Knicks Blessing in Disguise

After Monday's 104-94 loss to the Miami Heat Amare Stoudemire vented his anger on a nearby fire extinguisher that was encased by glass. By now you probably know that S.T.A.T. suffered a laceration in his hand and will miss game 3 of the series and likely more. Since the incident the media has had a field day about how Amare was angry because he didn't get enough shots (9 to Carmelo Anthony's 26), and that this incident just summed up how dysfunctional the Knicks were. I also read multiple articles about how this was the permanent downfall for the Knicks, and that any hope of winning the series was now gone. This is where I beg to differ, in fact, the Knicks will do better now that Stoudemire misses a game or two. According to 82games.com and a little math calculation I did myself, when Carmelo Anthony is on the court and Amare Stoudemire is not, the Knicks outscore their opponents by 14.67 points per 100 possessions. Meanwhile the Knicks lose by an average of 1.22 points per 100 possessions when both Amare and Melo are on the floor.
There seems to be a couple reasons for this, the first obviously being that Carmelo and Amare do not coincide well on offense as they both are isolation plays who do not do a very good job of interacting with the team. Stoudemire and Anthony are also both poor defenders so when they are both on the court the team defense goes from above-average to slightly below the norm. Another important factor is that when Amare is not on the court, Carmelo slides to play Power Forward where he can create mismatches with his superior speed and quickness. With Amare out of the game the Knicks can utilize lineups with combinations of Steve Novak, Jared Jeffries, J.R. Smith, Landry Fields, and Iman Shumpert (if healthy) at the wing positions. Smith and Novak both space the floor for Melo while Iman and Jared can play shut down defense and Landry Fields a little bit of both. With this lineup flexibility and Baron Davis playing some quality basketball at the point, even without Shumpert the Knicks can give the Heat a tougher game. Don’t get too much hope though New York, without Shumpert and with Amare probably only missing two or three games, I don’t see you pushing this series too more than six games. All I am saying, is that the Knicks play better without Amare, and the media has completely framed this story the wrong way.
Now that the world knows that the Knicks are more successful with only Anthony on the court, the question becomes, what to do with Amare? Ideally the Knicks would have kept Chauncey Billups, used their amnesty on Amare, and seen if they couldn’t lure Chris Paul to New York, but instead their going to have to settle for plan B. Amare carries a lot of baggage, what with his monstrous contract and shaky injury history he certainly doesn’t seem like a building block for the future for any team. However that does not mean an almost contender wouldn’t try to get him and push them over the top. Now no team really jumps to mind as a good fit for Amare. Both Orlando and New Jersey seem like good options, but neither of them have the pieces if they don’t give up their superstar. Dallas is another place that is pursuing some talent, but they don’t have enough to match the Knicks salary concerns while giving them quality talent. Finally, we have the Golden State Warriors. They are by no means a perfect fit, but with their trade for Andrew Bogut, you can tell they have no problem acquiring big contracts on injury-prone big men. I tinkered around on espn.com’s NBA Trade Machine, and the deal eventually worked out. Golden State would give the Knicks David Lee and Dorell Wright for Amare Stoudemire. For Golden State this gives them a nucleus of Curry, Bogut, and Stoudemire that can compete with the West’s big front courts while giving them some of the star power they have been looking for. For the Knicks this also works out well. If the trade were to go through, the Knicks could potentially start Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert, Dorell Wright, Melo, and Tyson Chandler with Lee, Smith, Fields, Davis, Jeffries, and Novak giving New York a deep bench along with some quality starters. This would allow Anthony to play the four while Wright spaces the floor, and for David Lee to return to New York where the Madison Square Garden fans used to love him. If the Mike Woodson, James Dolan and the Knicks staff look at these numbers, I don’t see how they wouldn’t try to make a move to get rid of Stoudemire.
For now though the crazy fans of New York can be happy that Carmelo and crew will at least make it a close game with the Heat and realize that Amare not getting enough touches is not the problem, instead it is Amare being on the court that is slowly bringing the Knicks down.

2012 NFL Draft Live Blog - Day 2

7:27 PM - CMH - Colts go Stanford/Stanford with Coby Fleener in the second round.  You have to wonder if Andrew Luck had any say in that pick.  It'll be nice for Luck to have Fleener as his safety valve, but as a prospect, the guy is somewhat overrated.  Big and athletic, though, so he could see success.

7:28 - CMH - Good to see TD, Terrell Davis up there announcing the Broncos selection.  An NFL stud and legend.  6th round pick?  How could that many teams pass on the guy?

7:32 - CMH - Janoris Jenkins off the board, and it's the Rams who take the risk.  To be honest, I think Jenkins is going to get his act together in the NFL.  A kid or three can change a lot in your life, and maybe it will make him responsible and hold him accountable for his actions.  1st round talent, undraftable attitude.

7:42 - CMH - That film of Amini Silatolu was scary.  The guy was a man amongst boys.  It'll be very interesting to see how he makes the transition to the pros, coming from such a small school.  No denying the kid's an animal though.

