Buccaneers Release Veterans

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a bold move and released five veteran players in an effort to get younger. Those five players were Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, Ike Hilliard, and Cato June. All five of these players has had at least some success, with Brooks and Dunn being longtime fan favorites and very productive in their long careers with the Buccaneers. Galloway has been a productive wide receiver the past couple of seasons except this past season, and Hilliard, along with June, have been very serviceable.

I don't agree with the moves the Buccaneers made at all. I would have been for releasing Ike Hilliard, since they may not want just a serviceable receiver. Brooks was very good this past season, while veteran cornerback Ronde Barber wasn't. Why wasn't Barber released? June was just signed by the Buccaneers before the 2007 season after he won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts. He could be a real asset and the Buccaneers let him go.

Galloway has been very productive since he came over in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys that sent Keyshawn Johnson from the Buccaneers to the Cowboys. Galloway could've been playing alongside receiver Antonio Bryant, who was very good this past season, for an explosive offense. This move makes no sense because the Buccaneers coach is Raheem Morris, who is just 32 years old. They need the veterans there to lead the team. They have just put themselves in rebuilding mode, when there is no clear cut team that are locks for a championship other than the New England Patriots, who were defeated by the New York Giants after coming in 18-0.

What do you think? How will the Buccaneers do in the 2009 season? How long will Barber last now that he is the only veteran there?

Colts Release Harrison

The Indianapolis Colts released wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who has been a mainstay and a the epitome of consistency for this team since 1996. The move was made because Harrison refused to take a pay cut and the Colts were being affected by the salary cap. Harrison has been with the Colts since they drafted him in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. Harrison has the record for most catches in a season with 143 in 2002 and is second in career receptions, behind Jerry Rice.

It was evident that this was going to be an emotional decision for owner Jim Irsay. Harrison has been there the longest of any current player and Harrison constantly got the job done without all the extra-curricular activity that has been known from guys like Terrell Owens and Chad Ocho-Cinco. In my opinion, the Colts had to release him. Harrison did have 60 receptions this past season, but the Colts were in a salary cap situation where they needed to start shedding salary. The Colts did what was possible in asking him to take a pay cut, but he refused. I don't think Harrison will have a productive end to his career on another team because he developed a great bond with quarterback Peyton Manning. However, when Harrison retires, he is a sure Hall of Famer.

What do you think of the Colts decision to release Harrison? What team will Harrison sign with for next season? Will he have another productive season?

NBA Injuries

This past week, which has been the first week after the NBA All-Star Weekend, four players have gone down and will be out for an extended period of time. Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers, Kevin Garnett of the defending champion Boston Celtics, and Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns will each miss a good amount of time due to various injuries.

Ginobili is out with a stress reaction to his right shin, and he will be out for two to three weeks. Granger is out for up to three weeks as well with a partial tear of tissue in his right foot. Garnett went down against the Utah Jazz with a knee strain in his right knee and will now miss two to three weeks with that knee strain. Stoudemire was poked in the eye in their game at the Los Angeles Clippers and had eye surgery the next day to repair a partially detached retina, which will force him to miss at least eight weeks.

These injuries are significant in their own ways. For the Spurs, they are trying to stay at their #2 position in the Western Conference and having Ginobili out for that long is going to be bad for the team. They didn't have Ginobili for the first couple of weeks of the season because of offseason ankle surgery and they were just mediocre as Tony Parker was out as well. Granger's injury is not as significant, even though he is arguably their best player, because the Pacers are not really contenders. They are still in reach of that last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but are not expected to do much.

Garnett's injury is huge to the Celtics because they can easily fall to the third spot in the Eastern Conference with the way the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic are playing. Home-court advantage is key, as we saw last season with the Celtics. Stoudamire's inury is probably the biggest because he is their All-Star and the Suns now probably won't make the playoffs because of his absence. They are a dangerous offensive team with him and without him, they will probably encounter droughts during a game that can determine the outcome.

What you think about these injuries? Which one is the most significant? Which one doesn't matter at all?

