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College World Series 2013: Pitchers Who Have Completely Disappointed

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:03 -0400

The 2013 College World Series has presented numerous players with the opportunity of a lifetime to shine and create their legacy. Unfortunately, not all players are stepping up in the face of adversity and playing at the level expected of them.

Some pitchers have disappointed during the 2013 College World Series.

Certain players entered the event with the hype of being one of the top pitchers in all of college baseball. Others came into this event with lesser expectations, but still failed to produce at the level expected of them.

One way or another, these pitchers have disappointed in a major way.

Blake McFadden, Kansas State Wildcats

Freshman pitcher Blake McFadden started 13 games, going 6-3 and helping the Wildcats win the 2013 Big 12 title. During the College World Series, however, McFadden had a collapse that we hope translates into motivation.

It certainly won't offer up reason for encouragement.

With the opportunity to help his team advance, McFadden recorded just two outs before being pulled from the game. In that time, he allowed four hits and faced six batters, which tells you that he had trouble.

Four runs of trouble.

The Wildcats went on to lose that game by a count of 12-4, ending what was easily McFadden's worst career start. Unfortunately, Kansas State also lost the next game and was thus eliminated from the College World Series.

McFadden has a bright future, but this was not his brightest day.

North Carolina Tar Heels

We could single out one pitcher, but that truly wouldn't be fair at this point. Not only has virtually the entire North Carolina Tar Heels pitching staff been unlike themselves, but they've failed to show up in numerous games.

For evidence, note that over the past five games, the Tar Heels are allowing an average of 7.2 runs per contest.

Their hitters may have struggled in their losses, but that doesn't excuse the pitching staff from failing to show up. In fact, if there's one area that North Carolina can look to when it comes to their lack of success, it would be their pitching staff.

To call that a stunning turn of events would be a drastic understatement.

UNC was the No. 1 team in the nation, and a primary reason for their success was their ability to out-pitch the opposition. They're 18th in team ERA and 26th in fielding percentage, which is a prominent factor in their being the favorites for the World Series crown.

Thus far, they've been worse than a shell of themselves.

Scott Sitz, Florida State Seminoles

Scott Sitz is one of the top pitchers in the nation, and truthfully, the Florida State Seminoles wouldn't have made it as far as they did without him. He finished the year at 10-2 in 16 appearances with an ERA of 2.09.

Unfortunately, Sitz was at his worst when the Seminoles needed him to dominate.

Facing elimination, Sitz took the mound against a powerful Indiana Hoosiers team. While many expected Indiana to break through offensively, no one expected them to dominate one of the best pitchers in the country.

They did.

Sitz went 4.1 innings, striking out five batters and allowing just one walk. Unfortunately, Sitz also allowed six hits, seven runs and six earned runs en route to an 11-6 loss, and thus, Florida State's elimination.

A disappointing ending to an extraordinary individual season.

NBA Draft 2013: Breaking Down Biggest Bust Candidates in This Year's Class

Mike Chiari — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Every draft inevitably contains some players who simply don't live up to the hype, and the 2013 NBA draft will be no different. Identifying those players certainly isn't easy, though, and that is why NBA talent evaluators make the big bucks.

With that said, there is no question that some prospects are entering the league with more question marks and red flags than others. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are doomed to fail, but they have a lot of seasoning to do before they're ready to contribute at the next level.

Here are three highly-touted prospects likely to be taken early that also carry a huge amount of risk with them.

Alex Len

Despite the fact that he only played two seasons at Maryland with varying degrees of success, center Alex Len has shot up draft boards as of late. He has been viewed as a top-five pick throughout this process, but suddenly there a whispers regarding the Cleveland Cavaliers potentially taking a chance on him with the No. 1 overall selection, according to Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune:

It remains to be seen if the Cavs will actually pull the trigger on that pick, but there is no doubt that Len is now among the perceived elite prospects in this draft. His potential is undeniable, as he is 7'1" and has shown flashes on both ends of the floor. ESPN NBA analyst Jay Williams even believes that he has what it takes to be better than Kentucky center Nerlens Noel in the NBA:

With all of the support that Len has been receiving from guys like Williams in recent weeks, perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise to see him in this position. Len averaged just under 12 points and eight rebounds per game for the Terrapins last season, though, so he has a lot to prove. Len simply doesn't seem like a guy capable of stepping in and dominating from day one, so the Cavs may have a project on their hands. Generally speaking, No. 1 overall picks should be sure things rather than projects.

Ben McLemore

Another prospect who is possibly still in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick is Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore. He has all the tools that scouts look for in an NBA shooting guard and he was a key player for the Jayhawks as a freshman last season. Even so, taking McLemore early in the first round seems like a very risky proposition.

McLemore averaged 16 points and five rebounds per game while shooting close to 50 percent from the floor and 42 percent from three-point land in his only season at Kansas. Once the games got important in the NCAA tournament, however, he came up small. He scored just 13 points total against Western Kentucky and North Carolina before rebounding to some degree against Michigan. Now there are questions about his work ethic as well, according to Chad Ford of ESPN:

His lack of preparation for the draft is hurting him. Multiple sources told me that his workout in Phoenix was not impressive. McLemore, according to sources, wasn't in shape and struggled to keep up in the workout. I heard similar things in Orlando.

Players have bounced back from poor reputations before, but this is the most important time of McLemore's life, so he should be putting forth the best effort possible. McLemore just doesn't seem to rise to the occasion when he needs to, so teams should proceed with caution.

Shabazz Muhammad

Most observers figured that UCLA small forward Shabazz Muhammad would be a top-five selection in this year's draft heading into the 2012-13 season, but he was hit-and-miss throughout the year and his stock has tumbled. Muhammad is still a surefire first-rounder who is unlikely to fall past the middle of the round; however, that is a far cry from what most expected for him.

Muhammad's numbers were solid, as he averaged a shade under 18 points and five rebounds per contest last season, but he struggled with team play throughout the year and he won't have as much success in isolation at the NBA level. Now that international prospect Dario Saric has withdrawn from the draft, though, Ford believes that Muhammad will benefit.

Saric's withdrawal may help Muhammad's bank account, as he could move back up draft boards a bit, but that doesn't make him a better player. Perhaps Muhammad can succeed in the right situation if he is surrounded by veterans who will keep him in check, but he could be poisonous to a young team if he plays a "me first" game. Teams without much of a veteran presence should probably steer clear of Muhammad.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Why JaMarcus Russell's Comeback Attempt Should Already Be Considered a Success

Andrew Garda — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Vince Lombardi once said “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”

Everyone fails at some point. But the successful people pick themselves back up, dust off and get back to work. It’s not easy, and evidence indicates that if you’re a rich millionaire you could be convinced to just hang out and count your money instead.

JaMarcus Russell is trying to get back up off the ground and give football another shot. The fact that he’s making the effort itself makes this a success in many ways. That he’s had one tryout with the Chicago Bears with a second one potentially on the horizon with the Baltimore Ravens according to ESPN makes it even more so.

Many first-round busts have walked away from football and not looked back. Sometimes the NFL was equally interested in walking away from that player (goodbye, Ryan Leaf), but often the player in question took their enormous paycheck and headed home.

Russell isn’t doing that, or at least he isn’t anymore.

After having some financial issues a couple of years back, Russell has decided to give the NFL another shot if they’ll have him.

Russell has reportedly dropped 50 pounds, weighing in towards the end of May at 265 pounds, down from 315. That’s exactly what he weighed back in 2007 when he was taken first overall by the Oakland Raiders.

His arm strength hasn’t tapered off and he is working very hard, including logging time with former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia.

To the surprise of nobody who watched him in Oakland, Garcia told NFL.com that Russell’s biggest issue was focus.

"Physically, he didn't lose much as to where he was four years ago," said Garcia, the former NFL signal-caller, who added "it was more the mindset" that needed repairing.

"Mentally, was the state where we needed to get him back to thinking football, speaking football, knowing football, being a student of the game. I don't know if that's ever been part of his background, to be a student of the game. That's where he needs to get to. He needs to sleep, eat, drink football. It can't be anything else if he wants this bad enough."

Bleacher Report itself has chronicled some of Russell’s journey and has focused on his efforts to improve some of his mechanics, as well as overcome concerns about his weight and attitude.

The Bears have passed (as of now) on Russell and currently the tryout the 2007 No. 1 overall pick spoke of with the Ravens has not materialized. Of course, we haven’t hit training camp yet and once that happens, it could only take an injury or two before teams come calling in need of someone to back their quarterback up.

Russell’s strong arm and experience is bound to tempt someone to at least see what they can develop with him on the bench. Sure, that experience was a debacle at the time, but even that can be valuable to a team, especially for younger players who can learn how not to handle an NFL career.

Heck, in a league where some NFL teams reportedly offered soccer star David Beckham a tryout according to the Daily Mirror, how can Russell not get some play?

However, even if Russell doesn’t happen to find a new NFL home, this effort itself is a success.

If he ends up without an NFL job, but in shape and with a better mental attitude and work ethic, then it’s a worthwhile and successful venture.

The fact that he has come so far is really a success by itself.

Andrew Garda is the former NFC North lead writer and a current NFL analyst and video personality for Bleacher Report. He is also a member of the fantasy football staff at Footballguys and the NFL writer at CheeseheadTV.com. You can follow him at @andrew_garda on Twitter.

FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: Predictions for Epic Brazil vs. Italy Tilt

Steven Cook — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Somehow it feels as if the entire group stage of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup is coming down to the moment that Brazil and Italy take the pitch Saturday.

Two of the most successful nations in World Cup history will take center stage, with both squads still looking like sure bets to advance to the semifinals. This might not be the last time they play in this tournament after all.

But in a stacked Group A with Mexico still looming, there's no guarantee of either team advancing and that's what will make this tilt so special. It's not everything, but it matters.

Let's take a look at some predictions for the upcoming affair.

Neymar Will Continue His Early Domination

It took nearly no time for 21-year-old sensation Neymar to make his mark on Brazil's Confederations Cup opener against Japan, as he ripped in a beautiful, 25-foot volley in just the third minute of their 3-0 win.

