Bynum's Apology

Mavericks G J.J. Barea takes it to the paint
against Lakers C Andrew Bynum.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum has been suspended by the NBA for the first five games of the 2011-2012 season for his flagrant 2 foul on Dallas Mavericks G J.J. Barea in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Bynum joins Detroit Pistons F Charlie Villanueva as players who will be suspended for the start of next season for their transgressions in their last game. In the last game of the regular season, Villanueva got into a brief altercation with Cleveland Cavaliers C Ryan Hollins, then proceeded to try and go after him while he was in the locker room. The NBA suspended Villanueva five games also.

Bynum and Lakers F Lamar Odom received a lot of criticism for their hard fouls that ended in both of them being tossed. The Lakers were being blown out in the fourth quarter when frustration set in. After the game, Bynum and Odom were ripped for their transgressions. Bynum publicly apologized for the first time yesterday, and it sparked a debate as to whether Bynum was sincere in his apology. He didn't seem to care about the play at all the day it happened. Clearly, Bynum was frustrated the entire series with the Mavericks easy penetration into the lane possession after possession.

Bynum's apology certainly seemed sincere, contrary to what many media members think. Bynum had a couple of days to think about what he had done and how severe it could've been had Barea gotten injured on the play. Just because Bynum wasn't remorseful or contrite initially doesn't mean you can't have time to think about it and change your view. Bynum certainly didn't do the right thing by hitting Barea when he was so far in the air. However, Bynum did what many big men do once the paint is being attacked way too much. He took physical action, something that's usually applauded.

After the Chicago Bulls trashed the Atlanta Hawks the entire game during Game 3, Hawks coach Larry Drew said his team was too complacent and they weren't physical at all. Bulls star G Derrick Rose scored 44 points and was getting into the paint at will. Drew was publicly telling his team to be more physical in attempting to deter Rose from getting into the paint at will. Barea was getting into the paint at will all series long, and Bynum got tired of it. Why should he receive so much criticism? Bynum did what should've been done in the second quarter. Dribble penetration and open three-pointers are the reason the Lakers are on vacation. Had they done something about it earlier in Game 4, they would probably still be playing basketball.

Saints Win Rematch of NFC Title

It wasn't pretty for both teams, but the New Orleans Saints were able to take a lead early in the second half and hold it for a 14-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Some predicted that Vikings' QB Brett Favre will not duplicate the success he had last season, where he threw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. It's too early to tell, but he wasn't as successful as the Vikings wanted him to be.

The Saints victory was the lowest scoring win for the Saints during the Sean Payton era. However, they will gladly take the victory. QB Drew Brees was accurate, completing 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. They scored early, jumping out on top with 12:56 to go in the first quarter on WR Devery Henderson's 29-yard touchdown reception. But the scoring stopped, until the Vikings scored nine the second quarter with K Ryan Longwell's 41-yard field goal and TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 20-yard touchdown reception. The extra point was blocked after the touchdown, giving them nine instead of 10.

The Saints started off the second half on a good note also, as they scored another touchdown from RB Pierre Thomas. From there, it was just stingy defense from the two teams and two missed field goals from K Garrett Hartley prevented the Saints from scoring more. Favre only completed 15 of 27 passes for 171 yards, and he threw his first interception of the season. This was the seventh consecutive time the defending champions who hosted the opening Thursday night game has won. The Saints will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Monday Night, and the Vikings will travel back home to host the Miami Dolphins for their home opener.

NFC West Preview

The NFC West is by far the worst division in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams don't figure to be threats to many teams in the NFL. However, there is upside to this division. The Seahawks had an amazing draft, so there's a chance they can surprise people and capture the division crown. The 49ers already have an assembly of talent on their roster, so it's plausible for them to succeed. The Rams used their #1 overall pick on what they hope to be the future of their franchise in QB Sam Bradford.

The St. Louis Rams drafting of QB Sam Bradford was a step in the right direction. They let go of QB Marc Bulger, who for years has been very overrated. It'll be difficult for Bradford to succeed as a rookie and the talent that's on the Rams roster. He is also coming off of a major shoulder injury, so he could struggle with that in his pro career as well. The schedule isn't difficult for the Rams, but they'll still lose most of their games with a rookie at the helm. They'll finish 3-13, which is an improvement from the 1-15 mark they had last year.

The Seattle Seahawks fired Jim Mora Jr. after one year, and they are now trusting their entire franchise to the hands of Pete Carroll, who was mediocre in his head coaching stints with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. Carroll was very successful with the USC Trojans, winning two national championships. However, the NFL is different than college, and he has an aging quarterback in QB Matt Hasselbeck, who hasn't proven he has anything left in the tank. They also got rid of QB Seneca Wallace, so Hasselbeck will have to do good. They drafted pretty well, but made a dumb move by cutting WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh recently. They are giving the starting spot to WR Mike Williams, who was a bust in Detroit and Oakland and being real close to not having a career. The Seahawks have not improved and will remain at the 5-11 mark they finished with last year.

