Bleacher Report - Front Page

20 'Come at Me Bro' Moments in Sports

Dan Carson — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:44:43 -0400

Look at me, bro. Look me in the eyes.

I am so serious right now, I want you to look me in the eyes and come at me. I'm standing right here, I just clowned you in front of everyone. Now what are you going to do?

We've all seen athletes get into tussles and arguments on the playing field, but not all of them involve the intense amount of bro-manship and taunting that you'll see in the following slides. Sports figures of all stripes get into the mix, from coaches, players and down the line to fans.

They just dissed you, and now they want a piece of you—but it's up to you to make the first move. Bro.

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It Could Take Some Time for Lane Johnson to Excel in Philadelphia

Brad Gagnon — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:31:00 -0400

The Philadelphia Eagles invested their highest draft pick of this century in Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson, so I have little doubt that the Eagles will get him into the starting lineup this season—regardless of how much the somewhat raw rookie struggles.

It's not particularly concerning that 2012 fifth-round pick Dennis Kelly has been taking first-team reps ahead of Johnson early on in organized team activities, but it is a small sign that Johnson isn't quite ready yet.

That might change between now and Philadelphia's Monday Night Football opener in Washington on September 9, but it's another indication that he could experience more growing pains than expected.

Ben Muth from Football Outsiders provided a rather discouraging assessment of Johnson's pass-blocking skills in an analysis published last week:

Johnson is a pretty horrific fundamental pass blocker who probably wouldn't have gone in the top five in any other draft. Well, maybe the 2000 NBA Draft. Nothing he does can't be fixed, but if you're taking someone that early, you would probably like a few less loose nails.

It's important to remember that, only two years ago, Johnson was a tight end and defensive end. And only four years ago, he was a quarterback.

He became a third-team All-American at tackle and has quality experience on both the left and right side in the highly competitive Big 12, but now he's going to have to face Brian Orakpo, Tamba Hali, Von Miller and Jason Pierre-Paul in the first five weeks of his third season at the position.

The point is that Johnson might not immediately help the Eagles in the same way other top-five picks have been able to in years past. This was a weak draft class and—as Muth points out—Johnson likely wouldn't have been such a high pick in previous years. His circumstances have put added pressure on him.

The third tackle didn't go off the board last year until Mitchell Schwartz was taken in Round 2, 33 spots later than Johnson went in 2013.

In 2010, Anthony Davis was the third tackle taken and he went relatively high as well in the No. 11 spot. He surrendered 11 sacks and took 11 penalties as the fifth-worst offensive tackle in the league that year, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

One year prior, Eugene Monroe was the most recent third tackle to be taken inside the top 10 when he was drafted eighth overall by Jacksonville. That year, PFF rated his pass-blocking 66th among 77 qualifying offensive tackles.

It didn't happen overnight for either of those guys, so don't expect things to click immediately for Johnson, either.

Boston Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury Still Remains in Their Future Plans

Pete Dymeck — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:27:43 -0400

Much has been ballyhooed over Jacoby Ellsbury's slow start to 2013. Hitting just .242, the centerfielder is playing himself right into the situation the Boston Red Sox want him in.

Ellsbury doesn't turn 30 until September. Until then, he will have to prove his value is not rapidly declining. To do so, he will have to show a large uptick in production while maintaining a status on the Red Sox that is more positive than detrimental. If he doesn't, any hope of securing a long-term, super-sized contract worth tens of millions is out of the question.

Since his major league debut in 2007, Ellsbury has reached 600 at-bat's in a single season just three times. Injuries have been extremely costly. At the same time, they have not limited his upside.

In 2010, Ellsbury suffered a rib injury that would severely limit his time off the disabled list. After various DL stints and rehab assignments, Ellsbury would only appear in the majors for 18 games that season.

Finally healthy in 2011, Ellsbury was the runner-up in American League MVP voting. He slugged 32 home runs and 112 RBI to coincide with his .321 AVG. In addition, the phenomenal outfielder stole 39 bases.

Last season, the Red Sox outfielder suffered a shoulder injury early on. He eventually returned for the Sox in what turned out to be a lost season, appearing in 74 games.

Since 2010, Ellsbury has played in an average of 83 games per season. When coalesced with his plate struggles in 2013, Boston can utilize his extensive injury history as a bargaining chip in order to get a more club-friendly deal with Ellsbury.

He has only finished with a Wins-Above-Replacement (WAR) of 4.0 or greater just twice in his career. Additionally, he has only hit for double-digit HR's once. While the upside remains, it is beginning to dwindle.

Ellsbury's 2011 season may have been an aberration.

The power he displayed that season was clearly abnormal compared with his production in other seasons. Even if one prorate's Ellsbury's injury-shortened seasons, the Red Sox centerfielder doesn't come close to what he was in 2011.

While Ellsbury is currently tied for the AL lead in stolen bases, his other traits are not impressive enough to characterize him as one who deserves a Powerball contract.

Instead, one could argue that Ellsbury isn't deserving of a contract similar to what Cody Ross received from the Arizona Diamondbacks. While Ross is three years older than Ellsbury, his career numbers trump those of Ellsbury's by a wide margin.

Just think, Ross's salary is $5 million this season. It will jump to $8.5 million for each of the next two seasons with a $9.5 million club option for 2016.

In the meantime, the current one-year extension worth $9 million that Ellsbury signed prior to the 2013 season isn't suggestive of what Ellsbury may earn once he hits free agency.

As Rob Bradford notes, Boston has yet to talk a contract extension with their centerfielder.

Why?

Because Ellsbury is playing right into the hands of the club's demands. The slugger is devaluing himself with decreased potential while showing signs of wear after a couple major injuries staggered his career.

Prospective outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is another reason why Ellsbury is not posturing himself well enough to extract more financially.

While Bradley Jr. struggled in his debut with the Red Sox, he has since found his groove in Triple-A. Since his demotion, the 23 year old is hitting .315 with an OPS of .885. While Bradley doesn't offer much power, his potential is similar to what Ellsbury has shown us outside his 2011 surge.

If Ellsbury continues to struggle, it will be more efficient for the Red Sox to move on.

At this point, Boston can't dangle Ellsbury as trade bait due to his extremely low value. Meanwhile, they would be foolish to offer him any long-term deal with an annual salary similar to what he is earning now.

At this rate, Ellsbury might not hold enough equity to reel in an offer worth $9 million or more per annum.

San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree's Injury's Impact on the 49ers' Receivers

Peter Panacy — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:18:18 -0400

It is a bad day for the San Francisco 49ers.

Only hours removed from the news that standout wide receiver Michael Crabtree suffered a torn Achilles tendon during last Tuesday's organized team activities, the 49ers learned that Crabtree could miss the entire 2013 season.

According to the same source, the extent of Crabtree's injury is not yet known and it remains to be seen how the injury and subsequent surgery and recovery will thwart his return to San Francisco's starting roster. What is known however is that Crabtree's injury has a significant impact on the 49ers' offense and begs plenty of questions surrounding their receiving corps.

There is no doubt that Crabtree would have started 2013 as the number one wide receiver on the blossoming San Francisco offense. One season removed from his 2012 campaign that saw 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns, Crabtree was poised for another great year hopefully complemented by a deeper group of receivers.

Now, Crabtree's injury forces the 49ers' hand and shall require the team to take an even tougher look at their wide receivers.

San Francisco learned last season what a depleted receiving corps could do to its chances. When fellow receivers Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams were lost to ACL injuries for the latter portion of the 2012 season, the 49ers became thin at the position. San Francisco's 2012 first-round draft pick A.J. Jenkins failed to have an impact during the season and veteran Randy Moss looked nothing like the vaunted receiver he used to be earlier in his career.

San Francisco fans would have to look no further than the 49ers' last offensive drive during Super Bowl XLVII to see just how reliant the offense had become upon Crabtree.

Fortunately, the 49ers made some attempts during the offseason to correct the situation. They traded a sixth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for veteran wideout Anquan Boldin. San Francisco then drafted former Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton in the fourth round of the draft. In addition, the 49ers know that both Manningham and Williams are hoping to return from their respective injuries suffered last year.

Despite the apparent positives, Crabtree's injury concerns and their effects remain legitimate.

In all likelihood, Boldin should emerge as the top receiver for quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers offense. Why would he be anything else? There is, of course, his age. At 32 years old, will he be able to perform at the same level like he did in 2012 with Baltimore? He did haul in 65 receptions for 921 yards and four touchdowns last year. San Francisco will hope that he can at least repeat or even exceed those numbers in 2013.

There are also the pending returns of both Manningham and Williams. Manningham, who developed chemistry with former 49er quarterback Alex Smith at the beginning of last season, is still questionable on his return for training camp. The same goes for Williams, although he recently ran again and the knee "felt great." This is potentially good news for San Francisco and hopefully indicates that both receivers should be able to step up in Crabtree's absence.

Yet there remains the questions surrounding Jenkins. Jenkins, who failed to record a single catch in 2012, has made significant efforts to have a better impact in 2013. One of those efforts included adding muscle to his frame and spending more time training for the regular season. If he impresses enough during preseason, it is not too far from possible that he could start alongside Boldin in the 49ers' offense. Provided that happens, Jenkins would look more like what San Francisco was hoping for when they used their first-round pick in the 2012 draft opposed to the potential "bust" moniker that he was headed towards.

