Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 554 of 1503)

      Ravens’ Ed Reed contemplating retirement

      January 18, 2010 /

      Following the Ravens’ 20-3 loss to the Colts on Saturday night, safety Ed Reed indicated that he might retire in the offseason.

      Reed is only 31, but hip, neck and groin injuries limited his mobility and production throughout the season. He told the Baltimore Sun that he would speak with his medical team soon and then make a final decision about whether or not to continue his playing career. He indicated that he has aspirations to coach at the college level and might peruse those interests sooner rather than later.

      When healthy, Reed still plays at a high level and it would be surprising if he hung ‘em up with $19.7 million left on his remaining contract. Money isn’t everything, but if he can fully recover in the offseason and enter the 2010 season with a full bill of health, it’s doubtful that he would retire.


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      Phillips, Williams will be back with Cowboys

      January 18, 2010 /

      According to a report by ESPN.com, Wade Phillips will return as the Cowboys’ head coach for 2010. Also set to return is receiver Roy Williams, who is reportedly “certain” to be back next season.

      There has been no decision on whether to negotiate an extension of Phillips’ current contract, the source said. The Cowboys control Phillips’ fate because they have an option for the 2010 season under terms of Phillips’ original contract that will play him close to the $3 million he earned this season when he served as the league’s only head coach-defensive coordinator.

      The source also said that disappointing wide receiver Roy E. Williams — who made $9 million this season — is certain to return after a lackluster first full season with the Cowboys. Williams’ season ended with him failing to make a single reception against the Vikings. Quarterback Tony Romo threw his direction only once, a throwaway under pressure.

      When you take away his struggles in the postseason, Phillips has been a solid head coach for the Cowboys. He has produced two NFC East titles in three seasons and his defense allowed the fewest points in the NFC this year.

      But the problem is that the Cowboys have enough talent to challenge for a Super Bowl and always fail to deliver. Beating the Eagles in the Wildcard round was a step in the right direction, but Dallas’ play yesterday in Minnesota was a complete disaster.

      If Jones adds a few more pieces to the roster and the Cowboys suffer a similar fate next year, Phillips might be gone. But if he gets them to the NFC Championship Game, then Jones might have a dilemma similar to the one he faced this year.

      NFL

      Report: Brian Westbrook facing retirement

      January 18, 2010 /

      A great career might end on a sad note, as Philadelphia sports radio host Howard Eskin is reporting that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook is considering retirement.

      From SB Nation.com:

      Earlier in the season, rumors swirled that the oft-injured running back was considering retirement, but those were attributed to his concussions, two of which he suffered this season. Eskin reports that it’s the left knee that is hampering Westbrook, which was surgically repaired in the past.

      Eskin says there is “almost no chance” Westbrook plays another game for the Eagles — he has one year left on his contract — and that the knee is in such bad condition, Westbrook may not even me able to pass a team physical to play elsewhere.

      Looking at this realistically, the Eagles already drafted Westbrook’s replacement last April when they took LeSean McCoy in the second round. McCoy is a near replica of Westbrook, so there is no reason for Philly to pay the $7.5 million that is owed to the 30-year old back next season.

      There will definitely be teams interested in Westbrook as a backup or platoon player, but if he can’t pass a physical then obviously he won’t be signed. If he does retire, it’ll be a sad way to go out for one of the league’s most productive backs over the last decade.


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      2010 NFC & AFC Championship Odds

      January 18, 2010 /

      Odds makers have released the point spreads for the NFC and AFC Championship games, with the Saints and Colts opening as the favorites.

      According to theSpread.com, Drew Brees and the Saints have opened as a 4.5-point favorite over the Vikings for the NFC title game. Both teams covered in the Divisional Round, with New Orleans winning as a 7-point favorite over Arizona, and Minnesota easily covering as a 3-point favorite over Dallas.

      In the AFC, the Colts are an 8-point favorite over the Jets after beating the Ravens 20-3 in a Divisional Round matchup on Saturday night. New York pulled off an upset Sunday evening in San Diego, beating the Chargers 17-14.

      Kickoff for the AFC Championship Game is set for 3:00PM ET on Sunday, while the NFC title matchup will start at 6:40PM ET.


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      Let’s call it for what it was: The Chargers choked.

      January 17, 2010 /

      No matter how much more talent, coaching or overall advantages one squad has over another, teams still have to show up ready to play for 60 minutes on game day.

      There’s no way to describe what the Jets did to the Chargers today than to stating the obvious: They just flat out outplayed them in the second half. The Jets were better today and that’s why they’re heading to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in the AFC Championship Game next weekend.

      But let’s not overlook the fact that the Chargers were the hottest team coming into the playoffs and they couldn’t even make it out of the Divisional Round. They hadn’t lost since a mid-October Monday night game against the Broncos and many people considered them the team to beat in the postseason.

      So excuse me for not shrugging my shoulders and saying, “Ah well, the better team won in San Diego today.” It’s not that simple to just write off the Chargers’ loss as another game when everything was set up for them to make a deep postseason run.

      The Bolts had home field advantage, were facing a rookie quarterback playing in only his second postseason game of his career and they had momentum after winning 11 straight games. They weren’t supposed to lose today – no matter how good Rex Ryan’s defense played – and the defeat was eerily similar to their 2007 Divisional Round loss to the Patriots after they finished 14-2 in the regular season.

      The blame cannot fall on just one man’s shoulders; it took a complete team effort for the Chargers to lose today. Norv Turner’s game plan failed, the defense had trouble coming up with a big stop in the second half (especially on Shonn Greene’s 53-yard touchdown run), Philip Rivers turned the ball over twice (although one was a fluke) and the usually automatic Nate Kaeding missed three field goals, including two within 40 yards.

      San Diego just didn’t execute today, which is why they’ll be at home come February when the Super Bowl is being played – the Super Bowl that many people figured they’d be playing in.


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