Cleveland Writer Suggests Browns Consider Trading No. 1 Pick For Jimmy Garoppolo
The New England Patriots could ask the Cleveland Browns for the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft in a trade for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo … or perhaps they could aim even higher?
The Browns own the No. 1 and No. 12 overall picks, and some, including NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, have suggested Cleveland consider trading the latter pick for Garoppolo, who might be available with Tom Brady looking as good as ever despite turning 40 this year.
Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot thinks the Browns even should consider sweetening the pot if necessary, making the top overall pick available if that’s what the Patriots want in exchange for Jimmy G.
Here’s what Cabot recently wrote as part of her “Hey, Mary Kay!” mailbag:
“I actually wouldn’t be opposed to the Browns sending the No. 1 overall pick to the Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo if that’s what it takes. Ideally, they’d get him for the No. 12, but if it turns into a bidding war and they have to go that high, why not? They’d be getting a QB who’s proven he can excel against NFL defenses. In recent weeks, national media members, including Bill Belichick pal Mike Lombardi, have speculated the Patriots won’t trade him, but I’m not buying it. If the price is right, they’ll move him, given the fact he’s due to become a free agent after next season. As I’ve written before, I’d strongly consider drafting Mitch Trubisky No. 1 overall and also shipping the No. 12 pick to New England for Garoppolo. Then, I’d look for a pass-rusher and receiver in the second round.”
Garoppolo obviously has limited NFL game experience playing behind Brady in New England, but he started two games this past season while No. 12 served his Deflategate suspension and showed a lot of promise. With uncertainty surrounding the quarterbacks available in this year’s draft, Garoppolo represents more of a known quantity who’s had the benefit of learning under Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for three seasons since being drafted in the second round (62nd overall) in 2014.
Is that upside enough for the Browns to think about trading the top overall selection for Garoppolo, who turns 26 in November and has one year remaining on his rookie contract? And would the Patriots, who’ve been known for trading down on draft day, even consider such an offer? After all, Brady can’t play forever despite what Patriots fans would like to believe.
It’ll be an interesting offseason in New England for various reasons, and it doesn’t sound like the Jimmy G trade rumors are going to die anytime soon.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
Adrian Peterson To Enter Free Agency After Vikings Decline 2017 Option
There’s about to be a big name on the NFL’s free-agent market. Whether he can still play, however, is up for debate.
The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday they won’t extend the 2017 option for running back Adrian Peterson, making him an unrestricted free agent when the NFL season opens March 9.
The move could end Peterson’s tenure with the Vikings after 10 years, but Minnesota sounds open to having him return.
“Adrian is an important part of the Minnesota Vikings organization,” Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said in a statement. “We will continue to have conversations with his representatives and leave our future options open while determining what is best for both parties moving forward.”
Peterson’s early seasons put him in the conversation for greatest running back of all time, but injuries and off-field issues have limited him in the past few seasons. He’s appeared in just 20 games over the last three seasons. He saw something of a resurgence in 2015 when he led the league in rushing yards (1,485), but he appeared in just three games in 2016, rushing the ball 37 times for just 72 yards.
He’ll be 32 when the 2017 NFL season begins.
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
Petco Park Flooded During San Diego’s Crazy Rain Storm
If the San Diego Padres ever consider changing their nickname, “The Ducks” could be an apt moniker.
The field at Petco Park, the Padres’ home stadium, was flooded with water Monday when heavy rainstorms hit the San Diego area. The drainage system at the 13-year-old venue couldn’t handle the volume of water, and Petco Park turned into “Petco Pond.” This photo FOX-5 San Diego shared Monday on Twitter suggests ducks had hours of fun swimming in the outfield.
Good thing @Padres are in Arizona for #Springtraining — Petco Park flooded today https://t.co/YxeVwo8kqA pic.twitter.com/EhsVhA2CQb
— FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) February 28, 2017
Thankfully, the Padres are in Arizona for spring training. There also was no grass on the field since groundskeepers had previously removed it for a recent monster-truck rally.
The drainage system eventually rid the field of water, and groundskeepers resumed laying turf.
Sunshine is back in San Diego and all is back to normal. A third of the playing field has already been laid! pic.twitter.com/91KFmvrAEx
— Petco Park (@PetcoPark) February 28, 2017
The turf at Petco Park should be in pristine condition when the World Baseball Classic comes to town from March 14-19.
That is unless the ducks return to claim what was theirs for a moment in time.