7:44 - CMH - Glenn and Martin off the board back-to-back.  Both guys slid a bit down draft boards.  They both lack something that you want in an offensive lineman, something you can't really put your finger on.  Both are solid 2nd round picks, though.

7:59 - CMH - Great Bears pick.  Jeffrey is a stud, but they now have two problematic, but ultra-talented, receivers on their roster.  Great to see that for a team who hasn't had much at the wide receiver position in over a decade.  Boom or bust, but I'm leaning towards BOOM.

8:53 - CMH - Broncos grab Osweiler to sit behind Peyton for a couple years.  Yeah, he's tall, but he throws like an idiot.  I don't think the guy is good, and I don't think he has potential.  I'd rather have guys like Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson, and picking Osweiler in the 2nd is a big-time reach.

8:55 - CMH - Did teams just forget that Lavonte David was still on the board this round?  How he slipped that far I'll never know, but he's an absolute stud.  The Buccaneers have gotten two immediate starters on a defense that was awful last year, so good for them.  However, I disagree with Kiper and Gruden saying they are having the best draft of anyone so far.  I didn't like the Doug Martin pick, and trading up to get him made little sense, even though he's a solid running back.

9:00 - CMH - Philly really focusing on that front seven in this draft.  I love what they are doing so far.  Best defensive tackle in the draft, a very solid inside linebacker, and a solid DE.  Are the Eagles quietly putting together the best draft so far?  I'd say so, along with the Patriots.

9:09 - CMH - 49ers now have a STABLE of runningbacks.  LaMichael James is a playmaker, simple as that.  Give him 10-12 touches a game, and he will make some plays.  I like how the 49ers are putting more weapons around Alex Smith--he will have to do even less next year to get them to the Super Bowl, just don't make mistakes.

9:15 - CMH - Casey Hayward is the man.  I loved watching him play this Fall, and I probably watched more Vanderbilt football than most, if not all.  He was great for one of the best secondaries in the country (Yeah, I said it), and I think the Packers are making a great move taking him.  He's not much in man coverage, but he hasn't been asked to cover many one-on-one.  His zone coverage skills are off the charts--and that's why the Pack fell in love with him.

2012 NFL Draft Live Blog- Day 1

7:12 PM- Welcome everyone to our live coverage of the first day of the NFL draft. Stay tuned here for live reactions and updates.

7:14 PM- (John Huffstetler)- We already have the first terrible trade in the books. The Cleveland Browns will move up one spot to select RB Trent Richardson. The only thing worse than taking a RB in the first round is trading up to get him. RB is the most overvalued position in the NFL, and no RB should be selected in the top 10. Richardson will now go #3 above players like Kalil, Claiborne, Blackmon, etc. with much greater value.

7:37 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)-Couldn't agree more Jhoof the Browns trade to move up to take Richardson is awful. There is nothing special about Richardson, I probably wouldn't touch him in the first two rounds. He isn't a game changing talent that is necessary to justify drafting a RB in the top 20 these days. This seems like a pathetic attempt to get people to come out to Browns games-The franchise has zero strategic direction.

7:48 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)- Only thing that could have saved the Browns from another pathetic season is to continue to solidify the O-line (Actually nothing could have). OL, DL, LB, Qb are the most important positions and the hardest positions to fill. A weak secondary can be disguised with great play by the DL and LB. Weak WR can be overcome with a good QB, weak RB can be overcome with RB by committee and a good OL. You can't disguise a weak OL, DL, QB, and to some extent LB play. The first round should be all about stock piling OL, DL, and LB. Kalil (Although he needs to improve his run blocking) or a trade down from their original slot should have been the move.

8:33 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)- Bucs must have been desperate to trade down and acquire some picks-They definitely didn't get enough value to move down from 5 to 7.

8:38 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)- Hopefully Gabbert picks it up, so we can enjoy watching Blackmon.

8:38 PM- (CMH)- Dallas has to pick Claiborne here, right?

8:40 PM- (CMH)- Look for Stephon Gilmore to be picked soon.  Big drop off after him, in my opinion, at the CB position, and a lot of teams could use some cornerback help

8:45 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Jacksonville trading up for Blackmon makes no sense for their franchise. He will be a great receiver, but they have no way to utilize him until they improve their O-Line and QB positions.

8:51 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Tannehill is destined for failure, but he won't care--did you see how hot his girlfriend is?

8:56 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Carolina selects ILB Luke Kuechly from BC- Great selection here as the Panthers address a huge need in their soft as butter defense. Their LB corps is in need of massive help and Kuechly will start from day one.

9:02 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Fantastic pick by Panthers.  Keuchly is the best player in the draft for his position.  Not necesssarily the most valuable, but positionally the best.

9:04 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)- Pic of Tannehill's Girlfriend

9:06 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Poe's a workout warrior, but nothing more.  He lacks football instincts, that's why he wasn't dominant at Memphis.  He won't be much at the next level, and there's no way he should've been picked ahead of Cox, who will go 12th to the Eagles.

