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Wild Wild Day One of the NFL Free Agency Period
Via Kffl.com a team by team account of todays fast and furious action.Arizona CardinalsCardinals | Trade Boldin ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Arizona Cardinals traded WR Anquan Boldin and a 2010 fifth-round draft pick to the Baltimore Ravens Friday, March 5, in exchange for third- and fourth-round picks in the 2010 NFL Draft. Atlanta FalconsFalcons | Robinson agrees to terms Updating previous reports, Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms on a six-year deal with unrestricted free-agent CB Dunta Robinson (Texans). Financial terms were not disclosed. Baltimore RavensRavens | Boldin agrees to extension ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Baltimore Ravens agreed to a four-year, $28 million extension with newly acquired WR Anquan Boldin Friday, March 5. Ravens | Acquire Boldin ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Baltimore Ravens acquired WR Anquan Boldin and a 2010 fifth-round pick from the Arizona Cardinals Friday, March 5, in exchange for third- and fourth-round picks in the 2010 NFL Draft. Carolina PanthersPanthers | Diggs, Johnson released Panthers.com reports the Carolina Panthers have released LBs Na'il Diggs and Landon Johnson. Panthers | Delhomme officially released Updating a previous report, Panthers.com reports the Carolina Panthers have released QB Jake Delhomme. Panthers | Kemoeatu released ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Carolina Panthers have released DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu. Chicago BearsBears | Peppers agrees to terms ESPNews reports the Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent DE Julius Peppers (Panthers). Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Bears | Taylor signed Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports the Chicago Bears have signed unrestricted free-agent RB Chester Taylor (Vikings) to a four-year deal worth $12.5 million. Taylor will receive $7 million guaranteed in the first year of the contract. Bears | Manumaleuna agrees to terms Jeff Dickerson, of ESPNChicago.com, reports the Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent TE Brandon Manumaleuna (Chargers) on a five-year deal, according to a source. Financial terms were not disclosed. Cleveland BrownsBrowns | C. Williams traded John Niyo, of The Detroit News, reports the Cleveland Browns have traded DL Corey Williams and a seventh-round draft choice to the Detroit Lions for a fifth-round draft choice. Denver BroncosBroncos | Agree to principle to re-sign with Lloyd, Hochstein DenverBroncos.com reports the Denver Broncos have agreed in principle to re-sign unrestricted free-agent WR Brandon Lloyd and OG Russ Hochstein. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. Broncos | Agree on one-year deal with J. Arrington Mike Klis, of The Denver Post, reports the Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free-agent RB J.J. Arrington (Broncos) Detroit LionsLions | G. Jackson released Tom Kowalski, of MLive.com, reports the Detroit Lions have released DT Grady Jackson. Lions | Ciurciu re-signed Nicholas J. Cotsonika, of the Detroit Free Press, reports the Detroit Lions have re-signed unrestricted free-agent LB Vinny Ciurciu to a one-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Lions | Heller re-signed Nicholas J. Cotsonika, of the Detroit Free Press, reports the Detroit Lions have re-signed unrestricted free-agent TE Will Heller. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Lions | Jansen re-signed Nicholas J. Cotsonika, of the Detroit Free Press, reports the Detroit Lions have re-signed unrestricted free-agent OT Jon Jansen to a one-year deal worth $850,000. Lions | C. Williams acquired John Niyo, of The Detroit News, reports the Detroit Lions have acquired DL Corey Williams and a seventh-round draft choice from the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round draft choice. Lions | Vanden Bosch agrees to terms Kevin Seifert, of ESPN.com, reports the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Titans) on a four-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Vanden Bosch confirmed the agreement during a radio interview. Lions | Agree to deal with Burleson Adam Caplan, of Scout.com, reports the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms on a deal with free-agent WR Nate Burleson (Seahawks), according to a source. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Green Bay PackersPackers | Clifton re-signs to three-year deal ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Green Bay Packers have re-signed free-agent OT Chad Clifton to a three-year contract worth $20 million. The deal includes $7.5 million in guarantees. Packers | Giordano and Montgomery released The Green Bay Packers have announced the release of S Matt Giordano and DE Mike Montgomery. Houston TexansTexans | Turk re-signs with team Aaron Wilson, of the National Football Post, reports the Houston Texans have re-signed free-agent P Matt Turk to a one-year deal, according to his agent, David Canter. Indianapolis ColtsColts | Brackett agree to terms Adam Schefter, of ESPN, reports the Indianapolis Colts have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent LB Gary Brackett (Colts) on a five-year deal, according to a source. Financial terms were not disclosed. Kansas City ChiefsChiefs | Battle re-signed The Kansas City Chiefs have announced they have re-signed free-agent RB Jackie Battle. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Miami DolphinsDolphins | Dansby signs five-year deal Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports free-agent LB Karlos Dansby (Cardinals) has signed a five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Dolphins | Three players released Tim Graham, of ESPN.com, reports the Miami Dolphins have released LB Joey Porter, LB Akin Ayodele and FS Gibril Wilson. New England PatriotsPatriots | Wilfork signs five-year deal ESPN's Michael Smith reports the New England Patriots have signed franchise free-agent DT Vince Wilfork to a five-year, $40 million contract. The deal includes an $18 million signing bonus and $25 million in guarantees. Patriots | Banta-Cain re-signed Patriots.com reports the New England Patriots have re-signed unrestricted free-agent LB Tully Banta-Cain to a three-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. New York JetsJets | T. Jones officially released The New York Jets have announced they have officially released RB Thomas Jones. Jets | Strickland released Tim Graham, of ESPN.com, reports the New York Jets have released CB Donald Strickland. Jets | Acquire Cromartie Updating a previous item, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the San Diego Chargers have traded CB Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets. The Chargers will get a third-round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft that could turn into a second-round draft pick based on Cromartie's playing time and the Jets' performance. Oakland RaidersRaiders | Barnes re-signs David White, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports the Oakland Raiders have re-signed free-agent OT Khalif Barnes to a one-year deal, according to a league source. Financial terms were not disclosed. Philadelphia EaglesEagles | Witherspoon released Adam Caplan, of Scout.com, reports the Philadelphia Eagles have released LB Will Witherspoon. Eagles | Weaver agrees to terms Jeff McLane, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with restricted free-agent FB Leonard Weaver on a three-year deal worth $11 million, according to a source. The deal includes $6.5 million in guaranteed money. San Diego ChargersChargers | Boone re-signed The San Diego Chargers have announced they have re-signed unrestricted free-agent DT Alfonso Boone to a two-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Chargers | Wilson re-signed John Clayton, of ESPN, reports the San Diego Chargers have re-signed free-agent TE Kris Wilson to a two-year deal worth $1.7 million, according to a source. Chargers | Trade Cromartie to the Jets Updating a previous item, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the San Diego Chargers have traded CB Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets. The Chargers will get a third-round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft that could turn into a second-round draft pick based on Cromartie's playing time and the Jets' performance. St. Louis RamsRams | Dahl re-signed Jim Thomas, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, reports the St. Louis Rams have re-signed restricted free-agent FS Craig Dahl to a three-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Rams | Feeley signed SIRIUS NFL Radio reports the St. Louis Rams have signed unrestricted free-agent QB A.J. Feeley (Panthers) to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Washington RedskinsRedskins | M. Williams re-signed Rick Maese, of The Washington Post, reports the Washington Redskins have re-signed unrestricted free-agent OT Mike D. Williams, according to a source. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Redskins | Daniels re-signed Jason Reid, of The Washington Post, reports the Washington Redskins have re-signed unrestricted free-agent DE Phillip Daniels to a two-year deal. He will receive a base salary of $912,000 in 2010 and $1 million in 2011. The deal also included a $250,000 signing bonus. Redskins | Alexander agrees to terms Alex Marvez, of FOXSports.com, reports the Washington Redskins have agreed to terms with restricted free-agent LB Lorenzo Alexander on a three-year deal, according to a source. Financial terms were not disclosed. KZ
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Welcome to Baltimore Mr. Boldin
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports via Twitter
reports the Cardinals traded WR Anquan Boldin and a 2010 fifth-round
pick to Baltimore for Ravens 2010 third- and fourth-round picks. Also Boldin agree to a 4 year $28 million dollar contract.
 Boldin immediately becomes the Ravens number one receiver. Q as they call him was Arizona's number one receiver before Larry Fitzgerald arrived putting up over 1300 yards and 100 receptions in 2003 and 2005. Chosen by the Cardinals in the 2003 NFL Draft out of Florida State. He was drafted in the 2nd round because of his relatively slow combine speed (4.71). His speed has proved no impediment to success. Boldin was named NFL Offensive rookie of the year in 2003 by the AP. He is known as one of the league's most physical receivers and is a 3 time Pro-Bowler.
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Fans Fantasy Football's NFL MOCK DRAFT 1
I usually do 4 of these...this one after the combine, then one in 2 weeks, another one the first week in April and then a final one the Day of the Draft...
 I do the mocks based on what I think will happen...not what should. Lots of talk of Hayden falling fast on many boards, I think once he has his pro-day he moves back up. Great depth in this years draft, so many people who are graded as first rounders will be taken maybe as low as the top of the 3rd round this year. KZ View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
KZ's Tuesday Topics 3/2/10
KZ's Tuesday Topics Top Local Story of the Week
The Maryland Terrapins Men's Basketball team has, well let's call it ho-hum week of basketball. Wednesday night they beat Clemson after coming back from a 15 point deficit. Then Saturday they waited around for 4 hours and decided to give everyone their monies worth by beating VT in a thrilling Double Overtime contest. In that game Greivis Vasquez scored 41. The win clinched the Terps at least 2nd place in the ACC and a first round bye in next weekend's ACC Tourney. Those wins set up tomorrow's matchup with Duke for the ACC crown. Its senior night as the Comcast Center will bid farewell to Landon Milbourne, Eric Hayes and Greivis Vasquez. Tip is 9pm...get there early as the game is sold out and the festivities start around 8pm. The game is also for ACC player of the year as Greivis, Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer get to make their last pitch for the award. GO TERPS! 
Top National Story of the Week
Canada wins OT thriller for the Olympic Gold Medal over the USA Sid the kid Crosby finally allowed a country to breathe.
Crosby won it when he whipped a shot past U.S. goalie Ryan Miller 7:40 into overtime after the U.S. had tied it with 24.4 seconds left in regulation. This was a terrific hockey game. Shot were about even 39 to 36, there were only 8 penalty minutes total, 4 from each team. There was skill and drama on display at its best. It was such a great tourney it's a shame the euphoria over hockey won't last. There will be a slight positive movement in the games popularity, but that will last until March 18th and March Madness takes over. Then Opening Day, then the NFL Draft, the NBA playoffs and so on. I still don't get Versus btw. Also the NHL brand of Hockey is different then what we just watched for 2 weeks. Look at the box scores for this week of the NHL and tell me how many games will only have 8 minutes of penalties. The one NHL game last night had 16 for a reference point. The game of Hockey can be a beautiful display of athleticism but the average fan won't get that watching the NHL. Until the league decides to clean up the game and the Commish and the owners start making decisions that move the league forward instead of holding it back, Hockey will also be an afterthought for most sports fans. So enjoy the 2 weeks of popularity...fleeting as it is.