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images
Former Ford GT Lead Designer, Artist Talks About His Labor Of Love
Driving any supercar is supposed to be an emotional experience. It’s probably even more emotional, however, driving one that started its life as an idea in your head.
Camilo Pardo, a Detroit native, has lived a life most gearheads only can dream of. Pardo was the lead designer of the 2005 Ford GT, a car which he poured his heart and soul into, and that almost wasn’t put into production.
Even though his work sometimes doesn’t make it past the concept stage, in a video Petrolicious posted Tuesday, Pardo explains it’s quite a rewarding profession.
Greatness doesn’t come without perseverance. And despite all of Pardo’s accomplishments, perhaps the most impressive thing about his career is he did everything in his power to ensure the GT was put into production.
“As we approached the auto show, they cancelled the production car. It was disappointing,” Pardo said during the interview. “My goal was to do a concept vehicle that really looked like a production car, could maybe some way talk everybody to put it back on for production.”
We speak for Ford GT fans everywhere when we say we are eternally grateful that Pardo never gave up.
How Michael Floyd’s Legal Situation Could Impact Receiver’s Free Agency
The fallout of Michael Floyd’s latest run-in with the law might not stop with his legal punishment.
The veteran wide receiver currently is serving a 120-day prison sentence he earned after pleading guilty to an extreme DUI for a Dec. 12 drunk driving arrest. When his sentence is up on March 13, he’ll enter a home detention program that will prevent him from leaving the state of Arizona (and, among other things, using mouthwash), per ESPN.com.
Why is this important for Floyd’s immediate NFL future? Because the current New England Patriot will become an unrestricted free agent March 9. Unless Floyd’s lawyer successfully files a motion for permission to leave the state under home detention, the earliest he could cross state lines will be June 17.
So, unless the Arizona Cardinals re-signed Floyd — which is highly unlikely given the recent history between Floyd and the team — the 27-year-old would miss nearly all of most teams’ offseason workouts, including mini-camp and organized team activities.
That’s certainly something for the Patriots to consider if they intend to sign Floyd to a new contract, as the wideout would enter July training camp without the extra experience of working with his teammates. It obviously hurts his stock with other teams, as well, especially considering the NFL is likely to suspend Floyd to begin the 2017 season.
Floyd has said he wants to play for New England again in 2017, but his legal situation (rightfully) should give the Patriots pause.
Thumbnail photo via Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sports Images
All-Wheel-Drive Dodge Challenger GT Is Ideal Muscle Car For New England
New England is a bit of a tricky place to live if you’re a car enthusiast. For three out of four seasons, the region’s hilly back roads are perfect for taking your sports car out to stretch its legs. But during the winter, driving a car that sends all its power to the back wheels could land you in some sticky situations.
Thankfully, ahead of the 2017 model year Dodge introduced the first Challenger to distribute power to both its front and rear wheels: The Challenger GT.
Some people undoubtedly will take issue with Dodge only offering the GT with a 3.6-liter V-6 that produces just 305 horsepower, compared to the 375 horses you get from the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 in the R/T. Having two fewer cylinders is a small price to pay, however, when you consider the upside.
The GT sends 80 percent of its power rearward in normal driving conditions, and in certain situations, such as when accelerating, it can briefly send all its power to the back wheels.
As a result, in the dry, it feels like a rear-wheel-drive car, unless you’re driving on the limit of grip — which you shouldn’t be doing on public roads anyways. Then, when inclement weather hits, you can tackle conditions you wouldn’t dream of driving in with a rear-drive Challenger.
That said, according to BestRide.com’s Craig Fitzgerald, the GT behaves slightly different in the snow than other cars, due to its rear-biased all-wheel-drive system.
Check out the video about to see Fitzgerald talk with NESN Fuel’s Rachel Holt about what makes the newest Challenger such good value for money.
Thumbnail photo via Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Sorry, Race Car Drivers; Roborace’s Self-Driving Car Doesn’t Need You
Part of being a racing fan is rooting for your favorite drivers and teams. It’s tough to imagine racing void of the human element, but imagining might not be necessary much longer.
Roborace, the first autonomous-vehicle racing series, revealed its Robocar driverless race car Monday at the 2017 Mobil World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, according to Motor Trend. The Robocar joins Roborace’s prototype DevBot as vehicles that could be racing during the second half of season three of Formula E.
