NFL Training Camps News & Notes

Miami DolphinsJosh McCown seems to be the best bet to make the first start of the season. After that, all bets are off. John Beck and Chad Henne would both like to get their chance to lead the Dolphins this year, but it probably won’t matter who is under center. At least Jake Long will prevent them from taking too much abuse.
AFC NorthPittsburgh SteelersThere’s no QB controversy in Pittsburgh as Big Ben gears his team up for another year. Roethlisberger was a happy man on draft day as Rashard Mendenhall fell into the Steelers laps. Mendenhall joins Willie Parker to form a potent 1-2 punch. The Steelers also added Limas Sweed to a WR corps. that already includes Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
Cleveland BrownsBrady Quinn is used to waiting after his frustrating draft day, but it appears as though he’ll have to continue with his patience, as Derek Anderson became the unquestioned starter last year. Anderson has 2 of the best players in the game at his disposal. It’s scary but Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards should actually improve this year.
Cincinnati BengalsThe good news is that Carson Palmer’s #1 weapon is in camp. The bad news is that his #1 weapon wants to hit him in his bad knee. It’s not the first time that Palmer hasn’t been on the same page as Chad Johnson, but we’ll see if it affects the two during games.
Baltimore RavensJoe Flacco is the quarterback of the future, but when is the future? Kyle Boller will most likely be given his chance, but also a short leash. Either QB will have to rely on Willis McGahee and hope that Todd Heap can return to Pro Bowl caliber.
AFC SouthIndianapolis ColtsThe biggest news regarding Peyton Manning at camp is that Peyton Manning isn’t at camp. He’s somewhere nearby recovering from knee surgery and isn’t expected to see any action until late preseason.
Jacksonville JaguarsDavid Garrard enters his 2nd season at the helm with the aging Fred Taylor and the emerging Maurice Jones-Drew behind him. You can put down Troy Williamson and Jerry Porter as additions and Matt Jones as a subtraction/distraction.
Tennessee TitansReports out of camp are that Vince Young isn’t looking very sharp and making matters worse, the Titans failed to add any top WR during the draft. He’ll have Chris Johnson added to the backfield along with Craig Stevens at TE and Lavelle Hawkins at WR, but Tennessee passed on guys like Limas Sweed.
Houston TexansMatt Schaub hopes to show what he can do in a full year with Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones could be a sleeper at WR. Ahman Green is another injury concern and West Virginia rookie Steve Slaton could wind up with a decent amount of time in the backfield.
AFC WestSan Diego ChargersPhilip Rivers showed up to camp bigger and reportedly throwing the ball very well. Health will play a key role for the Chargers, as Antonio Gates tries to put his toe problems behind him. LT will continue to keep the pressure off of Rivers.
Denver BroncosAfter Jay Cutler lost 35 pounds during his battle with diabetes, he’s slowly regaining his strength. With the departure of Travis Henry, the Broncos next 1000-yard rusher is a mystery, but Cutler will still have emerging superstar Brandon Marshall on the business end of his touchdown passes.
Kansas City ChiefsBrodie Croyle needs to have a healthy Larry Johnson to help him keep defenses honest, but if he can’t, rookie Jamaal Charles will try to shoulder the load. Branden Albert will solidify the offensive line and 6-8 Brad Cottam will provide depth behind Tony Gonzalez.
Oakland RaidersFor JaMarcus Russell, the time is now. Russell takes over as the starter and he has a lot of question marks around him. Will the improved defense allow him to win games without being in a shootout? Will Javon Walker stay healthy? Will Darren McFadden be the next Adrian Peterson?
NFC EastDallas CowboysTony Romo doesn’t have Julius Jones behind him anymore, but he still has Marion Barber and newcomer Felix Jones. He also REALLY needs TO and Jason Witten to stay healthy. If TO goes down, they have Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd.
New York GiantsEli Manning returns this season as a Super Bowl MVP. The Giants fans love him…until his first INT. He should have a healthy Plax this year, which will lead to better numbers, but he’ll also have to rely on Kevin Boss to fill Shockey’s cleats.
Philadelphia EaglesDonovan McNabb says that he’s perfectly healthy, but he hasn’t made it through a full season since 2004 and Kevin Kolb has been impressive in camp. DeSean Jackson is the only major offensive addition from the draft and it remains to be seen if he’s going to be a punt return specialist or contribute at WR also.
Washington RedskinsJason Campbell has been up and down thus far during training camp. The Redskins are going with the West Coast Offense, so it will take everyone a while to get comfortable. Washington also added Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly via the draft.
NFC NorthGreen Bay PackersWhat can I say about Green Bay that hasn’t been all over the news already? The Packers remain in a standstill with Brett Favre, but it does appear that Aaron Rodgers will be the starting QB either way. He knows that he’ll have veteran Donald Driver and young star Greg Jennings out wide, but Ryan Grant is in the middle of a contract dispute and hasn’t reported to camp.
Minnesota VikingsMinnesota would love to bring in Brett Favre to replace Tarvaris Jackson, but that’s just not going to happen. Jackson will again lean heavily on Adrian Peterson to give him some breathing room. The Vikings did add Bernard Berrian, which gives them their best receiving threat since parting ways with Randy Moss. Look for Sidney Rice to improve on a solid rookie campaign.
Chicago BearsIt’s literally a coin toss in Chicago with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton battling it out for the starting gig. Whoever does win the job, takes over a position that no longer has Berrian to stretch the field or Cedric Benson in the backfield. Greg Olsen should be the go-to guy.
Detroit LionsDetroit is the only team in the NFC North not mention with Brett Favre, so they will enter the season with Jon Kitna under center. With Kevin Jones gone, Tatum Bell and rookie Kevin Smith will carry the ground game. Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson return as one of the league’s top tendems. Gosder Cherlius was drafted to provide more time in the pocket for Kitna and room for the backs to run.
NFC SouthTampa Bay BuccaneersJeff Garcia is the starting quarterback. Just ask him. Brett Favre seems less and less likely to be on his way to Tampa, so Garcia would appear to be correct. Garcia will be handing the ball off to Warrick Dunn or Carnell Williams or Ernest Graham or Michael Bennett. His go-to WR will once again be Joey Galloway, but they did draft Dexter Jackson, the speedster from Appalachian State.
Carolina PanthersJake Delhomme is ready to take the reigns again and make Steve Smith the feared wide out that he can be. Jonathan Stewart will take the place of DeShaun Foster and join DeAngelo Williams in the backfield. First round pick Jeff Otah will provide the protection.
New Orleans SaintsDrew Brees rebounded from a rough start to post very respectable numbers last year. He spent a good chunk of the season without Duece McAllister and Reggie Bush did not embrace the role of starting running back. Brees will now have his full compliment of backs and the addition of Jeremy Shockey will be huge.
Atlanta FalconsOne thing is for sure in Atlanta. Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, DJ Shockley or Matt Ryan will be the starting quarterback. Word out of camp is that Matt Ryan looks good, but time will tell if they let the rookie have the job by the opener. The only offensive addition of note is the signing of Michael Turner, who joins Jerious Norwood to form a lethal combo.
NFC WestSeattle SeahawksThe Shaun Alexander era is over. Julius Jones will share the load with Maurice Morris and TJ Duckett will be the backup. Matt Hasselbeck needs a healthy Deion Branch if they want to be successful on offense. Seattle did add TE John Carlson in April.
Arizona CardinalsMatt Leinart feels much more comfortable with the Cardinals offense than he did last year. It remains to be seen if he can play well enough to keep Kurt Warner on the sidelines. With Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the table is setup for his success.
San Francisco 49ersAlex Smith will likely be the starter, but Shaun Hill will do his best to win the job. The Niners added DeShaun Foster, Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson in the off-season and Frank Gore should thrive under Mike Martz.
St. Louis RamsMarc Bulger needs Orlando Pace to get healthy. Pace is the key to the Rams offense as he protects Bulger and allows Steven Jackson all the room that he needs. Rookie Donnie Avery hopes to overtake Drew Bennett on the depth chart and start alongside Torry Holt.
Go Deep: www.passitdeep.com

MLB Weekly Review

Don’t look now but the defending National League Champions are well on their way to teaching the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers a very important lesson.The Colorado Rockies are blazing a trail to the top on the NL West and the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are kicking themselves for letting them hang around.The Rockies have won 9 of their last 10 games, including 5 in a row. Colorado is averaging 7.6 runs per game during that stretch and they scored 10 in their lone loss. In a 16-10 loss to the Dodgers, Kip Wells was tagged for 8 runs in one-third of an inning and the Rockies couldn’t overcome an 11 run deficit. Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki were all visitors to the DL this season and Tulowitzki just returned from his 2nd stint. He has provided the team with a spark since his return going 13 for 26.The Rockies aren’t the only streaking team, as the New York Yankees have also been playing inspired ball since the All-Star Break.New York was riding as 8-game winning streak before suffering a 9-2 setback on Sunday in the series finale at Boston.During the winning streak, the Yankees held their opponents to just 15 runs and used their defense to lead them to 2-1 and 1-0 victories. They now sit just 3 games back in the division.Players like Matt Holliday(.565 average), Jeff Baker(.579), Alex Rodriguez(.476) and Robinson Cano(.480) have contributed to their teams success recently, but they aren’t the hottest hitters of the past week.Alex Rios takes top honors as the best hitter of the week with his .344 average, 7 Runs, 4 HR, 8 RBI and 4 SB. Ryan Braun is a close 2nd with a .414 average, 4 Runs, 4 HR and 12 RBI.Andy Pettitte and Cliff Lee turned in the top pitching performances this week as they each collected 2 wins. Pettitte went 14 innings while scattering 9 hits, allowing 2 ER and striking out 16. He won a 10-3 blowout and a 2-1 pitchers duel.Lee pitched 17 innings while giving up 17 hits, 4 ER and struck out 14 batters.Rich Harden was also lights out this week, but has an 0-1 record to show for it because the Cubs provided just 2 runs of support in 2 games.Harden pitched 12 solid innings while giving up just 3 hits. Two of the 3 hits were solo homeruns and the only runs he allowed. He struck out 10 in each outing, giving him 30 in 3 games as a Cub.We haven’t seen any major deals since Harden joined the Cubs, but there were a couple trades of interest this week.The New York Yankees added Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady from the Pirates in exchange for prospects and Casey Blake was sent from Cleveland to the Dodgers.With only a few days remaining before the deadline, things could get interesting.Will the Rockies be buyers or sellers? Will the Yankees add Jared Washburn or Adam Dunn? Will Mark Teixeira remain in Atlanta? Will Manny keep being Manny in Boston?Some many questions and so little time remaining to answer them.

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Are you ready for some football?