The San Francisco 49ers started off last season very well, highlighted with a close loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, their embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons was the beginning of a season in which they would fall back down to mediocrity. They finished at 8-8, and are now trusting QB Alex Smith to lead the way. With the competition in the division, combined with the talent on the roster, the 49ers should easily win the division. However, they won't be threats in the playoffs. They'll finish with a 9-7 mark and a division crown.

The Arizona Cardinals are two years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, but a lot has changed since. QB Kurt Warner, who led them to the Super Bowl and a NFC Divisional Round appearance last year, retired, leaving the position to QB Matt Leinart. Coach Ken Whisenhunt didn't see anything in Leinart and quickly lost faith in him, handing the job to QB Derek Anderson, who only had one solid season as a starter. Leinart was cut, and now the explosive offense, with WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Steve Breaston, and WR Early Doucett, is now in the hands of Anderson. That will be a fail, as the Cardinals will fall to 7-9 and search for another quarterback next offseason.

NFC South Preview

The NFC South is home to the NFL champion New Orleans Saints, but they will have competition from the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won't be an easy out either. This division has always been so strange from the time it was created back in 2002. The Saints won the division last year with a 13-3 record, but only had an 8-8 record the year before. The Carolina Panthers won the division the year before with a 12-4 record, but were only 8-8 with the same team. The Falcons were good in QB Matt Ryan's rookie year, with an 11-5 record, but they regressed to a 9-7 record.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 3-13 last year, but they are actually optimistic about the direction of their franchise. They used their first round pick last year on Kansas State QB Josh Freeman, and he was able to get on the field as a rookie. They were 3-13 last year because of the instability at the quarterback position. They started three different quarterbacks last year, and they also got rid of all of their veterans. The year before, they were 9-3 before taking a nosedive and losing the final four games and missing the playoffs, a first in NFL history. They play Baltimore and Cincinnati on the road, but their schedule isn't that hard. I expect them to improve upon last season, to 6-10, falling short of the playoffs.

The Carolina Panthers were 8-8 last season, finishing off the season greatly behind QB Matt Moore. QB Jake Delhomme was awful after having a great season the year before, prompting the Panthers to cut him. They also drafted QB Jimmy Clausen, so they have a competition at that position. However, Moore is expected to be the starter, and they have a defense that ranked fourth in pass defense. They were also the third best rushing team, with RB DeAngelo Williams and RB Jonathan Stewart. Their success comes down to the play at the quarterback position, and I think they'll definitely struggle with Moore being the full-time starter. He'll be removed, and Clausen will enter and struggle as well. The Panthers will also finish 6-10, probably costing John Fox his job.

The Atlanta Falcons were 11-5 in QB Matt Ryan's rookie season, and things were looking great for the quarterback. He didn't have a bad sophomore season, but the Falcons were only 9-7, and barely missed the playoffs. Their pass defense was awful, close to the bottom of the league. They made a move to improve their pass defense, signing underrated CB Dunta Robinson. The only question is who will play opposite him. Their pass defense will improve, but not significantly. They will improve however, as a team, and will win the division with an 11-5 record.

The New Orleans Saints are the defending champions, pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. With much of their team remaining intact, they are some people's picks to have success again. Even though the statistics don't show an improved defense last year, they were certainly improved from the year before. Much of the credit should go to the additions of Gregg Williams and S Darren Sharper. Sharper will miss the first six games, and they also let go DE Will Smith in the offseason. Offensively, they are capable of lighting up the league again with proficient QB Drew Brees and his receiving core. However, they will have a Super Bowl hangover and finish at 9-7, just short of a playoff berth.

NFC North Preview

The NFC North is a team with only two contenders -- the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions will not be impactful enough to ruin the party and become contenders this upcoming season. Last season, the Vikings won the division with a 12-4 record and made an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. They will be looking to build upon that and advance to the Super Bowl. The Packers finished at 11-5, but lost a heartbreaker in Arizona in the Wild Card Round. They are also looking to build upon their record and hopefully win the division.

The Detroit Lions finished the 2008 season at 0-16, the first for an NFL team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14 in the first year during the 1970s. There was only one way to go for the Lions, and that was up. They couldn't be worst than a completed defeated season. They improved to 2-14 last season, still a horrible season. The Lions drafted DT Ndamukong Suh with the second overall pick, and they also signed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch. They drafted QB Matthew Stafford with the #1 pick the year before, and they also have a good receiving threat in WR Calvin Johnson. They have to learn to put it together, and that may not happen this year, considering they play the NFC East and the AFC East. The Lions will finish 2-14 again.

