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Predicting the Next MLB Prospects Who Will Impact Their Teams in 2013

Zachary D. Rymer — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:44:53 -0400

It's been a busy week on the border between Major League Baseball and the wild land beyond where top prospects roam free, waiting for their chance to break through.

The Texas Rangers called up all-world shortstop Jurickson Profar, and young Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman is making his big league debut on Thursday night.

Now that they're (back in Profar's case) in The Show, we have to ask: Who's next?

That's always a tough one with prospects, as the dominoes have to fall just right and you just never know with the timing. The best you can do is take educated guesses.

Shoot, I'm game. Here are some predictions for five top prospects who will be coming soon to a major league ballpark near you.

Gerrit Cole, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

I feel obligated to include one of my preseason Rookie of the Year picks in this discussion, and that means either Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Wil Myers or Pittsburgh Pirates righty Gerrit Cole.

Between the two, I like Cole's chances more.

The issue with Myers is that the Rays outfield isn't quite hopeless, as it ranks about in the middle of the pack in OPS (see FanGraphs). Desmond Jennings has had issues, but Myers isn't the sort of true center fielder who could take his spot.

Beyond that, Myers has hit the skids a bit in May. He's only a .154/.255/.256 hitter over his last 10 games, bringing his OPS for the season down to .712. Bill Chastain of MLB.com opined in late April that Myers isn't going to get the call until the Rays are sure he's major league-ready, and that's a bit of a question mark for now.

As for Cole, the Pirates had an excuse to call him up when James McDonald went on the DL, but decided to go with Jeanmar Gomez instead. McDonald will soon be back, and then the Pirates will have a solid starting five with him A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, Jeff Locke and Francisco Liriano.

So...Where will Cole fit in?

The best answer I can give now is "somewhere," and that it will be happening "soon." Even once the usual suspects are back together again, the Pirates aren't going to have an airtight rotation. There will be a chance for Cole to step in thanks to an injury, ineffectiveness or both.

Yeah, I'm reaching a bit, but what it comes down to is that Cole is a guy the Pirates can't keep down forever.

Cole is arguably the best pitching prospect in baseball in terms of pure talent, and he's running out of things to prove in the minors. His control is still iffy—he has a 4.3 BB/9 in nine starts—but his stuff is marvelous and he was cruising to the tune of a 2.55 ERA until he got lit up in his most recent start at Pawtucket.

The Pirates' early success this season has been built much more on pitching than hitting. Adding Cole to the mix is one way they could make a strength even stronger, and I'd expect it to happen no later than mid-June.

Nick Franklin, 2B/SS, Seattle Mariners

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but the Seattle Mariners are having trouble hitting again.

It hasn't helped that guys who were supposed to hit haven't hit. That's your cue to look in the general direction of Dustin Ackley, Justin Smoak and Jesus Montero, though he may not be there when you look now that he's been optioned to Triple-A.

You can also look in the general direction of Seattle's shortstops. Brendan Ryan and Robert Andino are responsible for a .170/.245/.204 batting line, the rough translation for which in baseball-ese is "Yuck."

Meanwhile, there's Nick Franklin at Triple-A Tacoma with a .318/.441/.481 batting line. He's played second base more than shortstop this season, but that's a switch from the last couple years. Franklin isn't regarded as a great shortstop, but he's certainly not out of his element at the position.

The Mariners don't necessarily have to view Franklin as an answer for only their shortstop quandary. They should also be thinking long and hard about what's to be done with Ackley, as he's following up a bad April with an even worse May. In 16 games, Ackley's hitting just .161/.266/.232.

Between Seattle's light-hitting shortstops and light-hitting second baseman, the wall between Franklin and the majors is only about ankle-high. The only thing keeping him on the outside looking in is the Mariners' sense of the proper timing to call him up, as the last thing they want is to potentially ruin another hitter by asking Franklin to do more than he's ready to do.

But Franklin's production says his bat is ready, and the (non-)production the Mariners have gotten from the middle of their infield says that a change is needed. Two and two together should make a promotion.

Franklin's not going to be able to make a huge difference at the major league level when he does get the call, as he can only solve a small part of a larger problem. But he'll bring some much-needed energy to the lineup if he hits, and giving him some OTJ training this year could pay off later.

Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers' immediate future probably involves spontaneous combustion.

Seems that way given how this season is unfolding, but there's a good chance slugging outfield prospect Yasiel Puig is going to get the call to the majors before it hits.

According to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, calling up Puig has at least been discussed:

Whether Don Mattingly is still going to be there to manage Puig when he arrives is anybody's guess, but the timing of this discussion certainly fits. Andre Ethier was put on the bench and in Mattingly's doghouse this week, and Dave Cameron of FanGraphs is right in thinking that Ethier can probably be had if anybody out there wants him.

The Dodgers don't necessarily need to wait for Ethier to be gone to call up Puig, though, as he could always come up and platoon with Ethier or just take over the starting job for himself.

Whatever it takes to get some offense, really. The Dodgers only have a .692 OPS as a team, and only the Miami Marlins have a worse ISO (see FanGraphs). More than anything, the Dodgers need power.

Puig has that in spades. He hit the cover off the ball in spring training, at which point Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports wrote that Puig might have more raw power than anyone outside of Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton. In 32 games with Double-A Chattanooga, Puig is slugging .579 with six homers.

The kind of offensive boost Puig can provide could make a difference for the Dodgers. As disappointing as their season has been, they're only six games out of first in the NL West. They have enough pitching to hang in there now that Zack Greinke is back. They just need some offense.

Expect them to try and conjure some by promoting Puig any day now.

Zack Wheeler, SP, New York Mets

And we now come to my boldest prediction.

...Or whatever the exact opposite of "boldest" is.

I was going to throw Zack Wheeler in here either way, but news came out from Mike Puma of the New York Post while I was in the process of writing that the countdown is officially on. Word is that Wheeler is going to make two or three more starts for Triple-A Las Vegas before joining the New York Mets.

Makes sense. Wheeler is the No. 7 prospect in baseball according to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, he's accumulated plenty of experience in the minors and the Mets could use some help in their rotation.

It's not much outside of Matt Harvey. Among the starters the Mets have used this season, Harvey is the only one with an ERA south of 4.80. Per ESPN.com, the Mets rank 20th in MLB in quality starts despite Harvey's contributions.

Wheeler's going to be able to add to that total. He's similar to Harvey in that he can get his fastball in the high-90s, and he also throws a curve, a slider and a changeup. Command has been an issue for him in the past, but he hasn't walked any more than two in his last four starts.

Sort of like with Franklin and the Mariners, Wheeler's not going to arrive on the scene and catalyze a magical run to the pennant. The Mets are a bad team. Wheeler's only going to serve to make them less bad.

But the OTJ training will come in handy for Wheeler, as it did for Harvey last year. Having the two of them in the rotation will also make for more stability, which will be nice.

And yes, having Harvey and Wheeler in the rotation will excite the Mets' fanbase, who will be watching hope for the future personified in two golden-armed righties.

Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins

The list of reasons to be interested in the Miami Marlins doesn't have much on it, but another item is going to be added when Christian Yelich gets the call to the majors.

Hey, why not? The Marlins already have one of their best youngsters on the major league roster in right-hander Jose Fernandez, and they could use some more talent in their outfield. Marlins outfielders have a mere .656 OPS, and Giancarlo Stanton will only be able to do so much to bring that number up when he returns from his hamstring injury.

Yelich has played 28 games for Double-A Jacksonville and is hitting at .308/.376/.624 with six home runs. The power he's shown off is particularly encouraging, as Yelich is already halfway to his home run total from 2012.

Yelich could come up and play either center field or left, and there's not much standing in the way of him finding a home at either spot. Center field is where he's played most often this season, however, and that's where he could supplant the struggling Justin Ruggiano.

As for when Yelich will be getting the call, I wouldn't expect it to be a second before the Super Two cutoff seeing as how these are the Marlins we're talking about. That means June 15-ish (I haven't seen an exact date anywhere out there).

The Marlins would need about 20 Christian Yeliches and a few more Giancarlo Stantons on the side in order to have any hope of emerging as a contender down the stretch, but promoting Yelich could help the organization put butts in seats at Marlins Park. That may have been their goal when they promoted Fernandez, but he obviously can't play every day like Yelich can.

Once he gets the call, Yelich will get some OTJ training this year, develop into a star over the next couple years, and then be traded just when he's about to get expensive.

It's the Marlins way.

Note: Stats courtesy of MiLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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

Champions League Final 2013: Bayern Munich Will Win Title on Saturday

Matt Fitzgerald — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:40:05 -0400

Bayern Munich has the luxury of facing Bundesliga foe Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.

The Reds have already locked up the league title by a wide margin, and though they've tied their previous encounters with their archrivals, they will emerge victorious on Saturday in London's Wembley Stadium.

Fueling the players on the favored squad will be the impending retirement of 68-year-old manager Jupp Heynckes, who will be coaching his final game at the conclusion of this marquee fixture.

Also hurting the cause for the Black Yellows is the absence of prodigious 20-year-old attacking midfielder Mario Gotze, who is out with an injury, per ESPN FC:

Heartbreak has to be prominent amongst the Borussia Dortmund fans, as Gotze is leaving the Bundesliga runner-up for Bayern Munich. Let the conspiracy theories ensue as to whether Gotze is actually ailing enough to sit out for such a massive match, but it's a bad sign for the Black Yellows regardless.

The position that Gotze plays is critical not only for his club to run an effective attack but to maintain possession in general. That void is going to be difficult to fill without Gotze.

Marco Reus' success depends on the lethal combination he and Gotze typically form. Absent that, the onus will be on Reus to be the catalyst against the stout opposing defense of the Reds.

In the past four Champions League fixtures, Heynckes' bunch has stonewalled everyone, scoring 11 aggregate goals while maintaining a completely clean sheet. Bayern Munich notched 91 Bundesliga points compared to just 66 for Borussia Dortmund, which shows it is the superior team in terms of consistency, depth and offensive firepower.

The devastating Bavarian wingers, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, shouldn't have much issue on the attack with midfielder Thomas Müller setting them up to thrive. Central midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger will be facing Dortmund counterpart Ilkay Gündogan frequently, and their duel will loom large in the game's outcome.

Once again, though, that matchup will tip in Bayern's favor due to the absence of Gotze, and the Bavarians' defense is too strong to yield much from the Black Yellows' attack keyed by striker Robert Lewandowski.

Bayern shut down the high-octane offense of Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals. Although the Catalans were shorthanded significantly with the sparse services of prolific scorer Lionel Messi, their bunch still has more stars up front than Dortmund will have in this contest.

It's a wonderful achievement for the Black Yellows to be here and to take part in the first all-German final in this tournament's renowned history. It's indicative of the talent level the country boasts in football, as The Guardian's Stuart James highlights:

However, when the dust settles on Saturday, Bayern Munich will leave the pitch with the trophy in the form of a 4-2 triumph—finally getting its win after two losses in the past three years in the final.

