With emotions running high marking the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the twin towers, the country was in need of something to not only reflect, but also help fill the American spirit inside all of us. And what's more American than spending a Sunday afternoon watching football?Heading into Sunday's match-up between the San Francisco 49ers and the division rival Seattle Seahawks, it wasn't a marquee free-agent player everyone had their eyes on at the start of the game, but rather the newly hired head coach Jim Harbaugh. Making his NFL debut, Harbaugh who spent the last four years at Stanford would renew his beef with Seattle's Pete Carrol who made the transition back to the NFL last year after forming a dynasty at USC. With the upper-hand at the collegiate level having outdone Carrol's Trojans twice in three meetings, Harbaugh looked to add yet another tally to the win column against his counterpart.
As the game got underway, the 49ers appeared to be in the drivers seat in the early going. With neither team's run game able to find much running room and both quarterbacks held in check for the most part, it was the defense that sparkled during the first half. Alex Smith and company were able to march down field a number of times, but the 49er offense had to settle for field goals as one of San Francisco's offseason acquisitions David Akers made it a 9-0 game by splitting the uprights on three consecutive drives. However, the 49ers offense would finally reach the end-zone on their next drive as Alex Smith scampered his way across the goal-line before being met with a big hit, to put his team on top, 16-0, heading into the half.After a sluggish first half on offense, the Seahawks appeared to have made some adjustments, turning their first drive of the second half into seven points as Tavaris Jackson found receiver Golden Tate on a slant pass for an 8-yard touchdown. After exchanging punts, what was a sixteen to nothing lead at one point for the Niners would soon dwindle down to a three point game as Seattle struck by scoring 10 unanswered points. The following drive, David Akers would once again make it a two possession game, connecting for his fourth field goal of the afternoon. But a huge play from one of Harbaugh's former players at Stanford would bring the Seahawks within two points as Jackson utilized the slant once again, this time finding rookie Doug Baldwin for a 55 yard score.
With just over four minutes remaining in the game and the 49ers leading 19-17, Harbaugh's boys were in need of a shot in the arm on offense if they planned on making their coaches debut a successful one. However, the offense didn't need to take the field as Ted Ginn Jr. and the Niners' special teams stole the show. Picking the team up and putting them on his back, Ginn ran back a 102 yard kick return for a touchdown to once again put the pressure on Pete Carrol. Normally a team on the receiving end of kick returns, Seattle looked stunned and found themselves scratching their heads. Little did they know, Ginn wasn't finished. With the Seahawks forced to punt less than a minute later, the former first round pick and standout at Ohio State would put the finishing touches on the game by returning the kick 55 yards into the end-zone, sending the 49er faithful in a frenzy and putting the game out of reach, 33-17.Rundown & Week 2 Preview: Though it wasn't the prettiest performance on either side of the ball for the 49ers, Alex Smith managed to play mistake-free football, despite only throwing for 124 passing yards in a 15-for-20 effort. More importantly was that the team was able to get the Harbaugh era started on a winning note. With an idea of what his team looks like now in regular season form, the rookie head coach Harbaugh can address the areas that are in need of fixing in hopes of improving to 2-0. Week 2 won't be an easy task though as Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys pay a visit to Candlestick Park in search of their first win of the season, coming off a late-game debacle against the New York Jets.
Keys to the game: With running back Frank Gore virtually a non-factor in Sunday's win for San Francisco (59 yards rushing), I'd expect to see the Pro Bowler bounce back with a big game in what should be a nail biter.
One of the more intriguing story lines this NFL season is that of this year's number one overall draft pick and former Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Despite his poor performance during the Panthers' preseason, Carolina head coach Ron Rivera has decided to give Newton the nod over last year's second round draft pick and fellow quarterback -- Jimmy Clausen. While starting 10 games last season for the Panthers, Clausen saw little success and was unable to spark Carolina's offense through the air as the team eventually went on to finish the season with a league-worst record of 2-14.Though the franchise is coming off a season to forget, their torrid 2010 campaign allowed them to pick first overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, a pick in which they used to snag Cam Newton who led Auburn to a National title. Hoping to make Newton their starting QB for the long-term, feeding him to the lions by having him begin his career with little to no professional experience isn't the ideal thing to do, but with Clausen and Derek Anderson behind him on the depth chart there really isn't that veteran presence around for him to learn from. With Pro Bowler's at both the wide receiver (Steve Smith) and tight-end positions (Greg Olson and Jeremy Shockey), Newton will have some weapons to target. However, the kid has a lot to improve on as his bumpy preseason performance indicated.