9:18 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Fitzgerald was lobbying for Michael Floyd.  Michael Floyd would love playing with Larry.  Only problem--they don't have a serviceable quarterback.  I think Reiff makes more sense here, but I see them taking Floyd, instead. 

9:20 PM- (John Huffstetler)- What is with these teams without QB's drafting WR's? If no one can get a ball to the receiver, he is useless. How stupid can the Cards and Jaguars be? Build somewhere else and get a WR later!


9:24 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Floyd's very talented, and he's been put in a situation to succeed across from Fitzgerald, but I agree with JHoof.  You need a quarterback to get them the ball, and Skelton/Kolb is not the answer.

9:30 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- And so ends the slew of DT, and one could argue that they were picked in reverse order.  I would rank them like this, though--Cox, Brockers, Poe.

9:31 PM- (John Huffstetler)- I like the Rams taking Brockers, but they really need to address the offensive line desperately in the next few picks. They have no protection at all for Sam Bradford

9:37 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)- I hate the new draft setup. They need to go back to the Saturday, Sunday setup.

9:39 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Typical Kyle comment.  Nothing's good enough!

9:40 PM- (John Huffstetler)- I think Bruce Irvin robber me once. Now he'll rob Seahawks fans of a draft pick.

9:43 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)- Coples worth rolling the dice at 16...either going to be a beast or a Vernon Gholston repeat

9:46 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Good for Coples, Finally bringing in a paycheck so he can buy his mother a razor for that armpit hair.

9:49 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Dre Kirkpatrick makes perfect sense for the Bengals. They needed a CB and he should be a terrific addition

9:56 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Melvin Ingram to the Chargers is the biggest steal so far in the draft. He is an absurd athlete (high school RB), and he can play multiple positions and special teams. SC had the #3 ranked defense last year and he is a major reason why.

9:59 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Chargers with THE pick of the first round so far.  Melvin Ingram is a stud.

10:04 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- NE moving up to 21, and the smart move would be to take Whitney Mercilus there.  Schefter saying Chandler Jones, but I like Mercilus better.

10:05 PM- (John Huffstetler)- How do the Bears draft McClellin with stud LB LaVonte David from Nebraska still on the board? He will be another huge steal when taken, and it looks like a great team will get him. He pops on film and dominated at times for a Huskers defense who lost the likes of Suh and Amukamara over the last few years.

10:10 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Tenn could have gone Defensive End, but the Kendall Wright pick makes sense to complete and offense with a terrific line, an established rb, and a young QB in Locker that is obviously a future star.

10:14 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Wow, Browns having the WORST DRAFT EVER!! Weeden? Enjoy 5 more years of mediocrity Browns fans. I feel bad for you guys.

10:17 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- I like Weeden, but he has to be great right away for this pick to work out.  He won't have Justin Blackmon to throw to in Cleveland, and there will be no learning curve.  Looks like another QB destined to fail, but I think he's more talented than Tannehill (rightfully so for a 47 year old).

10:21 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Another terrific pick by the Steelers. Easy to be successful when every one of your decisions makes perfect sense. DeCastro is a great pick and could start day one

10:23 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Lions with a great pick.  Reiff is a big-time Big 10 offensive lineman.  Feed him and watch him work hard, and that pick will pay off.  As Mike Huff said, anytime you pick a Big 10 o-lineman, it's a safe bet.

10:24 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Nice move by the Pats moving up to take Donta Hightower. On a team of stud NFL-caliber players, he popped the most during games. He was also their defensive leader emotionally.

10:26 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- This isn't your usual Patriots draft, and I love what they are doing.  They could be having the best draft of anyone, picking up two guys who can start right away on their front seven. 

10:29 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Mercilus makes perfect sense for the Texans and he will be a perfect player to replace Mario Williams. Notice how these teams picking late in the draft (playoff teams) continue to draft defensive front seven and offensive line players.

10:34 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Still some good offensive linemen left for these late first round picks.  Look for the Ravens to grab one of them very soon.

10:42 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Vikings should take another offensive lineman here.  That'd be the only sensible reason for trading up.

10:43 PM- (John Huffstetler)- I think they need some LB help as well. I cold see the Vikings taking my boy LaVonte David here.


10:47 PM- (Chris Huffstetler)- Not sure why the Vikes traded up to make that pick, but the pick makes sense.  Their Cover 2 defense last year was hard to watch--multiple quarterbacks, including Tebow, had career days against them.  This will help out a defense that was very vulnerable against the deep ball.

10:48 PM- (Kyle Huffstetler)- Of course GB drafts perry. I love him. Absolute freak potential. Could also be a bust but he is a physical freak. He is up to 270. He's gonna be a machine.

10:52 PM- (John Huffstetler)- AJ Jenkins to SF makes sense, but why not take a shot on a big, physical freak like Alshon Jeffrey here if you're looking WR. Jenkins is a solid receiver, but Jeffrey's ceiling is infinitely higher. Plus, Moss will be in camp to school him on being a big physical NFL receiver.

10:57 PM- (John Huffstetler)- Doug Martin could be an ok RB, but why move up to take him when several equal RB's are still left and will be taken later? Stop reaching for RB's bad teams!!