Crabtree's injury may also put a lot of pressure on San Francisco's 2013 fourth-round draft pick Quinton Patton as well. The former Louisiana Tech wide-out was drafted to give the 49ers added depth at the position and potentially provide long-term solutions for San Francisco. Before Crabtree was injured, Patton may have remained a work-in-progress. Now, the 49ers may be putting more pressure on him to adapt to the NFL this season and contribute right away.

Patton totaled 183 receptions for 2,594 yards and 24 touchdowns at Louisiana Tech. Initially ranked by CBS Sports to go in the second round during the draft, San Francisco was able to sit on him and pick him up with a fourth-round pick instead. The 49ers hope Patton will play more like a second-round prospect this year.

The 49ers were also able to recently sign Patton, preventing any possibility of the rookie sitting out any portion of his first NFL season. At least that is good news moving forward and Patton should be able to openly compete with Jenkins on San Francisco's depth chart which should hopefully benefit both receivers in the long run.

There are also some tangible "wild cards" that the 49ers will have to consider. Chief among them is Ricardo Lockette. Lockette played his rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks but only made it on the field for two games and then found his way onto San Francisco's practice squad last year.

Lockette is raw and undeveloped, but he does have speed which is an element that may assist the slower Boldin on offense. In addition, Lockette spent much of the offseason working out with Kaepernick and there is hope that the two will build more chemistry on the field.

Other possible candidates to help fill Crabtree's void may be Marlon Moore and Chad Hall.

Of course the 49ers may be interested in making deals outside of their own camp if deemed necessary. Would they consider bringing back Randy Moss? Probably not, but stranger things have happened. Terrell Owens is out there somewhere, but that possibility deserves more laughs than anything else at this point. Brandon Lloyd is available as well, but could he replicate the season he had last year catching passes from Tom Brady?

San Francisco may also be potentially forced to trade one of their 2014 draft picks to acquire a wide receiver at any point between now and the regular season trading deadline.

While any of these scenarios remain to be determined, what is known is that the 49ers' receiving corps has been shaken up by the news of Crabtree's possible season-ending injury. Certain players will be required to step up and fill the void and there is the likelihood that the situation will warrant some added competition in the months and weeks before the regular season begins. Healthy competition is good right?

The 49ers would positively agree with that statement, but if asked, the team would certainly say they wished Crabtree was back.

Follow @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Breaking Down 247Sports' Initial Recruiting Rankings for Class of 2015

Andrew Kulha — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:13:25 -0400

247Sports' No. 1 recruit for the class of 2015 goes to the same high school that President Barack Obama attended. There are three quarterbacks that received 5-star rankings, and all three are pro-style quarterbacks from the state of California. One of those quarterbacks, Josh Rosen, runs a 4.55 40 (247Sports) and he already has offers from Michigan, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, amongst a few others.

This is just a quick snapshot of what we can look forward to from this 2015 class, and thanks to the newly released Top247 for 2015, we can start breaking the class down.

Over the next months and years there will be much discussion and analysis of these 247 recruits. Offers will be made, momentum will be gained and momentum will be lost. Commitments and decommitments are givens, and before all is said and done we'll definitely see a few surprises.

Overall though, the world of college football recruiting is all about the future, and this class projects to be exceptionally bright.

Here's a look at the new Top247 and the major talking points you want to know about:

No. 1 recruit: Canton Kaumatule

Kaumatule of Honolulu, Hawaii (Panahou School) is a strong-side defensive end recruit who's already 6'6.5'', 275 pounds. He has the size and length of a dominant end recruit already, and he's still just a sophomore in high school. Kaumatule could end up getting bigger, and he'll definitely become stronger and savvier.

He already has a good combination of strength, speed and technique, but all three of those attributes will improve during his junior and senior years of high school. If he keeps hitting the weight room and working on his fundamentals, Kaumatule could be a truly elite recruit.

As of right now, he only has offers from Hawaii, UCLA and Utah, but that will change fast.

Note: Check out our preliminary analysis and thoughts on the No. 1 recruit. All scouting done via tape study of film provided on his 247Sports profile page.

16 initial 5-star recruits

Not surprisingly, the power group in the early goings of this class is the defensive line. Out of the 16 5-star recruits, eight of them are defensive lineman. Four are offensive lineman and three are quarterbacks.

The quarterbacks are Ricky Town, the aforementioned Rosen and Kevin Dillman.

George Campbell is the lone wideout who received a 5-star, and he checks in at 6'3'' 184 pounds.

Commitments

Bleacher Report's assistant college football editor, Eric Bowman, took the time to tally the amount of commitments in the initial top247. He posted his findings on Twitter:

Those commitments are:

Shameik Blackshear, 5-star WDE, committed to South Carolina

Mekhi Brown, 5-star SDE, committed to Alabama

Kevin Toliver III, 4-star CB, committed to LSU

Derwin James, 4-star S, committed to Florida State

Desherrius Flowers, 4-star RB, committed to Alabama

Deionte Thompson, 4-star S, committed to Alabama

Chad President, 4-star WR, committed to Baylor

Jordan Davis, 4-star TE, committed to Florida State

Christian Owens, 4-star WR, committed to Georgia

Avery Anderson, 4-star ATH, committed to Arizona State

Donovan Sheffield, 4-star CB, committed to Vanderbilt

Of course Alabama is leading the way so far, and overall, the SEC has a dominant head start on the class of 2015.

Initial Thoughts

It's nice to see three quarterbacks receiving early 5-stars, especially with the lack of star power at the position in the current 2014 class. There will be a lot of hype surrounding the three quarterback recruits, and their commitments will eventually be big news.

There is a very notable lack of defensive backs at the top of the class. In fact, the first true defensive back to appear in the rankings, 4-star safety Kerryon Johnson, doesn't appear until No. 31 overall.

Finally, the defensive line group looks stellar as well, and Kaumatule, in particular, has superstar potential once he gains more experience—in the weight room, film room and on the field.

SEC Baseball Tournament 2013: Top Players to Watch for Remainder of Event

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:56:39 -0400

The SEC tournament is already underway, but there is plenty of time remaining to catch some of the best college baseball players in the country.

With a number of teams expected to contend for an NCAA title this year, it is hard to argue against the SEC being the best conference in the country. This is due to great play all season by some extremely talented players.

For those looking to see the biggest stars in the game, check out these players.

Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas

College pitchers usually are able to get by on using one or two good pitches. Ryne Stanek is better than most due to his ability to mix up his pitches and keep batters off-balance.

The Arkansas pitcher sets things up with a good fastball, but he also has a slider and a curve that is better than many major leaguers'. If he can develop a changeup as well, he will be playing at the sport's highest level before too long.

However, his offerings are more than enough to dominate the tough conference. He finished second in the league with an ERA of 1.54 and had an impressive 72 strikeouts.

If the Razorbacks hope to advance deep into the postseason, they will need a few more big performances from the righty.

Tony Kemp, OF, Vanderbilt

There might not be a better top-of-the-order hitter in the nation than Tony Kemp. He led the SEC with a batting average of .408 and got on base almost half the time with an OBP of .490.

However, he rarely stopped at first base. He had an SEC-leading 27 stolen bases and scored 58 runs.

His ability to get himself into scoring position and come home easily has helped Vanderbilt become one of the top scoring teams in the nation. The Commodores are now favorites to win not only the SEC tournament but also the NCAA tournament.

As long as Kemp continues his strong play, there are not too many teams that can beat Vanderbilt.

Hunter Renfroe, OF, Mississippi State

If you could pick one player in the nation to be on your team, it would not take long for Hunter Renfroe's name to come up.

The junior has spent time in his career at outfield, catcher and even pitcher, and he has excelled at all of them. This season, he showed his five-tool ability as a hitter, in the field and on the basepaths.

Renfroe led the league with 15 home runs and also added nine stolen bases in 12 attempts. He batted an impressive .362 during the season and was usually the person to come through with a big hit for Mississippi State.

While the Rebels had an up-and-down year, the squad is certainly capable of surprising people in the postseason.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

Adam Choice Commits to Clemson: Tigers Land Stud 4-Star RB

Randy Chambers — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:53:34 -0400

Clemson continues its impressive start to the 2014 recruiting class. Running back Adam Choice is the latest to give the Tigers his verbal commitment.

Kipp Adams and William Wilkerson of ESPN reported the news (paid link).

"I committed to Clemson," Choice said. "I felt like I felt when I went up there. Like I belonged."

Choice also had offers from Tennessee, Texas and Georgia, among others, but many believed it was going to come down to Auburn and Clemson. It looks like the Clemson Tigers got the big end of the stick on this one.

A 4-star prospect according to 247Sports, Choice will fit right in Chad Morris' system. He is a big back at 5'9", 210 pounds and can be difficult to wrap up.

Keith Niebuhr of 247Sports describes him perfectly:

Choice will play running back once he arrives on campus, but he spent a lot of time in high school running the wildcat as a quarterback. He broke tackles with ease, handed out stiff-arms like they were free lunches and had no problem finding the end zone. According to the report, Choice rushed for 1,600 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore.

He was a productive baseball player in high school as well. It looks like Clemson has hit another home run.

Clemson now has seven early commitments for the 2014 class, including five 4-star players. Out of the seven players, six of them play offense, which is bad news for the rest of the ACC. The Clemson coaching staff has been putting in work lately, as this is the third commitment this month along with cornerback C.J. Fuller and tight end Milan Richard.

