Category: Rumors & Gossip (Page 207 of 225)

      Rumor: Braves offered Teixeira for Youkilis

      July 14, 2008 /

      According to MLB TRADE RUMORS, the Braves offered first basemen Mark Teixeira to the Red Sox for first basemen Kevin Youkilis and minor league relief pitcher Craig Hansen, but Boston declined.

      Given Youk’s superior numbers and team control through 2010, hanging on to him makes sense. But it is interesting to see that the Braves might be shopping Teixeira already.

      It is interesting, especially considering they gave up their top minor league prospect (Jarrod Saltalamacchia) to acquire Teixeira from the Rangers at the deadline last year. The Braves reportedly want to land a power-hitting outfielder and a first basemen in a deal for Teixeira, making the rumored trade with the Red Sox a head-scratchier given Hansen is a relief pitcher. Hmm…

      MLB, Rumors & Gossip

      Shedding some light on this whole Favre situation

      July 12, 2008 /

      It seems that there has been one burning question that has haunted me ever since this whole Brett Favre business started…

      Why are the Packers so against the idea of Favre coming back?

      Mentally, it’s clear that they want to move on with Aaron Rodgers, but they have a Hall of Fame quarterback who wants to come back and play. Why the resistance?

      Well, it might have something to do with a late-March meeting between Favre, head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson. In that meeting, Favre wanted to talk about coming back to the team and McCarthy and Thompson were both open to the idea.

      Thompson confirmed he and McCarthy were prepared to meet with Favre, who said he was interested in rescinding his retirement, in late March. Favre cancelled the meeting, telling Thompson and McCarthy that he had changed his mind and wanted to stay retired. Thompson said he and McCarthy were ready to accept Favre’s return to the NFL at that time.

      “Yes, we were going to leave the owners’ meeting [in West Palm Bech, Fla.] a day early and fly to Hattiesburg with the idea of sitting down and talking to him about coming back to the team,” Thompson said.

      So they were open to the idea, but Favre changed his mind… again. No wonder they are trying to be cautious here.

      But it seems that Favre is 100% committed to playing football this season. He said as much in a conference call this week with the Packer brass. He even went so far as to ask for his release, if the Packers weren’t going to welcome him back.

      The Packers have now said that he is welcome to come back, but he isn’t guaranteed his starting job. Thompson and McCarthy are trying to sort through the details.

      “We don’t know where everything is going to go,” Thompson said. “It’s been a distraction. It’s been a distraction for our fans. I’m trying to stay steady and do the right things for the Packers and do the right thing for Brett Favre. I care about the legacy of Brett Favre. I care about the legacy of the Green Bay Packers.”

      “Quite frankly, it’s a little gut-wrenching as an organization to go through it, and certainly for Mike and myself,” Thompson said. “This stuff hurts a lot of people. I mean, it hurts. I’m not talking about physically hurting, but the sensitivity. We understand where the fans are coming from. This is a hot-button issue that surpasses anything I’ve ever gone through.”

      I just wish this Favre could go back in time and tell the about-to-retire Favre to hang tight. Things would be so much simpler.

      Still, the choice is (relatively) easy. Let him come back to the active roster and give him his job back. It’s what the fans want.

      Fantasy Football, NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Odom-for-Artest swap makes sense

      July 11, 2008 /

      The Sacramento Bee reported yesterday that, according to a “league source” (I love all the mystery, by the way), the Lakers contacted the Kings about Ron Artest.

      According to a league source, the Lakers already have contacted the Kings regarding Artest and are believed to be offering forward Lamar Odom. As of Tuesday evening, the Kings had not returned the call. They are expected to insist on forward Kenny Thomas and his $18 million of remaining salary (over two seasons) being included in that potential trade. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie declined comment on whether the Lakers had called.

      “Believed to be offering”? This stuff cracks me up. They’re not reporting that the “source” said that the Lakers offered up Odom, they’re saying that the “source” only “believes” that they’re offering up Odom.