The Chicago Bears weren't horrible after acquiring QB Jay Cutler. Cutler was very overrated coming in from the Denver Broncos, as the fans expected a lot from him. Instead, they got a 7-9 season, and Cutler threw for 27 touchdowns, but also threw 26 interceptions, a league high. They got the free agent prize, signing DE Julius Peppers to a long term deal. However, that doesn't fix nearly all of their problems, which happened to be a struggling offense. They hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, but he is throw-happy and that will be a problem with Cutler. The difficult schedule also doesn't bode well for them, so they will regress this year. The Bears will finish at 6-10.

The Green Bay Packers finished the season only one game behind the Vikings, but had two humiliating losses to the Vikings. The Packers couldn't protect QB Aaron Rodgers at all, resulting in many sacks for the Vikings' defense. The Packers defense was in the top 5 last year, so their 3-4 defense should remain stout this year. Rodgers was a very potent passer last year, and some are expecting him to have a better year. Rodgers should have a better year as he gets older and wiser running the offense. The Packers will remain at 11-5, but they will win the NFC North division via a tiebreaker and they'll advance to the Super Bowl.

The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North division with a 12-4 record, and were a non-interception away from advancing to the Super Bowl. QB Brett Favre decided to return for his 20th season, so Vikings' fans are elated. However, asking Favre to throw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions is a tough thing to ask. Favre had his best season ever, but he won't have a season like that again. The Vikings will regress, because of Favre, but they'll still be a legitimate threat and playoff contender. They'll finish 11-5 also, but lose tiebreaker to the Packers.

NFC East Preview

The NFC East will arguably be the most difficult division during the season, with all teams capable of beating each other. The Dallas Cowboys won the division last season with an 11-5 record, and the Philadelphia Eagles also made the playoffs as a wild card with an 11-5 record as well. The New York Giants and the Washington Redskins missed the playoffs, but both teams have improved from last season, and are talented enough to make a playoff run as well. The NFC East plays the AFC South and the NFC North, so it won't be an easy task, but each team is capable of having at least a .500 record.

The Washington Redskins acquired Mike Shanahan as head coach and QB Donovan McNabb from the rival Eagles in the offseason. Those two acquisitions are enough to improve the Redskins drastically. However, they've had their problems with DT Albert Haynesworth, and McNabb has to learn a whole new system. The Redskins also had problems protecting former QB Jason Campbell, so it'll be a challenge holding McNabb upright. The Redskins were 4-12 last year. They will be significantly better, but they'll finish at 8-8, not enough for a playoff appearance.

The New York Giants started the season 5-0 before struggling the rest of the season and finishing 8-8. The biggest reason for that was the defense, which gave up 40 points five times during the season. QB Eli Manning had his best season without a big-name wide receiver, but the Giants struggled to run the football. The Giants made sure they do the things necessary to fix their defense. They acquired S Antrel Rolle, drafted DE Jason Pierre-Paul and hired Perry Fewell as their defensive coordinator. Their offense, particularly their run game, will be better than last season. The Giants will surprise this season, and win the division with an 11-5 record.

The Philadelphia Eagles are in transition at the quarterback position for the first time in more than a decade. After trading QB Donovan McNabb to the Redskins, the Eagles are now trusting their offense to QB Kevin Kolb. There is no telling how Kolb will do. He's looked impressive at times during the preseason, but his performance was great. The Eagles are now a young football team, but their defense will remain good. The only question is their offense without McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook, who was cut in the offseason. The Eagles will struggle in Kolb's first year, finishing at 7-9 and missing the playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys are the defending NFC East champions, and they come into this season as the most overrated team in the NFL. Some analysts have the Cowboys in the Super Bowl, where it will be played in their home stadium. The Cowboys have looked awful in the preseason. Teams have played well in the regular season after playing bad in preseason, but it's time to hit the panic button if you're a Cowboys fan. QB Tony Romo is good, but his connection with WR Roy Williams is still off and WR Miles Austin will not have a season like he did last season. The Cowboys will finish at 10-6, good enough to win the Wild Card, but they won't get far.

AFC West Preview

The AFC West hasn't really been any different in recent memory. With the exception of the 2005 season, when the Denver Broncos won the division with a 13-3 record, the San Diego Chargers have dominated the division. The Oakland Raiders have been completely irrelevant since their appearance in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season. The Kansas City Chiefs have been mediocre at best after winning the AFC West title during the 2003 season. It doesn't appear to be much different this year.

The Oakland Raiders don't have much reason to be optimistic, but they did acquire QB Jason Campbell and released awful QB JaMarcus Russell. Campbell was okay at best with the Washington Redskins, always lacking a good offensive line. He doesn't have a strong offensive line with the Raiders either, so it'll be interesting to see how they perform. Nonetheless, I expect the Raiders to improve upon their 5-11 record from last season. It won't be as difficult because they play the NFC West division. They will finish at 6-10.

The Kansas City Chiefs were 4-12 last year, and there is no reason to think they'll be better this season. They hired Charlie Weis as their offensive coordinator, a move that many liked. Weis helped QB Tom Brady win three Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. They also picked up RB Thomas Jones, who had a solid season with the New York Jets last year. However, they have QB Matt Cassel and a bad offensive line. Cassel was severely overrated after his successful 2008 season with the Patriots. He will never have the same kind of success again in his career. The Chiefs will be 4-12, just like last year.