Chelsea Transfer Rumours: Latest Buzz About Blues' Potential Summer Moves

Tyler Conway — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:34:35 -0400

The summer transfer window is still in its infancy, yet it's already become apparent that Chelsea are setting themselves up as one of the offseason's most active clubs.

They've already landed their biggest top target in manager Jose Mourinho. The 50-year-old Mourinho is returning to his post at Stamford Bridge after a three-year stay with Real Madrid. He previously was the Blues' manager from 2004-2007, where he was among the longest-tenured and most successful skippers in club history.

With Chelsea having finished third in the Premier League table, Mourinho returns to a roster filled with top-level talent. And considering the level of fanfare that's come along with the legendary manager's return to his old stomping grounds, it's fair to say the pressure has been ratcheted up far higher than it was his first time through the world's most famous league.

Luckily, Mourinho has a plan to make Chelsea a competitor again—spend money. There have been rumors that the Blues will give Mourinho a £100 million transfer budget this summer, putting the club in position to land almost every player in the world not named Lionel Messi. And if you believe the rumors that have been flying around since Mourinho's hire, he might just be targeting each and every one of those guys.

With that in mind, here is a breakdown of all the latest rumblings about the Blues' summer transfer window plans.

Blues in "Pole Position" To Land Cristiano Ronaldo?

It’s become no secret that Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s second-greatest player, and Real Madrid aren’t on the best of terms. The 28-year-old striker first publicly declared he was “sad” in September, as contract negotiations between he and the club had gone south.

Though Ronaldo put on a brave face throughout the campaign and again was sterling as an individual, there’s been no real indication the two sides have mended fences. While Ronaldo commands a hefty fee for whichever team lands him, it’s expected that he will be sent packing elsewhere this summer.

Where is the question. Most of the initial speculation centered around Manchester United. Ronaldo starred for the Red Devils from 2003-2009 and has always been a fan favorite for fans at Old Trafford. He was sold to Real Madrid for a world-record fee of £80 million after Ronaldo grew unhappy and requested a transfer.

Well, absence makes the heart grow fonder. But it’s looking increasingly unlikely that Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford. According to David Kent of the Daily Mail, former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon notes that Chelsea have become the favorites to land Ronaldo rather than Manchester United:

Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has raised the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo following Jose Mourinho to Chelsea... after dismissing Manchester United's chances of re-signing the Portuguese star.

Ronaldo played under Mourinho at Real. Though the two have had an up-and-down relationship to say the least, Mourinho has reportedly made Ronaldo a top summer target.

While there is a ton of logistics work to be done, Chelsea are one of a select few clubs with a transfer kitty high enough to land Ronaldo. It will be interesting to see whether he has more interest in discontinuing his relationship with Mourinho or Real over the next few weeks.

Mourinho Preparing Sizable Bid for Mario Gomez?

Landing the summer’s biggest fish may be a top priority for Chelsea, but reality is often far different from desire during transfer windows. That means having first, second, third and fifteenth options is necessary—even for a club as deep-pocketed as the Blues.

Much of the early window rumblings tabbed Wayne Rooney as Chelsea’s secondary attacking target behind Ronaldo. However, Paris Saint-Germain have stepped up their offer and are willing to match Rooney’s current wages at Manchester United if the 27-year-old striker chooses to leave, per The Guardian’s Dominic Fifield.

With the Red Devils certainly looking to send Rooney outside the Premier League if he’s moved, PSG seems to be in the pole position should he be moved.

If that’s the case, it seems Mourinho and Co. already have their next target waiting in the wings. According to the Daily Mail's John Edwards, Chelsea are preparing to make a £25 million bid for Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez:

Chelsea are lining up a £25million bid to make Mario Gomez the spearhead of a new-look attack under Jose Mourinho. Despite also competing with Manchester City and Monaco for Radamel Falcao, Chelsea-bound Mourinho wants a strong physical presence up front and has identified Bayern Munich frontrunner Gomez as the prime candidate.

The 27-year-old Gomez has emerged as one of Bundesliga's most respected and powerful attackers sine arriving with Bayern Munich. That all changed this past season, though, as Gomez was pushed to the outskirts of the starting rotation after the acquisition of Mario Mandzukic.

Gomez started just nine games in Bundesliga competition. Unsurprisingly, that has not sat well with Gomez and he's become an interesting buy-low candidate for Chelsea.

Still in his prime, Gomez would be a more than adequate secondary option if Rooney and Ronaldo fall through the cracks.

David Luiz on His Way Out?

One of the biggest positives of the 2012-13 season for Chelsea has been the development of David Luiz. The 26-year-old Luiz joined Chelsea the same year as the oft-maligned Fernando Torres and has become one of the world's best central defenders.

Known colloquially for his long, frizzy mop of hair, the Brazilian star has become a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge. His expert shift to the holding midfield role has been something to behold for Chelsea, as they stormed to a late-season run to finish third in the Premier League table.

By all accounts, Luiz was a complete steal and is one of the club's driving forces. He even became a bit of an offensive force down the stretch in the midfield.

One problem: Mourinho doesn't seem to be much of a fan of Luiz's style of play. According to a Daily Mail report (h/t ESPN), Chelsea will look to find Luiz a new home quickly this summer:

It seems a series of cracking goals and a successful move into the midfield wasn't enough for David Luiz to impress Chelsea's likely next manager Jose Mourinho. According to the Daily Mail, Luiz could be the first casualty of Mourinho's reign, with the Real Madrid boss not a fan of the 26-year-old's defensive abilities.

The report cites FC Barcelona and Real Madrid as two teams that would likely target Luiz—and for good reason. While Luiz isn't the greatest defender in the world, his versatility was apparent for Chelsea this past season and he's a fit for almost any scheme.

On the positive side of this development, Chelsea should be able to land a sizable fee in return for Luiz. Which, of course, is more than they can say about Fernando Torres.

Follow @tylerconway22

Indy 500 Lineup: Highlighting Racers With Best Shot To Win Big Race

Jesse Reed — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:31:18 -0400

Billed as the "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," the Indianapolis 500 is one of the biggest events on the sports calendar, and the starting lineup for this year's race features some heavy hitters.

Ed Carpenter shocked everyone by winning the pole, and he becomes the first Indiana native to lead the field since 1951, according to KSTP-TV's Chris Long:

Last year's winner and three-time champ, Dario Franchitti, will be racing from the middle of the 33-car field, starting from the No. 17 spot. He's not the only three-time winner in the field, either. Helio Castroneves will also be attempting to win Indy 500 No. 4 from the No. 8 spot.

Here's the official start order for the big race, courtesy of the Indianapolis 500 official website:

Start Position	Driver	Car
1	Ed Carpenter	20
2	Carlos Munoz	26
3	Marco Andretti	25
4	EJ Viso	5
5	AJ Allmendinger	2
6	Will Power	12
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay	1
8	Helio Castroneves	3
9	James Hinchcliffe	27
10	JR Hildebrand	4
11	Alex Tagliani	98
12	Tony Kanaan	11
13	Oriol Servia	22
14	Justin Wilson	19
15	Sebastien Bordais	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	Conor Daly	41
32	Buddy Lazier	91
33	Katherine Legge	81

Now it's time to look at which drivers will have the best chance to win this year's race.

Marco Andretti

If anyone is due for a big win, it's Andretti.

He has stood on the podium twice with two third-place finishes, and two other seventh-place finishes this year prove that Andretti will be one of the drivers to beat at this year's Indy 500.

All week long heading up to and during qualifying, Andretti's car has run well. Furthermore, he has finished on the podium at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway three times in the past seven attempts.

It's time for Andretti to finally win one at Indianapolis and break the "Andretti Curse."

Dario Franchitti

Last year's winner and three-time champion, Franchitti, is still trying to find his groove this season on the IndyCar Series tour.

After a couple of disappointing races to start the year (two DNF), he's begun to come alive in the past couple of races, finishing in fourth place at Long Beach and in seventh place at Sau Paulo.

Franchitti and his crew struggled during qualifying, as his No. 17 start indicates, but he posted the top time on Day 5, according to Indy Motor Speedway:

By the time the race hits the halfway point, Franchitti's start from the middle of the pack won't even be a factor. Provided he doesn't run into any mechanical malfunctions, he's going to be one of the racers in the thick of it at the end.

James Hinchcliffe

Hinchcliffe is the hottest racer in the IndyCar Series tour right now.

He's won two of the four races thus far in 2013. Granted, Hinchcliffe hasn't finished the other two races, getting stranded in Birmingham and crashing out in Long Beach.

But as long as his car is running well and he avoids a crash, Hinchcliffe will be one of the top drivers to beat. A strong showing in qualifying has him starting the race in the No. 9 spot, and at this point it would be foolish to count him out of this race.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Scoring Title Aside, Carmelo Anthony Doesn't Deserve All-NBA First-Team Nod

Grant Hughes — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:24:44 -0400

Carmelo Anthony had a terrific year—by some measures, his best ever—but the voters who named him to the All-NBA Second Team got it right. Even after averaging more points per game than any other player in the league, 'Melo didn't deserve a spot on the NBA's first team ahead of either Kevin Durant or LeBron James.

That probably shouldn't come as a shock anymore, as the slow growth of analytics in NBA front offices and among fans is starting to pull the curtain back on the surprisingly low value of low-efficiency, high-volume scorers.

To be clear, this past year was one of Anthony's very best because he was more efficient than ever. His high number of shot attempts (22.2 per game) and rather pedestrian field-goal percentage (45 percent) might not make it seem that way, but because 'Melo jacked 6.2 threes per game at a 38 percent clip and knocked down 83 percent of his foul shots, his overall season was remarkably efficient.

As a result, he posted a career-high PER of 24.83 and a true shooting percentage of 56 percent, which was the first time since 2007-08 that Anthony had reached that mark.

Plus, from a team perspective, he was the best player on a New York Knicks squad that posted its most wins (54) since the 1996-97 season and captured its first Atlantic division title since 1994. For the first time in a very long while, it became hard to accuse Anthony of being an "empty stats" guy. Team success tends to have that effect.

Summation: 'Melo was really good during the 2012-13 season.

But James and Durant were a lot better.

By every conventional statistical measure besides points per game, Anthony fell short of the two forwards who earned spots on the NBA's first team.

Player	PPG	RPG	APG	BPG	SPG	FG%	3P%
Anthony	28.7	6.9	2.6	0.5	0.8	.449	.379
Durant	28.1	7.9	4.6	1.3	1.4	.510	.416
James	26.8	8.0	7.3	0.9	1.7	.565	.406

Looking at some more advanced metrics, the outcome is the same. Anthony's PER of 24.83 was good enough to rank fourth in the NBA, but it paled in comparison to James' league-leading 31.67 and Durant's 28.35.

The list could go on, but you get the idea: Anthony's excellent season just wasn't on the same level as either Durant's or James'.

If there's an argument against such a strong reliance on the numbers (and there always is), it's that Anthony didn't have the star talent surrounding him like James and Durant did. The thinking is that a better supporting cast would have taken the pressure off of Anthony and resulted in better numbers.

While it's true that nobody on the Knicks is as dangerous a teammate as Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh or Russell Westbrook, the argument that Anthony's numbers would have been better if he'd had a more capable sidekick is a lazy one.