The car of the future is here. #Robocar #Roborace #MWC17 pic.twitter.com/HccpI6l3ql
— Roborace (@roborace) February 27, 2017
The futuristic racer weighs approximately 2,150 pounds and is powered by four 300-kilowatt electric motors, according to Motor Trend. The vehicle reportedly can reach speeds approaching 200 mph, despite being roughly 600 pounds heavier than a Formula 1 car.
The Robocar’s brain is powered by the Nvidia Drive PX 2 supercomputer, which reportedly has the ability to run 24 trillion operations per second. The vehicle’s sense of direction is made possible by a variety of impressive technology, including five lidar and two radar arrays, six artificial intelligence cameras and 18 ultrasonic sensors.
It’s important to note that Roborace will be a spec series, meaning that while the hardware of participating vehicles is mandated, the software will be developed by teams, according to Motor Trend. This presents a great challenge for teams to develop software capable of leading their vehicles to victory. Given the Robocar’s amazing potential, however, it’s likely a challenge teams are eager to take on.
Thumbnail photo via Roborace
State Of The Celtics: How Firm Is Boston’s Grasp On East’s No. 2 Seed?
The Boston Celtics are, for a lack of a better term, in a weird place right now.
There’s plenty to suggest all is well on Causeway Street. The Celtics will enter March with a 38-22 record, second-best in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and fifth-best in the entire league. Avery Bradley, their second-leading scorer, is back after a prolonged injury absence, and their rivals, the Toronto Raptors, just lost one of their best players until the postseason.
But there’s a second side to this coin. Boston failed to make a single move at the trade deadline, while the Raptors, Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers — their primary competition in the East — all made apparent improvements. The Celtics have dropped three of their last four during a skid that has exposed some of their more glaring weaknesses and will have to turn things around against the East-leading Cavs on Wednesday.
So, who are the C’s at heart? Are they a hard-playing group led by emerging superstar Isaiah Thomas that can lock down a No. 2 seed and challenge Cleveland for East supremacy? Or are they an overachieving bunch riding on an overworked Thomas’ coattails that will falter down the stretch en route to another early playoff exit?
There are a few factors at play in that answer. Let’s break them down.
THE COMPETITION
It’s hard to expect anyone to catch the Cavs at No. 1, even with Kevin Love’s injury and LeBron James shouldering heavy minutes. They’re just too talented. But Boston should be worried about the Raptors and Wizards, both of whom should challenge for the No. 2 seed in March and April.
Toronto bolstered its interior presence by adding Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the deadline and is getting exceptional play from DeMar DeRozan, which should help the team stay afloat without Kyle Lowry. Washington also picked up a big man in Bojan Bogdanovic, while the dynamic backcourt duo of John Wall (22.9 points, 10.7 assists per game) and Bradley Beal (22.6 ppg) have made the Wizards one of the NBA’s hottest teams over the past two months.
The Atlanta Hawks, who ran the Celtics out of their own building Monday, also are a dark-horse contender for the second seed. If Boston can’t sustain its level of success, expect at least one of these teams to pounce.
THE ROSTER
It’s more of the same in Boston, as the C’s opted to sit on their stockpile of assets at the trade deadline. Bradley’s return should help the Celtics on both ends of the floor, but this still is a team that relies heavily on outside shooting and lacks a significant presence on the boards.
Boston doesn’t really have anyone who can score consistently outside Thomas; Al Horford’s offense has been erratic, Jae Crowder’s production has dipped slightly after last season’s breakout campaign and Jaylen Brown, while promising, still is coming into his own.
When Thomas is on his game and the C’s are knocking down shots, they can beat anyone. But Thomas is playing more minutes this season than ever before, and there’s a concern he could run out of steam late in the season. If that’s the case, we’re not convinced the rest of the roster can pick him up.
THE X-FACTOR
There are several players still left on the buyout market, most notably Andrew Bogut and Terrence Jones. Bogut looks like a possibility for the Celtics, and he’d certainly help the cause. The 32-year-old center could shore up Boston’s rebounding woes and is a skilled passer who might integrate well into head coach Brad Stevens’ system.
At the end of the day, though, adding Bogut isn’t going to make or break the Celtics’ season. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge took the long view at this year’s trade deadline, and as a result, his current club will have to scratch and claw to hold onto the No. 2 seed. As things stand now, it’s looking more likely the C’s run out of steam and get caught by Toronto or Washington.
Thumbnail photo via Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports Images
Join Sports Grille Boston For Bruins Pregame Party Tuesday
It’s been a while since the Boston Bruins took home ice at TD Garden, but they’ll return to the barn on Causeway Street on Tuesday night against the Arizona Coyotes.
