The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By WAM

OLYMPIC HOCKEY, THE MAVERICKS, THE COMBINE AND THE END OF A STREAK

Here's my take on this morning's headlines:

• The final four of the Olympic hockey tournament is set, with the United States, Finland, Slovakia and Canada advancing to the semifinals with wins yesterday. Team USA had to battle past a constrictive Swiss team who's strategy was simply to bore the Americans to death by playing what amounted to a prevent defense all game long. It almost worked but Zach Parise got a lucky bounce on a power-play and later buried an empty netter for the 2-0 win. Sure, the Americans were not as sharp as they could have been but the key continues to be the play of goalie Ryan Miller. Miller pitched a shutout on 18 shots and has stopped 60 of 63 shots in his last two games. That's the kind of goaltending that can carry a team to a gold medal. Meanwhile, the home team (Canada) responded from their loss to the Americans with an impressive 7-3 win over a very good Russian team. The game was over as quickly as it started, with the Canadians taking leads of 3-0, 4-0 and 6-1 by the second period. Maybe their loss on Sunday has woken this team up and that is a scary thought for the other three teams left in the tournament. Barring an upset, it appears we are set up for a US-Canada rematch in the gold medal game.


• The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 last night in a match-up of two of the best teams in the Western Conference. Playing without newly acquired forward (the guy they traded for to guard Kobe Bryant) Caron Butler, the Mavs found a way to limit Bryant to just 20 points on 9-23 shooting. Jason Terry scored 30 points off the bench and Dirk Nowitzki led all scorers with 31 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Most importantly, the addition of Brendan Haywood (and Butler once he returns) allows the Mavericks to match-up with the Lakers better than any team in the West. They currently sit at the fourth spot in the West but should be able to move into the top three if they continue to play well. Right now, I have to put Dallas at the top of the list of challenger's to the Lakers in the West.


• The NFL combine kicks off today and the annual showcase of speed and skill figures to once again provide plenty of highlights. The combine means far more to some teams than others (see: Raiders, Oakland) but it still signifies the start of the NFL offseason and really gets the draft process rolling for every team and fan alike. Some guys will drastically help their draft stock while others will hurt it just as much so here are some names to keep an eye on this weekend:
• Gerald McCoy (DT, Oklahoma) - the Oklahoma defensive tackle is the only real threat to Ndamukong Suh to be the first pick in the draft. A good weekend here could actually make the Rams think long and hard about which dominating defensive lineman to take
• Rolando McClain (LB, Alabama) - McClain was the heart and soul of the Tide's defense and no-doubt has the size to be a big-time player in the league. The question about McClain is his speed and if he can be a three-down linebacker; a good 40-time will wipe away all doubts and solidify his spot as a top-12 pick.
• Dez Bryant (WR, Oklahoma St.) - After being suspended last year for illegal contact with Deion Sanders, Bryant needs to show he stayed in shape and mentally was not affected by the time-off. He should do fine and end up being the first receiver taken in the draft.
• Taylor Mays (S, USC) - Mays looked like a top-5 pick entering this season but had a disappointing senior season. Many feel Mays is a straight-line player who cannot tackle and may be too slow to play in an NFL secondary. Probably no player has more riding on this weekend than Mays.
• Terence Cody (DT, Alabama) - There is no denying Cody's ability to be a block-eater in the middle but the big issue is that he is also an eater off the field. Cody came into the Senior Bowl at a comical 375 pounds and needs to be in better shape this week if he wants to remain a first-round pick.
• Jahvid Best & Dexter McCluster (RB's, California and Ole Miss) - C.J. Spiller will be the first running back taken in the draft and Jonathan Dwyer is the best traditional running back option. Both Best and McCluster are small, explosive backs and with the recent success of Chris Johnson, both could benefit huge from great 40-times.
• Demaryius Thomas & Arrelious Benn (WR's, Georgia Tech and Illinois) - After Bryant, the second receiver spot is up-for-grabs and these two guys are next in line. Thomas continues to move-up draft boards but Benn can move ahead of Thomas with a good weekend.


• After 29 games of 25 points or more, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant was held to 21 points last night in the Thunder's loss at San Antonio. Durant led the Thunder to a 20-9 record during that span, dating back to December 22nd, and he is the main reason they sit in sixth position in the West. This streak helped vault Durant into the MVP conversation and the 21-year-old is establishing himself as one of the league's four best players. Now that the streak is over, the key is for Durant to continue to help his team win games and make the playoffs in what is becoming a very surprising season for the Thunder.

Finally, I need some help with a survey. Some of you have already participated but, if you have not, please take a minute or two and fill this out for me. You can find the link here - thanks for your help.

Big Ten Sports Survey

Click here to take survey

NBA - Week 17 Power Rankings & Awards Watch

By WAM

NBA WEEK 17 POWER RANKINGS

1. Los Angeles Lakers (42-14) - The Lakers' only loss in their five games without Kobe Bryant was a one-point defeat at the hands of the Celtics on Thursday night. Black Mamba is expected to return from the ankle injury on Tuesday in time for big match-ups with Dallas and Denver.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (43-14) - An 0-3 start was not the way Danny Ferry envisioned his team playing with the addition of Antawn Jamison. Despite losing three straight for the first time since 2008, Cleveland still holds a five-game lead for the East's top spot.

3. Utah Jazz (36-19) - The Jazz have won 17 of their last 19 games and the schedule over the next few weeks set-ups nicely for Jerry Sloan's team. With games against Charlotte, Sacramento and Houston this week, Utah should be in second place in the West by week's end.

4. Denver Nuggets (37-19) - Carmelo Anthony is getting back on track after missing eight games with an injured ankle. Anthony has scored 86 points in his last three games, including a monster 40-point effort in the Nuggets win at Cleveland last week. Huge game at Los Angeles on Sunday.

