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LeBron James Disagrees with Michael Jordan's Scouting Report on Him

Tyler Conway — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:09:43 -0400

When LeBron James stopped on a dime, spun over his right shoulder and blew past Paul George for a game-winning layup on Wednesday night, he wasn't just giving the Miami Heat a 1-0 lead over the Indiana Pacers in their Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

He was also proving Michael Jordan wrong—again.

When James received the inbounds pass, George's momentary imbalance allowed James to drive to his left for the score.

If Jordan's assessment of James' game had been correct, though, LeBron would have pulled up for a jumper rather than finishing at the rim. Speaking with ESPN's Wright Thompson for a fantastic profile that ran earlier this year, Jordan spoke at length about James and how he would guard the four-time MVP if he were still playing.

"So if I have to guard him," Jordan said. "I'm gonna push him left so nine times out of 10, he's gonna shoot a jump shot. If he goes right, he's going to the hole and I can't stop him. So I ain't letting him go right."

It seems His Airness' scouting report got back to James, and he made a point of addressing it in his meeting with the media on Thursday.

"That theory is wrong, I guess," James said (per ESPN's Brian Windhorst).

As noted by Windhorst, the stats back up James' claim. According to Synergy Sports, which tracks each possession of every game for the NBA, James is quite adept at finishing when going to the left. He shot 56.3 percent in isolation situations when driving to the left, compared with a 48.5 percent success rate when going right.

James also tends to go left more than he does right. He made an astounding 76 percent of his shots in the restricted area during the regular season, the most among any player with at least 150 attempts, per NBA.com.

Though going left was a weak point earlier in his career, James expanded on his initial quote by saying that playing ambidextrously has been an emphasis dating back to his youth:

Frank Walker, my first basketball coach, taught me how to make a left-handed layup. He wouldn't let me dribble the ball until I got the steps down to make a left-handed layup consistently. We used to do it before practice every day. He always told me I'd be a much better player if I could make shots with both hands.

We all knew James was good and could finish with both hands. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this entire endeavor is that James heard Jordan's quotes in the first place and seems to have taken them to heart.

Throughout his career, Jordan was known for taking small slights and turning them into internal motivational ploys. His "Shrug Game" ended the Jordan vs. Clyde Drexler debate by itself, and his MVP losses to Charles Barkley and Karl Malone ended catastrophically for the two big men in the playoffs.

Maybe Jordan's jab at his left-handed drive game is working similarly for James. Either way, the Pacers learned the hard way not to cheat too far right on the planet's best player in Game 1.

Follow @tylerconway22

Patrick Roy Agrees in Principle to Become Colorado Avalanche Head Coach

Ethan Grant — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:55:20 -0400

Patrick Roy completed a long and successful NHL playing career by retiring from the sport of hockey as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in 2003.

On Thursday afternoon, he struck a deal with Colorado management to return to the franchise as both the head coach of the team and the Vice President of Hockey Operations. The team's Twitter account had the news of the hiring:

NHL.com's Dan Rosen also confirmed that the Avs and Roy had agreed in principle to the move:

Roy completed a 19-year NHL career with the Avs following the 2002-03 season. He led the NHL in save percentage four times, made the All-Star team 11 times, was a three-time winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy and also had four Stanley Cup triumphs—two with the Montreal Canadiens and two with Colorado.

Both Montreal and Colorado have retired Roy's No. 33 jersey.

Colorado's Instagram account also posted a pic of Roy and what he might look like on the bench with the Avs next season:

The deal to sign Roy comes over three weeks after the Avalanche fired former head coach Joe Sacco after finishing with just 39 points and missing the 2013 NHL playoffs. He takes over a team desperate for a fresh start, as the franchise has missed the postseason in five of the last seven seasons.

During an interview as Roy was announced as the team's new head coach, he expressed excitement in earning the job and optimism for helping Colorado get back to the success it had when he was in the net, according to Brian Stubits of CBS Sports:

This is an unbelievable day for me...It's a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. I would like to thank Stan and Josh Kroenke for this opportunity as well as Joe Sakic for the trust they are putting in me. Almost 10 years to the day that I announced my retirement as a player I am back in Denver and hope the fans are as excited as I am.

Roy comes on board after coaching the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. He was also the general manager of that team, and he'll continue to help the front office and former teammate Joe Sakic—the new President of Hockey Operations—on player personnel decisions.

As Dave Krieger posted on Twitter, Sakic is also happy to have Roy back on board with the franchise in two significant capacities. According to this tweet, he was always the top candidate during the search for a new head coach:

Team president Josh Kroenke also noted how important this day could turn out to be after Roy's tenure is all said and done (via Krieger):

Only the Florida Panthers finished with fewer points (36) than Colorado did during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. A front office and coaching staff turnover was imminent at the conclusion of the regular season, and the next domino has dropped in the form of a new head coach.

It just so happens to be man who is beloved both by the franchise he once played for and the city to which he brought two championships.

Roger Federer's Biggest Strengths Will Be Neutralized at 2013 French Open

Patrick Clarke — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:55:07 -0400

Roger Federer has always been a strong player on clay, but his limited success at the French Open compared to his record at the other three Grand Slams is telling.

While much of the blame for Fed's shortcomings at Roland Garros falls squarely on the shoulders of Rafael Nadal, the impact that the slower-playing surface has on the 17-time Slam champion's game cannot be ignored.

More so than any of the other three Slam events, the French Open neutralizes Federer's biggest strengths out on the court.

Sure, Fed has always been an above-average mover on the tennis court, but he's never been the sort of relentless scrambler that Nadal has been over the past decade. Not only can players like Nadal and Novak Djokovic stop, plant and change direction quickly on the clay, they can turn defense into offense.

Meanwhile, Federer's dominance on grass—specifically at Wimbledon—has been well-documented over the years.Unlike the clay in Paris, the London grass plays super-fast, with winners coming much more easily.

Therefore, Fed's precise shot-making sets him apart from the rest of the men's field at the All-England Club.

In addition to his playing style, the Swiss legend's one-handed backhand has no doubt hurt him a bit against the likes of Rafael Nadal at the French Open in the past.

With younger players like Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray all utilizing two-handed backhand shots in order to put their opponents under pressure, Fed is trailing the other members of the Big Four in the power game.

While Fed has unlimited slice and spin he can put on his single-handed backhand, he'll continue to struggle to get his backhands past excellent scramblers like Nadal and Djokovic.

Then there's the issue of Federer's serve. Despite possessing one of the greatest serves in the history of the game, the clay makes Fed slightly less effective in this area. He's unable to pick up easy aces quite as often and the result is fewer cheap points.

And nearing age 32, Federer needs as many quick points as he can get over the course of a best-of-five-set Slam tournament.

The beauty of Fed's game is that he is more than capable of overcoming all of these issues. As arguably the greatest champion men's tennis has ever seen, no moment will be too big for him at a tournament of this magnitude.

Plus, his vast arsenal of shots makes him one of the most versatile players in the draw year in and year out.

Given all that Roger Federer has accomplished over the past decade and the simple fact that he still ranks among the top four players on the planet, you have to love his chances of making yet another deep run at the French Open this summer.

But if he's going to win his 18th major title this June, he'll have to do it without his most effective game.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

New York Giants' Fate Lies in Contract Situations of Nicks and Cruz

Chris Trapasso — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:53:44 -0400

Eli Manning has led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles, but what type of quarterback would he be today without Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz?

Well, Nicks has 255 receptions for 3,726 yards and 27 touchdowns on 436 targets in 55 games played since 2009.

Cruz has 168 receptions for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns on 274 targets in 32 games since 2011.

Cruz has 949 yards after the catch since his debut season with the G-Men and over the same time frame Nicks has amassed 567 yards after the catch.

Over the last two seasons, the duo has accounted for 50.8 percent of Manning's passing yardage, 43.6 percent of his completions and 35.1 percent of his touchdown tosses.

Safe to say, Nicks and Cruz are integral to the New York Giants offense and Manning's annual production.

While some believe an elite quarterback doesn't necessarily depend on his pass-catching talent, the two established receiving stars are needed to make Manning's life much easier.

But now, Cruz is in the midst of a contract dispute, and Nicks is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

Like Cruz, Nicks has missed the first two OTA sessions, but unlike Cruz, Nicks' absences were not due to any contract disagreements with the team according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports.

However, the Giants will have to make some important decisions this year regarding their top two wideouts.

With Cruz holding out and Nicks' contract expiring at season's end, which receiver should be the Giants' top priority, and can they keep them both?

As the Cruz vs. Nicks debate rages on, here's a comparison of the two on a per-game basis since 2011:

Name	Catches Per Game Since 2011	TDs Per Game Since 2011	Catches Per Target Since 2011
Victor Cruz	5.25	.59	.61
Hakeem Nicks	4.60	.38	.55

Some of Cruz's numbers may be inflated due to the fact that Nicks missed four games over the last two seasons, but the undrafted free-agent has clearly been a more efficient figure in the Giants offense.

Also there's a notion that Nicks' presence goes beyond the quantifiable. He does play bigger than his 6'1'', 210-pound suggests, and he excels on the perimeter in a traditional No. 1 receiver role.

Many believe outside wideouts who can outmuscle cornerbacks, win jump balls and consistently beat press coverage at the line are harder to find and more valuable, which thereby leads to the idea that Nicks should be New York's primary contractual concern.

However, Cruz isn't an easy slot receiver to replace.

Here's how he compares to the league's best slot guys over the last two years:

Name	Yards Gained Per Route Run (from slot)	Catches on Targets 20+ Yards Downfield	Yards Per Catch
Percy Harvin	2.08	5	11.0
Randall Cobb	2.43	10	12.7
Wes Welker	2.44	12	12.2
Victor Cruz	2.82	21	15.6

The Giants realized Cruz was as fast down the field as he was laterally quick, and they have used him as a threatening vertical threat, especially as a rookie.

Basically, it can be argued that it's just as difficult, if not harder, to find a receiver of Cruz's physical abilities who's capable of beating the defense underneath and over the top.

In other words, he can make a strong argument at the negotiating table that he's not simply another slot receiver and therefore shouldn't be paid like one.

Cruz and Nicks will likely ask for between $8-10 million per season, and, frankly, the Giants should pay them both to keep Manning's favorite targets around as the quarterback enters his 10th professional season.

However, it's not inconceivable that New York is preparing itself and is willing to replace Nicks' production in the future with Rueben Randle and the recently re-signed Ramses Barden.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

Red Sox Pitcher Koji Uehara Nearly Killed Shane Victorino with a High-Five

Gabe Zaldivar — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:37:38 -0400

Someone better teach Koji Uehara proper high-five form before he kills someone.

Larry Brown Sports, Yahoo! Sports and many others spotted what has to be the most ecstatic setup man high-five in baseball at the moment.

Uehara comes out of the game after a successful eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Really, there was nothing shocking about the moments before Uehara blasts Shane Victorino with the full force of a man who hasn't mastered the fine art of restrained high-fives.

The 38-year-old struck out two in an inning of work, which is status quo for a pitcher who boasts one save, 10 holds and a .96 WHIP on the season.

Also, he is renowned for his energetic post-inning dugout greetings, so every last Red Sox player should be ready with a prepared outstretched palm, or at the very least some armor.

Victorino has neither and gets every last pound of force from his exuberant pitcher. Thankfully, the outfielder who is currently nursing a tight hamstring seems fine right after and laughs it all off.

It could be worse:

Still, this is exactly how you get a player sent straight to the disabled list with a broken jaw or seriously bruised bicep. It's just a good thing he wasn't going in with knuckles or else this might be a far more unfortunate tale altogether.

In all seriousness, you have to love Uehara and his enthusiasm. If he wants to put every last bit of his soul into slapping five, by all means.

Someone just make sure Victorino is awake first.

Hit me up on Twitter like Koji Uehara: Follow @gabezal

Stanford Football: Can't-Miss Games on Cardinal's 2013 Pac-12 Schedule

Ethan Grant — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:36:04 -0400

As the Stanford Cardinal prepare for the 2013 season this summer, focus will invariably deviate to the team's Pac-12 Conference schedule during the meat of the regular season.

The reigning Rose Bowl champions have lost some of their talent on offense, including standout running back Stepfan Taylor and tight end Zach Ertz, but will return undefeated quarterback Kevin Hogan and a number of contributors on the defensive side of the ball.