The Bruins haven’t skated at the Garden since Feb. 12, and they’re red-hot as they return home. If you’re heading out to Tuesday night’s game, you definitely should swing by Sports Grille Boston on Canal Street for a Bud Light pregame party.
NESN and Bud Light will be there giving out prizes, and you’ll also have your chance to appear on an upcoming episode of “The Ultimate Bruins Show.”
The party starts at 5 p.m. ET, so be sure to join us then.
NFL Rumors: Kirk Cousins Prefers To Join One Team If Redskins Trade Him
Kirk Cousins has identified the perfect landing spot in the event the Washington Redskins jettison him.
The Redskins quarterback would only want to sign with the San Francisco 49ers under new head coach Kyle Shanahan if Washington trades him, ESPN’s John Keim reported Monday, citing a source. Cousins’ immediate fate with Washington remains in the balance, as the team considers whether to use the franchise tag on him in 2017, sign him to a long-term contract extension or trade him.
Cousins’ first choice reportedly would be to stay in Washington, but many consider the distance between its contract offer and his demands to be insurmountable. The Redskins are all but certain to tag him ahead of Wednesday’s NFL franchise tag deadline day, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stick around.
A trade would be a viable option, but Cousins’ expiring contract and apparent desire to play in Shanahan’s offense will reduce the number of teams interested in his services. After all, why make a blockbuster trade for a quarterback who’ll likely leave as a free agent after just one season?
Cousins worked with Shanahan in 2012 and 2013 when he was Washington’s offensive coordinator. The 49ers hired Shanahan as head coach earlier this month on a six-year contract.
The 49ers need a quarterback and have the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. They have the resources to need to pry Cousins from Washington. Time will tell whether their desire to bring him to San Francisco equals his willingness to play there.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
Andrew Benintendi, Brock Holt Show Off Their Dance Moves In Weight Room
The Major League Baseball regular season still is more than a month away, but Boston Red Sox outfielders already are working on their dance moves.
Besides being known for their powerful bats and their smooth defensive skills, the guys who man the outfield in Fenway Park also are known for their postgame celebration, which is known in Boston as “Win, Dance, Repeat.” There have been quite a few variations of the outfield dance, and Andrew Benintendi and Brock Holt, both of whom spent time in left field in 2016, might have given the world a preview of some new ones.
Red Sox relief pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. caught the pair goofing off in the weight room Monday and posted it to Instagram.
Those are pretty good, and they have some options, too, after right fielder Mookie Betts broke out his best Salt Bae impression after singling in the first inning of Sunday’s spring training game. They’ll have to wait for Jackie Bradley Jr. and Chris Young’s input before making any final decisions, though.
Why This Season’s F1 Racing Might Feature A Lot Less Passing
After just the first day of the first Formula One preseason test, drivers are already shattering 2016 lap times. But it seems, as many feared, that increased pace could come at the expense of overtaking.
When speaking to Motorsport.com at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton reportedly confirmed the 2017-spec F1 cars could lead to fewer on-track passes.
The regulation changes ahead of this season call for cars with wider tires and more downforce, resulting in higher cornering speeds. However, wider cars that generate aerodynamic grip leave more turbulent — i.e. “dirty” — air in their wakes, which impacts the aero of the car behind.
“I’m sure it will be more difficult to overtake. (Monday) driving behind cars you lose a lot more downforce, the car is also much bigger,” Massa told Motorsport.com.
Ahead of the 2017 season, Pirelli had to rework its tire compounds so they could withstand the higher loads. While current track temperatures in Spain are lower than they will be during the season, it still appears the Italian manufacturer succeeded. But Hamilton suggested the more durable rubber also could make it harder to pass cars on track.
“I was behind a couple of cars out there and it was harder to follow, as we expected,” Hamilton said, via Motorsport.com. “And then also, right now the tires are so hard that they don’t drop off, they just keep going and going and going and going.
“So most likely we’re going to be doing a lot more one-stoppers and, since there’s not degradation, less mistakes, less overtaking.”
There weren’t many people who doubted aero-reliant racers would make following more challenging, but we still held out hope it wouldn’t heavily impact the racing.
When Kevin Magnussen revealed in December he was bulking up to cope with the increased physicality of the new cars, he said the higher cornering forces actually could promote overtaking.
Magnussen reportedly told Danish network TV2 that drivers’ abilities to run the new cars on the limit of grip would be determined by their physical preparation. As a result, they could use that to their advantage, such as by braking later than a driver they’re battling or just by performing more consistently throughout an entire race.
