Tag: Anthony Stalter (Page 83 of 133)

      Lou Piniella did the right thing by stepping down now

      August 22, 2010 /
      Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella stands for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field in Chicago on August 22, 2010. Piniella announced Sunday that the game would be his last game as manager. UPI/Brian Kersey Photo via Newscom

      I don’t blame Cubs fans if they feel cheated by the way Lou Piniella has decided to step down as manager with 37 games remaining in the season. After all, if they have to sit through the rest of this miserably year, why doesn’t he?

      But the fact of the matter is that neither Piniella’s heart nor his mind is in it right now, so why drag the thing out any longer? And besides, does it really matter who’s managing the Cubs at this point?

      Piniella has had to take two leave of absences to attend to personal matters this year, which mainly consists of him visiting his 90-year-old mother who has been ill for most of the season. There are more important things than baseball and seeing as how he was going to retire at the end of the year anyway, there’s no sense going through the motions for 37 more games.

      Following another horrendous loss on Sunday, Piniella had this to say about starting his retirement early:

      “Cried a little bit after the game,” he said, before choking up further in his postgame news conference. “This will be the last time I put on a uniform. This has been very special for me. I’ll go home, do what I have to do there…and enjoy my retirement.”

      Obviously this wasn’t the way he or Cub fans envisioned things ending this season. While the club also struggled last year, many pundits thought they would bounce back and that just hasn’t been the case. The team’s roster is littered with overpaid, underachieving veterans and the youth movement has just begun. It’s a sad way for a World Series-winning manager to walk away from the game, but not everybody can go out on top.

      Piniella wasn’t going to be part of the Cubs’ future and it was probably right that he has decided that they won’t be a part of his present.

      When it’s time, it’s time.

      External Sports, MLB

      Should the Colts be concerned about their defensive tackles?

      August 20, 2010 /
      HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 29: Defensive lineman Daniel Muir #90 of the Indianapolis Colts on the bench in the game against the Houston Texans on November 29, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Colts won 35-27. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

      Merry training camp season, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the Colts and their potential issues at defensive tackle.

      Same story, different year for the Colts.

      Until Peyton Manning has to enlist the aid of walker to get onto the field on Sundays, the Colts will compete for a playoff berth every season. Their strength is their dynamic offense and the speed of their defense, but even a team with as many division titles as Indy has over the last decade has at least one weakness.

      It’s seems like every year we’re talking about the Colts’ issues at the defensive tackle position. That’s because the team refuses to upgrade those spots and they decided to ignore the positions once again this offseason.

      The projected starters this year are Daniel Muir and Antonio Johnson. On most teams, the duo would be fringe starters or excellent backups. On the Colts, they’re counted on to anchor a defense that primarily relies on speed and the pass-rush that Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis generate from their end positions.

      The 25-year-old Johnson was a restricted free agent this past offseason and was brought back on a one-year, $1.684 million salary. He’s athletic for being 6’3 and 310 pounds, but he can be pushed backwards at the point of attack and he’s not consistent against the run.

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      External Sports, NFL

      Extending Orton’s contract a good move by Broncos for Tebow

      August 20, 2010 /
      Aug 07, 2010 - Denver, Colorado, USA - Denver Broncos QB TIM TEBOW sported a new hair cut as part of the Broncos Rookie Hazing tradition before practice at Training Camp.

      The Broncos did the best thing for Tim Tebow’s development yesterday when they signed Kyle Orton to a one-year, $9 million contract extension through the 2011 season.

      Orton has proved this summer that he’s light years ahead of both Tebow and Brady Quinn (who is freefalling down the Broncos’ depth chart) in his understanding of Josh McDaniels’ offense. (And why wouldn’t he be? He already has a year in the system.) He gives the Broncos their best chance of winning now and the contract is a reward for his hard work this offseason.

      The extension also takes some of the pressure off of Tebow, who is going to need time to develop. Regardless of whether or not you think he’s going to be great or the second coming of Drew Henson, all young quarterbacks need time to learn. Considering he didn’t run a pro style offense at Florida and is still working out the kinks in his throwing motion, Tebow is going to need even more time before he’s ready to start.

      By signing Orton the Broncos are basically saying that he’s their starter and that Tebow can take his time. I know many people can’t wait to see the Tebow era take flight in Denver, but putting too much pressure on a young quarterback too early can be death. He already has enough on his shoulders by being a first round pick – why add to it?

      McDaniels will surely put together some packages to feature Tebow’s strength as a runner, but as long as Orton is healthy and productive then he’s going to be the starter. Tebow’s time will come – it just won’t be any time soon.

      External Sports, NFL

      Two reasons why Brett Favre and the Vikings won’t win the Super Bowl

      August 18, 2010 /
      CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings runs off the field after their 26-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 20, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

      Even though his annual retirement dance has long become an absurd spectacle, I’ve always maintained that Brett Favre can do whatever he wants.

      Play. Don’t play. Sit on your tractor. Take pictures of weird people at Wal-Mart – I don’t care. Who am I to say when an athlete’s time is up? It’s not my decision.

      With that in mind, no, I don’t think that it’s a mistake that Favre has decided to come back. Regardless of whether or not you’re entertained by his offseason antics or he makes you want to give yourself an at-home lobotomy, there’s no question that he can still play. And play at an elite level, for that matter.

      But will he lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl? I think there are two distinct reasons why he won’t:

      1. His Health.
      Two years ago, Favre suffered a biceps injury and it played a huge role in sinking the Jets’ playoff hopes in the final month of the season. Last year, he made it all the way to the NFC title game, but he suffered a nasty ankle injury (the same ankle that required surgery in the offseason), which was one of the factors in the Vikings’ demise. Say what you want about Sir Fickle, but the man is a warrior. He’s never missed a game throughout his career and I suspect he never will. But at 40 years old, does anyone really think he’s going to stay healthy enough to lead the Vikes to the Super Bowl? Granted, no player is healthy by about Week 10 of the season, but they’re not 40 years old either. Let’s just play the trends here; the last two years an injury has sunk his team’s Super Bowl hopes. So let’s make it a third this year.

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      External Sports, NFL

      Is the pressure already getting to Brandon Marshall in Miami?

      August 18, 2010 /
      MIAMI - AUGUST 14: Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall of the Miami Dolphins warms up prior to playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a preseason game at Sun Life Stadium on August 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

      It was only one scrimmage.

      It was only one preseason game.

      The head coach isn’t even worried, so why should anyone else be?

      If those who follow the Dolphins want to take any of the above stances when it comes to Brandon Marshall’s recent struggles in South Beach, I wouldn’t blame them. After all, it’s only the second week of the preseason and we’re still weeks away from the games actually counting.

      But given his history with behavioral issues, why wouldn’t people be concerned?

      Marshall followed up a poor showing in a scrimmage two weeks ago by dropping the only two passes that were thrown to him during Miami’s first preseason game last weekend. Then, and stop me if you’ve already heard this one, during a practice session on Monday he reportedly dropped a pass in the end zone and then punted it over a fence. He proceeded to stand by himself, sulking on the sidelines afterwards.

      Head coach Tony Sparano shrugged off the kicking incident by saying, “I didn’t see it, but I got bigger fish to fry…If he drops them and he gets pissed off at himself about dropping them, I’m okay with that.”

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      External Sports, NFL

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