5. Orlando Magic (38-19) - Orlando is quietly separating themselves from Boston and Atlanta in both the standings and their performance on the court. As the season winds down, the Magic should be in great shape to hold onto that second spot - they are the deepest team in the NBA.

6. Dallas Mavericks (35-21) - Caron Butler had a nice first week with his new team, averaging 17.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in four games. Wednesday night's showdown with the Lakers will give Butler a chance to show another reason why Dallas acquired him, guarding Kobe Bryant.

7. Boston Celtics (35-19) - Boston closed out a tough five-game west coast road trip with a nine-point loss at Denver. Still, the Celtics finished the trip 3-2 with nice wins at Portland and the Lakers. Kevin Garnett is struggling big time and needs to be a major contributor down the stretch.

8. Atlanta Hawks (34-20) - Atlanta continues to round out the East's top four teams and their youth should give them the upper-hand on Boston for the third seed. They need Marvin Williams to break-out of a slump if they want to challenge Orlando.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder (33-21) - With four of their next five games at home, the Thunder could add to their current nine-game winning streak. Kevin Durant has scored 25 points or more in 28 straight games and he has vaulted himself into the top-three for league MVP (James, Bryant).

10. Phoenix Suns (32-23) - Now that trade talks are over, Phoenix can finally focus on winning games and climbing the standings. They've done a good job with the former, winning eight of their last 10, but have to continue this trend if they want to accomplish the latter.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (32-26) - Brandon Roy's health is the determining factor to Portland's season so registering 34 minutes in consecutive games is a good sign. Marcus Camby is not used to his new team and will have to adjust quickly as the Blazers embark on a five-game east coast road trip.

12. San Antonio Spurs (31-23) - San Antonio is 7-10 since January 15th and have two big home games with Oklahoma City and Phoenix this week. They need to string together some wins if they want to remain a playoff team in the uber-competitive Western conference.

13. Toronto Raptors (31-24) - I was surprised to see that Toronto is fourth in the league in scoring, behind (no surprises here) Phoenix, Golden State and Denver. The Raptors will need big efforts on both ends this week with games against Portland, Cleveland and Oklahoma City.

14. Chicago Bulls (29-26) - Since reports surfaced that Vinny Del Negro was going to be fired, the Bulls have gone 19-9 and have won four in a row since the All-Star break. A weak schedule has helped but Vinny deserves credit for taking the reigns off of Derrick Rose and moving Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson into the starting lineup.

15. Miami Heat (29-28) - It's been a rough week for the Heat. After missing out at the trade deadline, Dwayne Wade goes down and will miss a few more games. Miami better hold onto a playoff spot or Wade may be looking to play elsewhere next year.

16. New Orleans (30-26) - Rookie Darren Collison is playing great since taking over Chris Paul's minutes, cracking 20 points in five of his last six games. The Hornets face a tough battle to make the playoffs, with San Antonio and Portland ahead of them and Houston and Memphis right behind them.

17. Houston Rockets (28-27) - The Rockets are 4-9 in their last 13 games and have three games with playoff teams (Orlando, San Antonio, Utah) this week. I may be wrong but I think the deadline addition of Kevin Martin will break them out of this slump and challenge for the eighth seed in the west.

18. Charlotte Bobcats (27-27) - Charlotte is struggling to hang out to the last playoff spot in the east and Tuesday's loss at home to the Nets did not help. Neither did Saturday's loss to the team closest to them in the standings (Milwaukee). The Bobcats have to find a way to win on the road.

19. Milwaukee Bucks (26-28) - The Bucks are 6-3 in February and the addition of John Salmons has paid big dividends already. Milwaukee has a huge week upcoming with five games, including four road games and two back-to-backs.

20. Memphis Grizzlies (28-27) - March cannot come soon enough for the Grizzlies who have won just three games in nine attempts this month. Their playoff dreams are still alive but Memphis has to crank up the intensity of defense.

21. Philadelphia 76ers (21-34) - Philadelphia has followed up a season-high five-game winning streak with three losses in their last four games. After Tuesday's game at Golden State, the Sixers play six consecutive playoff teams - a run that will determine if they can stay in the hunt for the final playoff spot in the east.

22. Los Angeles Clippers (22-33) - With just two wins (and 10 losses) since January 25th, Clippers fans can only hope for a big splash in free agency and a healthy Blake Griffin. DeAndre Jordan has a chance to prove he is not a bust now that Marcus Camby is out of the picture.

23. Detroit Pistons (20-35) - 7, 26, 5, 18, 3, 8, 6, 4, 21. Those are Ben Gordon's scoring outputs for February, a month in which he is averaging 22.9 minutes per game. And that is why I'm glad the Bulls did not match the five-year, $58 million dollar contract the Pistons gave Gordon last summer.

24. Washington Wizards (19-34) - When I lived in Washington DC, the talk about the Wizards surrounded a three-month stretch in 2007 when they had the best record in the east. Fast forward a few years and the three main players on that team are all gone or soon-to-be gone. Let the rebuilding begin.

25. Golden State Warriors (16-39) - If the Warriors played in the East, they may be a playoff team. Led by Monta Ellis, there is not a more fun "bad" team to watch than Golden State. Stephen Curry is making a lot of teams regret passing on him in last years' draft.

26. Sacramento Kings (18-38) - The Kings are a dreadful 4-21 in 2010 and their promising start to the season means nothing more than another lottery appearance. With Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Jason Thompson and the newly-acquired Carl Landry, there are a lot of nice pieces for Kings' to build on, however.

27. New York Knicks (19-35) - Obviously, the focus in New York is on this summer but the players themselves need to understand they too are playing for jobs next year. Just one win in February is not a good way to audition for a spot.

