Now this is an important Super Bowl story.
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The NFL is Worried About Super Bowl L Being Associated With Losers
Now this is an important Super Bowl story.
Top 10 Plays of the Night: January 31st
 | Paul George's reverse slam and Deron William's facial headline Fan Night's Top 10. | From: NBA Views: 136680   712 ratings |
| Time: 03:12 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wHDXgsrhIE&feature=youtube_gdata
Video: Recruit chooses Auburn for Chick-Fil-A
Picking the right university is never an easy decision for a high school athlete. Academics, location, the coaching staff, the fan base and other important matters all impact an individual?s selection process. Finding the perfect fit is hard to do, and it was clear that many struggled with this on National Signing Day. Alabama linebacker [...]
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Light set to handle load for Brady again
New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light doesn't have a sick sense of humor.
He just has a warped wit about being sick.
Asked for the umpteenth time Wednesday about a stomach ailment that affected him earlier this week, Light unleashed a semi-fake sneeze into a reporter's microphone.
"Yeah, I was a little under the weather," Light continued without skipping a beat. "I would wash that thing, though. I'm not going to lie to you. That's highly contagious."
Light was full of wisecracks about his health and other topics during his first Super Bowl XLVI media session in Indianapolis. He is returning to practice and should be fine Sunday when New England faces the New York Giants.
That should make quarterback Tom Brady feel better. Because as glib as Light was Wednesday, the Patriots will be rendered queasy if they are unable to handle New York's most serious defensive threat: the pass rush.
Light and the rest of his unit couldn't get the job done in Super Bowl XLII against the Giants. Brady was sacked five times, pressured on nine other occasions and fumbled in the 17-14 loss to New York that ruined New England's hopes of completing the NFL's first 19-0 season.
Light admitted he felt "horrible" after that defeat. His mental state probably wasn't much better after the Patriots lost to New York again in November. New England's offensive line was improved but still imperfect, surrendering two sacks and three hurries.
New York's defensive linemen feel so good about their chances of affecting Brady again that they're talking smack trying to get into the quarterback's head.
"It starts with hitting him," Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said. "Even when you don't actually get sacks, just keeping people around him so he can't step up. I think he gets a little frustrated when he has to go to his second or third receivers. You can kind of confuse him sometimes with our coverage. There are a lot of things that can get him rattled."
Brady seemed amused Wednesday when the topic was broached.
"That's just what defensive football is all about," Brady said. "It wouldn't be the Super Bowl if they weren't talking about coming to knock me down and try to knock me out. That's what I expect. You know what? That's why our offensive line gets paid, too, because that's their job -- to keep those guys out of there.
"This team has a very good pass rush. I've seen it game after game this year with them. They can get to the quarterback and hit him. It does force the quarterback into some bad decisions and throws. But we're going to try and eliminate those. We really can't afford too many of those on Sunday. We had too many of those the last time we played them. We're not going to be able to win the game making mistakes."
New York's baiting also includes claims by defensive end Osi Umenyiora that Light is a dirty player after they exchanged post-whistle blows in two of their past three encounters. Umenyiora sarcastically offered him well-wishes on Tuesday -- "Please get well soon. I hope to see you on Sunday. You are one of my greatest friends." -- and claimed that Light "does all that extra pushing and tries to hit you over the pile and stuff like that."
Light admitted he and Umenyiora weren't "pen pals." But as an 11-year NFL veteran who has spent his entire career immersed in the "Patriot Way," Light knows better than engaging in a pregame war of words. It's also likely that Light will see far more of Giants star right defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks) than Umenyiora, who is now used primarily on the opposite side.
"Can you have an individual rivalry? I thought rivalries were maybe between teams in general," Light said with a smile. "Look, I'm ready to go out there and play whatever game I've got to play. We'll have fun doing it. I'm not sure it comes at a personal level, though."
But protecting Brady has become personal for Light. The two form the NFL's senior quarterback-left tackle tandem. Both became starters in 2001. Light was a second-round draft pick from Purdue; Brady was promoted to replace the injured Drew Bledsoe and never ceded the spot.
"I've always felt like he's had my back and I try to have his," said Light, who has started 153 career games with Brady under center. "I think that's the way the relationship works."