Early word around college football circles also place the offense more in Hogan's hands than the coaching staff did at the end of the 2012 season, largely because they now feel he can handle the mental and physical load of the job, per Dave Miller of the National Football Post.

Expectations are high for the Cardinal to repeat as Pac-12 North champions, and maybe even represent the conference in a BCS bowl again at the conclusion of the 2013 season. Better yet, the Cardinal are an early dark-horse candidate to make the BCS title game for the last time before the system changes to a playoff.

As usual, Stanford will have its work cut out for it to accomplish those goals.

For starters, the non-conference schedule is no joke. The team will take on an upstart San Jose State team with nothing to lose to open up the season, and then travel to Army for a day game before Pac-12 play begins. Stanford will close the season with Notre Dame, which will likely be a top-10 team to open up the season if you listen to college football analyst Phil Steele.

As Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com puts it, if Stanford escapes from this 12-game slate unscathed heading into bowl season, it will have truly earned it.

Since Stanford will ride-or-die on its Pac-12 conference record this year, and college football fans everywhere are chomping at the bit for the season to begin, here's a look at three can't-miss games both Stanford and CFB fans should circle on their calendars to have something to look forward to in the coming months.

2013 Stanford Cardinal Football Schedule

Date	Game	Time	TV
Sept. 7	vs. San Jose State	TBD	TBD
Sept. 14	at Army	Noon ET	CBS Sports Network
Sept. 21	vs. Arizona State*	TBD	TBD
Sept. 28	at Washington State*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 5	vs. Washington*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 12	at Utah*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 19	vs. UCLA*	TBD	TBD
Oct. 26	at Oregon State*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 7	vs. Oregon*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 16	at USC*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 23	vs. California*	TBD	TBD
Nov. 30	vs. Notre Dame	TBD	Fox Sports 1

*Denotes Pac-12 Conference game. Schedule via ESPN.com.

Stanford's Can't-Miss Pac-12 Games

Oct. 19 vs. UCLA

Stanford has won five straight games against the UCLA Bruins, making this game somewhat of a farce if you buy into the notion that dominance doesn't make for an exciting matchup of teams in conference play.

However, Jim Mora Jr. has UCLA headed in the right direction. The Bruins lost two straight games to close the regular season that would have otherwise led to a Rose Bowl bid for the team, and UCLA will feature a young QB of its own that has Heisman hopes at heart.

Brett Hundley will be back under center for UCLA next season, and by Oct. 19 we'll know whether or not his freshman success will be curbed by the infamous sophomore slump. Either way, Hundley will be eager to atone for his zero-touchdown, one-interception performance in the air during UCLA's three-point loss in the Pac-12 title game.

For Stanford, UCLA will provide the Cardinal with one of their first true tests of the conference slate.

Returning home after facing Utah, Stanford will need to find a way to deal with UCLA's dual-option attack and find a way to slow down Hundley in the running game, too—he ran for over 80 yards and a touchdown the last time these two teams met.

UCLA isn't expected to be a national championship contender after losing running back Jonathan Franklin and other supporting pieces on offense, but is a capable young squad who took Stanford to the brink last season and is a program on the rise in the conference. If UCLA can equal its success on the ground from 2012, this could be Stanford's first close game and first true test of defensive fortitude.

Nov. 7 vs. Oregon

Oregon and Stanford are turning into one of college football's premier rivalries.

Chip Kelly will be gone from the Oregon sidelines, but the offensive minds for the Ducks will not, and Stanford didn't lose any muster after David Shaw took over for Jim Harbaugh once his move to the NFL became official.

The clash of high-flying offense against stingy defense makes for must-see TV each time these two teams take the field in a battle of Pac-12 North rivals.

Oregon, like UCLA, will feature a dark-horse Heisman candidate in sophomore signal-caller Marcus Mariota, who accounted for over 3,400 yards of total offense and 38 touchdowns (including a two-yard touchdown catch) during his freshman season.

Stanford also holds the last victory over the Ducks, a 17-14 overtime thriller that ended Oregon's national championship hopes toward the end of last season. With those kind of stakes hanging over this game and Stanford given an extra few days to prepare for this Thursday night game, it will be interesting to see how the offense-defense clash continues as the Ducks travel to Palo Alto.

Nov. 16 at USC

Stanford has also quietly won four straight games over the Trojans, including a 21-14 upset of the team when Matt Barkley and company were the No. 2 team in the nation.

Stanford can't afford to let No. 5 slip away, especially if they hold an undefeated mark at this point in the season.

It might be too early to start labeling games on Stanford's schedule of the "trap" nature, but traveling to USC late in the season after facing several other teams who will be nationally ranked at the time of the meetings (wishful thinking perhaps, but the Pac-12 has several who should be) makes this year's USC game just as interesting as last year's upset victory.

With the Trojans reloading, there's little doubt the talent will be flocking to the program. It does each year, and USC finished in the top 20 in recruiting again, according to 247Sports' rankings.

Like UCLA, USC will have revenge on the mind and maybe even a chance to upset Stanford's perfect season in this mid-November matchup. With Stanford bordering on being a national powerhouse for the next few years and USC always in games just on sheer talent, this is another can't-miss game on the current slate.

All 12 of Stanford's games should be fun to watch, even if you're just a casual college football fan. With the team expected to contend this year instead of being an upset candidate on everyone's schedule, how Shaw's team responds will define where Stanford is playing in bowl season.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant on Twitter:

Ex-Penn State QB Steven Bench Will Transfer to South Florida

Randy Chambers — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:26:39 -0400

Steven Bench has decided he will leave Happy Valley for the palm trees and bright sun of South Florida.

Joe Schad of ESPN reported the news:

Bench informed head coach Bill O'Brien that he no longer wanted to play for Penn State, which is in the middle of a quarterback controversy. O'Brien granted those wishes and allowed the young man to visit schools such as North Carolina State and Mississippi State before Bench decided that South Florida was the place for him.

The new Bulls quarterback grew up in Georgia, about a half-hour away from Tallahassee. Both of his parents went to Florida State, which helps give him some familiarity with the Florida area.

According to the Schad report, Bench is ready to go and feels confident he can win the starting job.

"I want to get my face in the playbook and get ready to go," Bench said. "Coach [Willie] Taggart is a real confident guy. He will play anybody anywhere anytime."

Much like the school he just left, South Florida is searching for answers at quarterback as well, with veteran B.J. Daniels graduating. Bench will certainly provide some competition to the rest of the guys.

The former Penn State quarterback was considered a 2-star recruit by Scout.com. He didn't have many intriguing offers on the table, which played a role in how he ended up at Penn State. Bench didn't see much playing time last season, throwing the ball only seven times for 12 yards while running three times for 18 yards.

He is capable of making plays with his legs and has above-average arm strength. He should have no problem fitting into the system and becoming a reliable quarterback for a program that was searching for an answer at the position.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Iker Casillas: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Garry Hayes — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:25:14 -0400

It's been the talk of football and the question we've wanted answered ever since Jose Mourinho dropped Iker Casillas at Real Madrid—just what is going at the Bernabeu?

The Spanish No. 1 came through the ranks at the club, and, similar to Raul before him, he has a God-like status in Madrid. To fall out with him is to fall out with every Madridista, which has happened with Mourinho this term.

A mixture of injuries and Mourinho's insistence that he remain benched has meant he hasn't featured for Real since late January.

With Mourinho's departure now confirmed, it seems there's a light at the end of the tunnel for Casillas as he bids for the nightmare to end, or will this season have proved his last for Los Blancos?

Age: 32

Contract Situation: As you would imagine for one of the club's proudest sons, Real Madrid have Casillas tied down to a long-term deal, His contract runs through to June 2017, when he will be aged 36.

Career Stops: Real Madrid (1999-current)

Current Campaign: La Liga: 19 games, eight clean sheets; Copa del Rey: three games, two clean sheets; Spanish Super Cup: two games; Champions League: five games

Video Showreel:

Scouting Guide: Despite being in his early 30s, Casillas remains as agile as he was when Europe first caught a glimpse of the talented stopper in his teenage years when he became Real's No. 1.

He hasn't given up the jersey until this season for good reason, either. He is athletic and reads the game excellently, proving a commanding presence in the box.

Despite his 6'1" frame—relatively short for a goalkeeper in the modern era—he is rarely intimidated. Ahead of Mourinho dropping him earlier this term, he did admittedly have a drop in form, but make no mistake, even at his worst, Casillas is a fine goalkeeper.

What's Next?

Now that Mourinho is leaving the Bernabeu, it should be a case of business as usual for Casillas. Be truthful, can we really imagine him leaving Real Madrid?

Whoever replaces the Portuguese manager will need to win over the dressing room instantly, and what better ally to have than club captain Casillas?

That said, Arsenal were rumored to be looking to make the most of the Mourinho-Casillas fallout, although the The Mirror's April report of a potential bid now seems rather premature.

In early May, Sky Sports reported that Casillas had no intention of leaving his boyhood club.

Ramses Barden Signing Won't Alter Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz Contract Disputes

Tyler Conway — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:18:59 -0400

The New York Giants' voluntary offseason workout program began earlier this week, but all everyone has been talking about is who Eli Manning would be throwing to.

Or, rather, who he wouldn't be throwing to.

New York's star duo of wide receivers, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, were both absent from the drills this week, suddenly leaving Manning with a dearth of familiar faces surrounding him.

On Thursday, the Giants made sure Eli will have at least one familiar face the next time the team convenes for OTAs. According to a press release by the team, wide receiver Ramses Barden officially re-signed with the club earlier in the day.

The full details of the contract were not released publicly. However, Mike Garafolo of USA Today is reporting the deal is for one year and the veteran's minimum:

The move had been expected to come for about the past 24 hours. It was reported earlier this week that Barden would arrive at Giants facilities on Thursday to undergo a physical, with the expectation of signing a new deal if all went well. He will immediately be eligible to join the team's offseason workouts, which will take place sparingly over the next few weeks.

Barden, a third-round pick by the Giants in 2009, spent each of his first four seasons in East Rutherford.

Though Barden said it was "probably best" for him to move on in February, it seems the harsh realities of NFL free agency changed his tune. Unable to land long-term deal this offseason, the 27-year-old Barden seemed more than happy to be back in the team's press release announcing the move:

I’m happy to be back. This is where I wanted to be and now I’m here. I was out there listening to the calls, getting back into the rhythm of the cadence, enjoying the camaraderie and absorbing everything. I remember everything; I’ve had four years to soak it all up. I’m happy to be back on the field. I feel great. I expect the best.

Barden may be happy to land a new NFL contract, but the Giants adding a player who didn't want to be there three months ago seems curious on the surface.

Then again, it doesn't take much time to figure out New York's motivations. By signing Barden to a minimum contract, the Giants are about as beholden to Barden as someone driving around a Rent-A-Car in an unfamiliar city. They can pay him for the days they use him, beat the hell out of him in the process and then ship him back off to the free-agent factory once they're done.

There is literally no risk.

What's more, as noted by ESPN's Adam Schefter, the uncertainty of when—or if—Cruz or Nicks will show up also created some urgency to get the deal done:

Both Giants receivers are looking for new, long-term contracts and it's unclear when—or if—either guy will show up this offseason.

Cruz, a Pro Bowler last season, was a restricted free agent this winter and did not receive a tender after the Giants placed a first-round value on prying him away. The answer to why Cruz didn't receive a tender from another team is one of those semi-collusionary things about the NFL I guess we're just supposed to ignore.

But Cruz is now stuck negotiating with the Giants for a long-term deal or simply playing out the 2013 season for $2.879 million. Because this is the NFL, where players usually dive on the money where they can, we know where this is headed. It's just taking a while to get there.

Nicks is a more curious case. He's in the last season of his five-year rookie contract, and there seemed to be some confusion as to why he wasn't at organized team activities this week. There had been reports that Nicks was holding out due to the contract dispute, but his agent quickly refuted those assertions to Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole on Thursday.

Still, it's become clear that the Giants want their top stars back in the fold. Manning spoke to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, this week and said Nicks and Cruz need to get to camp soon.

"You've still got to work on your timing," Manning said. "You’ve still got to work on the basics and everybody needs it. I need the basics. How many times have I thrown a hitch in my life? Or a curl route? I’ve still got to do it. I’ve still got to get those things and work them."

It would be easy, then, to draw the conclusion that the Giants signed Barden to send a message to their two stars.