28. Indiana Pacers (19-36) - Hampered by big, bad contracts, the Pacers were unable to make any move at the trade deadline and continue to run in place. At least Danny Granger gives the people of Indianapolis something decent to watch.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-44) - The draft-day trade of O.J. Mayo for Kevin Love is one of the best in recent memory because both teams came out on top. I'll argue that Love (15 points, 11.4 rebounds per game) is and will be the better player, though.

30. New Jersey Nets (5-51) - New Jersey's surprising win at Charlotte moved them ahead of the pace for the worst record in NBA history (albeit by just one game). On the bright side, outside of Chicago, is there a team that passed on Brook Lopez (who went 10th in the 2008 draft) that would pass on him again? Probably not.

AWARDS WATCH

MVP - LeBron James (Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Steve Nash)

Sixth Man - Jamal Crawford (Lamar Odom, Jason Terry)

Def. Player - Dwight Howard (Josh Smith, Gerald Wallace)

Rookie of the Year - Tyreke Evans (Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings)

Most Improved Player - Joakim Noah (Marc Gasol, Josh Smith)

Coach - Scott Brooks (Jerry Sloan, Vinny Del Negro)

The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By WAM

USA HOCKEY, THE BLACKHAWKS AND OTHER OLYMPIC THOUGHTS

Here's my take on this morning's headlines:

• Just hours before the 30th anniversary of the the program's most significant win, Team USA hockey delivered another upset last night in their surprising 5-3 win over the heavily favored host-country Canadian team. And while yesterday's win was nowhere near as great as the 1980 victory over Russia, beating mighty Team Canada on their ice should certainly give the Americans the confidence they will need as they head to the medal round. From the beginning of the game Team USA was the faster, more aggressive team and no play signified this more than Ryan Kesler's ridiculous empty-netter late in the game. Kesler, Ryan Suter, Brian Rafalski and captain Jamie Langenbrunner were the star skaters for the US but no player was more impressive than goalie Ryan Miller. Doing his best Jim Craig impression, Miller stopped 42 of 45 shots including an unbelievable flurry of attempts over the game's final three minutes. Both teams now continue on to the medal round, albeit in reverse positions of all predictions. The Canadians are the sixth seed and will play Germany tomorrow while the Americans get an extra day of rest and will play the winner of Switzerland-Belarus. Perhaps we may be set up for a rematch in the gold medal game and, if yesterday was any indication, the real winners will be the fans. As NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick said before the game, there are about a million hockey players between these two countries and yesterday's contest featured the best 46.


• Four of those players are Chicago Blackhawks and it was great to see them all play a huge role in such a big game. The lone American, Patrick Kane, struggled early and did not contribute a point but overall he played really fast and created some great opportunities. He continues to be a top-option on the power play and Kane will need to find the back of the net if Team USA wants to win gold. On the Canadian side, Jonathan Toews , Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook combined for four points. Toews assisted on two goals, was the only +2 on the roster and was one of the two or three best forwards for Mike Babcock's team. Seabrook had an assist but played limited minutes late in the game. His defensive partner, Keith, led all Canadians in ice-time and had an assist as he played in virtually every situation as Team Canada's #1 defense-man. With his performance yesterday (and this NHL season), Keith proved he is probably the best blue-liner in the world. Grades: Kane B-, Toews A-, Seabrook B, Keith A.


• Here are some other Olympic thoughts:
• Bode Miller finally won a gold medal yesterday in the super-combi event. He has battled personal demons and failures to get back to this point and it was great to see his hard work pay-off.
• I still cannot believe NBC chose to put the hockey game on MSNBC instead of the mother-ship. The game was the biggest non-gold medal event of the Olympics and this morning NBC executives are probably regretting their decision.
• To make matters worse, NBC had the second round of ice dancing on the main channel. What were they thinking?
• As a Blackhawks fan, I have the privilege of listening to color-commentator Eddie Olczyk on a regular basis and he has been awesome during these Olympics. Eddie O is always pointing out the intricacies of the game and does a fantastic job providing the right amount of emotion for the situation. As the game ended, he said it was "tremendously tremendous" - what a perfect way to describe last night.
• Week 1 of the Olympics is in the books and the story so far has been the domination of the American team. Led by our stars (Shani Davis, Anton Apolo Ohno, Evan Lysacek, Shaun White, Lindsey Vonn, Bode Miller, hockey), Team USA has racked up an Olympic-best 7 gold medals and 24 overall medals. A gold medal in hockey may make this one of the greatest winter games performances of all-time. The women's hockey team also has a chance to win gold.
• Unfortunately, the US curling teams are not on that list.
• Here's what I'm looking forward to this week: Bobsled, curling/hockey elimination rounds, women's figure skating, freestyle skiing.

NBA Trade Deadline Wrap-Up

By WAM

NBA TRADE DEADLINE WRAP-UP

The NBA trade deadline has passed as some teams spent the last week trying to add that one missing piece while others simply focused on reducing costs in anticipation of the 2010 free agent class. Several contenders really helped themselves while others failed to make a move so here's a look at the winners and losers of the NBA's annual trade festival.

Winners

Houston Rockets

I really liked what the Rockets accomplished today and it is not surprising that the Rockets were the big winners - Daryl Morey continues to prove he is one of the league's best general managers. Morey turned Tracy McGrady's $22.8M expiring contract and forward Carl Landry into Kevin Martin, Jared Jeffries and two first round draft picks from the New York Knicks (a top-1 protected selection in 2011 and a top-5 protected selection in 2012). Martin is a very good player who just did not have a spot anymore in Sacramento's rotation and is exactly the kind of back-court outside presence the Rockets desperately need. He is under contract through 2013 for a very reasonable $11.8M average. Jeffries provides depth and his $6.8M cap number next year (assuming he picks up his player-option) will be a nice piece come next year's trade season. And with uncertainties in New York, both of those picks could turn into top-8 selections. On the other side of things, McGrady has been done in Houston for a long time so his loss means nothing (he was not even playing). Landry is a solid player at a very good price but Houston is deep in the front-court and could afford to move one player.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas made their big move last Saturday but that does not mean they should not be mentioned. Adding Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood for Josh Howard and change was a great swap for Mark Cuban's squad. Butler gives the Mavericks a more consistent version of Howard who is still relatively young and is a hard-nosed player. Haywood adds depth to a front-line that needs it and should get big crunch-time minutes while Erick Dampier comes back from injury. Dallas is surprising a lot of teams this year with their consistent play and this move propels them past Denver and Utah as the West's second best team, in my opinion.