'Bitter' Jacob Volkmann Threatens to Expose UFC's 'Horrible' Benefits and Wages

Jordy McElroy — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:13 -0400

It has been over three months since Jacob Volkmann was released from his UFC contract, and he isn't going down without a fight.

During an interview with Above and Beyond MMA, he blasted his former employer for insufficient fighter pay and "horrible" health-care benefits.

While he is admittedly bitter at his untimely release, Volkmann's plan is to expose the façade he believes the UFC puts up for its fans. The life of a UFC fighter is often considered luxurious and pampered like any other professional athlete.

According to Volkmann, this persistent insinuation is only true when pertaining to the biggest names in the UFC:

"[I'm] very bitter. [The UFC] always claim that they treat the fighters so well. Yeah, they treat the top five percent of the fighters well—the ones that are on the main card all the time. They don't treat the rest of them very well. The health-care plan is horrible, with a $1,500 deductible per injury—the catastrophic-injury insurance is not even really good insurance.

There's no retirement fund, there's no signing bonus. You start off at six-and-six, you're really not making too much money because you're self-employed, so you're paying the self-employment tax and you're paying the regular tax and income tax. So you're paying twice as much in tax. They claim they're treating the fighters well, but they're not, realistically."

Similar to the release of former welterweight contender Jon Fitch, there was a lot of confusion pertaining to the UFC's decision to cut Volkmann.

He was coming off a loss to Bobby Green at UFC 156, but a wider look at his body of work didn't show a fighter in danger of losing his job. As a UFC fighter, Volkmann boasted a 6-2 record with significant wins over Danny Castillo, Efrain Escudero and Shane Roller.

Despite his success on the big stage, fans never really warmed up to Volkmann's personality or fighting style. In nearly four years competing under the UFC banner, the most memorable moment of his career was calling out President Barack Obama.

Regardless, the life of a professional fighter isn't easy. There is a lot of work and money that goes into preparing to compete against the best in the world. It is a fighter's right to a fair compensation, and Volkmann feels he never received that from the UFC:

"Of course ... People always tell me, "You're rich—you're on TV!" Are you kidding me? I made $54,000 two years ago, paid $9,000 in taxes, so that leaves me with $45,000. This last year, I made $50,000 and paid $8,000 in taxes. That leaves me with $42,000 —that's barely above poverty. I have three kids and a wife I'm supporting.

...I'm trying to make the fans realize what the UFC is really like—I'm going to expose them as much as I can."

Volkmann recently signed with World Series of Fighting, and he will be making his debut on June 14 against Lyle Beerbohm.

If things go according to plan, Volkmann hopes to continue his fighting career and become the first-ever WSOF lightweight champion. If not, he plans on resuming his career as a chiropractor. A political run in the 2016 Presidential election isn't out of the question, either.

Can you imagine?

Volkmann gets released by the UFC, becomes the first WSOF lightweight champ and wins the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Talk about sticking it to the man.

Crowne Plaza Invitational 2013: Hottest, Coldest Golfers Heading into Tournament

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:43:00 -0400

Sang-Moon Bae turned a solid second year on the PGA Tour into a win last week at the Byron Nelson Championship, and he will be back in action this week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. He will do so as one of the tour's hottest golfers.

This tournament will feature a deep field, but it is not packed with stars. The full field is available here.

Zach Johnson took this event last year, but don't look for Johnson on this list. While he's been a fairly consistent staple of the cold list this year, his last time out he looked much improved with a 19th-place finish at the Players.

Now, we'll see if he can use that momentum at a track he has shown he can dominate to help turn his season around or if he'll just sink back into the abyss.

The following players on this list do not feature games that are in a similar state of limbo. These golfers will be hoping to either keep their hot hand rolling or end a bad slump.

*All stats via PGATour.com.

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Brian Stann Goes off on TRT in Wake of Vitor Belfort's Win over Luke Rockhold

John Heinis — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:32:07 -0400

Count in UFC middleweight/US Marine Corp veteran Brian Stann as one of the fighters who wants to see testosterone replacement therapy banned in MMA.

Shortly after middleweight contender Vitor Belfort easily disposed of former Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold with a picture perfect spinning heel kick at UFC on FX 8 Saturday, Stann, via Twitter, spoke at length on the subject of TRT.

First, Stann responded to a tweet on the subject posted by MMA Junkie's Ben Fowlkes:

@benfowlkesmma @mmajunkiesteven I disagree. I have trained with guys pre & post testosterone usage & difference is incredible. Speed & power

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 19, 2013

Shortly afterwards, "The All-American" posted on TwitLonger, calling the whole concept of TRT "ridiculous:"

"I am not trying to be a jerk & not jealous of other fighter success, I am secure in who I am. Allowing pro fighters to inject test (sic) is just plain ridiculous."

Before calling it a day, the Greg Jackson's MMA fighter said that, in his opinion, TRT is a threat to fighter safety.

In a day & age where we discover new long term effects of concussions and how horrible they are, I speak out of concern for my peers

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) May 19, 2013

Stann has currently been enjoying his desk job as an MMA analyst for FUEL TV ever since suffering a brutal knockout at the hands of PRIDE legend Wanderlei Silva at UFC on FUEL 8 in March.

The bout marked Stann's second consecutive loss, dropping a unanimous decision to Michael Bisping at UFC 152 in September.

Coincidentally, Stann's on-screen analytical partner Chael Sonnen, another open user of TRT, defeated him with an arm-triangle choke at UFC 136 in October 2011.

Does Stann bring up valid points that have yet to be thoroughly evaluated when talking about TRT usage in the sport of mixed martial arts?

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com and contributes MMA videos to The Young Turks Sports Show.

Wade Barrett: Is a Face Turn Possible and Could Fandango Benefit from It?

Bill Atkinson — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:58 -0400

Fandango might have been doing his typical dance turns Monday night, but the biggest turn from that night could wind up belonging to Wade Barrett.

It is a turn that may benefit both Barrett and WWE’s “Dancing Machine.”

Barrett, the reigning Intercontinental Champion, could be the next WWE Superstar to make the move from heel to babyface. And he could have Fandango to thank for it.

Don’t worry. If it happens, Fandango may wind up returning the favor.

In case you missed it Monday night, Barrett and Fandango faced The Miz and Chris Jericho in a tag team match. The pairing was contentious from the beginning, as both men argued with each other prior to the bell, and the contention kept on throughout the match.

It reached a boiling point when Fandango jumped down to ringside and began dancing with his partner, Summer Rae, leaving Barrett alone in the ring against Miz and Jericho. He finally succumbed to Miz’s figure four leglock while Fandango continued to dance the night away.

Miz and Jericho finally chased Fandango away from the ringside, but by that time, Barrett was nowhere to be found.

But that does not mean the story is ended.

As is the custom in professional wrestling, if a heel is wronged by another heel during a match, that usually marks the start of a face run for the “victim.”

In this scenario, while Fandango fiddled, Barrett got burned. And Barrett’s character is one who thrives on revenge.

It’s a logical step in the character development of Wade Barrett. And ultimately for Fandango.

Barrett has held the IC belt three times, yet even as champion, he usually finds himself on the short end in matches against top Superstars. Look how often he has jobbed to Sheamus in recent months with and without the title.

Barrett was on the cusp of a major push in 2012 when he dislocated his elbow in a 10-man Battle Royal match on a Raw SuperShow. The injury sidelined him for many months, and while his return was heralded with video previews and other hoopla, he eventually came back to the same-old, same-old.

Now with the IC belt firmly around his waist and no other face stars stepping up to contend, Barrett really has nothing to keep him on the heel side of the fence. He always was fairly likable in an anti-hero sort of way, so it only would seem right to have him jump that fence and start facing off against the WWE villains.

And that is where Fandango waltzes into the picture.

The former Johnny Curtis debuted amid lots of fanfare and predictions from folks such as Steve Austin and Jim Ross. However, the top championships on the midcard level—the IC and the U.S. Heavyweight Championship—are now held by fellow heels Barrett and Dean Ambrose.

It’s quite unlikely that WWE would send Fandango after anyone in The Shield lest The Shield beat the dance right out of his legs. Turning Barrett face and putting him in a feud with Fandango for the IC belt is the most sensible way to go. Barrett gets that much-needed push, and Fandango gets to make Steve Austin look like Nostradamus.

The “Barrett Barrage” vs. the Ballroom Dancer. Now that could turn into a “Ballroom Blitz.”

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

Does Michael Crabtree's Injury Make Seahawks Favorites in Loaded NFC West?

Zach Kruse — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:29:59 -0400

In a divisional race as contested as the NFC West is likely to be in 2013, a significant injury like the one suffered by San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree Tuesday just might tilt the scales in the Seattle Seahawks' direction.

According to Mike Garafolo of USA Today, Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon during Tuesday's organized team activities. The surgery required to fix the injury could ultimately force Crabtree to miss the entire 2013 season.

While Garafolo points out that recent spring-time injuries to the Achilles of both Terrell Suggs and Da'Quan Bowers did not result in missing the ensuing season, Crabtree's injury is a huge blow to a 49ers team that will need all of its weapons to hold off the Seahawks in the NFC West.

A first-round pick of the 49ers in 2009, Crabtree finally broke out in a big way during his fourth NFL season. Over 16 regular-season games, Crabtree caught 85 passes for 1,105 yards and nine scores—each representing new career highs. He followed up his best regular season with 20 catches for 285 yards and three scores during San Francisco's three-game playoff run.