While his throwing accuracy has been mediocre at best, he has shown a strength when running and has grown comparisons to Mike Vick. Making Newton's job a little easier will be Carolina's dominant run game led by one of the more lethal tandems at the running back position in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Both of which will ease the workload of Newton on offense. Unfortunately for him though, he finds himself in what's become one of the more difficult divisions to win in the NFC South with the young rising talent of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who surprised everyone by finishing 10-6 last year. They've also gotta deal with the lethal Atlanta Falcons who many are predicting to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year. And finally there's the New Orleans Saints who are only two years removed from winning their first ever Super Bowl and are looking to avenge their early exit from the Playoffs last season.Though I don't see Newton struggling as much as everyone else is predicting him to, I don't envision him making the Panthers any better than a three game improvement (5-11). While the talent level is certainly there, I expect Newton to be a long experiment until he fully develops into a successful NFL QB. Newton and the newly looked Panthers will get their first test on Sunday at 1:15 as they head to Arizona to take on the Cardinals.
With the start of the NFL's regular season less than a week away, the Indianapolis Colts appear to be on the brink of doing something they haven't done in over a decade and that's start a season without their Pro Bowl quarterback Peyton Manning. Entering his 13th year in the league, Manning has never missed a game during his professional career and boasts a streak of 227 consecutive starts (including playoffs) only behind Brett Favre who's streak of 321 consecutive games started came to an end last December due to an ankle injury. Manning's streak is in danger thanks in large part to a surgically repaired nerve (neck) during the offseason on May 23.According to doctors, the timetable of Peyton's recovery was expected to be 6-8 weeks which would've allowed him to be at full strength come the start of training camp. However, back pains as recent as last week have limited Manning during practice, proving that he's behind schedule in the healing process. Though trainers and doctors haven't completely ruled Peyton out for week one's meeting with the Houston Texans on Sunday, neither them nor the Colts' front office are taking any chances considering how valuable Manning is. Not to mention the new 5-year, $90 Million deal the two sides agreed to a little more than a month ago. With Manning watching from the sidelines for the first few weeks being the worse case scenario for Indianapolis, Colts owner Jim Irsay isn't shying away from letting it be known where he thinks his 4-time MVP will be come week one.
Upon being told about the possibility of opening the season without Manning, the Colts didn't hesitate to provide insurance at the quarterback position by contacting the recently retired Kerry Collins. Three years removed from leading the Tennessee Titans to a 13-3 record and a top seed in the playoffs, Collins would have little success towards the end of his tenure with the team he served five seasons with (2006-2010) while sharing the starting role with former Rookie of the Year Vince Young. Following a dismal 6-10 season in 2010, Collins announced his retirement from the game of football after sixteen years on July 7. A month and a half later, he finds himself in a favorable position to not only get a few starts in, but also win a Super Bowl ring. With Manning's health uncertain, Collins who I seen as being a one week rent-a-player may be a more important piece to the Colts season than first thought.Regarded by many as the best player in the game today, Manning's health is a scare to not only the Colts organization and their fans, but also to those who have him in their fantasy leagues including myself. Regardless of the time he misses, I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if he still finishes the year with a Pro Bowl campaign. After all, he's Peyton Manning. With the speculation of Colts nation treating a few games without their beloved QB like it's the end of the world, there's no telling how things will be once the Manning era ends in Indy considering no one player or name is as synonymous to a franchise as Manning and the Colts.
Less than a year ago, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid had little faith in his second-string Quarterback Michael Vick and was unsure if he'd ever be used as more than just a back-up. But a concussion sustained to Reid's starting QB Kevin Kolb during the first half of the season-opener against Green Bay would force Vick into the starting role, an area he would soon become quite familiar with as he went on to start 12 games at the helm for the Eagles, leading them to a 10-6 record and an NFC Eastern division title. Despite being the starting quarterback in only three quarters of the season, Vick compiled over 3,000 yards passing and nearly 700 yards rushing to earn the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Award and make a strong case for himself in the MVP voting which was eventually won by New England's Tom Brady.