I don't expect anything different this time around. Sure, the Italians boast a much more talented defense than Japan that will make things tougher for the Brazilians, but Neymar is on a mission to take over the world of international football and doesn't seem able to be stopped at this level.

The 21-year-old who just recently signed for Barcelona, and their huge following is sure to be closely watching his performances in Brazil.

Neymar makes one or two plays in each match that just make your jaw drop, and he's sure to continue that against Italy.

Mario Balotelli Will Score Again

If there's anything we've seen from Mario Balotelli in the last two summers, it's that he turns it on to another level when he suits up for Italy's national team.

He proved that last year in the Euro 2012, when his Italian side advanced all the way to the final, where they were ousted by Spain. Balotelli was the MVP of that squad, scoring goals with reckless abandon and taking over matches in clutch moments.

Once again, Balotelli showed us that he's still capable with a late match-winner over Mexico in the Confederations Cup opener.

Balotelli's strength and size in the box cannot be matched, even by Brazil's skilled defenders. They simply won't be sizable enough to contend with his prowess and he'll make them pay by notching a goal.

Brazil Will Continue Roll With Big Victory

Brazil's recent success goes much, much deeper than Neymar, and that's why they'll be able to get past Italy on Saturday.

It won't be a one-sided affair by any means, and there's no reason to believe that possession will be lopsided in any way. But Italy just didn't show enough offensively against Mexico.

Balotelli's goal was certainly worth admiration, and Andrea Pirlo's free kick was incredible. But when you can't count on other players to make big plays, things get awfully tough when you face a team that offers as much offensively as Brazil.

I still think that Italy will rebound from this loss and make a deep run to perhaps face Brazil again in the championship, but the Brazilians are far too hot right now to be contained. There's no way I can see Italy shutting down Neymar, Hulk and company.

Prediction: Brazil 3, Italy 1

Fabio Borini: How Brendan Rodgers Can Get The Best Out of Him Next Season

Mark Jones — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

For once this summer, a Liverpool forward was in the headlines and Reds fans didn’t have to wince when they picked up a newspaper or clicked on a website.

While Luis Suarez’s desire for a move away from Anfield continues to dominate column inches and web pages, Fabio Borini was able to provide a welcome distraction on Saturday evening.

Borini’s goal 11 minutes from the end of his Italy side’s European Under-21 Championships semi-final against the Netherlands was a timely reminder that, whilst Suarez stories may sell, there are still other characters worth mentioning at Liverpool.

The goal itself was a fine example of a striker’s art.

Taking a pass from Lorenzo Insigne, Borini’s excellent first touch took the ball away from defender Mike van der Hoorn yet still kept it expertly under control. He then produced the finish that the touch demanded. Four days later, he struck again in Italy's 4-2 defeat to a rampant Spain in the final.

Whilst delighted for their young forward, Reds fans also viewed the goals with an element of frustration, as it underlined just what they had been missing for the vast majority of their season.

Borini’s first campaign at Anfield may have started with a goal against FC Gomel in the Europa League and ended with a strike in the 6-0 win at Newcastle, but what went on in between those two strikes was the stuff of nightmares.

Three injuries decimated a season in which the likeable Italian was desperate to make an impact.

First came an ankle problem picked up against Manchester United last September, then, with that not fully healed, he broke a bone in his foot on Italian under-21 duty a month later, before returning only to dislocate his shoulder in a 5-0 win over his former club, Swansea City, in February.

His reaction to that most recent blow was to enjoy the comfort of some fast food on teammate Lucas Leiva’s advice, but he made a fast re-entry into the team in late April, when he climbed off the bench to score―and no doubt let out a few personal demons―in the hammering of Newcastle at St James’s Park.

That was the first match that the Reds played without Suarez following his ban for the Branislav Ivanovic biting incident, and with the club facing the prospect of playing all of their matches without the Uruguayan from now on should he leave, Borini will be eyeing a chance to stake his claim for a first-team berth.

He needs to stay fit for that to happen, of course, but when he is fit where does Brendan Rodgers play him?

The potential arrivals of the likes of Iago Aspas and Henrikh Mkhitaryan―not to mention the additions of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho in January―are sure to alter the way Liverpool attack next season, but it will also mean that there will be plenty of players who need covering.

At this stage of his Liverpool career, that is really all that the 22-year-old Borini can hope to be. Cover.

Capable of playing all across the front three positions, Borini can provide valuable cover in those areas whilst also offering more of a goal threat than the players seen in those positions in the season just gone―namely the likes of Stewart Downing, Raheem Sterling and Suso.

A season staying away from the treatment table and acting as a valuable squad member for the Reds should surely be welcomed by the Italian, who still feels like something of a new signing given his lack of playing time at the club so far.

He can change all that next season, though, and become a player who Rodgers and the Reds can rely upon to step in for others when needed throughout the campaign.

That is what he can offer, and after the season he’s just had, that is what he’d surely welcome.

Denver Broncos: Wes Welker a Piece of the Puzzle, Not the Key to Success

Jon Heath — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:01 -0400

When free-agent slot receiver Wes Welker signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Denver Broncos in March, there was much buzz about the receiver pairing up with quarterback Peyton Manning.

Welker is getting the chance to do something few have done, playing with both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning before hanging up his cleats. But while he will be a valued addition to Denver's offense, he is not the key to get them over the top, he is merely another piece of the puzzle.

As NFL.com has noted, Welker averaged 112 catches per season during his six years with the New England Patriots. But now in Denver, even Welker knows that is an unrealistic number to aim for in 2013.

"If I have to catch 112 balls, that probably means we're in trouble," Welker recently told the Denver Post's Mike Klis.

Welker made such a statement because he knows he will be joining Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker in Denver, the two players who have already established themselves as Manning's top targets.

Welker will be added to the mix, make no mistake, and he will likely fulfill his role to perfection, but some seem to have a misconception of what Welker's role is.

The Broncos used three-receiver sets on 64 percent of their snaps in 2012 (expect that number to increase this fall), continuing a trend that Manning set during his time with the Indianapolis Colts. Throughout his career, Manning has featured an X and Z receiver (think Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne) and one slot man (Brandon Stokley).

That will likely continue to be the case in 2013, with Thomas taking the place of Harrison, Decker the place of Wayne and Welker the place of Stokley. If that does end up being the case, Welker can expect to see his numbers drop this season.

Last season, Manning targeted Thomas 141 times, Decker 123 times and Stokley 58 times. The results were 94 catches for Thomas, 85 catches for Decker and 45 catches for Stokley.

Stokley ended the season with 544 yards and five touchdowns and while he had half the catches of Thomas and Decker, he was arguably more productive when given opportunities, catching over 77 percent of his targets (compared to Thomas' 66 percent and Decker's 69 percent).

What these target-to-catch ratios show is (a) Stokley was reliable and clutch and (b) he was not targeted often, but when he was, they were often high completion throws. Eight times out of 10 a slot receiver—at least a reliable one—will catch a slant route on 3rd-and-short. However, the percentage of a fade route being completed to deep threats (like Thomas) is lower, simply because it is a harder pass to complete.

So with Stokley being targeted the least of Denver’s top three receivers, it made sense for him to have the lowest catch count among them, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t being productive. Stokley was doing his job—perhaps better than any other receiver on the team, earning the best target-to-catch ratio.

In 2013, the story will likely be the same for Welker.

He may not have 100 catches (in fact, I’ll put money on it that he won’t), but as Manning’s slot receiver, he won’t have to. Welker is simply a younger (by four years) version of Stokley.

Welker was brought in to replace Stokley and to fill his role going forward, not to be Manning’s top receiver in 2013. The Broncos do not need Welker—they had the No. 5 passing offense in the NFL last season—he is simply an upgrade to the slot position.

The sooner fans figure that out, the better. Otherwise, some may be confused why Welker doesn’t emerge as the team’s top receiver in 2013.

If Welker doesn't lead the team in receptions in 2013, does that mean his signing was a bad move by Denver? No, it probably means Welker is doing his job, just like Stokley did.

Brazil vs. Mexico: Each Team's Blueprint to Achieve Victory

Tim Keeney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:01 -0400

Brazil and Mexico are entering Wednesday's key Confederations Cup meeting with complete opposite momentum.

In the first match of the tournament, the hosts completely dominated Japan, controlling 63 percent of the possession on their way to an enthralling 3-0 victory.

El Tri, meanwhile, came away from their opener with Italy with zero points. The squads were equal in goals for most of the match, but the Italians, who outclassed Mexico for much of the battle, got a deserved winner from Mario Balotelli in the 78th minute to make it 2-1.

With zero draws so far and just three matches for each squad in the group, the implications for Wednesday's match are already massive.

A win for Brazil, and it's through to the semis. A loss for Mexico, and it is all but eliminated.

Let's take a look at what each team must do to obtain the much-needed victory.

Mexico: Attack, Attack, Attack

El Tri need to take it to Brazil.

They tried to play the cautious, defend-and-counterattack approach against Italy but ended up controlling just 41 percent of the possession and failing to create enough opportunities in their own half.

With a strikeforce that features as much talent as Javier Hernandez and Giovani dos Santos, you can't afford to lay back and wait for something happen. You have to take it to the opponent.

Moreover, Mexico needs to display some grit and toughness moving forward.

Dos Santos' performance against Italy was a prime example of how that can be beneficial. He constantly fought for the ball, and it eventually led to Mexico's only goal, which came from the penalty spot:

If Mexico sits back, Brazil has the talent to capitalize. But if El Tri push forward, press the issue and attack the ball, they can force Brazil—a less-disciplined team compared to Italy—into some costly mistakes.

Urgency will be the key.

Brazil: Feed Neymar

There's little question that Neymar will be the most talented player on the pitch on Wednesday.

He once again proved that with this wonder strike against Japan:

Many question his work ethic and point toward his selfishness, but the new Barcelona forward is capable of doing some tantalizing things with the ball at his feet. Simply put, the more touches he gets, the more productive Brazil's attack.