Now the 49ers will have to adjust to life without their best receiver for a majority of next season.

Luckily for San Francisco, the receiver depth chart does offer some potential answers.

Veteran Anquan Boldin was acquired this offseason to help Crabtree as a possession-type No. 2, but he'll now assume the duties of a No. 1 receiver. A.J. Jenkins, last season's first-round pick from Illinois, will be expected to take a big jump, and 2012 fourth-rounder Quinton Patton should see more opportunities.

And once Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams return to 100 percent after ACL injuries, the 49ers should be fine in terms of numbers at the position.

However, losing a dynamic talent like Crabtree—especially after the chemistry developed between him and quarterback Colin Kaepernick last season—has to rank as a huge blow that can't be understated.

From Week 13 on last season (including the postseason), Crabtree was without question Kaepernick's favorite target. Over eight total games, the two hooked up 55 times for 823 yards and seven scores.

Now, Kaepernick will enter his first full season as the starting quarterback without his go-to receiver.

No team should benefit more from the loss than the Seahawks.

A winner of 11 regular-season games and one postseason contest last season, Seattle has positioned itself this offseason to be a top contender in both the division and the conference. Additions such as Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett have provided the Seahawks' with necessary ammunition for what still shapes up to be the best divisional race in the NFL.

The 49ers will now have to face a difficult schedule—especially at the start—without a key playmaker.

San Francisco opens up at home against Green Bay in Week 1 before traveling to Seattle in Week 2. Tricky games with Indianapolis, St. Louis and Houston loom in the next three weeks, which should give the 49ers one of the more challenging early schedules in football.

Even if Crabtree can make a miraculous recovery, he's almost certain to miss the first half or so of next season.

Just a few slip-ups early could be the difference between winning a division title and playing for the wild card behind Seattle.

The 49ers are still talented enough on both sides of the football to overcame one significant injury, but the Seahawks have to be feeling better about their chances to win the NFC West today than they did yesterday.

Why Eli Manning Could Have to Deal with Even More Pressure in 2013

Brad Gagnon — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:28:19 -0400

Eli Manning has always been remarkably strong in the face of pressure. His top-notch pocket presence has helped him avoid the types of hits that remove quarterbacks from games, which is why the 32-year-old New York Giants quarterback has taken all but 35 snaps in the last three years and hasn't missed a start due to injury in his nine-year career.

But Eli's older brother possesses the same traits when facing pressure and—once upon a time—Peyton Manning also established himself as an ironman who never missed time due to injury.

Until this happened and everything changed for Peyton, who missed the entire 2011 season as a result of neck problems.

The point is that one hit can change everything, and every time a block is missed or a blitzing linebacker or defensive back isn't picked up, the odds increase that the quarterback will be hit.

That's why there's reason to believe Eli Manning will need luck on his side in order to stay on the field week after week and year after year going forward.

Manning was lucky to survive in 2011, when he was the most pressured quarterback in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Last year, he was pressured significantly less often, with his PFF pressure rate dropping by 24 percent.

What changed? For starters, a healthier Ahmad Bradshaw increased his yards-per-carry average from 3.9 to 4.6, keeping defenses honest, and was ranked by PFF as the best blocking halfback in the NFL. He was also a strong blocker in 2011, but his snap count and average increased dramatically last year.

Bradshaw is no longer a Giant.

What else changed? Free-agent acquisition Martellus Bennett, who took over for Jake Ballard at tight end, was deemed by PFF to be the third-best pass-blocking tight end in the NFL last year. In 2011, Ballard was ranked 47th in the same category.

Bennett is no longer a Giant.

Bradshaw's replacement, David Wilson, struggled with blocking assignments as a rookie, which placed him in head coach Tom Coughlin's doghouse for much of the 2012 season. Andre Brown, who is also likely to earn reps out of the New York backfield, posted a decent blocking rating last year but in a limited sample size. Neither blocks like Bradshaw.

Bennett's replacement, Brandon Myers, was rated by PFF last year as the fourth-worst pass-blocker in the league among tight ends who took at least 50 percent of their team's offensive snaps. He was the antithesis of Bennett.

So while it's encouraging that the offensive line excelled in 2012 after allowing more pressure than every other line in football in 2011 and it's nice that said line could actually be a touch better with rookie first-round pick Justin Pugh in 2013, there's still a chance Manning will face a lot of heat this year.

He'll have to continue to be his sneakily evasive self while keeping that four-leaf clover in his back pocket, but that line will have to be even better. Wilson, Brown and Myers will have to improve their blocking too.

Oh, and all involved parties might want to pray that Henry Hynoski's OK. The Star-Ledger's Dave Hutchinson reported that the league's fifth-best blocker at the fullback position left practice with a knee injury on Wednesday.

None of this bodes well for Manning's safety.

Michigan Football: Reasonable Goals for Wolverines' 2013 Season

Randy Chambers — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:27:37 -0400

Brady Hoke is entering his third season as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Fans have witnessed both sides of the fence his first two seasons, as a BCS bowl game was clinched in 2011 and a subpar 8-5 record was reached last season.

What is in store this time?

Michigan does return the fewest starters in the Big Ten with 12, but there are plenty of backups that picked up valuable experience. And while expectations are never low for Wolverines fans, there comes a point during the offseason where everybody has to put together a list of reasonable goals.

The Wolverines have a few.

A More Balanced Offense

Last season, Michigan was a running machine but lacked in the passing game. Michigan struggled at times to move the football and put points on the board, as it finished ranked 41st in rushing yards and 97th in passing yardage.

A lot of this had to do with the quarterback issues of an unhealthy Denard Robinson and throwing Devin Gardner into the lion's den.

You can expect a more balanced unit and an offense that can move the football effectively this season. Gardner is a more complete quarterback than Robinson was, which allows the Wolverines to operate like a balanced offense.

Gardner isn't so quick to run and doesn't give up on throwing the football. He also appears to be a lot more accurate than the former Michigan quarterback. Instead of designing a playbook that leaned more to a quarterback taking off, Gardner will be asked to make the throws and play the role of a traditional quarterback. The new pro-style offense will fit this team nicely.

The running back depth is also looking good with Fitzgerald Toussaint, Justice Hayes, Drake Johnson and Derrick Green.

Questions with the interior of the offensive line remain, but the overall pieces of this offense are solid enough for this unit to take many steps forward.

Another Great Defense

Defense is what Michigan has relied on over the last two seasons and it will look to continue its high level of play under defensive coordinator Greg Mattison. But with the injury to linebacker Jake Ryan and a defensive line that has a hard time generating a pass rush, there are concerns about this unit possibly heading in the wrong direction.

Don't even think about it.

The loss of Ryan will hurt, but a combination of Cameron Gordon and Brennan Beyer should be good enough to get the job done until he returns.

You also have to like the potential up front of Chris Wormley, Matt Godin and freshman Taco Charlton. Those are all athletic and young guys who should add a little spice to the pass rush.

The secondary also looks good on paper with Courtney Avery and Ramon Taylor. Getting Blake Countess back will be absolutely huge as well.

Michigan was tied with Boise State last year for the fifth-best pass defense in the country. Although it may be asking a bit much to repeat that result, throwing on the Wolverines won't be easy.

Michigan should once again have a quality defense which ranks among the best in the Big Ten.

8 Victories

Expectations are obviously higher in Ann Arbor, but remember that we are discussing reasonable goals. Michigan should have no problem winning eight games, but anything beyond that is questionable.

Notre Dame is on the schedule, a trip to Penn State, Nebraska, Ohio State and then a road game in East Lansing. All of these games could result in a loss—the Wolverines weren't given many breaks schedule-wise.

There are also questions surrounding the team that need to be answered before anybody can be comfortable picking a BCS bowl trip.

Will the offensive line hold up replacing three starters? Can Gardner perform at a high level for an entire season? Will Ryan be missed more than we originally thought?

A reasonable goal is the same amount of victories the program finished with last year.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

3 Reasons Cain Velasquez Has His Fight Against Antonio Silva in the Bag

Matt Juul — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:25:46 -0400

It's no secret that heavyweight veteran Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva will be going into his UFC 160 bout against champ Cain Velasquez as the heavy underdog.

While the Brazilian certainly shocked the MMA world with his come from behind, third-round knockout of Alistair Overeem at UFC 156, I just don't see "Pezão" emerging victorious on Saturday night.

Considering Velasquez's more technical skill set–as well as the outcome of their first meeting–I believe that the heavyweight king will keep his crown.

Here are three reasons why Velasquez has this fight in the bag.

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Analyzing How 5-Star QB Max Browne Fits into USC Trojans Offense

Lisa Horne — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:24:10 -0400

What do you do with a true freshman 5-star quarterback who is competing with two more experienced players at his position? Do you start him, redshirt him or lock him in as a reserve?

Those are the options facing USC head coach Lane Kiffin as he spends his summer mulling over which of his three quarterbacks will start this fall.

Is it redshirt sophomore Cody Kessler, who has patiently waited his turn behind Matt Barkley? Is it redshirt sophomore Max Wittek, who was thrust into the starting role against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech after Barkley went down with an injury against UCLA?

Or is it highly coveted 2013 recruit Max Browne, who had a great spring camp?

Kiffin's decision is critical for several reasons. His job security may depend on making the right choice. It's most likely Rose Bowl or bust for Kiffin.