Are You Ready For Some Football?
It’s late July and that means that one by one training camps around the league will open up and the buzz of the upcoming season will fill the air.
Teams will hit the weight room, attend meetings, play in scrimmages and probably take on some two-a-days.
Multiple daily practices in the mid-summer heat are the worst part of the year for the players, but it’s one of the best times of the year for fantasy players.
For the next several weeks, we can sit back and consume every morsel of goodness that is training camp news. What rookie has a shot at starting? What vet seems to be losing his skills? What QB will start for Chicago?
Ok, so no one besides Rex and Kyle’s moms really cares about that last question, but the fact remains that training camps go a long way in shaping the NFL Season, as we know it.
The 2 big trades that we’ve seen in the last week will start to take effect as camp begins.
In Washington, Daniel Snyder wasted no time in acquiring Jason Taylor after being hit with the injury bug early in practice. Taylor appears to be ready to play at least 2 more years after originally telling Miami that this would be his final year. Taylor will make an instant impact on a team that had only one player record more than 5 sacks last year. Taylor has averaged 10.5 sacks a year throughout his 11-year career.
Jeremy Shockey also changed addresses this week as he was traded to the New Orleans Saints for draft picks. Shockey immediately boosts the Saints offense by giving Drew Brees another weapon. Last year, the Saints sent out a platoon of Eric Johnson and Billy Miller, so obviously Shockey is a major upgrade.
Kevin Jones wasn’t traded but he has found a new home after spending much of the off-season without a job. The Chicago Bears added the former Virginia Tech RB to compete for the starting tailback job left vacant by Cedric Benson. Jones joins Matt Forte, Garrett Wolfe and the other Adrian Peterson in the crowded Chicago backfield. Jones has more experience, but he’s also recovering from a torn ACL.
You may have also heard that Brett Favre is re-thinking retirement.
In a story that you can’t get away from no matter how hard you try, Favre appears to be intent on forcing the Packers to make a move. If the phone calls to Vikings coaches are any indication, Brett would love to follow Darren Sharper and Ryan Longwell and trade in his green jersey for purple. It’s too bad for Brett that there is no chance of that happening.
Green Bay is ready to move on with the Aaron Rodgers era and in doing so, must decide what to do with #4. They certainly can’t release him and risk him going to Minnesota where they would face him at least twice during the year and they can’t bring him in to back up Rodgers. Favre’s selfishness will ultimately end in a trade, possibly to Tampa Bay, where Jeff Garcia is in the doghouse. Coach Gruden has a history with Favre and likes older quarterbacks.
We will continue to follow training camp battles in the weeks to come, but right now we just have to be on the look out for who shows up and who holds out. The All American Touchdown Derbywww.passitdeep.com

MLB Weekly Review

What a week for baseball as the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game kicked off early in the week and gave fans plenty to cheer about.There are 2 robberies to report from Monday Night as Josh Hamilton stole the stage in the first round and then Justin Morneau stole the trophy from Hamilton despite hitting 13 less homeruns on the night.Josh Hamilton wrote another chapter in his amazing comeback story as he won over the fans in New York by stepping to the plate against his 71-year-old pitcher and crushing pitch after pitch deep into the New York night. When the first round had come to a close, Hamilton had set a new record with 28 homeruns in one round including 3 shots over 500 feet. The fatigue of 38 swings in the first round was too much for Hamilton as Justin Morneau defeated him in the Finals, 5-3. It was a proud moment for Canada and the Minnesota Twins as Morneau won his first Home Run Derby title.The All-Star Game proved to be just as exciting on Tuesday as the teams battled for 15 innings before Justin Morneau found himself in the spotlight again as he was able to slide in just ahead of the throw on a Michael Young sacrifice fly and the America League continued their run of dominance with a 4-3 win. We were all left to wonder what would have happened if Morneau were called out and the game went to a 16th inning. Every position and pitcher was used during the marathon and it’s possible that Bud Selig would have faced another nightmare. Business was back on schedule on Thursday when the 2nd half of the MLB season officially kicked off.The Mets were able to run their win streak to 10 games before losing a pair, but they remain baseball’s hottest team with a record of 8-2 over the last 10 games. They find themselves in a deadlock with the Philadelphia Philles for the division lead. The Florida Marlins are right on their heels, but also face a tough start to the 2nd half and could find themselves fading out of contention.As we turn out attention to the NL West, we find an embarrassment to baseball. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers are tied for the lead with 48-50 records. Each team is 5-5 over the last 10. The Rockies are playing well as of late, but also sport a 5-5 mark over the last 10. They have won 4 in a row after a 1-5 stretch. The 2 worst teams in baseball are holding down the bottom of the division. The San Francisco Giants have lost 9 of the last 10 and the San Diego Padres have come up short in 8 of the last 10, including 6 straight.Speaking of teams that have lost 8 of the last 10, Tampa Bay leads the American League East. The Rays are lucky to be in that position after Boston was swept by the Angels. Don’t look now, but the Yankees appear to be getting hot and should be adding their annual big name via trade any day now. This division should be fun to watch down the stretch.In the AL Central, the White Sox and Twins are tied with 55 wins, but Minnesota is one back in the loss column. The Twins came out of the break on fire as they racked up 20 runs on Texas in 2 games, before suffering a 1-0 loss despite Scott Baker having a perfect game through 5.2 innings. Minnesota pitching has been hot and things could get better if Francisco Liriano has anything to say about it. Liriano is 8-0 with an ERA of just over 2 in his last 10 starts at the Triple-A level. He would provide a huge boost to an already solid rotation if he could maintain those pre-injury numbers with the big club.Plenty to watch for this week as there will be quite a few clubs making the decision to make a move because they are out of contention or stay put because the guys are starting to catch fire.

Week 16 Review in The All American Home Run Derby

Dilldocks continues to occupy our top spot after claiming the 2nd Quarter prize. 283 homeruns is good enough to lead our game, but just by 1 homerun. AllorNothin is well within striking distance with a total of 282 homeruns. #1Philsfan remains in the thick of things with 278 HR. Our 4th place team is whoopers and Mr. Papa Georgio holds down the 5th spot.Our player break down is as follows…1 player with 29 homeruns1 player with 27 homeruns2 players with 25 homeruns1 player with 24 homeruns3 players with 23 homeruns4 players with 22 homeruns2 players with 21 homeruns2 players with 20 homeruns4 players with 19 homeruns5 players with 18 homeruns5 players with 17 homeruns3 players with 16 homeruns8 players with 15 homeruns4 players with 14 homeruns6 players with 13 homeruns5 players with 12 homeruns4 players with 11 homeruns4 players with 10 homeruns5 players with 9 homeruns3 players with 8 homeruns6 players with 7 homeruns5 players with 6 homeruns3 players with 4 homeruns2 players with 3 homeruns3 players with 2 homeruns3 players have failed to go deepRyan Howard still leads the league with 29 homeruns and Adam Dunn is keeping pace with 27 homeruns. Pat Burrell and Chase Utley sit 4 homeruns off the lead while Dan Uggla is 5 back.We have 11 other players over 20 HR including Hanley Ramirez with 23 HR, Rick Ankiel with 22 HR and Josh Hamilton with 21 HR.There are 25 players between 15 and 19 HR. A few of these guys are Derrek Lee and Corey Hart with 15, Miguel Cabrera and Evan Longoria with 17 and Albert Pujols with 18.We have 23 players in the 10-14 HR group. Nick Markakis and Garrett Atkins lead with way with 14 homeruns each. David Ortiz sits at 13 and looks to return this week and add to that total. Hunter Pence and Torii Hunter each have 12 HR while Adam LaRoche and Alex Gordon have 11.Thirty players have less than 10 homeruns. Ryan Zimmerman has 8 homeruns and should return this week and add to that number. B.J. Upton sits on 6 and has been moved down in the order. Jimmy Rollins is also stuck on 6 and hopes for a big 2nd half. Delmon Young has now hit 4 HR and that’s practically on fire for him. Andruw Jones continues to be a huge bust with just 2 homeruns.

MLB Sluggers Injury Report

Jermaine DyeDye could miss several days after being hit in the knee with a pitch.Alfonso SorianoIt’s unclear as to when exactly Soriano will return, but it will be this week.Khalil GreeneGreene is day-to-day with a stiff lower back.Carlos GuillenGuillen is out indefinitely as he tends to his wife who is suffering from complications during childbirth.David OrtizBig Papi has homered in 3 straight games during his rehab stint and is expected the rejoin the Sox on the 25th.Troy TulowitzkiTools is expected to return to the Rockies lineup on Monday.Frank ThomasThomas will be out at least 2 more weeks.Ryan ZimmermanZimmerman will rejoin the Nationals on Tuesday.Gary Matthews Jr. It’s possible that Matthews will have season-ending knee surgery.

NFL Vs. The Dark Night

The Air Assault Begins July 21st, 2008: www.passitdeep.com

NFL vs. Dark Knight

Summer is about the -ions. By -ions of course I mean Relaxation and Anticipation. The kids are out of school, and most likely are just mentally rotting with all the partying they are doing and all the Wiffle Ball they are playing. The company you work for most likely has gone to a nice, relaxed dress code and you and your spouse have saved up your vacation time for the week long trip your taking to LBI or Hawaii if you’re so blessed. Summer is the time of year that flat out makes people’s lives worth while. Everything is more laid back, everything is just relaxed. But another thing happens during the summer, when a strange smell begins to form in the air. What’s that smell you ask? Football. The countdown to Week 1 has begun and we, as loyal sport’s fans, are sick with anticipation. Colin Cowherd would contend, with sharp objection to Antonio Vivaldi, “There are two seasons a year: Football season, and waiting for Football season.”

There’s something different about 2008 though. You see, something else happens during summer time every year. Summer marks the release of the mega blockbusters, namely the comic book, fantasy hero movies. Most of them are stupid, overhyped sequels that spend way too much money and make you so angry you stayed up until midnight on a Thursday to be the first to see it. But 2008 is different. As the NFL lingers, with all the fascinating stories popping up as training camp grows near, the only thing on my mind 24 hours a day is an animal. But it’s not a Dolphin, a Bear, a Bengal or any other animal for that matter that is so well represented by various NFL teams. Damnit, I’ve got Bat Fever!

Just admit it. The Dark Knight looks like it’s going to be the best movie you’ve ever seen (ever). I’ve already put the trailer for it in my Top 6 favorite movies ever (Somewhere in there around Punisher, Rocky IV, 300, Rock star and Super Troopers). By the way, what does it mean when a consistent component of my favorite movies is either Mark Wahlberg or the half naked muscle man factor? Ehh, better forget I said anything. Any who, you can’t tell me that you haven’t had flashbacks to yourself at age 13 when you experience all the “changes” your body goes through when you watch that trailer. God, this article is full of Freudian slips. I better balance this out...

Jessica Alba is hot!
Megan Fox is super hot!
Oh the things I would do to Carrie Underwood!

Okay. That should get me back in good with the Catholics.

Here’s the dilemma. What should you be more excited for? Let’s break it down. We’ll compare the upcoming NFL season with The Dark Knight by sorting them into several key dramatic categories. Whichever wins the most categories gets the nod.