How do we know that better surrounding players wouldn't actually have detracted from Anthony's production? It's conceivable that his percentages might have improved, but any such uptick would likely have come at the cost of the counting stats that many people cite as evidence of his quality as a player.

And here's the other thing: Anthony is a stone-cold scorer. In one-on-one situations, he has a single thought in mind: getting buckets. That kind of mental process makes it hard to pair Anthony with another star-caliber player because no matter who he's playing with, Anthony is never going to work to set up his teammates.

While James and Durant have proved themselves willing to occasionally take a backseat, function as a facilitator or focus on doing things besides scoring, Anthony has never shown a similar willingness to subjugate himself for the betterment of his team.

And as for the notion that better teammates would have drawn attention away from Anthony on offense, it's hard to ignore the fact that the Knicks' style basically left Anthony free to operate in isolation all the time. By spreading the floor and getting the ball to 'Melo in space, the Knicks essentially created a situation that allowed Anthony to work without being doubled.

We know how good Anthony is, and more importantly, we know who Anthony is. It's just not sensible to say that he'd be any better with a different cast than the one he played with this past season.

So, Anthony's failure to make the All-NBA First team isn't really a "failure" at all. And saying that he didn't deserve to be named one of the two best forwards in the game is hardly a knock against him.

He just had some historically great competition that he wasn't good enough to overcome.

Tyrann Mathieu Reportedly May Be Drug Tested Up to 10 Times Per Month

Tyler Conway — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:19:11 -0400

The Arizona Cardinals took a chance by selecting Tyrann Mathieu in the third round of April's draft, and now the former LSU cornerback is going to have to prove himself not only on the field but off it as well.

Mathieu signed his rookie contract on Thursday, which will pay him $3 million over four years, per USA Today's Mike Garafolo. That figure is $100,000 more than the No. 69 pick got in 2012, a sign that Arizona has faith in a young man so few did heading into the draft.

However, Mathieu's contract comes with provisions that will help the Cardinals should he ever face off-the-field problems.

According to NFL.com's Dan Hanzus, Mathieu received just $265,000 initially—less than any player in five seasons. The rest of his signing bonus will be paid out over the next three seasons, but only if his drug-related issues are put in the past.

That latter portion is most notable because Mathieu will be subject to plenty of tests over his NFL career. As NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, the "Honey Badger" will enter the NFL's drug-testing program, making him subject to up to 10 drug tests per month:

It's important to note that there is no specific language in Mathieu's contract with the Cardinals regarding his drug testing. According to Rapoport, Mathieu has been open to drug testing and entering the NFL's program avoids any team-mandated testing:

There is also no guarantee that Mathieu will face all 10 tests. The NFL keeps information private about how many times each player in its drug-testing program has been tested, so it's unlikely we'll find out unless he releases that number publicly.

However, Thursday's news likely provides relief to members of the Cardinals organization worried about whether Mathieu can stick with the team long term.

A burgeoning star at LSU, Mathieu's collegiate experience was marred by off-the-field problems. He was kicked off of the Tigers in 2012 for reportedly failing multiple drug tests. Though Mathieu tried working his way back into the good graces of coach Les Miles by entering a rehabilitation facility, a drug arrest in October essentially put the final nail in his coffin in Baton Rouge.

USA Today's Jarrett Bell reported in April that Mathieu failed at least 10 drug tests at LSU.

While Mathieu maintains those issues are in the past, he'll now get a chance to prove it. The NFL won't give him 10 different chances to fail a drug test the way LSU reportedly did. But the league will almost certainly give him 10 tests—perhaps all in one month.

South Carolina Football: Reliving George Rogers' 1980 Heisman Trophy March

Lee Schechter — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:15:28 -0400

In 1980, South Carolina running back George Rogers ran his way to the Heisman Trophy and a place in college football history.

With Rogers stampeding all over the field, the Gamecocks put together a good season with a final record of 8-4.

At the start of the year, South Carolina returned a lot of talent, although no one carried as much hype and pressure as Rogers.

Rogers became a standout player during his junior year when he ran for 1,681 yards, which vaulted him onto the national scene. The senior running back entered the 1980 season with high expectations as a Heisman hopeful.

South Carolina not only thought it had a potential Heisman winner but also a national championship-caliber team. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks did not contend for a title, although Rogers did make history.

Rogers was the focal point of the South Carolina offense, as he led the nation in rushing attempts with a staggering 297 rushes.

More impressive than the volume of his carries were the amount of yards he racked up as well as his yards per carry. Rogers amassed 1,781 yards on the ground, which gave him 6.0 yards per attempt, good for second in the nation.

Rogers did not just do his damage with racking up yardage; he also scored 14 touchdowns on the ground that season, which ranked him second in college football.

He hit the ground running in 1980 when South Carolina entered a matchup with the highly ranked University of Southern California. While the Gamecocks lost that game, Rogers ran for 141 yards.

Rogers and the Gamecocks then traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines at the Big House in a hostile environment. South Carolina stole a victory, as Rogers ran for 142 yards and continued to grab some of the national spotlight.

The Gamecocks cruised to a few more victories, setting up a big-time battle with the Georgia Bulldogs on national television. It was the perfect opportunity for Rogers to set himself apart from the other Heisman contenders.

Rogers ran for 168 yards but had a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter. He was outperformed by fellow Heisman candidate Herschel Walker, who ran for 219 yards and had a key 76-yard touchdown run.

The fumble became a major red flag for Rogers' Heisman campaign and had the chance to overshadow his performance in 1980, according to Sports Illustrated's Mike DelNagro in the December 1980 issue:

What might damage Rogers more was his fourth-quarter fumble on the Georgia 16. But remember, two years ago Oklahoma's Billy Sims made a similar fumble that cost the Sooners a possible national title and gave Nebraska a tie for the Big Eight championship. And he still won the Heisman. Rogers should do so, too.

Despite the fumble, Rogers went on to close out the 1980 season with three more games of 100 or more rushing yards, which brought his 100-plus-yard rushing streak to 21 games. Rogers then extended the streak in the bowl game, making it 22 games.

With 100 or more yards rushing in every game and his nation-leading statistics, Rogers was invited to the 1980 Heisman Trophy Presentation.

He told Jody Barr of WISTV 30 years after his Heisman campaign:

They got me out of Duluth Georgia. Flew me up. At the end of the day, it was just me. But I was in the room, walking around just thinking what I'm going to do, what I'm going to say if I won the Heisman. And surely the next morning, they woke me up and they told me, "you won the Heisman Trophy."

Rogers took home the Heisman Trophy in dramatic fashion, since it was the first and only Heisman Trophy awarded to a Gamecock in school history.

Rogers started the year as a top running back but as a long shot to win the Heisman, since South Carolina was not in the national spotlight. Then, he put together a memorable senior season, captured the Heisman Trophy and claimed a place in college football history.

Looking back on the Heisman, Rogers told Barr of WISTV, "I'd give the Heisman Trophy back to get a National Championship, to be honest with you, because that's how much my team means to me."

He was the ultimate team player who understood how important the concept of "team" was in college football.

In 1980, Rogers became a South Carolina football legend by winning the school's only Heisman Trophy to this day. Rogers had his No. 38 jersey retired before the season's end and went on to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

While Rogers' attitude, team mindset and exceptional rushing skills lifted him to win the Heisman in 1980, his character to this day shows how much South Carolina means to him.

Rogers will always be a South Carolina Gamecocks' legend after he marched his way to the 1980 Heisman Trophy.

5 Options to Fill the Minnesota Vikings Hole at Middle Linebacker

Bob Garman — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:12:45 -0400

The Minnesota Vikings did a lot to address their needs in the 2013 NFL draft. Minnesota stole the show on the first day with three first-round selections, all of which filled important needs.

With the 23rd, 25th and 29th picks in Round 1, the Vikings selected defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, respectively. All three players have tremendous potential and fill spots on the roster where the team was thin.

There's one position that the Vikings didn't address in the draft: middle linebacker. Last year's starter, Jasper Brinkley, signed a free-agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason. With Brinkley's departure, Minnesota was left with a hole in the middle of its defense.

The Vikings have a rich history at the middle linebacker position. Over the years, such players as Jeff Siemon, Scott Studwell, E.J. Henderson, Lonnie Warwick, Mike Merriweather and Jack Del Rio have manned the MLB spot in Minnesota.

Those are some big shoes to fill.

Currently, there's no NFL-proven middle linebacker on the Vikings roster. In Minnesota's Cover 2 scheme, the "mike" linebacker is extremely important. This middle 'backer is responsible for calling the defensive signals, stuffing the run game and covering the middle third of the field in the passing game.

While the position remains in flux, the Vikings have several options available to them to fill this crucial spot on their defense. The possibilities range from using someone already on the roster to starting a rookie at the spot to picking up a veteran linebacker in free agency.

The following slideshow examines Minnesota's options at the middle linebacker position. The slides are arranged from the least likely to the most likely scenarios.

We'll look at each candidate and consider his college and NFL history. We'll take stock of both experience and potential. Finally, we'll appraise how likely the candidate is to assume the inside linebacker role on the Minnesota defense in 2013.

Begin Slideshow

People Who Are Ruining Baseball

Zachary D. Rymer — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:03:27 -0400

Everybody in baseball is an angel.

Well, except for a few people. Yours truly got to thinking about people who are ruining baseball, and a few obvious targets came to mind.

I have no patience for certain managers who need to understand that there’s one inning when a sacrifice bunt should never be laid down, one umpire in particular who loves the spotlight or one owner in South Beach who seems hell-bent on putting himself in the history books as the worst owner in baseball history.

These not-so-angelic people—ironically, one of them is actually named Angel—are bringing baseball down. A good scolding is the least they deserve, and I got in front of a camera to do the deed.

Sound off in the comments section if you have any comments, questions or ponderous musings you want to share, and you’re also welcome to give me a follow on Twitter.

Follow Zachary: @zachrymer

What Should the Washington Redskins Do with Kirk Cousins?

David Webber — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:00:07 -0400

Robert Griffin III was great, Alfred Morris was superb, and the Redskins' defense played stunningly well down the stretch to push Washington into the playoffs in 2012.

Despite all of those amazing performances, there would have been no playoffs, no division title if not for the unheralded Kirk Cousins.

Cousins' case is complex and interesting. He's under contract until the end of the 2015 season, but his performance last year—466 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing a shade under 70 percent of his passes—suggests that he could be used as trade bait somewhere down the road.

As of right now, Cousins' role is simple: back up RGIII and provide a quality arm under center when necessary. But he was so much more than that in 2012, single-handedly saving the season with a gutsy game-winning drive against Baltimore and then shredding Cleveland on the road to the tune of 329 yards to preserve Washington's playoff hopes.

Cousins showed that he could be a good player in a pressure situation.

Somewhere down the road, the Redskins will be faced with a tough decision. Will they hang on to the player who has proven his worth to the club, or will they trade him to improve the current roster? No doubt there will be interest from around the NFL (if there hasn't been already). Cousins may be better than eight or nine current starters and could be a bargain for a team looking to rebuild.