Let's just end that mindless speculation now. Mr. Minimum will have no bearing on Nicks' or Cruz's contract situations. Both wideouts are too ingrained in the fabric of New York's offense to even be slightly threatened by Barden.

Barden, for lack of better term, is a warm body. His entire career contributions in four NFL seasons are 29 catches for 394 yards without a touchdown. He's best known to fantasy football players as that guy who blew up in Week 3 last season—nine catches for 138 yards—and was pretty much never heard from again.

While Barden is an athletic, big body at 6'6", four years is enough time to safely speculate superstardom isn't forthcoming. He's a very nice player and a committed worker who can help teach new players like Louis Murphy the offensive philosophy while the others are out getting their money.

He can be thrown in Nicks' role in organized team activities, working as a facsimile the way he did in Week 3 last season. To draw any other conclusions from this signing is beyond reaching; it's Gumbying.

Nicks and Cruz will show up to camp whenever the Giants choose to pay them. Barden's role (or lack thereof) won't speed up or slow down the process for a second.

Follow @tylerconway22

Notre Dame Football: Potential Superstars Who Have Yet To Shine

Jesse Reed — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:17:51 -0400

Every season, players leave college for the NFL ranks, and every season another crop of young players rises up to take their place.

The Notre Dame Football program, led by head coach Brian Kelly, features some up-and-coming stars that have yet to hit their stride on the field. It won't take long once the games begin this fall, however, for these young men to become household names across the nation.

These players will emerge as the next batch of Golden Domers who will excel at the college level and eventually take their talents to the next level.

Jarrett Grace, Inside Linebacker

Grace has the unenviable task of following in Manti Te'o's legendary footsteps as the team's inside linebacker in 2013. Fans of the Fighting Irish should prepare themselves to start falling in love with this young man, however, because he has what it takes to become a star.

Studying behind Te'o for the past couple of years, Grace has learned much.

ESPN's Joe Schad recently talked to the young man, who learned how to "attack the field with a purpose" from Te'o. He has also been studying Luke Kuechly and intends on becoming a "tackling machine":

According to Sean Stires of IrishSportsDaily.com, Grace has impressed defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who said of his new linebacker:

He's got good speed and good change of direction. Intangibly he's got a great sense for where the ball's gonna end up. He's got a good feel in coverage. He's got a good feel for fitting the runs, so we're excited about what we have there.

Undoubtably, Grace will benefit from having Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt clogging up the lanes in front of him. He's as ready as he'll ever be to take over the role Te'o owned the past couple of years, and by all accounts he's ready to have a monster season in 2013.

James Onwualu, Wide Receiver

Incoming freshman Onwualu has a chance this year to make an incredible impact on this team's offense. A first-team All-State running back in high school, Onwualu is the most explosive playmaker on the roster right now.

Keith Arnold of NBCSports.com profiled Onwualu earlier this year and praised the young man's natural talent, intangibles and big-play abilities:

With natural size and speed (Onwualu trained daily, but never lifted weights), he was a powerful player that’ll only get bigger, stronger and faster now that he’s in a collegiate training program...Dangerous with the ball in his hands, even if he doesn’t have elite top-end speed.

With strong intangibles off the field, Onwualu was an early offer by the Irish coaching staff...With depth at running back and wide receiver not overflowing, finding a place for Onwualu should be easy enough.

An early enrollee, he's had a chance to get acclimated to the demands of Kelly's offensive scheme.

At this time, according to Rivals.com, Onwualu is behind starter T.J. Jones on the depth chart. Jones, while effective as a pass-catcher, isn't an explosive receiver. He caught 50 passes for 649 yards (13.0 yards per reception) last year and hauled in four touchdowns.

If given the chance to play, Onwualu would become a favorite big-play target for quarterback Everett Golson.

Ishaq Williams, Outside Linebacker/Defensive End

Jason McIntyre of TheBigLead.com recently mocked Williams to the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 32 overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft. In response, SI.com's George Dohrmann suggested on Twitter that McIntyre hadn't watched much Notre Dame football in 2012:

Perhaps McIntyre has simply been paying attention to what's being said about Williams heading into the 2013, rather than looking to the past.

Nix and Tuitt are the top defensive players for Notre Dame in 2013, to be sure. That said, don't be surprised if Williams ends up joining these two behemoths as a potential first-round pick for the 2014 NFL draft.

The former 5-star recruit out of Brooklyn hasn't been a factor for the Irish the past couple of years. He lacked the strength and technique to make his presence felt on to the field, and in two years he has only logged 28 total tackles.

That doesn't mean he's a bust, however.

Kelly likes to develop his players properly, and he doesn't play them until they're ready to shine.

According to Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune, the time for Williams to shine could be now after speaking with Diaco:

"Ishaq is starting to come into his own," Diaco said of the 6-5, 255-pound junior from Brooklyn, N.Y. "I don't want to heap a bunch of pressure on him as it relates to the fall of 2013, but he's starting to learn how to prepare professionally in practice and in meetings."

"There's so much more effort involved in his play, so much more intensity," Diaco said. "He's playing lower. He got stronger. When he kind of unlocks now on a player in block destruction and tackling, and in his different jobs, even if it's just accelerating on push rush, it looks different. It's a more sudden, a more explosive moment, not only based on strength but also energy."

Should Williams come into his own as the player Notre Dame thought he'd become a few years ago, it's not inconceivable to think the team's defense could be even more dominant up front than it was in 2012.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown 2013: Schedule, Special Guests, Dates, and Locations

Alex Kay — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:10:51 -0400

NBA Nation has teamed up with Sprite for an exciting tour across America this summer.

This thrilling roadshow will feature a number of NBA players, some former greats, celebrities, dancers and other entertainers making eight stops in eight different cities from late May through mid-July.

The highlight will certainly be the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown, in which local contestants will be competing to win $2,500 and a chance to contend in the national championship with $10,000 on the line.

There’s also stuff for do for those of you without aerial skills, as the Kevin Durant Unlimited Free Throw Competition, Steve Nash Fast Break Challenge and other events will be available for participants to compete in and win prizes.

Keep reading to find out where you can attend these awesome events, which special guests and celebrities will be present in each city, the players that are scheduled to be in attendance and more.

*Info and Photos courtesy of NBANation (NBA.com)

Full Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown and NBANation Schedule, Special Guests, Locations and More

*Tour stop info provided by NBA.com, please check for updated and detailed player and celebrity scheduling.

San Francisco

Where: Carnaval San Francisco

When: Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26

Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Admission: Free

Special Guests/Events

DJ D Sharp, Terrence Ross, Darryl Dawkins

Local Team Appearances

Harrison Barnes, Festus Ezeli, Kent Bazemore, Flying Dubs and Warrior Girls

Los Angeles

Where: Universal CityWalk

When: Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2

Time: 12 – 8 p.m.

Admission: Free

Special Guests/Events

DJ Dense, Power 106 Flava Unit, DJ P-JAY, Darren Collison, Darryl Dawkins, Power 106 All-Star Game

Local Team Appearances

L.A. ClipPercussion, Clippers Spirit Dance Team, Laker Girls

Charlotte

Where: Taste of Charlotte

When: Friday, June 7 through Sunday, June 9

Time: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. (June 7 and June 8), 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (June 9)

Admission: Free

Special Guests/Events

N/A

Local Team Appearances

N/A

Chicago

Where: Taste of Randolph

When: Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16

Time: 12 – 10 p.m.

Admission: Free

Special Guests/Events

N/A

Local Team Appearances

Taj Gibson, Marquis Teague

Washington D.C.

Where: Safeway Barbecue Battle

When: Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23

Time: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (June 22), 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (June 23)

Admission Cost: $15 (at gate), Free (children under 5)

Special Guests/Events

Jeff Green

Local Team Appearances

Bradley Beal

East Rutherford

Where: State Fair Meadowlands

When: Friday, June 28 through Sunday, June 30

Time: 6 – 11 p.m. (June 28), 2 – 11 p.m. (June 29), 2 – 10 p.m. (June 30)

Admission Cost: $9 (adults), $7 (children)

Special Guests/Events

N/A

Local Team Appearances

Tyshawn Taylor

Philadelphia

Where: Wawa Welcome America! Taste of Philadelphia

When: Friday, July 5 through Sunday, July 7

Time: 12 – 10 p.m. (July 5 and July 6), 12 – 3 p.m. (July 7)

Admission Cost: Free

Special Guests/Events

N/A

Local Team Appearances

N/A

Dallas

Where: Taste of Dallas

When: Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14

Time: 4 – 11 p.m. (July 12), 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (July 13), 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (July 14)

Admission Cost: $10 (adults), Free (children under 5)

Special Guests/Events

Jeremy Evans

Local Team Appearances

N/A

Nick Saban's Non-Committable Offers Show How Alabama Doesn't Recruit, It Drafts

Barrett Sallee — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:09:11 -0400

With three straight 247Sports.com composite recruiting titles under his belt, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has established himself as not only the best coach in the country, but also the nation's unquestioned king of recruiting.

Just how good is it these days for Saban?

According to Mike Herndon of AL.com, Saban told fans at a Crimson Caravan event in Orange Beach, Ala., that all of Alabama's offers to quarterbacks in the class of 2014 are non-committable until Saban sees them work out personally at Alabama's camp.

It is our philosophy at certain positions that we really like to learn a lot about players and one of the best ways to learn about a player is when they come and visit you, because you're limited in terms of the contact you can have with them off-campus. To get some of them to come here in the summer I think is a really big tool in evaluation as well as an opportunity to get to know guys, to see if they have the right character and attitude to fit in your program.

Sure, the words "non-committable" and "offer" contradict each other, but semantics aren't exactly important in the recruiting game. After all, a commitment isn't a commitment until national signing day.

As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution points out, non-committable offers aren't uncommon—especially at quarterback. In fact, it's good business.

In this case, it speaks to the power of the Alabama football program.

Two players mentioned in the AJC that have non-committable offers from Alabama are 247Sports.com 4-star Clemson commit Deshaun Watson—the fourth-best pro-style quarterback in the composite index, and 4-star pro-style prospect Tyler Harris from Blackshear, Ga.

These aren't exactly no-name prospects who are destined to be buried on college depth charts. These are two studs who already have offers from several schools and will receive plenty more between now and signing day.

Former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley said it best before his team hosted the Crimson Tide in 2012 (via: AL.com):

"They draft, we recruit," Dooley said. "And they get the first 25 picks of the draft."

In the case of Alabama's 2014 recruiting efforts, it's also a situation caused by numbers.

Starting quarterback AJ McCarron will exhaust his eligibility after the 2013 season, leaving Alec Morris, Blake Sims and Cooper Bateman as the primary competitors for the quarterback spot in 2014. That's a lot of competition for any incoming freshman, but McCarron's departure certainly makes Alabama a little more attractive to any quarterback in the upcoming recruiting class.

Since Saban insists on evaluating quarterbacks on campus prior to truly issuing a scholarship offer, it's as much a matter of selecting the quarterback as it is recruiting.

In other words, the situation is a coach's dream.

Alabama's recruiting efforts, success on the field and ability to send players to the NFL through the draft—22 over the last three seasons—have created the perfect recruiting scenario.

While non-committable offers are common, not every school can get away with them. Whether a prospect is interested in championships, draft status or playing time, Alabama can offer it up in 2014.

That's scary.

Follow @BarrettSallee

Why David Otunga's Legal Background Needs to Be Used More

Ryan Dilbert — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:07:27 -0400

With as loathed as lawyers are by some people, it's a surprise WWE isn't tapping into that hatred more often by using David Otunga as an on-screen legal figure.

WWE fans haven’t seen much of Otunga in the ring lately. He has been busy being in and promoting the movie The Call, speaking to middle school kids and other out-of-the-ring duties.

If WWE chooses to bring him back anytime soon, his real-life background in law is a treasure chest of heel heat. Zeb Colter gave WWE an idea for a potential Otunga storyline with the following tweet:

Otunga, as WWE fans have heard him say on TV several times, attended Harvard Law School. Kevin Pang of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "Otunga did pass the bar exam. And if entertainment doesn't work out, he has that degree from Harvard as a fallback."

No one would fault him if he did as Pang said and "fell back" on his Harvard education, but the real world is already teeming with lawyers. The WWE world, however, could use an attorney character to drum up hatred and stir up the crowd. There is a ready-made villain under that sweater vest, one that WWE should utilize.

From Irwin R. Schyster playing on the crowd's negativity toward the I.R.S. to Vince McMahon reminding fans of their overbearing bosses, WWE has a long history of using archetypes of people from society that the general public distrusts and dislikes.