Chicago Bulls

For the second straight year, the Bulls improved their salary-cap situation without sacrificing the current product on the court and that has to be considered a big win for Chicago. In two separate moves, the Bulls traded John Salmons (and his $6.5M player option for 2010) and draft-bust Tyrus Thomas for Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander from Milwaukee and Acie Law, Flip Murray and a protected first-round pick from the Charlotte Bobcats. Murray, Law and Warrick add depth to a very short bench but the real story is that the Bulls will be about $20M under the salary cap entering free agency, allowing them to offer a max-contract to LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh or any other big-time free agent. With Miami's failures on trade-day (more on this below), Chicago may be the top destination for a max-contract player come this summer.

Ehhhhh....

New York Knicks

After years of speculation, the Knicks had to wait until the final minutes of the trade deadline to finally find the cap-relief they need to offer a max-contract this summer. McGrady sounds very excited to be headed to New York and he is auditioning for one more deal so he should play well for the Knicks down the stretch. As for free agency, New York is undeniably a top destination for obvious reasons but unfortunately none (except Madison Square Garden) have anything to do with basketball. The Knicks are banking on a guy like James or Wade wanting to play in New York because it's New York - and they are asking these same guys to forget the fact that the team has no talent (outside of David Lee who will probably sign elsewhere this summer), has no young pieces (you can keep Danilo Gallinari) and will not have a top draft pick in 2011 or 2012. If the Knicks can land a top-3 pick in this year's draft and convince James (or maybe Wade) to sign, the future will be bright. If not, the Knicks may be headed for another insufferable decade.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Look, there is no denying the fact that Antawn Jamison makes the Cavaliers better this season and the next two. But I still do not like what they have done to keep LeBron happy and in a Cleveland uniform. To illustrate this point, let's look at perhaps the league's next-best young superstar, Kevin Durant. Durant is currently the alpha-player on an Oklahoma City team where the next four guys in minutes per game are 25 or younger. This means Durant(chula) is going to grow as a NBA player with a group of core players that he has been with for years. Cleveland has not given LeBron this opportunity. They have decided to walk through door #2: win a championship and hope LeBron wants to stay. Jamison may help accomplish this goal but he is not the guy LeBron can grow old with, for lack of a better term. Maybe Amare Stoudemire would have been a better choice. Again, time will tell.

La-hew Za-her

Phoenix Suns

The Suns have been in limbo for the better part of the decade. They were serious title contenders a few years ago - one big suspension may have cost them a championship - and have been fighting to stay in the West's elite for the last few seasons. They currently sit in seventh place at 32-23 but probably cannot beat any of the four teams ahead of them in a seven-game series. General manager had a chance to start rebuilding while still fielding a competitive team but decided not to trade Amare Stoudemire today. Stoudemire could have brought Phoenix a good young player and draft picks but now the Suns have some major long-term questions. Maybe the offers for Stoudemire were not that great - I can defend Kerr if that was the case. But if the various reports are true, Phoenix missed the boat and will pay for it the next few years.

San Antonio Spurs

More often than not, trade deadline losers are contending teams that did not help themselves and San Antonio is the first of these teams in this analysis. The Spurs have some major problems and did nothing to help their team. San Antonio, while currently tied for fifth in the West, looks very old and the combination of Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson just is not working. Rookie DaJaun Blair is being asked to do too-much as well. San Antonio would have been wise to add an athletic front-line player who can match-up with big-men like Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki and Stoudemire. Tyrus Thomas looked like a great option for that role.

Boston Celtics

Like the Spurs, Boston is old and does not have a lot of depth. They added Nate Robinson to try and get a spark off the bench but he is the kind of scorer who needs a lot of shots to get his points. Defense is also optional for Robinson so it's hard to imagine him fitting in too well on this roster. Maybe the Celtics should have taken a run at Kevin Martin by offering Ray Allen and his $19.7M expiring contract. The #2 spot in the East is still up for grabs and it's surprising to see Boston not try to make a run at it. I just don't think this current roster, given their age and injury concerns, can compete for another three months. 

The Breakfast Blend...the best part of waking up

By WAM

THE OLYMPICS, ANTAWN JAMISON, NBA TRADE CHATTER & TIGER WOODS

Here's my take on this morning's headlines:

• After a few days of solid yet unspectacular Olympic performances, Wednesday night was the first chance for the Americans to really show off the goods with their four biggest "stars" competing. And while Apolo Anton Ohno set himself up for another medal in qualifying last night, Lindsey Vonn, Shani Davis and Shaun White were all competing for gold - and did they ever deliver. All three took home gold medals in spectacular fashion in what may be the night we most remember about the 2010 Olympic games. Vonn proved her injured shin will not hamper her Olympic performance in her first event, women's downhill alpine skiing. Davis became the first man to win back-to-back gold medals in the 1000 meter speed skating event and is quickly changing the face of the winter Olympics. The night was capped-off with White winning his second straight gold medal in the men's half-pipe. Superlatives do not do justice to White's performance and overall dominance in his sport. He secured gold with his first run and used his victory lap to break out the much talked-about McTwist trick and up his score to a near flawless 48.4 score. It was a great night for the Americans and tonight can be just as great. Ohno will attempt to break the winter Olympics medal record and figure skater Evan Lysacek will try to become the first American man to win gold since 1988.