That bond with Brady may be the biggest reason Light is still with the Patriots. The 33-year-old Light was an unrestricted free agent last offseason coming off shoulder surgery. The Patriots also drafted a tackle (Nate Solder) in the first round and already had a potential heir apparent waiting in the wings (Sebastian Vollmer).
Light, though, ultimately was re-signed to a two-year, $12 million contract that included a $6 million signing bonus. Asked whether he thought a return to the 2011 Patriots was likely, Light said, "You know, there's a reason for everything without getting too far into it."
Light knows this might be his last game with the franchise. The same goes for running back Kevin Faulk, the only other Patriots player besides Brady remaining from the franchise's first Super Bowl-winning squad.
"It's hard to believe in one career you can go to this thing five times," Light said of New England's Super Bowl appearances. "It never gets old. It's always been a lot of fun. To have guys that have been with you the whole time, Tom and Kevin, that's something we'll never forget. I couldn't ask for two better guys to go through this with.
"It's been a hell of a run."
No kidding.
He just has a warped wit about being sick.
Asked for the umpteenth time Wednesday about a stomach ailment that affected him earlier this week, Light unleashed a semi-fake sneeze into a reporter's microphone.
"Yeah, I was a little under the weather," Light continued without skipping a beat. "I would wash that thing, though. I'm not going to lie to you. That's highly contagious."
Light was full of wisecracks about his health and other topics during his first Super Bowl XLVI media session in Indianapolis. He is returning to practice and should be fine Sunday when New England faces the New York Giants.
That should make quarterback Tom Brady feel better. Because as glib as Light was Wednesday, the Patriots will be rendered queasy if they are unable to handle New York's most serious defensive threat: the pass rush.
Light and the rest of his unit couldn't get the job done in Super Bowl XLII against the Giants. Brady was sacked five times, pressured on nine other occasions and fumbled in the 17-14 loss to New York that ruined New England's hopes of completing the NFL's first 19-0 season.
Light admitted he felt "horrible" after that defeat. His mental state probably wasn't much better after the Patriots lost to New York again in November. New England's offensive line was improved but still imperfect, surrendering two sacks and three hurries.
New York's defensive linemen feel so good about their chances of affecting Brady again that they're talking smack trying to get into the quarterback's head.
"It starts with hitting him," Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said. "Even when you don't actually get sacks, just keeping people around him so he can't step up. I think he gets a little frustrated when he has to go to his second or third receivers. You can kind of confuse him sometimes with our coverage. There are a lot of things that can get him rattled."
Brady seemed amused Wednesday when the topic was broached.
"That's just what defensive football is all about," Brady said. "It wouldn't be the Super Bowl if they weren't talking about coming to knock me down and try to knock me out. That's what I expect. You know what? That's why our offensive line gets paid, too, because that's their job -- to keep those guys out of there.
"This team has a very good pass rush. I've seen it game after game this year with them. They can get to the quarterback and hit him. It does force the quarterback into some bad decisions and throws. But we're going to try and eliminate those. We really can't afford too many of those on Sunday. We had too many of those the last time we played them. We're not going to be able to win the game making mistakes."
New York's baiting also includes claims by defensive end Osi Umenyiora that Light is a dirty player after they exchanged post-whistle blows in two of their past three encounters. Umenyiora sarcastically offered him well-wishes on Tuesday -- "Please get well soon. I hope to see you on Sunday. You are one of my greatest friends." -- and claimed that Light "does all that extra pushing and tries to hit you over the pile and stuff like that."
Light admitted he and Umenyiora weren't "pen pals." But as an 11-year NFL veteran who has spent his entire career immersed in the "Patriot Way," Light knows better than engaging in a pregame war of words. It's also likely that Light will see far more of Giants star right defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (16.5 sacks) than Umenyiora, who is now used primarily on the opposite side.
"Can you have an individual rivalry? I thought rivalries were maybe between teams in general," Light said with a smile. "Look, I'm ready to go out there and play whatever game I've got to play. We'll have fun doing it. I'm not sure it comes at a personal level, though."
But protecting Brady has become personal for Light. The two form the NFL's senior quarterback-left tackle tandem. Both became starters in 2001. Light was a second-round draft pick from Purdue; Brady was promoted to replace the injured Drew Bledsoe and never ceded the spot.