In any other case, the answer would be simple. Of course you trade the backup; the drop-off from second-string to third-string is negligible and totally worth the price some desperate team would pay to snag him.

But RGIII complicates things.

Not only is he currently healing from a serious knee injury, but his history and style of play suggest he will do it again—and likely sooner rather than later. That means Cousins is more valuable to the Redskins than a typical backup, because you can be sure he'll probably get snaps in three or four games per year.

If you know you have an injury-prone starting quarterback, the best thing you can have is a dependable plan B. Cousins is familiar (and will become even more knowledgeable) with the game plan and executed it to near perfection in Cleveland.

He struggled a bit against Atlanta; he was a rookie, anyone who expected otherwise was foolish. All in all, Cousins displayed an unbelievable knack for playing well when it counted most.

At this point, the answer is easy. Hang on to Cousins and use him as a potential weapon if RGIII goes down. There's no point in trading a player who has immense value to the team, even if he is just a backup. As previously noted, Cousins is more than just a normal backup to the Redskins.

Unless some steal-of-the-century trade comes along next year or in the years after, the Redskins should stand pat with Cousins as the backup. The question of whether or not to keep him on board should intensify near the end of his contract—that's when things get really, really tricky.

But right now, Washington shouldn't mess with something that isn't broken. Cousins likely means more to the Redskins than anyone they'd get in return. He saved the season in 2012, and he'll probably be called upon to do the same thing in the near future.

Cowboys' Josh Brent's Bond in Danger After Potentially Failing Alcohol Test

Ethan Grant — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:58:14 -0400

Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent, who was involved in a drunk-driving related crash that resulted in the death of teammate Jerry Brown Jr. last December, is back in trouble with the law after reportedly violating the terms of his bond.

According to a report from ESPN Dallas, the Dallas County District Attorney's office detected signs of alcohol in his monitoring device. He will attend a hearing on Friday morning to determine with prosecutors if he violated the terms of his release from prison.

Here's an excerpt from the piece:

Debbie Denmon, a district attorney office spokesperson, said the office is seeking to have Brent's $100,000 bond revoked because he is not meeting the conditions of his release.

Brent is schedule to appear in front of Dallas State District Judge Robert Burns at 9 a.m. CT Friday. [He] is awaiting trial on charges of intoxication manslaughter in the death of Cowboys practice squad player and [his] best friend, Jerry Brown.

After being released on a $100,000 bond following the events of the December crash, Brent was ordered to wear the alcohol monitoring device.

For now, sources close to Brent speaking to ESPN are claiming that the device going off has nothing to do with Brent drinking alcohol. It claims he has not used any alcoholic beverages, and that Brent's attorneys are trying to figure out what substance (food or drink) might have set off the monitor.

However, the source goes on to admit that the monitor has gone off several times since Brent started wearing the device.

Prior to the Dec. 2012 tragedy, Brent already had a history with DUIs. In 2009, he was pulled over near the University of Illinois campus, where he and the deceased Brown both attended college.

As reported by Rebecca Lopez, who works for an ABC affiliate in Dallas, prosecutors are also trying to prepare a case on Brent for tampering with the device during the time he has worn it since making bond:

The news of Brent's return to the Dallas County Courthouse comes on the heels of yet another endorsement from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who has supported his defensive tackle throughout the past five months and told the Dallas Morning News in late April he wanted Brent to be involved with the team as much as legally possible.

Jones also allowed Brent to be on the sidelines the week after the tragedy that took Brown's life occurred.

In that same spirit, Brent isn't being counted out yet. Dallas radio personality Ben Rogers is among those living by the innocent-until-proven-guilty mantra. He notes that the device Brent is wearing can be set off by daily products:

Brent has played all three of his NFL seasons with the Cowboys, after the team selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL supplemental draft. In those three seasons, he has 31 career solo tackles and 1.5 sacks to his name.

Ranking the 5 Best US Open Sites

Ron Juckett — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:54:52 -0400

The 113th United States Open will be played Father’s Day weekend at Merion Golf Club outside of Philadelphia.

This is the fifth time this old course has hosted golf’s national championship; Merion has not hosted the Open since 1981.

Considered to be too short by modern standards, Merion hopes a good tournament in a few weeks will give them a shot in the hosting rotation again and knock one of these courses off this list.

How does a course make the list as a top five U.S Open Course?

It must be on the current rotation and personify some part of what makes the Open truly a unique event. It also must be difficult to score on and have a connection with the rich history of the game.

This is a tough list to crack. Lets count them down in order.

Begin Slideshow

Nationals Made Steve McCatty Playgirl T-Shirts, and They Are Amazing

Gabe Zaldivar — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:53:39 -0400

The Washington Nationals took Internet gold and made it into a priceless fashion treasure.

For the Win reports that Nationals players did the one sensible thing you do when you find out your pitching coach once posed for Playgirl: You make a t-shirt with the picture.

For those uninitiated, Baseball Prospectus featured a guest columnist, Michael Clair, who profiled some MLB stars from the 1980s who once posed for Playgirl.

If you have the time, I highly encourage you to read Clair's work, which features hilariously written descriptions for each picture.

The first image is this one of Steve McCatty who is now the pitching coach for the Nationals. Of course, when something like this gets out, players have to see out the joke to the logical end.

Here is ace Gio Gonzalez wearing the shirt, while also posing like McCatty, via Jack O'Beam:

I have never wanted a shirt more than I do right now. Forget all those Star Wars tees they have at Hot Topic or other stores; I want a McCatty t-shit, and I want it now.

In fact, we now have your very next Nationals promotional giveaway idea. Free McCatty shirts featuring the once dapper pitcher looking seductive to the first 50,000 fans.

It would be absolute bedlam at the turnstiles.

Ryan Zimmerman had this to say to 106.7 The Fan, via DC Sports Bog: "It’s pretty incredible. It’s a perfect T-shirt, and what a picture. It’s one of the better T-shirts I’ve seen in the eight years I’ve seen them made."

McCatty was far less chatty with his comments, offering the simple, "I took the picture." Even if he is embarrassed, this doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore had more from Tyler Clippard:

There is a lesson in here somewhere—perhaps how the past can come back to haunt us, or how you should think carefully about your decisions.

I am at a loss, because all my brainpower is being used on how to acquire baseball's rarest and most prized gem.

Hit me up on Twitter for more MLB madness: Follow @gabezal

Blueprint to Building the Ultimate Boxing Match

Kelsey McCarson — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:50:36 -0400

Building the perfect boxing match seems simple on the surface, but a closer inspection reveals several critical elements that must align in order for the match to take place.

Let’s face it, boxing promoters live and die with how well they recognize these elements as critical to their operation, as well as how astute they are at putting them all together on fight night. It’s what separates outfits like Top Rank, Golden Boy and Main Events from the rest of the pack.

No one element is more important than another. Instead, they must work together as a synergized conduit of fistic awesomeness.

Here they are alphabetically.

Begin Slideshow

Analyzing Washington Wizards' Biggest Draft Needs

Jonathan Munshaw — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:48:54 -0400

Now that lady luck has graced the Washington Wizards with the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, Ernie Grunfeld and the rest of the team's front office must address either the small forward or the power forward position.

That No. 3 pick will likely be Washington's best chance to land a starter, as its next pick doesn't come until the second round, when it won't get much more than a D-League player.

While trading the pick for a veteran is tempting, the Wizards' best chance to immediately improve their team is through the draft. A rookie will help the team out in the long run, rather than a veteran who would only be around for two or three seasons.

First and foremost, Washington needs to look at taking a small forward at that pick, as it is the biggest position of need.

Martell Webster, the best small forward on the team during the 2012-13 season, is a free agent, and there haven't been any reports of Webster talking about a new contract with the Wizards.

Webster really came on strong in the second half of the season when John Wall came back from injury and averaged over 11 points per game. If he ends up signing with another team, that would leave Trevor Ariza as the starter, who rarely started and averaged under 10 points per game.

Ariza, who only shot 41.7 percent from the floor, has his best years behind him and should no longer be a starter in this league.

Besides Ariza, there is Chris Singleton at small forward, who only averages four points per game on his career in 19 minutes per game.

Otto Porter seems to be the best bet to fill this position for the Wizards. Porter, who played two years at Georgetown in Washington, DC, is not only a hometown guy but will also likely be the best player available at the No. 3 pick.

Porter averaged 16 points per game in his sophomore and final season at Georgetown, along with seven rebounds and just under three assists per game.

There were some games when the 19-year-old struggled, but he was quickly able to rebound by the time the next game came along. For example, when Porter only put up nine points in the Hoyas' loss to Pitt on Jan. 8, in the next game against St. John's Porter shot 5-of-11 from the floor and scored 19 points.

Porter may never be a superstar, especially on a Washington roster that already features Wall and shooting guard Bradley Beal, but he certainly has the potential to be a solid NBA player.

If Porter is unavailable when the third pick comes around, the Wizards need to take a look at any players that could fill their power forward position.

Washington has two solid big men, Emeka Okafor and Nenê. Both are aging, and Okafor is only under contract for one more season.

Chances are, if Porter is selected before the Wizards' pick comes up, Nerlens Noel from Kentucky would be available and could be a great power forward or center on the Wizards.

Noel only played in part of this season before being injured, but he was still impressive, averaging 10 points and nine rebounds per game.

Noel, 19, had five double-doubles in 24 games and has huge upside.

However, small forward seems to be more of a problem than power forward for Washington, as power forward at least has potential starters. Also, Porter is a rare player in the draft, as he not only brings clout to Washington's roster, but also fills a serious need.

Auburn Football: How Chip Kelly's NFL Success Will Impact Gus Malzahn's Future

Brett Mixon — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:47:37 -0400

The hurry-up, no-huddle style of offense that has torn through each level of competitive football has finally landed in the NFL.

After some flirtations with NFL teams in recent years, former Oregon head coach Chip Kelly accepted the head coaching position of the Philadelphia Eagles on January 16. He also interviewed with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns.

Kelly and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn are two of the trailblazers who brought the up-tempo offensive style to college football. They are also two of the most successful offensive masterminds in the game. Because of that, the success or lack thereof that Kelly has in the NFL over the next year or two will directly impact Auburn and Malzahn.

If Kelly experiences success at the pro level anything close to that which he experienced at Oregon (46-7 record in four years), NFL suitors will come knocking on Malzahn's door.

Why wouldn't they? If they can't beat the Eagles, these teams should then copy Philadelphia by hiring someone who runs a fast-paced offense.

Only time will tell if Kelly's prolific offense will be successful in the NFL. Former Eagles quarterback and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski doesn't think it will (via Chris Wesseling, NFL.com):

I just don't see NFL passing concepts in this offense...It's a movement offense by the quarterback, off the run-action, off the read-action. A lot of short, quick passes, dart routes, bubble screens. Very few plays down the field with NFL passing concepts.

To be fair, Kelly never had a QB at Oregon who can throw the ball down the field like he has with the Eagles in Michael Vick.

Malzahn and Kelly's offenses are very similar in terms of tempo, which is the key to their offenses' success. Confusion within the defense leads to slow feet.