It seems if that is the case, though, it will likely happen only at tracks that already were very physically demanding, such as Sepang International Circuit.
Thumbnail photo via Mercedes-AMG Petronas
What Were This Year’s Daytona 500 Ratings, Actually? It’s Tricky
By any measure, the audience for the 2017 Daytona 500 was much smaller than the highs of a decade ago, when the event regularly garnered double-digit television ratings. But determining just what the trend line is for NASCAR’s premier race is complicated — just as it is for other high-profile live events.
The FOX broadcast of Kurt Busch’s victory drew a 6.6 rating, roughly equal to last year’s number, the network announced Monday. It marked the second-lowest rating since the race was first televised in 1979, according to Sports Media Watch, although the 11.4-million average viewership was up a tick over 2016.
It can’t be argued, regardless of team owner Joe Gibbs’ protests, that the sport is on rock-solid ground. The Daytona 500’s viewership went into steady, and then precipitous, decline after the record 11.3 rating in 2006, as pointed out by USA TODAY. Of course, that year NBC used the race as an appetizer to the Winter Olympics, which helped bolster viewership.
Still, the flat-to-falling ratings aren’t a problem unique to NASCAR. Despite FOX trumpeting Super Bowl LI as one of the five most-watched programs in TV history and the second most-watched Super Bowl ever, a different perspective reveals it’s the second consecutive year ratings for the Super Bowl have dropped. Likewise, the 2017 Oscars, which garnered so much attention Monday on social media due to the best-picture flub, posted a nine-year ratings low.
So where are all the viewers going?
In the cases of both the Daytona 500 and the Super Bowl, FOX highlighted its performance on non-TV channels. The Great American Race attracted a record average audience of 39,832 on FOX Sports GO, its online streaming app. Super Bowl LI boasted a hefty 1.72 million online viewers.
The point isn’t that NASCAR is thriving or that the Super Bowl is dying — or vice versa — and anyone who claims racing isn’t without its weaknesses probably has a vested interest in promoting the sport’s health. But as viewer consumption habits change, expect to see more leagues offering more nuanced explanations of just how many people are tuning in.
Thumbnail photo via Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports Images
NHL Trade Deadline: Which Pending UFAs Are Worth Renting For Stretch Run?
The NHL trade deadline isn’t until Wednesday afternoon, but we’re already seeing the cost of doing business won’t be cheap.
Just over the last few days, we’ve seen two relatively big trades, both involving pending unrestricted free agents. The Arizona Coyotes sent Martin Hanzal, Ryan White and a 2017 fourth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a first, second, conditional fourth and a minor leaguer. On Monday, the Washington Capitals traded two players, a 2017 first-rounder and conditional picks to St. Louis for Kevin Shattenkirk, who also is a pending UFA.
Those prices should set the market, which means rentals won’t come cheap this year. But here are a handful of players who at least could be worth a look for contending teams willing to roll the dice.
Thomas Vanek, RW, Detroit Red Wings
It seems like Vanek makes some sort of trade deadline list every year, and given his affordability and his continued ability to put the puck in the net, he’s a potentially season-changing pickup for a contending team. The only potential issue is the price tag on the veteran winger, especially given the return Arizona received from Minnesota in the Hanzal trade. Is Vanek worth a first-rounder? For a team in need of one scorer (he leads the Red Wings in goals) to get over the hump, it certainly could be.
Radim Vrbata, RW, Arizona Coyotes
It’s been another solid season for the 35-year-old, who is the perfect addition for a team looking to reinforce its forward corps and add some scoring without sacrificing too much. Helping the case is Vrbata’s red-hot play of late — he’s scored in each of his last four games and contributed 11 points over the course of a nine-game point streak. He also has some playoff experience and would fit nicely on the second or third line of a lot of contending teams.
Kyle Quincey, D, New Jersey Devils
Quincey pretty much is what you’re looking for in a rental. He’s cheap, both in terms of contract ($1.25 million salary cap hit) and price to acquire. He’s also relatively dependable. Clubs looking to add a middle-of-the-pack D-man to stabilize the blue line could do worse than Quincey, who will contribute on the penalty kill and give you about 20 minutes per night while also having 54 career playoff games under his belt.
Brendan Smith, D, Detroit
Smith should be one of the top UFA-to-be choices for teams in search of a stay-at-home blue liner with size. He’s a perfect fit for a team that can score at will but has problems keeping the puck out of its own net. The Wings reportedly want to re-sign him before Wednesday’s deadline, but if he’s made available, teams should and will line up to check on the price.