Despite allowing two goals against Italy, Mexico has been strongest at the back recently. It has struggled to find a consistent attack but has still managed to produce draws because Jose de Jesus Corona has been world-class in goal, and the four in front of him have been stout.

If Brazil is going to break down that stingy defense, it will have to feed its best playmaker.

Follow @t_keen

Wimbledon 2013: Long-Shot Candidates Ready To Shock Field

Jesse Reed — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:00:01 -0400

From the red clay of Roland Garros to the green grass at Wimbledon, the world's best tennis players are preparing for the third Grand Slam event on the calendar in 2013. Play begins on Monday, June 24 and ends on Sunday, July 7 at the All England Club in London.

While the clay in France favored players like David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal, the hard surface at Wimbledon favors players who have huge serves and play with power. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer excel on grass, as do Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

There are some long-shot candidates who are capable of winning at Wimbledon, too. Though not as highly touted as the favorites, these players will give the field a run for its money.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Tsonga appears ready to finally take the next step and win a Grand Slam.

He reached the semifinals at Wimbledon the past two years, and he recently defeated Roger Federer in straight sets at Roland Garros in the quarterfinals.

A big, strong player (6'2" and 200 pounds) with a huge serve and a strong net game to boot, Tsonga has the necessary skills to succeed on the grass surface at Wimbledon.

In a tuneup for the upcoming Grand Slam event, Tsonga made it to the semifinals in London at the Aegon Championships only to lose in three sets to eventual champion Murray.

Still, Tsonga been playing well of late, and if he gets hot at the right time, he's as capable of winning the tournament as any player in the men's draw.

Venus Williams

Though she's not as young or spry as she used to be, it would be foolish to count out this five-time champion.

Williams hasn't been a dominant force on the WTA Tour for a few years. Diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome back in 2011, Williams struggles with fatigue—among other symptoms—and has gone through some rough patches on the court.

Despite her illness, Williams is still a force to be reckoned with on grass. Her attacking style of play is perfectly suited for the fast pace of play, and if her health cooperates, she'll be in contention in the latter rounds.

While her sister will certainly be the heavy favorite to win this tournament, the elder Williams sister could shock the world with some good luck, good health and fine play at Wimbledon this year.

Tomas Berdych

Though Berdych hasn't been playing as well as Tsonga of late, he's no less a threat to shock the field at Wimbledon this year.

Wildly inconsistent and impossible to predict, Berdych can go from brilliant to average in the blink of an eye. He recently lost to Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals of the Aegon Championships while getting ready for Wimbledon.

That said, Berdych is the only man outside the "Big Four" of Nadal, Federer, Murray and Djokovic to reach the men's final at Wimbledon in the last 10 years, as noted by Chris Skelton:

Blessed with a huge frame (6'5" and 200 pounds) that is a detriment to him on clay, Berdych's powerful serves and crushing forehand are perfectly suited to dominating on grass surfaces.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

United face Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool in five opening Premier League Games

Simon Edmonds — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:35:56 -0400

Manchester United have found themselves in a tricky position following the announcement of the Barclays 2013-14 Premier League fixture list, with the Red Devils having to make trips to Anfield and the Etihad, while playing host to Chelsea in the second game of the season.

The champions game against Liverpool comes on the third day of the campaign, with the trip to the blue half of Manchester being United's fifth game.

Things aren't exactly a walk in the park for United on the opening day either, with a very tricky away match at the current Capital One Cup champions, Swansea City, to contend with.

The only saving grace for David Moyes' men in this nightmare opening spree of matches is what should be a relatively straightforward three points at home to newly promoted Crystal Palace on day four.

This news comes as somewhat of a mixed bag for United supporters. While it does make the start to the season incredibly difficult for the team who are looking to win their 14th Premier League crown, it does also mean that some tricky fixtures are gotten out of the way early on.

One would have to assume that with so many challenging games coming at the very beginning of the year, there is going to be a patch later on when United are finding themselves with a string of "easy" games—if you can call any Premier League match easy.

Ideally the Red Devils will be looking to win both games against the "lesser" sides, and take at least four to six points from the other two games.

This would leave them with a respectable 10 to 12 points after five fixtures, ensuring that they would not be out of touch with the rest of the pack.

Looking far ahead to the end of the year, United have been drawn to play away at Southampton on the final day of the campaign.

The Saints were amazing at home last season, and we would have to expect the same again this year.

As such, this is another extremely challenging tie to face on what could be a crucial day of the year.

It's going to be a hellish start for the defending titleholders, but if you want to win the league you have to beat the best teams to do so, and United will have to do that once again to show everyone that they are the elite club in England.

Follow me on Twitter: @Eddie_Edmonds

Liverpool EPL Schedule 2013-14: 6 Early Games to Set the Tone for Reds' Season

Karl Matchett — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:33:34 -0400

The fixture lists for the new 2013-14 Premier League season were released on Wednesday, and fans across the globe were left scouring the dates for their rival clashes, derby matches and other key dates.

For Liverpool, they open on August 17 at home to Stoke City—just one of several important early games that could go some way to showing what kind of campaign the Reds might have.

This is the second season under Brendan Rodgers, the first time since 2010 that Liverpool will have started successive campaigns with the same boss in charge, and a top-four push will be the expectation on the manager and his team.

To do so, Liverpool will need a positive run early in the campaign, taking points from certain key clashes, as opposed to last season when they took six matches to pick up their first victory and only won two out of their first 11 games.

Here are six games within that same time frame that Liverpool need to look at obtaining positive results from to set the tone for their entire season and ensure they're not playing catch-up from the lower reaches of the table too early on.

Begin Slideshow

Seattle Mariners: Biggest Disappointments of 2013 So Far

Madison Guernsey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:03:23 -0400

Overall, the 2013 season has been a disappointment in the eyes of most Seattle Mariners fans. The roster was boosted with some veteran bats, and the crop of young talent was supposed to complement one of the best pitching staffs in baseball from a season ago.

But the pitching has been inconsistent and downright awful at times. The offense leaves way too many runners on base and rarely comes through in clutch situations.

At one point, this club was one game under .500 and looked like they had a shot at making a run. Then they went on a week-long losing streak and haven't put much of a run together ever since.

The Mariners are currently in third place in the AL West at 32-40, 10.5 games behind the Oakland Athletics for the division lead. They have one of the worst run differentials in baseball (-57), and relief pitchers are 5-12 with a 4.49 ERA.

With nearly the same bullpen from a season ago, the struggles don't make much sense. Yes, two of their top relievers in Josh Kinney and Stephen Pryor have spent nearly the entire season on the disabled list, but most relievers' numbers are down from last season.

Here are the most disappointing Mariners this season based on anticipated production.

All stats and information via ESPN.com, MLB.com, MiLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com.

Tom Wilhelmsen

Recently demoted closer Tom Wilhelmsen emerged as a confident, viable closer last season upon the departure of Brandon League. He got off to a great start this year, converting each of his first 11 save opportunities, giving up only one run in the process.

Then he blew his first save of the season against the Cleveland Indians. The resulting loss derailed his season and perhaps the Mariners' as well, beginning an eight-game losing streak. Wilhelmsen gave up five runs in the ninth to the Houston Astros and has since relinquished closing duties. With no other clear candidate for closer on the roster, hopefully Wilhelmsen can bounce back and at least save face the rest of the way.

Dustin Ackley

Prior to the season, Dustin Ackley's performance was highly anticipated after he failed to replicate the success he had during his rookie season. After accumulating a .205 batting average through 45 games, the former second overall pick was demoted to Triple-A Tacoma.

The demotion was a bit of a blessing in disguise, though, as it made room for highly touted prospect Nick Franklin to see his first big league action, and he's been impressive. Ackley is also tearing up the minors, hitting .383 with a 1.008 OPS. The demotion should give him confidence, and one would hope he'll bounce back once he returns to the majors.

Franklin Gutierrez

How unlucky is this guy? He got off to a blazing hot start, launching four home runs in 11 games. Then he attempted to do what he does best and make a Gold Glove play in center field and landed on the disabled list once again with a hamstring injury.

His injury problems are an unfortunate situation. At what point do the risks outweigh the rewards, forcing the Mariners to part ways with Gutierrez? His contract includes a team option following the end of this season, so it'll be interesting to see how Guti recovers and performs the rest of the way.

Michael Morse

Michael Morse was added over the offseason to provide a big bat in the middle of the lineup, and for the most part, he's done just that. But he's been bit by the injury bug several times this season, which has kept him out of the lineup too frequently, severely limiting his production.

After going deep six times in the season's first nine games, Morse got hurt and has been in and out of the trainer's office ever since. He has hit just five home runs in his last 45 games and is currently day to day with a sore quad. You can see the disappointment on his face. It's been that kind of year for the Mariners.

Michael Saunders

Outfielder Michael Saunders has never been a great hitter, but after last season, when he significantly raised his batting average and clubbed 19 homers and stole 21 bases, things were looking up. Saunders has taken a step backward this season, as he's hitting .206/.297/.320. He does have 10 steals, and he provides speed and a solid glove to replace Gutierrez in center field.

Saunders is 26, so there's plenty of time for him improve, but will Seattle wait around for him to do so?

There are other players who haven't lived up to expectations this season (Montero, Smoak, Harang, Ryan), and I encourage you to share your thoughts with me in the comments section and on Twitter.

Follow @GUERNS_M_D

Oakland A's: 3 Biggest Disappointments for Team so Far in 2013

Clarence Baldwin Jr — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:56:50 -0400

Through 73 games, there has been much more positive than negative to write about in regards to the Oakland A's. Currently, the club sits at 43-30, good for first in the American League West, three games ahead of the Texas Rangers.

And while the second-best record in the AL is very much a positive accomplishment, there have been some causes for concern. The A's have been a whole that has been greater than the sum of all the parts currently available.

The story of the first half of the 2013 season has been about surprise production from players such as Josh Donaldson, Bartolo Colon and Jed Lowrie. That has been the positive. The negative has been the lack of production from a trio of core players expected to help Oakland return to the postseason.

So here are those players, the three biggest disappointments for the team so far in 2013.