The Denver Broncos were surprising a lot of folks after starting the season 5-0, but they quickly faded, finishing at a disappointing 8-8. QB Kyle Orton was solid, not making many mistakes. Their defense were also solid at the beginning, but they faded over the course of the season, just like Orton. They got rid of WR Brandon Marshall and TE Tony Scheffler, their biggest offensive weapons. Drafting QB Tim Tebow does nothing for their success. Their schedule toward the end isn't that tough, but they'll still finish at 9-7, short of making the playoffs again.

The San Diego Chargers return the most important player -- QB Philip Rivers. WR Vincent Jackson has refused to sign a tender, and OL Marcus McNeill has refused to do so also. However, Rivers' success is the only thing that matters, and he can get the job done with WR Malcolm Floyd and TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers were 13-3 last year, and with their easy schedule, they should be 13-3 again. They will finish first or second again, with the Indianapolis Colts the only other team in the AFC that will matter. However, the Chargers will look to get past their postseason failures, as they lost to the New York Jets in their first playoff game last year.

AFC South Preview

The AFC South is another division in the AFC with several quality teams who will be making a run at the playoffs. The AFC South, since the alignment took place in 2002, usually started and ended with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have won at least 12 games every year since 2003. However, the Tennessee Titans won the division in 2008 with a 13-3 record. As a matter of fact, the Titans and the Colts are the only two teams to claim AFC South division titles since the division was created.

The Jacksonville Jaguars finished last season with a 7-9 record, and they haven't necessarily improved to make people believe in them this year. They do have productive QB David Garrard, who led them to a 12-4 record and an AFC Divisional Round appearance in 2007, his first season as a starter. They also have RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who is very productive out of the backfield running and catching the football. Other than that, the Jaguars have nothing else, which is surprising that Jack Del Rio has been able to last that long as head coach. They place the NFC East and the AFC West, so expect the Jaguars to finish at 6-10.

The Tennessee Titans are just two years removed from their 13-3 record and AFC South division crown. They got off to a terrible 0-6 start, capped off with a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots. However, they went 8-2 when Jeff Fisher benched QB Kerry Collins in favor of QB Vince Young. Young will be the starter this year, so expectations are a little high for the Titans. The difficulty of their schedule, combined with being in the AFC South, will get the Titans a 9-7 record, just short of making postseason play.

The Houston Texans once again come into the season with bigger expectations than the year before. WR Andre Johnson is the best wide receiver in the league, and QB Matt Schaub is pretty good also. They improved their defense by drafting CB Kareem Jackson, and they already have LB Brian Cushing, who'll miss the first four games, and LB DeMeco Ryans to go along with DE Mario Williams. However, the difficulty of their schedule and being in the same division as the Colts and Titans, will hurt the Texans quest for a playoff berth. They won't make any progress, finishing at 9-7 like the year before, and fall short of a playoff appearance.

While AFC teams like the Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals have improved their roster dramatically, one team still stands in the way, the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts haven't made any moves in the offseason, and they didn't need to. It starts off with arguably the best quarterback in NFL history with QB Peyton Manning, and the rest of the offense goes along. Their defense, if they can remain healthy, is also stout with S Bob Sanders, DE Dwight Freeney and DE Robert Mathis. The Colts will finish 13-3 and win the division again, and this time around, there won't be a fluke performance like the one the Saints had in the Super Bowl. Manning will capture his second title.

AFC North Preview

The AFC North was much better than what people expected last year, and it was also surprising the way the Pittsburgh Steelers struggled after winning the Super Bowl the season before. With the AFC North playing the NFC South and the AFC East, this could be a tough year for the division.

Starting off with the Cleveland Browns, they are almost guaranteed to not succeed this season. They have a challenging road game against the defending champion New Orleans Saints, but they don't have another challenging road game. However, their games against division opponents will fail them again, but I do look for them to improve upon last season, when they were 5-11, simply because of QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme did have a bad year with the Carolina Panthers last year, but he tends to have on and off years and I look for him to have a decent season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't do much to their roster last offseason, so many wondered why they failed to duplicate their success from the 2008 season. The answer is very simple -- defense. While many credit QB Ben Roethlisberger for their success, it's their defense that actually holds the key to their success. They looked sharp defensively in the preseason, but has had quarterback issues with Roethlisberger missing up to the first six games. The improved defense will be the reason why they improve upon last season, but they won't find their way in the postseason again with a 9-7 record.

The Baltimore Ravens fell short of winning the division last season, but still advanced to the AFC Divisional Round with their lopsided road win against the New England Patriots. The Ravens have gotten better also, which could be a little scary for other teams. Their offense is improved with the acquisition of WR Anquan Boldin. Their defense, surprisingly, will be the only question mark. They have been solid for a long time, but their secondary hasn't been that strong last year and don't look to be that strong this season. However, I expect them to improve upon last year also and win the division with an 11-5 record.