Johnny Oduya, D, Dallas Stars
If the price is right, Oduya makes sense for a contender in need of one more piece. He’s certainly not the type of player who’s going to come in and turn a team around, but he’s a veteran with plenty of big-game experience. He does have a no-trade clause, which potentially limits the trade opportunities. Perhaps a return to Chicago is in the cards?
Drew Stafford, RW, Winnipeg Jets
This hasn’t been a career year by any measure for Stafford (four goals in 39 games), but that should make him a relatively cheap rental. If he gets hot, he’s proved in the past he has a solid scoring touch.
Shane Doan, RW, Arizona
Doan understandably is frustrated with another rebuild in the desert. As the Coyotes ship off pieces around him, could he be next? He’s never known another franchise, but maybe it’s time to let him chase a Cup elsewhere. He’s not the same player he used to be, but he’d obviously bring a tremendous veteran presence to any dressing room he joins.
Thumbnail photo via Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports Images
Dwight Howard Trolls Celtics Fan Who Thought He Was Giving Her His Jersey
Dwight Howard is a bad man.
The Atlanta Hawks center dropped 17 points on the Boston Celtics on Monday and grabbed 12 rebounds before getting ejected near the end of the third quarter in Atlanta’s 114-98 win. But it was what Howard did before leaving the court that really proved he had ice in his veins.
As Howard was walking off, he stopped in front of a group of fans and began to take off his jersey. But while the Celtics fan directly in front of Howard thought she was going to be the lucky recipient of the sweaty shirt, Howard had other plans.
Dwight you're cold for this. 😂 pic.twitter.com/lzJGDoMI02
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 28, 2017
That’s some All-Star level trolling right there.
Her reaction was great, but our disappointed Celtics fan probably should have known better than to think a player who just got ejected from an away game would give his memorabilia to a home-team fan. She certainly won’t get her hopes up next time, though.
Bill Polian Wouldn’t Put Terrell Owens OR Randy Moss In Hall Of Fame
Bill Polian apparently isn’t a fan of wide receivers with big egos, even if they’re two of the best ever at their position.
The former Indianapolis Colts general manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer spoke recently with Talk of Fame Network’s Clark Judge and was asked to settle a debate: Would he give his Hall of Fame vote to Randy Moss or Terrell Owens?
It’s a valid question, as Moss will become eligible for the first time in 2018, and voters only can choose one of the wideouts. But Polian’s answer was a bit perplexing.
“I take neither,” Polian told Judge. “First of all, here’s my position: (I want players who) contribute both individually and to the team. T.O.’s situation, T.O.’s temperament, his ability to contribute to the team was well known up front. He was going to be a problem. We did not want to deal with problem children. Others may. We didn’t.
“That’s number one. Number two, every year in Indianapolis we said the following: ‘The price of admission is 100 percent effort all the time in everything we do.’ Well, how can we take Randy Moss when we make that statement? It’s that simple.”
In short, Polian doesn’t think Owens and Moss deserve Hall of Fame votes because they weren’t very nice guys and didn’t try hard all the time. That’s a pretty shallow argument. Both players undoubtedly had character and effort issues, but that didn’t stop T.O. and Moss from finishing their careers with the second- and third-most receiving yards of all time, respectively, behind only Jerry Rice. Besides, there are plenty of other players with similar red flags — Michael Irvin and Cris Carter, to name only two — who earned a place in Canton.
Polian admitted it was likely Owens and Moss get in eventually, but that their reputations as team “cancer(s)” should mean more than their incredible individual achievements.
“Part of the motto of the Hall of Fame is (to) support the values of the game,” Polian added. “How did (Owens) support the values of the game? It’s a team game. It’s not an individual game.”
But the Hall of Fame honors individuals, and Owens and Moss rank among the NFL’s best.
Thumbnail photo via Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports Images
Should Dwight Howard Have Been Ejected From Celtics-Hawks? NBA Says No
The Atlanta Hawks proved they didn’t need Dwight Howard to steamroll the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
But does that mean the Hawks center deserved to get tossed?
Howard already had been assessed one technical foul at TD Garden for giving Al Horford a hearty shove early in the third quarter.
1st: Dwight vs. Al 👀 pic.twitter.com/udpkmtaIhd
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 28, 2017
Later in the period, Howard gave a little extra flourish on a putback dunk, letting out a yell as he did a half chin-up on the rim. The refs didn’t like that, either, and hit him with another technical.