• The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Antawn Jamison from the Washington Wizards in a three-team deal that solidifies their place as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. It's fair to say that for the first time in his career, LeBron James has a legitimate second-option to play with as Jamison, although he is 33, is still playing at a very high level, averaging 20.5 points and 8.8 rebounds this season. On the surface, this move may be the one that keeps LeBron in Cleveland for years to come. But is this really the case? The Cavaliers have been so focused on winning a championship that they have refused to get a young player or two who James can grow with over the course of his career and yesterday's move was no different. Sure, Amare Stoudemire has his deficiencies, particularly on defense, but he is only 27 and may be the better long-term option. If James resigns with the Cavaliers, he will have another two years with Jamison where he could have had five or even six years with Stoudemire. Time will tell if this was the right move but it is probably will be for the 2009-2010 season.


• With more trades coming before today's 3ET deadline, we will certainly see some more head-scratcher's from teams looking to dump salary. Look at what Washington got in return for Jamison: Zydrunas Ilgauskas (whom they will release), the rights to Emir Preldzic, Al Thornton (from the Clippers) and Cleveland's first-round pick (which will probably be somewhere between 26-30). Basically, the Wizards got nothing and this is becoming the norm in today's NBA. There used to be a time where "sellers" would at least get a good, young player and a prospect at the trade deadline but those days are long gone. Now teams are dumping legitimate stars for nothing but cap-relief and this could set-up a dangerous talent differential between the haves and the have-nots for years to come.


• Tiger Woods is finally ready to talk and tomorrow's press conference cannot come soon enough for the world of sports journalists. Of course, Woods will not take questions - he is simply preparing for his return before this years' Masters. He has followed the book on how to suppress a scandal perfectly: admit your wrongdoing, stay out of the public eye for a few months, make a statement, have a one-on-one with a big-time reporter (still to come) and then return to action. Tomorrow should be very interesting but the real story will come when Woods returns to the course sometime in late March or early April.

NFL - Biggest Offseason Questions, Fantasy Outlook & Playoff Predictions

By WAM

NFL 2010 - BIGGEST OFFSEASON QUESTIONS, FANTASY OUTLOOK & PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

After taking an early look at every team in the league, it is time to rundown the 10 biggest questions of the NFL offseason, take a look at the fantasy outlook and make a few bold, premature playoff predictions. Obviously a lot will change from now until the start of the season and the questions below will dictate a lot of the movement.

10 Biggest Offseason Questions

(10) Who's my quarterback?

By my count, there are eight teams that are or may be looking for a quarterback. Arizona (Matt Leinart), San Francisco (Alex Smith), Cleveland (Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson) and Carolina (Jake Delhomme or Matt Moore) have quarterbacks on their rosters with starting experience but may entertain the idea of bringing in someone else. St. Louis and Oakland could decide to stay with someone in-house as well but both desperately need an upgrade. Buffalo and Washington are almost guaranteed to have new signal-callers. If Washington lets Jason Campbell go, he will be an attractive option to one of the other seven teams mentioned.

(9) Will Ed Reed retire?

Reed has been the best safety in the NFL over the last ten seasons but injuries are really starting to catch up to him. Following the Ravens defeat by the Colts in the AFC Divisional Round, Reed said retirement is an option and he has still not made a decision. The Ravens certainly hope Reed decides to come back and play, as do most NFL fans. I think he will play again but you never know.

(8) Can the Patriots "reload" and make another Super Bowl run?

I call it reloading but in all fairness the Patriots are pretty stacked with talent. The thought of them having five draft picks in the first three rounds has to be scary to the rest of the league. If New England drafts well (or uses some picks to add a premier player), they could easily become the league's best team once again. Tom Brady is 32-years-old so the time to make a move is now.

(7) What will happen with Reggie Bush?

Bush is owed a whopping $8 million next season and $11.8 million in 2011. That is a lot of money for a non-featured running back who catches some passes and is a solid punt returner. Add in the fact that starting running back Pierre Thomas needs a new contract and the Saints have to do something about Bush's cap number. They will probably ask him to restructure his contract to be more incentive laden but, if Bush denies their request, the Saints may be forced to trade him.

(6) What can Lovie Smith do to keep his job in Chicago?

The simple answer is win but that is not going to be easy given the Bears' lack of talent, numerous expensive contracts and lack of draft picks. Both Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo know they have to make the playoffs if they want to keep their jobs so they will put in extra hours this offseason to better the team. Smith started the process with the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike Martz, a good move for his short-term future.

(5) What will San Diego do with two of their former stars?

Both Ladainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman have been vital figures in the Chargers organization for the better part of the decade but both are well past their primes. Merriman will be easily replaced with 2009 first-round pick Larry English; replacing Tomlinson may not be so easy. Tomlinson was the best running back this decade but his days in San Diego appear to be over. Aside from replacing his declining production, it will be hard to replace his popularity in the clubhouse and amongst fans.

(4) Where will Brandon Marshall be playing next season?

Marshall's talent is undeniable, as evidenced by his 21 catch, 200 yard game in Week 14 at Indianapolis. But Marshall is a nightmare off-the-field and has butted heads with coach Josh McDaniels from day one and the Broncos are now forced to move him. There will be a number of suitors for the 25-year-old star wide receiver and whichever team lands Marshall is getting a great player, on the field.

(3) What will happen with Julius Peppers?

Peppers is the kind of pass-rusher every team in the league wants and Carolina cannot afford to pay him - using the franchise tag would result in a cap hit of approximately $21.8 million. If they do not sign him by March 5th, Peppers will become the most sought after unrestricted free agent in the league. Teams like New England, Chicago, Atlanta and Tennessee will be competing for his services.

(2) Will Donovan McNabb be traded?