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Why Liverpool Should Sell Luis Suarez

Dusan Lucic — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:43:41 -0400

No player is bigger than the club.

The time has come for Liverpool Football Club to once again prove the old adage correct and grant the unsettled Luis Suarez his wish to leave Anfield.

Last year, Suarez scored 23 league goals as he guided a Liverpool side still in transition to seventh place in the Premier League and added seven more goals to his tally in cup competitions. However, the Reds ultimately failed to win a trophy or secure Champions League football, and the forward has openly spoken about his discontent since the season's end, such as in this interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais (via Daily Mirror).

Suarez is a world-class forward and is now in the prime years of his football career. Quite frankly, he deserves to be playing in the Champions League, which Liverpool clearly cannot offer at the moment.

Nevertheless, Suarez is slowly becoming a liability for the club. Due to his volatile personality and uncontrollable on-pitch behaviour, Suarez has received bans totaling 19 games since arriving in Merseyside without ever being sent off. No matter how good he really is, the list of his incidents grows uncomfortably long with each passing season, and the Reds cannot endanger their respectable club reputation by keeping Suarez for too long.

Simply put, one cannot possibly imagine the next stupid thing he's going to do.

Furthermore, Suarez might not be as vital to this Liverpool side as it seems.

Paul Tomkins of Tomkins Times states that Liverpool's win percentage is actually higher when the Uruguayan is absent compared to when he's playing (62 to 39). According to Opta, Liverpool would still have finished seventh in the Premier League had it not been for Suarez's goals last year.

7 - Without Luis Suarez's goals this season, Liverpool would still have finished seventh in the Premier League table. Depth.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 31, 2013

While it is true that statistics are not always reliable, they at least illustrate that the Reds will not be doomed without Suarez.

Another factor that should be considered is Suarez's truly remarkable wastefulness. Although he does score plenty of goals, he also squanders plenty of opportunities trying to do it all by himself. Suarez had more attempts on goal than any other player in the Premier League last year and more than double than the next Liverpool player on the list, which clearly means he can be rather selfish. One can only think of all the chances Suarez wasted when there was a teammate in a better position.

Finally, money talks.

According to various media sources, including this report from ESPN FC, Liverpool will be asking for at least £50 million from Suarez's potential suitors. With that outrageous amount of money at his disposal, Brendan Rodgers could sign two or three players and rebuild the starting XI.

Perhaps the time is right for Liverpool and Luis Suarez to part ways.

Brazil vs. Mexico: Confederations Cup Live Score, Highlights, Recap

Christopher Atkins — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:24:58 -0400

FIFA Confederations Cup, Group A, Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil

Brazil vs. Mexico (Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 3 p.m. ET)

Brazil secured an opening-day 3-0 victory over Japan to kick-start their Confederations Cup 2013 campaign but now move on to Brasilia where they will face a wounded Mexico side.

El Tri were stung late in their opening encounter by a Mario Balotelli goal that handed Italy a 2-1 win, leaving Mexico needing to take points off Brazil to have any chance of progression.

To do so, they will need to improve upon what was a fairly disappointing opening display. However, with arguably the toughest tie of the group already out of the way, they can now try to set the record straight.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, and we'll have full coverage here beginning 45 minutes before kickoff.

In the meantime, here are some related articles to prepare you for this exciting matchup:

Brazil vs. Mexico: 1-on-1 Matchups

Confederations Cup Power Rankings

Brazil World Cup 2014 protests grow

Underrated players to watch

8 Early Winners and Losers of the Arizona Cardinals Offseason

Andrew Nordmeier — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:17:31 -0400

The Arizona Cardinals have completed minicamp and entered the so-called dead zone of the NFL year. Minicamp and organized team activities (OTAs) are in the books, and training camp is about a month away.

That said, it's time to take a look at winners and losers to this point in the offseason. Things have changed greatly since this time last year with an upheaval in the coaching ranks and roster.

Start the slideshow below and see who's been winning and losing so far.

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Hidden Gems Golden State Warriors Can Nab in Late 2nd Round of 2013 NBA Draft

Andy Liu — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:07:37 -0400

Going into the Golden State Warriors' offseason, there are several tangible missing pieces but nothing that should prevent them from contending next season.

Those two aspects include: a guard that can handle while providing a scoring lift (think Jarrett Jack, who is an unrestricted free agent), and more length to compensate for David Lee's terrible defense, Andrew Bogut's injuries and Festus Ezeli's knee surgery.

Unfortunately, the Warriors won't have a draft pick after giving up their first-rounder in the Marcus Williams trade. They also lose their second-round pick to the Orlando Magic.

However, Warriors' management has expressed interest in buying into the second round.

The 2013 NBA Draft, criticized for its apparently talent-deprived, still boasts an impressive amount of talent at depth in the lower portion. There might not be stars but there are plenty of budding rotation players like Otto Porter, Gorgui Dieng, Cody Zeller, C.J. McCollum and Trey Burke.

Conversely, that also means any player slotted to go in the second round can also go undrafted so the players here might be players the Warriors should bring into camp.

Ray McCallum

Not to be mistaken for C.J. McCollum, who should be a lottery pick, McCallum is an excellent pass-first point guard that every Stephen Curry critic appears to love.

He shot a little over 47 percent in his last season at Detroit but most importantly, averaged 4.5 assists per game to just two turnovers.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN, he is an excellent ball-handler, dribbles with the ball quickly and is unselfish at the point of attack.

All that is nice jargon for a player that would ostensibly take over Jack's spot if he were to leave. Perhaps not a top-flight guard at his peak, McCallum should blossom into a great backup guard for Curry.

This pick would give more flexibility for a team that doesn't want to hamstring itself into the luxury tax with a large free-agent influx in 2014.

Nate Wolters

Compared to Steve Nash in college because of his ability to score, pass and his flowing hair, Wolters has good shooting ability, high basketball IQ and excellent passing ability.

All those are traits the Warriors love, high-intelligence players who show plenty of hustle and stay out of trouble off the court.

Wolters is a near-perfect bench guard in the way McCollum is but a much better shooter without the athleticism. Wolters is currently slated as a late first-round pick to second-round pick but if the Warriors like him, they'll decide buying into his draft slot is better than overpaying Jack.

DeWayne Dedmon

With Ezeli out, the Warriors are probably less inclined to go with the draft-and-stash technique the Spurs covet but take a player that's older but more polished in his game.

Like Ezeli, Dedmon started playing basketball at an old age, and has consequently been up and down in his play. However, he does look the part with his athletic finishes and defensive length.

Although he is about as raw as Ezeli is on offense, he did shoot a bit more from the outside so there is room for a bit of growth there. Most importantly, he averaged nearly four blocks in 40 minutes, pace adjusted, according to DraftExpress.

With Ezeli out and Carl Landry unlikely to opt it and re-sign, the Warriors aren't looking for an offensive center as much as defensive depth on the front line.

There are, of course, many other players the Warriors will do their due diligence on but the two needs at this moment are both backup players. That, in and of itself, speaks to the success Jerry West and Bob Myers has acquired in the short period they've been running the team.

10 Things for Arsenal Fans to Be Happy About Looking Ahead to Next Season

James McNicholas — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0400

2012-13 was a painful season for Arsenal fans.

Although they ultimately managed to edge ahead of neighbours Tottenham to finish in the top four, the Gunners also suffered morale-sapping defeats against the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Bradford City.

However, looking ahead to next season, Arsenal have renewed cause for optimism.

Go on to the next slide to see why Gunners fans should be excited ahead of next season.

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Can Santi Cazorla Become Arsenal's Team Leader?

James McNicholas — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Santi Cazorla may be a small man, but he is a huge influence on this Arsenal team.

The club's recent Player of the Season poll underlines just how important he has become to the Gunners. Cazorla won the vote at a canter, seeing off competition from the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Mikel Arteta.

His victory is understandable. Within a year of his arrival, Cazorla has become integral and irreplaceable.

Cazorla started an incredible 47 games for the Gunners this past season and appeared in every single Premier League match. According to Squawka, he played the full 90 minutes in 68.4 percent of Premier League games.

Arsenal would be lost without him.

Cazorla arrived at Arsenal a year later than planned. Knowing that he would lose Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, Arsene Wenger set out to find a player with similar levels of ingenuity. The Gunners were heavily linked with the playmaker, then at Villarreal, before he moved to Malaga. A season on, with Malaga swamped with financial problems, Wenger swooped and finally got his man.

Cazorla wasted no time settling in. In Arsenal's third Premier League fixture of 2012/13 at Anfield, he created their first goal of the season, weighting a deft pass into the path of Lukas Podolski. In the same match, he fired home from a seemingly impossible angle to open his own Arsenal account.

Tellingly, both contributions came from Cazorla's supposedly weaker left foot. The player had ably demonstrated the ambidextrous brilliance that was to typify his season.

In the first half of the season, Cazorla was deployed in an unfamiliar role as a central playmaker. He revelled in the freedom, immediately establishing himself at the heart of the Arsenal team. The Gunners danced to the beat of Cazorla's shuffling feet.

However, as Arsenal's season wore on and the stakes rose, Cazorla increasingly found himself confined to the left wing. Pragmatism superseded panache, and Arsene Wenger was forced to abandon some of his aesthetic principles.

Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere were used in the No. 10 role in Cazorla's stead. Both players are technically gifted, but neither has the silken touch or panoramic vision that Cazorla provides. Arsenal became more robust but also more rigid.

Cazorla didn't fade entirely. He still made several stunning contributions to Arsenal's season from the flank, including a haul of four assists in the match at home to Wigan. However, the team was no longer constructed around him.

Cazorla might not be the most vocal presence on the pitch, but he is capable of leading Arsenal by example. He's the most gifted player in the squad, and the respect he has from his teammates is second to none. He'll never be the captain, but he could well be the conductor.

If Arsene Wenger wishes to build the team around Cazorla, he must re-deploy the Spaniard in a central role.

Wenger may be reticent. It would mean changing the structure of the team, introducing a traditional winger on the left-hand side and possibly a more defensive midfielder to replace Aaron Ramsey. It also raises question marks over just how Jack Wilshere fits in this new-look XI.