Alston Sent to Magic in Three Team Deal

Rafer Alston, point guard of the Houston Rockets, has been traded to the Orlando Magic in a three team trade that also included the Memphis Grizzlies. It has been no secret the Magic were seeking a point guard after point guard Jameer Nelson sustained a season ending shoulder injury. Earlier in the month, they acquired Tyronn Lue from the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade.

The Rockets have given up one of their most successful players partly because of Aaron Brooks. Brooks, in his second year out of Oregon, has shown that he is capable of leading the Rockets. It still isn't clear why they felt the need to get rid of Alston, but they are showing trust in Brooks. Kyle Lowry of the Grizzlies and Brian Cook of the Magic went to the Rockets in the deal. The Grizzlies got Adonal Foyle of the Magic and Mike Wilks of the Rockets, a first round draft pick, and cash.

This deal makes the most sense out of all the deadline deals, in my opinion, because it is geared for the Magic to continue to win now. They are contending with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference crown, and they don't want that opportunity to go by. When the Magic lost Nelson, many, including me, felt the Magic's season was done. Now that they have made this move, it puts them right back where they've been for most of the season and may make them better offensively. Alston has been good at getting the ball to Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, and I think he'll be good at getting the ball to Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard.

Kings Trade Miller to Bulls

The Sacramento Kings have traded Brad Miller and John Salmons to the Chicago Bulls for Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin and Cedric Simmons. The Kings were actively looking for teams who were willing to give them the players they wanted for Miller. Miller and Salmons were arguably two of the Kings best three players. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks have also been in discussion to acquire Miller, but the Bulls made the best offer.

The Kings record right now stands at 11-43, which is the worst in the NBA. This move was made for financial reasons as the Kings go into rebuilding mode. The Kings were trying to get the Bulls to take Mikki Moore, but the Bulls didn't want him. Now the Kings have to rebuild around Kevin Martin, who is capable of putting up All-Star numbers every game. The Kings, who received Ruffin in the deal, traded him quickly to the Portland Trail Blazers for Ike Diogu.

I think this deal strengthens the Bulls for their playoff run. They have a lot of good players in rookie Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas. The Kings, on the other hand, need to rebuild and this deal is the first step in that direction. The next two or three drafts will be key because if they draft smart, they can be successful in three to four years if Kevin Martin is still there. However, this deal still doesn't put the Bulls anywhere near the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics or the Cavaliers.

Jags Cut Taylor, Saints Cut McAllister

Fred Taylor, running back of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Deuce McAllister, running back for the New Orleans Saints, have both been cut by their respective teams in salary cap moves. It was reported that Taylor offered to take a paycut to stay with the Jaguars. He has teamed up with young running back Maurice Jones-Drew to form a great running combination. That combination helped them get to the playoffs in the 2007 season with a 12-4 record, where they lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.

McAllister has also formed a combination with himself and Reggie Bush to bolster the Saints offense, in addition to quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Marques Colston. McAllister, earlier in the 2008 season, was one of eight players who tested positive for a banned substance. McAllister also has only rushed for a little over 500 yards in the past two seasons combined after having at least 1,000 yards in four of the previous five seasons. Now both of them are on the free agent market looking to join a team at an age where they may not be effective.

Both running backs are in their 30s so it'll be tough to find a place where they'll get the carries they want. However, Taylor has shown that he can be productive in the past couple of seasons. McAllister hasn't been productive at all the past two seasons so I think his demand will be much lower than Taylor's. I also believe Taylor is just a better running back period. He has the speed and the shiftiness to elude defenders, while McAllister's big frame doesn't break tackles that often. A good destination for either of the two will probably be the Patriots, since Laurence Maroney is a little injury prone and Kevin Faulk is only a good third down back.

Porter Fired In Half A Season

Terry Porter, head coach of the Phoenix Suns, was fired for the Suns poor performance this season. The firing comes at the All-Star break, amid rumors that Porter would be heading out the door. Last season, the Suns were 55-27 under head coach Mike D'Antoni. However, they lost in the first round in five games to the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. It was another unsuccessful run in the playoffs for the Suns, who've strived in the regular season under D'Antoni.