Making Otunga's legal background into his gimmick as a wrestler would be difficult to prevent from being corny. Think back to Barry Darsow's turn as Repo Man. Instead of heading back that road, WWE can make use of Otunga's smooth-talking ways and real-life background to have the company's resident attorney be a prominent figure in storylines and backstage segments.

Otunga's scenes as Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez's legal advisor are just a preview of the kinds of things WWE can do with him.

Otunga is equally irritating and smug here. Combining those qualities with him creating unfair concessions and loopholes for WWE's heels could make him one of the most hated men on the roster.

Have him work for Superstars trying to get new contracts. Have him finagle management into giving guys title shots and rematches. This way Otunga's presence doesn't take away from someone else, it enhances other guys on the roster.

Even though he hasn't been around in recent months, fans know who he is and so WWE doesn't have to create a character from scratch. WWE has already built the foundation for the kind of exasperation and anger Otunga can stir up. The company just needs to add on to it, to ignite the existing sparks.

WWE needs a variety of villains. It needs its monsters, psychos, narcissists and weasels. A villainous attorney adds depth to that mix.

Reemphasizing Otunga's legal background can better the product as he gets under our collective skin like only a lawyer can.

Best NFL QBs the SEC Has Produced

Ian Berg — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:05:34 -0400

The SEC is a factory for NFL talent that has produced some of the most talented quarterbacks to play in the pros.

Guys like Joe Namath and Peyton Manning will be remembered as some of the game’s best at the position. They won big in college and continued their success in the pros.

There are some players working on becoming future legends, but these names have solidified their legacies as the best quarterbacks in conference and NFL history.

This is a look at the six best to depart the SEC and land in the NFL.

Begin Slideshow

Michigan Football: Ranking Toughest Games on 2013 Schedule

Rob Goldberg — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:05:29 -0400

Michigan will look to get back to a BCS bowl next season, but there are a bunch of tough opponents who stand in the team's way.

The Wolverines certainly have a lot of promise in 2013. A full year with Devin Gardner at quarterback should help create a more balanced offence, especially with Taylor Lewan blocking his blind side. Meanwhile, the defense should continue to improve under Brady Hoke.

However, there are difficult games on the schedule starting as early as August. While Michigan should be able to get a lot of wins this season, these are going to be the most daunting matchups of the year.

5. Michigan State (Road), Nov. 2

Going on the road against an in-state rival will always be a tough game. Michigan finally ended a four-game losing streak against the Spartans last season and is looking to build a new winning streak this year.

The problem is that Michigan State still has one of the top defenses in the country and will be tough to score against. This game could end up being similar to last year's 12-10 victory for the Wolverines.

Fortunately, the Spartans struggled on offense all year in 2012 and lost their best offensive weapon in Le'Veon Bell. It is unlikely the squad improves on that side of the ball this year, giving Michigan a good chance of earning a road victory.

4. Nebraska (Home), Nov. 9

Nebraska is very likely to be Michigan's biggest threat to come out of the Legends Division. Taylor Martinez is heading into his senior season as one of the best rushing quarterbacks in the country with an improved passing game.

Adding in some talented running backs like Ameer Abdullah will make this offense incredibly difficult to defend.

While the defense is still improving, it is clear that the Cornhuskers are one of the teams to beat in the Big Ten this year.

The good news, however, is that Michigan gets to play this game at home in the Big House, where the team won every game last season. All four of Nebraska's losses last season were away from home, so it gives Michigan a much better chance of winning.

3. Penn State (Road), Oct. 12

Few expected Penn State to be as good as it was last season. In Bill O'Brien's first year as head coach, the squad went 8-4 with the No. 16-ranked defense in the country.

While the Nittany Lions are still ineligible for the postseason, they should be even better this year with an improved young roster and an infusion of young talent in the most recent recruiting class.

This is one of Michigan's first Big Ten games and it could be a quick loss for the Wolverines if they are not prepared to go into Happy Valley. Penn State is clearly their toughest road game of the year, so they must be ready for a battle.

2. Notre Dame (Home), Sept. 7

Notre Dame lost a lot of talent from last year's team that went to the national championship game, but there are plenty of players ready to pick up the slack.

Most importantly, Everett Golson returns as the team's undisputed starting quarterback and should have more confidence heading into the year. The young player was relatively mistake-free down the stretch and will look to continue that this season.

This experience will play a big role in the second game of the season. He was certainly less than stellar last year when these teams played, which gave Michigan a chance of winning.

On the other hand, Gardner will still be coming into his own and could struggle against a strong defensive front for the Irish. If the young offensive line is not ready to compete, it will be destroyed by defensive tackle Louis Nix and the rest of the Notre Dame defense.

1. Ohio State (Home), Nov. 30

Every year, this is the game that is circled when the schedule comes out. This season, the game might be even more important, as Ohio State looks to challenge for a national championship.

Braxton Miller is clearly one of the top players in the country with his ability as a passer and runner. He finished last season with over 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards and is always a threat to make a big play.

Additionally, the Buckeyes defense will be just as strong with quick pass-rushers and playmakers in the secondary to force turnovers.

Either this game will be a final test for the Wolverines to clinch their division or it will be a chance for them to play spoiler against their biggest rivals. Either way, this will be a big one to watch.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

Serena Williams Will Parlay Hot Play into 2nd French Open Title

Mike Chiari — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:01:05 -0400

As the No. 1-ranked female player in the world, it should come as no surprise that Serena Williams is considered the favorite heading into the French Open. While Serena actually hasn't had a ton of success at Roland Garros over the years, her recent play suggests that a second title is on the horizon.

Serena has been nearly unbeatable this year with a 36-2 record. In fact, both of her losses were the direct result of an injury as she was hobbled by a back injury in an Australian Open loss to Sloane Stephens and was forced to bow out of the Dubai Tennis Championships with the same ailment.

It almost seems like the only person who can beat Serena is Serena herself. She has five titles to her credit this year and has rolled past top contenders such as Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova in recent weeks. No female player is competing at a level that rivals Williams right now.

Clay has never been Serena's best surface, but she has been dominant on it in 2013. Her loss to Virginie Razzano in the first round of last year's French Open may very well have been a turning point in her career. Serena went on an absolute tear after that loss, winning Wimbledon, a gold medal in the Olympics and the U.S. Open.

No player in all of tennis has been as locked in as Serena over the past year, and all it took was a shocking upset to make it happen. Based on the way Serena is playing right now, it's tough to imagine a repeat occurring at Roland Garros. She is too focused and is playing too consistently to let her guard down this time around.

Although Melissa Isaacson of ESPN.com is right when she says that Williams has nothing to prove in the French Open, Serena may very well feel otherwise.

Serena has won only one French Open title and that was way back in 2002. That means she hasn't triumphed at Roland Garros in more than a decade, so she probably has a chip on her shoulder. Serena has multiple victories in every other Grand Slam tournament and would certainly love to pick up another in the French Open.

Williams' game isn't exactly crafted to excel on clay, but there aren't any clay-court specialists who can hurt her. Since Justine Henin won three straight at Roland Garros from 2005 through 2007, there have been five different winners. Williams can overpower the other power players such as Azarenka and Sharapova, and the clay-court players don't have enough weapons.

Unless Williams suffers an injury at some point during the tournament, she is poised to conquer her French Open demons. It's incredibly rare for someone to play their best tennis at the age of 31, but it can certainly be argued that Serena is doing precisely that. It's almost as if she is playing in a different league than her competitors.

There have been times in the past when it seemed impossible for Serena to lose, yet she found a way to falter. That is obviously a present danger, but there seems to be something different about Williams right now. If her recent success is any indication, Serena won't be denied at Roland Garros.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Indy 500 Starting Grid: Top Qualifiers That Will Struggle Sunday

Donald Wood — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:59:22 -0400

The 97th Indy 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, and the excitement surrounding the race has shifted to the starting grid and which top qualifiers will struggle at the biggest IndyCar race of the year.

With 33 cars lining up to vie for the win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a car and driver qualifying well doesn’t mean they will be able to sustain that position with every other competitor breathing down their necks.

All of the following drivers performed well in qualifying—earning their way into the Fast Nine—but will be overtaken by better drivers behind them in the starting order.

Full Indy 500 Starting Grid

Grid Spot	Driver	Four-Lap Average (MPH)
1	Ed Carpenter	228.762
2	Carlos Munoz	228.342
3	Marco Andretti	228.261
4	E.J. Viso	228.150
5	A.J. Allmendinger	228.099
6	Will Power	228.087
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay	227.904
8	Helio Castroneves	227.762
9	James Hinchcliffe	227.070
10	JR Hildebrand	227.441
11	Alex Tagliani	227.386
12	Tony Kanaan	226.949
13	Oriol Servia	226.814
14	Justin Wilson	226.370
15	Sebastien Bourdais	226.196
16	Scott Dixon	226.158
17	Dario Franchitti	226.069
18	Takuma Sato	225.892
19	Charlie Kimball	225.880
20	James Jakes	225.809
21	Simon Pagenaud	225.674
22	Townsend Bell	225.643
23	Ryan Briscoe	225.265
24	Simona De Silvestro	225.226
25	Josef Newgarden	226.731
26	Graham Rahal	225.007
27	Sebastian Saavedra	224.929
28	Tristian Vautier (R)	224.873
29	Ana Beatriz	224.184
30	Pippa Mann	224.005
31	Conor Daly (R)	223.582
32	Buddy Lazier	223.442
33	Katherine Legge	223.176

* Qualifying results and starting grid via Indy 500's official website.

Top Qualifiers That Will Struggle

Ed Carpenter

Despite qualifying on the pole, IndyCar veteran Ed Carpenter will not have the dream run that anyone starting from the front thinks about. There is a chance Carpenter finishes in the top 10, and driver and his team would consider that a success.

After just two top-10 finishes in nine career starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway—his best finish was fifth in 2008 with Vision Racing—there is no reason to expect a better finish from a racer that has finished 11th three times.

Carpenter is also racing for his own team now and likely put all of his eggs into the qualifying basket. When it comes to Sunday’s race, the veteran will be lucky to finish in the top 10.

E.J. Viso

While there is no discounting how exciting it is for E.J. Viso and the Andretti Autosport/HVM Racing teams that Viso was able to fun the fourth-fastest lap in qualifying, it's where he will finish that should have everyone worried.

Viso has started the Indy 500 five times—finishing 24th or worse in four of the five chances—and only managed his best finish last season, taking home 18th-place honors.

The hope from the driver and his team is that the lessons learned over the years will help him maintain throughout the race and have a solid finish, but the track record for Viso speaks volumes about where he’ll end up finishing.

Ryan Hunter-Reay

The excitement surrounding Ryan Hunter-Reay and his seventh-place starting position has the entire Andretti Autosport team and IndyCar fanbase at a fever pitch, but this grid spot comes with a caveat: This driver doesn't finish races well.

Hunter-Reay has been eligible to race the Indy 500 for five years since he left the Rahal Letterman Racing team, and he has never finished better than 18th in that time.

As great as his sixth-place finish was in 2008—Hunter-Reay’s first chance at the illustrious track—the lack of success since then is indicative of what race fans should expect this time around as well.

Follow @Donald_Wood

Comparing LeBron James' Playoff Buzzer-Beating Shots to Michael Jordan's Best

Dan Favale — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:56:13 -0400

There is no escaping the LeBron James and Michael Jordan comparisons. None whatsoever.

LeBron and Jordan are two of the best—arguably the two best—players the NBA has ever seen, forever destined to be pitted against one another.

But while the debate as to who the better player overall is rolls on, the postseason opens up a realm of other possibilities.

Championship rings are the ultimate barometer for a player's success; they're the tangible hardware through which most (all?) legacies are measured against.

Equally as telling is a player's performance in the clutch, when the game is on the line. Those moments are big, so big the NBA has built an entire campaign around it. No-names become stars; stars become legends; and history is written. That's clutch.

The Chosen One has laid claim to more than his fair share of accolades with the outcome of the game in his hands. Once considered the most prolific choke artist of the generation, his image has since transcended most criticism.

Is what LeBron has done in the clutch during the postseason thus far comparable to that of His Airness?

Titles tell part of the story, just not all of it.

What is "Clutch?"

There are countless definitions of what it means to be "clutch."

Some interpretations are more common than others and there are also those who are a bit to cavalier with the term.