Eagles fans have grown tired of the McNabb-Andy Reid combination but has the organization? McNabb is still playing at a very high level but Philadelphia likes the idea of Kevin Kolb becoming their starting quarterback. The market for McNabb would be huge, particularly if Brett Favre retires, and the Eagles could get an offer that is too good to refuse. If Favre returns, expect Arizona, Carolina, San Francisco and Buffalo all to make runs at McNabb.

(1) Will Brett Favre retire?

Of course, once again, Brett Favre is the main story of the NFL offseason. This time, however, it is for good reason. If Favre walks, Minnesota is not a Super Bowl team unless they trade for McNabb. If Favre returns, the Vikings might be the favorites to win the NFC. After the way last season ended (and how well he played in 2009), it is hard to imagine Favre retiring for good. 2010 will be the last time Favre chases that elusive second Lombardi Trophy.

Fantasy Forecast (an early look at the top-five at each position and one sleeper pick)

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Carson Palmer (sleeper)

Running Back: Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, Ray Rice, Felix Jones (sleeper)

Wide Receiver: Andre Johnson, Miles Austin, Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Vincent Jackson, Devin Aromashodu/Kenny Britt (sleepers)

Tight End: Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, Jermichael Finley, Dustin Keller (sleeper)

Defense: Jets, Packers, Cowboys, Steelers, Vikings, Titans (sleeper)

Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski, Mason Crosby, Nate Kaeding, Ryan Longwell, Rob Bironas, David Buehler (sleeper)

Playoff Predictions

AFC

     1. Indianapolis Colts

     2. New England Patriots

     3. San Diego Chargers

     4. Pittsburgh Steelers

     5. Tennessee Titans

     6. New York Jets

First Round: Chargers over Jets, Titans over Steelers

Second Round: Patriots over Chargers, Colts over Titans

Third Round: Patriots over Colts

NFC

     1. Minnesota Vikings

     2. Dallas Cowboys

     3. New Orleans Saints

     4. San Francisco 49ers

     5. New York Giants

     6. Green Bay Packers

First Round: Saints over Packers, Giants over 49ers

Second Round: Cowboys over Saints, Vikings over Giants

Third Round: Cowboys over Vikings

Super Bowl: Cowboys over Patriots

NFL - AFC East & NFC North 2010 Preview

By WAM

AFC EAST & NFC NORTH 2010 PREVIEW

In part four of our five-part preview on the 2010 NFL season, we will look at the AFC East & NFC North divisions. Click here for part one (NFC South & AFC West), here for part two (AFC South & NFC West) and here for part three (AFC North & NFC East). Do not forget to vote either!

AFC East (Teams will play AFC North & NFC North divisions)

New England Patriots

• 2009 Review: The Patriots were among the league favorites to win the Super Bowl last season but sluggishly played their way to a 10-6 record and a first-round playoff loss. Statistically, the Patriots were in the NFL's top-10 in yards and points, both on offense and defense. New England lacked the "it" factor this season, failing to make crucial plays when they had to, on both sides of the ball.
• 2009 MVP: Tie between quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Wes Welker
• Offseason Questions: The injury to Welker in a meaningless Week 17 game is a tough loss as the league's leading pass-catcher will spend the offseason rehabbing instead of training. Welker may not be ready to play when the season starts. Also, can coach Bill Belichick, a renowned defensive guru, get his defense back to playing at an elite level?
• Biggest Free Agents: Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, running back Kevin Faulk, guard Logan Mankins, defensive end Jarvis Green, linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, corner Leigh Bodden.
• 2010 Upgrades: It's hard to believe that the Team of the Decade had just two 1,000 yard rushers. But the running back position has not been a strength in New England since Corey Dillon in 2004 and the team has been hurt by this lack of talent the last three seasons. The Patriots have to address it this offseason. New England also has to re-tool the defense and add some young talent to the core they already have.
• Draft: New England has five picks in the first three rounds so the options are numerous. With the 22nd overall pick, Belichick will certainly take a defensive player, probably a linebacker. The three second-round picks give New England lots of options but drafting a running back is high on that list. Do not forget that the Patriots own the Raiders 2011 first-round pick, which should be a top-8 selection. Can they use these draft picks to pry away DeAngelo Williams from Carolina?
• 2010 Breakout Player: Cornerback Darius Butler had a fine rookie season and, under Belichick's tutelage, should make a big jump in year two as the Patriots look for an injection of youth on defense.
• Schedule: It's become the norm for the Patriots to play a first-place schedule and 2010 will be no different. For the first time in seemingly forever, the Colts will play at New England, as will the Packers, Vikings, Ravens and Bengals. The Patriots will play at Chicago, Pittsburgh and San Diego.

New York Jets

• 2009 Review: The Jets looked dead in late November but reeled-off five victories in their final six games to make the playoffs and then used that momentum to make a run to the AFC Championship game. Not a bad season for rookie head coach Rex Ryan and his team, led by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. Ryan proved to be a terrific motivator and Sanchez really shined in the playoffs. The future is very bright for the Jets.
• 2009 MVP: Cornerback Darrelle Revis
• Offseason Questions: Can the Jets build on their unexpected success? Is Braylon Edwards in the teams' long-term plans? What about Leon Washington? How much will Sanchez grow in year two?
• Biggest Free Agents: Edwards, Washington, fullback Tony Richardson, defensive end Marques Douglas.
• 2010 Upgrades: The Jets really have a good, young roster and there are only two areas that they need to address. Finding a wide receiver is objective #1 as it appears the Jets do not feel Edwards can be that guy. They also need to find another corner to pair with Revis, the NFL's best cover-man. After that, any other additions are bonuses.
• Draft: Last year the Jets traded up for Mark Sanchez and then traded every day-two pick for the first selection in round three to select running back Shonn Greene. Both contributed immediately and look like cornerstones of the future. With the 29th pick, the Jets will have to take a wide receiver, even if they decide to keep Edwards.
• 2010 Breakout Player: Greene is the obvious choice. Thomas Jones has been great for the Jets but is 31 and you have to think he will slow down at some point soon. Greene showed tremendous talent late in the season and particularly in the playoffs so, if he gets the carries, he should explode in the Jets run-heavy offense.
• Schedule: Like the Patriots, the Jets get the two best inter-conference teams (Green Bay and Minnesota) at home while playing Chicago and Detroit on the road. They also play Pittsburgh at home and Baltimore and Houston on the road.