The Cincinnati Bengals won the division last season but played awful in the AFC Wild Card Round against the New York Jets at home. The Bengals have improved by getting CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and WR Terrell Owens, two headaches for most teams. However, they have looked sharp in the preseason, and the Bengals defense looks better also. The Bengals success depends on QB Carson Palmer, who has been overrated the past couple of seasons. They won last year because of their running game and their defense, not Palmer. If he is like last year, they will have the same success. That is exactly what's going to happen, and the Bengals will improve one game to 11-5 but succumb the division crown to the Ravens.

AFC East Preview

With the regular season 10 days away, the upcoming NFL season is looking like a promising one for many NFL teams. The AFC East is looking like a division with promise. Starting with the Buffalo Bills, they have nothing to look forward to. For the fans in upstate New York, it will be another disappointing season. The Bills moves this offseason consisted of hiring Chan Gailey as head coach, and drafting RB C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick. The Bills haven't upgraded the wide receiver position or the quarterback position, two weak points on their offense. The Bills are also looking at matchups against the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, in addition to playing their division. This will be a lost season.

The Miami Dolphins may be the most overrated team in the NFL right now. They've upgraded their wide receiver position by acquiring WR Brandon Marshall and they have rising QB Chad Henne. They also signed LB Karlos Dansby, who has been an overrated linebacker. The Dolphins will be right where they were last season, around 8-8 or 9-7. Road games against the Packers and Vikings will certainly be losses, and they also play road games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. They will go 7-9 this season.

The New York Jets are another overrated team, as they have gone into this season with a lot of hype. The Jets did advance to the AFC Championship Game last year, so there is hope. Acquiring RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't do anything at all because they already have RB Shonn Greene. Their defense is certainly going to be top notch with Rex Ryan running it. The only question mark on that team is whether QB Mark Sanchez will improve. He hasn't shown anything in the preseason, so that is cause for concern. The defense will lift them to victory sometimes, leading to an 11-5 record and the division title.

The New England Patriots are the defending AFC East champions, but had an embarrassing loss in the first round at home to the Ravens. They still have QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, and WR Wes Welker, who may not be 100%. However, their defense will be cause for concern. They didn't do well last season, leading to some bad losses. They addressed that by drafting CB Devin McCourty, but that isn't the complete solution. As long as they have a healthy Brady however, the Patriots will contend. I expect them to also be 11-5, but losses to the Jets will leave the Jets as division winners.

Paul Wants Out Of New Orleans

Just two years ago, the New Orleans Hornets were one game away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Led by spectacular G Chris Paul and F David West, the Hornets won the Southwest Division with a 56-26 record and a #2 seed in the Western Conference. They easily dispatched the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and almost beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs before succumbing to them in seven games.

That now seems a like a real distant memory, as it now has been reported that Paul wants a trade, particularly to the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, or the Mavericks. Paul has seen a lot of teams around the NBA get better, while the Hornets have failed to make any significant moves to keep up. F Lebron James' decision to join G Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh in Miami has headlined the summer of free agency. Paul is looking to make a move similar to the one James made.

Paul still has two years remaining on his deal. His desire to join the Knicks deals with the fact that they acquired F Amare Stoudemire via free agency and may acquire F Carmelo Anthony during next year's free agency period. Paul is looking to form another "Big Three" that can compete with the one in Miami, as well as compete for a championship.

This shouldn't be news to anyone because Paul announced at Anthony's wedding that himself, Anthony and Stoudemire will be the next "Big Three" in the NBA. Once he announced that, his days in New Orleans were automatically numbered. Unlike James, Paul isn't in control of his fate. The Hornets don't have to trade him, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where they do. Paul is among the top 3 point guards in the NBA, and one of the few players in the league who's very valuable to his team's success.

If Paul were to be traded to the Knicks, it would bring the Knicks back to the success they saw during the 1990s, when they were regulars in the playoffs. However, if Paul were to leave New Orleans, they would probably hate him the same way Cleveland hates James. Paul actually wouldn't be seen as a dark cloud in New Orleans, since their attention is to the Saints and how they'll follow up their championship. The only thing the city of Cleveland had was James, which is why he is hated.

The direction the NBA is headed in right now is not good. All of a sudden, there are stars thinking about joining other major stars to win championships at such a young age. When the Boston Celtics traded for G Ray Allen and F Kevin Garnett, both of those guys, along with F Paul Pierce, were veterans who have experienced failure many times. James is only 25 years old, and Paul is only 25 years old as well. He should be thinking about giving the Hornets a chance to surround themselves with pieces to contend for a championship. However, that may not be the case and the Hornets wouldn't be so bright if they get rid of Paul.