"I've always felt like he's had my back and I try to have his," said Light, who has started 153 career games with Brady under center. "I think that's the way the relationship works."
That bond with Brady may be the biggest reason Light is still with the Patriots. The 33-year-old Light was an unrestricted free agent last offseason coming off shoulder surgery. The Patriots also drafted a tackle (Nate Solder) in the first round and already had a potential heir apparent waiting in the wings (Sebastian Vollmer).
Light, though, ultimately was re-signed to a two-year, $12 million contract that included a $6 million signing bonus. Asked whether he thought a return to the 2011 Patriots was likely, Light said, "You know, there's a reason for everything without getting too far into it."
Light knows this might be his last game with the franchise. The same goes for running back Kevin Faulk, the only other Patriots player besides Brady remaining from the franchise's first Super Bowl-winning squad.
"It's hard to believe in one career you can go to this thing five times," Light said of New England's Super Bowl appearances. "It never gets old. It's always been a lot of fun. To have guys that have been with you the whole time, Tom and Kevin, that's something we'll never forget. I couldn't ask for two better guys to go through this with.
"It's been a hell of a run."
No kidding.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/light_set_to_handle_load_for_brady_again/9712846
Ricardo Louis to Auburn: Tigers Land 4-Star Athlete Prospect
Ricardo Louis' speed, athleticism and size make him a handful as it is. When you add in his vision and ability to change direction on a dime, you have yourself a special prospect.
Auburn is having a great day on the offensive side of the ball and Ricardo Louis is a big reason why. He has the talents to make an immediate splash.
Auburn beat writer Dave Morrison tweeted this on Wednesday afternoon, no doubt to the celebration of a myriad of Tigers faithful.
Louis, the No. 21 recruit according to ESPNU, has served as a quarterback and receiver at Miami Beach Senior High School. As a quarterback, his mobility makes him a scary dual-threat prospect, able to buy time in the pocket. As a receiver, he has all the physical tools and measurables to excel, especially in the open field.
Louis' quickness and footwork also makes him dangerous right off the snap, with the ability to create separation in an instant. He looks great running slants and running down the sideline, in that regard.
However, there are some adjustments Louis must make as a receiver (the position he will most likely play in college). He's not a very experienced route-runner, which could get him into trouble against the better corners and his ball skills need work, so you may see a few drops here and there early on.
There's also the potential for Louis to develop into a safety given his athletic ability, but that would take much more work and wouldn't get him on the field as soon.
Overall, Louis is a special athlete who has the potential to become a dynamic playmaker who can change games.
Dallas an unlikely landing spot for Manning
Peyton Manning in a Cowboys uniform?
At first thought, that sounds like a pretty good idea. Who wouldn't want a future Hall of Famer quarterbacking their team?
Then reality creeps in.
First and foremost, it will never happen because of the salary cap. While trading Tony Romo to make room for Manning would be the optimal move, either trading or outright cutting Romo carries salary-cap implications and the hit would likely handcuff the Cowboys from making any other moves.
And if you have Peyton Manning quarterbacking your team, you might want to upgrade that offensive line which got Romo sacked 36 times last season.
But beyond those details sits the principal of the whole thing. Quarterback is not an area of need for the Cowboys. Romo, for as much heat as he takes from fans and some media, passed for 4,184 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. He had just 10 interceptions in 522 attempts and finished with a career-high 102.5 passer rating.
A healthy Romo was not the reason the Cowboys missed the playoffs last season some may point to his bruised throwing hand as the reason they lost the win-or-go-home season finale to the Giants.
Sure, Romo made some bad decisions early in the season that likely cost the Cowboys wins over the Jets and Lions. But he also played hurt (remember the Week 2 OT comeback win over the 49ers in which he finished the game playing with cracked ribs?) and he showed he could play within himself, and play well, following his three-interception performance against the Lions in Week 4. He threw only five INTs the rest of the season following that game. And I believe some of his reckless early-season play falls on the coaching staff.
Romo will be 32, in the prime of his career, when the 2012 season starts. Manning will be 36 and on the downside. Not to mention those three neck surgeries that leave Manning's physical status a gamble (one report on Monday night even indicated that sources close to the situation believe Manning's slow recovery will prevent him from playing again).
