Bleacher Report - Front Page

Dana White: 'Mark Hunt's Story Is One of the Greatest Stories in Sports Now'

Trent Reinsmith — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:22:18 -0400

UFC heavyweight competitor Mark Hunt may be one win away from fighting for the UFC title. Yes, the same Mark Hunt whom the UFC once tried to pay to just go away and never fight for the promotion at all.

Hunt’s road from unwanted asset to title-fight contender is a crazy story. On Thursday, UFC president Dana White spoke about the tale of Mark Hunt.

When the UFC bought PRIDE FC, Hunt was part of that deal. His record at the time was 5-3, and he was coming off consecutive first-round submission losses to Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko. As White recalled, Hunt was not a fighter the UFC wanted: “We said ‘here, we’ll just buy your PRIDE contract out and pay you not to fight.'"

According to White, Hunt replied, “‘I want to fight, I want to earn it’ and he comes in and does what he did.”

What Hunt did and is still doing is win. Sure he lost his first fight with the UFC, falling to a Sean McCorkle armbar at UFC 119, but since that loss, it’s been all victories for Hunt.

Hunt has won four straight fights. Two of them earned him “Knockout of the Night” bonus money, including his spectacular walk-off knockout of Stefan Struve on the UFC on Fuel TV 8 fight card.

White was asked if he admired the stance and accomplishments Hunt has run up since their conversation about the possible buyout. The UFC president took it one step further than mere admiration: “I don’t admire it, I absolutely, positively and completely respect it. What he’s been able to accomplish is one of the greatest stories in sports right now. It’s unbelievable.”

Will Hunt take another step in his unbelievable journey? We’ll find out on Saturday night when he faces Junior dos Santos in the co-main event of UFC 160.

All quotes were obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report MMA.

San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings Game 5: Live Score, Updates and Analysis

Tyler Donohue — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:18:19 -0400

San Jose seeks its third straight victory in a Western Conference semifinal series dominated by home teams. Los Angeles hosts the Sharks on Thursday night at 10:30 p.m. ET, as each team aims to claim a 3-2 advantage.

The home squads are unbeaten through four contests, which include consecutive 2-1 Sharks victories in San Jose. The Kings are sputtering offensively, putting additional pressure on 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Quick.

Can Los Angeles improve to 6-0 at home during the postseason? Stay tuned right here for live game updates, analysis and reaction.

Texas Football: Predicting the Longhorns' Statistical Leaders for 2013

Zach Shelton — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:15:58 -0400

For the first time really since 2009, the Texas Longhorns know who their starters will be in the spring. Because of that fact, we can predict with relative certainty which players will lead the team in the major statistical categories.

In each of the last three seasons, a freshman has had to step up and lead the Longhorns in key areas of production—whether it was running backs Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray the last two seasons, or Quandre Diggs back in 2011.

Barring injury, this season will be different. Mack Brown and his staff know where they can expect high levels of production from their 19 returning starters, the most in the country.

These are the players that will be producing at the highest level next season in all major offensive and defensive statistical categories, along with the players that could surprise us with big seasons.

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Chase Utley Injury: Updates on Phillies Star's Oblique

Ethan Grant — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:10:15 -0400

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley has caught the injury bug again.

According to a report from Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, Utley is heading to the 15-day disabled list with what the team is calling a "very mild" Grade 1 oblique strain. Philadelphia expects Utley to return to the lineup within the next two-to-four weeks.

The move is retroactive to May 21, and an MRI on Thursday did not reveal any further intercostal or ribcage damage.

Utley's latest DL stint will mark the fourth time in the last four seasons that he's missed time during the regular season due to injury.

Todd Zolecki first reported that Utley was heading to the disabled list, as evidenced by this tweet to confirm the news by Major League Baseball on Twitter:

Philadelphia has not yet made a roster move to replace Utley on the 25-man list. Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen will likely get the bulk of the playing time at second base while Utley recovers from his latest trip to baseball's medical haven.

A five-time All-Star, Utley was off to a good start to the 2013 campaign. Hitting .272 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 44 games this year, Utley isn't exactly lighting the world on fire but is a steady contributor to Charlie Manuel's lineup and a proven veteran presence.

It looks like Utley's trip to the DL is nothing more than a precaution for the Phillies, who were 5.5 games out of first place behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East before Thursday's games commenced.

When it comes to the Utley's status, though, Phillies fans have learned to take nothing for granted when he is forced to miss time via injury.

UFC 160: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Predictions

James MacDonald — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:06:44 -0400

With UFC 160 fast approaching, it is once again time for us to engage in the thankless task of forecasting what will happen when trained killers engage in unarmed combat. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.

Saturday night's card, coming to us from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, is stacked from top to bottom: Donald Cerrone vs. KJ Noons, Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt and Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, for the UFC heavyweight title, are just a few of the corkers on the agenda.

With that in mind, the team got together to predict what the future holds for the UFC 160 competitors.

