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      Hurney’s decision to draft Clausen will pay off for Panthers, Moore

      April 26, 2010 /

      After the Panthers selected Jimmy Clausen in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday, many pundits started to wonder whether or not the team had confidence in Matt Moore as a starter. Then when GM Marty Hurney selected Tony Pike in the sixth round, some experts’ heads were ready to explode as they feverishly talked about how Moore may not be wanted in Carolina.

      But let’s take a step back for a moment and look at the situation as a whole. Entering the draft, the Panthers had Moore and Hunter Cantwell on the depth chart at quarterback. Even if the team has confidence in Moore (which it still sounds like they do), they had to take a quarterback as insurance in case he turned out to be a disaster or suffered an injury. Say again, they had to draft a quarterback.

      Reports have surfaced that Hurney was attempting to trade up in the second round to take Clausen, which does indicate that the team isn’t completely sold on Moore as their franchise quarterback. But considering Clausen was a top 15 pick who fell into the second round, Hurney would have probably kicked himself if he didn’t at least try to trade up for him. He knew he needed a quarterback and considering Clausen represented so much value in the second round, it made sense for him to try and trade up to get him. Then when Clausen fell to him anyway, it was a perfect situation.

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Blount spurns Niners for Titans after talking with Fisher

      April 26, 2010 /

      Rookie free agent LeGarrette Blount has agreed to a contract terms with the Titans after initially telling the 49ers that they had won his services. Apparently Blount changed his mind after talking with Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher.

      The Titans were in need of a big back to replace LenDale White, whom the team traded to Seattle during the third day of the draft on Saturday. Blount will pair with Chris Johnson to form a solid 1-2 punch in Tennessee’s backfield, although 2009 draft pick Javon Ringer might be in the mix for carries, too.

      Blount is coming off a tumultuous final year at Oregon. What I mean by “tumultuous” is that he punched a Boise State player following a loss on the opening night of the season and also tried to go after fans that were heckling him as he walked out of the stadium. He eventually had to be escorted off the field by coaches and security, then was suspended for the better part of the season.

      Blount was eventually reinstated late in the year after meeting a number of conditions set by Ducks head coach Chip Kelly. He finished the year with just 82 yards on 22 carries, which is largely why he went undrafted despite his immense talent. (Well that, and the fact that he has proven to be a nut case.)

      Either Tennessee or San Francisco would have been good fits for the troubled running back, considering Fisher and Singletary are hard-nosed, no nonsense coaches. But seeing as how Blount spurned Singletary by signing with the Titans, chances are he won’t be welcomed back to San Francisco anytime soon.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Bucks GM John Hammond wins Executive of the Year

      April 25, 2010 /

      Hammond received 12 (of 30) first place votes. OKC’s Sam Presti finished second with nine votes.

      Here’s a list of the major (and minor) moves that Hammond made over the last year or so:

      – Traded forward Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for forwards Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas and center Fabricio Oberto.

      – Selected guards Brandon Jennings (10th overall pick) and Jodie Meeks (41st overall pick).

      – Signed forward Ersan Ilyasova.

      – Traded forward Amir Johnson and guard Sonny Weems to the Toronto Raptors for guards Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic.

      – Signed guard Jerry Stackhouse.

      – Traded forwards Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander to the Chicago Bulls
      for guard John Salmons and 2011 and 2012 second-round picks.

      Hammond acquired/drafted three starters — Jennings, Salmons, Delfino — and three rotation players — Ilyasova, Thomas, Stackhouse — in the span of eight months that led to a 46-36 record and the #6 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He also shed Richard Jefferson’s contract, which got the Bucks out of luxury cap terrority.

      Milwaukee projects to have about $32-$35 million in cap space next summer; they may elect to use a portion of that to re-sign John Salmons, who has played great since coming over from Chicago at the trade deadline.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News

      LeBron’s triple-double keys blowout

      April 25, 2010 /

      I wonder if LeBron James watched his buddy Dwyane Wade go nuts against the Celtics. Because he certainly looked inspired against the Bulls, posting 37 points (on 11-of-17 shooting), 12 rebounds and 11 assists in the Cavs’ 121-98 victory in Chicago. When James is hitting his threes — and he went 6-of-9 on Sunday — he’s unstoppable. And he was unstoppable on Sunday.

      The Cavs are going to move on to the second round; it’s just a matter of when.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      Ichiro’s free house, and other odd baseball contracts

      April 25, 2010 /

      In a recent article for CNN.com, Ethan Trex informs us of some of MLB’s strangest contracts. I’ve inserted my favorites below, but read the whole thing and count how many times you mumble to yourself, “Must be nice.”

      2. Support for Rollie Fingers’ ‘stache

      Former A’s owner Charlie Finley never thought of a gimmick he wouldn’t try, including a mechanical rabbit that delivered fresh balls to the umpire and hiring a 13-year-old MC Hammer as his “Executive V.P.”

      In 1972, Finley offered his players cash for growing a mustache by Father’s Day, thereby giving birth to reliever Rollie Fingers’ trademark handlebar ‘stache.
      The A’s went on to win the World Series that season, and Fingers’ contract for 1973 contained a $300 bonus for growing the mustache as well as $100 for the purchase of mustache wax.

      7. Roy Oswalt’s big toy

      Before pitcher Roy Oswalt made a start in the 2005 National League Championship Series, Astros owner Drayton McLane promised to make the ace’s dreams come true if he won, specifically his life goal of bulldozer ownership.

      After Oswalt dominated the Cardinals to send Houston to its first World Series, McLane came through with a Caterpillar D6N XL.

      Since Major League Baseball requires high-dollar gifts be disclosed, Oswalt signed an addendum to his contract, a “bulldozer clause,” authorizing the club to give him his new toy.

      9. Ichiro won’t be homeless

      One would think a guy making a guaranteed $17 million a year wouldn’t be too worried about keeping a roof over his head. Not Ichiro Suzuki, though.

      The Seattle Mariners star outfielder signed a five-year contract extension in July 2007 that included, among other perks, four round-trip airline tickets to Japan each year and the services of an interpreter and trainer throughout the season. It also included a housing allowance for each year of the deal.

      While the numbers themselves aren’t eye-popping — the allowance ranges from $32,000 to $36,000 a year over the life of the deal — kudos to Ichiro for getting someone else to pay his rent.

      How savvy is Ichiro? Dude not only signs a huge contract but somehow manages to score a (most likely) sweet pad free of charge. Roy Oswalt must be kicking himself in that complimentary bulldozer of his.

      External Sports, MLB

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