Top Under the Radar Story of the Week A jury found an Iowa man guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder in the shooting of a nationally known high school football coach. It took the jury 24 hours over four days to reach its decision, finding Mark Becker, 24, guilty in the June 24, 2009, killing of Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas. Sentencing is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET April 14. The verdict reading was briefly held up as members of Thomas' family drove from Des Moines, where they had been lobbying for a bill, named after Thomas. The bill would require hospitals to communicate with law enforcement agencies when a suspect who should be in custody is scheduled to be released from the hospital. Becker gunned down Thomas, 58, in the school's makeshift weight room in front of students, shooting him at least six times before walking away. Becker told police that Thomas was Satan and that the coach had been tormenting him. The shooting was especially shocking to Parkersburg residents because Thomas was known both for producing winning teams and for leading the community of 1,800. He amassed a 292-84 record and two state titles in 37 seasons as a head coach -- 34 of them at Aplington-Parkersburg -- and coached four players who have played in the NFL. He also was a leader in rebuilding Parkersburg after nearly one-third of the town was wiped out in May 2008 by a tornado that killed six people.  The trial largely centered on Becker's mental status on the day of the shooting. Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that Becker shot Thomas and that Becker suffered from paranoid schizophrenia that caused him to have intense hallucinations and delusions. But prosecutors Scott Brown and Andy Prosser repeatedly argued that that mental illness was not equal to insanity. The defense, represented by public defenders Susan Flander and Derek Jones, countered with witnesses who testified that Becker didn't understand what he was doing and couldn't distinguish right from wrong. It became clear during seven days of testimony that the killing could have been thwarted if Becker hadn't been released from the psychiatric ward of a Waterloo hospital. He was admitted to the psychiatric ward -- his third hospitalization in eight months -- on June 20 after he allegedly broke out the windows of a Cedar Falls man's house and accused the man of trying to hypnotize him. Becker then led police on a chase that reached speeds of 90 mph before he hit a deer and surrendered to Butler County Sheriff Jason Johnson. He was released from the hospital June 23, and the next morning he drove to the high school and killed Thomas. The issue of Becker's sanity took up the last two days of testimony, as the defense and prosecution introduced competing witnesses. Defense psychiatrist Phillip Resnick, of Cleveland, said Becker believed Satan had possessed Thomas and that he was doing the community a favor -- and freeing Parkersburg's children -- by killing the coach. Resnick and others who interviewed Becker about his mental status said Becker suffered from such intense delusions that he incorrectly believed Thomas and the members of Becker's old football team were sexually assaulting him, and that Thomas was trying to make Becker into a "sex slave." Maryland-based psychiatrist Michael Spodak, hired by the prosecution, agreed Becker suffered from severe mental problems, including paranoid schizophrenia, but said he still understood right and wrong. Spodak said Becker took rational measures to avoid detection on the morning of the shooting: He hid his gun while he was driving, told passersby that he was searching for Thomas in order to volunteer for the city's tornado relief efforts and made it a point to avoid shooting the teenagers in the weight room. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. Sports Person of the Week Another race, another victory for Jimmie Johnson and yet another round of griping about the NASCAR champion's dominance. Clearly JJ is the best driver in NASCAR right now. He has won 2 out of the 3 races this year and 4 straight Cup Chases. Last week after his victory a rival driver said JJ had a "golden horseshoe stuck up his ass" Kevin Harvick also claimed you "can't get around how lucky they are"  Here is what is lucky Mr. Harvick. It's lucky that you sit atop the Cup Standings after 3 races without winning a race, whereas Jimmy Johnson sits in 5th place after winning 2 of the first 3 races. Someday someone will explain this system to me. The Silliest (to be nice) Person in Sports for the Week The fallout from Tiger Woods' sex scandal has been immense. He already has had three sponsors drop him -- Accenture, AT&T and, most recently, Gatorade -- while other companies like Gillette have suspended promotions of Woods while he takes his break from golf. When he does return, he will have a different logo on his golf bag, replacing AT&T, if he can find a deal. Tiger just play Golf; the average person does not care about your personal life. The fallout is not because you cheated, it's because you stopped doing the one thing the sponsors paid you to do...PLAY GOLF! 
Five things you need to know...
Five things maybe only KZ finds interesting...
 As you know I am a NFL draft nut. I won't do a mock draft until after the NFL combine in Feb, but I will each week run down my top 5 players by position with a line or 2 of commentary. Each week I will do one or two positions until my mock comes out. This week: Five top DT's and DE's in this year's NFL Draft: DT's
Sleepers: Jeff Owens - Georgia, Mike Neal - Purdue Busts: Arthur Jones - Syracuse DE's
Sleepers: George Selvie - USF, Austen Lane - Murray St Busts: Jason Pierre-Paul - USF
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KZ's Tuesday Topics 2/23
KZ's Tuesday Topics Top Local Story of the Week
Hope Springs Eternal...Orioles Spring Training started last week and today the position players are arriving. I am personally excited about this season, almost too much so. I finally see the plan in place and I am going to make a bold prediction that some have already heard me make. The Baltimore Orioles will win the AL EAST within the next 3 years! Write it down, because it's going to happen, so this is the year folks to jump back on the bandwagon if you went off...free passes back on for all. Here is the potential lineup for 2010. 2B Brian Roberts - Although the back is a concern. Calling Felipe Lopez...Mr. Lopez?? 3B Miquel Tejada - solid bridge to Markakis who can use the entire field. RF Nick Markakis - ALL STAR...or better be.. C Matt Wieters - some will say this is too soon-he will have protection-why not CF Adam Jones - just stay healthy...ready for a monster year 1B Garrett Atkins - Bounce back year RF Nolan Reimold - Achilles injury behind him DH Luke Scott - Power will be there, but so will the slumps SS Cesar Izturis - if he hits 260 and steals 20...happy times Then the pitching staff with Millwood, Guthrie, Bergeson, Matusz and Tillman. Gonzales closes, Johnson back pitching the 8th, Koji back in a better role for him, Hendrickson hopefully keeps pitching like he did down the stretch.Lets not forget Arrieta, Britton, Hernandez, Berken, Patton and the host of other young arms in camp. The future is bright...go get some shades.
Top National Story of the Week USA USA USA...  pulled off the biggest Olympic hockey upset since the Miracle on Ice, stunning Canada 5-3 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals of an already mixed-up tournament. Brian Rafalski scored two goals, Ryan Miller held off a flurry of shots and the Americans quieted a raucous, pro-Canada crowd that came to cheer its dream team, only to see it upstaged by a bunch of unproven kids. One day short of the 30th anniversary of the country's greatest hockey victory...the unfathomable win over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid...these underrated Americans were faster, more disciplined and more determined than Canada's collection of all-stars. This game wasn't for a medal. Canada wasn't eliminated; the Americans are assured of nothing but a bye before they play the Switzerland-Belarus winner. Even so, this was a magical moment for U.S. hockey that, at least in the Olympics, hasn't been matched since the Miracle on Ice in 1980. Winning the game they supposedly couldn't against a virtual NHL all-star team that Canadians believed was ordained for gold. There is a long way to go in the Hockey Tourney and the USA may not even medal, but for this week for this young team, nothing can bring them down. Top Under the Radar Story of the Week Don
Meyer, the all-time leader in coaching wins in NCAA men's basketball history,
will retire from coaching after the end of this season, Northern State
University announced Monday morning.  Meyer, 65, has accumulated 922 career victories in 38 seasons, while coaching at Hamline University in Minnesota, at David Lipscomb in Tennessee, and at Northern State, in Aberdeen, S.D. He was honored last July at the ESPYS with the Jimmy V. Perseverance Award. Beyond his record of success, Meyer also has deeply influenced the game as a mentor to high school, college and professional coaches, through his clinics and his instructional videos. Among those: Tennessee's Pat Summitt, the all-time NCAA leader in victories in women's basketball. "He taught me how to teach others how to play the game," Summitt said in an interview last year. "When I started coaching at Tennessee, I was 22 years old. I had four players 21 that were seniors. And I never coached a day in my life. So did Coach Meyer help me? Tremendously." Meyer's last home game will be on Feb. 27. (ESPN) We wish Coach Meyer's a well deserved retirement! Sports Person of the Week Greivis
Vasquez, is the first ACC player to have at least 2,000 points, 700 assists and
600 rebounds.  He now has 2,013 points to trail only Juan Dixon, Len Bias, Albert King, Adrian Branch and John Lucas on Maryland's career list. Not Maryland, but ACC history! Here is a list of players who are among the 50th Anniversary ACC ALL-TIME TEAM: Mark Price, Kenny Anderson, Randolph Childress, Len Bias, Johnny Dawkins, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Danny Ferry, Phil Ford, Grant Hill, Matt Harpring, Bobby Hurley, Christian Laettner, John Lucas, Rodney Monroe, Ralph Sampson and David Thompson. The list goes on and on...love him or hate him, you have to respect what Greivis has done at Maryland. The Silliest (to be nice) Person in Sports for the Week
From TMZ...Sluggerrr the Lion -- the mascot for the Kansas City Royals -- is accused of poking a fan's eye out with a steaming hot wiener during a Major League Baseball game last year ... and now the team is being sued over it.
It's all in a lawsuit filed in Jackson County, Missouri in which John Coomer claims he was just chillin' at a game on September 8, 2009 -- when Slugger "climbed atop the third base dugout and started shooting hotdogs into the stands from an air gun." Coomer claims Slugger eventually put the air gun down -- and started firing off the wieners by hand ... when, according to the suit, things went horribly wrong. In the docs, Coomer claims "Slugger lost control of his throw or was reckless with his throw, and threw the hotdog directly into the Plaintiff." Coomer claims the dog hit him right in his left eye -- leaving him with a detached retina and the development of cataracts. Coomer is now suing the Royals for more than $25k for negligence and battery -- claiming they "failed to adequately train its agents ... in the proper method in which to throw hotdogs into the stands at Kauffman Stadium." Mr. Coomer congrats you are the silliest person in sports this week. Five things you need to know...
Five things maybe only KZ finds interesting...
As you know I am a NFL draft nut-I won't do a mock draft until after the NFL combine in Feb, but I will each week run down my top 5 players by position with a line or 2 of commentary...Each week I will do one or two positions until my mock comes out. This week: Five top OT's, OG's and a Center or Two in this year's NFL Draft: OT's
Sleeper: Jared Veldheer - Hillside - Mammoth guy 6'8" 330 pounds Bust: Jason Fox - Miami - I worry about health and quickness OG's 1. Mike Iupati - Idaho 2. Vlad Ducasse - Umass 3. Mike Johnson - Alabama 4. Jon Asamoah - Illinois 5. Brandon Carter - Texs Tech Sleeper: Thomas Austin - Clemson Bust: Mitch Petrus - Arkansas Center's 1. Maurkice Pouncey - Florida 2. J D Walton - Baylor
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KZ's Tuesday Topics on a Wednesday 2/17/10
KZ's Tuesday Topics Top Local Story of the Week
Well I was all prepared to go in a different direction here but this just in...The Baltimore Ravens have signed Donte Stallworth to a one-year contract worth $900,000 with another $300,000 in incentives. OK first the tale of the tape...Stallworth is 30 stands 6'0" and is 200 pounds. His best year was in 2005 for the Saints when he caught 70 balls for 945 yards and 7 TD's. He has played for 4 teams in his 8 year career. His career yards per catch are 14.8.  I believe in second chances and Mr. Stallworth was one of the few athletes that showed true remorse for what he did. To be honest with you he took his punishment like a man and I respect him for that, but on the football field Donte is not the answer to the Ravens WR's woes. He is a number two receiver at best who has shown questionable hands throughout his career. He is not the big physical receiver most Ravens fans have clamored for. He is not the "big receiver" Ray Lewis talked about at the pro-bowl. He is another reclamation project that the Ravens, like they did with Kelley Washington, are trying to strike lightening in a bottle. Maybe this move is a good one in the end if the Ravens continue to address the WR position through free agency and the draft, but by itself it seem like a desperation move. It seems to say we are not making trades, we are not signing RFA's, we like what we have and we will tinker to make it better. This feels very hollow to me. Welcome to Baltimore Donte, I wish you nothing but success and hope this second chance turns out great for all parties involved. Top National Story of the Week A men's luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia died Friday after a high-speed crash during training for the Winter Games. The International Olympic Committee said doctors were unable to revive Nodar Kumaritashvili, and the 21-year-old died at a hospital, hours before the Vancouver Olympics' opening ceremonies were to start. IOC president Jacques Rogge said the death "clearly casts a shadow over these Games." "The IOC is in deep mourning,'' said Rogge, who wiped his eyes and appeared choked up before speaking. "[Kumaritashvili] lost his life pursuing his passion. I have no words to say what we feel.'' Officials from the International Luge Federation and the Vancouver 2010 organizing committee said late Friday their investigation found "no indication the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track." They said the track reopened Saturday morning with changes "to avoid that such an extremely exceptional accident could occur again."  A tragedy to say the least. For anyone who has ever pursued their dreams we can all send out thought and prayers to his family.