Our seers include the Nostradamus-like Scott Harris, the telepathic McKinley Noble, the clairvoyant Sean Smith, the prophet-esque Riley Kontek and me, the Sylvia Browne of MMA, James MacDonald.

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Charles Woodson Won't Regret Signing with Floundering Raiders

Richard Langford — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:58:53 -0400

Early in free agency, Charles Woodson said he wanted to go a contender. The Raiders are not a contender.

Even in the best possible scenario, I don't see Oakland making the playoffs. And I say this as a lifelong Raider fan who would like nothing more than a trip to the postseason.

The talent just isn't there.

Despite what is almost certainly to be a losing season in Oakland, Woodson won't wind up regretting his decision, and it's not because he didn't have options.

Woodson, according to ESPN, wound up signing a one-year deal worth a maximum of $4.3 million that includes a $700,000 signing bonus. And the 36-year-old made this commitment after visiting the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.

Both of those teams would certainly qualify as contenders.

However, both of those franchises likely offered Woodson a deal that wasn't up to his monetary wishes.

It can be a dangerous proposition to forgo something that once seemed essential for an acceptable quality of life for more money. This is a fast track towards unhappiness—especially for people who are already wealthy.

It won't in this instance.

Woodson is not a veteran chasing an elusive Super Bowl victory. He already has won one. He did so with the 2010 Green Bay Packers, and he's spent most of his career on playoff teams.

After being drafted by the Raiders with the fourth overall selection in the 1998 draft, Woodson left the Raiders following the 2005 season. During his seven seasons with the Packers, Woodson made the playoffs five times. And he was a huge reason why Green Bay was so successful.

Woodson had long been regarded as one of the game's best corners, but while in Green Bay, he matured into one of the game's best players. In 2009, he won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award to cement that status.

However, it's not like his time with the Packers was Woodson's only opportunity to get a taste of the postseason.

During his first tour with the Raiders, Oakland won three straight AFC West titles and made a Super Bowl appearance following the 2002 season.

Woodson was also part of one of the more memorable plays in postseason history in that stretch. That came on a snowy night in Foxboro against Tom Brady and the Patriots. I'll refrain from posting video or getting into specifics for fear of my PTSD overtaking me.

Instead, I'll post this epic pic of Woodson hauling in one of his 55 career interceptions.

My point is, Woodson has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish on an individual level, and he has done so while playing in many meaningful games.

While winning never gets old, for some it might become less of a priority, especially if they've tasted team success before.

Playing in Oakland isn't likely to lead Woodson back to the postseason this year, but it does offer him a different opportunity to have a rewarding season. The Raiders are in a transition phase as general manager Reggie McKenzie tries to rebuild this sinking franchise in a sustainable manner.

Woodson can now step in and offer his experience to youngsters like rookie cornerback and first-round pick D.J. Hayden, and do so while being a needed and valuable part of the defense.

He can help instill a feeling of tradition—one that actually comes from a time when the Raiders were competitive.

And he has the chance to play for a fanbase that adores him. There is nowhere that Woodson could have gone to receive the support he will in Oakland.

Woodson was reminded of this just before inking his new contract on his visit to the team headquarters. Check out his quote, which the Raiders tweeted, and the video from the fan rally:

We've seen plenty of players return to their original franchise simply to retire. Woodson now gets a chance to do this while still making an impact on the field and in the locker room.

This presents him the chance to be a true Raider legend whose imprint is ingrained in the DNA of the franchise, and that's not a bad way for a player who has accomplished everything to go out.

Dallas Cowboys: 4 Players That Will Need More Money Sooner Than Later

Christian Blood — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:57:25 -0400

The Dallas Cowboys, like all teams in the NFL, have their share of holes—but there's fewer than some seem to think. Between every hole should be something solid that represents some degree of strength or confidence. Perhaps foundation is the right word.

Dallas definitely has some foundation going on, but keeping it in place will soon be a financial challenge for a team that presently sits right beneath the salary cap.

After the mega-extension for quarterback Tony Romo earlier this offseason, it's been easy to forget that the Cowboys will have other future financial obligations very soon. Now, soon doesn't exactly mean this summer, this year or even next.

However, the clock is ticking.

As starting right tackle Doug Free has agreed to drastically reduce his previously scheduled $7 million salary for 2013, Dallas may have taken the first step towards planning for its financial future.

It's been learned that spending heavily in free agency generally doesn't translate into championship contention. The Cowboys learned this last year, especially with the signing of free-agent offensive guards Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings. Furthermore, the signing of cornerback Brandon Carr did next to nothing to differentiate the Cowboys from last season and the one before.

Yes, it's best to build through the draft and also to focus on guys who have been playing on your team for a few years. This philosophy hasn't generally been employed very well by the Cowboys despite having tried to lock up some of their own players long-term in recent years.