Suns general manager Steve Kerr, who has won five championships as a player, felt the Suns should focus a little bit more on defense. Under D'Antoni, their offense has always been at the top of the NBA but their defense has always been one of the league's worst, which has held them from advancing to the NBA Finals. D'Antoni and Kerr fueded and D'Antoni left the Suns for the New York Knicks. Kerr then hired Porter, who promised a lot of focus on defense.

However, they have not played as well without their uptempo offensive style. Their record now stands at 28-23, which is good for ninth place in the Western Conference playoff race. If the playoffs started today, they would not be a part of it. The Suns have already traded mainstays Raja Bell and Boris Diaw to the Charlotte Bobcats and superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Amare Stoudamire are reportedly on the trading block. Suns assistant coach Alvin Gentry will take over.

Steve Kerr is now showing that the moves he made has been a mistake. The move he made last year getting rid of Shawn Marion for O'Neal has not necessarily worked out. Changing from an offensive oriented coach to a defensive oriented coach has also not gone well. I think Steve Kerr is proving that his success as a player will not be matched as a general manager. The Suns constantly gave themselves a chance to contend with their high-powered offense in the past. Now, their abandonment of that offense and a focus on defense has left them out of the playoff race and has pulled Steve Nash's numbers down. Porter also hasn't shown that he has been a good head coach at all, failing in Milwaukee with the Milwaukee Bucks before coming to Phoenix. Kerr should be the next one out if he doesn't shape up soon.

Marion Traded For O'Neal

Shawn Marion, forward for the Miami Heat, has been traded to the Toronto Raptors, along with point guard Marcus Banks, for center Jermaine O'Neal and forward Jamario Moon. Marion has been involved in trade rumors for weeks, a year after being traded to the Heat from the Phoenix Suns. It didn't seem like Marion fit in well with the Heat and star guard Dwayne Wade.

The trade the Raptors made sending O'Neal away comes as a little bit of a surprise but he was definitely on the block and generated interest. It was reported that the Heat were probably going to pursue Suns forward Amare Stoudamire. He is the hottest name out there on the trading block. The Raptors get an expiring contract at the end of the season with Marion and the Heat get O'Neal contract that is done after the 2009-2010 season.

I knew the Heat were going to make this deal but it surprised me a bit when it happened. The night before, against the Chicago Bulls, Marion had the game winning dunk with under five seconds left. Now the Heat get O'Neal, which would help them solidify their front line with Dwayne Wade running the show. Both players are former All-Stars, but both haven't been playing well this season and last season. The Raptors are not benefiting from getting Marion. He doesn't provide them anything and they will suffer even more than they did when O'Neal was there. The Raptors will not make the playoffs and they'll be looking to get his salary off of their hands.

Tejada Pleads Guilty to Congress For Lying

Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada plead guilty on charges of lying about the discussions of steroids. Tejada becomes another prominent baseball figure in trouble with the law and he could be doing jail time. Tejada could face up to a year in prison. However, they said that is unlikely as a supposed deal has already been struck. But Tejada has other things to worry about as well, including possible deportation.

Tejada's immigration status makes him susceptible to possible deportation by the U.S. government. If they think his crime is serious enough, they will most likely be deported back to the Dominican Republican, never to return to the United States. That would end his baseball career in Major League Baseball. He lied about not having any discussions or conversations about steroids. The Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs says that he talked with former teammate Adam Piatt, which meant that Tejada lied to investigators.

I watched the press conference and Tejada apologized and cried during the apology. He had no other choice. His baseball career in the U.S. will be over if they choose to run him out the country. Personally, I would like to see politics not involved with sports. If someone tests positive for steroids, then they will get their punishment from the heads of baseball. Congressmen and other politicians have a lot more to do in fixing this country and the economic turmoil the country is in.

Jefferson Done For Season

Al Jefferson, center for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Jefferson hurt the knee in a game against the New Orleans Hornets on February 8. It looked bad on replay as he landed very awkardly when he came down. Many people feared the worst and now they've gotten the worse news.

Jefferson was one of three players this year to be averaging at least 20 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. He didn't make the Western Conference All-Star team, which some people felt was wrong. Some people felt he was deserving of an All-Star appearance, because some argue that he his the best center in the Western Conference. He is fifth in the NBA in double-doubles, with 30 of them so far. The Timberwolves were on the rise as well after struggling mightily in November and December. Their January record was very impressive.

