Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 799 of 1503)

      Russell’s work ethic called into question again

      June 30, 2009 /

      According to a report by the National Football Post’s Michael Lombardi, Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s work ethic continues to be called into question.

      2. The work ethic of quarterback JaMarcus Russell is still being questioned by many who have worked with him in the past and are working with him now. After he issued a call to his teammates to practice and finish the OTA days strong, he then disappeared and was AWOL on the last day. Russell must learn that talent alone is not going to make him successful. Dedication to becoming a better player is what he needs.

      Assuming this report is true (I’m not at Oakland’s practice facility everyday), Russell is in for a wake up call soon enough. I guarantee you if Russell isn’t busting his ass, Jeff Garcia (who the Raiders signed in the offseason) is. Garcia might be an aging vet and limited on the field in terms of arm strength, but he’s incredibly feisty and wants to play.

      Russell isn’t long for the NFL if he won’t work. It’ll be interesting to see if more reports like Lombardi’s come to light over the summer once training camp begins.

      NFL

      Broncos to stand firm, keep Brandon Marshall

      June 30, 2009 /

      Roughly two weeks ago, wide receiver Brandon Marshall asked Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen in a private meeting to be traded. A few days later, Marshall’s agent said that Denver would abide by the receiver’s wishes and do everything they could to deal him.

      Turns out the agent was wrong.

      According to a report by ESPN.com, the Broncos are standing firm on not trading the disgruntled Marshall, even though that might mean him skipping training camp next month and sitting out the first month or so of the regular season.

      After the Jay Cutler fiasco, the Broncos don’t want to set a precedent for allowing players to bolt just because they don’t like their contract, their role with the team, or the stadium’s hot dogs. They learned their lesson with Cutler and aren’t about to allow Marshall to throw a temper tantrum and get away with it.

      Of course, that doesn’t mean that Denver’s stance won’t backfire. Marshall is extremely upset with the way the team’s doctors treated his hip injury and doesn’t want them handling his rehab. He’s also furious about his contract situation, as he’s in the final year of his rookie deal that’s paying him roughly minimum wage in terms of NFL money.

      Somebody will have to cave for this situation to get resolved. If Marshall loves football and doesn’t want to miss any games, then he’ll show up at some point this summer. But if he cares more about the money, then he might force the Broncos into making a decision about whether or not to trade him so they could get compensation for when he bolts at the end of the year via free agency.

      NFL

      Goodell to come down hard on Vick and Burress

      June 29, 2009 /

      According to a report by Yahoo Sports, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is contemplating suspending free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress indefinitely. The article also states that Michael Vick’s indefinite suspension could continue.

      NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is leaning toward indefinitely suspending former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress(notes) and continuing to sideline quarterback Michael Vick(notes), three sources with knowledge of the situations have indicated. Such moves would be the latest examples of Goodell’s tough stance on players embroiled in off-field issues as evidenced with the suspension of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth(notes) earlier this month.

      Stallworth has been ruled out indefinitely by the league after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter in the death of a Miami man in March. Stallworth was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years of house arrest and reached a financial settlement with the family of the late Mario Reyes.

      According to a source with the Giants, the league and another that’s close to Vick, Goodell figures to take a similar stance with the quarterback and Burress. Vick, a former starter for the Atlanta Falcons, is scheduled to be released from federal confinement on July 20 after serving 20 months for his part in a dog-fighting ring. A source indicated there was a reasonable likelihood that Vick, suspended indefinitely by the league in August 2007, will not be allowed to play this season and certainly not be with a team in training camp.

      Goodell has said multiple times that he wants to see Vick show remorse for his actions. That means Vick may have to follow a strict path of behavior before he’s allowed to return.

      “[Vick] is not just walking out one day and playing again,” the source close to Vick said. “I don’t know if he understands that yet, but that’s what it looks like right now if you really pay attention. … Yeah, he served his time, but he has to prove himself. When the commissioner talks about wanting to see remorse, he’s not kidding.”

      In regards to Vick, what some people seem to forget is that he lied to Goodell about his involvement in what happened on Moonlight Road. It’s not only that Vick fought dogs and went to jail for two years, embarrassing the league, the Falcons and everyone else involved, but he also lied to Goodell’s face during a meeting roughly around the time of the 2006 draft and said he had nothing to do with what was going on at that house. So Vick has a couple things working against him as he tries to get back onto the field.

      Regardless, whether you agree with the harsh penalties or not, if you’re a fan of the NFL you have to appreciate how Goodell doesn’t hand out any slaps on the wrist. If a player messes up, Goodell will see that he pays for it.

      NFL

      Best and worst MLB offseason signings

      June 29, 2009 /

      As the MLB All-Star Game is drawing close, Jon Heyman of SI.com ranks the best and worst free agent signings from baseball’s offseason.