Let’s hire that computer girl who only will show her fire red lips on screen as she does the announcing for the MTV Movie Awards. She’s so Resident Evil she’s the only person that can scare me when she says, “Best Female Performance.”

BEST VILLAIN:

NFL: Bill Belichick. Bill Belicheat, the evil mastermind of the NFL. He runs parallel with the typical Mob Boss villain, but he’s also a criminal genius. You know the type. He commits his crimes in plain sight of everyone but does just enough so that people still think he’s a good guy. South Park put it best:

“This is Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots. He’s won three Super Bowls. How? He cheated. He even got caught cheating, and nobody cared.”

Belichick is one of those villains that never seem to go away. You think you’ve beaten him, but he just comes back bigger, better and meaner.

Dark Knight: The Joker. He’s the most notable and most recognizable Batman villain. His one and only goal is to kill the hero. He is dark, mysterious, and sadistic. The guy flat out has a screw loose. A very complex character that takes a truly Class A performance to pull off. To date we haven’t been disappointed.

Advantage: Tight one, but I have to go Belichick and the NFL. The Joker is great, but I tried to keep how remarkable Heath Ledger looks as the Joker outside of my judgment. I guess the real tipping point is the morality tale angle. In the movies, the bad guy can’t win, good has to triumph over evil, but in the NFL, even though he got knocked backward this year, you know Belichick is going to win in the end. His evils transcend the arts.

BEST MARQUEE EVENT:

NFL: The Super bowl. The Super bowl is the biggest event in all of American sports. It’s the ultimate showdown. The Super bowl is littered with celebrities, $1 million commercials, epic video packages and Joe Buck. It’s a week long event that’s always in a hot climate and makes January in Miami look like Spring Break in Cancun. Each night is highlighted with a different rapper’s party and Bill Belichick spends the whole week taping practices regardless of if he’s participating or not.

Dark Knight: I was torn on which event to talk about. I had to decide between the premiere and the opening night Midnight showing at your local theatre. I guess, since it is tradition, I have to go premiere. It’s the opening night extravaganza, the cast and crew as well as all the A-List celebrities will be out for a Monday night of fun in New York. You roll out the red carpet. Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, and E!, they’ll all be there. No doubt they’ll be some pointless activist group out there trying to protest something the Director did wrong, maybe cruelty to bats and Ferrari’s. Don’t worry, no one will be listening to them, they will just get in the way of paparazzi trying to sneak in. Afterwards, there is sure to be an all night after party none of us have any chance of ever getting into and the viewing of the masterpiece is going to be watered down with Cristal and Cocaine bought on Lindsey Lohan’s tab.

Advantage: NFL again, jumping out to a big lead early. Nothing compares to the Super bowl. Though I personally will get more enjoyment out of seeing the nerds dressed up like Batman and Joker while I wait in line for the Midnight showing, disgracing the Super bowl is in fact a sacrilege and God will show no mercy on my soul.

LEAST LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF A STAR:

NFL: The NFL lost two big stars after last year, Michael Strahan and Brett Favre. Favre might return, but it’s doubtful he will be with the Packers. So, for the first time in like 45 years the original jewel of the NFL will have another QB under center. The league will survive, but it’s definitely taking a hit from this. Favre can throw 5 interceptions in a game and The Packers could lose by 40 and he’ll still be a more compelling story than Spy gate or Pac man Jones.

Dark Knight: Most of the surviving cast is returning, with the exception of Mrs. Tom Cruise. I’m actually going to go out on a little bit of limb here and say that the movie takes a hit because of this. I thought she was perfect for the role. She has that whole nice, loveable, girl next door quality to her and she’s certainly the hottest girl to ever climb a ladder into a bedroom overlooking a creek. At the same time, she’s a scientologist so you know she can go Travolta on your ass and Saturday Night Fever all over your face until you Grease her all of your money.

Advantage: Dark Knight. Missing Holmes I think is being overlooked in the pre-release hype of Dark Knight, but the NFL lost its biggest hero here, on top of losing the creator of the “Ballin’!” sack dance.

LEGEND MAKING POTENTIAL:

NFL: There are very few stars left in the NFL that have the opportunity to turn in their first legendary performance. Of the four big contenders, the Pats, Colts, Cowboys and Giants, three out of the four quarterbacks have already made their mark. Brady and Peyton are two of the best QB’s of all-time and they already have their rings. Eli got his ring by beating Brady and overcoming his big brother’s shadow, so the only legend left to write really would be Tony Romo actually winning a playoff game with a hot blonde there to see him. He’s 0-2 so far, I think this year should be Britney’s year, she’s getting better (I guess?).

Dark Knight: This one is easy. Heath Ledger, who’s always been a shared spotlight or B-list actor, straps on the Joker’s boots once filled by Big Jack himself. Not only that, Ledger died soon after filming was completed. And now it’s looking like he’s going to clean up post mortem at the Oscar’s, Golden Globes, and even the Valhalla TV Lifetime Achievement Awards live from the Pearly Gates. Ledger could join Bach, Thoreau, Van Gogh and Emily Dickinson on the short list of people whose work achieved legendary status after death.

Advantage: Dark Knight by a mile. Seeing Ledger as Joker is what I’m most pumped about. Somehow, after the performance Christian Bale turned in for Batman Begins, people are more excited about seeing Heath Ledger. Sorry Romo, go cry with your face in Jessica Simpson’s large bust, which is an acceptable consolation prize I feel.

MOMENTUM BUILT FROM HOW LAST EPISODE ENDED:

NFL: Super bowl XLII ended as sort of a culmination of sorts. We got to see one of the greatest upsets in professional sports history. I mean come on, there were people saying that the Giants couldn’t beat the Bills in Week 16 just to get into the playoffs. They lose by a nose to the Pats in Week 17, then turn around and win three road games, two of them in Dallas and Green Bay, and my God the “Little Giants that could” are in the Super bowl! And it didn’t stop there. Those “Little Giants” overcame all odds and actually beat the De Facto best team to ever play on the game’s biggest stage. You can’t write that any better. Here’s the problem. The story plays like the end of an epic movie, one of those movies you don’t make a sequel for. It’s like if they made a sequel to Miracle, the first one was such an inspiring true story that the second one would have no chance to compare. There’s no doubt that this year’s NFL will be suspenseful, that’s what a salary cap does, but I’m really not working off anything that happened in 2007.

Dark Knight: Batman Begins was set up as a typical first installment of a comic book series. You give the background of your hero, cover all the bases established by years and years of comic books, make him question what his purpose is, and then just throw him right in with an enemy that he dispatches relatively easily. Comic book movies are the best at setting up sequels, and I thought Batman Begins did its job, but I wasn’t super pumped for Dark Knight until I saw what Ledger looked like as the Joker.

Advantage: Push. Neither of them spent too much time or had anything spectacular happen that set up the sequel. Sure, the Joker card was sick at the end of the movie, but you weren’t even sure they were going to make another one. And the NFL, well NFL Films always finds a way to get you pumped for the next season.

GREATEST CHANCE OF LEAVING ME WANTING MORE:

NFL: There is one thing about professional sports that you sometimes wish you could change: Everything is symmetrical, nothing carries over. I mean, the media will definitely play up story lines in between seasons and build up rivalries with pure here say, but the players don’t care. If you win the Super bowl, you do your celebrating on the field, and then in the locker room, then you have your parade, get your keys to the city and move on to the next season. There is very little carryover from year to year. And with free agency, you usually see massive turnover from championship teams from year to year. It’s times like this that you wish the NFL could take a page from the WWE, and just be a little scripted every now and then.

Dark Knight: One of the cool things about movies is: they are scripted. It’s funny; there are always two sides to these things. In another column I might say, “One of the cool things about sports is: it’s not scripted.” It’s one of those little tricks you can use to make your points sound better, it’s all about context. Anyway, Dark Knight is obviously scripted. And you know that if the movie does well, which it’s guaranteed to do, Warner Brothers will be foaming at the mouth to pump out a third. So, you know the ending is going to leave you saying, “Holy sh**! When is the next one coming out?” And then two years of anticipation begins and reaches its pinnacle when that first teaser trailer comes out. From there, you openly weep with passion and you furiously try to find your DVD of the Dark Knight that you haven’t touched since you watched it the day it came out.

Advantage: Dark Knight. I’m going to get home from this movie at 3am and not even think about the fact that I have to leave for work in three and a half hours and try to stay awake for a lunch with the COO of the Fortune 500 Company I work for. Well, at least I have another year of college to find a job. Moving on…

LOWEST DISAPPOINTMENT POTENTIAL:

NFL: Even if the Super bowl is the Seahawks vs. the Steelers, and you spend the whole time playing Ping Pong and eating Wings that will take you months to work off (true story), there is always something that makes your religious following of the NFL worth while. It’s all about the journey in the NFL; your overall enjoyment doesn’t rest on the Super bowl. That’s the great thing about sports whose playoffs are single elimination. You’re almost guaranteed to see a game you’ll never forget. You’re almost guaranteed to see a team win a game they had no business winning. In the NFL, a team just winning a playoff game is an accomplishment that can make a career, so every time you turn on a football game, you’re in for something special.

Dark Knight: I know for a cold hard fact I’m way too excited about Dark Knight. It’s nearly impossible for it to amount to everything I think it will. Now, I know Heath Ledger is going to be amazing, and there’s no doubt Christian Bale is great, and Michael Caine as Alfred was some of the most brilliant casting I’ve ever seen. But, I’ve set the bar so high not just for the movie but also for how crazy the Midnight showing is going to be there’s a really good chance I’m going to be disappointed with some aspect of the movie. Prediction on disappointment: Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Advantage: NFL. There are a few things in life that are for certain. Death, taxes, Patriots going undefeated (whoops), USA Basketball winning the Gold (let us pray) and the NFL season not disappointing.

Alright, well, we seem to have a good old fashioned, communist tie. There are three categories for the NFL, three for Dark Knight and a push. Well, at least we can find solace in the fact that you don’t have to choose one over the other. Hell, I have 2 TV’s in the same room of my apartment. I could watch them both at the same time when Dark Knight comes out on DVD!

2008 NFL Quarterbacks Report

2008 NFL Quarterbacks Report Version 1

The Air Assault begins: 7/21/2008: http://www.passitdeep.com/

Tom BradyHeight: 6-4Weight: 220lbsTeam: New England Patriots2 YR Avg: 37 TD2007 Total: 50 TD2008 Projection: 38 TD
Last year, Brady put up unbelievable numbers, which included 50 TD passes. He’s always been a solid performer with an all pro offensive line, but now he’s gotten some skilled help. It’s no coincidence that his huge season came during his first year with Randy Moss. Moss hauled in 23 of those 50 TD passes and his speed left the field wide open underneath for Brady’s safety valve, Wes Welker. It never seems to matter who is in the backfield but a healthy Laurence Maroney can only help Brady’s numbers. Expect a decline in last year’s TD total, but he could still lead the NFL.