In hopes of proving their commitment to the former number one overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft this offseason, the Eagles dealt QB Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals, giving Vick sole possession of the starting job. But just in case Philadelphia's front-office didn't make themselves clear, they invested a 6-year, $100 Million contract into the 4-time Pro Bowler on Monday with nearly $40 Million guaranteed. For Vick, the deal makes him the third highest paid player at his position behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and is his second contract worth $100 Million as he signed a 10-year, $130 Million pact in 2005 while a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
For Vick, the last few years have been like something of a movie script given it wasn't long ago that many declared his days as a professional football player to be over. With a new $100 Million contract in hand, labeling Vick as the most humbled guy in the league would be an understatement considering it was just four years ago that he was the most despised man to don a uniform for his role behind one of the biggest illegal dog fighting businesses in recent years. After spending two years behind bars, Vick appears to be better than ever coming off a year in which he set career-high's in completion percentage (62.6), passing yards (3,018) and touchdowns (21) as well as a QB rating of 100.2. All of which have contributed to the Eagles' decision to make Vick the cornerstone of their franchise.
However, the Eagles may have jumped the gun on their contract to Vick a bit early granted he still has a year left on his current deal. While I personally think their offer was a bit premature considering Vick only started 12 games last year and probably won't have as good of a year as he had during his 2010 campaign, the move is somewhat understandable fearing they'd lose Vick to free-agency the following offseason. Though I don't doubt Vick's talents one bit, I do doubt the possibility of him contributing the way he did last year while staying healthy all 16 games. Luckily they acquired the experienced Vince Young to back up Vick if necessary. With Vick's name checked off the list, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman can now focus primarily on striking a deal with his Pro Bowl wide-out DeSean Jackson who came into training camp in holdout mode.
Though I wouldn't go as far as calling the Eagles a "dream team" like some have following the flurry of acquisitions, I do like what they've done this offseason and would be very disappointed along with the rest of the country if they failed to win their division. It won't be easy though as the rival Cowboys who appear to have gotten rid of some dead weight (WR Roy Williams), look to spoil the party with a healthy Tony Romo back in the lineup.
With less than two weeks before the NFL gets set to take center-stage by kicking off the 2011-2012 season, it's time to take a look at the reshaping of the NFC Western division and the teams that have been remodeled.
Starting with the defending division champion Seattle Seahawks: With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck no longer part of the equation, the Emerald City appears to be ready for the start of a new era at the game's most important position. Hasselbeck who served 10 seasons under center in Seattle where he led them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005 in which they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, will now take snaps in Tennessee as the Seahawks prepare to give the reigns of the starting quarterback position to Tavaris Jackson. Although the acquisition of Jackson doesn't appear to be much of an upgrade, head coach Pete Carroll is hoping to groom T-Jack who's spent four years in Minnesota primarily as a back-up, into the successful QB many touted him to be coming out of college.
However, the most significant acquisition this offseason for the Seahawks is that of wide-receiver Sidney Rice who saw a breakout season in 2009 with the Vikings which resulted in a trip to Hawaii for the Pro-Bowl. Having missed most of the 2010 season due to hip surgery, Rice automatically becomes the number one receiver on Seattle's depth-chart. Complimenting Rice on offense will be another key offseason signing in former Raiders tight-end Zach Miller who signed a 5-year, $34 Million deal after being selected to his first Pro-Bowl last season in Oakland.
Next is the St. Louis Rams who despite finishing at 7-9 in 2010 similar to Seattle, made a tremendous leap forward following a 1-15 season in 2009, thanks in large part to the rapid development of QB Sam Bradford. In the midst of what seems to be a rebuilding stage for St. Louis, the Rams didn't make a whole lot of noise this offseason, but did address their need in the wide-receiving corps. With the addition of free-agent Mike Sims-Walker in the mix, the Rams now give their promising young QB and reigning Rookie of the Year a decent target to throw to in the WR department. And with a running game like St. Louis' supported by running back Steven Jackson, that may be all they need on offense.