2nd: Dwight vs. The Rim 😂 pic.twitter.com/cpnpPuSMSZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 28, 2017
By NBA rule, two technical fouls in a game is an automatic ejection, meaning Howard’s night ended prematurely. The Hawks, of course, were outraged, arguing that Howard’s dunk was nothing more than an emphatic finish.
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/836400138801160192
The league apparently agreed. After the game, the NBA issued a statement saying Howard’s technical foul should have been ruled “non-unsportsmanlike” and that he shouldn’t have been ejected, per ESPN.com’s Chris Forsberg.
Howard had drawn plenty of attention to himself after his scuffle with Horford, which might have been why the officials were quick to T him up a second time. But it did appear his second technical was unwarranted; we’ve seen many NBA players embellish dunks more than Howard did and not receive a technical foul.
Atlanta would be just fine without its big man, though, rolling to a 114-98 blowout win. Howard finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes of action.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
Antonio Brown Is A Good Reminder Not To Obsess Over Combine Results
The Pittsburgh Steelers determined Monday that Antonio Brown is the best wide receiver in the NFL when they handed him a four-year, $68 million contract, making him the highest-paid player at his position. This is despite the fact Brown isn’t a freak athlete.
That’s not a knock against Brown. I’m not a freak athlete. Neither is Tom Brady (sure, he says he would perform better at the NFL Scouting Combine now than he did 17 years ago, but it would take him another 150 years of improvement before he reaches freak levels of athleticism, and he probably won’t be very spry at the age of 189). Many quarterbacks aren’t freak athletes yet still reach an elite level of play on the field.
Wide receivers, given their desired ability to stretch the field, burst off the line and cut on a dime, are expected to perform well at the NFL Scouting Combine, of which this year’s version begins Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Brown ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the combine in 2010 at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds. He’s in the 33.3 percentile among the 619 wide receivers who have run the 40-yard dash at the combine since 1999. His 13 bench press reps and 33.5-inch vertical leap are below average, while his 6.98-second 3-cone drill is almost perfectly average and his 4.18-second short shuttle is decent to good. His 105-inch broad jump is the worst mark recorded by a wide receiver in 17 years of data. All five Patriots starting offensive linemen in 2016 broad jumped further during their respective pre-draft workouts.
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Yet they have combined for one catch for 16 yards and a touchdown in their careers, while Brown has 676 catches for 9,082 yards and 52 touchdowns in seven seasons including playoffs. That’s pretty good.
Athleticism typically is a pretty good gauge for an NFL draft prospect at wide receiver. Yet Brown fell to the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft in part because he couldn’t stick a long landing while jumping forward from a stationary position, something an NFL player won’t ever be asked to do.
That’s not to say the NFL Scouting Combine is worthless. The broad jump is intended to measure burst, as is the first 10 yards of the 40-yard dash. The 3-cone measures agility, the short shuttle gauges lateral quickness and the vertical leap measures, well, how high a player jumps.
Brown also was undersized. Despite his athletic shortcomings shown at the combine, he has few noticeable weaknesses in his game, which is why the Steelers were willing to invest so heavily in him Monday. Sure, Brown could probably afford to be five inches taller and 40 pounds heavier like Julio Jones, but size also isn’t everything. Just ask the majority of wide receivers who have found success under Brady.
Jones is a wide receiver who did tear up the combine. He performed better than Brown in the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, bench press, vertical leap, broad jump and 3-cone drill, and he too is an elite receiver.
This goes to show successful NFL players come in all shapes, sizes and athletic makeups. NFL teams are typically unwilling to use high picks on players who fail to show elite athleticism at the combine. There are times when they would be pretty damn smart to look past combine results and just draft really, really good players a round or two earlier, however.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
NHL Trade Deadline: Leafs Should Make Minor Move Only, Protect Future
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ path toward the Stanley Cup might be a little ahead of schedule, but that doesn’t mean Brendan Shanahan and Co. should mortgage any part of the team’s future to win right now.
Sure, making the playoffs and earning that experience would be nice, but the Leafs must stay the course in what has been a successful rebuild thus far.
Auston Matthews, the 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick, is on his way to the Calder Trophy with a rookie-leading 30 goals. Mitch Marner, the fourth overall pick in 2015, is having a fantastic rookie campaign, too. Former first-round picks Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner also are blossoming nicely on the blue line.