Top Under the Radar Story of the Week Florida State will vacate athletic victories from 2006 and 2007, including 12 credited to former football coach Bobby Bowden, as part of its penalty for an academic fraud scandal in 2006-07 involving 61 student-athletes, the school announced. Last month, the NCAA rejected Florida State's appeal of sanctions that affected Bowden and the football team plus nine other teams. The sanctions stemmed from a cheating scandal involving an online music course. The vacating of wins was the only penalty Florida State appealed. The football team vacated five wins from the 2006 season, including the Emerald Bowl at the end of that season, and seven wins from 2007. Bowden retired after the 2009 season with 389 wins over a 57-year career, the second-most in major college football behind Penn State's Joe Paterno. The penalty leaves him with 377 wins.  Miami want to be's...tisk tisk...slapped on the wrist! Sports Person of the Week Free-agent infielder Felipe Lopez has fired his agent, Scott Boras, and signed on with the Beverly Hill Sports Council, a source told ESPN.com Friday.  The 29-year-old Lopez was reportedly disgruntled over still finding himself without a team, just days before the beginning of spring training. Lopez batted .310, with a .383 on-base percentage, last season for the Diamondbacks and Brewers. The only other free agent on the market this winter who matched or beat him in both of those categories was Matt Holliday. The Cardinals are the only club known to still have interest in Lopez, who was also on Colorado's shopping list before the Rockies signed Melvin Mora. Good for you Felipe. Mr. Boras how could you not find this guy a job? The Silliest (to be nice) Person in Sports for the Week
The Olympics and NBC...I get it, I really really do! Human interest stories, great journalistic stuff. Ok hands up, after these 2 weeks, how many of these athletes are we really going to remember and or care about? SHOW ME SPORTS! NOW TAPED DELAYED SPORTS...LIVE on NBC SPORTS HAPPENING NOW...have a highlight show later. I mean if you can have CNBC be the live CURLING CHANNEL anything should be possible. As fun as it may be to watch the Canadian woman score 18 unanswered goals against China's hockey team, there has to be something more interesting going on somewhere else..HAS TO BE! Any Mr. Weir...we get it...but you are just giving all male figure skaters a bad rap...pink tassels were a little much don't you think? But I digress...we want to see SPORTS, ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS I don't care about growing up shooting a Moose...and I really don't care about people from other countries trying to speak English for an interview...they won, congrats...don't make them talk...ok all done now! Five things you need to know...
Five things maybe only KZ finds interesting...
As you know I am a NFL draft nut...I won't do a mock draft until after the NFL combine in Feb, but I will each week run down my top 5 players by position with a line or 2 of commentary...Each week I will do one or two positions until my mock comes out. This week: Five top TE's in this year's NFL Draft
Sleepers: Jimmy Graham - Miami - 6-6' 260 new to the game but as athletic as they come Busts: Garrett Graham - Wisconsin - Needs to bulk up a bit...not that fast..I think he will have a hard time at the NFL level. KZ View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Some great Snow/Cold games
Admit it we all love a good football game in the snow...so i decided to put together a quick list...top 5 snow/cold football games...did your game make the list? Let me know... 1. The infamous "snowplow game" played between the New England
Patriots and the Miami Dolphins. Played 12/12/82.  The game was scoreless until the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, when the Patriots scored their game-winning field goal. Before the kick, Patriots coach Ron Meyer directed snowplow operator Mark Henderson to clear a spot on the field for the kicker. Miami coach Don Shua was furious, but the kick was good. The following year, the NFL banned the use of snowplows during a game. 2. The Ice Bowl is commonly known as the 1967 NFL Championship game. It was
cold.
The game was played between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, with the Packers victorious 21-17. The actual air temperature of the game: -13 degrees It was so cold, the referees were unable to use their whistles for they froze to their lips. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys took a 17-14 lead with a 50 yard touchdown pass to Lance Rentzel. With about five minutes left in the game, and starting from his own 32, quarterback Bart Starr of the Packers drove down the field. Finally, on a third a goal with seconds remaining, Starr punched it in the endzone for the win. This was the Packers third-straight championship. 3. There was no snow but it was cold. That might be why that called it the Freezer Bowl.  The game was played on January 10, 1982 and it was the AFC Championship game. It was played between the San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals won it 27-7. What were the temperatures, you ask? They were negative nine degrees, and the wind chill was close to -40. And we complain about snow...ha! The heavy snow was just icing on the cake in this classic. 4. The name "Tuck Rule game" originates from the controversial game-changing play. In the play, Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson sacked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, which in turn caused a fumble that was eventually recovered by Raiders' linebacker Greg Biekert.
Officials reviewed the play and determined that Brady's arm was moving forward, thus making it an incomplete pass. As a result, the original call was overturned, and the ball was given back to the Patriots, who moved the ball into field goal range. On the final play of regulation, Patriots' Adam Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13, which sent the game into overtime. In overtime, Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal to win the game for the Patriots. Do you understand this rule even today? I don't! 5. The 2000 Independence Bowl took place on New Year's Eve, 2000. A freak snowstorm put the game under extreme winter conditions. Snow in
Louisiana? Who knew?!
The game was fought between Texas A&M and Mississippi State. Texas jumped out to 14-0 and 35-21 leads in the first and fourth quarter, but Mississippi State fought hard and tied the game, sending it into overtime. Texas A&M scored on the first play of overtime, but missed the extra point, which turned into two points for the Bulldogs. Mississippi ended up coming from behind yet again with a seven yard touchdown run to win the game. All true football fans remember this one. View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
KZ's Tuesday Topics 2/9/10
KZ's Tuesday Topics Top Local Story of the Week
It's Snow...  yes this is a sports blog, but is there a bigger story in Baltimore and surrounding areas then the snow...28 inches or so over the weekend and maybe up to 20 more inches Tuesday into Wednesday...sigh. I finally ventured out around the neighborhood and was shocked how bad the roads still are. Everyone, be careful and be safe and read the rest of this blog. For those hoping schools would open this week...here is a sight I saw in Baltimore County, a school's sidewalks and parking lot were just being plowed from the last snow in preparation of the next storm...WOW! Sports story...Caps beat the Penguins
for their 14th straight win.
Alex Ovechkin is arguably the best hockey player in the league. This Capitals team can beat you 1 - 0 and 8 - 0, 5 - 4 and 2 - 1...this week alone the came back twice from 2 goals down in the same game and a three goal deficit in another game to win both. They are exciting and talented. Goal-Tending will be the only Achilles heal. If they get good, not great but good tending in the playoffs, they will win the Cup. I have for the record always been a hockey fan. I think they way their league is run is a crime. I promote my 5 year olds birthday party better then the NHL. Also I am not a huge Caps fan but this team is fun to watch. If you are not a hockey fan, go to one game, you will be hooked! Top National Story of the Week
New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl with a 31 - 17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. 
The two plays that turned the game on
its ear were the start of the second half on side kick by the Saints and the
pick-six in the waning minutes of the game. Drew Brees was named the games MVP
after going 32 for 39 with 288 yards and 2 TD's. I am sure buy now you have
read too much about this game so I won't rehash everything, but these two
points. The onside kick was as gutsy a move you can make on that stage, even if it didn't work so what...he had his team fired up and excited. As for the pick, it was a bad read by one of the top 5 QB's ever...it happens.
Top Under the Radar Story of the Week The Boston Celtics may be ready to implode... or that what was hinted. In a story not getting much pub, Rajon Rondo made some comments that would lead you to believe all is not well in the land of the shamrock. Without prompting, Rondo elaborated on his thoughts, suggesting to the Boston Herald that some players might have individual agendas. "I can't really elaborate on it too much, but I think we've just got to be a team with no agendas," Rondo told the paper. "We've got to play unselfish, you know? That's on defense and offense. You've got to want the best for the next man out there regardless if you're in the game playing well or you're out of the game not playing well." Asked if he and the Celtics had tried to clear the air on this, he said, "We haven't really been talking about it, but you've just got to know. "In the locker room, you can feel it," Rondo added. "You don't feel like it's the same continuity and camaraderie in the locker room as it was the first year [in 2007-08]. The first year, it was a crazy spirit in the locker room. But now it doesn't feel the same. It's not the same right now. We've got to find a way to get that back somehow, some way." Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Rondo's comments might have been "a little overblown, to be honest" and said he felt the fourth-year guard was simply restating what Rivers had been telling the team last month. As far as I can tell the only things that have really changed in Boston are the addition of Rasheed Wallace and the emergence of Rondo...maybe Rondo is trying to be more of a leader on and off the court? I'm just speculating there.
Sports Person of the Week The Fans...Surely the Powers to be won't
take the NFL away from us in 2011?  The New Orleans Saints' victory over Indianapolis in the Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of "M*A*S*H" to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history, the Nielsen Co. said Monday. For those of us old enough that's an amazing thing. I mean everyone watched MASH...and now apparently everyone watches the NFL...the the Super Bowl and even the Pro Bowl setting records this year, there has to be some room for compromise between the players and the owners. This would be like taking away the NBA in the Magic-Bird years. Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2010: Russ Grimm, Ricky Jackson, Dick LeBeau,
Floyd Little, John Randle, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith. Congrats to the well
deserving class.
Maybe it's just me but I think certain players deserve their own days Rice and Smith should have gone in together and alone. It's unfair to the other well deserving players who will be after thoughts that induction weekend. The Silliest (to be nice) Person in Sports for the Week Johnny Damon is still without a job. After turning down a two year $14 million dollar offer, the market has all but dried up for the 14 year vet. Mr. Damon and his super agent Mr. Boras overestimated the value of a defensive liability and 36 year-old in today's market.
Five things you need to know...
Five things maybe only KZ finds interesting...
As you know I am a NFL draft nut...I won't do a mock draft until after the NFL combine in Feb, but I will each week run down my top 5 players by position with a line or 2 of commentary...Each week I will do one or two positions until my mock comes out. This week: Five top WR's in this year's NFL Draft
 4. Arrelious Benn - Illinois - I question his
hands and production but has everything else. 5. Dezmon Briscoe - Kansas - needs to get tougher, but ideal size and speed.