Redshirting Browne could backfire if Kessler or Wittek were to get hurt. Who would be left as the reserve? Starting Browne could cause Wittek and Kessler to take their talents somewhere else after this season. Both would have two years of eligibility to offer an FBS school.

This decision by Kiffin isn't just about who deserves it the most. Politics play into this.

Browne could follow Barkley's footsteps and be the next four-year starter at USC. But Kessler and Wittek likely won't stick around if that were to happen. That's why Browne won't be named the starting quarterback. Maybe they all will.

Could this be a quarterback-by-committee approach for USC? It's not out of the question. Having all three quarterbacks start during the season would probably squelch any transfers. Most fans don't like the committee approach because it implies that no one separated himself from the others as a leader.

But USC is still under an NCAA-imposed 10-scholarship reduction and in survival mode for one more year. It has to preserve its thin roster. And its future quarterbacks.

Browne is the future. At USC's spring game press conference, Kiffin noted one negative of Browne's performance: "The rookie taking a couple of sacks." More from FOXSports West's Rahshaun Haylock:

Browne completed 7 of 11 passes for 80 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Browne also took a couple of sacks, which Kiffin said was one of the few negatives on the day.

“It’s hard to learn to throw the ball away,” Kiffin said of Browne.

Browne is 6'5", 215 pounds and will have to add bulk to his 18-year-old body this summer. He stands tall in the pocket, has a strong arm and is accurate. He is a traditional dropback passer.

With Browne at QB, USC's offense would look similar to 2002's under then-quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer was not very athletic when flushed out of the pocket. Imagine a scarecrow running for his life with anchors attached to his feet.

Palmer, like Browne, is 6' 5" and had a height advantage that allowed him to see the play develop. He didn't try to scramble under pressure. He threw the ball away. Under Palmer, USC ran a pro-style offense. Run the ball and wait for the passing game to open up.

If Browne is named the starter, expect to see the same. He's not athletic when flushed out—he needs to throw the ball away when the pocket collapses.

Having talented veteran receivers Nelson Agholor, Victor Blackwell and Marqise Lee at his disposal makes the passing game more of a viable option.

Browne could be expected to throw a lot of short passes to build his confidence early in the season. Think West Coast offense. But after two or three games, expect an air show. Browne is a huge downfield threat and Kiffin won't ask him to dink-pass his way down the field.

USC fans want to forget the misery of 2012. The porous defense. The vanilla play-calling. The stuttering offense.

Browne could re-energize the Trojan fans with his arm, or the future of USC football could be relegated to the sidelines with a clipboard in his hands.

We'll find out in 99 days.

Oregon Ducks Received Notice of NCAA Allegations 6 Months Ago

Tim Keeney — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:23:42 -0400

The University of Oregon has known about the NCAA's allegations toward its football program for nearly six months.

The news comes from Rob Moseley of The Register-Guard:

University of Oregon president Michael Gottfredson received a notice of allegations in the Ducks’ ongoing NCAA investigation of its recruiting practices on Dec. 5, 2012.

The document was released to The Register-Guard today by the university in response to a public records request.

In February, news broke that the university "release[d] documents indicating 'failure to monitor' findings proposed" in the ongoing NCAA investigation (h/t Ken Goe, The Oregonian).

Things only continued to get worse for Oregon in April, as it was revealed the university had committed several major recruiting violations. However, a finding of no unethical conduct during that time suggested the Ducks would be able to avoid major sanctions.

However, as Moseley states, this reveals a repeat offense by Oregon:

A letter to Gottfredson detailing the administrative process of the investigation is followed by seven specific allegations of wrong-doing by the Ducks under former head coach Chip Kelly. All of which closely resemble—almost to the word—the allegations listed in Oregon’s failed attempt at a summary disposition resolution as submitted to the NCAA in October of last year.

And that could be a major hitch in this entire process:

According to Moseley, the violations contained in the notice of allegations are major ones, although no possible sanctions are listed in the document.

Still, it states that the university is subject to "penalties under repeat violator rules," which does not suggest good news for the Ducks going forward.

This is an intriguing wrinkle in the story, as it also appears Oregon has been aware of its exact allegations since early December, which is earlier than was originally thought.

At that time, Chip Kelly, of course, was still head coach, and this is only going to further raise questions surrounding his departure for the NFL right around the beginning of the year.

Either way, there are still several developments surely on the way when it comes to this ongoing investigation, which will be an intriguing story to follow until more becomes known.

5 WWE Superstars Who Have Made Great Lives for Themselves in Retirement

Sharon Glencross — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:23:29 -0400

Let's face it: The wrestling business has had more than its fair share of sad stories.

Numerous wrestlers have died young because of drugs and/or alcohol abuse. Many stars, like Tammy "Sunny" Sytch, have been in and out of rehab and even had the occasional trip to jail.

Others, like Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, have found their later years afflicted by personal turmoil and tragedy.

Thankfully, not everyone's story is bleak and depressing. Indeed, the following wrestlers have not only carved out nice lives for themselves in their post-WWE lives, but they've even enhanced their reputations and legacies.

Let's have a look at their stories...

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NBA Free Agents 2013: Top Players Most Likely to Re-Sign with Current Teams

Matt Fitzgerald — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:13:55 -0400

The 2013 NBA free-agent class is an exciting one, with several electrifying players set to hit the open market. Several of the biggest names, though, are highly likely not to find a new destination, because sticking with their current teams is their best shot at a championship.

As the postseason continues to wind down, speculation and rumors will continue to emerge. However, there shouldn't be much suspense regarding the following trio of impact players.

Let's take a look at some of the best available unrestricted free agents who will generate significant interest, yet should remain in their current NBA uniforms.

Chris Paul, PG, Los Angeles Clippers

A stunning development occurred this past season—the Clippers established themselves as the best pro basketball team in the City of Angels, bettering the preeminent Lakers.

It didn't translate to playoff success, unfortunately, which led to the team parting ways with head coach Vinny Del Negro. That was in spite of a franchise-record 56 wins during the regular season.

CBS Sports' Ken Berger cited sources that indicated Paul's discontent with Del Negro was a significant factor in the Clippers' brass giving him the pink slip:

Reportedly giving a player that type of organizational pull is a testament to how much the Clippers value Paul. In an effort to keep him, no less than a max contract will be offered to the superstar point guard, and he'll capitalize—and also likely choose his next coach.

Paul is surrounded by marquee talent, and forms a lethal combination with power forward Blake Griffin and a solid rotation with DeAndre Jordan, Caron Butler, Jamal Crawford and Eric Bledsoe—though he may leave in free agency.

As long as the Clips supply Paul with a legitimate starting 2-guard, there is no reason that he should flee town.

Kevin Martin, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder

After trading away dynamic sixth man James Harden, who became a premier star with the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City needed a shot in the arm on offense. Martin provided that off the bench this season, netting 14 points per contest.

With a previous salary of nearly $12.5 million (h/t USA Today), it's improbable that Martin's play will warrant that type of payday on the open market.

Martin is in a wonderful situation as a member of this Thunder squad, with cornerstones Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook still blossoming and realizing their sky-high potentials.

Royce Young of CBS Sports reported what Martin had to say recently about his future:

It appears that Martin's best fit is in OKC, despite the fact that he could start elsewhere given his incredible shooting prowess. Walking away from this situation for more money might produce better career numbers, but no place presents a better opportunity for an NBA title.

Martin has said that chasing money at this point in his career won't be a factor, which only enhances the case that he'll remain with the Thunder.

David West, PF, Indiana Pacers

ESPN's Marc Stein reports "whispers are already swirling" that the Clippers are interested in acquiring West this offseason, which would give their frontcourt a necessary boost.

It makes sense, since the two thrived together as members of the New Orleans Hornets. Especially if Paul can help lure Byron Scott, their former head coach, to Los Angeles, things could become really interesting.

Stein also notes how much West loves his situation in Indiana, too, and how LA would have to offer him a mid-level exception, as opposed to the larger sum the Pacers could muster.

Advancing to the Eastern Conference finals also helps the Pacers' cause in retaining the crafty 32-year-old post player, because it's a sign of tangible improvement.

The Pacers' official Twitter page highlighted a recent comment made by West, which makes it sound as though he definitely wants to stick around the organization:

Head coach Frank Vogel has instilled a defensive identity into his squad, and it's paying significant dividends.

From an offensive standpoint, though, few in the league are more devastating at operating off the pick-and-roll than West. His combination of size and athleticism at the 4 position creates significant matchup problems.

West is the only particularly high-priced free agent that GM Kevin Prtichard has to focus on, and he should reward the All-Star power forward with a lucrative multi-year deal.

Gary Cahill: Has He Justified His Price Tag in 1st Full Season with Chelsea?

Joe Krishnan — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:11:52 -0400

The cliché of a young boy wanting to become a professional footballer when he grows up is sadly too rare these days, but for young Gary Cahill, hailing from Dronfield, the dream became reality when he joined Aston Villa at 14.

After progressing through the ranks of the youth academy, Cahill made his debut at the tender age of 18, but not with his parent club. The youngster was loaned out to Burnley and made 28 appearances during his time at Turf Moor.

But what really caught the eyes of the coaches at Villa Park was that their loan star managed to pick up both the Player and Young Player of the Year awards during his season-long loan spell. It was a magnificent achievement for the teenager and showed that he had a bright future at Villa Park.

A four-year spell at Bolton followed after joining the Trotters in 2008, and that's when Cahill made the step up to a quality defender. His solid performances, as well as pitching in with the odd wonder goal, earned him a dream £7 million move to Chelsea last year.