Ravens Success Dependent On Reed

If the Baltimore Ravens expect to get to the Dallas on February 6, 2011, they'll most likely have to do it without the services of S Ed Reed, their playmaker and perhaps their best defensive player. Reed is recovering from offseason hip surgery, and he has stated that he is nowhere close to being ready to start the season. Reed is expected to be placed on the physically unable to perform list, and if he is still on that list when the regular season starts, he has to miss the first six games. Reed told reporters he won't rush coming back, choosing to be 100% healthy.

LB Ray Lewis and WR Anquan Boldin have both talked about getting to the Super Bowl, and many analysts agree with the notion that they will be Super Bowl contenders. That is doomed is Reed isn't playing the entire season healthy. Lewis simply isn't enough to get the job done defensively. Reed is the defensive player who does the most, catching interceptions and always looking to make a play once the ball is in his hands. The Ravens have been known for their stout defense since winning Super Bowl XXXV back in 2001.

The Ravens have offensive weapons with Boldin, QB Joe Flacco, and RB Ray Rice. However, Flacco is still learning the ropes of the position at the NFL level. Also, Boldin is now on a team who likes to run the ball more than throw. In other words, this team has more question marks on offense than most teams. This is the primary reason why their defense needs to be reliable. With Reed out, everyone will have to step up their production. The play from the corners the past couple of seasons haven't been so stellar, which is why Reed's speed from the safety position is very important.

The Ravens can still get this done without Reed. However, I cannot foresee that happening because of Reed's impact on that defensive unit. Reed has to get healthy before the regular season starts. If not, the Ravens will be in trouble. In their first six games, they have to see teams like the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Cincinnati Bengals, who all made the playoffs last season. That is in addition to playing division rivals Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A promising start to the season can easily turn into a 2-4 start, which will leave the Ravens in a bunch of trouble.

Heat Sign Ilgauskas, Rockets Sign Miller

The Miami Heat have continued on their expedition to fill their roster, signing C Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Ilgauskas has been the fourth center this week to sign with the Heat. C Jamaal Magloire, C Joel Anthony, and rookie C Dexter Pittman all signed deals with the Heat earlier in the week. Ilgauskas spent the past 12 seasons of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After superstar F Lebron James bolted the Cavaliers for the Heat, the unsigned Ilgauskas saw it as a logical fit to join James in Miami.

The Houston Rockets also finalized a deal with C Brad Miller. The deal is reportedly worth $15 million over three years. Miller had numerous teams who were interested in his services. However, he was lured by the fact the Rockets have his former coach Rick Adelman and his former teammate G Kevin Martin on the team. That was enough to entice Miller to choose the Rockets. Miller spent the past season and a half with the Chicago Bulls, which was his second stint with the team after spending two seasons with them from 2000-2002.

The Rockets have acquired a great veteran center who will fit in well because of his knowledge of Adelman's style of play. The Rockets played decent basketball this past season, despite losing C Yao Ming for the season, having an unhealthy G Tracy McGrady, and losing F Ron Artest to free agency. They finished the season with a winning record, and with Ming coming back healthy, along with the addition of Miller, this Rockets team could cause problems in the Western Conference. This all depends on if Ming can stay healthy, something he has not been able to do in the past couple of seasons.

I'm not sure the Heat acquisition of Ilgauskas does anything for that team. Their acquisitions of Pittman, Anthony and Magloire doesn't do much either. This team will be similar to what James and Wade had last year. They both were the superstars on their respective teams with not much help. This time around, however, they have joined forces, along with F Chris Bosh, which definitely significantly increases their chances of winning the championship. That trio is all the Heat needs and they know they can fill the roster with a bunch of D-League players and still get the job done.

Ilgauskas will have no impact on that team, as he hasn't had any impact on the Cavaliers in the past couple of seasons. Magloire hasn't been that good in his NBA career, and Anthony is a young center with limited offensive moves. Wade, James, and Bosh will combine for about three-quarters of the team's total offensive output next season, which is why the other players aren't needed. They are merely taking up space on the team to fill out the roster.

Steinbrenner Greatest Owner In Sports

George Steinbrenner passed away on Tuesday, nine days following his 80th birthday. He died of a massive heart attack on that Tuesday morning, and was pronounced dead shortly after. Steinbrenner was the owner of the New York Yankees, the greatest franchise in North American sports. Steinbrenner has been in declining health recently, which is the reason he turned over full control to his sons Hank and Hal.

Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees with a group of investors from CBS in 1973. At that time, the Yankees were long gone from their glory days of the 1950s and early 1960s. They weren't a good franchise at that time, with the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics being the dominant franchise in the American League. That soon changed once Steinbrenner took control. He didn't waste time turning the Yankees into contenders.

He signed Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson away from the Athletics to huge contracts, and in 1976, the Yankees won the pennant but lost the World Series. However, they went on to win the next two World Series championships, and made another appearance in 1981. The Yankees had gotten their winning ways back, but after 1981, that would change.

