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Could Haynesworth wind up in Philadelphia next season?

January 20, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

NFC East beat writer Matt Mosley of ESPN.com threw out an interesting scenario regarding Albert Haynesworth and how he could wind up in Philadelphia next season.

Here’s why:

The Washington Redskins have said they’d be open to Albert Haynesworth returning in 2011, but no one really believes them. And that’s why it’s interesting to note that the Philadelphia Eagles just hired Haynesworth’s all-time favorite position coach.
Haynesworth became one of the best defensive tackles in the league while working with defensive line coach Jim Washburn in Tennessee. The Redskins reportedly tried to unload Haynesworth on the Eagles during the Donovan McNabb negotiation but coach Andy Reid, currently in Antigua, did not have any interest. Perhaps Washburn could change Reid’s mind about Haynesworth.
Take a look at what Haynesworth told The (Nashville) Tennessean about Washburn:
“I owe Coach Wash pretty much everything,” said Haynesworth. “If my deal was $100 million or whatever, then Washburn deserves $90 million. I have the talent, but he taught me how to let it loose. As a player, once you can get through the [expletive], get down to the core of what he is saying, the information is more valuable than gold. He’s a great coach, a great teacher. The Titans should have paid a lot of money to keep him from leaving.”

It’s important to remember that Mosley isn’t reporting news – he’s just speculating based on the relationship that Hanyesworth had with Washburn in Tennessee. But even with that in mind, I doubt the Eagles would take a risk like this.

Defensive tackle and secondary were positions of strength this year for the Eagles, while linebacker was arguably their weakest link. When opponents attacked Philadelphia on the ground, they would usually test the outside edges as opposed to going up the middle. And Philly’s linebackers had a tough time in coverage this season, particularly in the red zone and when trying to man-up with running backs. Teams also tried to attack the Eagles through the air on first down because they knew their base defense (i.e. the 4-3) would be on the field.

Would adding a talent like Hayesworth be beneficial to a team like the Eagles? Of course it would, especially if Washburn could keep him focused and motivated. But defensive tackle wasn’t an issue for the team last year and assuming they would have to part with draft picks in order to acquire the troubled DT from Washington, maybe they would be wise to take a pass.

External Sports, NFL

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Are the Nets better off without Carmelo?

January 20, 2011 / John Paulsen

If their first game after owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced the team was backing out of negotiations is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes. Devin Kharpertian of NetsAreScorching writes that last night’s Nets looked confident in an upset of the Utah Jazz.

Now that the stink of the Melo saga has finally rolled off their shoulders, the Nets can focus on playing as a complete team instead of worrying about who might not be in practice the next day. It’s only one game, but the difference between the scurrying team on the floor during the previous 12 games and the confident one against Utah was staggering. Without Anthony, the Nets still have a young, solid core, which includes former All-Star point guard Devin Harris, cornerstone center Brook Lopez, 3-point machine Anthony Morrow and, of course, the prize of the no-deal, Derrick Favors.

Kharpertian goes on to discuss Favors’ progress in his rookie season:

Favors, the youngest player in the NBA, still has skyscraping upside and is playing surprisingly efficient basketball despite his inexperience and the swirling cloud of rumors. In just more than 18 minutes per game, he’s shooting 55.1 percent from the field while grabbing almost 16 percent of available rebounds. There has never been a teenage rookie in the history of the NBA who played up to that level. The closest? Some guy named Dwight Howard. Favors may never have the game-changing impact that Howard has, but that’s a pretty solid start to hang your hat on. I know the Nets are impressed.

Favors is averaging 6.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in just 19.0 minutes of playing time, which results in a slightly-below-average PER of 13.99. Considering he’s just 19-years-old and has a very raw offensive game, there is a lot of upside here. Maybe the Nets are better off seeing how he develops alongside the more polished Brook Lopez. The two could make a formidable power forward/center core in a few years.

This assumes, of course, that Carmelo was interested in joining the Nets in the first place. There have been mixed messages coming out of his camp and it sure seems like Anthony using the Nets offer as leverage to get the Knicks to make a move. If that’s the case, Prokhorov absolutely made the right move to pull out of the negotiations. He doesn’t want his team to be used that way.

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Cleveland radio host goes off on Browns

January 20, 2011 / Anthony Stalter

Greg Kozarik, host of Locked and Loaded on the Cleveland.com Digital Sports Network, absolutely went off on the Browns on a recent show. It’s a must listen.

We have a couple of loyal TSR readers who are Brown fans, so I’d love to get their take on this rant. I know many fans follow the “in Holmgren we trust” mantra because what else are they going to hold onto? But is Kozarik’s view how the tortured souls in Cleveland really feel?

I like the part at the end when Kozarik mentions how he hopes the Steelers win it all. Most Cleveland fans are openly rooting against Pittsburgh but I like Kozarik’s take: maybe it’ll motivate the Browns to want to win if they have to watch the Steelers win yet another Super Bowl.

“Al Lerner himself is down in hell right now laughing with Satan, because do you know how much money he stole from Cleveland Browns fans?”

Ouch.

(Hat tip to Midwest Sports Fans and Yardbarker for the clip.)

External Sports, NFL

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Three bouts announced for UFC Fight Night 24

January 20, 2011 / Staff

HeavyMMA.com is reporting that three bouts, including Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson, are official for UFC Fight Night 24 in Seattle on March 29.

The UFC recently announced that Seattle, Washington would play host to the upcoming “UFC Fight Night 24: Ortiz vs. Nogueira” and today the promotion announced three fights that will be featured on the card.
In the main event of the evening, former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz looks for a victory and job security against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, while former welterweight top contender Dan Hardy seeks redemption against Anthony Johnson in the evening’s co-main event. In the third official bout of the evening, “Ultimate Fighter” winner Amir Sadollah is set to face off against Duane Ludwig in a match up that will likely make the main card on March 29.
With three fights announced, focus seems to remain on Ortiz, who has struggled in recent years. UFC President Dana White is one of the many who has noticed and says that Ortiz’s time in the Octagon could be over depending on the result of the March fight.