11:05 PM- (John Huffstetler)- David Wilson blows Doug Martin away and can contribute on Special Teams. Giants need a RB with Bradshaw's injury concerns and Jacobs' departure. Makes perfect sense for them.

11:08 PM- That will do it for our live blog of the NFL Draft for Day One. Stay tuned for continuing coverage throughout the weekend.



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2012 NFL Mock Draft

Every year I make tons of mock drafts only to find out on draft day that it was primarily a large waste of time. These things are just too difficult to predict. There's always a couple picks (exhibit A, Aldon Smith) that come out of nowhere and usually we see 5-7 trades in the first round alone. I'd say it's more likely that someone would correctly pick every game in the NCAA tournament three years in a row before someone correctly picked the first round of one NFL draft.

That said, mock drafts are still great because you can make bets with friends, learn about the top prospects, see which teams are in good or bad positions, and narrow down those four or five guys that your team is probably targeting.

So here's a (hopefully) interesting look at the first round of the draft that begins this Thursday night.

1. Indianapolis Colts - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford - I don't think I need to say too much about this one. He's the best quarterback I've ever seen and will be one of the next faces of the NFL.

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis) - Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor - This is another no-brainer. Perfect fit for Shanahan's scheme and brings the star power that this franchise desperately needs.

3. Minnesota Vikings - Matt Kalil, OT, USC - I think that the Vikings front office will be torn between Kalil and Morris Claiborne. Claiborne is the better prospect in my book, but I think at the end of the day the Vikings will have to take Kalil to help out both Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson. This team is rebuilding, and a franchise left tackle is a must.

4. Cleveland Browns - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama - I think that the Browns will be intrigued by both Claiborne and Justin Blackmon, but this team needs playmakers more than another shutdown corner and it's a deep receiver class. The running back position is becoming less and less important in today's NFL, but Richardson is an elite talent who should have eight Pro Bowl caliber years in him. To me, the Browns have to take him.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU - Bucs fans are probably praying for Richardson to slip past the Browns, as he could make them one of the scariest offenses in the NFL, but Claiborne is still a great pick. Aqib Talib is talented but unreliable and Ronde Barber is on his last legs. Claiborne projects as a true shutdown corner at the next level.

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington) - TRADED to the Miami Dolphins - Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M - The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Miami has to take Tannehill. This franchise is in desperate need of a legitimate quarterback, and Tannehill can be that guy if he's handled correctly. That's a big if, and sixth overall is a lofty pick for guy who can't step in and play right away, but if the Dolphins believe he can be their guy one or two years down the road then it's undoubtedly worth it. Miami already has the guy who developed Tannehill in offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, so I can really see this working. They just have to go about it the way that Tennessee did with Jake Locker, not the way Jacksonville did it with Blaine Gabbert. For St. Louis, this trade makes sense because they need a big time playmaker for Sam Bradford, and two are currently still available.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State - The Jaguars could use help along the defensive line and in the secondary, but they also need to give Gabbert every chance to succeed, and he can't do that with no one to throw to. Justin Blackmon doesn't have elite physical tools, but he's a big time gamer with good intangibles. I think this is a perfect fit for Jacksonville.

8. St. Louis Rams (from Miami) - Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame - Right now Sam Bradford is playing chess with checkers pieces. He wants to play quarterback like Tom Brady. He wants to beat you by recognizing the match ups and carving you up with his deadly accuracy. The problem is you can't play that way if you don't have anyone the defense is afraid of. Floyd brings that presence. He has elite physical tools and to me looks a lot like Larry Fitzgerald coming out of Pittsburgh.

9. Carolina Panthers - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State - This one's a no brainer to me. Cox is an elite 4-3 defensive tackle prospect and is exactly what the Panthers defense was missing last season.

10. Buffalo Bills - TRADED to the Philadelphia Eagles - Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis - The Eagles traditionally shy away from the boom or bust prospects in favor of high motor, high character guys, but GM Howie Roseman said something last week that to me was very telling. He said that the addition of former Texans team captain DeMeco Ryans would allow them more flexibility in the character and hustle department, as Ryans is a passionate leader who demands 100% effort from his players. This opens the door for a guy like Poe, who could be Jim Washburn's new Albert Haynesworth in the Eagles wide nine technique. For the Bills, this allows them to grab more picks and offensive line help at a more reasonable draft spot.

11. Kansas City Chiefs - David DeCastro, G, Stanford - I could really see the Chiefs making a play for Ryan Tannehill, but in this scenario the Dolphins trade up to guarantee they get their guy. If that's the case, I think DeCastro is a perfect fit for Kansas City. He would complete an extremely formidable offensive line and would allow them to get back to running the football with a healthy Jamaal Charles.

12. Seattle Seahawks - Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College - Defensive end is a huge need, but I can't see Pete Carroll passing on Kuechly. He's seen what a dominant linebacker can do for a team in his USC years, and Kuechly is the best player available.