Sleepers: Andre Roberts - Citadel (maybe not much of one after the Senior Bowl), Marcus Easly - Uconn, David Gettis - Baylor (7th round...flyer who is 6'4") Busts: Mardy Gilyard - I know I will be in the minority but I worry about separation in the NFL...more of a slot guy. Bradon LaFell - some have compared him the Dwayne Bowe..I think he needs better route running and has to be a bigger target for his QB then he has been...lacks top end speed. KZ View Comments (1) - Post New Comment
KZ's Tuesday Topics 2/2/10
KZ's Tuesday Topics Top Local Story of the Week Maryland
Terrapins have been a pleasant surprise to some in the ACC this year.  They had won nine of 11 games before falling to Clemson on Sunday night. The Terps' problem is they didn't do much of anything during their nonconference schedule. Maryland is 0-3 against RPI top-25 foes and 1-5 against the top 50. Worse, six of its 13 victories over Division I foes came against RPI sub-200 opponents. In fact, the Terps' best non-ACC win came against RPI No. 128 Fairfield. Maryland beat FSU 77-68 on Jan. 10, but will probably have to beat more of the league's upper-echelon teams to strengthen its case. That means this week's games against Florida State, UNC and next week's home game vs. Virginia hold extra important. Florida State has an RPI of 30, so a road win and thus a season sweep against them could go a long way in helping the Terps NCAA push. If Maryland is the not the surprise team of the ACC this year then Virginia definitely is. UVA is tied with the Terps only a 1/2 game behind Duke in the standings and although their RPI is only 90 but at 4 - 2 in the ACC the standings also become important. A win at home against UNC is a must and a win vs. Duke along the way won't hurt. With only 10 games left in the regular season many feel you will have to be 10 - 6 in the ACC to bet a NCAA bid. For Maryland this means 6 - 4 is the minimum goal the rest of the year. With 2 games left against number 9 Duke and one against number 19 Georgia Tech the schedule is much tougher in the last 10 then the first 20. Top National Story of the Week Super Bowl buzz all day every day...  The big story of the week is the Dwight Freeney's right ankle. Freeney injured the ankle in the AFC Championship Game nine days ago. He said chances of him practicing the rest of the week are not good. He's the only starter on either team who might miss the game because of injury. Freeney is listed as questionable on the Colts' injury report with a sprained right ankle. Coach Jim Caldwell has said Freeney has a third-degree, low-ankle sprain and is improving. A third-degree ankle sprain by definition involves a complete tear of an ankle ligament. Freeney led the Colts with 13 sacks and is considered the leader of a defense that has performed well in the playoffs. The loss of Freeney may be being downplayed by the Colt's coaches and players, but on the field the loss could be huge. The Colts like to rush four guys and play coverage and the loss of Freeney may change how the Colts attach the high flying Saints passing game. Drew Brees led the NFL with a 70.6 completion percentage, so he needs little extra help. Top Under the Radar Story of the Week NASCAR is cutting by about 10 percent the race winnings it will award teams in the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series this season, officials confirmed on Friday. The reduction is part of cost-cutting measures that will alleviate some of the financial burdens on tracks that have suffered during a tough economic environment that has forced them to cut ticket prices with declining attendance. Bruton Smith, the chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns nine tracks that host Cup, Nationwide and Truck events, applauded NASCAR for making the cut. He doesn't believe drivers will particularly like it, "but they understand."
It's nice in an economic time like this, that some people get it. You don't raise prices and give more to the participants when the product is not selling as well as it use to. Many leagues and organizations could learn from NASCAR. Sports Person of the Week Kurt Warner Kurt
Warner thanked God, hugged his children and wife and said goodbye to an NFL
career that seems the stuff of sports fiction.  The 38-year-old quarterback announced his retirement Friday after a dozen years in a league that at first rejected him, then revered him as he came from nowhere to lead the lowly St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowls. Then, as if going from stocking groceries to winning NFL MVP awards wasn't improbable enough, Warner was written off as a has-been and rose again to lead the long-suffering Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl. A man of deep faith who carried a Bible to each post-game news conference, Warner walked away with a year left on a two-year, $23 million contract, knowing he still had the skills to play at the highest level. In a comparison with the 14 quarterbacks to make the Hall of Fame in the last 25 years, Warner has a better career completion percentage, yards per pass attempt and yards per game. Only Dan Marino had more career 300-yard passing games. In 124 regular-season games, Warner completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 32,344 yards and 208 touchdowns. He and Fran Tarkenton are the only NFL quarterbacks to throw for 100 touchdowns and 14,000 yards for two teams. For more than 40 minutes, Warner thanked everyone who had helped him along the way, singling out Whisenhunt, for "his willingness to give me an opportunity that I don't know if anyone else would." No player in NFL history reached 10,000 yards passing in less games and he tied Marino as fastest to reach 30,000. He has the top three passing performances in Super Bowl history. His 1,156 yards passing in the 2008 playoffs broke the NFL record of 1,063 he set with St. Louis in 1999. Warner said he plans to spend time watching his children grow up, do some preaching and perhaps get into football broadcasting. He knows what he wants his legacy to be. "It's not the way I threw the football, it's not particular games that I won, but that they remember that here's a guy that believed, that worked hard," he said. "Although things didn't always go in his favor, he continued to press through, and with his faith in himself and his faith in God, he was able to accomplish great things." (AP) Accomplishments �Four-time Pro Bowl selection
(1999, 2000, 2001, 2008) Warner is a class act. This is the way a Hall of Famer should retire, with grace and humility. He will be truly missed by the NFL and its Fans. The Silliest (to be nice) Person in Sports for the Week Rex Ryan is number one, well at least that's what he told some Dolphins fans at an MMA event this week. "It was stupid and inappropriate," Ryan said in a statement released by the club. "I wouldn't accept that type of behavior from one of the coaches or players and its unacceptable from me. I apologize to the Jets organization, the National Football League and NFL fans everywhere." 
Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum also released a comment. "Rex showed extremely poor judgment, and his conduct was inappropriate," Tannenbaum said. "He knows he was wrong, has apologized and we have accepted his apology. Any other actions regarding this incident will be addressed internally by the organization." Rex, time to grow up buddy! Five things you need to know...
Five things maybe only KZ finds interesting...
As you know I am a
NFL draft nut...I won't do a mock draft until after the NFL combine in Feb, but I
will each week run down my top 5 players by position with a line or 2 of
commentary...Each week I will do one or two positions until my mock comes out. This week... Five top RB's in this year's NFL Draft
Sleeper(s): Joique Bell - Weber State, Montario Hardesty - Tennessee and LaGarrette Blount - Oregon Bust: Ryan Matthews - Fresno State KZ View Comments (3) - Post New Comment
KZ's Tuesday Topics 1/26/10
KZ’s Tuesday Topics
Top Local Story of
the Week
Miguel Tejada will return to Baltimore after agreeing to a one-year, $6 million deal with the Orioles. The free agent shortstop played in Baltimore from 2004-07, before being traded to the Houston Astros in December 2007 for five players. The deal includes around $1 million in incentives for playing time registered, Tejada said. "I am happy to return to Baltimore, it's like my home," Tejada told Rojas. "We have great young talent, and I think many good things could happen with the club in 2010." According to The Baltimore Sun. The deal is pending a physical that's expected to take place today.  Tejada hit .313 with 14 HR’s with 86 RBI. He had 199 hits. Tejada hit .283 on the road last year. I bring that up because many have said he played in a hitter’s ballpark in Houston. He struggles in the month of August hitting .217 but bounced back in September with a .363 average, in no other month did he hit under .298 for those that thought he tanked the second half of the year. I am not going out and buying
playoff tickets with this signing, but it’s another solid move by the Orioles.
He was the best 3rd base option available on the 20th of January. This move
allows the Orioles to not rush Josh Bell this year. If Bell continues his path
and is ready before the trade deadline, then the Orioles have another chip to
play with. Last time they traded Tejada it was a 5 for 1 deal that brought the
Orioles, Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate, and
third-base prospect Michael Costanzo for the four-time All-Star shortstop in
2006.
The fact they got him back at a cheaper price while he is still a productive player makes that trade seem even better. The Orioles have had a decent off-season; they have a plan, go check them out at the yard! Top National Story of the Week Indianapolis vs New Orleans in the Super Bowl. Colts early 5 point favorite.  The Indianapolis Colts took the New York Jets best shot early and came back from an 11 point first half deficit to win the AFC Championship 30 – 17. Peyton Manning threw for 377 yards and 3 TD’s. After falling behind 17 – 6 in the second quarter, Manning lead a scoring drive to cut the lead to 17 – 13 at the half. After a questionable 52 yard FG attempt by the Jets early in the 3rd quarter, Manning quickly drove the Colts on a 6 play scoring drive to take a 20 -17 lead they would never relinquish. The Minnesota Vikings gave the New Orleans Saints their first Super Bowl appearance. I don’t know how else to say it. 5 turnovers including 2 fumbles in the red-zone and one bad interception with 26 seconds left and in FG range at the end of regulation by Brett Farve. Drew Brees threw 3 TD’s passes and Garrett Hartley hit a 40 yard FG in OT. Adrian Peterson had 122 yards rushing and 3 TD’s but fumbled 3 times, although only lost 1 of them. In a game that was back a forth the Vikings continually shot themselves in the foot. This is the game most wanted as the season went along. New Orleans started 13 – 0 and Indy started 14 – 0. A battle of the best QB’s from the season, let the hype begin… Did you know Archie Manning, Peyton’s Dad played for New Orleans? Top Under the Radar Story of the Week The Associated Press reports a national coalition of women's groups called on CBS on Monday to scrap its plan to broadcast an ad during the Super Bowl featuring college football star Tim Tebow and his mother, which critics say is likely to convey an anti-abortion message. "An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year -- an event designed to bring Americans together," said Jemhu Greene, president of the New York-based Women's Media Center. The center was coordinating the protest with backing from the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority and other groups. CBS said it has approved the script for the 30-second ad and has given no indication that the protest would have an impact. A network spokesman, Dana McClintock, said CBS would ensure that any issue-oriented ad was "appropriate for air." The ad -- paid for by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family -- is expected to recount the story of Pam Tebow's pregnancy in 1987 with a theme of "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child and gave birth to Tim, who went on to win the 2007 Heisman Trophy while helping his Florida team to two BCS championships. The controversy over the ad was raised Sunday when Tebow met with reporters in Mobile, Ala., before beginning preparations for next weekend's Senior Bowl. "I know some people won't agree with it, but I think they can at least respect that I stand up for what I believe," Tebow said. "I've always been very convicted of it (his views on abortion) because that's the reason I'm here, because my mom was a very courageous woman. So any way that I could help, I would do it."  I am not sure about this. Politics and Sports should not mix in my opinion. I understand Tebow's view, just not sure I want to see or hear about it during the Super Bowl. Sports Person of the Week BRETT FARVE...we didn't know when, we didn't know where, but we knew how and we knew the "gunslinger" was gonna come back and bite the Vikings. The golden rule for QB's is you don't throw back across your body into the middle of the field late in the game. Mr. Farve knows it  The Silliest (to be nice) Person in Sports for the Week Mike Greenberg said the following about his “gaff” on MLK day…” just came home from the Knicks game and found out about the mess that was created by my garbling a sentence on our show this morning;I apologize for not addressing it sooner. And I'm sorry that my talking too fast - and slurring my words - might have given people who don't know our show the wrong impression about us, and about me. I feel horrible about that, because nothing could be further away from who I am and what our show is about. I would never say anything like that, not in public, or in private, or in the silence of my own mind, and neither would anyone associated with our show, and I'm very sorry that my stumble this morning gave so many people the opposite impression.”  If you don’t know what I’m writing about check out Rob Long’s earlier blog on this site…but this “apology” is a joke. The fact that ESPN swept this under the carpet so quickly is an even bigger joke. Mr. Greenberg you didn’t garble, you didn’t slur, you didn’t stumble, and you said what you said. I don’t believe you never said anything like that, because the word “Koon: is either in your vocabulary or it’s not. You feel horrible because you got caught, just like McGuire feels bad because he got caught and so on and so forth. I agree with my friend Rob Long that Mike Greenberg probably didn’t mean to say what he said. He can’t be that stupid, but please don’t insult my intelligence (or lack thereof) with this joke of an apology. Five things you need to know... · Mike Davis succeeded Bob Knight at Indiana and took the Hoosiers to the 2002 national title game. Why we stopped caring: He steadily lost his way out of Bloomington, moved down a rung to UAB and hasn't coached an NCAA tournament game since 2006. Why we care now: Davis' Blazers are 17-2, with victories over Cincinnati, Butler and a pair of Southeastern Conference opponents. They're 7-2 in road/neutral games and should challenge for an NCAA at-large bid if they don't win Conference USA. The Blazers are flawed enough to trail SMU by 24 last weekend, but gritty enough to come back and win. For everyone who was convinced they'd seen the last of Davis, guess again. · NBA trade deadline is Feb 18th…some big names maybe on the move include Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler and Antoine Jamison · The five college football conferences that don't get automatic bids to the Bowl Championship Series will receive a record $24 million from this year's BCS bowl games, according to BCS figures obtained Monday by The Associated Press. · Former New England Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees is the new LB’s coach for the Baltimore Ravens. · The Senior Bowl is this Saturday January 30th on the NFL Network. This is just another step in building a draft board and evaluating players. Watch Brandon Graham, a DE/OLB out of Michigan and Kyle Wilson a DB from Boise State, both are on the Ravens radar I am sure. Five things maybe only KZ finds interesting...