The two coaches are also similar in how they expect their attacks to be executed. The offense of both Malzahn and Kelly uses a lot of inside- and outside-zone-blocking plays along with counter and power running plays. Both will mix in "gimmicky plays" as well.

Here is a Statue of Liberty play that Auburn ran in Malzahn's last game as offensive coordinator against Virginia in the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl:

And not to be outdone, here is Kelly's fake Statue of Liberty play in 2007:

Malzahn has already made an impact on NFL offenses. He gets credit for the successful "Wildcat" formation that was formed when Malzahn was at Arkansas in 2006. The formation allowed for the most dynamic athletes to be on the field at the same time.

According to The New York Times, former Miami Dolphins QB coach David Lee—who coached with Malzahn at Arkansas in 2006—took the Wildcat formation that Malzahn used with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones and incorporated it into the Dolphins offense with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in 2008. Some NFL teams continue to use variations of the offense.

That just goes to show that in the NFL, if something works, teams will copy it.

If Kelly's Philadelphia offense puts up Oregon-like numbers in 2013 and Malzahn turns around the Auburn offense for the second time since 2009, look for Malzahn's name to be tied to coaching vacancies in the National Football League next offseason.

For Auburn fans, now may be a good time to join the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants fan clubs.

Follow @TrueBlueAU

Veterans We'd Love to See in MLS

Dan Levy — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:45:26 -0400

We do this every summer: The European season ends and American soccer fans try to predict the next great European star to come over to MLS to finish his career.

While that logic totally sells short the quality of play in MLS—seriously, if there aren't any European games to watch this summer it's worth a look—it's fair to wonder who the next megastar will be in the post-David Beckham era of MLS.

This year may be different, however. With the announcement of NYC FC starting play in 2015, the maneuvering for top-designated players to become the face of New York's new soccer franchise may have already begun.

Some huge stars have contracts that end before or in 2015, making the prospect of some big names coming to America in the next two years a serious reality. Players like Kaka—long rumored to join the LA Galaxy—could be enticed to make the official move to MLS. His current contract runs through 2015.

Andrea Pirlo signed a three-year deal with Juventus in 2011, and while he looks like he's in his mid-40s, the dynamic playmaker is only 34, which could make a move to New York a serious consideration at that point in his career.

So too might Didier Drogba, who has a year left on his deal with Galatasaray and would be a perfect fit for the style of play in MLS.

Frank Lampard was all but booked for Los Angeles, but what if New York is a better fit for the Chelsea midfielder? He just signed a one-year extension with Chelsea, putting him perfectly in line to become the face of NYC FC.

And what about this—Lampard could bring Chelsea teammate John Terry with him, if Terry is able to secure his own one-year deal with Chelsea. Failing that, perhaps Terry could come to America a year before Lampard. There would be room for him here, in New York or out.

While rumors always surround Ronaldinho, a name that might make more sense—especially in New York—is Giuseppe Rossi. He missed 18 months with injury, signing with Fiorentina in January but doing little on the field this season. Just 26 years old, Rossi would be an amazing face of NYC FC. After all, the kid is from New Jersey!

Leave your thoughts in the comments…who would you like to see in MLS next season or as the face of NYC FC in 2015?

Clemson Football: Tigers Poised for 2013 Breakout Seasons on Offense

Colby Lanham — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:44:47 -0400

We have finally reached the 100-mark milestone until college football returns. And for Clemson, that means 100 more days until it hosts head coach Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs in Death Valley. With the Tigers returning much of their talent that made them a 10-2 team in 2012 and won them the Chick-fil-A bowl against LSU, many have pegged them as a legitimate BCS National Championship contender, and the Tigers are aiming to do just that in 2013.

Of course, much of the attention will go toward the Tigers' two All-Americans in senior quarterback Tajh Boyd and junior receiver Sammy Watkins, who had a rougher sophomore year due to an early suspension and nagging injuries afterward. But a strong spring showing by the Fort Myers native eased much of the Clemson fanbase that he will return to his 2011 form, when he was arguably the best freshman player in college football.

But besides these two dynamic players, which Tigers could be poised for a breakout season in 2013?

Begin Slideshow

Toronto Argonauts Sign Former NFL WR Mike Williams

Ryan Rudnansky — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:41:35 -0400

The Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League have officially signed former NFL receiver Mike Williams, according to Argonauts.ca.

The Argonauts tweeted on Thursday:

Williams was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He played 56 games over five seasons with the Lions, Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks.

In 2010, he rejuvenated his career in Seattle under former USC coach Pete Carroll's watch, catching 65 balls for 751 yards and two touchdowns, but he followed that up with only 236 yards and one touchdown in 2011.

The 6'5" wideout hasn't played professional football since being released by the Seahawks in July 2012.

Williams, 29, will now try to find success with the reigning Grey Cup champions in Canada. The Argonauts went 9-9 last season, but ended up winning the championship with a formidable 35-22 victory over the Calgary Stampeders.

It must be a tough pill for Williams to swallow.

There was hope for him after the 2010 campaign, but he quickly reverted back to the bust of yore in 2011. He was a star coming out of USC, when he totaled 176 receptions for 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns in two years at the university.

However, he learned the hard way that the NFL is a whole different ballgame.

Williams is getting older. Any hope of him finding success in the NFL appears to have evaporated. But he has a chance to win a Grey Cup with the Argonauts in Canada, and he can either look at this as an opportunity, or fail to ever live up to his potential coming out of college.

This is another opportunity for him to prove he can still contribute at a high level.

Alex Song: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Ed Dove — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:38:26 -0400

Sometimes the grass is not always greener—a reality that Alex Song seems to be learning by the day at Barcelona.

Perennially on the peripheries of the side, and allegedly ill at ease with some of his teammates, the time may well be right for the central midfielder to cut his losses and return to the Premier League.

AGE: 25

CONTRACT SITUATION: Signed to a five-year deal last summer, Song is currently contracted to Barcelona up until the summer of 2017.

CAREER STOPS: Bastia (2001-2006), Arsenal (loan 2005-2006), Arsenal (2006-2012), Charlton Athletic (loan 2007), Barcelona (2012-present)

CURRENT CAMPAIGN: La Liga—19 games, one goal; Champions League—eight games; Copa del Rey—five games, one assist; Supercopa—one game.

VIDEO SHOWREEL:

SCOUTING GUIDE: After finally beginning to establish himself in the EPL, English fans are familiar with the many talents that Song brings to the table.

A large unit, he is fairly effective as a destructive player in midfield, and perhaps perceptive enough to play the role of ‘water-carrier’ in the centre of the park (although not, perhaps, to contribute to Barcelona’s Tiki-taka).

In his final season in England he demonstrated his wonderful technique and vision, setting up some glorious goals for Robin van Persie with a collection of sumptuous passes.

Opportunities have been hard to come by in Catalonia since his £15 million transfer last summer, and Song may well be keen on a return to the league where he made his name.

WHERE NEXT? Once again the two North London giants look set to be scrapping together—this time for a signature rather than a place in the Champions League.

The Daily Mail reported this week that Tottenham could well be in line to bring the Cameroonian midfielder back to the Premier League. The move would be an understandable one for Spurs; while the player has an obvious Arsenal past, he has experience in the EPL and with Tom Huddlestone likely heading for the exit, and Scott Parker on his last legs, Song could be the answer.

The player himself is said to be keener on a return to Arsenal, but it remains to be seen whether Arsene Wenger would welcome him back so readily. Pragmatically, however, the midfielder’s reacquisition would be a sensible move—with Mikel Arteta coming towards the end of his career, and Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby permanently on the treatment table, Song could add some stability to some familiar surroundings.

Earlier in May, the Standard reported that Song would be inclined to stick it out in Spain a little longer—but don’t be surprised to see him return to British shores this summer.

Michael Crabtree's Injury Could Provide a Few Silver Linings for 49ers

Tommy McConnell — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:26:29 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers have a deep, talented roster, but if a single positional group is going to be singled out as particularly vulnerable, it's at wide receiver.

Over the past two years, the 49ers have sunk considerable money and resources into upgrading their passing game. When healthy, it does look somewhat imposing. There are a handful of youngsters with promise in Kyle Williams, last year's first-round draft selection A.J. Jenkins and this year's fourth-round choice Quinton Patton.

Mario Manningham has a penchant for making important plays (and he has the Super Bowl highlight film to back it up). Anquan Boldin is a physical wideout who regularly makes difficult catches look routine. Michael Crabtree is coming off a breakout season in which he morphed into a No. 1 receiver.

But Crabtree's torn Achilles will force him to miss at least the first half of the season, and the flimsy house of cards that is the 49ers' receiving corps has started to waver.

Boldin is immediately miscast as a No. 1 receiver. Entering his 11th year in the league, he still shows flashes, but can no longer carry an offense. He was a nice fit as a second option in a physical offense, but he rarely gets deep or stretches the field despite being an effective possession receiver.

Manningham, who is slowly recovering from an injury of his own, flourished as a third receiver with the New York Giants, but had mixed results when offered an expanded role last season in San Francisco.

The young pass-catchers are almost total unknowns. Jenkins failed to come up with a single reception as a rookie, and as a first-round draft choice on a team struggling to find weapons in the passing game, that's an ominous start. Patton has drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff, Harbaugh in particular, but wasn't chosen until the fourth round for a reason.

Crabtree's injury throws the precarious hierarchy totally out of whack. Not only did he allow all of the other receivers to fall into their natural spots, he was turning into a monster in his own right.

Once Colin Kaepernick took over for Alex Smith, Crabtree took over the offense. Kaepernick targeted Crabtree 92 times, at least 50 opportunities more than any other player on the roster. And Crabtree made the most of those chances, grabbing 61 passes for 880 yards and eight touchdowns (including the playoffs).

He was a different receiver with Kaepernick. And that's another reason this injury is such a shame: It robs the duo of a full offseason together in which they could get on the same page. There was a feeling that a truly dynamic one-two punch was forming, and now that's shelved for another year.

Perhaps this injury even impedes Kapernick's growth. He was clearly enamored with the talented playmaker; how does he respond now that he's without an elite wideout? At the very least, it's something to keep in mind.

No, there's not a lot of good about this injury. But if the 49ers are to match or exceed last season's success, they'll need to find a silver lining or two now that Crabtree is out. One (or likely all) of the following are going to have to happen.

The young wide receivers mature at a faster-than-expected rate

The easiest answer to replacing Crabtree would be for one guy to step up and replicate his success. That seems far-fetched, so it'll have to be a collective effort. Boldin will probably do what Boldin does regardless of who else is on the field with him. It's the younger players that need to improve.

Jenkins, in particular, needs to show that he was worth a first-round selection. Whatever kept him off the field last season can no longer be an issue. Ideally, last year was spent soaking in the offense and improving as a route runner.

It'd also be nice if Manningham could be healthy for the start of the season. He has the talent to be a difference-maker.

Vernon Davis reemerges

But no one has as much talent as Vernon Davis.

The All-Pro tight end was something of a forgotten man once Kaepernick took over halfway through the season. To be fair, he did still make his share of big plays, but with Crabtree shelved, he is now unquestionably the focal point of the passing game.