13. Arizona Cardinals - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa - The Cardinals have to do everything they can to give Kevin Kolb a chance to be their guy, and the top priority should be giving him a competent offensive line. Reiff would step in right away at right tackle, which is their biggest position of need.

14. Dallas Cowboys - Melvin Ingram, DE, USC - Many experts seem convinced that the Cowboys are locked into taking Alabama safety Mark Barron, and while safety is an area of need I think getting another pass rusher opposite DeMarcus Ware is just as important. Ingram could become an elite pass rusher at the next level, and could severely help them chase down Eli Manning, Michael Vick, and Robert Griffin III over the next couple of years.

15. Buffalo Bills (from Philadelphia) - Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford - Left tackle became the biggest area of need for the Bills after losing Demetress Bell in free agency, and Martin is a guy that could step in and man the position from day one.

16. New York Jets - Quinton Coples, DE, UNC - The Jets desperately need some pass rush, and they never shy away from the sexy pick. Coples has some character concerns but is a tremendous talent and could be a huge steal for the Jets here.

17. Cincinnati Bengals - Stephon Gilmore, CB, USC - The Bengals really felt the absence of Jonathan Joseph last year, and Gilmore is a top notch prospect that could help fill the void. Gilmore's a better prospect than this draft slot, but I just don't see corner as a huge need in the top half of the draft this year, and couldn't find a team willing to trade up. Gilmore's a steal for the Bengals here.

18. San Diego Chargers - TRADED to the New England Patriots - Mark Barron, S, Alabama - At some point, the Patriots need to stop trading back and collecting picks and start using those picks to trade up for impact players. Mark Barron is exactly what the Patriots defense needs, and would allow Devin McCourtey to focus on just being a shutdown corner.

19. Chicago Bears - Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse - The Bears could use some help along the offensive line, but another capable edge rusher opposite Julius Peppers would make this defense terrifying.

20. Tennessee Titans - Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois - The Titans had virtually no pass rush last year. They need to find an edge rusher in the first two rounds and Mercilus is good value here.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor - This is a luxury pick, and while the Bengals could use some help along the defensive line, I can't see them passing on Wright here. He gives them an elite receiving corps and could help prevent a sophomore slump from Andy Dalton.

22. Cleveland Browns - TRADED to the Denver Broncos - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU - Brockers is very talented but I see him falling into the twenties because of character concerns and his lack of elite pass rushing ability from the inside. He's a perfect fit for Denver, though, and could step in and start right away to replace Broderick Bunkley, who left for the Saints in free agency.

23. Detroit Lions - Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama - The Lions have needed corner help for what seems like a decade, and they get great value here. Kirkpatrick is a big, physical corner who can disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and would allow the Lions' elite defensive line more time to get to the quarterback.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama - This is an absolutely perfect fit, as Hightower could step in from day one and start at a huge position of need for the Steelers.

25. Cleveland Browns (from Denver) - Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech - This is why I can't see the Browns taking Justin Blackmon. They can take Richardson, and allow another receiver from this extremely deep class to fall to them with their next pick.

26. Houston Texans - Rueben Randle, WR, LSU - The Texans don't have many needs, and another threat opposite Andre Johnson could do wonders for their offense. Randle's a speedy downfield threat who would perfectly fit that mold as the Texans chase a championship.

27. San Diego Chargers (from New England) - Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia - The Chargers need help at right tackle, and Glenn could step in right away and play. Glenn is a monster of a tackle at 6'5", 345 pounds, and could help keep Phillip Rivers upright as well as open up holes for the emerging Ryan Matthews.

28. Green Bay Packers - Courtney Upshaw, DE, Alabama - Clay Matthews had a disappointing year last year due to a regression along the Packers defensive line as well as a lack of pass rush presence opposite him. Upshaw could step in right away and help out with the second part of that problem. In case you weren't counting, that's four Alabama defenseman already off the board. That team was incredible.

29. Baltimore Ravens - TRADED to the Cleveland Browns - Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State - And so completes the sexiest draft in NFL history. The Browns completely revamp their offense with Richardson, Hill, and now Weeden. If this guy was turning 24 in September instead of 29, he'd be in the top ten ahead of Tannehill. I love Weeden and I love this fit, as he could come in and run the show right away with two new fancy weapons to play with.

30. San Fransisco 49ers - Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State - The 49ers don't have many needs, and this guy will be under-drafted because of this great defensive tackle class. In other words, he's very "worthy" of this pick. Justin Smith is getting older, and Worthy would just add another solid piece to this scary defense.

31. New England Patriots - Shea McClellin, LB, Boise State - I could see the Patriots trading down to make up for their trade up earlier, but they need pass rush help and I could see Belichick falling in love with McClellin. He's a high motor guy who gives it all on every snap, and could immediately improve the Pats at linebacker.

32. New York Giants - Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State - Adams has been downgraded because of character concerns, but he's extremely talented and the Giants might feel as if their veteran locker room could keep him focused. They need help at tackle and Adams could be plugged immediately into their lineup.