 I will
never forgive Janet and Justin for their stunt…and it was a stunt, because
forevermore it seems that we have to dig up 50 plus old rock acts. Way to
attract the younger generation NFL…way to go. By the way the set is scheduled
to last 12 minutes so you can now plan accordingly.
As you know I am a NFL draft nut…I won’t do a mock draft until after the NFL combine in Feb, but I will each week run down my top 5 players by position with a line or 2 of commentary…Each week I will do one or two positions until my mock comes out. This week… Five top QB’s in this year’s NFL Draft In my opinion this is a weak QB class. I am not in love with any of these guys below and think any team in the top half of the draft selecting a QB is making a mistake…. 
Sleeper: Bill Stull - 21 touchdowns,
eight interceptions, 8.2 YPA, 65.1 completion percentage - all of which was in
a pro-style offense.
Bust: Colt McCoy – Does not have the
arm to be a starter at the next level…will be over drafted.
KZ View Comments (1) - Post New Comment
"O" Wait a minute!
I am a huge Baltimore Orioles fan. Yes they have had a losing record for 12 years, but over the last 2 they have finally, in my opinion, started to move in the right direction. I had asked for years for a plan, show me a plan, I didn't care if it worked but show me you are trying to build something and they did that. You look at the roster and they are closer to a contender then they were 2 years ago. I know the record on the field does not show it, but they are.
They have a solid young Outfield that includes 2 All-Stars. They have an All-Star second baseman, a can't miss catcher prospect, a solid, not spectacular, but solid SS. They have a young, talented pitching staff. Their minor league system is as healthy as it has maybe ever been.  This off-season they added a veteran pitcher, a solid closer and a veteran 3rd base/1st baseman. I hear there are more moves to come. I think the future is bright, but the fact remains that they have had 12 losing season, that every season since 2004, when they had 78 wins, the clubs win total has decreased. 2009 they drew the least amount of fans for a season since 1998 at 1,907,163. 2009 was the second year in a row that the club drew under 2 million fans. The Orioles payroll was under 70 million for the second year in a row and has decreased each of the past two years. So someone will have to explain to me how a club with a dwindling fan-base, a decreasing payroll and less fans coming to games since 1998, RAISES TICKET PRICES. Here is what several media sources have reported: For the first time, the Orioles are charging a game-day ticketing fee of between $1 and $5, depending on the original price of the seat, for every home game this year - if that ticket is purchased after 12:01 a.m. on game day. So when you decide the day of the game...hey let's check out them O's you'll pay extra. The new policy, which will average an additional $2 per game-day-purchased ticket, is becoming more common in major league baseball. Last season, 10 teams did it, the Orioles have become the 11th and several more could implement it in 2010. So, if all the other teams jumped off a bridge...well you get my point. In addition to the game-day fee, the Orioles have instituted another price change for 2010, increasing the cost of tickets for 19 premium games - Opening Day and the nine home games each against the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox - by about 10 percent over last year's premium-game costs. ( I don't have a huge issue here, make the fans of NY and Boston pay...heck double the price unless you show a Maryland Drivers License) I don't get it...sorry. Someone from the Orioles could be sitting next to me explaining it to me, but it won't make any sense. There is no way you do this, not in this economy, not when you are trying to draw more fans. Your wins and payroll have diminished and so has your attendance, so who is the person who in a meeting got up and said "hey here is an idea, why don't we charge more for people who buy a ticket the same day." Then who thought that sounded like a great idea...really...someone explain it to me like I was born yesterday because what incentive do I now have to go pay extra to see a losing team play, and people no matter how much good they are doing and how many positive things may have been done, they are a losing team until they win. The club can tell me they still are below the MLB average ticket prices. The club can tell me they are trying to reward the fans who plan ahead. The club can even tell me they think this will increase season ticket sales. What the Baltimore Orioles can't tell me is this is a good idea...because its not! KZ View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
KZ's Tuesday Topics 1/19/10
KZ’s Tuesday Topics Top Local Story of the Week RAVENS SEASON COMES TO AN END  That darn Indianapolis team sent the Baltimore Ravens home from
the playoffs. They beat the Ravens for the 8th straight time, this
time by a score of 20 – 3, thus ending another NFL season in Baltimore. There
were many reasons the game went as it did but the bottom line is the Ravens
scored 3 points in a Divisional Playoffs game and that simply won’t get it done
in the NFL these days, no matter how well the defense plays. It was a
disappointing end to what was a very successful season for the Baltimore
Ravens. They made the playoffs for the second year. They found gems in L. Webb
and D. Ellerbe. They found a playmaker in Ray Rice. 35 of the 53 players on the
53-man roster are 27 or younger. They are, believe it or not, young and
talented. They have some holes to fill (WR, DE, TE, and DB) but with what I
think will be the deepest draft in the history of the NFL, in Ozzie we trust. I
can’t wait for next year! Top National Story of the Week Sports world helping Haiti  We seem to only report the bad/ugly side of sports, so just a
reminder that there are more important things in life…pray for those in Haiti,
do what you can to help and here are just a few of the sports stars that are
doing what they can… 1.
Calling the
initial wave of support "overwhelming," the Haitian earthquake relief
fund co-founded by Alonzo Mourning and Heat star Dwyane Wade said Monday its
pledge total has surpassed $800,000. Wade's donation was a one-game salary,
about $175,000, while Mourning, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul each
pledged $100,000 to the fund. The "Athletes Relief Fund for Haiti"
began soliciting from pro athletes Friday. Among the other NBA players
announced as donors: Al Horford, Anthony Parker, Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith,
Carmelo Anthony, Ben Gordon, Mike Dunleavy, Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem,
Quentin Richardson, Devin Harris, Michael Finley, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer,
Ronnie Brewer, Caron Butler and the suspended Gilbert Arenas. 2.
NFL players
Michael Vick, Terrell Owens, Josh Cribbs, Wes Welker, Randy Moss and Clinton
Portis also gave money, fund officials said. Welker, Cribbs and suspended NFL
player Donte Stallworth all had Twitter play a role in their donation amounts,
with Stallworth saying on his feed that he would give $1 for each person who
was following him, or about $34,000. "Follow & let's help the people of Haiti together today!"
Stallworth wrote. 3.
Roger
Federer played the role of master of ceremonies. Andy Roddick doubled as a
standup comic. Serena Williams was laughing all the way. The fundraiser for
earthquake victims on Sunday - a brainchild of Federer and dubbed "Hit for
Haiti" - came on the eve of the Australian Open and raised more than
$185,000, an amount that organizers expected would increase. Federer, who has a
record 15 Grand Slam titles, teamed with Williams, the reigning Australian Open
champion, and Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur. Their opponents
were 2009 winner Rafael Nadal, 2008 winner Novak Djokovic, Roddick and U.S.
Open champion Kim Clijsters. 4.
The NFL and
the players' union will contribute $1 million, split between the American Red
Cross and Partners In Health. The Washington Redskins say they are joining
Diageo, one of the team's business partners, to fly medical supplies,
personnel, and clothing to Haiti. The NBA and its players' association also
will contribute $1 million. Hendrick Motorsports loaned a 45-passenger plane to
Missionary Flights International, which will send support teams in and out of
Port-au-Prince. 5.
Tiger Woods
plans to help with relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti by supporting
groups providing resources to children. Woods’ foundation
gave $100,000 to tsunami relief efforts in 2004 through Give2Asia, with the
money directed toward two groups providing sanctuary and relief to children. It
also gave the Baton Rouge Area Foundation $200,000 to set up a Hurricane
Katrina educational fund. If you want to help here is an easy way: The
following organizations are accepting SMS donations in the US only:
Portions of the above
story from the AP Top Under the Radar Story of the Week ![[stephon_marbury.jpg]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pqOBRLICPOk/RztgMp2gRhI/AAAAAAAABq4/7cleS54ENzg/s1600/stephon_marbury.jpg) According
to Reuters -- Two-time NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury will become the highest
profile American to play in the Chinese Basketball Association after he agreed
to join the league's Shanxi club. The 32-year-old, a free agent since leaving
the Boston Celtics last season, had agreed to a deal with the northern club and
would arrive in Shanxi next week, the team announced on its official Web site.