Hunter retired in 1979, and Jackson left the Yankees after that 1981 season. The Yankees saw the dark days again, with the historic Yankee Stadium being half empty on many nights. Their lone bright spot, Don Mattingly, started his career in 1982. He retired after the 1995 season, in which the Yankees made the postseason for the first time since that 1981 World Series appearance. Steinbrenner was also banned for life from baseball in 1990 for paying someone $40,000 to find "dirt" on Dave Winfield, who had a tumultuous nine seasons with the Yankees.

When Steinbrenner came back in 1993, the Yankees showed promise because Steinbrenner let the brain trust do their work. The Yankees contended in 1993, and were dominating baseball in 1994 before the baseball strike. After being eliminated in the divisional round in 1995 to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees went on to win four World Series championships in the next five seasons. The Yankees also got another championship last season, giving Steinbrenner seven in his years as the Yankee owner.

Steinbrenner was not afraid to outspend the competition, which forced other teams to pay their great players. Steinbrenner should be thanked by players for having high salaries today. Before the 2009 season, the Yankees signed P A.J. Burnett, P C.C. Sabathia, and 1B Mark Teixeira to over $400 million in contracts. Steinbrenner was all about winning, and bolstered the team's value as well. The Yankees are now worth over a billion dollars, which is a far cry from the $10 million him and his investors spent on the team over 35 years ago. He will be missed, not only by New York fans, but by everyone in the business. It's hard to tell whether his absence will impact baseball now, but if he wasn't involved in baseball, it wouldn't be the sport that it is today.

Lee Traded To Rangers

P Cliff Lee, who has been among the best pitchers in the American League this year with the lowly Seattle Mariners, has been traded to the first place Texas Rangers for 1B Justin Smoak and three minor leaguers. The Mariners also sent P Mark Lowe to the Rangers in the deal. It was looking inevitable that the Mariners were going to deal Lee before the trade deadline. It was just a matter of where. Other teams currently involved in playoff races have inquired about acquiring Lee.

It was reported earlier that the New York Yankees had a deal in place to get Lee. However, that deal fell through when the Mariners weren't so sure about the health about one of the prospects the Yankees were sending them in the deal. Lee was traded last season from the Cleveland Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies before the trade deadline. Lee helped the Phillies make an appearance in the World Series for the second consecutive season, but the Phillies lost to the Yankees. The Phillies won two games in that series, both with Lee starting.

Lee leads the American League in ERA with a 2.34 ERA. The Mariners were expected to be contenders coming into the season with the acquisitions of Lee, 2B Chone Figgins, and LF Milton Bradley. However, Figgins and Bradley have not contributed at all, and Lee has been the only bright spot. The Mariners now stand in last place in the AL West, behind the Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Oakland Athletics.

Lee can definitely be the pitching the Rangers need to make the playoffs. It has been more than ten years since the Rangers last appeared in the playoffs, and their offense hasn't been the reason. They have always been productive offensively, but has suffered from a lack of quality pitching. Lee instantly becomes their #1 starter and a pitcher capable of taking them deep into the playoffs. The Rangers are currently being owned by Major League Baseball and are in bankruptcy court, so this deal isn't finalized. Hopefully, it will be worked out and Lee can pitch for the Rangers down the stretch.

Lebron Chooses Heat

F Lebron James has decided to join forces with G Dwyane Wade and F Chris Bosh with the Miami Heat, apparently taking less money to win a championship. James had an hour special on ESPN where he announced his decision to join the Heat, over the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Chicago Bulls, among others. It was reported all day that James would be joining the Heat, leaving the Cavaliers hanging dry. However, the Heat's work is just beginning, as they only have four total players on the roster.

The Heat also traded F Michael Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 2011 NBA Draft pick. All of the other eight players the Heat sign will have to be at minimum contracts, which could be very difficult. This now shifts the balance of power over to Miami, as they instantly have become the team to beat, even if the Los Angeles Lakers have won two straight championships.

There has been criticism from many about how James decided to reveal his decision to sign with the Heat. Many other players, such as G Kobe Bryant, got new contracts or contract extensions the traditional way, with a press conference. James decided to go out of his way to travel to Connecticut and reveal his decision to leave the Cavaliers, which didn't sit well in Cleveland. Everytime the Heat plays the Cavaliers in Cleveland, there will definitely be added security and extra police officers for the protection of James. James now has six years to get as many championships as possible under his new deal.More Than a Game

Russell Arrested

Former Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has been arrested and released from jail after being caught with codeine syrup in his home in Alabama. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, in an offseason which has been horrible for Russell. In May, Russell was released by the Raiders, after a couple seasons of erratic play and a non-chalant work ethic. Russell was drafted with the first overall pick by the Raiders in the 2007 NFL Draft, and has not lived up to his contract.

Russell even held out of training camp his rookie season to get the contract he wanted. That makes it even worse for him, as he failed miserably to live up to the contract. Russell was so terrible that he couldn't even last the duration of his rookie contract. Only one other top pick has been released that quickly, and that was QB Steve Emtman, when the Indianapolis Colts released him three seasons after he was drafted first overall.