Free is a perfect example. His 2011 contract extension was the right idea, but he was simply the wrong player. I would suggest that wide receiver Miles Austin is another example of a player that showed ability, but certainly not long enough to rake in a guaranteed $18 million back in 2010.

But here's four players that will be in position to break the bank known as owner and general manager Jerry Jones not too far down the road. These players are ranked in the order of how quickly they'll be considered for lucrative extensions.

All contract data courtesy of Spotrac.com.

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Dana White: 'Fed Up with the Bulls—t,' Not Playing Around with Code of Conduct

Damon Martin — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:47:47 -0400

UFC lightweight Nate Diaz found out the hard way that the promotion isn't playing around with their newly instituted code of conduct, and a recent Twitter message that contained a homophobic slur cost him $20,000 as a result.

The message was Diaz's response to bantamweight fighter Bryan Caraway receiving a post-fight bonus for Submission of the Night at UFC 159 only after Pat Healy tested positive for marijuana. Diaz used a homophobic slur as part of the message blasted out on the social media site, and it didn't take long for the UFC to take action.

Diaz was suspended for 90-days and faced a stiff penalty for the use of the word.

It marked the third such fine the UFC has handed down since instituting the fighter code of conduct policy (Matt Mitrione was fined an unstated amount for comments about transgender fighter Fallon Fox and Anderson Silva was fined $50,000 for missing a media obligation), and UFC president Dana White wants all of his fighters to know that they will not be easing up so long as misconduct is happening.

"I am fed up with the bulls—t," White said when speaking with the media on Thursday. "Money makes people f—king react real quick. Sorry's great—I love a sorry here and there, sorry's are always good. But when you've got to start forking out some cash, you start remembering a lot more."

Since the fine was handed down, Diaz hasn't responded much outside of another Twitter message aimed at Caraway, this time without the use of a homophobic slur.

White says he's also heard from many fans and critics reminding him that he said the same word that Diaz used when ranting about a reporter in an infamous video blog from 2009. The UFC president says his verbal slip cost him plenty as well because it's something that continues to haunt him to this day.

"Do you think that I didn't pay in a million different ways for saying that word? The difference is I'm really sorry for saying it," White stated. "I am not a homophobe whatsoever. When I said it, I have people that work for us that are gay, I have friends that are gay, it is a word that bothers them and it's a word that shouldn't have been said. I had the same argument that Nate had, and I don't disagree with that argument."

The argument actually comes from Diaz's manager Mike Kogan who spoke to Bleacher Report about the incident just hours after it happened.

"That one word did not mean homosexual, it was not intended to be homosexual," Kogan stated. "It was not meant to have a homophobic connotation at all. The word for years and years and years also means b—ch, little punk, little whiny, little f—kers. That's what he meant with what he said."

White said that he has no doubt that Diaz probably used the word in that exact context, but it doesn't matter because it's still offensive and it's not an excuse to use it.

"I grew up in the 80's and that was a word you used," White explained. "If you go back and watch Sixteen Candles, that word is in Sixteen Candles. Molly Ringwald says it to Anthony Michael Hall. I was watching another 80's movie the other day where these little kids are saying it. That's the way it was.

"It's not that way anymore. It's an offensive word that they don't like and people want to call it oh we're bowing down to political correctness. No we're not, we're being civil human beings."

Kogan's defense of Diaz was also brought up to White when he was asked if the manager's statement actually did more harm that good in the long run. It prompted White to then detail his opinion of managers in mixed martial arts and the job they provide the fighters.

"Managers are scared s—tless of their clients. No manager wants to come out and say "he was stupid for saying that." You're one phone call away from not working for that guy anymore," White said. "Managers don't matter. Let me put that one out there. I don't give a s—t what they have to say or what they think or whatever. They're puppets."

White had no problem pointing the finger back at himself as well because at one time before he was the president of the UFC he also represented fighters like Chuck Liddell as a manager.

"I was a puppet, too," White said about himself.

When it's all said and done, Diaz will walk away from the situation $20,000 lighter in the wallet whether he likes the fine or not.

While White did apologize for his use of the homophobic slur back in 2009, Diaz has done no such thing since he tweeted out that particular message. While Diaz did eventually delete that particular Twitter message, White says he's not going to force the lightweight fighter to apologize for something he's not sorry about.

"I'm not going to tell grown men to apologize if they're really not sorry," White stated.

Sorry or not, Diaz is still left with a hefty fine to pay and a three month suspension for his actions.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

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

Duke Basketball: Head-to-Toe Comparison of Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins

David Aldridge — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:25:55 -0400

Is Andrew Wiggins the next LeBron James? Is Jabari Parker the next LeBron James?

Both have had the question asked of them during their high school playing careers, which should make Frank Vogel a little nervous.

As the top two high school basketball players in the country, Wiggins and Parker are regularly compared to each other. There is great debate about which one will be more successful in college and the NBA.

Let's take a look at how these two talented recruits measure up against one another.

Begin Slideshow

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.

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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.