Then there's the Arizona Cardinals who compared to their division foes, were given the biggest makeover this offseason. After the retirement of Kurt Warner left the Cardinals offense in shambles, the team was left with one of the worst situations at the quarterback position in all of football last season which saw starts from Derrek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton. Following a last-place finish in 2010, the Cardinals are hoping to have finally found their man in Kevin Kolb. With the resurgence of Mike Vick in Philly last year who won over the starting job and nearly took home MVP honors, the Eagles decided to get something out of their talented back-up instead of letting him rot on the bench. However, Kolb wouldn't come cheap as Arizona sent one of the league's best cornerbacks in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie along with a 2nd round draft pick to Philly in exchange for their guy.
If things don't click right away for the Cardinals in their first season with Kolb at the helm, they're almost bound to click between the tandem of Kolb and WR Larry Fitzgerald who can easily become one of the more lethal one-two punches in the division for many years to come considering the contract extension the Cardinals recently rewarded their 5-time Pro Bowl wide-out with. Regarded by some as the best wide-receiver in the NFL, Arizona invested $120 Million into the 27 year old Fitzgerald which will keep him in the desert until the 2018 season. The only other signing the Cards have made worth mention is veteran tight-end Todd Heap.
Finally there's the San Francisco 49ers who many predicted to not only win the division with ease last season, but also be a potential Super Bowl candidate. However, the 49ers would get off to a rather sluggish start as they went into Week 6 seeking their first win of the season. Among the worst passing teams in the league last season, the 49ers hope to improve on their air attack with the signing of WR Braylon Edwards. Since setting franchise records in 2007 while a member of the Cleveland Browns including 16 touchdowns and 1,289 receiving yards, Edwards hasn't been nearly as explosive, but he did manage to compile over 900 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns on a run-oriented Jets team last season. The 49ers do have some talented targets in Pro-Bowl tight-end Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree who is yet to make a splash at the pro level, the only issue has been who they have throwing to them.
With the contract of former number one overall pick Alex Smith coming to an end after last season, the 49ers were thought to be in line for a change. Instead, San Francisco's newly hired head coach Jim Harbaugh decided to give Smith another shot, hoping he can work his magic and convert him from bust to boom. Although the 49ers took a quarterback in the draft (Colin Kaepernick), the rookie won't appear to be called upon until the future unless an injury occurs or the offense struggles once again. Though San Francisco's QB position is in desperate need of revamping, their biggest question mark lies at the running-back position as the Niners are hoping to get a full season out of their Pro-Bowl RB Frank Gore. Gore of coarse unhappy regarding the current contract negotiations he and the 49ers front-office have had so far, is entering his seventh season with the team and the final year on his contract.
Currently 2,200 yards shy of becoming the franchises all-time leading rusher (Joe Perry), Gore is four years removed from compiling 1,695 yards to lead the NFC in rushing. Having been one of the game's most consistent backs since his breakout year in '06, Gore saw his 2010 campaign end early and on a rather sour note as he was sidelined for the remainder of the year after a hip injury in Week 12, eventually spelling doom for any chance of a playoff berth. For what it's worth, the 49ers also landed one of the most successful kickers in NFL history this offseason by signing 5-time Pro-Bowler and longtime kicker of the Philadelphia Eagles -- David Akers.
Though the Cardinals appear to be the front-runners to win the division given the adjustments they've made at Quarterback, I still believe the division is open and could be won by anyone considering no one team stands out both offensively and defensively. Optimistically speaking I would love to see the 49ers take the division, but as long as Alex Smith's around, I don't see it happening unless they get a 2009-like performance out of the defense which went from one of the best two seasons ago, to one of the worsts in 2010.
Despite the NBA being only two months into the offseason plagued by a lockout, those familiar with the work stoppage have already noted that they don't see an agreement being made any time soon. But with their counterparts in the NFL finally reaching a mutual agreement to their CBA some four and a half months later, you would have to think there's the slightest bit of optimism in the air, right? Those closest to the source, however, would tell otherwise and believe the lockout could last until the start of the regular season in November or worse, last beyond Christmas like it did in '98, if not threaten the entire 2011-2012 season which is very much likely.
How much worse is the NBA's lockout than that of the NFL's? Due to the demands of the players and owners being so far apart from one another, players have already began seeking an alternative for work. While most players have considered playing ball overseas in China and Turkey among other places, former Celtics point guard Delonte West is among those who aren't as fortunate. After being busted by police in September of 2009 for riding his 3-wheeled motorcycle around with a guitar case which had three firearms inside including a 9mm pistol, a court ruling by the judge will prevent West from leaving the country to join those who plan on flocking to play ball elsewhere until the lockout ends.