      Best:

      1. Raul Ibanez, Phillies OF. Before going on the disabled list, he was outperforming by so much that he spawned an Internet debate about whether he might be doing the juice. He has 22 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .656 slugging percentage, a bargain for $31.5 million and three years, or any price really. Here’s my explanation: He’s playing in a better ballpark for hitting (no letters please about his current home-road splits — not playing in Safeco still is a plus), he’s with a better team, he works hard and he’s good. As for the Internet stories, I think they’re unfair without a spec of hard evidence. And no, doing well is not evidence enough.

      2. Trevor Hoffman, Brewers closer. He took the chance leaving Southern California (he had an offer to go with the Dodgers) to go for beer and brats, and he hasn’t missed a beat. For a bargain $6 million, his 17 saves are only three off the NL lead, and he missed the first three weeks of the season.

      Worst:

      1. Bradley, Cubs OF. Who else? He doesn’t always count outs. Of course, if he did, he’d know he’s made plenty of them, way more than his share. An absolute train wreck, he showed his ability to get hurt in spring training, and since then, he’s showed all the other myriad issues. No one should give this man a three-year deal. One good thing, if he doesn’t reach 75 games, the third year is wiped off the books and the $30-million, three-year contract is only a $20-million, two-year deal (still too much for him, though).

      2. Oliver Perez, Mets starter. If Mets fans look at that 9.97 ERA, their reaction would be: he’s pitched that well? He’s also being hit at a .315 clip. Omar Minaya liked the fact that he’s young, lefthanded and talented. He’s also a bit of a head case with a knee problem.

      To see the rest of Heyman’s best and worst rankings, click here.

      It’s kind of ironic that with baseball changing back to being a young player’s game again that the two best offseason signings on Heyman’s list are veterans. Although he’s hurt now and started to cool off before his injury, Ibanez has been amazing for the Phillies and Hoffman has been outstanding for Milwaukee. Another player on Heyman’s list who has been impressive is Dodgers’ shortstop Orlando Hudson, whose numbers should only get better once Manny comes back.

      I’m not going to throw salt in the wounds of Cubs fans when it comes to Bradley. I’ll just add that he has been incredibly horrible. And he was supposed to be the answer for Mark DeRosa, who Jim Hendry inexplicably gave away for a tin of chew. And he threw a ball into the stands when there were only two outs in the inning. But that’s all I’m saying on Milton Bradley.

      MLB

      Rogers: Cubs should give Zambrano the boot

      June 29, 2009 /

      Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune is fed up with Cubs’ starter Carlos Zambrano and thinks the club should drop kick Big Z to the curb.

      Get Carlos Zambrano out of here, even if the Cubs have to give him away. He’s not the guy you want as the ace of a curse-busting team, and at this point, it’s wishful thinking that he’ll ever mature into that guy.

      Proving that I did not attend Kellogg, Wharton or even the Acme School of Business, I offer this proposition for Jim Hendry: First thing Monday morning, put Zambrano on waivers. If anyone claims him and the $62.75 million left on his contract, which runs through 2012, immediately trade him for whatever is being offered, from a bag of balls to a 32-year-old minor-leaguer.

      Because Hendry gave Zambrano a full no-trade clause in a 2007 contract extension, Zambrano can choose: Either go where he’s being dealt, waving goodbye to Wrigley Field, or block the trade and deal with the knowledge that you’re playing for a team that believes it can live without you.

      There are many reasons that a Cubs’ team with more than $140 million invested in payroll is in fourth place in the National League Central, and one of them is a front-runner, not a difference-maker.

      The Cubs are 0-5 in Zambrano’s starts in the playoffs, being outscored 31-15. We’ll dismiss the 2003 NL Championship Series as old news and blame Piniella for lifting him when he was in a 1-1 game against Brandon Webb in the 2007 playoff opener, but his pitching had as much to do with the ugly Game 2 loss to Los Angeles last year as did the four infield errors.

      Hendry had a chance to let Zambrano walk as a free agent after 2007, the season in which he beat up catcher Michael Barrett during a game at Wrigley, but injuries to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood gave Zambrano a hammer.

      Too bad the one he now swings makes funny noises, like the one Moe favored when whacking Larry and Curly.

      This seems to me like Rogers is either a) frustrated about the Cubs’ recent woes and decided to write an anger-piece or b) is just trying to get a rise out of readers right now because he’s tired of writing about how bad the Cubs’ offense is.

      Either way, this article is absolutely absurd. Zambrano might lose his mind a couple times a start, but he’s still a damn good pitcher. You don’t put your ace on waivers and take “a bag of balls” or a “32-year old minor-leaguer.” The Cubs are trying to win (stop laughing – they are), not give away quality players like used toys at a garage sale.

      This is an article that probably sounded good in Rogers’ head, but it just didn’t play well on paper.

      MLB

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