VD has shown he is more than capable of carrying the load. It was actually something of a shock to see games in which Davis was not a huge factor in the passing game. If he can replicate some of his bigger games while avoiding the games in which his production nosedives, the 49ers may be able to come close to matching Crabtree's impact.

Davis will be even more important on third down. Crabtree was an absolute maniac in those situations, more often that not coming up with a huge catch or making a short grab and then juking or dragging defenders past the first-down marker. For Davis to really make his presence felt, he'll have to keep drives alive.

Jim Harbaugh finds a way, Kaepernick improves

Harbaugh is the 49ers' saving grace. There isn't a more innovative coach in the league, and I'm sure he already has dozens of new plays and formations to compensate for the lack of a true No. 1 wideout. Few teams could withstand a hit to their leading receiver, but Harbaugh's ability to coach 'em up will mitigate the damage.

Kaepernick's improvement is tied largely to Harbaugh. But remember, he has only started in 11 games. Not even a full season. As impressive as he was last year, there were still big swaths of time when he struggled (at Seattle, big chunks of the Super Bowl). If he is as consistently good as he was in his bigger moments, Crabtree's absence will not be felt nearly as much.

Crabtree comes back before the season ends

Right now, Crabtree is optimistically projected to be back in six months. If he meets that time table, then he's back in time for the playoffs. It will be the equivalent of a midseason trade that netted a starting wide receiver. If the other wideouts manage to mature and excel in his absence, the offense could be truly terrifying with that type of addition.

That's a huge "if" obviously, and a very sunny way of looking at things. The young receivers could easily fail to handle the promotion, the offense could sputter and the Niners could be on the outside of the playoffs by the time Crabtree is ready to go. That's how important he is for the 49ers.

Possible Future Storylines for Brock Lesnar in WWE

Justin LaBar — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:24:08 -0400

Brock Lesnar has spent the last year going in and out of WWE television.

We see and hear of him for a month building to a big match. He disappears for a few months. Repeat the process.

He, once again, is on his disappearing tour it would seem after beating Triple H in their third match, which took place at Extreme Rules in a steel cage.

So, what's in the future for Lesnar in terms of opponents? I give you three names on the table and which one will happen.

Follow @JustinLaBar

Crowne Plaza Invitational 2013: Day 1 Leaderboard Analysis, Highlights and More

Matt Fitzgerald — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:17:41 -0400

Ryan Palmer fired an eight-under round of 62 on Thursday to grab a one-stroke lead through 18 holes at the 2013 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial over John Rollins.

University of Texas star Jordan Spieth continues to impress on the PGA Tour as a 19-year-old, and he headlines a plethora of players at five-under after a 65.

The sensational display Palmer put on began with a run of four consecutive birdies after opening with four pars in a row. That occurred on Nos. 14 through 17, since Palmer began his day on the back nine.

Another birdie at the par-five opening hole just after the turn kept the momentum going, and birdies at three of his final four holes capped of a stupendous round.

Below is a look at the top contenders in Fort Worth, Texas, after the first day. For complete scores, visit PGA.com.

Position	Player	Score
1	Ryan Palmer	-8
2	John Rollins	-7
T3	Graham DeLaet	-6
T3	Morgan Hoffmann	-6
T3	David Hearn	-6
T3	John Peterson	-6
T7	Matt Kuchar	-5
T7	Jordan Spieth	-5
T7	Tommy Gainey	-5
T7	Daniel Summerhays	-5
T7	Josh Teater	-5

Note: All statistics and video are courtesy of PGATour.com.

Renowned golf analyst Steve Elling highlights the significance of Palmer's 62:

Elling's analysis hits the nail right on the head—sometimes records do indeed mean something. This course is dubbed, "Hogan's Alley," named for golfing legend Ben Hogan, who won the tournament a record five times while no other golfer has triumphed more than twice.

Adding to the significance is what Palmer has had to endure off the course. His best childhood friend, Clay Aderholt, passed away mere weeks ago in a car accident while Palmer was competing in The Players Championship.

Instead of withdrawing, the veteran Palmer ground it out and wound up with a career-best tie for fifth at TPC Sawgrass. A lackluster result last week at the HP Byron Nelson Championship was completely remedied by the magnificent day he had at Colonial Country Club.

Not far behind is a phenomenal ball-striker in Rollins, who played alongside Canadian Graham DeLaet, and the two fed off each other.

It was a successful effort overall for Rollins, but he got an added bonus and broke out of the jumble of players at six-under—including DeLaet—with this birdie putt at the par-four 18th to finish:

Let's take a closer look at some of the exciting developments transpiring at this historic venue entering the second day.

Canada in Contention

DeLaet and his Canadian compatriot, David Hearn, shot matching 64s to hold a share of third place.

It was almost as if they were operating on the same wavelengths in getting off to hot starts, as Bob Weeks of TSN pointed out:

Though the talented tandem cooled off down the stretch, it is still an ideal position to be in. Having that type of padding on such a tough course is key. Consider where last year's third-place finisher, Tommy Gainey, finished—his four-day total was minus-seven.

The only Top 10 for Hearn in 2013 came at the Puerto Rico Open, which happens to correspond with one of the World Golf Championship events and doesn't sport a particularly strong field.

A strong finish at Colonial is worth a lot more, and if he continues putting like he did in holing this one on the par-four 16th, he's in for a good week:

Putting is really the Achilles heel for DeLaet, because he's had an exceptional ball-striking campaign to say the least, ranking second on Tour in greens in regulation percentage. Should he maintain that form and sink a few putts, things could turn for him very quickly.

Young Guns Making Noise

Home-state hero Jordan Spieth was mentioned earlier, and rightfully so. He hit 17-of-18 greens in regulation, which gave him plenty of opportunities to score well on an unusually generous course.

The all-around game that Spieth sports is rare in a player of his age and relative inexperience, but that seems to be the trend in golf lately.

Look no further than Morgan Hoffmann, who played on the prolific Oklahoma State golf team and is on an absolute tear as of late, to which Sean Martin of PGATour.com alludes:

Hoffmann finished in a share of fifth place last week for his first career Top 10, and that momentum is certainly translating to this event, as he bested the gallery favorite Spieth by one shot.

This will be an interesting battle to watch as the week wears on. Whether the two are consistent enough or capable of handling the stage as contenders in the final two rounds remains to be seen, but both appear comfortable with their games.

Both were bogey-free, which is an indicator that these youngsters may have staying power due to their resiliency and ability to avoid the big number.

Return to Form for Matt Kuchar?

By implying a resurgence, it's meant as a compliment to Kuchar and the ridiculously high standard he sets with his consistency.

The past three events simply haven't been up to par. No one can blame him for not successfully defending his title at The Players—no one's ever done that. However, that was sandwiched between two other finishes outside the Top 30.

If the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational is any indication, it appears Kuchar is primed to rack up yet another Top 10.

The PGA Tour's official Twitter page documented earlier in the day a statistic that encompasses Kuchar's trademark steadiness and also suggests he'll fare well at this particular venue:

Kuchar dropped just one stroke and countered with six birdies en route to a 65. As the highest-ranked player on the leaderboard by far, it wouldn't be a shock to see Kuchar capitalize on the situation and even grab the 36-hole advantage if conditions tighten up.

How It All Went Horribly Wrong for Don Mattingly and the Los Angeles Dodgers

Jason Catania — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:16:28 -0400

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, the disappointing start to their 2013 season isn't a question of when it all went so stunningly wrong so incredibly quickly. It's a question of how.

The short answer? There's plenty of blame to go around.

The long answer? Well, buckle up.

Think back to Opening Day for a minute. Ready to deliver the ceremonial first pitch, part-owner Magic Johnson was relieved of his duties at the last moment by manager Don Mattingly, who took the ball from Johnson and called for the lefty, Sandy Koufax.

It was clever. It was Hollywood. And it kicked off what unfortunately might wind up being the best day of the Dodgers' entire season.

Following Koufax's toss, fellow ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw went out and hurled a four-hit shutout to beat the archrival—and defending champion—San Francisco Giants, and even hit the game-winning homer in the eighth inning to cap it off.

At the time, one could've easily seen that day as a sign of the many good things to come for a remade franchise under new ownership and featuring a roster flooded with high-priced All-Stars. In hindsight, perhaps there was only really one place to go from there, as the Sporting News alluded to at the time...

...down.

And now? That dramatic Opening Day seems like it happened in some other season, some other era, maybe even some other world.

Sure, things started off well enough for the Dodgers, who went 6-3 out of the gate, even without starting shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who was recovering from a thumb injury suffered during the World Baseball Classic.

But that sixth win, over the Padres, came at quite a price when Zack Greinke—the Dodgers' brand-new $147 million arm—hit Carlos Quentin with a pitch, setting off a brawl in which Quentin charged on Greinke. The pitcher suffered a fractured collarbone that would keep him out for more than a month.

That seemed to set off a string of injury problems that simultaneously affected the lineup. After returning ahead of schedule in late April, Ramirez lasted all of four games before suffering a severe hamstring strain, while second baseman Mark Ellis also hit the DL with a quad injury. Injuries also decimated the rotation, as (deep breath here) Chad Billingsley was lost for the year to Tommy John surgery, Chris Capuano missed time with a balky calf, Ted Lilly flip-flopped between active and ailing, and finally, Josh Beckett succumbed to a groin strain.

While all of that was going on, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times tried to lay out the rotation, except the statuses changed so furiously—already nine different pitchers have started a game for the Dodgers—that his tweet, from late April, was practically outdated the moment it was sent:

Before anyone could really take stock of the situation, the Dodgers had two separate losing streaks—a six-gamer in mid-April and an eight-gamer at the outset of May—and the club with World Series aspirations in the preseason had sunk to 13-21 and last place in the NL West by May 10.

On that date, after the Dodgers bottomed out with their eighth straight "L"—against the egregiously bad Miami Marlins, no less—Mattingly seemed to realize how dire the situation already was, per Austin Laymance of MLB.com:

I think negative breeds negative, that's for sure. When things aren't going good, it seems like we talk about momentum in this game and us trying to get it turned around. You got to get that turned somehow. We have to fight.

Speaking of the Marlins, the Dodgers are lucky the Fish are in the NL, otherwise they'd rank dead-last in a number of offensive categories:

Clearly, the struggles go beyond injuries.

While Adrian Gonzalez (.309/.363/.443) and Carl Crawford (.302/.364/.459) have done their part among the star players, the club is still getting very, very little out of Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, who have combined for a .267 average, a 23-percent strikeout rate and all of six homers.

The bullpen? Ick. Brandon League and his 5.19 ERA can't stop giving up hits (10.4 per nine), blowing saves (two) and losing games (two). And it's not like just switching to fireballer Kenley Jansen (3.63 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 12.5 K/9) will suddenly bring relief. The bullpen's 4.41 ERA is seventh-worst in the game, and the eight blown saves are the fourth-highest total.

But back to Ethier, for a minute. After benching the veteran outfielder this week, Mattingly appeared to question Ethier's effort level by saying, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times: "For me...I’m putting out my lineup that I feel is going to be the most competitive and going to compete the hardest."