LeBron was clutch for his most recent Game 1 winner against the Indiana Pacers, Jordan was clutch for his NBA Finals-winning shot against the Utah Jazz in 1998 and Steve Nash was clutch for handing Metta World Peace a towel to wipe his face with what he had just used on his sweaty armpits.

So, what is clutch?

For our main focus here—buzzer beaters/game winners—we're going to use the criteria provided by ESPN's Alok Pattani (via Henry Abbott of ESPN.com):

-Playoff games only (no regular season)

-Go-ahead or game-tying shot attempts (free throws, turnovers and the like were ignored)

-Final 24 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime

Simple enough?

Good.

LeBron James and Michael Jordan By The Numbers

Advanced analytics have never been more popular to employ. Which is awesome. It also means that clutch playoff statistics for Jordan are hard to come by.

Luckily for us, Pattani has us covered there as well.

According to Pattani, Jordan was 9-of-18 for his career in our playoff version of clutch.

A 50 percent clip on such shots is simply outstanding. As of 2011, when this data was compiled, the NBA shot just 27.8 percent with the game on the line as a whole. Jordan nearly doubled that.

Right up through to 2011, only Kobe Bryant attempted more postseason shots in the clutch. He put up 25, hitting on just seven (28 percent).

Only four other players managed to knock down 50 percent of their clutch attempts during that time as well (Ray Allen, Michael Finley, Tayshaun Prince and Robert Horry). None of them put up more than 12 such shots.

In fact, Jordan was the only player who attempted at least 13 shots and managed to even hit on 42 percent or more of them.

But this isn't 2011 anymore. This is 2013. The data has had time to change. It's LeBron's league now.

Per ESPN.com, since LeBron entered the league in 2003, he has hit on the highest number of clutch field goals in the NBA. Thus far, he is 7-of-16 on those shots, good for a 43.8 percent clip, significantly lower than Jordan's.

LeBron's average is still well above that of the league's, though. As of now, the NBA average on these clutch shots is just 28.3 percent. LeBron's clip is more than 15 percentage points above that.

Below is a chart that shows how LeBron has stacked up against some of the NBA's best in this clutch department since entering the league. Jordan's career clip is also included.

Player	Makes	Attempts	FG%
Michael Jordan	9	18	50
LeBron James	7	16	43.8
Kevin Durant	5	12	41.7
Dirk Nowitzki	5	12	41.7
Kobe Bryant	5	17	29.4

Once again we find Jordan on a whole other level. Even more so than LeBron.

That said, Jordan shot 50 percent for his career. How did he fare through his first 10 seasons?

Jordan's concluded his 10th season in 1995. Per Chasing23.com, Jordan was 6-of-10 in the clutch for the postseason through his first 10 years. His 60 percent clip trounces LeBron's 43.8.

If we were to break it down even further to see how he fared through his first 16 attempts—the number LeBron is currently at—it gets a little bit closer.

Jordan hit on eight of his first 16 clutch attempts in the playoffs, just one more than LeBron. Though that gives him a 50 percent ratio to LeBron's 43.8, one shot really isn't that much of a difference. So Kudos to LeBron.

Still, Jordan was able to maintain a 50 percent conversion rate for his career, which is beyond impressive.

Will LeBron be able to elevate his current numbers and do the same, or perhaps even better?

We'll just have to wait and see.

The Made Shots Themselves

It's time for us to move beyond the numerical side of clutch and award style points.

LeBron and Jordan have 16 clutch postseason makes between them, all of which were fun to watch and will be thrilling to relive.

Our grading criteria will consist of us evaluating the difficulty. Layups obviously aren't as tough as a fadeaway, and fadeaways aren't as hard as blind-folded half-court heaves.

You get the point.

Now, onward.

Michael Jordan's Makes

1985 NBA Playoffs vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Down by one with 25 seconds remaining in Game 3 of a first-round series against the Bucks, Jordan came off a screen and hit a strong-side half-fadeaway.

Admittedly, it wasn't that difficult. Jordan didn't have to create space for himself and was wide open on the catch.

That in mind, his release was both quick and perfect. It doesn't hurt that he ripped the bottom of the net on it either.

Grade: B

1989 NBA Playoffs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

You're going to get double your money's worth on this one.

With the Chicago Bulls first-round series against the Cavaliers notched up at two games apiece, Jordan hit a two to put his Bulls up by one.

It wasn't especially impressive. Not that it wasn't awesome, because it was. But Jordan was able to create space without a ball or head fake. The moment was far more difficult than the shot.

Grade: B-

Craig Ehlo wasn't going down without a fight, though. His path to the rim went basically unimpeded and was able to hit a layup. The Cavs had regained the lead.

With just three seconds remaining, Jordan caught the inbounds pass. He took two dribbles to his left before elevating for a pull-up jumper over Ehlo. And he drilled—in style.

Seriously, he hung in the air forever. It doesn't get (much) better.

Grade: A

1989 NBA Playoffs vs. Detroit Pistons

With nine seconds remaining against the Pistons in Game 3 of the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals, Jordan went to work.

He caught the ball near the timeline, went right and buried a shot off the glass to give the Bulls the lead with three seconds remaining.

Though he had some space, he wasn't afforded the best of angles. He also had more time to get close to the rim.

Once again we saw him use his excessive air time to his advantage, though, getting enough of a look so that he could heave it in off the glass.

Just a great shot by an even greater player.

Grade: A-

1991 NBA Playoffs vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Chicago was down two with just under 11 seconds remaining in Game 3 of the 1991 NBA Finals, so what did the Bulls do? Give the ball to Jordan.

His Airness took it the length of the floor—which would never happen today with only 10.9 seconds remaining—and pulls up for a shot to tie the game.

At first glance, it looks easy. But it wasn't. Not even close. The 7'1" Vlade Divac nearly blocked it.

You try hitting that shot, even just for fun. Tell me how it turns out.

Grade: A-

1993 NBA Playoffs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Ehlo and the Cavs just couldn't catch a break.

Chicago and Cleveland were tied at 101 points a piece with only 18.5 seconds to play in Game 4 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jordan got the ball with around seven seconds remaining.

After being nearly stripped he fades and drains the game/series winner over two Cleveland defenders. Why? Because he's Jordan.

This one really makes you wonder: Were any of Jordan's clutch playoff shots even close to gimmes?

1996 NBA Playoffs vs. New York Knicks

Jordan loved to play at Madison Square Garden.

Down by three points inside a half-minute to play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jordan took one dribble to the right before drilling a fadeaway three over his defender to tie the game with just 19.4 seconds to play.

Contested threes are never good looks (unless you're Stephen Curry). Jordan's body was actually falling away from the basket, making this even more complicated a shot.

Do we think he should have tried to get closer? Absolutely. But he made it, so it doesn't matter.

The Knicks went on to win the game in overtime, but Jordan's shot is etched in the memories of New Yorkers everywhere. Trust me.

Grade: A-

1997 NBA Playoffs vs. Utah Jazz

MJ also liked to torment the Jazz too.

Tied at 82 in Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Jordan rose up like he had so many times before and knocked down a two as time expired to give Chicago a victory

There's really no such thing as a "bad" or "easy" buzzer beater, but compared to the others, this was child's play for Jordan.

Oh, and poor Bryon Russell.

Grade: B-

1998 NBA Playoffs vs. Utah Jazz

The final shot of Jordan's career was amazing. It would have been even more amazing if it was actually his final shot. But anyway...

Trailing by one, Jordan stole the ball with about 20 seconds to go. He dribbled up the floor, showing left. Instead, he went back to his right toward the middle of the floor. And then he changed directions again, crossing over to his left hand and pulling his body back in the process.

Jordan's defender fell and the rest is history. He gave the Bulls a one-point lead with 5.2 seconds remaining and went onto to win his sixth and final NBA championship.

Like I said, poor Bryon Russell.

Grade: A+

LeBron James' Makes

2006 NBA Playoffs vs. Washington Wizards

Trailing 96-95 with just 23.4 seconds left in Game 3 of the first round, LeBron found himself with the ball in his hands. He walked it up the floor as the seconds ticked off the block before getting into the paint where a slew of defenders awaited.

Somehow, LeBron got that shot off. And somehow, it went in.

It was the first postseason-game winner of his career. What a way to usher himself into the playoffs.

Grade: A+

2006 NBA Playoffs vs. Washington Wizards

Cleveland was down by one with just 3.6 seconds remaining in Game 5 of the first round when LeBron went beast mode.

He caught the ball on the weak side, dribbled into about four Wizards and still managed to finish at the rim to give the Cavs the lead with just 0.9 seconds to play.

This appears to be a much easier look than Jordan ever got, and to an extent it was. LeBron still had to make his way out from under the basket and convert in traffic, though. That he was able to find enough space to do so in just 3.6 seconds is incredible.

Grade: B+

2007 NBA Playoffs vs. Detroit Pistons

Let's go two for the money again, shall we?

In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cavs were down two with just 22.9 seconds left on the clock. LeBron walked the ball up the floor and went right at Tayshaun Prince. He got the first step and was able to lay the ball in for an easy two with 9.5 seconds to play.

I say "easy," because that's really what this was. The pressure was real; Prince's defense was not.

Grade: B-

There was just over 11 seconds to play in this double-overtime thriller when LeBron took Chauncey Billups and the rest of the Pistons to school.

James dribbled his way into the paint and hit a go-ahead layup with under three seconds remaining to lock up a Game 5 victory for his Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The finish wasn't what was impressive. It was how James got there. He split four defenders, cutting his way through Billups, Richard Hamilton Jason Maxiell and Prince. So while the look was easy, the work he did to get it wasn't simple at all.

Grade: B

2009 NBA Playoffs vs. Orlando Magic

This was easily my favorite of LeBron's.

Cleveland trailed by two in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals with just one second left on the clock. LeBron caught the inbounds and drilled a deep three to give the Cavs a one-point victory.

Why so impressive? Because this wasn't the 2012-13 campaign when LeBron knocked down over 40 percent of his treys. This was the 2009 playoffs, when he was converting on just a third of his shots from downtown.

LeBron barely had time to catch the ball and his body wasn't even squared toward the basket, yet he still nailed it.

Absolutely sensational.

Grade: A+

2013 NBA Playoffs vs. Indiana Pacers

You're getting double your money's worth again.

Tied at 99 in overtime, LeBron took the ball into the paint and would not be denied. He put in a layup to give the Heat a two-point lead with 10.8 seconds left.

Layups are rarely ever impressive, but LeBron survived a reach-in by David West and perhaps a head-tap by George Hill to get the job done.

No, it wasn't especially difficult. Compared to what you're about to see though, it most certainly was.

Grade: B-

This is still fresh in our minds (I hope).

Miami was trailing the Pacers by one with just 2.2 seconds to play. Paul George cheated to his right and LeBron went left upon catching the inbounds. He reached the basket completely unimpeded to lift the Heat to a victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

What LeBron did here took great instincts. He knew exactly where to go and how much time he had to get there. But this was underwhelming. It was as if the Pacers wanted him to score. With Roy Hibbert—their best shot-blocker—sitting on the bench, I'm not entirely convinced they didn't.

Nothing against LeBron here, but we've seen better—especially from him.

Grade: C+

Who Has Hit the More Difficult Clutch Shots in the Playoffs?

There really isn't a question.

Most of LeBron's looks came right at the rim, while Jordan predominately buried jumpers. One could argue Jordan settled for those jumpers—and they'd be correct for the most part—but he still had to hit them. And he did.

This isn't to say that LeBron's clutch makes aren't clutch or even impressive enough. They are. Jordan's were just better. Some of them—the ones that came in the NBA Finals—meant more to his team's postseason cause, too.

Appreciate what we're currently bearing witness too. LeBron is tearing it up; he's putting on a show. Just remember that there was someone who did exactly what he was doing not to long ago.

And did it even better.

Follow @danfavale

*All stats from this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference, ESPN.com and NBA.com unless otherwise attributed.

Top 2013 NBA Draft Prospects with the Most Long-Term Upside

Jonathan Wasserman — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:52:50 -0400

Long-term upside is another way of talking about a prospect's ceiling.

A ceiling is the best-possible player a prospect can become. But it usually takes a while to get there, which is why we call it long-term upside.

Though these players have the highest ceilings and upsides, it doesn't make them the six best prospects. Victor Oladipo is likely to get selected before Alex Len, though if they both reach their ceilings, Alex Len will end up the better player.