Just a Quick Rant

Screw the National Hockey League, Brendan Shanahan and the worst commissioner in the history of sport, Gary Bettman.  Guy is an absolute clown.  Only commissioner in my memory to have not only been dumb enough to allow a labor dispute between mostly multimillionaire's to occur, but he did it twice.  The first time the owners locked the players out resulted in a 46 game shortened 95-96 season.  The second time...well, there was no season at all 04-05.  Way to go, jackass.  But I digress......

First point is, and the playoffs have made this all the more clear, if you're a high profile star in the NHL you can do whatever the fuck you want on the ice and get away with it, or atleast avoid a long term suspension, a hefty fine, or even a penalty, or all three if your name is Shea Weber.  Except of course if your name is Nicklas Backstrom or Alex Ovechkin and you play for the Washington Capitals.

Remember back in January when our boy Ovie got the book thrown at him and was suspended for three games for leaving his feet and charging Zbynek Michalek of that whiny team in Pittsburgh?  Yea, no penalty was called on the play.  No one was injured.

Only differnce between Backstrom's and Ovechkin's suspension is Nicky got a match penalty on his crosscheck upstairs on Peverly so Shanahan and Bettman could lean on that crutch and no explanation was needed.  Their hands were essentially tied.   

Shanahan on why Shea Weber was not suspended.  ""I looked at that one and I'm not happy with that play," Shanahan said. "I investigated that hit. I called Detroit that night. I think that [Weber] pushed [Zetterberg's] face in the glass. I was really close to a one-game suspension on that and when I talked to Detroit and I talked to [Ken Holland] he basically said the player was fine."  

In the same interview he explicitly mentions injury as being a contributing factor in suspension or penalty.

Either Shanahan was watching a different game, or the euphemism for basically curbing a guys head on the boards is "pushing his face in the glass" . Definitely an ugly play.  Definitely suspendable.  No one was injured, no penalty was called on the play.  No suspension.  Fine, but have some fucking consistency! 

Carl Hagelin get's three games while Matt Carkner gets one for essentially mugging Brian Boyle.  Andrew Shaw gets three games for running into Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith in a play I've seen countless times go unpunished (last night in Pittsburgh comes to mind).  All three, Hagelin Carkner, Shaw are not household names and they got the book throw at them.   But again, there is no consistency.  On any level.

Second point is what is the deal with the playoff scheduling and why do I feel the Caps are getting hosed?  Only series in the playoffs scheduled to play games on back to back days.  Today's game (Saturday) is at 3 pm.  So make tomorrows game at 7 right?  To accommodate for travel between Boston and D.C. and to allow an extra few hours of rest in a tightly played hard fought playoff series.  No, 3 pm scheduled for Sunday.  Presumably it's a money grab to cash in on the Sunday afternoon crowd.  Coupled with the Pens/Flyers game 6 at noon tomorrow, the NHL could see some pretty good viewing numbers.  But the Caps should not be playing tomorrow in the first place.

As I mentioned, there is the only one first round series to have games on back to back days.  But, but, but, it's the same for both teams.  Go fuck yourself.  Looking at records, the Bruins are 8-4 this year in the second game of back to backers.  Caps..... 5-6-2.  Clear advantage Boston.  Oh, let's schedule the Boston Bruins (an overtly NHL favored city and original six franchise) and the Washington Capitals (a lowly Southeast division dweller with a bunch of Russians that just came on the scene again that the NHL could give two shits about) to play pivotal games 5 and 6 on back to back days (not nights, or staggered).  Thanks Gary Bettman.  Blow me.  End rant.  


Update:  Just saw Rafi Torres got 25 games for his hit on Marian Hossa.  While I completely agree with the decision and and I believe goons like Torres and unsuspecting blind side cheap shot hits that result in guys getting stretchered off the ice need to be punished severely, I see this as just another rash, impetuous decision by the NHL brass, pressured by the media firestorm created during the current playoff run to come down hard on someone (preferably not a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins).  In no way will it change the culture in the NHL on hits unless there is some consistency on punishment being dolled out.  No matter who you are.  Or who you play for.

Madden 13 Cover Vote - The Finals

Calvin Johnson or Cam Newton? It's a tough call, and either would make a good pick for the cover of Madden 13. Before I explain my pick and make a prediction, here are the previous winners...

2001 - Eddie George

2002 - Daunte Culpepper

2003 - Marshall Faulk

2004 - Michael Vick

2005 - Ray Lewis

2006 - Donovan McNabb

2007 - Shaun Alexander

2008 - Vince Young

2009 - Brett Favre

2010 - Larry Fitzgerald/Troy Polamalu

2011 - Drew Brees

2012 - Peyton Hillis

As you can see, there have been six quarterbacks on the cover as opposed to .5 receivers. That should weigh in to everyone's decision. But we can't just vote Calvin in because he's a receiver. We have to decide if he's good enough to warrant something that no one who has ever played his position has ever received. Through the Madden cover era, the best wide receiver we've seen has been Randy Moss, who's considered by many people to be the second best receiver to ever play the game behind the Jerry Rice. If Moss never graced the cover, how could Calvin?