The Leafs have built a talented foundation of young players that’s already putting the team in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference — Toronto owns the second wild-card spot entering Tuesday — and it would be a mistake to make a move that could jeopardize the progress that’s being made.
That said, Toronto still has the assets to make a move for a short-term improvement that could help it earn a playoff spot this season.
The Leafs own all of their first-round picks, in addition to having multiple second-round selections this year and next year. This kind of ammo could help the Leafs add another player before Wednesday.
A blue-line upgrade would ideal, especially after the Leafs acquired veteran forward Brian Boyle from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
The top rentals available are Dallas Stars defenseman Johnny Oduya, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. Any of these three players would provide defensive depth and veteran leadership to a relatively young Leafs blue line.
The Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967, and their 48-year title drought is tied for the longest in the league. But there’s more optimism surrounding the “center of the hockey universe” than any point this century, and making a shortsighted move at this trade deadline could do permanent damage to what’s already been built.
The best move for the Leafs before Wednesday is to make a deal for a mid-tier rental, preferably a defenseman, or to do nothing at all.
Thumbnail photo via Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports Images
2017 NHL Trade Deadline: Five Players Boston Bruins Could Target
The Boston Bruins have several options available to them as the March 1 NHL trade deadline nears.
Boston is in prime position for a playoff spot after winning six of its last seven games. One or two moves could really improve the B’s chances of earning a playoff berth. At the same time, the Bruins restocked the cupboard with quality prospects in recent drafts, so there’s no need to make a desperate move because help already is on the way.
You won’t find some of the most talked about names on our list below. Why is that? Well, some of them are overrated and not worth paying a huge price to acquire.
One of those players is Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog. Sure, he plays an exciting power forward-style of hockey, but he’s tallied just 26 points in 50 games this season. The Avs captain has hit the 60-point mark only once in four non-lockout seasons, and he has an injury history. He’s not worth the steep asking price.
Here are five players the Bruins could target before Wednesday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Radin Vrbata, RW, Arizona Coyotes
Stats: 15 G, 31 A, 61 GP
Vrbata, who would be a rental acquisition, could play on any of Boston’s top three lines and provide much-needed offensive production at right wing. The 35-year-old forward is on pace for his sixth 20-goal season.
Jannik Hansen, RW, Vancouver Canucks
Stats: 6 G, 7 A, 28 GP
Hansen had an injured knee earlier this season and missed several weeks. He’s hasn’t lit up the scoresheet since returning from injury, but he’s proven to be a capable bottom-six scorer in recent seasons, as his HERO chart below illustrates.
P.A. Parenteau, LW/RW, New Jersey Devils
Stats: 13 G, 14 A, 59 GP
Parenteau could add depth scoring and provide valuable versatility with his ability to generate offense from both wing positions.
Cam Fowler, D, Anaheim Ducks
Stats: 11 G, 20 A, 63 GP
Fowler is an offensively skilled D-man with good puck-moving ability and the size to win physical battles in the defensive zone. He’s also a talented skater and capable of quarterbacking a power play with his playmaking skill.
The 25-year-old veteran is a legit top-four defenseman with another season left on his contract, one that carries a team-friendly $4 million cap hit. The Ducks have an abundance of young, NHL-caliber defensemen and run the risk of losing one in the upcoming expansion draft if they don’t make a move soon.
Brendan Smith, D, Detroit Red Wings
Stats: 2 G, 3 A, 33 GP
Smith won’t provide much scoring from the back end, but he’s a well-rounded defenseman who can play on the third pairing and contribute on special teams.
He logs a lot of minutes, 18:55 per game with Detroit to be exact, which includes 1:55 of penalty kill ice time per game. His skating and puck-moving skills are above average, which would help the Bruins exit the defensive zone quicker and start their transition game. His possession metrics are solid, too, as you can see in his HERO chart below.
Smith will be an unrestricted free agent if unsigned July 1, so he’d probably be a rental if acquired. The Red Wings need to rebuild, and Smith is one piece they can use to acquire future assets.
Thumbnail photo via Sergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports Images
Red Sox Have Options At Shortstop In Xander Bogaerts’ Absence
Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts played his final spring training game Monday, going 2-for-3 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bogaerts will depart for Seoul, South Korea on Tuesday where he will meet up with Team Netherlands for the first round of the World Baseball Classic.
In his absence, the Red Sox will look to give a few players time at shortstop, including Brock Holt and Marco Hernandez.
Hear NESN’s Steve Lyons break down the team’s shortstop options in the video from “NESN Sports Today,” presented by People’s United Bank, above.