These are the guys who could end up being the top players from this draft if they all reach their NBA ceilings.

Begin Slideshow

David Luiz: How the Chelsea Defender Became One of the Best in Europe

Joe Krishnan — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:48:55 -0400

Many football followers will remember transfer deadline day of January 2011 for Fernando Torres' £50 million transfer from Liverpool to Chelsea, and rightfully so. It was the British transfer record, after all.

But another Chelsea signing slipped right through the net. Few seem to recall that a certain frizzy-haired Brazilian also made a significant career leap on the very same day.

Benfica defender David Luiz joined Chelsea in a £25 million deal, which saw reserve player Nemanja Matic move to the Lisbon-based club. This was the beginning of something great at Stamford Bridge.

While Torres was very much seen as the typical marquee signing made by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, due to the nature and the cost Luiz was the top transfer target for Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge of the Blues at the time.

The Italian coach must have seen the potential in the Brazilian, splashing out a hefty amount that easily trounced the Blues' previous record transfer for a defender, which was their signing of Porto centre back Ricardo Carvalho for £19 million in 2004.

It's fair to say Luiz had a bumpy start to his Chelsea career, giving away a 93rd-minute penalty—which was saved by Petr Cech—on his full debut during the 0-0 draw against Fulham.

But one brilliant aspect about having the madcap defender in the Premier League is that you always receive exhibitions of his best and worst qualities. Despite almost costing his side a crucial away point, Luiz was chosen as the Man of the Match for his overall performance.

It's easy to see how similar Carvalho and Luiz are. They are not just connected by their large transfer fees. Luiz operates with the same erratic style that made Carvalho a household name in the Premier League. This, however, can lead to him being caught out by the defence.

He always plays with a smile on his face and his attitude towards football is something to be admired, with the 26-year-old shedding tears after Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Corinthians in the Club World Cup final.

The natural passion that Brazilian players have for the game highlights why signing players from the region usually pays off. Their work ethic, technical ability and desire to progress gives some insight into why Brazilians are so successful in the Premier League.

Luiz also represents the upcoming breed of modern style centre backs. Standing at 6'2", he possesses great ability in the air. Despite his height, he shows confidence in his ability with the ball at his feet.

Additionally, having him play from the back is key to Chelsea's build-up. The ex-Vitoria man has shown on numerous occassions that he is capable of slicing the opposition open with a slick pass; the highlight being a pinpoint 60-yard pass to Fernando Torres, which the Spaniard finished, against Rubin Kazan.

No doubt the biggest improvement in David Luiz's game has been in the set-pieces department. Using his famed side-foot technique to strike the ball, Luiz has scored some stunning free-kicks, with his most recent coming in the final moments against FC Basel. The dip and swerve makes it difficult for goalkeepers to judge the flight of the ball. To his credit, Luiz rarely misses the target.

Using a lethal combination of pace and determination, Luiz is one of the best defenders around when it comes to closing on an opposing player. But like every player, there are downsides to his game that continue to hinder him.

One of his main vulnerabilities—which can lead to him being exposed at the back—is his positioning. As the last man before the goalkeeper is called into action, Luiz is prone to leave gaping holes behind him as he charges down his opponent.

In which case, Rafa Benitez must be commended for his improvisation for moving Luiz in front of the defence. The reason behind pushing him into midfield, where he can operate as a deep-lying play-maker, is so that a more conservative defender like Branislav Ivanovic can hold his position without straying.

Obviously, it must be strange for Luiz to have already played under four managers since he moved to Chelsea two-and-a-half years ago. Nevertheless, the improvement under each manager is clear.

Perhaps his biggest step towards becoming a world class centre-back has been under the guidance of Benitez, therefore explaining why the Blues star continues to praise the Spanish coach despite his impending departure.

Nevertheless, every player can improve. If rumours of Jose Mourinho's return to Chelsea (per Goal.com) are true, the Real Madrid coach could work with Luiz to enhance his attributes, allowing him to make the next step up at Stamford Bridge.

The world may see David Luiz as a lighthearted character, but inside there is a burning desire to compete with, and be, one of the best players in the world.

WWE Sign Two New Divas from the Bodybuilding World

Sharon Glencross — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:46:56 -0400

In what looks like a bid to fill up its depleted women's roster, WWE has signed two new Divas. Both come from the world of fitness and bodybuilding and are newcomers to the business.

Per Dave Meltzer in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 28-year-old Christina Vargas and 21-year-old Alexis Kaufman have recently signed contracts with America's No.1 wrestling promotion.

Discussing Vargas, Meltzer writes:

She was a junior national champion in 2009 in fitness and figures, and has been competing on the pro circuit ever since, including competing the past two years in the Olympia bikini contest, although never placed in the top echelon. She’s been featured in a ton of bodybuilding magazines over the past few years.

He describes Kaufman as someone who has "also had exposure in bodybuilding magazines" and notes she placed 14th in a recent Arnold Classic figure and bikini contest.

While many fans may roll their eyes at the addition of two inexperienced models to the roster, on paper these signings look pretty smart on WWE's part.

One reason the Diva Search contest struggled to produce good women's wrestlers is that the girls involved were rarely athletes.

Most of them were simply models and aspiring actresses from Hollywood, not women cut out to take big bumps on a regular basis.

Due to their physiques, however, Vargas and Kaufman have a far greater shot of taking to wrestling than many of the women who join the company. Notably, women's wrestling legend Trish Stratus was a fitness model before joining WWE in 2000.

Of course, it's worth mentioning that Celeste "Kaitlyn" Bonin and Zivile "Aksana" Raudoniene were bodybuilders before signing too. And neither of them are very good in the ring at all. So, nothing is guaranteed.

But, still, credit to WWE for at least taking a step in the right direction.

Michigan Football: Wolverines-Buckeyes Feud May Erupt This Season

Adam Biggers — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:42:59 -0400

For all intents and purposes—and to be as strikingly blunt as possible—the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes just don’t like each other.

That’s why they’ve been in the midst of one of the sporting world’s greatest rivalries since the late 1960s.

In 2012, Michigan-commit Logan Tuley-Tillman of Peoria Manual (Ill.) burned a recruiting letter from Ohio State; the 6’7”, 300-pound, 4-star lineman posted a photo on Twitter of the Buckeyes’ flame-engulfed offer wasting away in Maize-and-Blue glory.

Later that same year, Gareon Conley flipped from Michigan to Ohio State, prompting more Wolverines-Buckeyes banter on message boards and within corresponding media circles.

The 6’1”, 175-pound, 4-star cornerback anchored Massillon Washington’s secondary. In hindsight, his decommitment from Michigan isn’t a shocker. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer has the full attention of high-end Ohio-bred prospects.

There have been others—like the “family” searching Justin Boren and Ohioan Kyle Kalis—to switch from one school to the other, and there will be more in the future. The rivalry has deep-rooted recruiting battles that fan the fire of Michigan vs. Ohio State.

The 10-Year War and Bo vs. Woody are cherished cornerstones in the opposing programs’ histories. Bo Schembechler was Woody Hayes’ assistant before leaving the state of Ohio to join “That Team Up North.” Hayes would never say “University of Michigan” or “Michigan” if he could avoid it, thus coining the phrase.

Today, Wolverines coach Brady Hoke simply refers to Ohio State as “Ohio”—again, a subtle but oh-so-obvious verbal stab.

Shots are traded on the Internet more often these days. The Big Ten Network showcased the digital war by posting a photo (taken and posted on Twitter by Michigan’s Bo Dever) of Michigan’s new team ball.

The Wolverines apparently support American-made products and Dever was proud, we assume, of the craftsmanship that went into the Adidas Rifle pigskin, which wasn’t made in Ohio, an important selling point.

The ball is actually an import, not made here in the good-old U. S. of A., according to an update on the Big Ten Network’s post. But you get the hint. There is no love lost between Michigan and Ohio State.

With Jabrill Peppers almost certainly giving a verbal commitment Sunday to Hoke, Michigan can rack up another win over Ohio State. Peppers was thought to be a firm Buckeyes-lean just a couple of weeks ago, but 247Sports.com rates the 5-star athlete’s likelihood of choosing Michigan at 96 percent.

Ohio State went 12-0 last year while Michigan disappointed at 8-5. Meyer is landing recruiting classes that match or better what Hoke produces. The war is ever present in everything each program does.

Even the Bentley Library has gotten into the mix. The keeper of Michigan’s official athletic records makes note of Ohio State’s vacated 37-7 pounding of the Wolverines in 2010. However, instead of a standard asterisk or bullet, the library affixed a dollar sign ($) in the game’s column.

Why?

It wasn’t enough to simply show that the Buckeyes won when it didn’t really count. No, the library had to let you know that it was because of improper financial benefits given to (or supplied by outsiders) student-athletes. Maybe a book with a “no” symbol over it would have been appropriate, too. Some of the Buckeyes were academically ineligible during the year.

The hatred for one another will never subside, but with Michigan and Ohio State positioned—maybe something like what happened in 2006—to compete head-to-head on the national stage, one can only assume that the neighborly feud is due to erupt.

With the “Made in USA, not in Ohio” stamp on the Wolverines game ball, followers of each team have been given the green light to add their two cents to rivalry talk—and that’s great for Michigan versus Ohio State.

As a matter of fact, the burning offers, flips from one school to the other, and Hoke’s stubbornness not to say “State” after “Ohio” are all much-needed components to get the show back on the road. It’s once been called “The Game,” but it hasn’t been much of one since 2006 (No. 1 Ohio St. defeated No. 2 Michigan in thrilling fashion, 42-39).

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Ligue 1 Final Weekend: What Is at Stake?

Jonathan Johnson — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:41:38 -0400

With the Ligue 1 title and two of the relegation places already sewn up before this weekend’s final round of matches, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there is little left to play for in France’s top-flight league.

Wrong.

Sunday’s climax to the 2012/13 season should witness a frantic fight for the third and final Champions League qualification spot and with it, the Europa League berth in fourth place.

With Saint-Etienne already qualified for Europe thanks to their League Cup victory over Rennes at the Stade de France in April, they can go one better by securing Champions League action when they travel to Lille.

The 2011 champions have rediscovered their form since the turn of the year and gone from mid-table mediocrity to the verge of Europe’s top club competition when all had seemed lost.

Christophe Galtier’s Saint-Etienne are also on the verge of an impressive feat of their own. Not only have they already guaranteed a first piece of silverware in 32 years, they are currently set to better last season’s seventh-place finish by at least three positions.

The matchup is the pick of the bunch in Ligue 1 on the final day, and it is likely where the most drama will happen. It is a direct shootout between the pair for the final Champions League berth, and it is an intriguing clash.

Lille are organised, disciplined and a well-oiled outfit under coach Rudi Garcia; Les Verts, under Galtier, play perhaps some of the most free-flowing, entertaining football in the league.

A win for either side is futile though if Lyon, currently in third place, beat mid-table Rennes. The Breton side will be boosted by the news that highly rated Real Sociedad coach Philippe Montanier has opted to join them, but they are currently in poor form.

Lyon, meanwhile, have done their best to throw away Champions League qualification, dropping points against Bastia, Sochaux and Reims earlier in the season to destroy their title ambitions.

Remi Garde’s side know that a victory will clinch third place, but anything less could allow bitter rivals Saint-Etienne to sneak it.

The match is Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti’s last with the club; what a fitting way it would be to end his inconsistent reign in charge at the Stade de la Route de Lorient than with a win at Lyon having dropped points against so many smaller opponents recently.

Dark horses for that final Champions League spot are Nice, though. Claude Puel is making miracles on the Cote d’Azur currently and has taken a side that narrowly avoided relegation last season with a deceiving 13th-placed finish, despite securing their top-flight status with a 4-3 final day win over Lyon, to the cusp of Europe.

Les Aiglons are a young, vibrant side that play a refreshing brand of attacking football with a large amount of pace. Puel has overhauled the squad since that final day victory over his former side, and, with it, overhauled his reputation. He left Lyon after a bitter end to his time at the Stade de Gerland that ended with him taking the club to court in 2011, per Goal.com.

Since then, Puel has burst back onto the domestic scene and is making up for lost time. Though his Nice side might not be able to keep a hold of all of their best talent this summer, a Europa League campaign would be a superb achievement for a club that looked destined for Ligue 2 one year ago.

They travel to Ajaccio, who are all but mathematically safe from the drop.