      Anyway, this rumor has been out there a while because it makes sense for both teams. The Finals proved that the Lakers need more toughness and Artest would bring that along with better defense and shooting from the small forward position. Odom is a talented player who is overdue for a pay cut, so if he meshes well with the Kings’ bevy of youngsters, Sacramento can re-sign him next summer. If he doesn’t, he might be February trade bait for a team looking to cut salary.

      The addition of Kenny Thomas’ contract makes sense because Artest’s low salary makes him more valuable than Odom at this point. The Lakers might as well take it on because they’ll save $6 million this season, which is almost enough to offset Thomas’ salary this year.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      Posey and Dooling are best of what’s left

      July 10, 2008 /

      As far as the unrestricted free agent market goes, James Posey and Keyon Dooling are the two players left that are likely to have a significant impact on a playoff-bound team.

      Posey has been courted by a number of teams, but most recently has become the focus of the Cavs. His play was instrumental in the Celtics’ title run. He’s a terrific, hard-nosed defender and can knock down the open three, so his game can fit just about anywhere. He and LeBron James play the same position (small forward), but either guy can swing to the power forward spot under certain circumstances and James plays a lot of off guard as well. He is 31 years old, so a three-year deal seems appropriate. He’s looking for the full mid-level, which starts around $5.5 M. Since their over the cap, that’s all that the Cavs can afford. I think that’s a little steep, but you can’t argue with what he did for the Celtics. He’s not the answer for Cleveland’s title hopes, but he could be a valuable piece down the line.

      Keyon Dooling is still available and I’m not sure why. His PER is 25th in the league, ahead of guys like Ray Felton, Stephon Marbury, Derek Fisher, Beno Udrih, Rafer Alston, Kirk Hinrich and Jamaal Tinsley, so he’s a borderline starting point guard in this league. His biggest flaw is that he doesn’t pass the ball very well – his career high in assists was 2.3 in his rookie season – so he’d best fit alongside a talented wing that handles and creates, like LeBron, Kobe, Dwyane Wade, etc. Plus, Dooling is cheap, and you can’t beat that.

      NBA, NBA Finals, Rumors & Gossip

      The Packers should bring back Brett Favre

      July 9, 2008 /

      I know Brett Favre’s “will he or won’t he” act is getting tiresome.

      I know it’s not fair to Aaron Rodgers.

      I know this might make the Packers worse off in two or three years.

      But if Brett Favre really wants to return to football, the Packers should take him back. There’s no other reasonable choice. Favre holds the keys. He can un-retire whenever he wants to. If/when he does, then the Packers either have to play him, trade him or release him, and those last two options aren’t really options.

      This is a guy who threw for 4155 yards and 28 touchdowns, and had a quarterback rating of 95.7, which was the sixth best in the league last season. If not for Tom Brady’s insane year, Favre probably would have been the front runner to win the MVP award, which would have been the fourth of his career. Despite the fact that his interception in overtime against the Giants ended the Packers season, Favre had the highest QB rating of any signal caller in the playoffs (99.0).

      Clearly, the guy can still play. I was absolutely stunned when he decided to hang ’em up with the Packers this close to the Super Bowl.

      He gives the Packers the best chance to win now. Rodgers may or may not be a good quarterback. Favre proved in 2007 that he’s still a great one. Life isn’t fair, and Rodgers hasn’t been dealt the best hand. If I’m Mike McCarthy, I just shrug my shoulders and say, “Them’s the breaks, kid. Keep your dobber up.”

      I don’t buy the secondhand reports that Green Bay GM Ted Thompson forced Favre out. Everything he said after the season implied that it was Favre’s decision, and with the way he played all year, there was no reason for Thompson to force him out. And there was no reason for Favre to allow himself to be forced out. The entire Packer Nation wanted him to return for another season and I’d bet that a majority would love to see #4 under center come September.

      But only if he’s wearing the green and gold.

      And, assuming he actually wants to play, that’s why the Packers have to take him back.

      Update: I changed my mind later that season when I found out that Favre actually unretired twice in the spring/summer of 2008.

      Fantasy Football, NFL, Rumors & Gossip, Super Bowl

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