"The aim of signing Marbury is to pay back our fans and try to win more
games in the rest of the season," said Shanxi boss Wang Xingjiang. The
2001 and 2003 NBA All-Star was expected to help boost Shanxi's ticket sales as
well as their chances of making the playoffs. Shanxi is currently 15th in the
17-team league. Wang added that Marbury's salary would not be too high because
the former Nets and Suns player wanted to promote his personal brand of shoes
in China. Shanxi last season hired former NBA player Bonzi Wells, who scored as
many as 50 points a game. The contract ended after less than two months when
Wells went on vacation but failed to return on time. Marbury is
brilliant folks. Where better to sell his shoes then in China. His brand
StarBury is an affordable option and use to be featured at Steve and Berry’s
stores before they folded. Sports Person of the Week I could have gone many ways here…but this week at this time there is no better person then…Martin Luther King, Jr.  “I have a
dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they
will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character. I have a dream
today!” That was
part of Dr. Kings “I have a dream speech” delivered 28 August 1963, at the
Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. So I wonder
out loud…How would MLK react to the NFL’s Rooney Rule? I mean I
understand that the Rule was established to ensure that minority coaches were
considered for high-level coaching positions. But are these “minority”
candidates being granted interviews because they are as MLK said qualified “by
the content of their character” and their experience or are they being
interviewed based on the color of their skin. I just wonder sometimes and on a
day like Monday, in a time like this where we can elect an African-American
president, I also wonder what Dr. King would think. The rule
needs to be changed! The Silliest (to be nice) Person in Sports for the Week  Jose
Offerman's career as a baseball manager was over Monday, at least in the
Dominican Winter Baseball League. The league suspended Offerman, interim
manager of the Licey Tigers, for life after an incident Saturday in which he
tried to hit American umpire Daniel Rayburn in the face. Offerman was arguing a
batter's strike count in a playoff game against the Ciba Giants at Quisqueya
Stadium in the Dominican Republic. Because of the incident, Rayburn and three
other American umpires working in the Dominican league resigned and left the
country, forcing the league to use native umpires in the league's finals that
start Monday between Cibao and the Escogido Lions. The umpires, Rayburn, Jayson
Bradley, Justin Vogel and Barry Larson, said they feared for their personal
safety after receiving threats from fans after Saturday's game. Leonardo
Matos-Berrido, the league president, said the decision to ban Offerman can't be
appealed due to the magnitude of the offense. "The decision ... is
definitive," said Matos-Berrido. "Offerman is excluded for life from
Dominican baseball." Regarding the alleged threats to the umpires, Matos-Berrido
said he was requesting an investigation from the Dominican police. In 2007,
Offerman, a two-time All-Star during his 15 seasons in the majors, hit
Bridgeport Bluefish catcher John Nathans in the head with a bat during an
independent minor league game. Offerman, playing for the Long Island Ducks, had
been hit by a pitch from Matt Beech of the Bluefish. A court
subsequently forced Offerman into anger-management treatment. Offerman
also faces a $4.8 million civil suit brought by Nathans, who claims he
continues to suffer from problems stemming from the incident, which he says
ended his professional career. Fool me
once shame on me, Fool me twice shame on you. Offerman hit a player in the head
with a bat! Hold on one more time…He hit an opposing player in the head with a
bat. Who thought it was a good idea to let this guy back on a baseball field
anywhere…ever! I wonder who is the biggest idiot here Offerman or the guy who
hired him to manage? Five things you need to know...
 Five things maybe only KZ finds
interesting...
KZ Also…Starting
next week…I will look at 5 draft eligible players a week…by position…starting
with QB and ending with sleepers…watch for mock drafts after the combine…they
are pointless before then…
Gaines Adams Dead
Clark Brooks of Greenvilleonline.com reports former Clemson University football star Gaines Adams, 26, died this morning after he was taken to the Emergency Room at Self Regional in Greenwood, County Coroner James T. Coursey said.  Adams, a defensive end, was the fourth player chosen in the 2007 National Football League draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was traded from Tampa Bay to the Chicago Bears in October. An autopsy will be performed today by a forensic pathologist in Anderson County, Coursey said. It is being said he died of an apparent heart attach at his girlfriends house. KZ View Comments (1) - Post New Comment
Who is Happier USC or Tennessee
 According to sources Lane Kiffin will become the next head coach of the University of Southern California Football team. Kiffen who was on the coaching staff at USC from 2001 - 2006 before becoming the head coach of the Oakland Raiders. He went 5 - 15 before being fired in Oakland. He was 7 - 6 in his one year at Tennessee. I just have one question...WHY? I mean I get it from Kiffin point of view, take away the total lack of loyalty, USC is a premiere job in college football. They are the team of the past decade. The weather is nice. Maybe it was his dream job...blah blah blah. But why did USC choose him? I mean it seemed the looming shadow of NCAA sanctions likely worried some coaches and you go and hire a guy that was a walking minor violation at Tennessee. I lost count and interest but I believe the total was up to 6 minor violations within a two month span between December 2008 and February of 2009. One of the violations involved a mock press conference set up for recruits during campus visits, the other involved the use of a fog machine when recruits walked into Neyland Stadium. Both of these are offenses because the simulate a game experience for recruits during an official visit. A week after calling out two-time national champion Urban Meyer for recruiting violations that weren't recruiting violations, Lane Kiffin and the assistant coaches were found to have committed actual recruiting violations. The University of Tennessee reported another secondary recruiting violation involving new football coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin, in a radio interview, mentioned recruit Bryce Brown by name and called him "a great player." According to The Knoxville News Sentinel, NCAA rules prohibit a coach from making such comments before the prospect has signed a letter of intent. Additionally, Kiffin was reprimanded by Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive for falsely accusing Florida's Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation. So welcome to USC...you will fit right in apparently. I mean who would be better at handling the NCAA snooping around and looking under the sheets then Lane Kiffin. In one year you became a pro. I guess Jerry Tarkanian was not available. When its all said and done. there is really only one reason to go back to USC...The former song bird wanted to go home.  As for Tennessee, secretly I think they are pretty happy tonight. KZ View Comments (2) - Post New Comment
KZ's Tuesday Topics
Welcome to my weekly look at the sports landscape. Every Tuesday I will bring you my take on the biggest stories around the city, state and country. Plus some stories maybe only I find interesting and things you need to know. Top Local Story of the Week The Baltimore Ravens dismantled the New England Patriots.  24 – 0 after one quarter. 33 – 14 final. They were so dominant that Joe Flacco had to only throw 10 times. For folks complaining about that…ummm…that’s a great thing if you are a Ravens fan. I doubt the game plan called for only 10 passes. In fact I will bet if the Ravens scripted their first 15 plays…10 were pass plays, but the game changed that and quick. The Pass Rush was finally there. The secondary was downright great in this game, not only in coverage, but their tackling and hitting…wow! Now the Ravens travel to face the number one seeded Indy team (See Sylvia no C words). Indy was 24th vs. the run this year. Bob Sanders is out. They have a fast to the ball defense. They don’t blitz much because they use their Pro-Bowl ends to rush the passer. Last time the Ravens played Indy, they got no sacks’ and no hits on Flacco. The Ravens ran the ball 31 times and threw it 35 times. They had a 5 minute advantage on times of possession. The Ravens won the turnover battle 3 to 2. The Ravens had 6 scoring opportunities to the Indy’s 3. To beat Indy you have to do exactly what the Ravens did the last time against them, except score TD’s instead of FG’s and don’t turn the ball over in the red zone. How simple.
Top National Story of the Week Pete Carroll leaves USC for Seattle.  He built a dynasty and after his second worst year since he took over 2001, Pete is saying goodbye for a third try in the NFL. He compiled 97 - 19 records including two National Championships. He has made USC in my opinion the team of the decade. I blogged about this earlier, (which you can find on www.roblongshow.com) but why leave now? He has had NFL opportunities before and always passed. So why now? Are there sanctions coming, an investigation of his program? I will tell you why. The decade has changed that’s why. USC has not won a national championship since 2004 and did not represent the Pac Ten in the Rose Bowl this year. Everyone wants to go out on top and Mr. Carroll missed his chance to do so. Seattle is still on the west coast, so he doesn’t have to move his family and such. Every dynasty comes to an end and usually the end comes quicker than you even realize. Plus $7 million a year does not hurt. But here is my problem; Carroll has had two NFL head coaching stints. First in 1994 with the NY Jets, where he inherited an 8 - 8 club and turned them into a 6 win club before being fired. Then in 1997 he became the coach of the New England Patriots. This time he took over for Bill Parcels who handed him the 1996 AFC Champs. The Patriots did make it to the playoffs 2 out of his 3 years there, but records of 10 -6, 9 - 7 and then 8 - 8 was not good enough for the former AFC Champs and he was fired after the 1999 season. Overall Pete Carroll has a 34 - 33 record (including the playoffs) in the NFL. Hardly an embarrassment and making playoff appearances in 2 of his 4 years in the NFL us better than most, but something bothers me. Teams under Pete Carroll regressed under his leadership. He turned the 8 - 8 Jets in to a 6 - 10 team and was handed a Cadillac in New England and turned them into a Cavalier. He was not a very good NFL head coach. He should have stayed in school folks.
Top Under the Radar Story of the Week Jayson Williams will go to Jail.
It’s been 8 years, 8 years since Jayson Williams mishandled a shotgun and killed Costas "Gus" Christofi. He will serve 18 months in jail. Many people reading this may have forgotten about this story or maybe never knew of it. The truth shall set you free they say and sometimes it just catches up with you. In the last year he got divorced, has been arrested at least three times, broke his neck, and has been hospitalized in a suicide attempt. Just last week he crashed his car while drunk, and then slid into the passenger seat hoping cops would think he wasn't driving. Mr. Williams had a 10 years NBA career most of which was with the New Jersey Nets where he became an All-Star for the ‘97 – ‘98 season. Sports Person of the Week Mark McGwire
 He finally “came clean” about his steroid use. Mark, can I call you Mark? Mark enough with the tears, enough with blaming lawyers for your silence, enough with everything. You came clean in the hopes that when you accept a paycheck from the Cardinals and put on a uniform this spring that the reporters in every city you travel to will let you just be a hitting coach and not ask about your use. “I am not here to talk about the past” quotes won’t work anymore. You are going to be asked more than ever about your steroid use because you and frankly every other “former” PED user just never tell the entire truth. Mark McGwire is the king pin of the entire steroid era in my opinion. Barry Bonds started using PED’s because of Mark McGuire. If I was in Bond’s inner circle I would advise him to step forward today. Admit you used something. Admit it helped you stay healthier, gave you more strength. Then say you did it because of Mark McGuire. You did it because in 1999 this 263 hitter was named on the all century team and you were not. Say you were the best baseball player of your era and this Popeye pill popping fraud made the all century team. Then tell everyone that you never asked what you were taking just that it worked and say bye-bye. Mark McGwire should call Jose Canceso and apologize to him. Jose told the truth and you Mr. McGwire lied and still are. Your “gift” to hit homers was not from god…god doesn’t care. The Silliest Person in Sports for the Week Javarie Johnson of Dunbar High in Washington -- considered the Canes' top linebacker -- switched from University of Miami to the University of Maryland. 
Maybe Javarie wanted to be close to home, but as a football program there is no comparison. Five things you need to know... · McNabb will be back with Eagles in 2010 according to Andy Reid · With the Ravens victory over NE, they will pick no earlier then 25th and can’t sign a free agent unless they lose one first under current CBA agreement. · Maryland hadn't had much to show so far this season, so beating No. 19 Florida State was critical for the Terps to get some good vibes going early. · Australian open starts January 18th…Serena viewing schedule soon ![[serena_williams_top_tennis_hottie.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lgrG2xMG3Gs/SGR9-IZD_OI/AAAAAAAACWc/nsYll9F4Gcc/s1600/serena_williams_top_tennis_hottie.jpg) · 48 days until pitchers and catcher report Five things maybe only KZ finds interesting... · 30 days until the Winter Olympics · The Atlanta Hawks are for real and way under the radar in the east…they are young, talented with enough size and veteran leadership to scare the big boys.  · Kyle Petty who hasn’t won a race since 1995 and should shut up about Danica Patrick and realize this could energize the sport he loves.
· The golf season started…no really it did…I swear.  · Lady Terps are a young, hardworking team…beat a ranked UVA team on the road…go check them out. If you want one of the best college game experiences go to the DUKE/MARYLAND game on January 24th…
KZ's Keys to a Win
To borrow a commercial phrase...1pm Foxboro...IT's ON!!