Tony RomoHeight: 6-2Weight: 230lbsTeam: Dallas Cowboys2 YR Avg: 27.5 TD2007 Total: 36 TD2008 Projection: 32 TD
Romo is coming off a huge season in which he seemed nearly unstoppable when he and Terrell Owens were on the same page. You add Marion Barber and Jason Witten into the mix and Romo has plenty of weapons at his disposal. There is also a wild card in the backfield with game breaker Felix Jones. There are plenty of reasons to love Tony this year, unless of course he starts dating Hilary Duff.

Peyton ManningHeight: 6-5Weight: 230lbsTeam: Indianapolis Colts2 YR Avg: 31 TD2007 Total: 31 TD2008 Projection: 34 TD
Manning will once again lead one of the best offenses in the NFL. All of his weapons will return and everyone is getting better with the exception of Marvin Harrison, who seems to be slowing down a bit. Reggie Wayne will stretch the field, Dallas Clark will cover the middle and Joseph Addai will be the homerun threat on the swing pass. Manning always has a strong line to give him plenty of time and there’s no reason to think that he won’t be near the top of the league in TD passes again this year.

Ben RoethlisbergerHeight: 6-5Weight: 242Team: Pittsburgh Steelers2 YR Avg: 25 TD2007 Total: 32 TD2008 Projection: 28 TD
Last year, Big Ben nearly doubled his previous career high for TD passes. He’s not the most mobile QB and he did lose OL Alan Faneca in the offseason, but he gained a couple more weapons on offense. The Steelers already have Hines Ward, and Santonio Holmes is emerging as a star, but they added Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed in this year’s draft.
Derek AndersonHeight: 6-6Weight: 240Team: Cleveland Browns2 YR Avg: 17 TD2007 Total: 29 TD2008 Projection: 26 TD

Derek Anderson was a pleasant surprise for the Browns last year, but will they now look to Brady Quinn? The answer to that question is “no”. The team is saying that Anderson is their guy. He’ll be looking to build on last year’s success with the signing of Donte Stallworth. He already has a nice rapport with Kellen Winslow and Jamal Lewis looked good last year. They have a solid line so he should have plenty of time to find the open man, usually Braylon Edwards.
Drew BreesHeight: 6-0Weight: 221Team: New Orleans Saints2 YR Avg: 27 TD2007 Total: 28 TD2008 Projection: 28 TD
Drew Brees rebounded from a slow start last year to post 4400 yards and 28 TD. He should have Duece McAllister back along side Reggie Bush, which will give him a little more breathing room. As usual, Marques Colston will be the go to guy as the Saints search for a #2 WR.
Matt HasselbeckHeight: 6-4Weight: 233Team: Seattle Seahawks2 YR Avg: 23 TD2007 Total: 28 TD2008 Projection: 25 TD

Hasselbeck will have his work cut out for him this year as Julius Jones looks to step in for the ineffective Shaun Alexander and Deion Branch will likely be lost for the year. The Seahawks will look to Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson to carry the load at WR. Rookie TE John Carlson will be forced into action as they look to fill a void left by Marcus Pollard.

Carson PalmerHeight: 6-4Weight: 235Team: Cincinnati Bengals2 YR Avg: 27 TD2007 Total: 26 TD2008 Projection: 26 TD
Palmer is about as steady as you can get in the NFL today. He’s a big, skilled QB with weapons around him. Rudi Johnson couldn’t stay healthy last year, but Kenny Watson showed that he could provide a nice 1-2 punch. The Bengals finally cut ties with Chris Henry, but they still have Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh. If Chad Johnson can play nice, Palmer will have another solid year.

Eli ManningHeight: 6-5Weight: 218Team: New York Giants2 YR Avg: 23.5 TD2007 Total: 23 TD2008 Projection: 24 TD
The reigning Super Bowl MVP came into his own during last year’s playoffs and that will either take some pressure off of him or just make it worse. Either way, Eli will have plenty of backfield help as injuries have proven that the Giants have 3 capable backs in Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Amad Bradshaw. He’ll have 2 solid WR returning with Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress. His value increases if Jeremy Shockey sticks around.

Philip RiversHeight: 6-5Weight: 236Team: San Diego Chargers2 YR Avg: 21.5 TD2007 Total: 21 TD2008 Projection: 23 TD
What’s not to like about Philip Rivers? He’s got the best RB in the NFL lined up behind him. He’s got the best TE in the NFL as a go to guy. Chris Chambers added a much needed threat along side Vincent Jackson. The problem is that he’s coming off ACL surgery and he hasn’t turned into the QB that the Chargers had hoped when they let Drew Brees go. That being said, he did show toughness last year that you have to love. If his knee isn’t as issue, he should have a nice year.

Donovan McNabbHeight: 6-2Weight: 226Team: Philadelphia Eagles2 YR Avg: 18.5 TD2007 Total: 19 TD2008 Projection: 20 TD
There has never been a doubt that McNabb has talent and his primary weapon, Brian Westbrook, might even be a better receiving threat than LT. The problem is that Philly hasn’t had a top WR outside of Terrell Owens and McNabb hasn’t played a full 16 games since 2003. If he can find a way to stay healthy, he could return to Pro Bowl form.

David GarrardHeight: 6-1Weight: 238Team: Jacksonville Jaguars2 YR Avg: 14 TD2007 Total: 18 TD2008 Projection: 24 TD
Garrard certainly made Jags fans forget about Byron Leftwich. He’s a strong QB that can buy time with his feet and he’s got 2 new WR. Jacksonville brought in Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson, two players who are in need of a fresh start. The two-headed monster of Fred Taylor and MJD will also help boost Garrard’s numbers.

Marc BulgerHeight: 6-3Weight: 215Team: St. Louis Rams2 YR Avg: 17.5 TD2007 Total: 11 TD2008 Projection: 25 TD
Bulger is coming off yet another injury and he’s only managed to make it through 16 games once in the last 5 years. It will be the first time that Bulger lines up under center and doesn’t have Isaac Bruce out wide. The Rams will now rely on Drew Bennett to keep teams from doubling Torry Holt. Steven Jackson is a huge threat out of the backfield, but Bulger’s success will depend on the health of All Pro lineman Orlando Pace, who has suffered season ending injuries the last 2 years.

Kurt WarnerHeight: 6-2Weight: 220Team: Arizona Cardinals2 YR Avg: 16.5 TD2007 Total: 27 TD2008 Projection: 14 TD
After a solid 2007 campaign, Warner will likely be on the outside looking in as Matt Leinart gets every opportunity to step back in as the Cardinals signal caller. If Leinart doesn’t impress or gets injured, Warner has proven that he can take advantage of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin at wideout.

Jay CutlerHeight: 6-4Weight: 225Team: Denver Broncos2 YR Avg: 14.5 TD2007 Total: 20 TD2008 Projection: 22 TD
Cutler was recently diagnosed with diabetes, but he and the Broncos are confident that it won’t be an issue. He comes into his 2nd full season with Travis Henry and Selvin Young behind him, a great line in front of him and Brandon Marshall and Darrell Jackson split out wide. He did lose Javon Walker in the offseason.

Jon KitnaHeight: 6-2Weight: 217Team: Detroit Lions2 YR Avg: 19.5 TD2007 Total: 18 TD2008 Projection: 21 TD
The Lions are trying to make it seem like everyone has a shot at the QB spot, but we all know that Kitna will lead the Lions again this year. With the release of Kevin Jones, Tatum Bell takes over in the backfield. Kitna will have 2 of the game’s top WR at his disposal, in Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson. That being said, their offensive line is terrible so his time in the pocket will be limited. The upside is that the Lions are usually behind and have to throw.

Jason CampbellHeight: 6-5Weight: 223Team: Washington Redskins2 YR Avg: 11 TD2007 Total: 12 TD2008 Projection: 20 TD
Campbell is recovering from a hamstring injury but will be healed well before the start of the season. He’ll be returning to the West Coast Offense that he ran at Auburn and that should translate into the best year that we’ve seen out of Campbell so far. He has Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts behind him and Chris Cooley and rookie Fred Davis at TE. The Redskins also drafted Devin Thomas to go along with Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Look for a good year out of Campbell.

Matt SchaubHeight: 6-5Weight: 237Team: Houston Texans2 YR Avg: 5 TD2007 Total: 9 TD2008 Projection: 23 TD
Schaub was never really able to get on the same page with Andre Johnson, as both of them missed significant time due to injuries. Schaub is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and is slated to be the team’s starting QB. Along with Johnson, he’ll have Ahman Green, Chris Brown and rookie Steve Slaton to help him move the chains.

Tarvaris JacksonHeight: 6-2Weight: 226Team: Minnesota Vikings2 YR Avg: 5.5 TD2007 Total: 9 TD2008 Projection: 15 TD
Jackson will begin the season at #1 on the Vikings depth chart, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stay there if he doesn’t perform. Minnesota signed Bernard Berrian in the offseason and he’ll start along side the speedster Sidney Rice. The good news is that Jackson has Adrian Peterson behind him and the best O-line in football ahead of him. The bad news is that he has Adrian Peterson behind him and the best O-line in football ahead of him. Expect the Vikings to lean heavily on their talented RB and let the running game take them as far as it can. Also, look out for a possible Brett Favre sighting in Minneosta if team offials can work a deal.

Vince YoungHeight: 6-5Weight: 235Team: Tennessee Titans2 YR Avg: 10.5 TD2007 Total: 9 TD2008 Projection: 16 TD
Vince Young is very mobile, but he’s just not in a good situation. He has LenDale White leading the running game and they drafted Chris Johnson to replace Chris Brown, but White doesn’t have the kind of speed that the defense has to respect. The Titans brought in Alge Crumpler, but failed to get Young any help at WR. Don’t expect him to average more than a TD per game.

Jake DelhommeHeight: 6-2Weight: 215Team: Carolina Panthers2 YR Avg: 12.5 TD2007 Total: 8 TD2008 Projection: 23 TD
Delhomme is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but appears to be on schedule to start the season. The Panthers did lose DeShaun Foster, but drafted Jonathan Stewart to go along with DeAngelo Williams. Delhomme will also have DJ Hackett added to the WR corp. with Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith. All eyes will be on Delhomme’s right elbow.

Aaron RodgersHeight: 6-2Weight: 223Team: Green Bay Packers2 YR Avg: 0.5 TD2007 Total: 1 TD2008 Projection: 20 TD
Rarely is there a time when someone has such big cleats to fill, but this is one of those times. Rodgers will be the first QB not named Brett Favre to lead the Packers since the Cold War ended. He’s been injury prone in his limited duty, but if he can stay healthy, he has a much-improved line and several weapons. Ryan Grant seems like the real deal and Donald Driver and Greg Jennings can give opposing secondaries fits.