Brought in many as a squad player, the English international has certainly made an impression during his time at Stamford Bridge, and after finishing his first full season at Stamford Bridge, has the towering centre-half justified himself as a useful acquisition?

Judging by quality, you would have to concur that he has. Cahill has repeatedly shown that he is worthy of wearing the Chelsea shirt, coming straight into the side when the likes of John Terry or David Luiz are unavailable and putting his body on the line.

Of course, the 27-year-old, like any other player, would be disappointed not to start regularly. But in a squad as talented as Chelsea's and facing such a gruelling fixture list, rotation is a necessity, not an option. As a consequence, Cahill has enjoyed a decent run in the team, featuring in 45 games for the Blues this season.

And one of the key things about his game is his tendency to score goals, which is an odd attribute for a defender to possess. The statistics don't lie though; Cahill has scored an impressive total of six goals in all competitions this season, with two in each of the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.

The pick of the bunch—there are more than just a couple, believe me—came in the 4-2 win against Tottenham at White Hart Lane when he unleashed a thunderbolt from the edge of the box, which left American goalkeeper Brad Friedel with no chance whatsoever.

Certainly, Rafa Benitez has entrusted the centre-half to come into the first-team without any hesitation, and the fact that he has started all three of Chelsea's continental finals this year highlights the faith shown in his ability.

Still, every player has his weaknesses, and his biggest issue is consistency which ultimately costs him a place in the team. In addition, there are several habits that he has failed to iron out, which can make Cahill a vulnerability in defence.

When playing in defence with David Luiz, both like to stray from their positions, leaving gaping holes in the defence. While the Brazilian has the pace to track back, Cahill is not the quickest of players, and teams gradually exploit the space left by him.

In addition, as seen in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham, Cahill can be guilty of getting too tight to his marker, and as he got too close to Emmanuel Adebayor, it allowed Spurs the chance to equalize.

To understand how to utilize Cahill, you need to acknowledge his style; an old-fashioned defender who is vital in the sense that his contributions usually centre around last-ditch blocks and man-marking.

Use that to your advantage, and you have a solid centre-back among your squad. Unfortunately, Chelsea have John Terry who famously operates in that role. And when Cahill replaces Terry in the side, with all due respect, the distinction in the physical and mental presence is noticeable.

Questions over Gary Cahill's future at Chelsea will remain unanswered until the next Chelsea manager is announced. And with the return of Jose Mourinho becoming increasingly likely, it seems that the former Bolton man could find first-team opportunities limited, with Mourinho unlikely to axe the ever-popular captain, Terry.

A player with as much professionalism and class as Cahill would understand if he was forced to leave the Blues, having won three trophies in just over a year at the club, and the club would certainly ask for a large chunk of his £7 million fee.

Whether he stays or goes is irrelevant. Chelsea can be proud of their bargain signing, and if he moves on to pastures new, Cahill can look back with no regrets.

Hawaiian DE Canton Kaumatule Is No. 1 Recruit in 247Sports' First 2015 Rankings

Andrew Kulha — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:11:09 -0400

Canton Kaumatule, newly minted 5-star defensive end, is just a rising junior, but he already checks in at nearly 6'7'', 275 pounds. At that size, he has immense potential as a college football recruit.

So much potential, in fact, that the experts at 247Sports have named him the No. 1 recruit in the newly released Top247 for 2015.

Kaumatule is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and attends Punahou School. Gerry Hamilton of 247Sports reports that Panuahou is the same school that has produced President Barack Obama and former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.

Talk about a legacy of high expectations.

As it stands, Kaumatule only has offers from Utah, UCLA and Hawaii, but according to Hamilton's report, recruiting doesn't seem like much of a priority yet for the new 5-star:

I don’t even worry about recruiting stuff yet. My dad keeps up with most of it, but I haven’t even worried about it since I’m just a sophomore. I know for sure I’m going to the Stanford camp in June. I don’t know of anything else yet because I’m going to summer school to graduate early. I think my first choice is Stanford because my brother Luke. I would like to play with him again, and in college this time. I think second would be Washington. I like places that are green and remind me of Hawaii. I’m going to say Hawaii would be third right now. Close to home is very important to me. Hawaii is very important to me.

For comparison's sake, here's how Kaumatule stacks up physically against past No. 1 recruits at the defensive end position.

Robert Nkemdiche, the No. 1 recruit in 2013, is 6'4'', 285 pounds, and Jadaveon Clowney, the No. 1 recruit in 2011, was 6'5'', 255 pounds. Da'Shawn Hand, 2014's No. 1 strong-side defensive end, is 6'5'', 247 pounds.

As you can see, Kaumatule has similar physical attributes.

As a defensive end, length is everything. At 6'7'' he'll be able to combat even the biggest offensive tackles at the college level. His length will help him engage blockers and create separation, and because of that, he'll have an easier time fighting to keep his outside arm free in an effort to set the edge as a run-defender. Kaumatule will also be able to establish leverage and use his arms as a pass-rusher.

He's a raw athlete with tremendous size and long arms. He plays with good bend in his knees, explosion and has the quickness to come down the line of scrimmage and make a play. He projects to be strong against the run, but he also has the speed to be effective as a pass-rusher.

The sky is truly the limit for Kaumatule, and he's deserving of the No. 1 ranking in 2015.

Note: Preliminary scouting and analysis of Kaumatule done via tape study of highlights provided on his 247Sports profile page.

Vancouver Canucks Fire Head Coach Alain Vigneault

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:06:04 -0400

After another first-round exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Alain Vigneault and his staff.

The Canucks announced the news on the team website.

“We have made the very difficult decision to relieve Alain Vigneault, Rick Bowness and Newell Brown of their coaching duties today,” said Canucks President and General Manager, Michael D. Gillis. “Alain, Rick and Newell worked tirelessly to lead this team to great on-ice success. I am personally grateful to each of them and their families for their commitment to the Canucks and the city of Vancouver and wish them continued success in future.”

Louis Jean of TVA Sports first revealed the news of the firing via Twitter:

Vigneault has been with the team since the 2006-07 season, following an unsuccessful stint with the Montreal Canadiens that lasted less than four years.

In his time with the Canucks, he has brought the team a great deal of regular-season success, including two consecutive Presidents' Trophies for having the best record in the NHL.

However, the club has not been quite as successful in the postseason. After losing in seven games to the Boston Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, the Canucks have lost in the first round in each of the past two seasons.

This year, the club was swept by the sixth-seeded San Jose Sharks after finishing the season with a 26-15-7 record. It appears that this was the final straw for the organization.

With two talented goaltenders in Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, as well as a number of experienced offensive threats including Henrik and Daniel Sedin, more was expected out of this squad.

There are certainly changes that need to be made across the roster to improve for the future, but Vigneault becomes the first person to go in the hope that the changes can lead to more success.

The franchise will look for someone new who can maximize the roster and lead the team deep into the postseason. Hopefully, it can find someone who can bring Vancouver its first Stanley Cup title.

49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Returns to Indianapolis to Drive Indy 500 Pace Car

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:59:04 -0400

Jim Harbaugh will have the honor of driving the Indy 500 pace car.

The Indianapolis Star reports the current San Francisco 49ers head coach, who once played quarterback for the Colts will be in Indy this weekend for a featured role on the track.

The report reminds us that Harbaugh is a co-owner of Panther Racing, which will send JR Hildebrand, Townsend Bell and Oriol Servia out to race this Sunday.

Harbaugh is, of course, thrilled to sit in the famed seat of the ceremonial pace car, so much so that he is even dreaming about the day.

I’ve already had a dream about it,” Harbaugh told the Star today. “I kept the car out on the track and won the Indy 500.”

Then reality hit. “I know my heart is going to be beating out of my chest,” he said.

When the coach heads out to lead the 33-car field, he will be driving a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, a car he mentions he will practice driving before the big day. Someone better break the news to coach he has no shot of contending, though.

As the Star notes, Harbaugh became part of Panther Racing while playing for the Colts. That team will give Hildebrand the duty of driving the No. 4 car once numbered to honor the former quarterback.

As for his duties, the 49-year-old will be charged with leading the field in ceremonial fashion, because "IndyCar uses three-time 500 winner Johnny Rutherford as its pace car driver during races."

Recent news brings a pall on the week, at least for the coach who has to worry about the upcoming season. As ESPN reports, wide receiver Michael Crabtree may have torn his his Achilles tendon, and he will undergo more tests to determine the severity of his injury.

With one eye on San Francisco and developments surrounding his star receiver, Harbaugh will keep the other on the road. Let's just hope he remembers to savor what has to be a very cool moment.

Hit me up on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

Spurs vs. Grizzlies: Who Has the Most Swag?

NBA365 Productions — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:56:40 -0400

With the NBA Conference Finals underway, fans are making their series predictions. Some teams are struggling without key players, while others are firing on all cylinders.

The San Antonio Spurs face off against the Memphis Grizzlies in what should be a close series on the court. My boy Lance Fresh and I broke down the “swag" matchup going on between San Antonio and Memphis.

We talked “Best Barbecue,” “Best Nicknames,” “Best Style” and more in this best-of-seven matchup.

Which team has the most swag? Which category did you disagree with? Comment below.