With basketball no longer an option, the D.C. native has instead resorted to filling out job applications like many other struggling Americans during this tough recession. His place of choice? The Home Depot as he mentioned via his Twitter account. Though it doesn't quite remind us of the situation Malik Rose was in during the NBA lockout of 1998-1999 when he was forced to move back in with his parents, it does show shades of former bad boy and current Lakers forward Ron Artest who filled out an application for a part-time job at Circuit City in order to get an employee discount during his time with the Bulls. Not only am I curious to see if Delonte knows a thing or two about wallpaper, but I'd also like to know which of his teammates he put down on his reference list.
West isn't the only one seeking work stateside this offseason as Lakers small forward Luke Walton plans to take an alternative route from the home improvement department by joining the University of Memphis' coaching staff as an assistant if the lockout continues.
When the NFL's labor dispute was finally resolved on July 25, putting an end to the 18 week and 4 day long work stoppage, players couldn't wait to report to camp in anticipation of returning to the game they love. However, Tennessee Titans running-back Chris Johnson who's been one of the more electric players in the game over the past few seasons has been in no hurry to return to the football field and his team unless they plan on making him one of the wealthiest men in the league. Instead of joining his fellow teammates, Johnson has decided to hold out in hopes of a new lucrative and well deserved contract. And though the organization has made it clear that they plan on making their running back among the highest paid at his position once he reports to camp, the speedy back has something else in mind.
While running back's are listed as the 8th highest-paid position in the NFL, Johnson hopes to put an end to that and says he wants to be among the highest paid players in the game, seeking Quarterback money. For what it's worth, Johnson has the support of the Titans all-time leading rusher Eddie George who called the situation "uncalled for" saying Johnson is the team's best player and ought to be payed. Tennessee's general manager Mike Reinfeldt on the other hand has Titans owner Bud Adams in his corner who says he isn't interfering between the two and their talks, but noted Johnson's absence from camp that is costing him $30,000 each day he doesn't show up, isn't helping his case.
Entering his fourth year in the league, Johnson has made the Pro-Bowl in each of his first three seasons and is only two years removed from becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single-season when he eclipsed the mark by six yards in 2009. Despite his recent success, CJ is due to make a measly $800,000 in base salary this season which wouldn't even pay for the total of his fines once it's all said and done. With two years remaining on his current deal, there's no question the former NFL Offensive Player of the Year deserves a new contract, but refusing to negotiate at camp in person is only making matters worse.
If Johnson's holdout was to continue on into the regular season, not only would it spell doom for any chances Tennessee may have of making the Playoffs this year, but it could also severally hurt his production given he has to learn the playbook from both his new quarterback (Matt Hasselbeck) and head coach (Mike Munchak). Not to mention, a Titans team without their star running back would put a sizable dent in fantasy leagues throughout the interwebs granted he's considered by many as the number one overall pick as I took him last season. But if I'm Johnson, I'm calling the front offices' bluff for the sole fact that they need him to help fill seats more than he needs them.
You might recall that Johnson went as far as saying he wanted to be the first "black face" of the NFL following his standout 2009 campaign. And if he's still trying to accomplish that, the only thing the holdout has done during his journey is given him a black eye so far.
Although the issue in Tennessee has received the most buzz and criticism, Johnson wasn't the only one playing hooky this preseason. Among him was fellow running back Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers and wide-receiver DeShawn Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles, both of whom started off the preseason in holdout formation, but have since reported to team practices despite not yet signing a new contract.
Over or Under: A deal between Johnson and the Titans gets worked out before the start of the regular season. (Comment below)
Stepping up to the plate in the 6th inning against Rick Porcello of the division-leading Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins slugger Jim Thome found himself in a key situation to not only put his team on top, but to also inch that much closer to making history. With the game tied at 3-3 and a man on first, Thome sent the 89mph offering from Porcello deep to left centerfield for his 10th home run of the season and the 599th home run of his illustrious 21-year big league career. However, the show wouldn't end there as Thome wasted little time before joining an elite class only a select few have been a part of.