Sage RosenfelsHeight: 6-4Weight: 218Team: Houston Texans2 YR Avg: 9 TD2007 Total: 15 TD2008 Projection: 5 TD
Rosenfels filled in nicely for Matt Schaub last year and Minnesota was very interested in trading for him, but talks died off and Rosenfels will be the backup in Houston. If Schaub isn’t ready for the opener, the Texans will once again look to Rosenfels.

Jeff GarciaHeight: 6-1Weight: 195Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers2 YR Avg: 11.5 TD2007 Total: 13 TD2008 Projection: 11 TD
Garcia leads the most crowded QB situation in the NFL. The Tampa Bay backfield is equally as crowded with Earnest Graham, Michael Bennett and Warrick Dunn sharing the load. Despite the amount of options behind him, Garcia won’t have much to work with at WR. Joey Galloway turns 52 this season and Ike Hilliard isn’t much of a threat. Don’t expect much from Garcia even if he holds the job all year.

Damon HuardHeight: 6-3Weight: 218Team: Kansas City Chiefs2 YR Avg: 11 TD2007 Total: 11 TD2008 Projection: 5 TD
Huard was serviceable last year with a TD per game average, but Brodie Croyle will be the signal caller for the Chiefs this season. Barring injury, it’s not likely that Huard will see much playing time.

Chad PenningtonHeight: 6-3Weight: 225Team: New York Jets2 YR Avg: 13.5 TD2007 Total: 10 TD2008 Projection: 6 TD
Will it be Pennington or will it be Clemens? Smart money says that the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets will look to the youngster. Don’t completely count Pennington out though, as last year didn’t go very smoothly for Clemens.

Brian GrieseHeight: 6-3Weight: 214Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers2 YR Avg: 5.5 TD2007 Total: 10 TD2008 Projection: 6 TD
Griese was brought to Tampa Bay via trade from the Bears. Even though he was Chicago’s best QB last year, he’ll be behind Garcia to start the year. Garcia is probably the smallest QB in the NFL, so Griese could see a few starts as an injury replacement.

Josh McCownHeight: 6-4Weight: 223Team: Miami Dolphins2 YR Avg: 5.5 TD2007 Total: 10 TD2008 Projection: 11 TD
McCown is the favorite to land the starting gig for the Dolphins, but how long will he remain there? Chad Henne was a high 2nd round pick that the coaches are confident in, but he will likely be brought along slowly. Expect McCown to lean on Ronnie Brown if his knee will allow. Ernest Wilford brings some experience to the WR position and Miami hopes that Ted Ginn can live up to his draft position.

Quinn GrayHeight: 6-3Weight: 240Team: Houston Texans2 YR Avg: 5.5 TD2007 Total: 10 TD2008 Projection: 1 TD
The outlook for Quinn to see playing time looks pretty gray. If lightening strikes twice and we see injuries to Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels, Gray will be the guy. I guess that stranger things have happened.

Chris RedmanHeight: 6-3Weight: 223Team: Atlanta Falcons2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: 10 TD2008 Projection: 8 TD
Redman is technically the starter right now, but with Matt Ryan being a Top 3 pick and the QB of the future, his time under center will be limited. Roddy White is about the only WR threat that Redman has at his disposal. Expect the Falcons to look to their ground game a lot this year.

Kyle BollerHeight: 6-3Weight: 230Team: Baltimore Ravens2 YR Avg: 7 TD2007 Total: 9 TD2008 Projection: 8 TD
Boller has never amounted to what the Ravens had hoped and the selection of Joe Flacco begins a ticking clock for his time under center. It’s anyone’s guess as to when Flacco will get the keys to the offense, but it may depend on how Boller starts out. Todd Heap is again the go to guy with Derrick Mason out wide and Willis McGahee in the backfield. Jonathan Ogden anchors a solid line upfront.

Joey HarringtonHeight: 6-4Weight: 220Team: Atlanta Falcons2 YR Avg: 9.5 TD2007 Total: 7 TD2008 Projection: 3 TD
Harrington is sitting third on the depth chart behind Chris Redman and Matt Ryan. Harrington has experience on his side, but Redman is the starter and Matt Ryan will take over before too long.

Trent EdwardsHeight: 6-3Weight: 226Team: Buffalo Bills2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: 7 TD2008 Projection: 15 TD
The Bills seem to be content to hand the reigns over the Edwards and he’ll have help around him. Marshawn Lynch showed that he’s a force to be reckoned with and he’ll keep the defense honest. Lee Evans is as dangerous down the field as any WR in the NFL and the Bills also drafted the 6-5 James Hardy who is going to give DB’s a hard time because of his size and jumping ability.

Gus FrerotteHeight: 6-3Weight: 225Team: Minnesota Vikings2 YR Avg: 3.5 TD2007 Total: 7 TD2008 Projection: 4 TD
It’s hard to believe that the Vikings would elect to go with the 36 year old Frerotte as the starter, but Tarvaris Jackson has been downright awful at times. Jackson should get every chance to remain the Vikings QB, but an injury or poor performance could lead to Frerotte seeing some time.

Brodie CroyleHeight: 6-2Weight: 205Team: Kansas City Chiefs2 YR Avg: 3 TD2007 Total: 6 TD2008 Projection: 12 TD
Croyle hasn’t faired well as the starter in KC, but the Chiefs are looking to give him another chance to prove himself. He’ll be more successful if he can manage the game along with Larry Johnson and not have to win it by himself. Croyle has 2 other great weapons in Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez. If he can’t get the job done, don’t be surprised if there’s a change.

Kellen ClemensHeight: 6-2Weight: 225Team: New York Jets2 YR Avg: 2.5 TD2007 Total: 5 TD2008 Projection: 15 TD
Clemens will likely start the season under center for the Jets, but he doesn’t have a lot of support around him. NY did bring in All Pro OL Alan Faneca to solidify the line. Thomas Jones didn’t get the job done last year, but he’ll be spelled by Leon Washington, who will be a great safety valve for the young QB. Laveranues Coles will team up with Jerricho Cotchery to form the WR tandem.

Trent GreenHeight: 6-3Weight: 217Team: St. Louis Rams2 YR Avg: 6 TD2007 Total: 5 TD2008 Projection: 4 TD
Green returns to St. Louis, but with a few less brain cells than before. He will replace Gus Frerotte as Marc Bulger’s backup and given Bulger’s injury history, he could very well see the field this year. If he does, don’t expect the Rams to ask him to do much more than get the ball to Steven Jackson and Torry Holt.

Luke McCownHeight: 6-4Weight: 202Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers2 YR Avg: 2.5 TD2007 Total: 5 TD2008 Projection: 2 TDMcCown is about as buried as you can get when it comes to depth charts. Jeff Garcia will lead the Bucs this year and if he were to go down, Brian Griese would likely wind up under center if Garcia can’t go. Garcia has been threatening to retire unless the Bucs give him more money. Garcia is getting up in age (38), so there’s no telling what he may do. If he does retire, then there will be a quarterback by committee approach in Tampa Bay!

Todd CollinsHeight: 6-4Weight: 228Team: Washington Redskins2 YR Avg: 2.5 TD2007 Total: 5 TD2008 Projection: 3 TD
Collins looked good when given the chance last year, but this is clearly Jason Campbell’s team and Collins will only see playing time in a blow out or if Campbell goes down again. He did fill in very nicely for Jason Campbell last season & was put on this list because he had a 105.4 passer rating in Campbell’s place last season.

Shaun HillHeight: 6-3Weight: 235Team: San Francisco 49ers2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: 5 TD2008 Projection: 3 TD
Hill filled in admirably last year when he was called upon. He is coming off of finger surgery in the offseason, but it sounds like he’s ready to go. The Niners are saying that it’s an open competition for the starting QB role, but it’s hard to imagine that they wouldn’t go back to Alex Smith, if he’s healthy. If Hill does get the nod, he won’t have much to work with outside of Frank Gore and Vernon Davis.

JP LosmanHeight: 6-2Weight: 224Team: Buffalo Bills2 YR Avg: 12.5 TD2007 Total: 4 TD2008 Projection: 2 TD
How quickly things can change for a guy who was recently the QB of the future in Buffalo. Losman appears to be headed for a season of holding the clipboard as long as Trent Edwards doesn’t get hurt.

Rex GrossmanHeight: 6-1Weight: 217Team: Chicago Bears2 YR Avg: 13.5 TD2007 Total: 4 TD2008 Projection: 13 TD
Coach Lovie Smith says that Grossman and Orton are on “equal footing” for the starting QB position, but I believe that Grossman will get the job, unless he’s completely awful in training camp. Grossman will have nothing to work with again this year. Matt Forte is a rookie running back with a lot of potential, but it will take him time to grasp the NFL game! The Bears signing of Kevin Jones will onlu upgrade their offensive situation if he can stay healthy this season. The best bet for Grossman would be to line Devin Hester up 30 yards deep in the backfield and try to simulate a punt return situation. He’d still probably find a way to get picked off. Did we mention that his receiving corps will consist of Marty Booker, Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen?

Kyle OrtonHeight: 6-4Weight: 217Team: Chicago Bears2 YR Avg: 1.5 TD2007 Total: 3 TD2008 Projection: 5 TD
Let’s face it. Even if Grossman gets the job, he’ll lose it at some point. Enter Kyle Orton. Like I mentioned above, there really isn’t a supporting cast in place. Outside of Hester, the biggest playmaker on the team could be Greg Olsen. If the 2nd year TE can continue to develop, he could be the go to guy.

Matt LeinartHeight: 6-5Weight: 230Team: Arizona Cardinals2 YR Avg: 6.5 TD2007 Total: 2 TD2008 Projection: 14 TD
Leinart will be in a training camp battle with Kurt Warner, but I think that Leinart currently has the edge. If he can hold off Warner, he has the talent around him to succeed. Edge still has some tread left on the tires and you’d be hard pressed to find a better 1-2 punch than Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The Cards also drafted LSU WR Early Doucet.

JaMarcus RussellHeight: 6-6Weight: 260Team: Oakland Raiders2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: 2 TD2008 Projection: 14 TD
The time is now for the 1st overall pick in the 2007 draft. Russell is a huge QB with a rocket launcher attached to his shoulder. The Raiders have given him 2 talented, but very injury prone WR to work with this year. Ronald Curry is joined by Javon Walker split out wide. Oakland also drafted a potential superstar in Darren McFadden. He’ll be part of a crowded backfield with Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan and Michael Bush. Expect Russell to struggle but show glimpses of why he was the top pick last year.

Alex SmithHeight: 6-4Weight: 212Team: San Francisco 49ers2 YR Avg: 9 TD2007 Total: 2 TD2008 Projection: 15 TD
Smith is looking to return from offseason shoulder surgery and should be able to reclaim the starting QB role. We may see a lot of shorter throws as Smith works his way back to his old form. That means lots of swing passes to Frank Gore and short routes to Vernon Davis. The 49ers also added Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson in the offseason. If Smith’s shoulder isn’t ready to go, Hill will get the nod. The biggest bright spot on the team for Alex Smith is “Mad” Mike Martz because he forgets that he has a running back on all of his teams each season!

