Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 521 of 1503)

      Will the Cowboys franchise Miles Austin?

      February 16, 2010 /

      After he hauled in 81 passes for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns in only nine starts last season, setting receiver Miles Austin up with a new contract moved to the top of the Cowboys’ offseason to-do list. But according to ESPNDallas.com, the Cowboys might not place the franchise tag on Austin (who is a restricted free agent) this offseason.

      The Cowboys have until February 25 to decide whether or not to apply the franchise tag to Austin and pay him roughly $9.5 million for 2010. If they use the tag, they can still work out a long-term deal for the 25-year-old receiver, which would make the most sense given that he became the team’s offensive MVP last year.

      If they place a first and third round tender on Austin, the Cowboys will pay him $3.168 million in 2010, assuming that another team isn’t willing to pay that kind of compensation for the receiver. Either way, it’s a safe bet that Austin isn’t going anywhere. He was Dallas’ most consistent receiver last year and he has all the tools to become a legit No. 1 receiver for years to come.

      With the threat of a lockout coming in 2011, it might be wise for them just to place the franchise tag on him and worry about coming together on a long-term deal after the new CBA deal is struck (assuming one is struck, that is). That said, players want financial security and the only way to achieve that is by signing a long-term deal with a team. But thus far, the Cowboys haven’t offered one.

      Given that Roy Williams made roughly $9 million to catch less than half the balls Austin did for less than half the yards, it’s only fair that Austin be paid as the team’s top wide out. But the Cowboys have options and it’ll be interesting to see what they inevitably decide to do with Austin.


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      NFL

      Will the Yankees regret letting Wang go?

      February 16, 2010 /

      Roughly two months ago, the Yankees came to the conclusion that starter Chien-Ming Wang wasn’t worth the roster space anymore, even though they controlled his rights for the next two seasons. That’s why they non-tendered him on December 12 and made him a free agent this offseason.

      It’s hard to blame the Bombers to coming to the decision not to tender Wang after he battled through ineffectiveness and injury in 2009. He was a disaster last season, finishing with a 1-6 record and a 9.64 ERA.

      But in wake of the Nationals signing the right-hander to a contract on Tuesday, I wonder whether or not the Yankees will regret the decision to let Wang go after the ’09 season. After all, he’s only 29 and just a few years removed from posting back-to-back 19-win seasons.

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      MLB

      Bears lacking direction under Angelo, Smith

      February 16, 2010 /

      If anyone can explain to me the direction the Chicago Bears are taking this offseason, then I’ll donate a week’s salary to your favorite charity. And “backwards” doesn’t count.

      The Bears began the offseason by firing offensive coordinator Ron Turner and relieving head coach Lovie Smith of his defensive play calling duties. GM Jerry Angelo’s first choices as candidates to replace Turner and Smith were USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and former Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. But he lost out on both when Pete Carroll hired Bates to run the offense in Seattle and the Giants hired Fewell to run their defense in New York.

      It’s an understatement to say that Angelo settled for Mike Martz in early February. Angelo had Rob Chudzinski, Hue Jackson and a host of others atop his wish list of offensive coordinators, but nobody wanted to come to Chicago with the possibility of Smith and his entire staff getting axed a year from now. Angelo was desperate, and so too was Martz.

      Out of options again, Angelo promoted defensive line coach Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator on February 5, despite the fact that Marinelli had no previous experience in that role. When the Bears hired Smith in 2004, he tired to bring Marinelli (his former staff member in Tampa) to Chicago to be his new defensive coordinator but the Bucs didn’t release Marinelli out of his contract. Seven years later, Smith is getting his wish.

      With the coordinator roles finally settled, Angelo thought it would be wise to fire director of pro personnel Bobby DePaul on Monday. This is significant because DePaul was the man that orchestrated the Jay Cutler trade and had been with the Bears since 2001. That’s nine seasons of experience that Angelo just fired, not to mention the person responsible for pulling off the franchise’s biggest trade.

      The timing of DePaul’s firing is perplexing. Most teams fire personnel people in May because at that point, the draft is over and free agency has settled in. Teams rarely fire the man responsible for evaluating players, managing scouting and preparing the club for free agency right before the NFL combine and the free agency period begins. It just doesn’t make any sense because scouting free agents and prospects is a yearlong process – a process that should be almost completed in mid February.

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      NFL

      Colt McCoy close to being 100%?

      February 16, 2010 /

      Colt McCoy is throwing 40-50 balls a day while rehabbing the right shoulder injury that knocked him out of the national championship. He hopes that he’ll be able to participate in the scouting combine next week.

      From FOX Sports.com:

      “Hopefully I’ll be able to throw in the combine. That’s my goal, I love to compete, I want to go out and compete with those guys, go out there and throw and be myself,” McCoy said. “But obviously if the doctors don’t let me, I’m not going to be able to do that.”

      “The injury and I think the way that my college career ended has kind of sparked a fire inside of me as far as I’m going to show that I’m going to be ready to go. I’m going to show them that I’m the best, I’m going to show that I’m confident,” he said. “I can’t wait to step out on the field again, forget the taste that’s in my mouth for the last time I played a game. That’s what’s driving me every day.”

      McCoy, whose rehab is being overseen by noted sports doctor James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., said if his doctors determine he can’t throw at the combine that begins next week, he will still do everything else possible in Indianapolis. He also plans to participate in the Longhorns’ pro day March 31.

      The scouting combine will be important for McCoy, because pro scouts will want to know how the recovery is going. If he can work out for scouts and field questions about the injury, it’ll go a long way to improving his draft stock come April. (Or at the very least, not hurt his stock.)

      But the thing he needs to keep in mind is that he still has his Pro Day in March, so if he needs the extra time to recover then he should take it. Scouts would certainly understand if he needs more time to recover, but at some point before the draft he’s going to have to work out. A team obviously isn’t going to take him in the middle rounds without seeing him throw.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      College Football

      Tigers, Damon exchange contract proposals

      February 16, 2010 /

      According to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.com, the Tigers and free agent Johnny Damon have traded contract proposals, but no deal is imminent as of now.

      A one-year, $7 million deal is possible, as is a two-year contract worth $14 million. But the source downplayed the chances of a one-year deal with a player option for 2011 — similar to the contract that Adrian Beltre, another Scott Boras client, signed with the Red Sox.

      Some people in the industry have wondered why the Tigers offered Damon a two-year contract last week, at a time when it’s questionable that any other team is interested in signing the 36-year-old to a deal of that length.

      Similarly, many believe it would be foolish for Damon to turn down a two-year deal, because it could be difficult for him to replicate his Yankee Stadium success of 2009 while playing in Detroit’s more spacious Comerica Park.

      I don’t think Damon will produce the same numbers this year as he did last season while playing in Yankee Stadium. And considering he’s 36 and a liability in the outfield, a one-year deal makes the most sense. I understand Damon wants a longer commitment, but the Tigers (and any team for that matter) shouldn’t oblige.

      If Detroit could sign him to a one-year deal with a team option for the second year, then maybe the two sides can come to an agreement. Either way, it looks like Damon is getting closer to finally finding a home in 2010.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      MLB

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