Then again, is the Madden cover even about recognizing greatness? This has been going on from 2001-present, yet neither Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, the two guys who have dominated the era, have never been on the cover. The more I look at it, the Madden cover seems to be about three things: 1) Recognizing an outstanding single season performance and 2) Recognizing the "hottest" athlete at the time in both the real NFL and the video game and 3) recognizing recent post-season success

Eddie George's cover came a year after his best statistical performance, when he rushed for 1500 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Daunte Culpepper's came after he burst on the seen as one of the most exciting QBs in the game

Marshall Faulk's came after a hot season and a Super Bowl victory

Michael Vick's came after bursting on the scene as the hottest young QB in real life and especially the video game

Ray Lewis' came after a DPOY award

Donovan McNabb's came after his best statistical season when the Eagles were the most exciting team in the game with him and T.O.

Shaun Alexander's came after his ridiculous 1880 yard, 27 touchdown season

Vince Young's came after an average statistical year, but he was still one of the freshest young stars in the game

Brett Favre's came after this come back year with the Packers when he was the hottest player in the game besides Brady

Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu's cover came after they met in the Super Bowl

Drew Brees' came after his Super Bowl victory

Peyton Hillis' came after his unreal year

So, out of the three categories that all these fall into, who has the edge in each?

Single Season Numbers

Cam Newton - 4,051 yards, 21 tds, 17 ints, 60% completion, 706 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns

Calvin Johnson - 96 receptions, 1,681, 16 touchdowns

The Edge - I'm actually going to go with Calvin...Calvin was 4th in receptions, 1st in yards, and 1st in touchdowns among wide receivers. Cam is 10th in yards and 11th in touchdowns among quarterbacks. He is 1st in rushing yards, and second in the entire league in touchdowns, but how many of those came from the 1 yard line? Calvin's season is more impressive to me.

"Hotter" Athlete

This has got to be Newton. Calvin's been around for five years now, and while he's cool as hell, Newton captivated everyone with his play last year.

Postseason Success

This is obviously Calvin. He was on the better team, but not only did he make it to the playoffs, but he played at the highest level a receiver can play at in that game against the Saints. He was simply un-guardable, catching 12 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

My vote goes to Calvin. He beats out Cam in two of the three categories that have decided the previous winners, and he'd be the first of his position to grace the cover alone. Cam will get his cover one way or another, because he's just scratched the surface of his potential. Calvin, however, had one of the best years in recent memory by a receiver last year and took over as the best player at his position.

My prediction is also Calvin. While you might expect Cam to dominate in vote getting, he barely edged out Patrick Willis last week while Calvin easily handled Aaron Rodgers. Here's to hoping we see Megatron on the cover of Madden 13'.

To vote, click here.

Washington Redskins 2012 Schedule Breakdown and Predictions

The first installment of the 2012 schedule breakdown, as promised, is the Redskins.  The NFL pundits came out today and said Washington has the 6th easiest schedule for 2012, but I don't see it that way.  This schedule looks menacing, especially down the stretch, but it does begin with relatively winnable games.  So if RG3 is able to adapt to the NFL quickly, this schedule just might work out perfectly for Washington.


This season really could go either way for the Redskins.  Their defensive front 7 is up there with the best in the league, and they finally have some playmaking potential on offense, but I just can't predict success with a patchwork safety tandem and a rookie quarterback.  I think the Redskins will surprise people, and they could win some games that they shouldn't, but they are another year away from competing in the NFC East.


I hope I'm wrong though, so let's look at the schedule game by game.


at New Orleans - W
The more and more I think about this game, the more I believe the Redskins are going to win it.  Sure, it's against the best offense in the league in their Dome where they are virtually unbeatable.  But with the ordeal that the Saints have been through this offseason, it will be so hard for them to come together, especially if the NFL starts dishing out suspensions to their defensive players.  This could be the best team possible for Griffin to begin his career against, not to mention the Saints will have a very small sample size of film on RG3.  Redskins 31, Saints 27


at St. Louis - L
This is a tough one for the Redskins.  St. Louis has all the makings of a surprise team this year, so I think the Redskins lose this one in a tight game.  It all depends on RG3, because I think the Rams have the better supporting cast, especially if they draft a premier weapon for Sam Bradford.  Rams 21, Redskins 20

Cincinnati - W
As much as I hate to say it, I'm expecting a Sophomore slump from Andy Dalton.  He had a great year last year, he has a great work ethic, yet I still can't seem to figure out how exactly he was able to put together the season he had last year.  AJ Green will get back to dominating opposing cornerbacks, and I expect him to make the Pro Bowl once again in Year 2.  Still, the Redskins come away with this one on  an RG3 bomb to Pierre Garcon with 50 seconds left.  Redskins 24, Bengals 17


at Tampa Bay - W
Raheem Morris exacts his revenge on his former team...as the defensive backs coach?  Not exactly your typical Monday headline, but I think the Redskins pull this one out.  Seems like Schiano is cleaning house over in Tampa Bay, with the latest rumor involving Aqib Talib.  Tampa Bay should be one of the worst teams in the league this year, and look for Helu to have a big game in this one.  Redskins 27, Buccaneers 13


Atlanta - L
As boring as Atlanta is, they just don't lose to teams like Washington.  This one could be close, especially if RG3 is feeling it, but the Falcons will come away with the victory, some way or another.  Helu will put up a pedestrian 62 yards on 22 carries, and Redskins fans will wonder why we didn't resign Tim Hightower (assuming we don't).