With a 6-5 lead in the 7th while facing left-handed reliever Daniel Schlereth, Thome belted a 3-run shot over the left field fence to give his team a 9-5 advantage before eventually winning the game 9-6. By doing so, Thome etched his name into the record books by becoming only the 8th player in Major League history to reach the highly coveted 600 home run plateau, joining Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa. Of those eight members, Ruth is the only player who needed less at-bats than Thome to reach 600 homers. However, one thing the club's newest member can say that nobody else can including the Bambino is that Thome's the only player to hit home runs no. 599 and 600 in consecutive at-bats.
The 40 year old veteran who's career begun in Cleveland in 1991 where he became a mainstay and a fan favorite in the Indians' line-up until heading to the National League to play with the Phillies from 2003-2005 was primarily used as a first baseman, solidifying himself among the league's best power threats. In 2006, Thome would make his return back to the American League for the Chicago White Sox where he saw a shift in positions serving as the team's everyday DH. Despite a 3-year hiatus from the AL, Thome's first season with the club would be a stellar one as he made his 5th All-Star team before earning himself Comeback Player of the Year honors. A late season trade in 2009 would send Thome to the Dodgers where he served off the bench as a pinch-hitter. With little success to show for during his brief stint in L.A., the Twins signed Thome in the offseason, making him their designated-hitter. After proving to Minnesota that he still had some fuel in the tank by belting 25 homers in 2010, the Twins organization and Thome renewed their vows during the offseason with a 1-year, $3 Million, incentive laden contract.
Despite playing most of his career in the heyday of what's been better known as the 'steroid era', Thome has climbed his way up the all-time home runs list without an asterisk next to his name as he's never had any link to steroids or any other performance enhancing drug. And though home run totals aren't looked upon like they once were, one distinction Thome has over his fellow members of the 600 home run club is that he'll go down in history as one of the most kindhearted people in baseball by not only the fans, but by his peers and those associated with the sport. Thome is respected so much so that the 36,211 fans in attendance at Detroit's Comerica Park gave him a standing ovation as he rounded the bases before being greeted by his family at home plate following his milestone.
Among those Thome thanked along his journey was former skipper of his while a member of the Phillies -- Charlie Manuel and his father Chuck who he said would, "beat him" if he ever used PED's. While Thome's future on the field after this season remains uncertain, one thing that's for sure is that his credentials are Hall of Fame worthy. Regarded by his teammates for his work ethic which is second to none coupled with his ability to hit to all sides of the field, the only flaw in Thome's career is his empty trophy case. But he'll tell you himself that not even that would cause him to lose any sleep. The next stop along Thome's journey: Cooperstown.
Last season when Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista also known as 'Joey Bats' broke onto baseball's national spotlight by having himself a coming out party, belting 54 homers to lead the league and make a strong case for AL MVP honors, many speculated steroids or another type of performance enhancer was involved given the 30 year old outfielder/third baseman out of the Dominican had never hit more than 16 home runs in his six big league seasons prior to his 2010 power surge. However, Bautista's explanation coupled with further evidence through footage of his playing days with the Pittsburgh Pirates reveal a drastic adjustment in his swing which has allowed him to make contact with the ball much quicker than before when he was often late.
But just when the Blue Jays thought their man was free of controversy, another rumor surfaces, aiming to explain Bautista's hot hitting. According to new developments, the Blue Jays and their 2-time All-Star have been accused of allegedly stealing signs via a source sitting in the outfield. Four unknown players in the opposing team's bullpen say they saw a man in the outfield dressed in white, waving his arms to signal whether the batter will be thrown a fastball or a breaking ball. I'm guessing those four players are out of the Yankees bullpen considering New York skipper Joe Girardi accused the same exact ball club of stealing signs earlier in July.
Though the Blue Jays as a whole have hit nearly twice as many long balls at home than on the road (150-83) this season, that doesn't do enough justice for the simple fact that every team feels and hits more comfortably at the plate when playing in front of the home fans. Not to mention Rogers Centre owns one of the more favorable hitters parks where the ball tends to carry. Even if they were tipping pitches, it doesn't appear to be benefiting them a whole lot in the standings considering they find themselves in fourth place in the AL East, trailing the division-leading Red Sox by 13 games. According to sources, allegations revolving the Blue Jays and sign stealing date back to last season.