Given Cazorla's extraordinary gifts, such a change may prove to be worthwhile. Playing Cazorla on the left was enough to help a functional Arsenal secure fourth. Surrounding him with better players and unleashing him through the middle may allow Arsenal to do far more than that.

Who Is the NFL's Best Young Franchise QB?

Michael Schottey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:18:33 -0400

It's impossible to win in the NFL without competent quarterback play.

That fact isn't up for debate anymore. The days of limping through the playoffs with a fantastic defense and Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson under center are long gone. Front offices are hired and fired based on the decisions they make with the quarterback position, and very few survive if they're unable to bring in a great young passer to potentially lead the franchise to greatness.

To that end, Bleacher Report set out to find the best young franchise quarterback in all of football. This list is based solely on season-long film study and specific criteria that was meant to isolate a quarterback's strengths and weaknesses apart from the help (or lack thereof) he received from his teammates or the offensive scheme.

The names on the list you know. The order may surprise you. Click ahead to find out who was picked as the NFL's best young franchise QB.

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How History Will Judge Tim Duncan's Legacy as Best Power Forward Ever

Josh Cohen — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:04:05 -0400

By any metric conceivable, history will remember Tim Duncan as the best power forward to play the game.

Still playing at an All-NBA level in his 17th season, Duncan's claim to greatness will only strengthen over time.

His myth already has a firm foundation in the peak of his powers, the sustained success and the beloved fundamental soundness of his game. Between his personal and team accomplishments, Timmy is untouchable in this discussion.

Karl Malone's two MVP awards, 11 first-team All-NBA appearances and 14 All-Star nods do put him in line with Duncan's two MVPs, 10 first-teams and 14 All-Stars; no other power forward can match that. However, Malone's Utah Jazz lack the championship pedigree Duncan's San Antonio Spurs have.

Duncan is one of only four players in NBA history to win three Finals MVP awards—Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal are the only others. That hardware is a testament to his leadership role on the Spurs' four championship teams; just once, in 2007, was Duncan not the driving force behind San Antonio's NBA title.

Between his post scoring, defensive leadership and savvy big-man passing, Duncan is the rare power forward who can also make his teammates better.

That was the key to the Spurs' championships in 1999, 2003 and 2005; by 2007, his presence in the paint was so imposing and attracted so much attention, Tony Parker could slash the lane with impunity.

In fact, look at his per-36 numbers, courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and you'll see how absurdly reliable Timmy's dominance has been.

He has averaged 20.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes for his career. Like clockwork, Duncan has put up nearly identical numbers every season for 17 years, playing as efficiently in 2013 as he did when he won his MVPs in 2002 and 2003.

That consistency and effectiveness at the ripe old age of 37 has finally hammered home a point that Duncan supporters have spent his entire career grasping for: Tim Duncan is a fun player.

It is crucial to Duncan's legacy that he be regarded as entertaining as well as accomplished.

History is subjective that way. We inflate the memories of players we adore, sometimes at the expense of those we merely respect, but don't have fond feelings for.

There was the risk that decades from now, Duncan's career would be viewed as a confluence of bank shots and staunch defense, each year blending into the others, clearly great, but not memorable. The precision of his game would pale against the raw power on Malone's or Charles Barkley's highlight reels.

When the history of the NBA is written by people who didn't experience these legends while they were playing the game, the more exciting guy has better odds of being the more enthralling one. In that world, Duncan could be treated as the beneficiary of Gregg Popovich's genius, while Barkley and Malone are considered better talents on worst teams.

That unfair hindsight was a possibility when Duncan was in his prime, putting up double-doubles like it was nothing. However, as "The Big Fundamental" kept producing, and his retirement drew ever nearer, it became clear that while we were bored with Duncan, he was never boring.

Fans in 2013 regard Duncan's game more reverentially today than they did 10 years ago—not only because he's not going to be around much longer but because his game is going with him.

Duncan abused Chris Bosh en route to 25 first-half points in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals; in his illustrious postseason career, he has never scored more in the first half of a finals game.

Though fans became inured to Duncan's unparalleled array of hooks, spins and banks during his heyday, it's a true privilege to see them back in their old form today. Once they're gone, it's unclear if we'll see anything quite like them again.

Due to the proliferation of floor-spreading offensive philosophy and less emphasis on teaching post play to developing big men, Duncan is one of the last of a dying breed of back-to-the-basket scorers.

Even though he's past the point of overpowering defenders at this point, his technical excellence allows him to put together a performance like the way he started Game 6. That makes Duncan's skill set invaluable for any veteran forward, and yet there is no obvious heir to his traditional post-up throne.

As offenses continue to stretch out beyond the arc, Duncan's game is becoming a relic of basketball history. Remnants will remain in a few players' arsenals, but we'll never see another Tim Duncan.

That's what the 37-year-old's throwback game reminds us: There is beauty in the balletic nature of old-school post play, in the way it can make an aging vet play like a young man and the way it can help a great talent become an NBA legend.

That legend's lore will grow in the years after he retires. Absence will make Duncan seem that much more special, and no one will forget that he was the best to ever play his position.

Where Can the New York Giants Improve Most in 2013?

Scott Kacsmar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:01:08 -0400

The New York Giants are the NFL’s ultimate Super Bowl-or-bust team.

No, this does not mean the 2013 season comes with such demanding expectations, but the Giants are a team that tends to go on Super Bowl runs that were not expected heading into the season.

In the 13 seasons since 2000, the Giants have been to three Super Bowls (2-1 record), went one-and-done in the playoffs four times and missed the playoffs entirely six times.

Of the last 12 times the Giants made the playoffs, which goes back to the 1986 season, they reached five Super Bowls and went one-and-done six times. The only different result was in 1993 when they beat Minnesota in a Wild Card Game before losing big to the 49ers in the Divisional Playoffs.

If they can qualify for the tournament and get past the first game, the Giants make their playoff runs go the distance.

As for the upcoming 10th season in the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning era, by now we have a good idea of how this one will go.

The Giants have started 5-2 or better in each of the last nine seasons, which ties the 1975-83 Dallas Cowboys for the NFL record. Things always start well with the Giants earning respect as a NFC threat, but it comes down to finishing.

Twice the Giants have put it together late for two incredible championship runs, but the reality is they have also fallen apart and missed the playoffs in three of the last four years.

It’s never about the start but always the finish for this team, which likes to attempt to dig itself out of adverse situations. With an NFC East lacking powerhouses, this season presents another opportunity to impress with another title run.

Giants Have It All, When They Want It

Last season’s 9-7 finish for the defending champion Giants was a tough one, as they showed so much potential to be an elite team.

They annihilated the 49ers 26-3 in San Francisco. Coach Jim Harbaugh is 15-3-1 at home, but two of the losses have been to the Giants.

The Giants embarrassed the ultra-competitive Packers 38-10 in prime time in Week 12. The 28-point loss was the biggest margin of defeat in quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career.

The Giants scored 52 points against the Saints in another one of their four wins by at least 25 points.

Yet there was no postseason, as the Giants suffered blowout losses to the Bengals (31-13), Falcons (34-0) and Ravens (33-14). A year after leading seven fourth-quarter comebacks, Manning had three in 2012. He had fewer opportunities with the losses getting out of hand so quickly late in the season.

However, Manning is 55-5 (.917) as a starter when the Giants allow fewer than 20 points. Two of those losses came last season against the division: a 19-17 heartbreaker against Philadelphia and a tough 17-16 loss in Washington.

At 8-5, the Giants’ season basically fell apart when they were outscored 67-14 by the Falcons and Ravens. Both of those games were on the road at two of the toughest places to win. They were also against the regular-season champion (Atlanta) and eventual Super Bowl champion (Baltimore).

It's a tough task for anyone to come out with a win or two, but when the Giants are on their game, they can beat anyone. Their no-show effort in those games was very disheartening.

The Giants have arguably the best formula for success out of all teams in the NFL today. Their method has been proven to work for two different title runs, but the problem is the team rarely sustains it for a long period of time like the elite teams who win 12-14 games can.

Manning is a dependable quarterback with 135 consecutive starts. He can make all the throws, but even after nine years, he will still miss easy ones he can make and fall victim to some head-scratching decisions. His consistency and accuracy cannot match his brother, but he is very much a gamer who can stretch the field and carry a team when the chips are down.

Manning’s 24 fourth-quarter comeback wins are the most in NFL history by a quarterback through nine seasons.

At best, a quarter of the league has a team with a quarterback capable of going on a three- or four-game hot streak against playoff competition. That’s what you need to win a Super Bowl, and that’s what Manning has already done twice with some brilliant plays along the way.

Part of his durability comes from getting rid of the ball quickly, which helps his offensive line look better. The Giants usually field a good offensive line, giving them balance with a productive running game.

No matter if it was Tiki Barber or the duo of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants usually get results on the ground—it's not a one-dimensional attack.

The receivers are always very good as well, whether it was a vertical threat like Plaxico Burress, a slot guy like Steve Smith, a big-play receiver in Victor Cruz or an all-around receiver like Hakeem Nicks.

Cruz just recently signed his tender for $2.87 million, so he should be ready to go this season. Still, it would be nice to have him happily locked up to a long-term deal.

Defensively, the Giants have continued to build the advantage of running a 4-3 with a lot of talent along the defensive line. By getting pressure with only having to rush four, that gives the Giants favorable advantages with the back seven defenders covering five receivers.

This allows the Giants to have success without having any real stud linebacker or player in the secondary. You get a good pass rush, and there is no problem with having Corey Webster as a top cornerback.

We have seen the Giants hold down the two highest-scoring teams in history (2007 Patriots and 2011 Packers) to an average of 17 points in the playoffs.

Rarely has the defense had great stats in the regular season, but no other team has recently run the 4-3 to such success against elite offenses in big games like the Giants.

Quarterbacks are getting too good at identifying blitzes and spreading the field to attack to rely on sending extra rushers to create pressure. As long as the Giants have a premier edge-rusher like Jason Pierre-Paul along with good depth, they will have the right matchup for pass-happy offenses.