Even if Manning can play again, signs increasingly seem to point to him leaving the Colts. With Indianapolis having a chance to draft either Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III with the No 1 pick, the logical move for Colts owner Jim Irsay is to give Manning his honorable discharge and also avoid paying him a 28 million bonus if he's still on the team March 8.
Romo's contract was re-structured in September to free up more cap room. According to the contract tracking website spotrac.com, he made a base salary of 810,000 the veteran minimum - in 2011 with the rest of the money owed him converted into an 8.19 million signing bonus.
The restructuring also included a three-year extension to 2016 which is voided if Romo is still on the team in 2013 to stretch out the impact of the new bonus, plus remaining bonus money from the original contract.
All of that bonus money is accelerated if Romo is released or traded and would amount to about a 10 million salary cap hit in 2012. Because they Cowboys have re-worked Romo's contract several times, some media outlets have reported the actual cap hit to be 12 million.
It has also been widely reported the Cowboys will have at least 20 million in "dead money" on their 2012 salary cap because of the release of several high-paid veterans last offseason.
The ideal landing spot for Manning is a team that is just a quarterback away from contending. I have no idea which team that is, but I do know that it's not the Cowboys, who have major holes in the offensive line and secondary, not under center.
His destination also needs to be a team that will hand over play-calling duties to Manning, who basically served as his own offensive coordinator throughout much of his career with the Colts, carrying the freedom to change plays before every snap. That's not the Cowboys, either.
It's hard to imagine Jason Garrett, who made his name in coaching as an offensive wunderkind, giving up so much control of the offense. He would have to defer to Manning if owner Jerry Jones forced him to, of course, but all signs indicate that Jones is still a huge Romo fan.
In all, the Cowboys would have to go to a lot of trouble for what could be just two good years out or less out of Manning . . . if his neck holds up. Health withstanding, they can get another 4-6 good years out of Romo and not engage in salary cap self-destruction.
The only reason to make the move, even if it were possible, is if the Valley Ranch hierarchy is convinced they will never win a Super Bowl with Romo. As of now, that's not the way the wind is blowing.
But it sure would be fun to see Manning wearing a star on his helmet, if only for the media circus. For one thing, you'd get Peyton vs. Eli twice a year. For another, how would the hyper-demanding Manning react the first time Dez Bryant blows a route?
No, if the Cowboys want to bring in aging superstar who's a health risk, they could get more bang for their buck by stealing Terrell Owens away from the Allen Wranglers.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
At first thought, that sounds like a pretty good idea. Who wouldn't want a future Hall of Famer quarterbacking their team?
Then reality creeps in.
First and foremost, it will never happen because of the salary cap. While trading Tony Romo to make room for Manning would be the optimal move, either trading or outright cutting Romo carries salary-cap implications and the hit would likely handcuff the Cowboys from making any other moves.
And if you have Peyton Manning quarterbacking your team, you might want to upgrade that offensive line which got Romo sacked 36 times last season.
But beyond those details sits the principal of the whole thing. Quarterback is not an area of need for the Cowboys. Romo, for as much heat as he takes from fans and some media, passed for 4,184 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. He had just 10 interceptions in 522 attempts and finished with a career-high 102.5 passer rating.
A healthy Romo was not the reason the Cowboys missed the playoffs last season some may point to his bruised throwing hand as the reason they lost the win-or-go-home season finale to the Giants.
Sure, Romo made some bad decisions early in the season that likely cost the Cowboys wins over the Jets and Lions. But he also played hurt (remember the Week 2 OT comeback win over the 49ers in which he finished the game playing with cracked ribs?) and he showed he could play within himself, and play well, following his three-interception performance against the Lions in Week 4. He threw only five INTs the rest of the season following that game. And I believe some of his reckless early-season play falls on the coaching staff.
Romo will be 32, in the prime of his career, when the 2012 season starts. Manning will be 36 and on the downside. Not to mention those three neck surgeries that leave Manning's physical status a gamble (one report on Monday night even indicated that sources close to the situation believe Manning's slow recovery will prevent him from playing again).
