, 2010 /

      Just one day after the Chargers parted with legend LaDainian Tomlinson, the Eagles followed suit by releasing one-time franchise running back Brian Westbrook on Tuesday.

      The writing has been on the wall for a couple months now. Westbrook only played in eight games last year after dealing with a concussion for most of the season. He was due to make $7.25 million in 2010 and after drafting his eventual replacement (“Shady” McCoy) last year, it was unlikely that the Eagles were going to honor the final year of Westbrook’s contract. He should find work elsewhere, although given his age (30) and durability concerns, he might not get more than a one or two-year contract.

      Now that Westbrook has been released, the Eagles might turn their attention to quarterback Donovan McNabb’s situation. McNabb’s base salary in 2010 is $5 million, plus he’s due a $6.2 million roster bonus on May 5. With Kevin Kolb waiting in the wings, it’s rumored that if Philly can acquire a first round pick in exchange for McNabb, they’ll deal him this offseason.

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      NFL

      Lions actively shopping the No. 2 pick?

      February 23, 2010 /

      According to NFL network’s Jason La Confora, the Lions are actively shopping the No. 2 overall pick and have already been in contact with several teams.

      I sound like a broken record every year, but it’s a must that I write this: Trading out of the top of the draft isn’t easy. Unless there’s a can’t miss prospect in the top 3, then teams selecting that high have a difficult time finding a trade partner. The Browns were able to do it last year at No. 5, but the Jets desperately wanted Mark Sanchez so it was a perfect match.

      There might be a team that wants to move up in order to nab Ndamukong Suh or one of the quarterbacks (Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen), but even when teams are motivated to move up it’s still hard to put a trade package together. It was easy for the Browns and Jets to work out a deal involving draft picks and players because Eric Mangini was already familiar with New York’s roster and knew which players he wanted.

      We’ll see. I’m certainly not suggesting that the Lions won’t have success trading the pick, but again, the odds are against them. But teams usually have success when they trade down, so Detroit fans have to at least appreciate the fact that their team is trying to maximize its selections on draft day.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Is LeFevour making the right decision by not throwing at the scouting combine?

      February 23, 2010 /

      Depending on whom you ask, Central Michigan quarterback prospect Dan LeFevour is anywhere from a third round pick to a late round selection. And due to scouts’ concern about his lack of arm strength, the latter is probably more realistic.

      After a lackluster week of practice leading up to the game, LeFevour threw for 97 yards and a touchdown on ten attempts in last month’s Senior Bowl. In effort to ride that success, he has decided not to throw at the NFL scouting combine, which kicks off Wednesday, February 24 and runs through March 2.

      After racking up 12,905 passing yards, 2,948 rushing yards, 149 total touchdowns and a completion percentage of 66.4, his collegiate numbers speak for themselves. But is he taking a major risk by not throwing at the combine? Does he need to prove to scouts that he can make all the throws?

      To gain a better perspective on the topic from someone who watched LeFevour play in college, I asked Central Michigan beat writer Drew Ellis of the Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun about the benefits and risks of LeFevour not throwing at the combine.

      “The strategy behind not throwing at the combine could simply be to try and give LeFevour the best chance to impress scouts when he finally does throw in front of them,” said Ellis. “LeFevour has chemistry with Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown and if threw at the combine, he could be throwing to some guy he has never met or worked with.”

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      College Football, NFL, NFL Draft

      Panthers won’t use franchise tag on Peppers

      February 23, 2010 /

      The Panthers have conceded the inevitable: Julius Peppers will become a free agent this offseason.

      According to ESPN.com, Carolina won’t use its franchise tag on Peppers unlike it did last offseason.

      If the Panthers had opted to tag Peppers, it would have cost them $21.4 million — about $1.3 million per game — which the team deemed too pricey. Peppers will be one of the highest-profile free agents since Reggie White.

      Teams have until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to use their franchise tags.

      Let the bidding war begin. Any number of teams ranging from the Patriots to the Eagles to the Saints could make a play for Peppers, who will be the biggest name on the free agent market this offseason. Perhaps the most interesting decision Peppers faces is whether or not he wants to stand up and play outside linebacker in a 3-4 like he suggested last year, or if he wants to stay at his traditional 4-3 end position.

      We’ll find out soon.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      NFL

      Eric Gagne admits to taking HGH

      February 22, 2010 /

      Another baseball player has decided to come clean about his use of performance enhancing drugs during his playing career, as reliever Eric Gagne admitted to Los Angeles Times’ columnist T.J. Simers on Monday that he used HGH in the past.

      “Why did you use HGH?” I ask, and he says, “I didn’t.”

      But he knows better. He and I have had a long relationship; he’s the guy who introduced me to a children’s hospital. Heart and guts, the great intimidator, eight innings of splendid work by his teammates riding on his work and almost never disappointing. How could he?

      “You were using HGH, weren’t you?”

      “I did,” he says. “I hate to talk about it. It just doesn’t do anyone any good. But I thought it would help me get better when I hurt my knee. I just don’t want that to sound as an excuse.

      “I’m so ashamed. It wasn’t smart. If I knew what I know now. . . . I didn’t need it. I regret it so much, just now maybe getting over the guilt. It was stupid.”

      It’s great that more players are coming clean about their drug use, but where were these guys when the Mitchell Report was released? I realize the names on that list weren’t supposed to be made public, but once they were it would have been nice if more players admitted their use instead of denying it.

      I could be wrong, but I don’t think fans are as mad about the drug use as they are about being lied to. Don’t get me wrong, fans are still pissed that players like Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds broke records while juicing. But what gnaws at fans more than anything is that these players denied using drugs, only to admit later that they were using. I realize that people tell lies because they think they won’t come back to haunt them, but these players should have just admitted their use when they were caught the first time.

      As for Gagne, his admission isn’t a surprise. His name was on the Mitchell Report, so it isn’t shocking to hear him admit that he was using. Good for him for coming clean, although he’s no better than any other player for admitting that they used after they originally denied it. Still, he gets credit for coming forward when many others refuse to do so.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      MLB

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