Brady QuinnHeight: 6-4Weight: 227Team: Cleveland Browns2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: 0 TD2008 Projection: 4 TD
Brady Quinn got plenty of practice waiting for his name to be called at the draft and he’ll have to remain patient as Derek Anderson exploded onto the scene last year to make the Browns a contender. It’s hard to imagine the former Notre Dame QB taking over the starting gig barring an injury.

John BeckHeight: 6-2Weight: 215Team: Miami Dolphins2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: 1 TD2008 Projection: 3 TD
Beck is technically second on the depth chart behind McCown, but it’s only a matter of time before Chad Henne starts to make his way to the top. Don’t forget that Beck wasn’t drafted that long ago either and he may get a couple starts, so that Miami can see what they have in the former BYU quarterback.

Billy VolekHeight: 6-2Weight: 214Team: San Diego Chargers2 YR Avg: 0 TD2007 Total: 0 TD2008 Projection: 1 TD
Volek was once a fantasy football playoff hero when injuries forced him into action, but those days are long gone. He hasn’t thrown a TD in 2 years and will only play if Rivers can’t return from offseason knee surgery. We put him on the list because he’s one of the most intriguing back up options in the NFL. He Rivers goes down, watch out for Billy Volek to return to his 2004 form because of all the toys he has to play with on the Chargers.

Kevin KolbHeight: 6-3Weight: 218Team: Philadelphia Eagles2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: 0 TD2008 Projection: 5 TD
Kevin Kolb is widely considered to be the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb. McNabb has had shoulder problems in mini camp and Kolb would get the nod if McNabb can’t go. McNabb is starting to slowly breakdown, but has proven in years past that he can play through injury. Kolb only makes the list because McNabb has an ailing shoulder that could limit his time on the field early in the season.

Matt RyanHeight: 6-5Weight: 220Team: Atlanta Falcons2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: N/A2008 Projection: 8 TD
Ryan was the #3 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. It’s yet to be seen whether Atlanta lets the rookie start from day one or if they’ll go with the veteran Chris Redman. Either way, Ryan was selected to be the QB of the future and make everyone forget about Michael Vick. Jerious Norwood and Michael Turner will be favorites of the rookie, but Atlanta did lose Alge Crumpler, who would have been a nice check down option. Roddy White developed nicely last season and will continue to only get better!

Brian BrohmHeight: 6-4Weight: 225Team: Green Bay Packers2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: N/A2008 Projection: 4 TD
Brohm was the 3rd QB taken in this year’s draft. With Brett Favre retired, the Packers wanted to add depth behind the unproven and injury prone Aaron Rodgers. Brohm was very impressive at Louisville, but he’s battled injuries of his own over the last few years. When Rodgers eventually misses time, Brohm will get his chance.

Joe FlaccoHeight: 6-6Weight: 232Team: Baltimore Ravens2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: N/A2008 Projection: 6 TD
Flacco was the 2nd QB taken in April’s NFL Draft. The Ravens made a move to trade up and get their future signal caller. He’s a big kid with a rocket arm, but several experts think that he’s a bit of a project. Boller will likely start the season, but Flacco probably won’t watch from the sidelines for too long. Expect him to look to Todd Heap and Willis McGahee when he does get the call mid way through the season.

Chad HenneHeight: 6-3Weight: 220Team: Miami Dolphins2 YR Avg: N/A2007 Total: N/A2008 Projection: 5 TD
Henne was the 4th QB taken in this year’s NFL Draft and is expected to be groomed as the Dolphins starter. He’ll probably be brought along slowly, but we are talking about a 4-year starter at a major program. After playing in front of 110,000 people in Ann Arbor, he probably won’t get rattled by the 4172 people that attend Dolphins games.

Brett FavreHeight: 6-2Weight: 225Team: N/A2 YR Avg: 23 TD2007 Total: 28 TD2008 Projection: 0 TD
Arguably the greatest QB to ever set foot on an NFL field, Brett Favre walks away from a team that was one play way from the Super Bowl. It was a shock to many people and Favre himself still doesn’t seem 100% confident in his choice, but don’t look for #4 to return to Lambeau Field unless it’s to retire his number. You've heard it here...Favre will NEVER put on a green and gold jersey ever again!

The Baseball Consigliere's 2nd Half MLB Review

The sluggers were put on display and home field advantage for the World Series has been decided. The only thing left to do now is finish out the rest of the season.Some of the races appear to be headed deep into the final week of the regular season before they are settled.The 7-game losing streak for Tampa Bay has allowed Boston to take over the division lead and with the experience factor heavily favoring the Red Sox, there’s no reason to believe that they won’t hold off the Rays and win the division.Out west, it would make for a great story if Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton could will the Rangers to a division crown, but the pitching staff will make sure that doesn’t happen. The Angels have a solid rotation and a good enough lineup to take the title.The Central gets a little bit more crowded with the White Sox currently holding onto a slim lead over the Twins. Don’t forget that Detroit is starting to get healthy and has been playing well heading into the All-Star Break. It will come down to health for the Sox. Can Konerko and Jenks return to form? Can Thome avoid his annual trip to the DL? If the answer is no, Minnesota and Detroit will be waiting.The wild card race in the American League will be a duel to the end with the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees.The National League East could be the most exciting finish in baseball.The Phillies, Mets and Marlins are all separated by just 1.5 games. New York and Philly both have solid lineups and Florida is getting healthy at the right time. Look for pitching to be the deciding factor in the division race.The East might be the tightest race, but all eyes will be on the Central as the Cubs, Brewers and Cards battle to the end. We’ve already seen Chicago add Rich Harden and Milwaukee add C.C. Sabathia. Will St. Louis make a move to keep pace?The West should honestly just concede its playoff berth to a team that will actually finish above .500, but since that won’t happen, let’s take a look at the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. L.A. has just been dealt a blow with the loss of Takashi Saito for at least 6 weeks. Look for Arizona to recall Max Scherzer in hopes that he sparks the pitching staff. There have also been rumors that they will take a look at bringing in another stick in the form of Barry Bonds.Speaking of Bonds, he’s one of several players that could make a move in the second half and make a difference in the playoff races. Along with Arizona, New York has been mentioned as a possible location for Bonds. The Yankees may need another bat if Hideki Matsui is unable to return from his knee injury.Matt Holliday will be the biggest name to keep an eye on before the trading deadline. He’s not just a short-term rental so he won’t come cheap, but he’s definitely someone that St. Louis could bring in to keep up with Chicago and Milwaukee. They may also just be content waiting for Chris Carpenter to return and provide a boost.Another pitcher that could provide a boost is Joe Blanton. Look for Oakland to continue stockpiling prospects by trading away their proven talent. With Harden already gone, Blanton could be next with Philadelphia being the most likely destination.The Rays will also be a team to watch as they’ve been mentioned in the Bonds talks and they’ve also been rumored to be interested in adding Brian Fuentes for the stretch run.The rest of the season should provide some of the best baseball that we’ve seen in several years and the playoffs will be even better.

The Dream

The Dream
I think it’s safe to say that the success story of Josh Hamilton took another huge step in the right direction last night.
After injuries and substance abuse derailed what was destined to be a Hall of Fame career, the 5-tool prospect has returned to the spotlight that he lived in as a high school kid.
Most players have trouble coming back after 15 days on the DL, but Hamilton is doing all of this after a stretch of 4 years only playing a handful of games during A Ball and hardly ever working out.
We’ve all read about his struggles time and time again. There are countless stories all across the Internet chronicling the lows of his life. On Monday night, Josh Hamilton allowed us to witness as his life reached a new high.
Hamilton was able to do the unthinkable. He won over the fans in Yankee Stadium in a matter of minutes. As fellow derby participants struggled and appeared nervous, Hamilton stood tall and showed America why he was a #1 overall draft pick. After what he has already overcome in life, facing 50,000 fans in the Bronx didn’t seem to faze him one bit.
Hamilton was the 8th slugger to step to the plate, needing 7 homeruns to secure his place in the 2nd round. Not only did he do that, he made the 7 hitters before him look like nothing more than the opening act.
Hamilton appeared calm and collected as he blasted pitch after pitch out of The House that Ruth Built. Every ball that he hit seemed to have a chance to leave the park. No fan within 500 feet of home plate was safe, as he hit homeruns of 502, 503 and 518 feet!
Everyone got in on the fun as Edison Volquez brought a suitcase to home plate, David Ortiz left after he’d seen enough, Hanley Ramirez’s sons brought Hamilton some Gatorade and got a ball signed and Milton Bradley took the opportunity to snap a picture with his cell phone.
When the first round had finally come to an end, Hamilton had wiped out Bobby Abreu’s first round record and put up 28 homeruns. He had a streak of 13 straight and another where he hit 9 homeruns on 11 pitches.
The only question that remained was if Hamilton would even hit in the 2nd round and if he could finish off the night and go home with the hardware.
He elected to come out and take some swings enough though he was already in the Finals. After recording 4 homeruns and 4 outs, he decided to save his energy and his 71-year-old pitcher for the next round.
In the end, Hamilton’s 38 swings in the first round proved to be too much and he simply ran out of steam, losing to Justin Morneau 5-3 in the Finals.
The look in Morneau’s eye was almost apologetic as Josh Hamilton was clearly the best hitter of the night. Perhaps the format needs to be changed again, as the eventual champion didn’t do justice to the show that was put on in Yankee Stadium. Three years ago, Josh Hamilton had a dream about being in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium and last night that dream came true. He didn’t walk away as the champion, but the chants of “Ham-il-ton…Ham-il-ton” echoing through Yankee Stadium will be something that he, and everyone watching last night, won’t soon forget.

It's Show Time Folks!

