Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 670 of 1503)

      2009 NFL Picks & Predictions: Week 6

      October 16, 2009 /

      Giants (5-0) at Saints (4-0), 1:00PM ET
      Hopefully readers will give me credit for attempt to predict the toughest games this week. No? All right then…This is by far the hardest game to predict on the Week 6 schedule, so let’s look at some of the facts. The Saints should be well rested coming off a bye and are playing at home. They have the edge then right? They should, but don’t forget that the Giants essentially had a bye themselves since they played Oakland last week and New York always travels well. Drew Brees hasn’t seen a pass rush as good as the Giants’ all season and I think New York will disrupt his rhythm. And while Darren Sharper and the New Orleans defense is playing out of their minds right now, Eli Manning won’t make the same mistakes rookie Mark Sanchez did two weeks ago when the Saints earned a victory against the Jets. I like Brandon Jacobs to get back on track and for the G-Men to pull off a huge win at the Superdome.
      Odds: Saints –3.
      Prediction: Giants 27, Saints 24.

      Ravens (3-2) at Vikings (5-0), 1:00PM ET
      So, are the Ravens just in a slump or were they overrated to begin with? Give yourself a gold star if you answered, “A little of both.” Baltimore lost several defensive starters and their coordinator Rex Ryan in the offseason – they were due to have a setback at some point. While I think the Ravens are a solid football team, I don’t like this matchup for them. They’re reeling after two straight losses and play an unfamiliar foe in a hostile environment. I also don’t like the matchup between the Ravens’ receivers and the Vikings’ corners and wonder how Joe Flacco will do once Ray Rice and the running game is shut down by Minnesota’s Williams Wall. As long as Brett Favre doesn’t get turnover-happy for the first time this year, I like the Vikings to remain undefeated.
      Odds: Vikings –3.
      Prediction: Vikings 21, Ravens 17.

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      NFL

      Abreu rejects Angels’ offer for $16 million

      October 16, 2009 /

      Bobby Abreu has rejected a two-year contract offer worth $16 million from the Angels, SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports.

      Abreu, called the Angels MVP by manager Mike Scioscia, was frustrated by a tight market last winter and wound up signing a one-year deal with the Angels for $5 million after making $16 million the year before. Scioscia and other Angels officials credit Abreu for helping to improve the hitting approach of several of their young players, most notably leadoff man Chone Figgins.

      Abreu hit .293 with 15 home runs and 103 RBIs. He, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols are the only players to have driven in at least 100 runs in each of the last seven years.

      Interestingly, Abreu was offered that same $16-million, two-year contract by the Rays early last winter but turned it down. When the market dried up, he took the Angels’ offer over some others because he liked the idea of going there. Abreu has enjoyed his year in Southern California, but he isn’t immediately rushing to take the first offer.

      I don’t think it’s the money that Abreu is after as much as the length of the contract. I don’t blame him for not wanting to go one or two years at a time, but he also has to be realistic. He’s 35 years old and while he’s coming off a productive season, clubs aren’t willing to hand players multi-year contracts when they’re 35 or older.

      It is interesting that he runs the risk of making less money again next year after rejecting yet another $16 million deal. If he winds up signing a one-year deal again, then Abreu’s strategy will have once again backfired. Of course, if he winds up being a ALCS or World Series hero, then the move could pay off in the winter.

      MLB

      Jones says Phillips’ job safe for now

      October 16, 2009 /

      Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says that head coach Wade Phillips’ job is safe for the remainder of the season, according to a report by ESPN.com.

      This isn’t surprising news. The Cowboys aren’t lighting the world on fire, but they do have a winning record and there’s no reason to make a dramatic coaching change when it isn’t necessary.

      That said, Phillips would be naïve to think that his job is safe past 2009. If he doesn’t get the Cowboys to the playoffs, there’s no way Jones is going to keep him around with Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden waiting on the sidelines ready for another opportunity to be head coaches. In fact, just getting to the playoffs might not be enough for Phillips to hold onto his job.

      Despite their winning record, the Cowboys are a mess. Jason Garrett’s offense looks like a shell of its former self and Tony Romo has seemingly regressed as a passer. Making matters worse, receiver Roy Williams hasn’t stepped up to fill the void that the team created when it released Terrell Owens this offseason and Marion Barber and Felix Jones can’t stay healthy.

      But it isn’t all doom and gloom for Phillips and the Cowboys. The team is on a much-needed bye week and Austin Miles exploded against Kansas City last Sunday. If he can build off that success, he’ll take the pressure off Williams, who doesn’t seem capable of being a No. 1 receiver in this league. Miles has all the physical talent in the world, but had yet to breakout before last week.

      This bye week is crucial for Phillips and the Cowboys. If they don’t come out like gangbusters and build some momentum, then chances are they’ll continue to fall further behind the Giants and Eagles in the NFC East. Phillips knows that the next 11 weeks are pivotal to keeping his job.

      NFL

      USC game crucial for Notre Dame, Weis

      October 16, 2009 /

      Nobody has to remind Notre Dame’s players and head coach Charlie Weis what this Saturday means for the program. A win would serve as a stepping-stone for the school to get back among the nation’s elite. A blowout loss would send them spiraling backwards and might inevitably cost Weis his job.

      “I said, Saturday night fellas, you’re going to be the lead story in the country, one way or another,” Weis said. “So which lead story do you want to be?”

      Besides the fact that Charlie must not realize Oklahoma is also taking on Texas this weekend, his comments pinpoint the magnitude of Saturday’s game. This isn’t just another game for the Irish – it’s the game of the year.

      The Trojans have beaten the Irish seven straight times. During that span, USC quarterbacks have averaged 323 passing yards and since October of 2002, the Trojans are 31-2 against ranked opponents.

      Oh, and they also rank sixth in the nation in total defense.

      But this is a different Notre Dame team, at least offensively. Jimmy Clausen ranks No. 1 in the country in passing efficiency and the Irish have the 10th best offense in college football. They’re averaging 470 yards per game and over 30 points per contest. Their ground game doesn’t get as much attention as their passing attack, but the Irish are averaging 148 rushing yards per game so they can beat you in a variety of ways.

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      College Football

      Myers upset with Phillies

      October 16, 2009 /

      Pitcher Brett Myers is upset that the Phillies left him off the NLCS roster after he spent most of the regular season rehabbing from a hip injury so that he could re-join the club in the postseason.

      From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

      “I’m upset,” the pitcher said before Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.

      Myers, 29, had hip surgery June 4. At the time, team officials thought his season was over. The righthander stayed dedicated to a rehabilitation program and made it back in early September. The club hoped Myers could help in the bullpen, but he had a 6.43 ERA in eight games. He pitched just two-thirds of an inning in the division series.

      “It’s tough going through all that [rehab],” Myers said. “This is the whole reason I tried to get back, to be in the postseason. Now they took that away.

      “They said I wasn’t sharp. I disagree. They told me my curveball was sharp. That contradicts itself. But whatever. I’ll stay around and support my teammates.”

      Manager Charlie Manuel said: “I look at this as almost spring training for Brett. He had a very serious injury, came back, and maybe it was too early, I don’t know.”

      I don’t think the Phillies (or any team for that matter) would want a player that wasn’t upset about being off the playoff roster. But the reality of the situation is that Myers was coming off a serious injury and didn’t pitch well upon his return. The Phillies need reliable players and Myers isn’t one of them right now.

      It’s highly unlikely Myers returns to Philadelphia after this season. He becomes a free agent in the winter and I would have to imagine that if the Phillies make the World Series and he’s left off the roster, he’s bitterness towards the club would motivate him not to re-sign.

      MLB

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