What I would like to know is what took this story nearly two years to surface. Could it be that Jays games rarely make it on FOX, ESPN or any other nationally televised station? If the man in the outfield is as obvious to point out as he should be given the batter needs to spot him as quickly as possible, I find it hard to believe the league is just now investigating. I don't buy much into sign stealing for the sole reason that you still have to locate and hit the ball which is by far much harder to accomplish than guessing what pitch the pitcher will throw next. PTI's Michael Wilbon made a valid argument earlier on today's show, pointing out that Tigers ace Justin Verlander pitched a no-hitter against these very Blue Jays earlier this year at Toronto's Rogers Centre and was wondering where this anonymous sign stealer was then. Perhaps Verlander deserves a lot more praise for his gem than he's been credited with granted the players still couldn't get a hit off him despite knowing what he'd be throwing next.
While the Blue Jays organization has denied all reports and allegations by calling it, "stupid" according to Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, their fan base has taken it as a joke more than anything. During Wednesday's game against the visiting Oakland Athletics, fans in the left field bleachers were seen in all white attire holding signs that read "fastball" and "I stole this sign." However, the award for the best impersonation goes to Toronto reliever Casey Janssen who was seen peeking towards home plate through a pair of makeshift binoculars made out of two coffee cups that were tapped together.
Spicing up one of the NFL's more heated rivalries as of late is the recent news of former Jets Defensive end Shaun Ellis signing with the New England Patriots. Though the 2-time Pro-Bowler out of Tennessee spent 11 years pressuring the Quarterback he now calls his teammate (Tom Brady), Jets head coach Rex Ryan won't be sending flowers or a good luck card to his player of two years anytime soon. Instead, he made it clear via a press-conference that he wishes Ellis good health, but also hopes he plays poorly with his new squad before adding that he had a great deal of respect for the 34 year old veteran. Whether or not coach Ryan agrees, Ellis' transition from NY to NE isn't your typical rivalry flip-flop considering he was just looking to play for whoever gave him the best offer.
Despite spending over a decade in New York, the Jets looked to repay their longest tenured player for his services by offering him a 1-year deal at the veteran's minimum of $910,000. Having witnessed Ellis reek enough havoc on his team and Quarterback over the years including a 2 sack performance as recent as the AFC Divisional Game on January 16, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick recruited him as both sides agreed to a 1-year, $4 Million deal. And while Rex Ryan and the Jets got the last laugh in 2010 as they went on to eliminate Belichick and the Patriots out of the Playoffs to play in the AFC title game which they eventually lost, New England appears to be making all the right moves to avoid a similar incident.
The uniting of Ellis and Belichick is fitting given they both have a lot to do with where one another has been for the past decade. Having served as Bill Parcells' assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for several years in New York (1997-99), Belichick wad handed the head coaching duties after Parcells' retirement. However, only one day into the job, he resigned as the Jets head coach after surprising the organization with a note that read, "I resign as HC of the NYJ" moments before taking the podium to announce his change of heart. Making matters worse, Belichick was announced as head coach of the New England Patriots just hours after his debacle with the Jets. Arguing with the league office that Belichick was still under contract with New York, then NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue demanded compensation from the Patriots who gave the Jets their first-round draft pick in exchange for Belichick. The Jets would go on to use that pick to select Shaun Ellis 12th overall and the rest is history.
Ellis joins Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth to form a newly looked Patriots squad that hopes to once again out-muscle the opposition to recapture sole possession of the division. Alongside Ellis and Haynesworth will be nose tackle Vince Wilfork, forming one of the more formidable tandems in all of football. Though Gang Green hasn't made as much noise as their rivals via the free agent and trade market this offseason, they did manage to fill the void of the recently departed Braylon Edwards by signing the 6-foot, 5-inch Plaxico Burress. But while Burress' height advantage serves in the Jets' favor, his time away from the game may prove to be costly as it's been a rough two years since he's last played a down of football. However, that's one gamble Rex Ryan and company is willing to take as his third year Quarterback Mark Sanchez will need all the help he can get on offense.
While the answer to the question of who comes out on top in the AFC East is up in the air, one thing that's certain is that the division has now evolved into a chess match as both teams begin shifting their pieces in anticipation of the 2011-2012 NFL season. Both teams look to add another chapter to their rivalry come Week 5 in Foxborough's Gillette Stadium on October 9.