Even if Manning can play again, signs increasingly seem to point to him leaving the Colts. With Indianapolis having a chance to draft either Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III with the No 1 pick, the logical move for Colts owner Jim Irsay is to give Manning his honorable discharge and also avoid paying him a 28 million bonus if he's still on the team March 8.
Romo's contract was re-structured in September to free up more cap room. According to the contract tracking website spotrac.com, he made a base salary of 810,000 the veteran minimum - in 2011 with the rest of the money owed him converted into an 8.19 million signing bonus.
The restructuring also included a three-year extension to 2016 which is voided if Romo is still on the team in 2013 to stretch out the impact of the new bonus, plus remaining bonus money from the original contract.
All of that bonus money is accelerated if Romo is released or traded and would amount to about a 10 million salary cap hit in 2012. Because they Cowboys have re-worked Romo's contract several times, some media outlets have reported the actual cap hit to be 12 million.
It has also been widely reported the Cowboys will have at least 20 million in "dead money" on their 2012 salary cap because of the release of several high-paid veterans last offseason.
The ideal landing spot for Manning is a team that is just a quarterback away from contending. I have no idea which team that is, but I do know that it's not the Cowboys, who have major holes in the offensive line and secondary, not under center.
His destination also needs to be a team that will hand over play-calling duties to Manning, who basically served as his own offensive coordinator throughout much of his career with the Colts, carrying the freedom to change plays before every snap. That's not the Cowboys, either.
It's hard to imagine Jason Garrett, who made his name in coaching as an offensive wunderkind, giving up so much control of the offense. He would have to defer to Manning if owner Jerry Jones forced him to, of course, but all signs indicate that Jones is still a huge Romo fan.
In all, the Cowboys would have to go to a lot of trouble for what could be just two good years out or less out of Manning . . . if his neck holds up. Health withstanding, they can get another 4-6 good years out of Romo and not engage in salary cap self-destruction.
The only reason to make the move, even if it were possible, is if the Valley Ranch hierarchy is convinced they will never win a Super Bowl with Romo. As of now, that's not the way the wind is blowing.
But it sure would be fun to see Manning wearing a star on his helmet, if only for the media circus. For one thing, you'd get Peyton vs. Eli twice a year. For another, how would the hyper-demanding Manning react the first time Dez Bryant blows a route?
No, if the Cowboys want to bring in aging superstar who's a health risk, they could get more bang for their buck by stealing Terrell Owens away from the Allen Wranglers.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
Will the Milwaukee Bucks Be Forced to Eventually Trade Stephen Jackson?
The Milwaukee Bucks are a team that made roster changes during the offseason in hopes of making some noise this season. However, the loss of center Andrew Bogut for a major portion of this season changes everything. Point guard Brandon Jennings and Bogut were figured to be the two mainstays on the team while the other pieces around them could change if needed.
Veteran guard/forward Stephen Jackson was brought in and brings more experience to the table. He can play alongside point guard Brandon Jennings in the backcourt or on the wing that gives the Bucks more options to turn to on the offensive end.
However, Jackson has shown throughout his NBA career that there are two sides to him. There is the side that brings about his off-the-court issues—not getting along with his coaches and going after the referees—that usually end up hurting Jackson (money-wise and overall reputation around the league) and the team (bad PR).
The other side to Jackson is that he can be a leader and help a team do great things (Golden State Warriors defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs). He was a mentor to the young players on the Warriors at that particular time.
This season Jackson has had his share of issues in Milwaukee, which may be a sign that the team should look to move him before things get any worse. He was recently suspended by the NBA for yelling at the referees after a loss to the Chicago Bulls Friday night, missed the home game (a win for Milwaukee) the following night versus the Los Angeles Lakers and was benched by head coach Scott Skiles for the game against the Detroit Pistons.
The Bucks have been able to get some great play from Shaun Livingston, who has made it back from a serious knee injury that almost took away his career. Along with Jennings in the backcourt and a Drew Gooden/Ersan Ilyasova combo in the frontcourt, the Bucks have been able to win their last two games as they look to stay afloat.
The bottom line is that if Jackson and Skiles cannot get along, the Bucks should move him so they can move on and worry about other things. The Bucks should have to worry about getting Bogut back healthy, and if Jackson does not want in, they should move him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)