#AYO

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Proof That the Steroid-Era Power Surge in Baseball Has Been Stopped

Zachary D. Rymer — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:51:35 -0400

The Steroid Era isn't that far in the rear-view mirror. Major League Baseball hasn't even been testing for PEDs for a decade yet, and it was only a dozen years ago that Barry Bonds broke the single-season home run record.

However, the point stands that the Steroid Era is in the rear-view mirror. You can tell just by looking around, as you just don't see that many Incredible Hulk lookalikes wearing baseball uniforms anymore.

That, and you can also tell by looking at the numbers.

I did so back in January, but only in a scratch-the-surface sort of fashion. I took a deeper dive into the numbers this week, and found a heck of a lot more worth talking about. There are plenty of numbers that can highlight just how obvious it is that there was some unnatural power in the game during the Steroid Era, and how obvious it is now that it's gone away.

When did the Steroid Era officially begin? That there's a question without a definitive answer, but ESPN probably has the right idea in saying that it likely started in the late 1980s, with power numbers taking a noticeable hike in the 1990s.

Isolated Power (ISO) is a stat that can help us out here. Found on FanGraphs and various other websites, it's a stat that measures how good players are at hitting for extra bases. My usual line is to think of it as a slugging percentage that ignores singles.

Per league data from FanGraphs, here's a look at the league's ISO from 1988 to 2012 as produced by all non-pitchers:

Power skyrocketed in the early 1990s to a peak in 1994, and didn't progress below that peak until recently. And while there hasn't been a straight downhill decline since MLB put its testing and penalties system in place in 2005, there hasn't been as much power these last few years as there was in the heart of the Steroid Era.

The trend is a little more clear if we break it down into averages for different time periods:

1988-1993: .130
1994-1999: .159
2000-2004: .165
2005-2012: .156

There's still more power in the game today than there was in the late '80s and early '90s, but not as much as there was between 1994 and 2004, the last year before testing. Power has declined even more in the years since the Mitchell Report was released late in 2007, as the average ISO between 2008 to 2012 measures out to .153.

The general deflation of power also shows up in the average number of home runs per game hit in these same eras. With numbers courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com:

1988-1993: 0.88
1994-1999: 1.06
2000-2004: 1.10
2005-2012: 1.01
(2008-2012: 0.99)

Once again, still more power now than there was in the late '80s and early '90s, but not as much as there was in the Steroid Era.

The home run decline can also be seen in the leaderboards. The Steroid Era saw an explosion of 40-homer seasons, which have since gone back to being special occasions.

Once again with a nod to Baseball-Reference.com:

Year	40-Homer Players	High
1988	1	42
1989	1	47
1990	2	51
1991	2	44
1992	2	43
1993	5	46
1994*	2	43
1995	4	50
1996	17	52
1997	12	58
1998	13	70
1999	13	65
2000	16	50
2001	12	73
2002	8	57
2003	10	47
2004	9	48
2005	9	51
2006	11	58
2007	5	54
2008	2	48
2009	5	47
2010	2	54
2011	2	43
2012	6	44

*At the time the strike cut the 1994 season short in mid-August, there were four players in the 36-39 range. They likely would have topped 40 homers had the season continued.

Just look at all those 40-homer seasons between 1996 and 2001. There were 83 40-homer seasons in that span, and that's out of 310 40-homer seasons in MLB history.

That means 27 percent of all 40-homer seasons happened in that six-year window between 1996 and 2001. Stretch it out a bit further to 2006, and 42 percent of MLB's 40-homer seasons happened in an 11-year span.

We saw an uptick in 40-homer seasons last year, but not an alarming one. Nobody touched 45 homers, and the only player to top 40 homers who didn't come into the year as a known slugger was Toronto Blue Jays first baseman/DH Edwin Encarnacion, and he's doing it again this season.

Encarnacion's success isn't entirely mysterious either, as Jack Moore of Sports On Earth pointed out that Encarnacion started blasting homers after making "significant" changes to his swing and approach at the plate. Natural stuff, that.

Another reason not to be suspicious of Encarnacion is the fact that he's still in his prime years. The same cannot be said of many of the guys who were blasting homers out of the yard during the Steroid Era.

Babe Ruth achieved baseball's first 40-homer season in 1920 when he blasted 54 out of the yard at the age of 25. From then right up until 1995, the average age for a 40-homer hitter was 28.2 years old. That's right in prime territory.

From 1996 to 2001, the average 40-homer hitter was a bit older: 29.5 years old. Stretch things out from 1996 to 2006, and the average age barely budges up to 29.6.

From 2007 to 2012, the average age for a 40-homer hitter went down again to 28.5, roughly where it was for so many years before the Steroid Era.

This speaks to one of the things we know PEDs can do for ballplayers. They essentially make them superhuman, and that's a life that comes with both increased strength and increased longevity. Old guys were doing things in the Steroid Era that old guys generally have no business doing.

Case in point, there have been 24 cases in MLB history of a player 35 years old or older hitting at least 40 homers. Of those, 13 occurred between 1996 and 2006.

That was mostly Barry Bonds' doing, granted, but he wasn't the only old-timer hitting for an unusual amount of power in the Steroid Era. Take a look at the ISO splits between non-pitchers 34 years old or younger and non-pitchers 35 years or older between 1988 and 2012:

The older guys were actually showing younger guys up in the power department for a while there, but the pendulum has swung back towards the non-ancient. Things have gone back to normal.

There's still power to be found in baseball. For that matter, there's no point ignoring the uptick in power that occurred last year after two very rough years for power hitters in 2010 and 2011. Things are staying steady so far in 2013, as the league's non-pitcher ISO is exactly where it was last year and there are 1.02 home runs being hit per game. That, also, is the same as last year.

But these numbers aren't worth freaking out over. If anything, they indicate that hitters have figured out how to have a fighting chance against the league's pitchers, not that juice is finding its way back into the game and spreading.

Indeed, we know from what happened in the early 1990s and what came after what it looks like when juice spreads. Power numbers inflated to an absurd degree, and it wasn't until law came to the land that the numbers began to deflate.

It pretty much goes without saying that there are still juicers in the game today. Just not enough of them to pump the power numbers back up to where they were when the land was lawless and the juicers were allowed to roam free in great numbers.

It was good fun while we were all ignorant. Now that we're not, we should all be able to agree with the following sentiment:

Let's not go through all that again.

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

UEFA Champions League 2013: Why Bayern Munich Is Destined for Title

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:49:37 -0400

There hasn't been a better team in Europe than Bayern Munich this season, and the club prove it with a victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in the Champions League final.

And there is plenty of evidence to support that claim.

For starters, Bayern hasn't even lost to Dortmund this season. In four meetings, the Bavarian side has posted two wins and two draws, beating them in the DFL-Supercup and knocking them out of the DFB-Pokal in the quarterfinals.

For another, Bayern has been historically good this year.

Stephan Uersfeld of ESPN points out that the team set Bundesliga records for most points (91), wins (21), away points (47), championship margin (25 points), goal differential (+80), clean sheets (21), longest winning streak (14 games) and longest winning streak to start a season (eight).

Oh, and the 28 games it took them to clinch the title (28) was also a record, as was the one defeat they had on the season and complete lack of away defeats in the league.

That's crazy stuff right there, folks.

And we haven't even gotten into the Champions League yet, where Bayern has lost just twice in 12 games against Europe's elite, including a 4-0 victory over Juventus on aggregate and a 7-0 thrashing of Barcelona on aggregate.

For those of you keeping track at home, that's just three losses on the year in all competitions. That's absurd.

Six players—Thomas Müller (21), Mario Mandzukic (20), Mario Gomez (17), Claudio Pizarro (13), Arjen Robben (12) and Franck Ribéry (11)—have scored double-digit goals. Eight players have at least eight assists. In the 47 matches he's started, Manuel Neuer and the defense in front of him have conceded just 29 goals.

I could go on and on, but why bother? You get the point.

Now, Dortmund is no pushover. This is a talented, cohesive squad that has some of the brightest young stars in the game today, including Marco Reus, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Goetze.

Oh, except Goetze won't be able to play with a partially torn hamstring, via Paul Carr of ESPN:

Without its creative maestro in the middle of the pitch, it's hard to see Dortmund slowing down the Bayern Munich championship train. Even if the soon-to-be Bayern Munich man was available—that's right, the rich are getting richer this summer—Dortmund would be the underdogs in this contest.

It just feels like Bayern Munich's year. Don't bet against them on Saturday.

Rickie Weeks Not the Type of Anchor Milwaukee Brewers Were Hoping for

Andrew Prochnow — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:48:55 -0400

When the Milwaukee Brewers signed their surging second baseman Rickie Weeks to a long-term contract extension in 2011, they were hoping the young player would help anchor their infield for years to come.

Unfortunately, that reality has not come to pass. Weeks is currently serving as a totally different sort of anchor for a team that has sunk below the waterline and is now taking water in the basement of the National League Central Division.

It can't be comfortable for anyone in the Brewers' front office these days. As of today, the Brewers are 18-26 and share the cellar with the rebuilding Chicago Cubs. Both teams are nearing binoculars-only territory at 10.5 games behind the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals.

Given that the Brewers were only a couple wins away from the World Series in 2011, the entire organization must be scrambling for answers.

Without question, the team's fortunes cannot be laid solely at the feet of Weeks. Despite a formidable offense and defense, the team's starting pitching has been far from perfect. John Axford has also cost the Brewers more than a few games with shaky relief pitching.