Pierre-Paul’s surprise back surgery this offseason is a concern, but he should return to the field early this season. This is why it helps to have depth like veteran Mathias Kiwanuka, who can play defensive end should Pierre-Paul miss games.

The Giants never wow anyone with elite statistics because they continue to have too many bad performances over the course of a 16-game season.

There are no real flaws in how the team is built or plays—outside of the invisible “on/off switch” it seems to manage during the season. It’s just that more often than not in the last nine years, someone forgets to turn it back on after December.

How do you solve that after a decade? It does not seem like Coughlin has figured it out yet, but when he gets the full effort out of his team, then it is as tough as any to beat.

Departures and Arrivals: The 2013 Starters

With a few noteworthy changes to the roster, here is a depth chart of potential starters (credit to Ourlads):

Perhaps the most notable change comes at running back. Ahmad Bradshaw is gone, and David Wilson was the first-round pick last season, but he only carried the ball 71 times. He did show some talent with four scores and an average of 5.0 yards per carry. He did impress on special teams by leading the league with 1,533 kick return yards.

You would expect Wilson to get most of the carries now, but Andre Brown was also impressive last season.

Justin Pugh was this year’s first-round pick and should have a great opportunity to take over the right tackle job right away.

The wide receivers are still going to rely on Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, both likely exceeding 1,000 yards, though expectations are rising on second-year receiver Rueben Randle. He was a second-round pick in 2012 and caught 19 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns last season.

With Domenik Hixon gone, Randle should be contributing more this year.

Tight end Martellus Bennett, who had a career-best 626 receiving yards last year left to Chicago, but in comes Brandon Myers from Oakland. Even if it included a lot of garbage-time stats, he caught 79 passes for 806 yards last year.

Myers is the prototypical Giants tight end, which means he’s another big white guy Manning will have no problem throwing to a la Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard.

This is still a defense that will be led by the defensive ends in Justin Tuck and Pierre-Paul. They are crucial to this unit having success. The Giants even found a potential steal in the draft with Texas A&M’s Damontre Moore slipping to the third round.

The Giants also signed free-agent Cullen Jenkins to replace defensive tackle Chris Canty. Jenkins did not live up to expectations in Philadelphia the last two years but is a veteran. Should he not be up to the job, the Giants do have Shaun Rogers, Marvin Austin and second-round rookie Johnathan Hankins on the current roster.

Chase Blackburn and Michael Boley are gone, so the linebackers have gone through changes. Dan Connor should compete for the starting middle linebacker spot. He was a standout at Penn State but has battled injuries in a five-year NFL career with Carolina (2008-11) and Dallas (2012).

Jacquian Williams was a sixth-round pick by the Giants in 2011, but he only has five career starts. Mathias Kiwanuka can play linebacker too but will likely play along the defensive line.

Former No. 4 overall pick Aaron Curry is also on the roster, though he has had a difficult time earning his keep in the NFL.

The secondary remains intact, with Stevie Brown coming out of nowhere last season to intercept eight passes and return them for 307 yards.

Cornerback Prince Amukamara has missed 12 games since being the team’s first-round pick in 2011, so it would be beneficial to see if he can last a full season.

Lawrence Tynes is no longer the kicker. Currently, the Giants have 34-year-old Josh Brown and David Buehler on the roster. Brown has a much better track record.

With Pierre-Paul’s status in question, uncertainty at linebacker and the search for consistency from the secondary, this looks like another season where the offense will have to carry the defense.

However, Coughlin is one of the league’s best coaches. He turns 67 in August and is all about winning now. If you have a franchise quarterback and a few elite playmakers on both sides of the ball, then you are competing at the top level in this league.

The Giants still have that.

Conclusion: Still a Contender, But Can They Finish?

Going for a new record with a 10th-straight start of 5-2 or better could prove to be difficult with the season beginning in Dallas in prime time followed by the third Manning Bowl. Eli has yet to outscore his brother Peyton in the NFL.

The opener in Dallas should be especially important, since the Cowboys do present strong competition in the tightly contested NFC East.

A mind-numbing stat from last year: Eli Manning led three fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives in his first four appearances at new Cowboys Stadium. Tony Romo also had three in his first 23 starts there.

Getting that early head-to-head win could set the tone for the division race. After the Manning Bowl, things should ease up for the Giants, which makes it likely they will be sitting pretty at the midway point of the season once again.

The bye week comes in Week 9. That’s when we will see if the high level of play can sustain itself or improve in the second half of the season.

The Giants will host Green Bay and Dallas in consecutive weeks in November. That’s followed by a crucial trip to Washington, which was essentially the Week 13 game last season that cost them the division. The Giants will host Washington in the Week 17 finale in what could be another game that decides the NFC East.

A 10-6 finish is very possible for this team, which could be all that is needed to win the division and get a home playoff game.

Though for the Giants, they have to time it right so that they enter the playoffs on a good note. Otherwise, we have not seen this team advance yet under Coughlin. All of the playoff success came in 2007 and 2011.

When the Giants play their best, they can beat any team in any stadium. It’s just a matter of finishing.

With Super Bowl XLVIII being played in their home stadium, the Giants have an opportunity to make more improbable history this season.

Scott Kacsmar writes for Cold, Hard Football Facts, NBC Sports, Colts Authority, and contributes data to Pro-Football-Reference.com and NFL Network. You can visit his blog for a complete writing archive and can follow him on Twitter at @CaptainComeback.

Unexpected Moves Houston Rockets Could Make in Free Agency

Eric Edelman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:00:30 -0400

All decisions in the NBA, whether they're made on or off the court, are subject to scrutiny from legions of unsatisfied fans.

A first-round exit at the hands of a superior Oklahoma City Thunder team is nothing to be ashamed of, but there is no question the Houston Rockets and their loyal supporters have high hopes for this offseason.

Thanks to plenty of expired contracts, the Houston Rockets enjoy a little tax relief, and as the saying goes, scared money don't make no money. In other words, the Rockets need to flex some of their cap space, and for Houston, the options are plentiful.

General Manager Daryl Morey could also have the option of going a bit unorthodox as far as his signings go. There are three specific free agents who would really shake things up if they went down to H-Town under new contract(s). For a team like Houston, an unorthodox signing could be the exact thing they need rejuvenate its spirits going into this new season.

Monta Ellis

After recently declaring his decision to opt out of his Milwaukee contract, Monta Ellis has become a prime target for many teams seeking a talented combo guard with plenty of upside.

Enter Houston, a team that already has a high scoring guard in James Harden. Sure the move seems silly on the surface, but Houston could feasibly create a super-small, super-quick team that could eviscerate opponents both on the break and from the perimeter.

Jeremy Lin at point, Monta as a shooting guard, Harden as a swingman and possibly Chandler Parsons playing the stretch 4 position is a lineup that could work.

It would be a very risky gamble to bring a shooter like Monta in, but there's no denying his ability to put up points. Ellis averaged 19.2 points per game for the 2012-13 regular season, and if he was expected to share the ball with a like-minded scorer a la James Harden, there's no question that average might dip a little.

Better yet, Ellis could also do some work with the secondary unit, so using him as a sixth man of sorts is also possible. It might be an awkward fit, but Ellis would further enhance Houston's lethal offensive attack, and he would help bolster its bench.

With around $38 million in available space for this season, Houston could feasibly afford him to give him the contract he might be seeking.

Al Jefferson

No matter the time of year, Al Jefferson is probably being overlooked by everybody, and despite it being free-agency time, it's probably still happening to Big Al. Most fans are sleeping on a guy who is arguably the best post-up big man in the league, pouring in an efficient 17.8 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting.

He might seem "unexpected" because he isn't necessarily a big name, but Jefferson will undoubtedly have a huge impact wherever he ends up, especially if it's in a Houston Rockets uniform. Jefferson is the perfect fit—a consummate team player with a soft touch and plenty of mobility on both ends of the floor.

Jefferson would help ease the transition for some of Houston's younger bigs, and he would also give the Rockets a lot more depth and size at either the power forward or center positions. He would also finally get a lot more publicity in a bigger media market, and perhaps, he can finally shed the reputation for being overlooked.

David West

Here's another big whose signing would prove for a huge, M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist in the never ending NBA storyline—David West rocking a Rockets jersey this upcoming season.

David West is an unrestricted agent, and the Rockets have the space and necessity for a fundamentally sound veteran like West to come aboard. He can play ball with the best of them, but he can also bark with the best of them, too.

West is one of the few intimidating players who can also let his game do the talking.

He has a smooth stroke from mid-range, a gentle touch in the paint and he hustles like a guy fighting for a roster the spot. Plain and simple, the guy wants to win, and he's willing to shed blood to do so—whether it be his or yours. The Rockets desperately need a tough guy on their squad, but they don't necessarily need some scrub enforcer who gives you little more than a flagrant foul every now and then. They need a banger who can contribute in other ways.

West is the best of both worlds and—despite being 32 years of age—he's still capable of putting up 17 points and eight rebounds per night. It would be an stunning maneuver if the Rockets were to lure him from Indiana's solid core, but going to the Rockets wouldn't be a terrible downgrade for West.

Whether they choose Ellis, West or Jefferson, the Rockets need to be realistic about their stature in the league: No team in the league is afraid of Houston, per se, but any maneuver no matter how outside the box it seems is better than one that allows the Rockets to further carve out an identity.

To become an unexpected contender, it starts with an unexpected move. Your call, Mr. Morey.

8 Early Winners and Losers of the St. Louis Rams Offseason

Jamal Collier — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:16:30 -0400

Sam Bradford is probably still smiling—right now—because of the effort made by St. Louis Rams management since the Super Bowl. Les Snead and company shored up his offensive line and got him some new, shiny toys to play with.

He’s the biggest offseason winner.

A couple of his new targets will join him on the winners' list, while the guys they replaced in the pecking order wind up on the other side.

There weren’t a lot of changes at the top of the defensive depth chart; St. Louis will presumably continue to start eight of their 11 base-package starters from 2012.