Miami Dolphins

• 2009 Review: After a surprising 11-5 2008 season following a 1-15 campaign, the Dolphins struggled to regain that magic last season as injuries and a difficult schedule doomed Miami to a 7-9 record. They had a chance to reach the playoffs but lost their final three games.
• 2009 MVP: Running back Ricky Williams
• Offseason Questions: After Chad Pennington went down with a season-ending injury, second-year quarterback Chad Henne stepped into the starting role and played well enough to prove he is the quarterback of the future. How much he develops in year three is a major story. The Dolphins also have to address a major lack of talent in their front-seven.
• Biggest Free Agents: Running back Ronnie Brown (only if a CBA deal is reached), linebacker Joey Porter, tight end Anthony Fasano, defensive tackle Jason Ferguson, defensive end Jason Taylor.
• 2010 Upgrades: Ferguson is the point-man in the 3-4 system but he is 35 so the Dolphins need to find a replacement up-front. The linebacking core really needs some help as well. And it appears that Ted Ginn Jr. will never develop into a top-receiver so Miami will be in the market for one.
• Draft: It's never a bad thing when Bill Parcells is the guy calling the shots in your draft room. Inside linebacker Rolando McClain will likely be available at 12 and the Dolphins would be wise to take him.
• 2010 Breakout Player: Henne really impressed me last season and he has all the tools to become a great quarterback. He needs some help on the outside but should make solid improvement in 2010. Keep an eye on former Canadian Football League star Cameron Wake. As the season went on, Wake started to make an impact and, with Porter's departure imminent, Wake could be a double-digit sack guy.
• Schedule: The Dolphins had the toughest schedule in the league in 2009 so 2010 will be much more kind. Home games against Minnesota, Green Bay and Baltimore will tough, as will road games at Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Chicago.

Buffalo Bills

• 2009 Review: The Bills completed the decade without a single playoff appearance as the "rebuilding" process continues. Buffalo has hired Chan Gailey to turn the franchise around and his focus has to be finding a franchise quarterback.
• 2009 MVP: Running back Fred Jackson
• Offseason Questions: The quarterback situation is obviously a big issue in Buffalo and has been for years. The Bills also have a difficult decision to make at running back. Marshawn Lynch looked like a franchise back early in his career but has struggled with off-the-field issues. Jackson has stepped up in his absence and been a surprise star. Will the Bills go with both Lynch and Jackson or try to move Lynch?
• Biggest Free Agents: Wide receiver Lee Evans, wide receiver Terrell Owens, cornerback Ashton Youboty.
• 2010 Upgrades: Outside of quarterback, the Bills offensive line was a disaster in 2009, at times starting four rookies. The defense was not much better, ranking 19th in the league despite having the second best pass defense. In general, this roster needs a lot of work.
• Draft: Buffalo has to get a quarterback and it is widely assumed they will select Jimmy Clausen with the ninth pick. Clausen played in a pro-style offense and looks like a great prospect so he should offer a great starting point for the Bills' renewal. 
• 2010 Breakout Player: He does not qualify as a "breakout" player but Lee Evans is certainly a candidate for a bounce-back season. Evans continues to be one of the best kept secrets in the NFL and with the addition of Clausen, plus the departure of Owens, Evans should reclaim his spot as the Bills #1 receiver and top 1,000 yards for the third time in his career.
• Schedule: Road match-ups with Baltimore, Cincinnati, Green Bay and Minnesota spell disaster for Buffalo. They may get their franchise quarterback this year but reaching four wins may be a stretch for the Bills in 2010.

Conference Outlook: Patriots (12-4, first-round bye contention), Jets (10-6), Dolphins (8-8), Bills (3-13)

NFC North (Teams will play AFC East & NFC East divisions)

Minnesota Vikings

• 2009 Review: Fresh off a division title in 2008, the Vikings were favorites to repeat in 2009 despite their lack of a quarterback. Then Brett Favre came out of retirement and the rest is history. Before the Saints Super Bowl win, a strong case could be made for Minnesota as the NFC's best team.
• 2009 MVP: Favre
• Offseason Questions: Obviously the whole league will be following the Favre situation. If he returns, Minnesota is a Super Bowl contender. If he does not, Minnesota will battle for a wildcard spot. Outside of Favre, can Adrian Peterson learn how to hang onto the football? Do the Vikings need some help at safety? What can they do to improve their kick-coverage unit?
• Biggest Free Agents: Running back Chester Taylor, defensive end Ray Edwards, corner Benny Sapp.
• 2010 Upgrades: If Favre does not return, the quarterback position will be huge. With Taylor likely departing, the Vikings will need to find a solid backup for Peterson. They may want to add a guard along the offensive line. Perhaps the Vikings will bring in a veteran linebacker to push Ben Leber for the starting strong-side spot. Antoine Winfield broke down last year so the Vikings will either resign Sapp or add another corner.
• Draft: The Vikings are in a position to draft to famous best-available player. Whether it is a corner, safety or defensive lineman, the 30th pick will likely be a defensive player.
• 2010 Breakout Player: Cedric Griffin is quietly becoming one the best cornerbacks in the NFC and, with Winfield starting to look old, may take over the top-spot in the Vikings secondary. Griffin is a big, physical guy who excels against the run but will make more plays in the passing-game in 2010.
• Schedule: The road back to a first-round bye will be difficult for Minnesota, with road games at New Orleans, New England, the Jets and Philadelphia. The home schedule is a bit easier but still features Dallas, the Giants and Arizona.