If you listened to Chicken Box Friday you know I picked the Patriots 26 - 24 but the Ravens can win this game...my 5 quick keys to victory are here: 1. Use the Pass to set up the Run The Patriots are very good at making your offense one-dimensional. That said they will force the Ravens to beat them through air. The Ravens need to throw early and often setting up the play action. Take what the Patriot defense will give you. 2. Protect Joe Flacco For number 1 to work...you must keep Joe calm and upright in the pocket. The Patriots only sacked the QB's 31 times this year good for 24th in the NFL. They don't blitz a lot either. Seeing Flacco having to scramble and not having time to throw early would be a very bad sign.  3. Pressure Tom Brady You don't have to sack him. You don't have to hit him. You MUST make him throw before he is ready and make him use his feet before he wants to. Johnson, Barnes, Suggs and company must make Brady feel the rush and check down. 4. Win the Turnover Battle I know a tried and true NFLism, but sometime tried and true are well tried and true for a reason. The Patriots were in the bottom half in creating turnovers this year with 28 total. Limit the turnovers and you should be in the game all day. Hold onto that ball! 
5. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed They must do what Ravens fans have grown accustomed to them doing. Make big plays in big games. Ray must drop deeper in pass coverage and not allow Ben Watson to beat him deep over the middle. Ed must make sure half the field is off limits to Brady and that half is where Randy Moss is. View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Re-Pete? Just say No!
Every year about this time of year it happens, it seems. NFL coaches are fired and the search for the next great leader of men begins. Inevitably Pete Carroll's name always comes up. It seems it has ever since he won his second National Championship in 2004. Pete flirts for awhile but has always gone back to work for USC.
 So here we are again in 2010 and the somewhat surprising firing of first year coach Jim Mora Jr by the Seattle Seahawks has brought Mr. Carroll's name to the forefront again. This time though, he seems to be serious. One source said "You're about to see a big headline that shakes up the major college football world," in reference to the Seahawks development. Carroll has had two NFL head coaching stints. First in 1994 with the NY Jets, where he inherited an 8 - 8 club and turned them into a 6 - 10 club before being fired. Then in 1997 he became the coach of the New England Patriots. This time he took over for Bill Parcels who handed him the 1996 AFC Champs. The Patriots did make it to the playoffs 2 out of his 3 years there, but records of 10 -6, 9 - 7 and then 8 - 8 was not good enough for the former AFC Champs and he was fired after the 1999 season. Overall Pete Carroll has a 34 - 33 record (including the playoffs) in the NFL. Hardly an embarrassment and making playoff appearances in 2 of his 4 years in the NFL us better then most, but something bothers me. Teams under Pete Carroll regressed under his leadership. He turned the 8 - 8 Jets in to a 6 - 10 team and was handed a Cadillac in New England and turned them into a Cavalier. In 2001 Pete Carroll took over a struggling USC team and has compiled 97 - 19 records including two National Championships. He has made USC in my opinion the team of the decade. Jay Glazer of FOXSPORTS.com reports the Seahawks have offered Carroll a significant amount of money and he is absolutely interested, according to two people close to Carroll. However, Carroll was also interested in the Falcons job before they hired Mike Smith in 2008. There are some coaches who should remain coordinators and some college coaches that should remain college coaches. Every NFL team is looking for the next Jimmy Johnson, but they are few and far between that can do it like Jimmy did. So I lend some advice to Mr. Carroll. With the help of two quotes: "Money can't buy happiness" and with apologies to Lloyd Benson... "I knew Jimmy Johnson, Jimmy Johnson was a friend of mine, and you Coach, are no Jimmy Johnson"  Coach stay in school...Seattle is not the place for you. KZ Update 9:35 pm Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times reports the Seattle Seahawks, who today fired coach Jim Mora, are close to reaching an agreement with USC's Pete Carroll to be their next coach, The Times has learned. A Seahawks contingent including CEO Tod Leiweke interviewed Carroll in Los Angeles earlier this week to gauge his interest in replacing Mora. Carroll has long been considered a candidate to return to the NFL, where he coached the New York Jets (1994) and New England Patriots (1997-1999). However, Carroll’s greatest success has come at the collegiate level. Although the Seahawks and Carroll are close to a deal, which is believed to be a five-year contract to become president and head coach at $7 million a year, nothing has been signed, said sources close to the situation who are not authorized to speak on his behalf. UPDATE 10:41 PM LA TIMES reports...Seattle and the USC coach are believed to have agreed to a five-year contract worth $7 million a year.View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
VLAD makes dollar and sense
Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports that the Rangers offered free
agent outfielder-designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero a one-year, $7
million contract.
It's not yet
clear if he'll accept. Guerrero, 34, batted .295/.334/.460 in 2009 with
15 home runs and 50 RBI in 383 at-bats with the Angels last season.
He'd step right in as the Rangers' new designated hitter. He has a
394/.471/.705 slashline in 50 career games in Arlington.
 Only $7 million? How good would Vlad look in an O's uniform? In the middle of the O's lineup? It makes perfect sense to me...Offer him $9 million for a one-year contract with a option for year two that is automatic if he achieves 25 home-runs and an average over 280. Why not? Imagine this... 2B - Roberts CF - Jones RF - Markakis DH - VLAD C - Wieters 3B - Atkins LF - Reimold 1B - Scott/Wiggington SS - Izturis That is not bad...in fact, dare I say it...its good! Markakis is protected...Wieters at worse gets to hit with Vlad on if they pitch around him (which is hard to do) and the team has a vet to learn from. Vlad will be 35 when the season starts and is a lifetime .322 hitter. So come on Orioles...lets think out of the box...if he is a bust for one year so be it...but at 34 he makes a ton of sense to have a bird on his hat. KZ UPDATE 1/10/10 11:38 am The Texas Rangers have agreed to terms with Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year deal with a mutual option for a second year, according to sources. Guerrero is guaranteed $6 million in the deal, which is pending a physical. It includes $5 million plus performance incentives for 2010 and a $1 million buyout if the Rangers don't pick up the option, a source said. I think the Orioles missed a real chance here... KZ View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
NFL WILDCARD WEEKEND and FANTASY PRIMER
Fantasy Football What's New For 01.07.10
RANKINGS WILL BE OUT EVERY THURSDAY, CLICK HERE FOR THEM... Also try this out for more Fantasy Advice...right from any phone...Click here or call 712-432-6511 plus REVIEW of the WEEK THAT WAS IN FANTASY FOOTBALL every TUESDAY RIGHT HERE ON THE WHAT's NEW PAGE!
Also try this out for more Fantasy Advice...right from any phone...Click Here or call 712-432-6511 TRADE BAIT(s): Most deadlines are past...next year! STAR(S) OF LAST WEEK (officially renamed the AP of the Week): Jamaal Charles, Brett Farve DUD(S) of the Last Week: MJD, Eli, VY, Steven Jackson, D. Jackson
Hot Pick up(s) of the week: LOOK FOR 2010 KEEPERS SOON
LAST WEEK:
TWO WEEKS AGO: TEAM(s) of the WEEK: Baltimore and New York Jets has to win and did! Ut Oh of the week: The Eagles...had everything in the world to play for...and laid an big egg!
MUST STARTS REVISED 12.28.09!! QB's: MUST STARTS: Brees, Brady, Rivers, Rodgers, McNabb, P. Manning, Warner, Roethlisberger, Schaub, Romo Others to consider this week: Playoff wildcard weekend: Rodgers, Romo, Warner, McNabb, Brady, Flacco, Palmer, Sanchez
Others to consider this week: Playoff wildcard weekend: Thomas Jones, Ray Rice, Ryan Grant, Wells, Barber, Benson, Jones, Westbrook, Morris
Other to consider this week: Playoff wildcard weekend (WR): Fitzgerald, Austin, Jennings, Driver, Mason, Moss, Edleman, Coles Playoff wildcard weekend (TE): Celek, Finley, Witten, Watson, Heap, Lee Top 10 to 15 or so starts for IDP's: DL: Dumervil, Mathis, Schobel, Freeney, Ogunleye, Will Smith, Wimbley, Mario Williams, Stroud, Cole, Hali, Umenyiora, Tuck, Grant, Peppers and Allen LB: Willis,
Fletcher, Harris, Ray Lewis, Harrison, Cooper, DJ Williams, Peterson,
Lofton, Briggs, Suggs, Foote, Durant, Thomas Davis, Beason, Morrison,
Howard, Dansby, Cushing, Witherspoon and Ryans DB: Sharper,
Woodsen, Byrd, Weddle, Manning, Bethea, Talib, Newman, Hope, Cox,
Delmas, Huff, Henry, Dawkins, Bell, Roman Harper, Reed, Tillman,
Winfield and Polamalu (when healthy)
SLEEPER(s) OF THE WEEK:(what DUD will become a STUD, at least for one week....we will try to give a QB, RB and WR/TE each week... )
QB: Joe Flacco RB: Shonn Green WR/TE: Mark Clayton and Steve Breaston
Kicker and/or Defense: Cincinnati Some Other Guys We Don't Like This Week... BUSTS(s) OF THE WEEK(what STUD will become a DUD, at least for one week....we will try to give a QB, RB and WR/TE each week... ) QB: McNabb RB: Benson WR/TE: Moss Defense: Jets View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Please go away already!
So in my daily look around the sports world today I found an article by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. The headline reads: "Cuban blasts NFL for scheduling Cowboys game at same time as Mavericks."
Really Mark? Really? You are picking on the NFL? Really? I don't know about you but Mr. Cuban's act has worn thin to me. As an owner he spends his money and tries to put the best product on the court he can, so if I was a Mavericks fan I guess I would love this guy, but removed from the situation I have grown tired of him. He makes himself more important then the team, maybe its why his team have never won a championship. When I read the headline my first thought was isn't Jerry Jones still the owner of the Cowboys? I think there is only one Prime-time NFL game this weekend, right? And as we all know Jerry Jones runs the NFL, but Mr. Cuban said this "It's not a Jerry Jones issue Jerry's great, but at some point in time, that will catch up to [the NFL] and hurt them in a big way." Mr. Cuban please...I see through you...the NBA is insignificant until after the Super Bowl and you needed everyone to look at you and your team. Congrats for being in second place in the conference, but if you think for a second the NFL is worried about you or the NBA, you are more delusional then your act at your home games. Cuban went on to say the NFL has never shown any interest in developing a scheduling cooperative with the NBA or the NHL and perhaps having designated days for each league to avoid overlapping. The Mavericks have sold out all but a couple of hundred tickets for the Utah game, meaning their sellout streak (334 games) will stay alive. But Cuban expects to have a large number of no-shows because of the Cowboys' game starting 30 minutes before the Mavericks' game. Things like this, he said, infuriate owners in other leagues. "The owners in the NBA aren't the only ones taking notes," Cuban said. "There's a balance between all the leagues, and it's going to bite them in the end." Mark enough...the NFL is not worried about you or the NBA. Jerry Jones would walk right past you to do what is best for the Cowboys and the NFL. How is this for a solution. Move your game to 3:30 pm and then show the Cowboys game on the big screen in the arena, keep the concession stands open and make some more money. They call you a business man...really? KZ View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
DeCosta to Seattle?