The other three aren’t in town, so it’s hard for any current Rams defenders to be counted as losers.

Since most of the offseason movement was focused on offense, the winners and losers will be, as well.

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LeBron James on Unbelievable Game 6: 'By Far the Best Game I've Been a Part Of'

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:15:07 -0400

LeBron James has been in the league for a decade now, is playing in his fourth NBA Finals, and has had his fair share of high-stakes games in the process, but he said after Game 6 that his career hit a peak.

It wasn't necessarily the way he played that was at a peak, he was talking about the level of intensity, entertainment, and terrific play from either team that really saw a high on Tuesday night.

"By far the best game I've ever been a part of. " - LeBron
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) June 19, 2013

There are definitely examples of games in which he preformed better—Game 5 against Detroit in 2007 comes to mind, as does last year's Game 6 in the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Boston Celtics, but as far as overall quality is concerned, LeBron may have hit the nail right on the head.

This game really had everything you could ask for when it comes to the NBA Finals—runs from either team, incredible defense met with equally impressive offense, a magnificent game from a 37-year-old man, ridiculous three-point shots, an extremely involved crowd (although a handful of people left with the Spurs up by five in the fourth quarter), and of course, overtime.

From the start of the fourth quarter all the way through the end of overtime, every possession was high in intensity and extremely important to the outcome of the game.

There was an outcome that was all but decided, a thrilling comeback, and a splendid overtime period giving us a solid ending.

If there was one complaint someone could have about the game, it would be the referees sticking their noses into it just a bit too much, and perhaps, a bit too little near the end.

Otherwise, what we had in Game 6 was a near-perfect basketball game, at least from an entertainment standpoint.

Let's just hope that Game 7 can live up to the hype and rival what we saw on Tuesday night.

Will Houston Rockets Pursuit of Chris Paul Force a Jeremy Lin Trade?

Marshall Zweig — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:46 -0400

Could the 2013-14 Houston Rockets be the 2010-11 Miami Heat redux?

And could Jeremy Lin be collateral damage?

Although it doesn't mention Houston, ESPN's Chris Broussard reports Dwight Howard and Chris Paul have been consistently communicating about being teammates. This is not the first time they've talked about the idea, either. During the 2011 lockout, their mutual target was the Dallas Mavericks—another Texas team.

That would give Houston a Big Three that's superior to the Miami Heat's, with all three superstar players still in their prime (as long as Howard is fully recovered next season).

Several Rockets players say they're selling D12 hard on Houston. And over a week ago, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Rockets consider Howard and CP3 "targets 1 and 1A."

And finally, there is the recent and suddenly pervasive rumor (here in ESPN) that the Rockets will discuss something I suggested about a week ago: a sign-and-trade involving Howard for Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.

Lin, despite an uneven year, still has potential and marketing value; Asik had a superb first year as a starter. The only reason the Rockets would give both players up would be to create even more cap room—and the only reason the team would want to do that would be if they were intent on signing Paul (or another prime free agent).

Now granted, right now it's all speculation, rumor and innuendo—all sourced and legitimate, but hearsay nonetheless.

But I bring it all up to discuss once more what might be the inevitable: Will the Rockets have to jettison Jeremy Lin to sign Chris Paul?

The first question is whether or not they should. Lin's ardent admirers, and there are many, have a well-grooved refrain about Lin's tenure in Houston that can be summed up in one word: unfair.

The Lin faithful say the Rockets squandered Lin's talent by handing facilitating responsibilities to shooting guard James Harden, thereby robbing Lin of his ability to create. They contend Lin was still hurt from the previous season. They insist Lin was maligned by coach Kevin McHale. They claim Lin was great when Harden was sidelined.

We all know the song. I could argue the merits of each argument, but they all miss the point. Whether or not they're true, or merely wishful conjecture by loyal fans, the most important consideration—if one is a Rockets fan and not merely a Jeremy Lin fan—is what's best for the Rockets.

And even if all the arguments put forth by Lin's devotees are spot on, CP3 for JLin is still a no-brainer if winning is the goal.

Lin is a remarkably likeable fellow with an impeccable attitude and work ethic, but an uncertain and even questionable talent level.

Is Lin thrilling to watch at times? No question about it. Has he improved in certain areas? Yes. But would any of you bet their house that Lin ranks higher next year in player efficiency than 14.94, good for 35th place among point guards who averaged 17 minutes per game or more?

If you said yes, you probably either live in a tent or with your parents. It's just not a safe bet, simply because since his debut, Lin has been inconsistent. There have been flashes of brilliance, periods of mediocrity and stretches of ineptitude, like Lin's appearance in this year's playoffs.

The Rockets will miss Lin in the clubhouse, undoubtedly. And given the kid's incredible work ethic, they might well miss out on talent yet to develop.

But it's worth the risk. Because Chris Paul is a massive upgrade.

He's unquestionably the best of his generation at his position. Not since Steve Nash in his prime has a point guard been arguably the best player in the league. Not since Allen Iverson in his prime has a point guard been so breathtaking to watch.

If you don't believe me, ask John Hollinger. The Memphis Grizzlies exec (and former ESPN stats guru) estimates that Jeremy Lin was 5.2 wins to the Rockets last season.

Chris Paul was worth 17.9—over three times as many.

The question is not what would happen to Paul. The Rockets would be daft not to covet him. And paired with Howard, Harden and Parsons, they'll be a heavy favorite to win it all.

The question is what will happen to Lin?

If the Rockets are serious about pursuing both Howard and Paul—and by all current accounts, they are—Lin and Asik have to go, along with others, like forward Thomas Robinson and swingman Carlos Delfino.

So do they make the trade beforehand in hopes of getting Paul? Or do they make it once Paul agrees in principle?

That's the rub. If Paul says yes, moving Lin will become imperative. And though there will be ready takers for Asik's $8.4 million dollar contract with two years remaining, Lin's will give teams much pause, simply because Asik's season was head and shoulders above Lin's. At this moment in time, Asik is undervalued, while Lin is overvalued.

That's not to say there aren't teams who would covet Lin. The Los Angeles Lakers need a reason to put bodies in the seats; the acquisition of Lin would still have an impact on their fanbase…certainly not as great as it would have last year, but solid nevertheless.

Further, since the Lakers appear strongly committed to coach Mike D'Antoni, reuniting him with his star pupil Lin gives both a chance to prove doubters wrong. It also gives Lin the perfect offense in which to succeed.

Finally, the Lakers do need a point guard, because Nash (when D'Antoni doesn't use him at the 2) is aging, and the Lakers' best backup is career journeyman Steve Blake.

Los Angeles would be a dream destination for the league as well, because Lin is a very popular player internationally, and with Kobe Bryant's return not a sure thing, Lin would give the Lakers a player to feature should they fail to re-sign Howard.

So let's say Howard says yes, but Paul is hemming and hawing. Should Morey pull the trigger on dealing Lin and Asik, like he did last year in amnestying Luis Scola in a preemptive move to clear cap space?

Not securing Paul would then be potentially devastating to Houston's title hopes. But waiting until other teams are set at the point guard and center positions to start swinging a trade might mean Paul would have to wait quite a while before signing on the dotted line.

That's not good for anyone.

Plus trading with another team will simply net the Rockets more assets, which won't help them complete the deal for Paul and Howard.

For example, the Philadelphia 76ers, assuming they choose not to re-sign Andrew Bynum, could use a center and a point guard, the latter to spell Jrue Holiday and also play the point when Holiday moves to off-guard. Problem is, what do the Rockets get in return? A sign-and-trade wouldn't help clear cap space; it would just saddle them with players—or a player like, perish the thought, Bynum—whom they'd have to turn around and deal again to either the Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers.

All right, so what about the Clippers themselves? Could the Rockets work a sign-and-trade with them?

Actually, yes. Asik, in my opinion, is an upgrade over DeAndre Jordan, though not a massive one. They're fairly equal on points per 36 minutes, though without CP3 to toss him lobs, Jordan's point total might well be lower. Also, Jordan averages .7 fewer turnovers and .7 fewer blocks. Where Asik shines, though, is on the boards: He's averaging over three more rebounds per 36 minutes than Jordan.

At the point, the Clippers have Eric Bledsoe, who has talent, and finally showed a bit of a touch from long distance, albeit in limited attempts. But Bledsoe is not going to make the turnstiles at the Staples Center revolve.

Jeremy Lin would pique fan interest should Paul decide to depart. He and Asik won't make the Clippers contenders, but they'd at least make them marketable. I question whether they could score a better sign-and-trade than that one.

Lin and Asik together make $16.75 million. The current collective bargaining agreement allows a team giving up more than $9.8 million but less than $19.6 million to take on a salary equaling the outgoing salaries plus $5 million. That means a sign-and-trade for Lin and Asik gives the Rockets the right to accept up to a $21.75 million contract, which would cover either Howard or Paul.

If the Rockets are truly serious about signing both Howard and Paul, they'll have to clear a Brinks truck full of cap space, and they have no amnesty candidate left. And since Harden and small forward Chandler Parsons have zero chance of being dealt, Lin and Asik will be moved, make no mistake about it.

There are only three ways the Rockets could make a deal that actually clears enough cap space, though: a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, a sign-and-trade with the Clippers or trading for players the Lakers or Clippers would want more than those players, then doing a sign-and-trade for the newly acquired talent.

So if the Rockets do acquire both free agents, it's a pretty safe bet Lin will be moving to L.A. A fresh start, and one that likely comes with license to playmake, might be just what the doctor ordered for Lin.

And it's likely a move that would please most Lin fans.

But a starting lineup in Houston featuring Paul, Harden, Parsons and Howard is exactly what the doctor ordered if you're a Rocket fan.

Ohio State Football: How OSU's 2009 Recruiting Class Failed to Meet Expectations

Tim Bielik — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:12:24 -0400

Ohio State's 2009 recruiting class was ranked No. 1 by Scout.com, and only one player from that group—John Simon—was drafted by an NFL team.

While the much less-heralded 2010 recruiting class was a huge success, despite low expectations, 2009 was the opposite: lots of hype but little payoff.