The Timberwolves weren't making the playoffs anyway if Jefferson would've finished the season. However, this is a big blow because they'll probably go back to the way they were in November and December. Jefferson definitely should've been in the All-Star game, certainly over the likes of people like David West of the Hornets. If Jefferson would've finished the season, they could've had some momentum and continuity going into the next season making a run for the playoffs. Now Jefferson has to rehab and get himself ready for basketball again. It'll be tough on the Timberwolves.

A-Rod In Steroid Trouble

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been named by Sports Illustrated as 1 of 104 players that tested positive for steroids in the 2003 season. Rodriguez was with the Texas Rangers that season. He won the American League MVP award that year as well, and now this steroid allegation will probably tarnish his MVP season of 2003.

Rodriguez batted .298 with 47 home runs and 118 runs batted in during his MVP season of 2003. In the 2002 season, his numbers were far better. He had 57 home runs and 142 runs batted in, while maintaining an even .300 batting average. Rodriguez signed a record ten year contract with the Rangers back in 2001. His contract was worth $252 million, but he was traded to the Yankees in 2004.

This is another dart in baseball's reputation. I saw this coming with Rodriguez when Jose Canseco said a while back that he introduced Rodriguez to steroids. When Canseco came out and gave the names of steroids users, no one seemed to believe him and thought he was just promoting a book. But the names started to come out slowly, especially after Senator George Mitchell's results. Now Rodriguez is the latest player to try and defend his reputation. Good luck!

Brand Done For Season

Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand will miss the rest of the regular season because of his upcoming shoulder surgery. Brand was signed in the offseason after having successful seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, including getting the Clippers to Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Phoenix Suns. He revitalized the Clippers that year, as the Clippers have always been a struggling franchise.

Brand's shoulder injury occurred in December against the Milwaukee Bucks. He landed awkwardly on his shoulder, and did some damage to it. He opted for rehabilition instead of surgery, so he missed about a month. He returned in late January but wasn't effective at all. In his last game against the Boston Celtics, he only played eight minutes and didn't score. Currently, the 76ers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.

This is troubling for the 76ers. They paid Brand $80 million over 5 years and this is what he gives them in half a season. It wasn't like he was effective when he was healthy either. Brand hasn't blended into the 76ers style of play and I question whether they should've gotten him in the first place. The 76ers are probably feeling like the Washington Wizards. The Wizards paid guard Gilbert Arenas $111 million over six years, and hasn't stepped on the court since he signed that contract. The 76ers will now have to evaluate their performance without Brand and see if they can play effectively without him.

Lebron Scores 52, Triple-Double in MSG

Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 52 points in the Cavaliers win against the New York Knicks at legendary Madison Square Garden, a couple of days after Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers scored 61 points at Madison Square Garden. The Cavaliers beat the Knicks 107-102. In addition to his 52 points, James had 11 assists and 10 rebounds, which gives him a triple-double.

James started off hot, scoring 20 points in the first quarter. There were many who said he'll get the record for the most points in Madison Square Garden, which Bryant got a couple of days earlier. However, James cooled off but was still able to get 50 points. James and legend Michael Jordan are the only players to score 50 points twice at Madison Square Garden.

James pulled off an impressive feat by scoring 52 points and getting a triple-double. However, I believe James has to realize that performances like that are not going to win championships. James clearly was aiming at getting more than Bryant's 61 points. I think that shows the kind of person he is. He only cares about individual accolades, which isn't going to win him a championship. He is too worried with laughing and conversing with Spike Lee and Jay-Z, instead of focusing on the Cavaliers. That attitude has to change or James will realize why he doesn't get a championship soon.

Nelson To Miss Significant Time

Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson will miss significant playing time after it was revealed that he suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder against the Dallas Mavericks. Nelson has been instrumental to the Magic's success this season, which had led to the Magic battling against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the defending champion Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Nelson was selected to this year's All-Star Game by the coaches as a reserve for his stellar play. He joined Magic's center Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis as All-Stars this season. Nelson is averaging 16.7 points per game and 5.4 assists per game this year, which have been his best season statistics of his career. Nelson has also improved his shooting, with his field goal percentage at 50% and his three point field goal percentage at 45%, which are career highs.