A heavy defeat for the Corsicans, coupled with a big win for fellow strugglers Troyes, could prove pivotal at both ends of the table.

There is more excitement at the bottom too. Troyes are fighting for their lives against relegation and could send Sochaux down, ending a 12 season stay in France’s top flight for Les Lionceaux.

Jean-Marc Furlan’s Troyes side have played some excellent football this season even though they don’t have the results to prove it, whilst Eric Hely’s Sochaux have been uninspiring and insipid at times.

That said, they have beaten Carlo Ancelotti’s champions Paris Saint-Germain and Champions League-chasing Lyon in 2013, so they have the potential to beat anyone on their day. Unfortunately, their days are few and far between.

Sochaux travel to mid-table Bastia while Troyes are at Valenciennes, two similar sides, so it is a question of who can do better on the day to decide the final spot in the drop zone.

All to play for then on the final day, and it looks very enticing indeed at the top end of the table. Lyon will start the day as favourites given that they are currently two points clear of bitter rivals Saint-Etienne. But given the frantic nature of Ligue 1 final days in the past, don’t expect this to be clear-cut.

AS Monaco, Ligue 2 champions this season, were relegated two seasons ago despite being in 11th place in the table at one stage of the final day. Expect that Champions League spot to change hands a few times before eventually settling with one side in a dramatic finale.

Fernando Torres: Working Under Mourinho Would Be a Big Motivation at Chelsea

Garry Hayes — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:39:05 -0400

Chelsea and Manchester City come face-to-face in St Louis and New York City this week in two friendlies as part of their end-of-season tour of America.

Ahead of their clash, Bleacher Report spoke with Blues striker Fernando Torres about the past season and his aspirations for the 2013-14 campaign.

Fernando, welcome back to the United States. How does it feel to be here with Chelsea again, facing your Premier League foe Manchester City?

It’s a real pleasure to come here. It’s always the same when we come here and the reception is warm. There are many Latinos here who do not get to see us play very often, so you can see the passion they have. Football is such a big thing here and we’re surprised to see so many fans wearing the Chelsea shirt.

We’re looking forward to the game and it’s been nice to have a couple of days off, walking around the city and meeting the people. We really appreciate the welcome we have had.

Looking at the club going forward, there is a lot of speculation about who the next manager will be at Chelsea and Jose Mourinho appears a strong contender to return. How would it be for you to play under him?

Well, the season is not finished yet so it’s important we show respect for Rafa [Benitez] as he is our manager right now. We know he is going to leave, but we have to wait until the club announces the new manager.

As you say, everybody is talking about Mourinho and he is obviously one of the top managers in the world. Chelsea is looking for a new manager and Jose Mourinho is free, so everybody is going to link him with the club because of his past and what he has said in the last few months.

We have players here who enjoyed working with him and have great memories of his time at Chelsea, so we’ll see what happens. Working under a manager like him is a big motivation for any player. But we must show respect for Rafa in his last week.

On a personal level, this has been your best year at Chelsea, with you breaking the 20-goal mark for the first time at the club. A lot of your goals came in the Europa League, so what was it about that competition that made you come alive?

I scored 23 goals this season, which is closer to the statistic that I should have. I’m thinking that I can still do better in the future, though. I think I scored a lot of goals in the Europa League as I was rested in the league matches. I was the only striker available in the competition, so I played all the games and to score in Europe is always nice—especially when you help the team win trophies.

This season has been a strange one. We started well, were top of the league, but then had a couple of months where we lost too many points and couldn’t reach the top of the table above Manchester United and City.

We were focusing on the Europa League, but in the end it was OK. We know we have to be consistent next time.

You say you want to improve, so what will be different for 2013-14?

Obviously, to score more goals. Always. This season I scored 23 goals and next season I want to score more. The team is going to be better next season, the Premier League is going to be better and so too the Champions League.

I want to improve my goals and especially what I give the team. I can be better next season, I am sure about that.

How important was it to end your Premier League goal drought before the end of the season, which you did against Everton on the last day?

That goal was important as it secured third place for the Champions League, which was our priority. We were really disappointed to drop out of the competition when we did as it’s so important for this club to be in the Champions League. That goal helped us do that.

As you say, that goal secured Champions League football, while you also scored in the Europa League final. How does it make you feel when Chelsea are linked with so many high-profile strikers?

It’s the summer months and all the big clubs are linked with top players. We’ve discussed the rumors with Jose Mourinho and players are no different. Goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, strikers—the summer comes and the rumors start. A number of players get linked, but at the end of the day only three or four are signed. But whoever comes to Chelsea is going to be made to feel welcome.

Was the belief in your ability and place in the team ever tested when Demba Ba signed in January and also with those rumors about other strikers?

The rumors aren’t coming from the club. It’s normal, though. When I was at Atletico Madrid I was linked with every team in the world and at Liverpool it was the same. And now at Chelsea it is no different—the rumors never stop. The rumors are one thing and the reality, another.

When Daniel Sturridge left for Liverpool, we needed to sign Demba. It is normal for clubs to have three or four strikers.

Has there been anything that Rafa Benitez did to help you improve this season?

I think Rafa helped the team and not me especially. The games I have played under him are less than the managers before, but I have been doing a lot of hard work to increase my level. Everybody has helped me—Benitez, the fitness coach and my teammates. Benitez has helped the team and all the players improve.

Despite the drama of losing managers in recent seasons, Chelsea have still won major honours, including two European trophies. How do you think the team has managed to do this?

Since I’ve been here, I think it looks a lot worse than it really is. The results are good, as we’ve won the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League. Hopefully we can build on what we have achieved in the last couple of seasons and next year we have to target more trophies. The Premier League has been difficult to win, but it’s a trophy the fans want and we do, too.

• Fernando Torres was speaking ahead of Chelsea’s match against Manchester City at Yankee Stadium on Saturday May 25. For tickets, visit: www.yankees.com/soccer

• As a mark of respect for those affected by the tornado in Orlando on Tuesday, Chelsea and Manchester City have joined forces to help raise money for the Oklahoma Recovery Fund. One dollar from every ticket sold for the game at Busch Stadium on Thursday will be donated, while both clubs will match the donation. Both teams will also wear commemorative black armbands as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives. Members of the St Louis Fire Department will also be collecting donations at the gates.

Dante Booker Commits to Ohio State: What 4-Star OLB Brings to Buckeyes

Andrew Kulha — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:36:05 -0400

Ohio State has landed the commitment of 4-star outside linebacker Dante Booker, who's the No. 6 outside linebacker in the 2014 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports composite.

That news alone would be great for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes, but Booker is also a talented state of Ohio recruit. In fact, the 247Sports composite ranks him as the No. 3 player from the state.

Anyone who knows anything about recruiting will tell you that in-state recruiting is key, even for a program as big as Ohio State.

Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports reports on the commitment:

Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary Top 100 linebacker Dante Booker announced his commitment to Ohio State on Thursday.

"Officially commited to THE Ohio State University," Booker announced.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Booker chose the in-state Buckeyes over offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State and Tennessee.

The Buckeyes' 2014 class now features nine commitments, and Booker is one of the marquee recruits so far.

Here's the tweet from Booker, announcing his decision:

He has good height at 6'4'' and decent size for an outside linebacker at 210 pounds. Even at 210, he has the physicality to plug the gap and take on a lead blocker or ball-carrier head on. He's a strong, fundamental hitter, and he'll make plays against the run.

That said, Booker appears to be most comfortable in space or on the edges. He has good quickness, agility and open-field awareness. He'll be able to drop back into coverage and bait quarterbacks into bad throws, and he should be able to turn and run with vertical routes up the seams.

He'll also be able to blitz from the edge and get after the quarterback, and his speed will come in play when he's pursuing from the weak side and running the alley.

With a physical inside linebacker next to him, Booker can be tremendously successful, and that's good news for Ohio State because it is the favorite on Raekwon McMillan's 247sports interest list. McMillan is the No. 1 inside linebacker in the 2014 class, according to the 247Sports composite.

Booker has all the intangibles to be a successful outside linebacker at the college level, and he should only get better during his senior year. He'll also improve drastically under the tutelage of Ohio State's coaching staff.

This next era of Ohio State football should be extremely exciting. Expect Booker to be a big part of it.

Note: All scouting and analysis of Booker done via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.

Indy 500 Qualifying: Drivers in Best Position for Victory

Richard Langford — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:34:29 -0400

Ed Carpenter is in a fantastic position to blaze a trail to his first Indy 500 win. Of course, he is on the pole for the historic race, so it's not like that statement is going out on a limb.

He's not the only one. With a driver/owner of a single-car team earning the top qualifying position, this Indy 500 feels more wide open then ever.

Well, except for the cars running Honda engines. Chevrolet engines have dominated their competitors thus far at this year's trip to Indy, and there is no reason to think that will be any different come race day.

Have a look at the starting grid of the May 26 race, and then I'll break down three drivers in the best positions for glory. But first, I'll let this tweet from ESPN get us primed for the race:

Full Starting Lineup (via Indycar.com)

Pos.	Driver	Car No.
1	Ed Carpenter	20
2	Carlos Munoz	26
3	Marco Andretti	25
4	E.J. Viso	5
5	A.J. Allmendinger	2
6	Will Power	12
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay	1
8	Helio Castroneves	3
9	James Hinchcliffe	27
10	J.R. Hildebrand	4
11	Alex Tagliani	98
12	Tony Kanaan	11
13	Oriol Servia	22
14	Justin Wilson	19
15	Sebastien Bourdais	7
16	Scott Dixon	9
17	Dario Franchitti	10
18	Takuma Sato	14
19	Charlie Kimball	83
20	James Jakes	16
21	Simon Pagenaud	77
22	Townsend Bell	60
23	Ryan Briscoe	8
24	Simona de Silvestro	78
25	Josef Newgarden	21
26	Graham Rahal	15
27	Sebastian Saavedra	6
28	Tristan Vautier	55
29	Ana Beatriz	18
30	Pippa Mann	63
31	Connor Daly	41
32	Buddy Lazier	91
33	Katherine Legge	81

Marco Andretti (No. 3)

While six of the last seven winners of the Indy 500 have been from Target Chip Ganassi Racing or Penske Racing, Andretti Autosport destroyed them in qualifying.

As you might have guessed, Marco is part of Andretti Autosport, and he is one of five drivers from this team to start in the first three rows. His inclusion in the front row was no surprise. Marco excels on oval tracks, and he's been in good form this year.

He is third in the championship points standings.

He's also looked great while working at the famed track.

IndyCar points that out with this tweet:

Marco's highest finish at Indy is third, which he's done twice, and he's ready to improve upon that number this year.

Helio Castroneves (No. 8)

Helio Castroneves should always be considered a factor at this race.

The three-time winner often manages to put his best foot forward in Indianapolis, and he will be looking to join Rick Mears, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser as the only four-time winners of this race, and it's been 22 years since anyone joined that exclusive list.

As a member of the powerhouse Penske team, we know Castroneves' car will be ready to fly.

Castroneves has had a strong May, and he's been fast while at Indy.

Castroneves hasn't won this race since 2009, and he stands an excellent chance at ending that drought this year.

Ed Carpenter (No. 1)

It was a pleasant surprise to see Ed Carpenter sneak away with the pole. As a one-car team, he is not supposed to be able to compete with the big boys.

Of course, Carpenter certainly knows the ins and outs of this track—his family owns it.

Carpenter has been competing in IndyCar for 11 years, and he has just two wins in over 132 starts. All of this would seem to spell doom for Carpenter in this race. However, the fact that he won the pole cannot be overlooked.

That kind of speed is often rewarded on race day. The pole winner has won four of the past nine Indy 500s.

Soccer Player Rips off Shorts After Scoring Goal; Yeah, He Got a Red Card

Gabe Zaldivar — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:32:19 -0400

Add taking off your pants to the list of violations that will get you thrown from the pitch.

Big Lead brings us a video that features a smashing goal as well as a player who thought it wise to take off his shorts and dance victoriously towards the crowd.

According to their report, the moment comes during a Thai Premier League fixture when Muangthong United's midfielder Mario Gjurovski (also spelled Mario Djurovski) scores to put his side up two goals.

Wanting to add a touch more flamboyance to the moment, Gjurovski goes from pointing to the fans to, well, something else altogether.

I understand scoring a goal is a momentous occasion, so much so that you feel the need to shed your clothes like a victorious Hulk about to smash the world with your prolific prowess.