According to Jason LaCanfora, Eric DeCosta is one of the four finalists for the GM job in Seattle. Prior to his recent appointment as Director of Player Personnel for the Baltimore Ravens on January 28, 2009, DeCosta served as Director of College Scouting for the Ravens for six years, at one time being the youngest College Scouting Director in the NFL. DeCosta, who began his career in the National Football League as a Player Personnel Assistant in 1996, served as Mid-West Area Scout from 1998-2003.  Prior to his stint in the NFL, DeCosta worked at Trinity College (1993-1996) as a Graduate Fellow, coaching football in the Athletic Department. Named as one of the most powerful people in sports under the age of 35, during DeCosta’s tenure as scouting director, the Ravens drafted Pro Bowlers
LB Terrell Suggs (’03), Ray Rice ('08) and FB Le’Ron McClain (’07) and a number of
other key contributors, including OLB Jarret Johnson (’03), WR Mark
Clayton (’05), C Jason Brown (’05), DT Haloti Ngata (’06), G Ben Grubbs
(’07), T Jared Gaither (’07 Supplemental Draft) and QB Joe Flacco and ('08). KZ UPDATE 1/8/10: DeCosta removed himself from consideration View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Trouble in Steelerland?
Ron Long has said for weeks now that something is not right within the Pittsburgh Steelers. That in the next few weeks either there would be man changes or everyone will come together and fix whatever the internal issues are. Well this comes across the wire...
 Ken Laird of 1250 ESPN in Pittsburgh is reporting that Steelers Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians will be relieved of his duties this week. Mike Tomlin hinted at coaching changes at his season ending press conference earlier today on 1250 ESPN. Rob seems to be on to something... Update 3:16pmKen Anderson will retire as Steelers QB coach. Update 2 1/6/10 2:37 pm Michael Lombardi of NFL Network reports the Steelers have fired offensive line coach Larry Zierlein. Zierlein was in his third season in Pittsburgh after being hired by coach Mike Tomlin in 2007. I dont approach making major changes in response to our record, I like to use the term appropriate changes, Tomlin said Tuesday. Those arent knee-jerk reactions, those arent quick decisions. My mentality will always be to make appropriate changes. Big changes is not something I necessarily I buy into. KZ View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Billick to Buffalo??
Paul Hamilton of WGR in Buffalo is reporting Brian Billick is already assembling a staff to come to Buffalo. This according to a league source. There are two ways this could be going. Is he putting together a staff because the Bills have hired him as head coach or is he putting together a staff so he's ready if the Bills want to hire him as head coach?  
Last month Billick said on the NFL Network, "Why would anybody want the Buffalo job", but obviously that's changed. Update 1/6/10 9:17 am Ed Kilgore of WGRZ TV in Buffalo reports there are indications former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick is in the process of putting together a coaching staff to join him in Buffalo, even though Billick said on the NFL Network Monday "I've not had contact with the Bills as of yet".Ch2 Sports Director Ed Kilgore has learned from an NFL source that Billick contacted Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach/tight ends coach Mike Tice about the possibility of joining Billick if he is named head coach of the Bills. This begs the question "is Billick putting the cart before the horse" here? We'll find out shortly, as several media outlets report the Bills plan to contact Billick about their head coaching job very soon. KZ View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Raven Pro Bowlers
According to Aaron Wilson @RavensInsider
     KZ Update 6:55 pm Pro Bowl alternates are Grubbs, Suggs, Birk and Zbikowski View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Ray Rice a Pro Bowler?
Sources close to Jacksonville Running Back Maurice Jones-Drew have confirmed that "MJD" will be one of the Running Backs on the AFC PRO BOWL TEAM announced today. MJD was in DC today as the honorary coin tosser for the Eagle Bank Bowl game between UCLA and Temple.
  Assumption is that Tennessee Running Back Chis Johnson will be another Running Back for the AFC. Which leaves a host of deserving candidates for the AFC to choose from for its 3rd RB spot including Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones, Ricky Williams, Joseph Addai and Ray Rice. Other Ravens awaiting a Pro Bowl call include FullBack LaRon McClain, LB Ray Lewis, DT Haloti Ngata and perennial Pro-Bowler Ed Reed. KZ UPDATE 6:04pm According to Ray Rice's Twitter account he has made the Pro Bowl team. UPDATE 6:09 pm Aaron Wilson reports Ravens' Pro Bowlers expected to include R. Rice (1st time), H. Ngata (1st time) with repeat selections for R. Lewis, L. McClain and E. Reed. View Comments (0) - Post New Comment
Did you know that the Steelers play the Ravens
Hello from South Carolina. It's pretty ironic that its Christmas week and the Steelers and Ravens hook up with the playoffs on the line. I mean what better gift could the Ravens give their fans then a road win vs the hated Steelers and a gift wrapped playoff appearance.
I wrote earlier in the week that this was not a must win game this week, but I have to admit I was wrong. This is the biggest game of the year...for the STEELERS....win and they have a chance to reach the playoffs, a loss and its time to look towards the NFL Draft in April. A loss for the Ravens would be a problem as well but not a season ending one. For the Steelers it would be!
So who wins? Both teams are banged up on both sides of the ball. Wide Receivers are hurt, Secondaries are hurt...Steelers got a lease on life last week with a heart thomping last second win over a Green Bay team that handled the Ravens rather easily. The Ravens come
 into the game after two rather easy wins over the NFL bottom-feeders. Games that continued the theme that the Ravens take care of the teams they should take care of, but struggle a bit against the better teams.So is this a typical throw out the records Steelers/Ravens game? Does it even matter who plays or doesn't play. I mean the Ravens struggled with a third string QB in his first NFL start the first time these teams met in Baltimore this year. I DON'T THINK IT IS...
Lets be blunt...The RAVENS are the better team! Their offensive and defensive lines are healthier and better then the Steelers. If you think the Ravens secondary has been bad, go talk to a Steelers fan about their leaky defensive backs. The Steelers Secondary that gave away games in the final minutes to the Bears, Chiefs and Raiders this season. They have given up at least 250 pass yards in 3 of the last 4 games. The only game they didn't, they lost to the Browns on a windy frigid night. BUT the Steelers beat good teams and at 8 - 6 the Ravens have to be considered a good team. Steelers have wins over Tennessee, San Diego, Minnesota and Green Bay. That is pretty impressive.
OK enough chit chat....The Ravens MUST finally unleash a pass rush...knock Big Ben around...sell out to give up the big play if you have to. I mean the Steelers are going to score anyway, so why not take some chances. On Offense...Ravens must score TD's early and often and use the PASS to set up the RUN...
I see a classic this week, but I believe in what I see....
Ravens 38 Steelers 37
KZ
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WEEK 16 FANTASY FOOTBALL PRIMER
RANKINGS WILL BE OUT EVERY THURSDAY, CLICK HERE FOR THEM... Also try this out for more Fantasy Advice...right from any phone...Click here or call 712-432-6511 plus REVIEW of the WEEK THAT WAS IN FANTASY FOOTBALL every TUESDAY RIGHT HERE ON THE WHAT's NEW PAGE!
Also try this out for more Fantasy Advice...right from any phone...Click Here or call 712-432-6511 TRADE BAIT(s): Most deadlines are past...next year! STAR(S) OF LAST WEEK (officially renamed the AP of the Week): Jerome Harrison and Ben Roethlisberger DUD(S) of the Last Week: Brees and Brady (there were worse but not as high profile in the fantasy playoffs)
Hot Pick up(s) of the week: Derek Anderson, Matt Ryan Jerome Harrison, Maurice Morris and
LAST WEEK: Ganther and Reggie Bush
TWO WEEKS AGO: Harrison and Hartley with Davone Bess TEAM(s) of the WEEK: Indy..maybe, but the Steelers down to their last play or they were out of the playoff hunt somehow got it done. Ut Oh of the week: NY Jets are still alive for a playoff spot but missed three FG's in a 10 - 7 loss to Atlanta that had nothing but pride to play for...btw tell Rex Ryan he still has a chance...he may not know yet
MUST STARTS REVISED 11.17.09!! QB's: MUST STARTS: Brees, Brady, Rivers, Rodgers, McNabb, P. Manning, Warner, Roethlisberger, Schaub Others to consider this week:Young, Garrard, Henne, Romo, Campbell, Palmer, A. Smith
Others to consider this week: Ricky Williams, Addai, T. Jones, Maroney, Charles, Harrison, M. Bush, B. Wells, Bradshaw
Other to consider this week: Sims-Walker, Mason, Driver, V.Davis, Olson, Garcon, Holmes, Jennings, Crabtree Top 10 to 15 or so starts for IDP's: DL: Dumervil, Mathis, Schobel, Freeney, Ogunleye, Will Smith, Wimbley, Mario Williams, Stroud, Cole, Hali, Umenyiora, Tuck, Grant, Peppers and Allen LB: Willis, Fletcher, Harris, Ray Lewis, Harrison, Cooper, DJ Williams, Peterson, Lofton, Briggs, Suggs, Foote, Durant, Thomas Davis, Beason, Morrison, Howard, Dansby, Cushing, Witherspoon and Ryans DB: Sharper, Woodsen, Byrd, Weddle, Manning, Bethea, Talib, Newman, Hope, Cox, Delmas, Huff, Henry, Dawkins, Bell, Roman Harper, Reed, Tillman, Winfield and Polamalu (when healthy)
SLEEPER(s) OF THE WEEK: what DUD will become a STUD�at least for one week....we will try to give a QB, RB and WR/TE each week...
QB: Charlie Frye...hey its week 16...I have to dig deep RB: Chester Taylor...Farve in his late season slump, Vikes run run run WR/TE: L. Coles...everyone catches TD's vs KC
Kicker and/or Defense: Oakland could have a nice day Some Other Guys We Don't Like This Week...
BUSTS(s) OF THE WEEK: what STUD will become a DUD�at least for one week....we will try to give a QB, RB and WR/TE each week... QB: P. Manning...yes you have to start him, but temper expectations a bit... RB: Moreno was a disappointment last week and that continues this week WR/TE: TO and Evans should be left on the bench this week...Brohm at QB? Defense: NY Jets play guess who this week... KZ...Merry Christmas to all....
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Is the Steelers game a must win?
A win vs the Steelers and basically the Ravens are in the playoffs.
Next week lets assume and in the NFL nothing is certain anymore but based on the good fortune of the Ravens so far, lets let the good times roll...
New England will beat the Jags...Jags eliminated and New England wins the east
Indy beats the Jets...Jets eliminated..Jets play Cincinnati week 17.
Philly beats Denver...Denver gets their 7th loss...both the Ravens and Steelers win tie-breakers with Denver. They would be huge for the Ravens.
Houston beats Miami...now here is the key game for the Ravens next week....Miami eliminated...Houston in the mix at 8 - 7 Houston plays New England in week 17 btw... Miami plays Pittsburgh in week 17...if Miami beats Houston in week 16...Houston is eliminated and the Pittsburgh/Miami game in week 17 is an elimination game.
That leaves Pittsburgh, Houston or Miami, Denver and the Ravens all at 8 - 7 for two spots...if they all tie at 9 - 7...Pittsburgh and the Ravens would go to the playoffs playoffs as they will have the both beaten Denver and the Ravens even with a loss to Pittsburgh will still have the better divisional record (3 - 3 to 2 - 4) over them Steelers...
Now the easiest way here is to beat the Steelers and then beat Oakland and be at worst the number 5 seed...but we all know I have rarely put the "MUST WIN" pressure on the Ravens...and I am NOT going to do it this Sunday either. Below are the NFL Tie Breaking procedures...its all falling into place for the Ravens!
The six postseason participants from each conference will now be seeded as follows:
1. The division champion with the best record. 2. The division champion with the second-best record. 3. The division champion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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