However, the team most certainly has to reflect on just how bad their signing of Weeks looks since the ink hit the contract in 2011. Throw in the fact that Weeks is one of the Brewers highest-paid players right now and things really look bleak.

During the 2011 season in which he signed the extension, Weeks experienced a bad ankle sprain that cut short a promising year. Although he returned for the playoffs that year, Weeks struggled mightily in the postseason, going 6-for-41 at the plate.

Many attributed his poor play at the plate during the beginning of 2012 to the continuing effects of that injury in 2011. However, the fact remains that Weeks was terrible in the first half of 2012 and rebounded only moderately to a subpar average of .230 for the year.

The injury excuse in 2012 is now looking extremely thin as Weeks has again started off the year in futile fashion. As of today, Weeks is batting .167 and also playing suspect defense at second base.

Even more disheartening is the fact that the team continues to try to draw from the same dry well. Weeks has sat infrequently this year and until recently even continued to bat in featured spots in the lineup.

The most frightening aspect of this situation is the Brewers' continuing resistance toward a remedy, despite positive indications that such a move could ultimately help the team.

Over the course of the last nine games, the Brewers have three wins. In each of those three wins, Weeks was sitting on the bench. In each of the six losses, Weeks was a starter.

Baseball is a difficult game and team chemistry plays an integral role in the product seen on the field. Baseball is also a game of percentages and matchups. Given these factors, it is extremely difficult to understand why the Brewers continue to play Weeks when all signs point to the contrary.

Milwaukee is a small-market team that relies on ticket sales, not television contracts, to fund the roster. If the Brewers continue down this inexplicable road, there will certainly be repercussions for the team on the bottom line.

If team management insists that the investment in Weeks dictates his playing time, then they should at least come out and explicitly state that fact. Especially if they expect fans to continue to pony up at the ticket windows.

The Brewers salvaged this type of situation in the past by substituting Jerry Hairston Jr. in place of a slumping Casey McGehee. If it worked once, why not twice?

The Brewers have plenty of other options at second base, including Jeff Bianchi (a utility infielder on the bench) and Scooter Gennet (a prospect in the minors). It's time to try something new on a consistent basis or give the fans the detailed explanation they deserve.

Damien Sandow Show Will Eventually Happen and Be an Improvement over Miz TV

Ryan Dilbert — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:43:38 -0400

Damien Sandow getting his own Piper's Pit-type show is inevitable, and it will have more claim to being awesome than Miz TV.

The fact that WWE hasn't put one of its best talkers in a recurring talk show yet is surprising. Sandow may or may not get to the point of winning world championships or being the company's top heel, but he's already a wizard with the microphone.

Having him follow in the tradition of Roddy Piper's iconic show, Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel and, most recently, Miz TV is as close as you can get to guaranteed success.

On a recent WWE SmackDown, Sandow proposed that very idea to Teddy Long. Long said he would consider it and had Sandow and Miz battle in the ring in the meantime.

Miz won that match, but in a battle of talk shows, Sandow would win in convincing fashion.

As charming and natural as he is on stage, Miz's show hasn't had a long list of memorable moments. For every compelling showdown, like Kofi Kingston and Miz in October 2012 on the program, there has been awkward fare, like the Antonio Cesaro and Ric Flair segment on the 20^th anniversary of WWE Raw.

Miz's run as a babyface has felt strained.

He's so naturally obnoxious and arrogant that trying to be heroic has been an uncomfortable fit. The Miz TV segments have highlighted that discomfort.

Sandow, on the other hand, is thriving as a self-righteous intellectual.

His shtick is custom-made for a talk show segment. The fact that he mentioned it on TV is likely an indication the WWE is setting things up for later.

His guests will have to fend off his insults while Sandow pities them for being ignoramuses. Sandow will reach deep down into his stock of rarely used vocabulary to great effect.

His performance opposite a reunited D-Generation X is a preview of the type of moment fans could expect to see regularly on his own show.

He called Shawn Michaels and company crass, barbaric buffoons before getting walloped by them. While Sandow could sometimes attack his guests, like Piper did to Jimmy Snuka in 1984, watching Sandow getting knocked around in response to his insults would be fine entertainment as well.

His ongoing mission to cleanse and educate the masses makes his show easy to write. Bring on WWE's least educated and least refined members and have Sandow try to save them.

It's a way to have Sandow consistently be on WWE programming and make use of his verbal talents. That way, he doesn't have to be in the company's prominent feuds to get any airtime—he can simply host the men involved in those feuds.

Eventually that will lead to him colliding with a major star and perhaps earning a spot higher than where he currently resides.

Sandow's truncated search for an apprentice also previewed how a Sandow-centered show could look. Those segments were fun and fresh.

WWE doesn't need to hand Sandow something as formulaic as the apprentice search, but giving him that much airtime more often is sure to make WWE's weekly shows better. WWE Creative's job boils down to finding ways to maximize the roster's strength.

Sandow's strength is taking verbal jabs, so give him a mic and a time slot and watch him work.

Piper's Pit was a showcase of Piper's instability. The Highlight Reel was a showcase of Jericho's charisma. When WWE decides to create The Damien Sandow Show, it will serve as a showcase to one of the company's masters of the microphone, overtaking Miz TV along the way.

Don Mattingly Blasts Dodgers Players and Questions Management

Tyler Conway — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:43:29 -0400

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has heard the cascade of criticism washing down upon his high-priced, underperforming roster and he seems to have had enough.

No, not from the media, but from his own players' lack of performance.

Speaking to the media prior to the Dodgers' game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, Mattingly vented his frustrations in a fusillade of criticisms that left no questions about how he's feeling at the moment.

The former Yankees first baseman, who took over as Dodgers manager from Joe Torre in 2011, started his vent session by criticizing his team's lack of competitive spirit.

“We gotta find a team with talent that will fight and compete like a club that doesn’t have talent,” Mattingly said (per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal). “I felt we got more out of our ability last year. I don’t know about being tougher, but I felt we got more out of our ability."

Normally from the Torre school of reserved thought, Mattingly did not stop with criticizing his players. He fired shots at team management as well, noting that the roster composition focused too much on getting big names rather than finding guys who fit together as a unit (per Rosenthal).

“There has to be a mixture of competitiveness. It’s not, ‘Let’s put an All-Star team together and the All-Star team wins.’ It’s finding that balance of a team that has a little bit of grit and will fight you. And also having talent to go with it."

Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes former Lakers guard Magic Johnson, bought the Dodgers for a record $2 billion purchase price in 2012 and instantly began making sweeping changes.

The most notable changes from the Guggenheim group was adding high-priced veterans. Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford were acquired in a deal with the Boston Red Sox during the 2012 regular season, and starting pitcher Zack Greinke signed a six-year, $147 million deal this offseason.

At just under $217 million, the Dodgers have the second-highest payroll in baseball behind the Yankees for this season.

The problem is, unlike the Bronx Bombers, those free-spending ways haven't led to on-field success. Los Angeles was 18-26 heading into its tilt against the Brewers on Wednesday, dead last in the National League West and seven games behind the Giants and Diamondbacks.

Those disappointing performances led to rumors Mattingly was firmly on the hot seat. Though team management said earlier this week there were "no plans" to replace Mattingly, Wednesday's quotes could spark a different discussion.

And if Mattingly does lose his job, he's making it quite clear he won't go down without saying his peace.

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter: Follow @tylerconway22

UFC on Fox Sports 1-1: Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne Confirmed for Aug. 17

McKinley Noble — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:42:25 -0400

Update: Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne is apparently a done deal, with the UFC reposting MMA Junkie's report on their official Twitter feed:

RT: @mmajunkie: Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne set as UFC on FOX Sports 1 1 non-headliner dlvr.it/3PrtgN via @mmajunkie — UFC (@ufc) May 22, 2013

Travis Browne is taking a huge step up in competition at UFC on Fox Sports 1-1, where he's expected to face Alistair Overeem in Boston's TD Garden.

MMA Junkie reports that "The Demolition Man" will be returning to the Octagon on August 17, where he'll look to rebound from a shocking TKO defeat suffered during UFC 156 at the hands of current UFC title contender Antonio Silva.

According to MMA Junkie, UFC president Dana White has also stated that Overeem vs. Browne won't be the main event bout.

That leaves the rest of the main card (and the preliminary bouts) yet to be filled, although UFC president Dana White has promised MMA fans that the event will be "the best television card" the UFC has ever done (via MMA Weekly).

MMA Junkie had previously reported that Overeem would likely be returning to action at UFC 164 on August 31, although that plan has obviously changed in order to continue filling the very first event for the newly established Fox Sports 1 channel.

As it stands, here's how the UFC on Fox Sports 1-1 lineup looks so far:

• Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne
• Matt Brown vs. Thiago Alves
• Joe Lauzon vs. Michael Johnson

Browne is coming off a win in his last UFC outing, where he scored a "Knockout of the Night" victory against Gabriel Gonzaga at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.

However, the Greg Jackson's MMA fighter isn't too far removed from his own loss against "Bigfoot" Silva earlier in October 2012, where Browne was dealt his first MMA career loss via first-round TKO during FC on FX 5.

It's not known if there are any title implications in this bout, although Browne stands to make a significant leap up the official UFC rankings should he win.

Currently, former Strikeforce and DREAM champion Overeem still hovers in title talks, where he's ranked as the No. 5 heavyweight in the UFC via a collective panel of media votes—while Browne is the No. 10 ranked fighter in the division.

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.