Nelson's absence is going to hurt the Magic. The Magic went 4-1 when he was out earlier this season, but he is playing at a high level. I believe the Magic will still be competetive, but they don't stand a chance now against the Celtics and Cavaliers, who have good point guards in Mo Williams and Rajon Rondo. Anthony Johnson is the Magic backup point guard and he is certainly capable of scoring. But he doesn't give them the explosiveness Nelson gives them and they don't have another point guard on their roster, which means they'll probably have to make a trade. With Nelson's injury, the Magic's season will end without success.

Steelers Win Super Bowl XLIII

The Pittsburgh Steelers have won Super Bowl XLIII after defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in a classic Super Bowl. The Steelers have won an NFL record six Super Bowls with their win. The win didn't come easily for the Steelers though. The ending was dramatic, with the Steelers eventually coming out on top with 35 seconds left for good.

The Steelers jumped out to a 10-0 lead after Gary Russell's 1 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. The Cardinals looked flat, not establishing themselves on offense early on. However, they were able to score on the next possession after a big catch from wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner then threw a touchdown pass to Ben Patrick to make it 10-7.

The Cardinals had another chance to score when they were in a 1st and goal situation with under 30 seconds left. However, Steelers linebacker James Harrison intercepted Warner's pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown as the first half expired for the longest return in Super Bowl history. The Cardinals defense stepped up in the second half, only giving up a field goal in the third quarter.

The Cardinals got rolling in the fourth quarter. Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald scored two touchdown receptions, with the second one giving the Cardinals a 23-20 lead with just over two minutes remaining. However, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was able to lead a 78 yard drive and threw a six yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who ended up as the Super Bowl MVP, with 35 seconds left. The Cardinals last attempt to score again was ended with five seconds left when Warner fumbled the ball away.

This was a classic Super Bowl and was just as good as Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. However, I feel like the Cardinals were robbed of a victory in a way. There were calls that were curiously going the Steelers way. For instance, there was a play where Roethlisberger threw the ball away where he seemed to be in the pocket. It was believed to be intentional grounding but they called a roughing the passer penalty on linebacker Karlos Dansby which was very questionable. They also didn't stop the game to review the Warner fumble with five seconds left. It appeared that it still could've been an imcomplete pass, but they let the Steelers continue and run the final five seconds out. In my opinion, it was a cheap championship for the Steelers and it was probably because of a fascination with the Steelers because of their historical success.

Smith And Woodson In Hall Of Fame

Former defensive end Bruce Smith and former safety and defensive back Rod Woodson were among six people who will be a part of the 2009 Hall of Fame class. Smith is the all-time leader in sacks with 200 career sacks. He passed the late great Reggie White several years ago while with the Washington Redskins. Woodson was and excellent defensive back and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. He played both corner and safety in his career.

Smith started his career with the Buffalo Bills after having a stellar college career with Virginia Tech. He was extremely talented at rushing the passer. He helped the Bills get to four straight Super Bowls, in which they all lost. The Bills will be remembered for losing those four Super Bowls. He joined the Redskins after many seasons with the Bills to finish his career.

Woodson played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland Raiders. Woodson is the career leader in interceptions returned for a touchdown with 12 of them. Woodson won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2001 against the New York Giants. He also played in the Super Bowl with the Steelers in 1996 against the Dallas Cowboys and the Super Bowl in 2003 with the Raiders when they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Also inducted in this year's Hall of Fame is the late great Derrick Thomas, Bills owner Ralph Wilson, and Randall McDaniel. They will be inducted on August 8. I believe Smith is a first ballot Hall of Famer and he is very deserving. Woodson wasn't as impactful, as he played for four teams in his career, but was still a very good defensive player. Thomas got it, in my opinion, because of his untimely death. Thomas wasn't anything more than a pass-rushing linebacker, which doesn't qualify as a Hall of Famer. His numbers were very good though.