While he was venting, Mattingly also had this to say about his star-studded roster:

It’s not just all, ‘Let’s go put an All-Star team out there and play games and the team with the All-Star team wins.’ It’s trying to find that balance of a team that’s got a little grit and a little fight...All grit and no talent is not going to get you there and all talent and no grit is not going to get you there. There’s got to be a mixture of both.

That led to a quote from a rival general manager, per Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, that Mattingly is "trying to get himself fired."

Clearly, the struggles have started to get personal.

So where do the Dodgers stand after all this? Entering Thursday's off-day before a daunting upcoming weekend series with the St. Louis Cardinals—who have the best record in baseball—the Dodgers are 19-26, six games in back of the AL West lead.

That's not insurmountable by any stretch—except the defending champion Giants, gritty-good Diamondbacks and surprising Rockies are all tied in the catbird seat at the moment, which means the Dodgers have to get past at least two of them to reach the postseason.

Oh, and they're behind the Padres, too. The worst part? It's their own fault: The Dodgers are 5-16 against the NL West, which not only explains how three different teams sit atop the division (i.e., by beating up L.A.), but also makes for the worst intra-division record in baseball.

So how about the Wild Card? They could have a shot at that, right? Well, it turns out L.A. is even further back in that race, nine games behind the Reds.

So blame Mattingly, who may not be long for the job. But don't forget to blame the injuries that ravaged the rotation, the slumping star hitters and the unraveling bullpen, too.

If the Dodgers somehow manage to turn this thing around—and, hey, they could—then it'll be one of the more impressive comebacks in recent memory.

If not? Well, there's always the memory of Opening Day.

Breaking Down the Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Depth Chart

John McGonigal — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:16:26 -0400

Outside of the New England Patriots, the tight end position hasn't been extremely featured in offenses across the NFL.

Sure other primetime targets like Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalez have made indelible marks on their respective teams, but—generally speaking—great production from tight end is a commodity, not a necessity around the league.

For the Eagles, Brent Celek put up a modest 57 receptions and Clay Harbor chipped in 25 snags, but they combined for just three touchdowns in 2012.

And while Celek was the second-most targeted pass catcher for Philadelphia last season, it seems as though new head coach Chip Kelly wants the tight end role to increase under his reign.

By acquiring James Casey in free agency and stealing Zach Ertz in the NFL Draft's second round, it's obvious Kelly wants to make things happen at tight end.

But how exactly will things shape out between Celek, Ertz and Casey?

In Celek's case, some may believe his days in Philadelphia are numbered.

After bringing in the other two aforementioned targets, it's not irrational to think that he may be an extra part.

But while his production numbers are likely to dip, Celek should have solid footing in terms of playing time.

He's certainly not the most athletic guy on the field, but Celek has made his money by outmuscling guys and using his large frame to seal defenders in the short passing game.

It's occasional to see him stretch it down the field, and he's obviously capable of doing so.

However, Kelly may want to use his husky frame (6'4'', 255 pounds) in the short, quick-hit passing game. Again, he'd shield defenders from deflecting those intermediate passes and could drag them for some yards after contact.

On the other hand, Ertz is a young kid from Stanford who loves to create mismatches in the vertical passing game.

Kelly, Oregon's former coach who saw Ertz rip apart the Pac-12, called the Cardinal a "mismatch nightmare."

And take out of it what you will, but ESPN's Sal Paolantonio called Ertz "the next Rob Gronkowski."

Ertz, who wanted to play basketball collegiately, has the natural athleticism to beat up corners and blow by safeties off the ball and in the air.

While at Stanford, he was used more like a wide receiver by coach David Shaw as he hauled in 898 yards (first in NCAA among tight ends) on 69 receptions (tied for first among NCAA tight ends).

Unfortunately, Ertz hasn't participated in OTAs because Stanford hasn't held its graduation ceremonies yet.

But if his performances at Stanford are any indication, the projected first-round pick could be a destructive force for NFC defenses to deal with.

Just like in Ertz's case, Casey's on-field presence won't be available for a little bit. It was announced recently that Casey underwent arthroscopic knee surgery that'll hold him out until the beginning of training camp.

Regardless, Casey's contributions to the Houston Texans last year are on tape, but may have went under the radar. The 6'3'' fullback-tight end hybrid added versatility to the Texans passing game, chipping in 34 receptions, 330 yards and three touchdowns.

Casey can do so much for an offense whether it be blocking, lining up as a tight end or coming out of the backfield. This considered, it wouldn't be surprising if Kelly had the most fun with Casey.

Kelly is a schemer, so the adaptability Casey provides will likely have him itching with excitement. It makes sense considering Casey was signed less than a month after Kelly came to Philadelphia.

With all this considered, to put together a depth chart for these three might be premature. Heck, situational play may not even warrant a depth chart.

But for traditionalist reasons, here's a depth chart given all that was said:

1. Zach Ertz

2. James Casey

3. Brent Celek

Novak Djokovic Isn't Playing Well Enough to Beat Rafael Nadal at French Open

Ryan Rudnansky — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:12:14 -0400

Boris Becker recently came out and said he's picking Novak Djokovic to defeat Rafael Nadal in the final of the 2013 French Open, according to ESPN UK.

But, with respect to the legend, how can you logically say that?

While Djokovic is the No. 1 player in the world, he's not perfect. We've seen that, last year and this year (in 2011, he was pretty much perfect). He's lost to Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych in his last two tournaments. His loss to Berdych at the Rome Masters was only his second loss to the Czech in 15 career matches. The last time Berdych beat him? Their third matchup in 2010.

On the flip side, Nadal is playing out of his mind since missing the second half of 2012 with tendinitis. There's also that small matter of the Spaniard being a seven-time champion at Roland Garros (a French Open record).

Yes, Djokovic has beaten Nadal on clay. In fact, he beat Nadal in Monaco this year.

But, overall, Nadal still comes out on top the majority of the time on the surface. He's 12-3 on clay against the Serb. Two of those three wins came in 2011, when Djokovic was simply in the zone.

There's another thing, though. While beating Nadal on clay is certainly an accomplishment, beating him at the French Open is a different thing entirely. Do you know how many matches Nadal has lost at Roland Garros in his career? Try one. That's in 53 matches at the French Open.

Nadal is 36-2 this year with six singles titles. He hasn't had that many singles titles since 2010. And, for you statisticians out there, he ranks second on tour in service games won (percentage), first in return games won, fifth in break points saved and ninth in break points converted, via ATPWorldTour.com.

Obviously, Becker is just going by how he feels. But if you are looking at who will win the 2013 French Open logically, you simply can't pick anyone else but Nadal. Heck, Djokovic is even coming off an ankle injury sustained at the Davis Cup.

Djokovic will certainly test Nadal if they meet in the final at Roland Garros this year, but don't expect the Serb to stop the tennis great's run.

Minnesota Vikings: Top 100 Players of All Time

Bill Hubbell — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:07:44 -0400

In 2010, the Minnesota Vikings, as a celebration of their 50 years as a franchise, named their 50 greatest players up to that point.

What they didn't do is rank those players. That's what we're here for. And we're going to double that number and give you the 100 best Vikings of all time.

You are going to disagree with some of it, much of it or even all of it, but remember, it's just for fun.

There's no algorithm in place here, no formula to plug in that spits out any correct answers. This is opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own.

Many things come into play here; it's tough to compare linebackers to guards, and it's hard to compare a guy who played 50 games in purple against someone who played 125. We've considered everything here, and we'll explain our reasoning as we go.

Randy Moss or Cris Carter? Chuck Foreman or Robert Smith? Chris Doleman or Jim Marshall? Start clicking to find out.

Begin Slideshow

Which NHL Star Is Most Desperate to Win the 2013 Stanley Cup?

Nicholas Goss — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:04:19 -0400

One of the best storylines in the 2013 NHL playoffs is the pursuit of a first Stanley Cup championship that several veteran players (several of whom are future Hall of Famers) are in the midst of during the conference semifinals.

Winning a title for a veteran player that has never tasted that kind of success is a strong motivator for teams, especially ones that have captured a Stanley Cup recently and need a boost to get their hunger level up to where it was before they earned a championship ring.

Let's look at the three veterans most desperate for a Stanley Cup championship in this lockout-shortened season.

3. Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators

Current Series: Down 3-1 to Pittsburgh in Round 2

Alfredsson is one of the most respected players around the league and has been a very consistent offensive player throughout his career. Since his rookie year in 1995-96, Alfredsson has tallied 59 points or more in 13 seasons.

When the Senators lost a number of key players with significant injuries in the early part of the regular season, including top defenseman Erik Karlsson, No. 1 center Jason Spezza and starting goaltender Craig Anderson, there were rumors and speculation involving possible trades that would allow Alfredsson to go to a championship contender.

To his credit, the Ottawa captain remained loyal and decided to stay with the only team he's played for throughout his NHL career.

Unfortunately for Alfredsson, his club is just one win away from being eliminated by the Penguins. After a 7-3 loss to Pittsburgh in Game 4 on Wednesday night, he admitted that making a comeback is going to be a tough challenge for the Senators (via Erin Nicks of NHL.com):

As a future Hall of Famer who has made a great impact on the sport as a leader and an elite forward, Alfredsson is one of the veterans around the league who deserves a championship the most.

Unfortunately for Alfredsson, Ottawa is not a championship-caliber team right now and won't be for a few years until the team's young players start to enter their prime. He's already 40 years old and his contract expires at the end of the season (per Capgeek).

It's hard to imagine Alfredsson ever lifting the Stanley Cup if he remains in Ottawa for his entire career, which is too bad because he deserves to win a championship after accomplishing almost everything else you could strive for.

2. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

Current Series: Tied 2-2 with Los Angeles in Round 2

Joe Thornton has always been a player who dominates in the regular season, but even though his teams have made the playoffs in 13 of his 15 NHL seasons, none of them have been able to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

After failing to help some talented Boston Bruins teams make deep playoff runs in the early 2000s, the team traded its captain to San Jose, where Thornton has tallied 664 points in 593 games, including a Hart Trophy as league MVP in the 2005-06 season.

Since Thornton's Sharks teams, many of which were high seeds and had more talent than most of their Western Conference opponents, have only reached the Western Conference finals twice during his tenure with the club, he often gets unfairly labelled as a player who doesn't perform in the postseason.

But he has tallied 69 points in 79 games with the Sharks prior to this season, and if players such as goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and star teammate Patrick Marleau played up to expectations in the playoffs from 2005-06 through 2009-10, Thornton might have a championship ring already.

In this year's playoffs, "Jumbo Joe" has been fantastic. He has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in eight games and when Thornton is on the ice, the Sharks have scored 17 goals and allowed just one.

Thornton knows that his time to win a Stanley Cup, which is one of the few awards he has yet to win in his remarkable NHL career, is running out. He could become one of the greatest NHL players to never lift the Stanley Cup, which is certainly a motivating factor for him.

To his credit, the Sharks captain is stepping up his game when his team needs it most. As one of the best players of his generation, Thornton deserves an opportunity to play in and win a Stanley Cup Final.