The "Brew Crew" in 2008 received a tremendous amount of hype, and the class that followed it was expected to help propel the Buckeyes to their first national title since the 2002 season.

It never panned out that way.

Instead, the two classes played a role in one of the Buckeyes' worst chapters, where they went 6-7 in 2011.

While the 2008 class deserves a brunt of the blame with several of its top names among the "Suspended Five," the 2009 class deserves some blame as well for its long list of recruiting busts.

Dorian Bell, Melvin Fellows, Jaamal Berry, Duron Carter, Jamie Wood, Dominic Clarke, Jonathan Newsome, James Jackson and Corey Brown were all expected to be the leaders of the 2011 team. Instead, for one reason or another, none of those players even sniffed those expectations.

In fact, Wood and Brown were the only two of that group to be on the roster when Urban Meyer coached his first game in 2012.

Ohio State recruited and signed 25 players to the class of 2009. Not counting Carlos Hyde who enrolled at OSU the year before, 10 members of the class were not on the roster by the time OSU played Michigan last season, which was senior day for players who didn't redshirt like Simon, who was one of the few stars of the class.

Even more devastating is that, despite having 17 4-star players in the class, according to Scout.com, only eight started multiple games and had a reasonable impact on the football team.

That's a problem when less than half of the top players recruited by a team live up to minimal expectations of being spot starters.

Bell and Fellows were 5-star recruits, yet neither had any impact at all on the football team.

By comparison, the No. 2-ranked team in Scout.com's 2009 rankings, Alabama, had two 3-star recruits (James Carpenter and Chance Warmack) go in the first round.

A No. 1 recruiting class has the expectation of being the group that helps a team compete for national titles.

By that definition, the Ohio State 2009 recruiting class was a major failure. It was projected to bolster the defense, which has instead been very shaky the past two seasons.

The only positive from this group is that it has formed the framework for the Buckeyes' 2013 offensive line. Jack Mewhort, Corey Linsley and Marcus Hall are all among returning starters for a line that was greatly improved from the year before.

The hope is that those three can have another strong season and help the Buckeyes improve on a breakout year offensively.

Other than that and Simon's spectacular career, there's not a whole lot to like about the class of 2009.

There was some talent there, and some players had big moments, but there was so much more that should have happened.

Fans will remember it as class full of "what if's?"

Follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim for the latest college football news and updates.

Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Nani's Departure Is a Foregone Conclusion

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Nani was inconsistent last season at Manchester United.

In the wake of Robin van Persie's spectacular season, expect Nani to be gone soon.

As Mark Ogden of The Telegraph wrote:

With Monaco and Juventus both keen to sign Nani, the winger is understood to have told associates that he is ready to play in France or Italy next season after opting to end his six-year stint at Old Trafford.

Nani played just 11 games for Manchester United this past season, primarily because of the arrival of Van Persie, and he registered a mere one goal and two assists in the campaign, Van Persie exploded for 26 goals and eight assists, leading the charge as United won the Premier League by 11 points.

According to Ogden, both Nani and United are prepared to part if the club receives an offer of £8.5 million.

The truth is, United don't need Nani anymore. Not only has he been inconsistent, he's also a benchwarmer for the club now. Anything the club can get for him it will take. Such is the brutal nature of football.

And don't think Sir Alex Ferguson's departure means anything. New boss David Moyes is ready to plop Wilfried Zaha onto the first-team squad next month.

The problem now becomes whether or not United can even get £8.5 million for him.

Monaco has already spent more than £100 million this summer on Radamel Falcao and midfielders James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho. It's not like the club is eager to shelve out the dough for Nani, so Monaco has the upper hand in negotiations right now.

United may have to accept less for Nani in the end, while the 26-year-old will have to accept his fate, moving to wherever that may be. Those years when Nani had big moments for the club are history; he's now an afterthought likely to be pawned off.

The writing is on the wall for Nani. The ink just has to dry.

Manchester United Transfer News: Red Devils Wise to Take Look at Kevin Strootman

Richard Langford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman is an ideal fit for Manchester United. He would be an excellent first signing of the summer for the Red Devils and new head man David Moyes.

This is something the club undoubtedly realizes, as they've spent their time scouting him. Strootman also has his sights on moving from PSV to the EPL.

This news comes to us via The Guardian:

Kevin Strootman's heart remains set on a move to the Premier League despite interest from across Europe, with Manchester United's chief scout having watched the player in action last week.

Manchester United's interest is not shocking. There have been links between the player and the club for some time. For instance, back in April, Express' James Dickenson reported that not only was Manchester United interested, but also Everton, which was under the guidance of Moyes at the time.

The 23-year-old has been rapidly playing himself into a hot commodity with the ability to fill several roles.

When Strootman broke through with Sparta Rotterdam, it was as a box-to-box midfielder. Last season, he was serving more as a deep-lying playmaker.

He still has the athletic ability to be a box-to-box midfielder, but it is on defense where he is at his best.

At 6'1" and with good upper-body strength, Strootman is a giant in the midfield. He can bully the opposition by holding them off the ball and winning possession.

He is a natural and gifted tackler, and while he will pick up his share of yellow cards, he plays with wisdom beyond his years. He sees the game well, and this allows Strootman to pick up numerous interceptions.

His awareness also allows him to slide back and fill defensive positions when a void is created.

Strootman has a strong left foot, and he is a solid passer, but he is not much of a goal-scoring threat. However, it's not like the potent United offense needs much help.

Given his size, it is no surprise that he doesn't possess elite speed, and he doesn't play with much pace, but those weaknesses are easy to overlook with his tremendous strengths.

Also, at 23, he's just scratching the surface of his potential. He has a long career ahead of him.

This would all be an invaluable fit for Manchester United as they look to beef up and reshape their midfield.

Acquiring Strootman would help the Red Devils not only fill a big hole in their lineup, but it would also help them get younger. This move is good for the present and the future. There is a lot to like about that.

Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Should End Luis Suarez Drama To Maximize Return

Justin Onslow — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

The Luis Suarez drama has to end at some point. The way things are going, it looks like it may very well end with Suarez leaving Anfield and Liverpool coming away with a massive payday.

According to Phil Thomas of The Sun, Liverpool want Suarez to put in a transfer request if he hopes to leave Anfield in favor of Real Madrid, as The Sun also noted on Twitter:

Suarez’s discontent in England has been well-documented, and it comes as no surprise Liverpool are tired of hearing about it. As quoted in a report from The Sun, the striker doesn’t feel at home in England:

My main reason is my family and my image — that is my priority now. It is a difficult moment for me. My coach and my colleagues know that they didn’t treat me well here. I don’t feel comfortable here anymore — they know it, so I think it is understandable that I leave. Firstly being persecuted by the paparazzi all the time. I couldn’t go to my garden or the supermarket, I couldn’t do anything. I know it’s normal being followed by the press but it was too much.

At this point, it seems highly unlikely Suarez will settle back in with Liverpool as all the drama dissipates. The longer the situation plays out; the worse it’s going to get.

And therein lies the problem for Liverpool. If the club waits to make a move and Suarez continues voicing his desire to leave, clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona are going to be less inclined to pay Liverpool’s asking price, reportedly as much as £50 million, according to The Guardian.

Obviously the Anfield giants don’t have a lot of leverage in the situation—and demanding an official transfer request was the right decision—but Liverpool can’t afford to let the situation drag on. Now is the time to strike a deal and move on.

£50 million is a reasonable asking price for the star striker, and that kind of money would certainly go a long way toward the club’s efforts to infuse more young talent via the transfer market. But if letting Suarez go for slightly less now (as opposed to losing out on more later) is an option, Liverpool have to pull the trigger.

If the situation drags on, Liverpool are going to reach the point of just wanting Suarez out the door and may be forced to accept far less than their original asking price. As is often the case in these situations, the seller typically comes away with far less than anticipated the longer they wait.

Some may hope Suarez has a change of heart and chooses to remain at Anfield, but those days are in the past. Now is the time for Liverpool to cut ties and walk away with a handsome payday while they still have time to put it to good use.

Arsenal Transfer News: Yaya Sanogo to Become Solid Long-Term Option for Gunners

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

While Arsenal focus on transfers to help next season, the club appears to have already secured a player who will be a long-term solution.

According to ESPN UK, Yaya Sanogo is prepared to sign with the Gunners thanks to a great persuasive effort by Arsene Wenger. He told France Football (via ESPN UK):

Gilles Grimandi [Arsenal scout] came to see me from time to time at Auxerre too. One day he called me for a meeting in a Paris hotel and Arsene Wenger was there. I was very impressed. Wenger told me I would get opportunities and reassured me about my injury. He told me he had followed me for years. That meeting was very important and today I am an Arsenal player.

This statement is not to be overlooked because it appears as though the 20-year-old player will have a relatively large role right away.

Via ESPN UK, back in May, Auxerre chairman Guy Cotret said of Wenger loaning Sanogo back to his club: "He will only loan him back to us if he considers the player is not ready to join his team after the pre-season preparations. Otherwise he will not loan him."

It appears as though the forward will be on the first team next season and will be asked to make an impact in a hurry.

While Sanogo has not faced the toughest competition, there is no denying his talent. He scored nine goals in eight games (four starts) for his club last season and consistently shows a great scoring touch around the net.

He also has great handle of the ball and knows how to beat defenders one-on-one if needed.

To this point, he has played on France's youth national teams, but he is certain to be a part of the senior squad within a few years.

Of course, the lack of experience could be a problem. It will be a big jump to the English Premier League, and the young player is likely to struggle in his first year on the first team. This is where a big-time transfer will take over, like target Gonzalo Higuain.

According to John Cross of Mirror Football, Arsenal are close to signing the Argentine striker after making a bid in the coming days.

In the meantime, Sanogo will continue to learn from veteran players while getting some playing time as he gets better throughout the year. A year or two down the line, he could be a solid contributor to help the squad contend for a league title.

It is not only the high-priced transfers that help a club become elite. Sanogo is the type of player that will fly under the radar but make a big impact down the line.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.