Category: External Sports (Page 151 of 821)

Redskins the front-runners for Vince Young?

May 6, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

The South Florida South-Sentinel hears that Washington is the front-runners for Vince Young’s services this offseason and Redskins beat writer Rich Tandler has also heard the same thing.

I’ve concluded Vince Young would be a good option IF the price is right (FREE….once Tennessee cuts him). But that’s ONLY if he’s mentally right, and motivated. Young’s the quarterback that presents the greatest risk, but if you factor in his QB efficiency when healthy last year, and win-loss record, he’s also the young quarterback who presents the most reward.
Two years ago I banged the drum for the Dolphins to sign Michael Vick and got stoned, so go ahead and throw them….But before you do look up Young’s career stats and win-loss record. I’m hearing the Redskins are the front-runner for his services, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Dolphins get in the game.

Young supporters can (and probably will) throw his win-loss record at me all they want – I still wouldn’t touch him if it cost me draft picks and $8.5 million next year in order to acquire him from Tennessee. (Not to mention a $4.25 million roster bonus that he’s due this offseason as soon as the lockout lifts.) Sorry, but he’s just not worth it – especially when you consider that Tennessee is going to part with him at some point no matter what.

It would be a different story if/when he’s released. That’s when you take a flier on a guy with Young’s talent. Obviously he has the skill to play in the league or else he wouldn’t have had the success that he’s found to this point. But it’s clear to anyone who isn’t sucking down glasses of Vince Young Kool-Aid that this guy has some major maturity issues.

Granted, if you don’t trade for him, you take the risk that he signs with someone else. But in my eyes, he’s just not worth the compensation that a team would have to part with in order to acquire him via trade. Most of the quarterback-needy teams addressed the position in last week’s draft, save for the Skins, Seahawks, Cardinals and Dolphins. Considering Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb could/should also become available once the lockout lifts, I like my chances of acquiring Young if I’m Washington. Therefore, I’m waiting until he’s released before I make my move.

External Sports, NFL

Donovan McNabb Kevin Kolb Vince Young Vince Young rumors Washington Redskins

Uncle Mo scratched from Kentucky Derby, Dialed In now clear favorite

May 6, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

For weeks, the notion surrounding the Kentucky Derby is that there is no clear-cut favorite this year. But given the latest news on contender Uncle Mo, one may have just emerged.

During a press conference on Friday morning, trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole announced that Uncle Mo had been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection after fishing a disappointing third in the Wood Memorial on April 9. He was then treated with antibiotics and had appeared to be improving, but after consulting with a trio of veterinarians Pletcher and Repole came to the conclusion that their colt wouldn’t be ready in time for Saturday’s race.

So Uncle Mo has been scratched.

The main beneficiary of Uncle Mo’s misfortune is Dialed In, who has been considered the favorite for weeks. But his odds were listed at +350 on Monday, while Uncle Mo was +400 – thus the reason that observers didn’t feel as though there was a clear-cut favorite this weekend.

But now Dialed In is listed at +250, while the thoroughbred with the next best odds is Nehro at +700. Oddly enough, Nehro was going off at +600 on Monday, +400 on Wednesday and is now +700, so his odds have actually gotten worse despite the news that Uncle Mo has been scratched.

Either way, Dialed In would appear to be the clear-cut favorite to win this Saturday. And if recent history is any indication, that may not be a good thing. Big Brown was the last favorite to win the Kentucky Derby back in 2008. Since then, two long shots in Mine That Bird and Super Saver have won. But maybe this is the year that the favorite gets back into the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs.

External Sports, horse racing

dialed in nehro uncle mo uncle mo scratched

Cardinals interested in Kyle Orton?

May 6, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

According to Rotoworld (via 3TV News in Phoenix), the Cardinals have had preliminary contact with the Broncos about quarterback Kyle Orton’s availability.

Profootballtalk’s Gregg Rosenthal has it on good authority that teams can discuss trades “generally” even if following through isn’t yet allowed. Neither team is breaking the rules by engaging in hot-stove talk. The Broncos reportedly believe the Cardinals’ interest in Orton is strictly as a “Plan B” in case a deal can’t be worked out for Kevin Kolb. It’s refreshing to hear Arizona’s fallback plan is more than just a wink-and-nod understanding with Marc Bulger.

Orton would certainly be a better option than Bulger, who hasn’t taken a snap since 2009 and hasn’t been effective since 2006. Orton can put up good numbers in any offense and would probably flourish with a couple of key playmakers around him. As Rotoworld points out, he would be a nice fallback option for the Cards if they couldn’t acquire Kevin Kolb from Philly.

External Sports, NFL

Arizona Cardinals Denver Broncos Kyle Orton

NBA Playoffs Commentary

May 6, 2011 / John Paulsen

T.J. Simers, LA Times: Allen Iverson goes off in Game 1, the 76ers win, but never again. Chris Paul runs around making the Lakers look vulnerable, but then disappears. Now he has to stop Nowitzki. What a wonderful way for the best coach in the NBA to go out, handed one of the greatest challenges in league history. Given his resume, why should folks think it’s too much to ask? … Down 0-2, the Lakers have the Mavs right where they want them — in a position to prove Dallas is short on championship heart. I expect we will see that. The Lakers are still the better team and ordinarily get better in a playoff series with Jackson in command. I cannot imagine the Lakers rolling over and playing dead in Jackson’s final days as a coach.

David Haugh, Chicago Tribune: To a man, Bulls players and coaches blame most of Boozer’s inconsistency on accumulating health issues. If that plausible explanation indeed is true then the Bulls need to address it now. Don’t put Boozer on the bench for Taj Gibson in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Put him in a fancy suit and make him watch from the Scalabrine seats with others on the inactive list. The Bulls can win the Hawks series without Boozer. But the Bulls can’t beat the Heat or the Celtics without a meaningful contribution from their $75 million man. If Boozer continues to gut out a toe injury that limits him and appears to get worse the more he plays, he won’t be in the best condition to contribute when the competition stiffens. Bulls doctors wouldn’t allow Boozer to play now if he were at risk, yet I wonder if a week’s rest would help him more than it hurts his team.

Randy Galloway, Star-Telegram: The man who went to LA for four days, was the center of Southern California media attention, particularly since the Dodgers need a new owner, and basically zipped it for his entire stay out there. Didn’t say spit. The only way we knew Cuban was still alive was when the TNT cameras picked up a big smile that kept popping up behind the Dallas Mavericks’ bench at the Staples Center. I’m wordless over this development, being someone who spent the last decade telling Mark to shut up. He finally did, and improbable stuff has happened to his Mavs. Never thought I’d say this: Everyone needs to now take a behavioral cue from Cuban. Lay low.

Ken Sugiura, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Somewhere right now, Joakim Noah is nudging someone out of a buffet line, outhustling a teammate to the hot tub or maybe sealing off the magazine rack in his hotel gift shop. The NBA’s top offensive rebounder in the postseason drove the Hawks to madness Wednesday in the Chicago Bulls’ Game 2 victory. If the Hawks don’t counteract Noah and his ball-hawking teammates Friday in Game 3 at Philips Arena, trouble awaits. The Bulls outrebounded the Hawks 58-39 in their series-tying win Wednesday. The Hawks’ problems hardly ended there — see more below — but among the primary goals Friday will be not to get hammered on the glass.

External Sports, NBA

2011 NBA Playoffs