1. Jarome Iginla, Pittsburgh Penguins

Current Series: Up 3-1 over Ottawa in Round 2

Jarome Iginla authorized a trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins in March after spending 15-plus memorable seasons with the Calgary Flames to do one thing: win the first Stanley Cup of his career.

The veteran winger came close to winning a championship during the 2003-04 playoffs when the Flames made an unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final. Calgary took a 3-2 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning in that series, with Iginla playing a key role in the overtime-winning goal in Game 5. After losing Game 6 at home in double overtime, the Flames lost the series in Game 7.

In the seven seasons he spent in Calgary after that Cup Final disappointment, Iginla went to the playoffs four more times and never advanced to the second round. At 35 years old, the future Hall of Famer won't have many more golden opportunities to win the Stanley Cup with a star-studded team like the Penguins.

The career stats for Iginla are amazing. He has scored 20-plus goals 14 times and 35-plus goals eight times. His 530 goals are the third most among all active players and he's tallied 61 points (32 goals, 29 assists) in 64 career playoffs games, including this season.

Not only does Iginla deserve a Stanley Cup for his on-ice performance, he also should get another opportunity to win one because of his exceptional professionalism and the respect he has for the game as well as his fellow players. He's the definition of class and someone every young player should model their on- and off-ice work habits after.

Iginla deserves a Stanley Cup more than any other player in the NHL. As a member of a Penguins team that is favored to win the Eastern Conference, this could be the season when he finally lifts the best trophy in sports.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. Nick was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and 2012 NHL playoffs, and he is also a credentialed writer at the 2013 NHL playoffs in Boston.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Ed Dove — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:17 -0400

Few players in France have impressed quite like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this season.

The Saint-Etienne forward has pillaged 19 goals this season, and while he may be hesitant to leave the stable surroundings of the Loire, according to French Football Weekly, Europe’s leading lights are sure to be making their enquiries.

Age: 23

Contract Situation: Arrived in January 2012 and currently contracted until the end of June 2016—three years remaining.

Career Stops: Milan (2007-11), Dijon (loan 2008-2009), Lille (loan 2009-2010), Monaco (loan 2010-2011), Saint-Etienne (loan 2011), Saint-Etienne (2011-present)

Current Campaign: Ligue 1—36 games, 19 goals, 14 assists; French League Cup—four games, one assist; French Cup—three games, two goals, one assist.

Video Showreel

Scouting Guide

A peripatetic start to a promising career threatened to derail one of Africa’s great hopes. Early excellence at Milan was only demonstrated in smatterings during a variety of loan deals across France as the promise began to fade.

Finally, Aubameyang settled in Saint-Etienne, and the stability has brought the best out of him. A superlative campaign this term has seen him named the best African star in the French top flight.

He is second only to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the French scoring charts, and it is evident that Aubameyang’s currency is well and truly goals.

He has an excellent turn of pace, an eye for the net and an elasticity that can see him pull away from many defenders. Also capable of offering width from the flanks, Aubameyang could be a major asset for a team in need of a confident and composed finisher.

Where Next?

Anyone short of a goal or two might be tempted to take a look at Aubameyang. The flow of talent from Ligue 1 to the Premier League has increased in recent times following Newcastle’s spending spree, and naturally a number of England’s top clubs will be keeping checks on the Gabonese goal-getter.

Tottenham’s failure to get the best out of Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe has been a constant source of frustration at White Hart Lane this season, while the club’s failure to invest up top in January arguably cost them Champions League qualification.

Expect Daniel Levy to attempt to cure these ills this summer.

Similarly, Arsenal have struggled to replace the goals of Robin van Persie as neither Olivier Giroud nor Lukas Podolski has proved particularly efficient. Don’t be surprised to see Arsene Wenger rekindle his love of the French market this summer.

According to Paul Collins of the Daily Mail, the player’s agent has announced that a large number of clubs are following his client’s movements. This is one to linger all summer.

How Do Scouts Break Down NFL Tight End Prospects?

Matt Miller — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:01 -0400

The one question I'm asked most by readers, Twitter followers or prospective writers is, "How do you break down NFL prospects?"

It is also one of the toughest questions to answer in a tweet or quick email exchange.

Here, I'll go deeper.

Each position requires different criteria for scouting, but the method of scouting remains the same. Tape study, background checks and pre-draft workouts are all a part of the puzzle that makes up a player's scouting report. But what goes into a deeper study of each position and each player at that position?

With the skill positions almost complete—quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers are done—here is a look at what it takes to scout tight ends for the NFL.

1. Know Your Scheme

The most important aspect to scouting a tight end is knowing how you will use them once you have them. This is where NFL teams are at a major advantage compared to those of us in the media trying to scout for all 32 teams.

An NFL scouting department is told by the general manager and/or head coach what to look for from each position, and while quarterbacks and running backs are largely the same, tight end has become a versatile, dynamic position with many different sets of criteria.

If you're the San Francisco 49ers, you want fast athletes who can run routes and be coached up as blockers. If you're the New England Patriots, you want a mixture of the traditional tight end (Rob Gronkowski) and a new-age flex tight end (Aaron Hernandez).

Before you can even begin to scout a tight end for your team, you must know your scheme. If you're scouting tight ends for every team, like we do in the media, then you must look at each player and determine which offensive role they best fit.

You wouldn't draft a Vernon Davis clone to be a classic in-line tight end, and you wouldn't draft a big, bruising tight end to fill the role of a flex tight end like Aaron Hernandez.

2a. Hands

Once you know what type of tight end you're looking for, it's time to get down to business. Do we want a player who is primarily a receiver? If so, you have to start with the hands.

Tight ends will run a varied set of routes, depending on their college scheme and usage, but we can still track and score their ability to catch the ball at different levels of the field. Just like our chart used to track quarterback throws and wide receiver catches, I use the same basic chart to track tight end catches and drops.

When breaking down game film of tight ends, I'm not as picky about them catching with their hands and showing the fundamentals that we require from receivers when tracking the ball. Jason Witten has become one of the all-time greats, and he'll body-catch passes over the middle in traffic.

Obviously body-catching can be a problem if the player can't consistently secure the ball, but from the tight end position it is acceptable to allow a little more leverage in how they bring in the ball. As long as the player successfully and consistently catches the ball, I don't care much how he gets the job done.

One added note on tight end catching: I want to see the player catch in traffic. Tyler Eifert was amazing at Notre Dame in traffic, catching the ball with ease no matter how many defenders were in his face.

This is an important aspect of receiving in the NFL—especially for tight ends who will be going over the middle often—and something that cannot be discounted on a final scouting report of the player.

2b. Blocking

Before we dive into blocking technique, it's very important to note that you can teach a tight end to be a good blocker if the willingness is there. Look at Vernon Davis, who came out of Maryland essentially an oversized wide receiver and is now one of the league's best run-blocking tight ends. The right coach can teach anyone to block.

But what if you need a player who can block right away? There are systems—Pittsburgh is one—where blocking is a must for the tight end.

The college game offers us a nice look at blocking from most tight ends, as coaches at that level are still largely looking at mismatch principles when run-blocking. Tight ends of all shapes and sizes are asked to set the edge or at least weak-side block on an outside linebacker in the run game. This gives you a clear picture of how the player performs as a blocker.

What are we looking for from college blockers? If you need a player to step in right away and block in the NFL, you want to see toughness, quickness in getting to the player and accurate hand placement—inside the shoulders and with good spacing to control the defender no matter their next move.

A good blocker in the run game needs to play with their weight on their toes and their knees bent to give maximum pop when engaging a defender. If you can find that from a college tight end, treasure it.

More often than not every college tight end will need coached up as a blocker, but if you can identify a willingness to block, half the battle is won. It's easy to get caught up looking at technique and saying that Player A is better than Player B, but you have to factor in potential to get better once coached up.

3. Athletic Ability

We've all fallen into the trap of writing up a tight end and then moving him up the board once he performs at the NFL Scouting Combine. It's a slippery slope, and an easy habit to form, but why is athletic ability so important for tight ends?

This is a position that is easily influenced by potential. Quarterbacks, offensive linemen and most defenders can be graded on what they do right now, as they're early-impact positions. Running backs and wide receivers rely so much on athleticism that potential can be based purely on that one skill set.

But tight ends are unique in that what a player does in college can be the complete opposite of who he is in the NFL—thanks to potential and scheme changes from college to the pros.

Judging the athletic ability of a tight end can be done in-season by evaluating a player's game speed, his agility when moving in and out of cuts in a route tree and in his strength coming off the line of scrimmage. Those three keys are invaluable to forming a foundation opinion of a player's athletic skill set.

But then comes the NFL Scouting Combine, where a player's full athletic ability is truly tested.

At one stop in my scouting background I was handed a formula called the "Explosive Number," which is a numeric equation to give a solid number on a player's athletic ability. How does it work?

Bench Reps + Broad Jump + Vertical Jump = Explosive Number

While this is in no way a predictor of NFL success, this formula does give you a streamlined look at a player's athletic ability. By taking the NFL Scouting Combine results, you can plug this formula in and see which players come out on top of the athleticism rankings.

It's always better to judge film over the combine, but what I value about Combine measurements is that you get everyone together on a level playing field. A tight end who may have dominated slow outside linebackers for big plays is judged equally with everyone else.

It's important to scout both film and off-field tests when looking at skill players—just try to remember that film is always the bigger part of the picture.

4. Route Running

Just like blocking can be coached, so too can route running.

It used to be that college tight ends knew how to run three routes—a quick out, a post and a curl. Those days have changed thanks to the opening up of college offenses, but we're still seeing a route tree dominated by seam routes and quick outs for tight ends.

Knowing which routes a player runs well now is important, but it's also key to know which routes the player can learn when coached. As with any position, the more a player can do right away, the higher he will be drafted.

One easy way to keep track of which routes a player can run is by charting them during a game. I use a simple yellow legal pad to draw out where the tight end lines up and then which routes he runs from that position.

This allows me to see where the tight end has lined up and what routes he can run from each of those positions. It seems simple, and it is, but it also works. Don't over-think a process just for the sake of being complicated.

5. Toughness

Mental and physical toughness are so important to the game of football, but when evaluating a tight end—or anyone who plays in the trenches—you need to know how willing the player is to hit and be hit.

A running back or wide receiver is used to protecting his body when being tackled, but a tight end must deliver and absorb punishment as a blocker and as a pass-catcher. For that reason it's important to know the mental and physical make-up of your player. Does he enjoy blocking? Will be shy away from contact over the middle when asked to run through traffic?

This is an area where game film is very important, and why it is important to scout multiple games from the same player. Keeping a running note of the player's performance when asked to initiate contact and how the player acts when he knows the tackler is closing on the ball will give you a great look at the toughness of the player.

Conclusion

Being a successful tight end in today's NFL means being part fullback, part offensive tackle and part wide receiver.

It's a tough position to scout due to the differing demands on the position in each team's scheme, but evaluating tight ends is also one of the more fun positions to scout because the player is always doing something. There isn't a play where the tight end isn't involved in some way, and that makes for an enjoyable film study.