The 2008 Home Run Derby is just around the corner and we finally have our 8 confirmed participants. After a couple weeks of rumors and speculation, the list has been narrowed down to an exciting group of this year’s biggest sluggers.Chase UtleyHeight: 6-1Weight: 200Age: 29HR Total to date: 25Position: Second BaseBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: The Phillies 2nd baseman is a line drive hitter who has show his HR power in streaks this year. He’s had 5 streaks of 9 or more games with no homeruns and he’s currently in a downswing right now. Does that mean he could get shut out or is he about to break out?Dan UgglaHeight: 5-11Weight: 200Age: 28HR Total to date: 23Position: Second BaseBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Uggla has been a surprise this year, as he’s actually gotten better with the absence of Miguel Cabrera. He’s only played 3 games since injury his ankle and he hasn’t homered since June 20th, so we’ll see if he’s rusty.Lance BerkmanHeight: 6-1Weight: 220Age: 32HR Total to date: 22Position: First BaseBats: SwitchDerby Experience: 8th in 2002(1 HR), 2nd in 2004(21 HR), 6th in 2006(3 HR)Outlook: Berkman is by far the most experienced slugger in the group. This will be his 4th Home Run Derby and that will prove to be invaluable Monday when it comes time to swing for the fences.Grady SizemoreHeight: 6-2Weight: 200Age: 25HR Total to date: 23Position: Center FieldBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Sizemore was sitting at just 1 HR after his first 20 games and no one thought that he’d wind up in the Derby. He’s now hit 22 HR in his last 70 games and hopes to ride that hot streak to a Home Run Derby Title.Josh HamiltonHeight: 6-4Weight: 235 Age: 27HR Total to date: 21Position: Center FieldBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Hamilton is trying to recover from an 18-game homer less streak. He recently hit homeruns in back to back games and appears ready to make a serious run at the title. The right center gap being 14 feet shorter than left center gives him a very good chance to do so. Ryan BraunHeight: 6-1Weight: 201 Age: 24HR Total to date: 23Position: Left FieldBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Braun burst onto the scene last year with 34 HR in a shortened season. He’s trying to make a run at 50 HR this year and that’s exactly the type of power that could help him win this event.Evan LongoriaHeight: 6-2Weight: 210Age: 22HR Total to date: 16Position: Third BaseBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Longoria is the youngest of the Home Run Derby participants. We’re about to see if youth will be on his side or if the nerves of being in the spotlight at Yankee Stadium will prove to be too much to handle.Justin MorneauHeight: 6-4Weight: 230 Age: 27HR Total to date: 14Position: First BaseBats: LeftDerby Experience: 5th in 2007(4 HR)Outlook: Morneau is the only player other than Berkman to have Home Run Derby experience. He also has the big body needed to withstand the beating that a contest like this puts on your body.

No Love in the Big Apple?

Written by Consigliere
When the perennial doormats from the American League East shortened their name and unveiled new uniforms last November, did anyone outside of St. Petersburg even care?If you hadn’t heard that Tampa Bay dropped the “Devil” and now just goes by the “Rays”, they’ve made sure that they’re in the news enough that you know by now.Tampa Bay owns the best record in baseball and they’re on a 7-game winning streak right now. They’ve pushed their record to 9-1 over the last 10 and 17-4 over the last 21 games. That stretch has produced a 5-1 record vs. in-state rival Florida and 3 game sweeps of the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. What makes that so impressive is that those teams are all in the playoff race.Two other impressive streaks reside in the AL Central. The Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins are both 8-2 over the past 10 games and are locked up in a battle for the division. The Sox currently lead by 1 game.The win streaks may be the story in the AL, but hot hitting was on display this week in the NL.Matt Holliday is back in form after his stint on the DL. He’s batting .444 this week with 8 Runs, 3 HR, 10 RBI and 2 SB. J.J. Hardy has been a big part of the Brewers hot streak as he’s hitting an astonishing .533 with 6 Runs, 5 Doubles, 4 HR, 8 RBI and 1 SB. Fellow shortstop Hanley Ramirez has also been on fire this week. He’s batting .406 with 7 Runs, 4 Doubles, 4 HR, 9 RBI and 1 SB.The nod for best pitching of the week swings back to the American League. Roy Halladay followed up a complete game shutout with a 7-inning gem for his 2nd win of the week. Halladay stat line for the last 2 starts reads 16 IP, 10 hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 13 K.Gavin Floyd and Andy Sonnanstine also pitched their teams to two wins this week. Floyd went 13.1 IP, 10 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB and 16 K, while Sonnanstine went 14 IP, 10 hits, 1 ER, 2 BB and 6 K.The major news for the week is just breaking, but it will remain a discussion around baseball all week long.C.C. Sabathia is reportedly being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for at least one prospect.Sabathia…Sheets…Braun…Fielder…Hardy… Hart…Watch out for the Brew Crew!

D-Day Rumor Mill

Written by Consigliere
It’s that time of year again when we hear “buyer” and “seller” in every other baseball story. July 31st marks the non-waiver trading deadline and teams begin to analyze each plate appearance, each pitch thrown and each contract on the books. Some teams are in the hunt and must decide if they are willing to dump prospects for a rental player that could help them reach the postseason. Other teams are hoping that they can find a trading partner willing to take a huge contract off their hands while giving up some young prospects.The rumors come and go so fast that it’s often tough to keep up with who might be going where, but here are some of the current talks between the movers and shakers.One of the biggest names circulating is Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday. Two possible destinations for him are Oakland and St. Louis. Holliday is signed through 2009 so the price will be steep. Oakland may not be able to afford the price and unless the Cards were to send pitching the other way, their OF is plenty stocked right now.Xavier Nady is more likely to be on the move and two teams that have been showing interest are Tampa Bay and Atlanta. Tampa Bay seems to have better options in house, but Atlanta could be a good fit. Jeff Francoeur hasn’t been hitting well and they could use some offensive help. If Atlanta starts to slip out of the picture, not only would the deal be off, but they could also begin shopping slugger Mark Teixeira. Teixeira will be a free agent after this year and the Braves probably can’t afford him, but if they hang onto him for the rest of the season, they could get draft picks as compensation if he leaves.Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. seem to be prime candidates to relocate, but it appears Griffey to Tampa Bay wasn’t true and there just doesn’t seem to be a market for the high-priced Dunn. American League teams don’t want a DH that bats .240 and National League teams are scared off by his defense.There are several players that may or may not become available depending upon how the next couple of weeks shake out.Ivan Rodriguez seemed to be playing his last games in Motown, but the Tigers are suddenly in the hunt and Brandon Inge going down, leaves Detroit needing Pudge in the lineup.The Rangers could be looking to move Frank Catalanotto or Hank Blalock if they hit a losing streak this month.The Angels may be interested in Brian Giles. The Padres might be mathematically eliminated already and Giles could contribute in Anaheim, but the Angels usually aren’t deadline dealers.Brian Roberts could also be moved if the Orioles find themselves on the outside of the playoff race. Roberts would be their biggest piece of trade bait, but closer George Sherrill has also been rumored to be heading to the Red Sox as a setup man for Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox rumors don’t stop there though.Boston may also be looking at Joe Borowski, Chad Bradford, Rich Harden, Roy Oswalt, Brian Fuentes and C.C. Sabathia. Fuentes and Sabathia are in the middle of most trade rumors right now.Fuentes could find himself out of the closer role and out of Colorado with the list of new teams growing daily. Along with the Red Sox, the Yankees, Rays, Cubs and Cards are also reportedly interested.C.C. Sabathia would be the biggest deal to go down, if the Indians end up moving him. They apparently would like to resign the reigning Cy Young winner, but as they fall double digits back in the division race, things could change. The Phillies, Rays, Cubs and Brewers have been mentioned the most as possible trading partners.Other arms that are rumored to be available are Joe Blanton, Huston Street, A.J. Burnett, Erik Bedard, Bronson Arroyo and Greg Maddux.

Resurrection Project

Written by Consigliere
Every once in a while, the sports world presents us with a feel good story. Maybe it’s the nature of baseball that makes their stories seem that much better. Teenagers are drafted and often spend several years fighting their way through the minor league levels, praying that they will one day get the call. Hoping that they can call themselves a Major League baseball player.Recently, we’ve heard a couple of stories that made most of us instant fans of these players.We all watched as a promising young pitcher named Rick Ankiel made his debut in the bigs and seemed to have his whole career going in the right direction. As quickly as he arrived, he appeared to be on his way out of baseball, when he couldn’t seem to hit the strike zone and sometime he wasn’t even able to hit the catcher. Now you can’t help but be happy for the guy, as he’s renewed his career as a homerun hitting outfielder with a rocket arm.Last year also marked a turning point in the career of former #1 overall pick, Josh Hamilton. After a string of bad luck and a bit of getting tied up with the wrong crowd, the kid who seemed destined for stardom found himself out of baseball and in and out of rehab. Now he’s finally got his life on the right path and is a perfect example of why you never give up on a kid when he’s got something special. Hamilton continues to improve in his 2nd year back and has 19 HR as we approach the All-Star Break. It’s scary to think of how good he could have been.This year, we’re seeing another success story in the making.If you’re in Chicago, you know the name Carlos Quentin very well, but if you’re a casual baseball fan, it’s possible that you’ve never heard of him.The 25-year-old outfielder was a 3-sport star in high school and went on to attend Stanford University, where he led them to 3 postseason appearances and collected plenty of personal hardware along the way. He ended his college career with a .350 batting average, 35 HR, 170 RBI and 26 SB.He was a first round selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks, but had his career put on hold when he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. When he returned, he dominated minor league pitching and became one of Arizona’s top prospects.The Diamondbacks called him up halfway through the 2006 season and Quentin recorded a .253 batting average, 9 HR and 32 RBI in 57 games.The start to Quentin’s 2007 season was delayed when it turned out that he had a partially torn labrum. Through 81 games, he was hitting .214 with 5 HR and 31 RBI before he was sent back to Triple-A. Arizona decided that he wasn’t working out and traded him to the White Sox in December.As it turns out, a change of address was exactly what Carlos Quentin needed, as he’s been the best hitter for the White Sox through the first half of the 2008 season.In 80 games this year, Quentin is hitting .284 with 19 HR, 61 RBI, 54 Runs and 5 SB. He currently ranks first on the White Sox in HR, RBI, Runs, OBP and OPS. He’s 2nd in SLG and SB.I think that it’s a safe bet to say that the Sox can attribute their division lead to this latest resurrection.

Back to the Future!