Still, it's advisable to keep as much clothing on as you can for the duration of the game—really just sound advice for most of life's ventures.

Our friend here who felt far too encumbered by shorts received the full wrath of the referee who came over with full red.

The shocking part of the video, of which there are so many, is the player is actually stunned that he is being sent away for taking off his pants and motioning towards his pelvis. I actually just got a little woozy after typing that.

Look, we are all for grand and imaginative celebrations. However, there has to be some limits. If we let shorts coming flying off then shoes and underwear come next. Please, think of the poor streakers who would then be rendered obsolete.

Hit me up on Twitter for more International sizzle: Follow @gabezal

Anyone Doubting Roy Hibbert's Value Now Just Isn't Paying Attention

Jimmy Spencer — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:31:05 -0400

The grumbles have turned to applause.

When the Indiana Pacers paid Roy Hibbert a max contract valued at $58 million over four years this past offseason, it was labeled one of the worst contracts in basketball.

But like the stock of Tiger Woods, public opinion has quickly changed to favorable. Thanks to the playoffs showcase of his defensive gifts, paired with his improving offensive game, Hibbert is quickly proving his value.

In July 2012, the Pacers matched the competing contract offer by the Portland Trail Blazers to hang on to their 7’2” restricted free agent center. Criticism of the deal was understandable, as the former 17th overall pick was turning 26 years old and he had never averaged averaged more than 12.8 points or 8.8 rebounds, both highs in his 2011-12 season.

His sour offensive start this season, shooting just 41.4 percent for 10 points per game before the All-Star break, only fueled the distaste for his misguided contract. Hibbert was not thought of as a franchise player and the deal appeared to be a bust.

Early in the season, Hibbert lacked touch around the basket and because of that, his back-to-the-basket post game rarely drew double teams.

Grantland’s Bill Simmons listed Hibbert as “overpaid but undeniably productive” on his list of the worst contracts in basketball.

Hibbert’s saving grace, though, has always been his defense. Hibbert has averaged 1.8 blocks per game through his first five seasons, including a career-high 2.6 blocks in 2012-13.

A research study by Kirk Goldsberry and Eric Weiss, noted in the Simmons column and presented at the SLOAN sports analytics conference, exhibits just how valuable Hibbert is as a rim defender.

The study demonstrates that Hibbert is one of the most effective interior defenders in the league. Tracking data from the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, Hibbert allows the lowest percentage of made shots that he faces at close proximity to the basket.

As this postseason has progressed to the conference finals, interior defense has proven vital to team success. Hibbert has anchored a Pacers team that has reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004. His 2.46 blocks in the playoffs is highest of any remaining player and only Zach Randolph (9.8) averages more rebounds than Hibbert.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel was quoted by Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star during the conference semifinals against the Knicks:

“That’s a big reason why we (paid him all that money),” “... He’s one of the best rim protectors in the game. He’s really grown and learned how to understand angles and getting no calls, playing without fouling and staying in the game. All the analytics say he’s the toughest guy in the league to score against at the rim.”

Offensively, Hibbert began to heat up late in the season. He shot 50.8 percent after the All-Star break for 15.7 points per game.

The early-season shooting slump may have been related to a lingering weak wrist, but the theory of its healing is the only one that offers tangible evidence to Hibbert's offensive transformation.

Even he and his coaches don’t seem to know how to pinpoint the change, as reported by Kevin Arnovitz for ESPN.com:

Ask him, his coach or his teammates where anything has changed about his form or mechanics, and all you get are shrugs. So what's Hibbert doing now that he wasn't at the start of the season? "The tougher question is, 'Why wasn’t he finishing before?'" Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "What he’s doing now is what we’ve come to expect."

Hibbert offered his own theories: "Don't force things," he said. "I come in on my days off and try to get better. I try to mimic David West's workouts." Vogel offered another theory prior to the game. When Hibbert couldn't buy buckets earlier in the season, Vogel encouraged the center to focus on anchoring the defense. Sure, be mindful of opportunities on the other end, but do it with less deliberate effort and more in the flow of the offense.

Whatever is happening, it’s working.

Hibbert is averaging 14.4 points on 47.6 percent in the playoffs.

He scored 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting in Game 1 of the conference finals against the Miami Heat. A national browbeating took place against Vogel in defense of Hibbert, who was left on the bench during two defensive lapses late in the overtime of the Pacers’ Game 1 loss. Hibbert’s absence in a moment when he should have been defending the rim may have cost Indiana a chance to steal Game 1.

It’s been a dramatic shift in narrative. Hibbert went from the target of criticism for not living up to his contract to receiving the backing of the basketball commonwealth.

It was his play in last season’s playoff run against Miami that started it all. When the Pacers lost in six games to the Heat in last season's conference semifinals, Hibbert averaged 12.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting and tallied 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

His dominance in that series no doubt led to such a large offseason contract that he's living up to now.

As Hibbert continues to display his worth into the conference finals, no one is any longer doubting him or his contract.

Follow @JimmySpencerNBA

NBA Draft Lottery 2013: Teams That Will Suffer from Bad Lottery Luck

Justin Onslow — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:29:20 -0400

The NBA draft lottery never goes quite according to plan. No matter who wins the ping-pong ball sweepstakes, there will always be teams sitting in much worse position than they expected.

In a draft class that clearly lacks a lot of elite talent, several lottery teams could have used some extra ping-pong balls to work with. Teams like the Phoenix Suns, Detroit Piston and Minnesota Timberwolves may miss out on what little top-tier talent this draft class has to offer.

All three franchises are in need of the types of game-changing players that will likely come off the board in the top three selections. While the trio is set to pick in accordance with its pre-lottery odds, sometimes not having good luck is bad enough.

Let’s take a closer look at each team’s draft positioning and break down why each would have benefited from better luck on lottery day.

*Draft order courtesy of Bleacher Report's Twitter account:

5. Phoenix Suns

The difference between the fourth and fifth pick isn’t all that great this year, but as we’ve seen so many times in the past, all it takes is one draft spot to change the future of a franchise.

At No. 5, Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore, Otto Porter and Anthony Bennett may all be off the board—four players widely regarded as the top-tier prospects in this draft class.

The Suns will still have plenty of options, but it will be a much riskier venture with that group already off the board.

In the NBA, building a winning roster is all about value and potential. Every slot further down the draft board is a lesser opportunity to cash in on both.

With so many holes to fill, Phoenix will undoubtedly find a starter with the fifth selection, but it’s hard to pinpoint who that starter will be—and at what position.

Unlike the Cavs, Phoenix didn’t have much luck at all in the lottery, and the odds of Ryan McDonough finding a true game-changer are now that much slimmer. For the Suns to have a successful draft, they will have to make good use of both the fifth and 30th selections in the first round.

8. Detroit Pistons

Had the Pistons jumped a few spots in the lottery, their job on draft day would be exponentially easier. Detroit isn’t that far away from being a contender in the Eastern Conference, but many of the pieces it so desperately needs will probably already be off the board.

With Brandon Knight, Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe already in place, the Pistons will likely be focusing on finding a couple more perimeter scorers to augment an already solid core. Unfortunately in a draft class without a lot of elite frontcourt talent, the first six or seven picks will feature a run on scoring guards and forwards.

Prospects like Porter, Bennett, Trey Burke and C.J. McCollum would be perfect fits in Detroit, but there’s a good chance at least three of them will have already found a home by the eighth pick.

The Pistons may still be able to choose from the likes of Shabazz Muhammad and Michael Carter-Williams, but there’s no denying the talent drop-off beyond the first seven selections.

Like Phoenix, Detroit will be drafting in spot similar to where it was projected (No. 7), but it was an unlucky break to move back a spot. Every draft pick matters, and the Pistons may ultimately lose out on their player as a result.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

Unless Minnesota gets really lucky, the player it desperately needs won’t be on the board at No. 9.

Injuries have hampered the Timberwolves’ rebuilding efforts, but when healthy, they boast one of the most well-rounded squads in the league. Unfortunately, they’re still missing a shooter who can take advantage of Ricky Rubio’s tremendous passing and ball-handling skills, and the Timberwolves will struggle to find that player with the ninth pick.

McLemore, Oladipo and McCollum would be excellent options should they be available, but McCollum is the only player of the trio with any chance of still being available beyond the eighth selection.

With the top-tier perimeter scorers already off the board, Minnesota may be relegated to setting for its top-ranked player still available—in this case, likely a power forward or center like Indiana’s Cody Zeller or Maryland’s Alex Len.

No lottery pick will be an especially bad slot to select an impact player, but Minnesota could have been far luckier when the ping-pong balls came out. As it stands, the Timberwolves will likely be left to gamble on a player who won’t fill a glaring positional need.

What to Make of the Cleveland Browns' Recent Running Back Signings

Andrea Hangst — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:27:09 -0400

On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns landed undrafted rookie running back Miguel Maysonet, whom they were awarded off waivers after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Though the Browns also released two other undrafted rookie running backs—Robbie Rouse and Jamaine Cook—they chose to bring back another back in Brandon Jackson, who spent the last two years with the Browns and appeared in two games last season.

That puts the Browns at six running backs—Trent Richardson, Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis, Chris Ogbonnaya, Johnson and Maysonet.

Among AFC North teams, only the Pittsburgh Steelers presently have as many running backs on their roster, and rightfully so, considering the crisis they faced at the position in 2012.

So why so many running backs for the Browns?

Could offensive coordinator Norv Turner, he of the legacy of finding feature backs and using them successfully, really be considering a committee approach for the Browns in 2013? Or is there another issue at play?

Though it is merely May—months away from the start of the NFL season—and OTAs are particularly secretive affairs in which the media assembled to observe have strict rules about what they can and cannot report, there appears to be at least one motivation for the excessive running back signings: Richardson.

Richardson hasn't participated in OTAs and won't be anytime soon. According to the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram's Scott Petrak, Richardson has a lower-leg muscle strain. The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reports that he could be sidelined through minicamps, which are scheduled for the first week of June.

Regardless of the fact that this isn't a serious injury, this is not a sight that Browns fans want to see right now:

Richardson was hurt in his rookie season as well, first having to undergo a knee procedure that caused him to miss the preseason and then broken ribs which limited his effectiveness from Week 6—when he suffered the injury—until the end of the year.

It's not quite the auspicious start for the Browns' 2012 first-round (and third overall) draft pick, especially considering it was hoped he'd be the savior of Cleveland's run game.

While he still could be—his present muscle strain isn't anything serious and his lack of participation in OTAs and perhaps minicamps shouldn't affect his availability come the start of actual training camp—clearly, sitting him out isn't the only precautionary measure the Browns are taking.

Richardson's primary backup appears to be Hardesty, who rushed 65 times for 271 yards and a touchdown last year, while Ogbonnaya seems best-suited for third-down duties when he's used. Though he rushed only eight times in 2012 for 30 yards, he also caught 24 passes for 187 more.

While Hardesty stayed healthy in 2012, that hasn't been the case in the past. He missed all of his rookie season and part of his second year after tearing his ACL, and as such, may be making the Browns' coaching staff wary of leaning on him should Richardson miss any time in 2013.

Hence the Browns not only keeping Ogbonnaya but also bringing on Lewis, the undrafted Maysonet and re-signing Jackson.

Further, with Richardson potentially unavailable through minicamps, the Browns also need to have enough running backs on hand to participate in drills with the first, second and third teams. Though there are six backs on the roster now, that's not likely to be the case as rosters are trimmed down throughout the summer.

Simply put, the Browns need bodies.

Still, it's a bit curious that the Browns have chosen to bring on so many running backs. The Baltimore Ravens, for example, have just four on the roster presently.

Perhaps they have chosen to do so for injury insurance reasons or because the Browns have a few tricks up their sleeve at the position. Regardless, it does seem to indicate that even if Richardson is fully healthy for the entire season, there will be other backs getting snaps, if not significant carries this year.

The real concern, however, is Richardson's health, which has been in a compromised position since he joined the Browns last year.

At the very least, it helps bolster the argument that using a first-round draft pick on a running back—especially one in the top five—is a dangerous gamble considering the injury risks of the position.

At worst, however, it could be a marker of other health issues to come for Richardson.

At least for the Browns' present purposes, they have enough backs to practice their new offense. As long as holding Richardson out is for precautionary reasons, which head coach Rob Chudzinski told The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed on Thursday, it's not a major cause for alarm just yet.