Russell has also played so terribly that there probably isn't a team that's interested in signing him as a backup. Former overall top pick QB David Carr was released by the Houston Texans after several unproductive years with them, but he has been able to latch on to other teams as a backup quarterback. Russell may never get the chance to play in the NFL again. Even QB Ryan Leaf was able to go to a second team before his career was over. Russell will have to prove that he is willing to condition and work hard to get his body right. Also, more importantly, Russell has to work on his accuracy, which was a major problem.

Knicks, Stoudemire Agree On Terms

F Amare Stoudemire has agreed to a five-year contract worth $100 million to join the New York Knicks yesterday. It was clear that the Knicks were Stoudemire's first choice, as he really only met and talked with the Knicks. The Knicks weren't really courting Stoudemire initially, but his interest in the Knicks was something the Knicks could not turn down. Stoudemire also made headlining comments a couple of days ago when he said Denver Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony and San Antonio Spurs G Tony Parker are ready to join him in New York when they become free agents next year. Stoudemire spent the first eight years of his career with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 21.4 points per game during his time there.

In addition to his personal success, the Suns have been as far as the Western Conference Finals three times in his eight seasons there. However, he has not been able to get them to the NBA Finals, and he'll try to start anew with the Knicks and his old coach Mike D'Antoni. D'Antoni led the Suns to two of the three Western Conference Finals appearances Stoudemire has been involved in. The Knicks signing of Stoudemire could lure another top class free agent over to the Knicks. F Lebron James and G Dwyane Wade are still available on the free agent market.

The Knicks have only made the playoffs once since 2001, and they failed to get a win in that lone playoff appearance. The Knicks have been set back by failed free agent signings, and bad trades. The Knicks had a bunch of overpaid players who didn't contribute much or nothing at all. When Donnie Walsh left the Indiana Pacers to join the Knicks, he made it a goal to get rid of all the bad contracts to have financial flexibility for the 2010 free agency period. He blew up the team during the 2008-2009 season, when the Knicks were playing decent basketball with G Jamal Crawford and F Zach Randolph. He traded both of them in the same week in separate deals, freeing up cap space. It may now pay off for the Knicks and the fans, who haven't seen a championship since 1973.

Colon Tears Achilles

Pittsburgh Steelers OT Willie Colon has reportedly torn his Achilles tendon, making it unlikely that he'll play at all in the 2010 season. Colon will undergo more tests today to check the extent of the injury. If it is revealed that he has torn his Achilles tendon, he will need surgery and about six months to rehab, which pretty much runs up until December or January. It's a big blow to a team who already won't see QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first couple of games due to suspension. The Steelers also got rid of reliable WR Santonio Holmes, trading him to the New York Jets in the offseason.

This could really be the difference between an okay start and a horrible start for the Steelers. Colon was a mainstay on their offensive line, and with QB Byron Leftwich or QB Dennis Dixon having to play the first couple of games, protection will be more important. The Steelers struggled last year to defend their title, missing the playoffs on poor defense and poor special teams play. Their defense might get back on track, but with Colon's absence, in addition to Holmes' departure and Roethlisberger's suspension, they could be off to a bad start.

The Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North division, sweeping the Steelers in the season series last season. The Bengals haven't really changed their roster, so they're poised to make another run at the AFC North crown. The Baltimore Ravens came in second and made the playoffs. They also upgraded their offense by acquiring WR Anquan Boldin. They are poised, and probably the front-runner, to take the AFC North division. The Steelers should just prepare for the 2011 season, because it's looking pretty bleak for them this upcoming season.

James, Bosh, Wade Talk About Future

According to sources, F Lebron James, F Chris Bosh, and G Dwyane Wade met in Miami over the weekend to discuss their futures. The possibility of those three teaming up with the Miami Heat was also reportedly discussed. The Heat only have money for two max contract players, but can acquire another one through a sign-and-trade deal. Stephen A. Smith reported on his radio show that the three agreed to join the Heat once the free agency period starts. However, it has been reported that James will still visit other teams and has not committed to leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This only makes it more interesting once July 1 comes, because there are huge names in this free agency market. Wade talked about a meeting between those three and G Joe Johnson last month, but it didn't happen. It was also reported that if there was credible evidence that anyone was discussing their futures together, they could be subject to a fine for tampering. I don't know how commissioner David Stern will approach this situation, because all of this talk is happening before July 1.

It wouldn't make sense for James to join Wade because those are two players who demand the ball on almost every possession. It will start off as a honeymoon, but quickly turn sour, with Wade's attitude. If only Bosh were to join Wade in Miami, it wouldn't help the Heat much, because Bosh has proven that he isn't a game changer. Toronto currently has a better assembly of talent than Miami, and Bosh still couldn't get the team to the playoffs. James should seriously look into Chicago, New York or New Jersey if he wants to leave Cleveland.