It’s time to head down to the clock tower, fire up the flux capacitor and drive the DeLorean all the way back to March 10th, 2008.I know what you’re thinking. That wasn’t that long ago, but in baseball terms it was about a month before the season started. That’s when yours truly, The Consigliere, sat down and calculated the homerun projections for our pool players.It’s almost 4 months later and about midway through the season, so it’s time to look back and point out my spot on mathematics or take the blame for the minor miscalculations.For the purposes of this article, we’re going to ignore anyone who missed several games and concentrate on the guys who have been able to stay on the field.Right down the middleAlbert PujolsPrediction: If his elbow will allow him, Pujols will return to the 40 HR club.2008 Total: 17 HR. Despite his minor calf setback, he should finish right around 40 HR.Ryan HowardPrediction: Expect Howard to flirt with 50 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. Howard started off in a huge slump and has found his groove as of late. He’ll clear 40 and aim for 50.Adam DunnPrediction: No reason to believe that Dunn can’t top 40 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. He’s right on pace.Jim ThomePrediction: Thome should hit about 30.2008 Total: 16 HR. Bullseye.Magglio OrdonezPrediction: Maggs should contribute with a HR total in the mid 20s.2008 Total: 12 HR. Hopefully the injury doesn’t wreck my projection.Lance BerkmanPrediction: He should easily clear 30, with an outside shot at 40.2008 Total: 22 HR. Good call here.Ryan BraunPrediction: Braun should get 40 this year.2008 Total: 20 HR. Another one for The Consigliere.Manny RamirezPrediction: Should see 30 HR again.2008 Total: 16 HR. On pace to hit 30+.Carlos LeePrediction: If you want 30 HR, Lee is your guy.2008 Total: 18 HR. Headed for at least 30.David WrightPrediction: Hit 30 HR last year. Look for him to top that this year.2008 Total: 16 HR. Just where he needs to be right now.Adrian GonzalezPrediction: 40 HR potential.2008 Total: 21 HR. He’s found his potential.Derrek LeePrediction: Has a good shot at 30 this year.2008 Total: 15 HR. The Cubs slugger has returned.Jermaine DyePrediction: He’s a safe bet to top 30 this year.2008 Total: 18 HR. 30 looks to be a lock.Chipper JonesPrediction: Injuries are the only thing stopping Jones from hitting 30 each year.2008 Total: 16 HR. He’s looking for 30, but will the quad let it happen?Nick MarkakisPrediction: Expect more than last year’s 23 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. Right on target at the midway point.Rick AnkielPrediction: Expect 25+ HR.2008 Total: 16 HR. The power is there and he’s improving this year.Brandon PhillipsPrediction: Expect around 25 this year.2008 Total: 14 HR. He may end up right on 25.J.J. HardyPrediction: Hardy will be lucky to hit 20 HR.2008 Total: 8 HR. Should finish short of 20.Corey HartPrediction: Hart could reach 30 HR.2008 Total: 14 HR. He’s a little off the pace, but coming on after a rough start.Aaron RowandPrediction: Hope for 20 HR.2008 Total: 8 HR. Another guy that will not make 20.Gary Matthews Jr.Prediction: He’ll hit 15.2008 Total: 7 HR. I might get this one dead on.Alex GordonPrediction: Expect 20.2008 Total: 11 HR. Right on pace.Joey VottoPrediction: Look for 20-25 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. The rookie is aiming for dead center on this projection.High and insideJustin MorneauPrediction: 30-35 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. Need a big 2nd half if I’m going to get this one.Carlos BeltranPrediction: 33 HR.2008 Total: 12 HR. I need the postseason Astros Beltran to show up.Miguel CabreraPrediction: Expect 35-40 HR.2008 Total: 11 HR. What the hell is his problem?Chase UtleyPrediction: He’ll hit close to 30…by the All-Star Break.2008 Total: 23 HR. Ok, so I made the last part up.Ken Griffey Jr.Prediction: Still a threat for 30.2008 Total: 9 HR. The threat is fading.B.J. UptonPrediction: He hits 20 HR.2008 Total: 6 HR. Rays need him if they want to remain contenders, so I still got a shot.Dan UgglaPrediction: Could dip from last year’s 31 HR.2008 Total: 23 HR. He still “could”, but not likely.Hanley RamirezPrediction: Look for a season of 20-25 HR.2008 Total: 20 HR. I love Han Ram, but who knew?Victor MartinezPrediction: Expect about 20.2008 Total: 0 HR. Ugh!Jason GiambiPrediction: I don’t like his chances for 20 HR.2008 Total: 17 HR. Come on 2nd half slump.Justin UptonPrediction: Expect about 12 this year.2008 Total: 9 HR. It seems to be a K or a HR, but he should still beat my mark.Evan LongoriaPrediction: 15-20 HR.2008 Total: 15 HR. All Hail Evan Almighty!Delmon YoungPrediction: Look for an upside of 20 HR.2008 Total: 2 HR. He’s got the skills, but something isn’t clicking

The Consigliere's Monthly Report

Consigliere’s Monthly Report (June)

Each month, I’ll break down which of our pool players get the credit for their team leading the division and which players get the blame for their team being in the basement.

AL East

First Place: Tamp Bay Rays

Carlos Pena spent a lot of time sitting out and only has 1 HR, 5 RBI and 2 Runs to show for the whole month. That means that our pool player that gets the credit for keeping the Rays at the top is B.J. Upton. He has 6 HR, 41 RBI, 52 Runs and 23 SB.

Last Place: Toronto Blue Jays

Vernon Wells came back early in June and hasn’t gotten back to his usual form yet, but Alex Rios hasn’t been there to pick up the slack either. Rios had just 1 HR and 7 RBI in June.

AL Central

First Place: Chicago White Sox

Last week in this very spot, I called out Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome and Joe Crede for their lack of production. They responded in June. Konerko went on the DL, but the other 3 combined for 19 HR and 55 RBI, while raising their averages.

Last Place: Cleveland Indians

Grady Sizemore and Ryan Garko combined for 10 HR and 35 RBI in June, but Travis Hafner missed the entire month.

AL West

First Place: Los Angeles Angels

Vladimir Guerrero put up 6 HR and 16 RBI last month, while Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews Jr only combined for 3 HR and 16 RBI.

Last Place: Seattle Mariners

Riche Sexson in June: 22 games, 6 runs, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 21 K. You have a guy that is 6-8, 240lbs and he has 1 extra base hit all month! He failed to record an RBI in 20 of 22 games! I’m getting an idea of why the Mariners are the worst team in baseball.

NL East

First Place: Philadelphia Phillies

Chase Utley and Pat Burrell have taken turns carrying the team. Ryan Howard handled that task in June. He hit 5 HR and knocked in 26 runs.

Last Place: Washington Nationals

Ryan Zimmerman hasn’t played since the last time I wrote this column. The Nationals are going nowhere fast.

NL Central

First Place: Chicago Cubs

Soriano is hurt, then he’s not, now he is… Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee have remained solid, but Kosuke Fukudome has picked up the slack for Soriano. He had 3 HR, 13 RBI and 19 Runs for the month of June.

Last Place: Pittsburgh Pirates

Adam LaRoche and Jason Bay haven’t set the world on fire, but they’ve been solid. The Pirates simply have no pitching.

NL West

First Place: Arizona Diamondbacks

Justin Upton in June: 23 games, 7 runs, 8 hits, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 25 K, while he fell from a .275 to a .236 average. Chris Young has been slightly better. They deserve no credit for the Arizona’s success and hardly deserve a spot on the club right now.

Last Place: Colorado Rockies

The big 3 have returned from the DL and Hawpe and Holliday have been playing very well. Look for the Rockies to climb out of the cellar.

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Bombs Bursting in Air!

Bombs Bursting in Air


Most people should be able to tell you that Francis Scott Key is responsible for the National Anthem that we hear before each baseball game, but not many know the journey of the song.

Francis Scott Key was actually a poet who wrote a poem called “Defence of Fort McHenry” after witnessing Royal Navy ships attack Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. After being circulated, renamed and set to the tune of a British drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven”, Francis Scott Key’s poem became “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Although the debut of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in baseball typically gets linked to its rendition during the 7th inning stretch of the 1918 World Series, some historians will tell you that it was played as far back as 1897.

No matter what year the tradition began, it will certainly be heard at every ballpark this 4th of July, as a full slate of games entertains us while we celebrate our freedom.

Let’s take a look at some of the day’s key matchups…


Mets @ Phillies
Besides the possibility of fireworks in the hitter friendly park, it’s Johan Santana vs. Cole Hamels in a heavyweight pitching battle.

Athletics @ White Sox
Nick Swisher welcomes his ex-teammates to The Cell. You can also tune in to see if Jack Cust has 4 strikeouts or if he hits one into the parking lot. He reminds me a lot of Joaquin Phoenix’s character in Signs. “Felt wrong not to swing.”

Nationals @ Reds
Ok, so the matchup doesn’t look very exciting, but I had to include the Washington Nationals playing in The Great American Ballpark on the 4th of July!

Cubs @ Cardinals
Another installment of this classic rivalry. The Cubs will send Carlos Zambrano to the mound, while the Cardinals trot out undefeated Mitchell Boggs.

Red Sox @ Yankees
Enough said.



The pool players that are most likely to send bombs bursting into the air are…

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder vs. Tom Gorzelanny and his 6.18 ERA

Nick Swisher at home vs. ex-teammate Joe Blanton and his 4.97 ERA

Alex Rodriguez because it’s a big game and that’s when the stars come out

Hanley Ramirez at Coors Field vs. Greg Reynolds and his 5.75 ERA

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard because they are too powerful for Citizens Bank Park

Written By: The Baseball Consigliere
Website: www.letsgodeep.com

Week 13 Review of The All American Home Run Derby

Written by Consigliere
We’re 2 weeks away from our next prize giveaway and the standings couldn’t be tighter.AllorNothin and #1Philsfan are currently tied with 233 homeruns apiece. The breathing room is very minimal for our co-leaders as Dilldocks is just one HR off the pace. Mr. Papa Georgio sits in 4th place with 224 homeruns and whoppers is holding down the 5th slot with 219 HR.Let’s take a look at our pool player breakdown…2 players with 23 homeruns2 players with 21 homeruns2 players with 20 homeruns3 players with 19 homeruns3 players with 18 homeruns2 players with 17 homeruns5 players with 16 homeruns8 players with 15 homeruns4 players with 14 homeruns6 players with 13 homeruns7 players with 12 homeruns3 players with 11 homeruns7 players with 10 homeruns7 players with 9 homeruns7 players with 8 homeruns5 players with 7 homeruns5 players with 6 homeruns3 players with 5 homeruns4 players with 4 homeruns1 player with 3 homeruns2 players with 2 homeruns3 players with 1 homerun2 players have failed to go deepDan Uggla and Chase Utley lead the MLB with 23 homeruns each. Adrian Gonzalez and Lance Berkman are just 2 off the pace, while Ryan Howard and Ryan Braun are just 3 off the lead.Adam Dunn, Josh Hamilton and Pat Burrell all have 19 HR. Jermaine Dye, Grady Sizemore and Carlos Lee have 18 homeruns apiece, while Hanley Ramirez and Jason Giambi each have 17.There are 17 players with 14-16 HR. Chipper Jones is struggling to get onto the field, but has 16 homeruns. Evan Longoria and David Wright are both coming off big weeks and have 15 homeruns each.Twenty-three players make up the 10-13 HR group. Vladimir Guerrero hasn’t been able to find a groove, but has still managed 13 homeruns. Rookie Joey Votto continues to turn in a fine season with 12 HR, but Miguel Cabrera remains in a power slump with just 11 homeruns.The 6-9 HR class has 24 members. Raul Ibanez is still stuck on 9 HR after a blazing start and Khalil Greene can’t seem to match last year’s power and has just 8 HR. Kosuke Fukudome is starting to come around though and now has 6 homeruns.The disappointment really begins with the 1-5 HR group, which is 13 players strong. Gary Sheffield has returned from the DL and looks to improve on his 5 HR, while Chris Duncan has been back for awhile, but can’t seems to add to his 4 homeruns. Hank Blalock is the only player with 3 and hopes to hit #4 sometime after the All-Star Break. Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones both have 2 and both guys are hurt. I’d like to recognize Delmon Young and his 1 homerun again just because it took him so long to hit it.Victor Martinez and Josh Fields remain the only players without a single homerun.