Minnesota - W
The Redskins could very easily be 5-1 or 1-5 at this point in the season, so I have them sitting pretty at 4-2.  The Vikings are similar to the Redskins, but the Redskins are simply better in every unit, excluding running back.  Look for the front seven to bottle up Peterson, and I fully expect RG3 to explode in this one, after seeing what team's were doing to Minnesota's Cover 2 last year.  This could be the Heisman Trophy winner's coming out party.  Redskins 38, Vikings 24

at NY Giants - L
The Redskins went 2-0 against the Super Bowl champs last year, but it will be tough to continue that success again this year.  Eli Manning proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is an elite quarterback, and the Giants will be the favorite to win the NFC East in 2012.  However, the Redskins could steal one from them at home, building on 2011's success.  Giants 24, Redskins 20


at Pittsburgh - L
Two losses in a row for the Redskins, and they are back at .500.  Just to be clear, this game isn't an automatic loss, as I don't think Pittsburgh is nearly as good as they were a few years ago.  But it will be very tough for Robert Griffin to go into Heinz Field and get the victory.  He could, but odds and history say he won't.  Steelers 17, Redskins 16

Carolina - W
This is the game I am most excited for on the Redskins schedule.  Cam Newton vs. RG3 in a rematch from last year, and I expect both teams to be right in the thick of their divisional races.  The Skins are still steaming from last year's performance, when Cam Newton ran and passed all over them in a near-perfect game.  What was billed as a quarterback battle turns into a runningback's field day, as Helu goes over 200 yards for the first time in his career. Redskins 31, Panthers 28


BYE
This is perfect timing for the Redskins bye week.  They are now 5-4, and they are about to dive into a brutal 7 game run to end the season.  Everyone will be well-rested for the Philadelphia game, which turns into a must-win for both teams.  No matter how poorly or well the Redskins are playing at this point in the season, they will control their playoff destiny from here on out, with five games against divisional foes.  That's really all you can ask for.

Philadelphia - L
A tough loss for the Redskins, but they just don't have the speed to match up in the secondary, especially at safety.  They are also matched up against a very good defense, who I think will be the 2nd best in the league in 2012, just behind the 49ers.  Eagles 31, Redskins 14

at Dallas - W
A Thanksgiving day battle at Dallas.  There's really nothing better for fans of both teams.  Rivalry renewed this year, as this game will actually have implications.  I think RG3 gets immersed in the rivalry and the spotlight and has a career day, posting season highs in passing yards and touchdowns.  He will throw two long touchdown passes, a la Mark Brunell to Santana Moss in 2005.  Redskins 38, Cowboys 28

NY Giants - W
Another primetime game, another primetime performance from RG3.  This one, however, earns him the nickname Professor Primetime.  The home crowd will really get behind RG3 in this one, as they will finally see the playoffs as a real possibility, but the schedule only gets tougher.  Redskins 28, Giants 13


Baltimore - L
Whatever momentum the Redskins had is crushed against Baltimore, as Flacco puts together one of the better games of the season from a quarterback.  The Redskins have no answer for Baltimore's Run-n-Gun offense, and they are embarrased in the comfort of FedEx.  Baltimore, at this point in the season, looks poised for a Super Bowl run.  Ravens 31, Redskins 10

at Cleveland - W
The Redskins get back on track against an inferior Cleveland team, but not until Cleveland's last second field goal goes clanking off the left upright.  This has truly been an up-and-down year for the Redskins, and fans begin to wonder whether this is, in fact, a sign of destiny.  Redskins 14, Browns 13

at Philadelphia - L
Controlling their own destiny, the Redskins fail to capitalize on a Desean Jackson muffed punt early in the 4th quarter.  The Eagles score on the ensuing possession, and the game sealed after an RG3 interception just two plays later.  The Eagles had the Redskins' number this year, but there is still hope for a wild card spot with a win against Dallas and some help. Eagles 35, Redskins 20

Dallas - L
In one of the better Cowboys/Redskins games in recent memory, Romo and RG3 battle it out for a chance at the playoffs.  The team that wins would still need some help getting in, but the team that loses is out altogether.  Romo leads a game-winning drive in the waning minutes (Weird, right?), and the Cowboys come out on top.  Will they get into the playoffs?  Cowboys 31, Redskins 27


Redskins Final Record 2012: 8-8


Overall, a good season for the Redskins, better than expected.  They will be in control of their own destiny heading into that brutal run after the bye week, but if they get hot and start winning games they shouldn't, they could easily sneak into the playoffs.  I'm exicted to see where the Redskins end up.


HTTR.