Green Bay Packers

• 2009 Review: After a sub-par 2008 season with a disappointing defense, the Packers switched to a 3-4 alignment and were one of the two best defense's in the NFL in 2009. Aaron Rodgers continues to develop and is now in the conversation with the top-five quarterbacks in the league. Green Bay was the youngest team in the NFL for the third time in four years and the future for the Packers may be brighter than any other team.
• 2009 MVP: Tie, Rodgers and cornerback Charles Woodson
• Offseason Questions: How much will rookies Clay Matthews and BJ Raji improve in year two? Can 35-year-old receiver Donald Driver continue to put up 1,000 yard seasons? Was the defense exposed in the playoffs or was Kurt Warner simply on-fire? What will they do with Aaron Kampman?
• Biggest Free Agents: Kampman, defensive lineman Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett, corner Will Blackmon, safeties Atari Bigby and Nick Collins
• 2010 Upgrades: The only real weak-spot on this team is the offensive line. Rodgers was sacked a league-leading 51 times last year and it's incredible he played as well as he did given his blocking group. Expect the Packers to add multiple offensive lineman, upwards of five.
• Draft: Not to be a broken-record but this draft is full of defensive lineman and offensive lineman. With the 23rd pick, Green Bay will take an offensive lineman unless someone falls to them that is too good pass up. Remember, that's how Rodgers became their quarterback.
• 2010 Breakout Player: I'd love to say Jermichael Finley but I think 2009 was his breakout year. Finley can be a top-eight tight end next year. With either Jolly or Pickett likely to leave, Raji stands to get ample playing time and the former first-round pick should make a huge impact.
• Schedule: The Packers play Philadelphia, Atlanta, New England and the Jets on the road and Dallas, San Francisco and the Giants at home. The schedule sets up nicely for Green Bay to earn a playoff birth.

Chicago Bears

• 2009 Review: Outside of maybe Pittsburgh, it's hard to find a more disappointing team in 2009 than the Bears. After trading for Jay Cutler, the Bears were excited to finally have a franchise quarterback but those feelings quickly vanished. Cutler struggled, leading the league in interceptions, but, more importantly, the once dominating defense was a disaster at every level.
• 2009 MVP: Linebacker Lance Briggs
• Offseason Questions: Lovie Smith tops the list of coaches on the hot seat so he has to figure out a way to win 10 games and make playoffs. Will new offensive coordinator Mike Martz work well with Jay Cutler? Can Matt Forte rebound from a bad sophomore season? What about the offensive line? And on defense, who can rush the passer or make plays in the secondary? Can Tommie Harris return to his pro-bowl form? That's a lot of questions for a team without a first or second round draft pick.
• Biggest Free Agents: Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, linebackers Nick Roach and Jamar Williams, safety Daniel Manning.
• 2010 Upgrades: The receiver position has been an issue in Chicago for many years but it will have to wait once again - this roster has too many other holes. Specifically, the offensive line needs a player or two, the secondary needs a play-maker (safety) and the defensive line needs pass-rushers. In order of importance, it goes pass-rusher, offensive line, safety.
• Draft: No first or second round pick in one of the deepest drafts in recent memory is not a good way to save your job. The Bears will either have to do an incredible job late in the draft or will have to find a trade to get back into the second round. 
• 2010 Breakout Player: For all the talk about a lack of receivers, the group actually did a fairly nice job thanks to the emergence of Earl Bennett and fifth-round draft pick Johnny Knox. Cutler's favorite target in training camp was Devin Aromashodu but he was hurt for most of the season. Aromashodu finally got some playing time in the final weeks and responded with 22 catches for 286 yards and four touchdowns. A full year for Aromashodu could mean big numbers.
• Schedule: The Bears get the tougher AFC opponents (New England and the Jets) at home coupled with road games at Dallas, Miami, the Giants and Carolina. The bottom line is Lovie Smith better find 10 wins in the group.

Detroit Lions

• 2009 Review: Don't let the 2-14 record fool you - 2009 was a big step in the right direction for the lowly Lions. Most importantly, it appears they may have finally figured out the quarterback position with Matthew Stafford. Now the challenge is building the rest of the team.
• 2009 MVP: Wide receiver Calvin Johnson
• Offseason Questions: Head coach Jim Schwartz proved he may be the right man for the job and 2010 has to be another good offseason. Detroit must find a way to protect Stafford so his second season is not injury-riddled like 2009 was. Who is the leader of the defense?
• Biggest Free Agents: Defensive end Jason Hunter, corners Anthony Henry and William James.
• 2010 Upgrades: For a team that has been rebuilding for a long time, it's hard to believe the Lions had the oldest defense in the NFL last season. While finding some offensive lineman is crucial, the defense really needs a face-lift.
• Draft: Detroit will get one of the top-two defensive players with the second pick. Whether that player is Gerald McCoy or Ndamukong Suh, the Lions will happily welcome either disruptive tackle.
• 2010 Breakout Player: Tight end Brandon Pettigrew looks like a good bet and someone on the defense will emerge. 2009 third-round pick DeAndre Levy was third on the team in tackles and looks like a steal. Levy could be the face of the new Lions defense.
• Schedule: Look, Detroit is going to be underdogs in virtually every game and it does not help that they have to play New England, the Jets, Dallas, Philadelphia, the Giants, Miami and Minnesota and Green Bay twice. It's safe to say Detroit will be selecting in the top-five again next year but they are moving in the right direction.

Conference Outlook (with Favre): Vikings (13-3, first-round bye), Packers (10-6, wildcard contention), Bears (5-11), Lions (3-13)

Conference Outlook (without Favre): Packers (11-5, division winner), Vikings (9-7), Bears (6-10), Lions (3-13)