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WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Results: Analyzing Event's Strangest Booking Decisions

Mike Chiari — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:30:00 -0400

Extreme Rules was a very solid all-around pay-per-view with several good matches and sensible results, but there are always a few decisions that leave fans scratching their heads. Not even Extreme Rules was able to escape that fate.

The Shield winning the United States and Tag Team Championships, Brock Lesnar going over Triple H and John Cena and Ryback fighting to a draw were perfectly logical conclusions, however, the same can't be said for a handful of other matches on the card.

Here is some further analysis on the three strangest booking decisions that prevented Extreme Rules from being even better than it could have been.

Instant Replay in Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger

Most fans expected Alberto Del Rio to defeat Jack Swagger in an "I Quit" match at Extreme Rules to become No. 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, but the manner in which it happened was beyond bizarre. Swagger had Del Rio in the Patriot Lock during the latter stages of the match. Del Rio didn't quit, but Zeb Colter grabbed the towel Ricardo Rodriguez was holding and threw it in the ring. This prompted referee Mike Chioda to rule Swagger the winner.

Another official ran to the ring after the decision was made, however, and told Chioda that Colter threw in the towel. Chioda then went to the timekeeper's area and requested to see a replay. After watching the replay, he restarted the match and Del Rio won with a Cross Armbreaker. Colter was none too pleased with the reversal as he vented his frustrations on Twitter.

Viewing a replay during a match sets a very bad precedent. The WWE can now pull that rule from out of nowhere at any time, which could become quite maddening. As annoying as that was, the worse thing is that Chioda initially called the match when a towel was thrown into the ring. An "I Quit" match can't end unless one of the competitors says that they quit, so that decision made absolutely no sense. Hopefully this entire situation was just a one-off thing that will be forgotten about moving forward.

Sheamus Defeating Mark Henry

For several weeks leading up to Extreme Rules, Sheamus and Mark Henry engaged in a bitter, heated rivalry. It involved both men exchanging backstage attacks and engaging in feats of strength such as tug of war and arm wrestling. The Celtic Warrior ultimately got the last laugh as he defeated The World's Strongest Man in a strap match. Perhaps having Sheamus win wasn't an egregious error, but it certainly wasn't the right decision.

Henry was coming off a victory over Ryback at WrestleMania XXIX, and instead of simply letting him build on that momentum, he was handed a loss. Sheamus is one of the WWE's top faces, but he wins so often that he could have easily rebounded from a defeat. He was able to touch all four corners after blasting Henry with a Brogue Kick, though, and he made sure Henry heard about it on Twitter.

The only logical explanation for having Sheamus win is that Henry is either taking time off or perhaps leaving for good. In a WWE app exclusive following the loss, Henry stated that he was "going home." If that means that an extended or permanent break is forthcoming, then giving Sheamus the win was the right decision. If Henry is going to return soon, however, the move didn't make much sense.

Chris Jericho Defeating Fandango

It seems like no veteran in wrestling is more ready and willing to put over his opponents than Chris Jericho, so his victory over Fandango at Extreme Rules came as a surprise to many. Fandango defeated Jericho at WrestleMania XXIX in his first match, but his progress was somewhat halted by Jericho on Sunday. That doesn't mean Fandango can't bounce back from a loss, but most wrestling fans are probably in agreement that Fandango would have benefited from the win much more than Y2J.

Jericho has lost the bulk of his matches since returning to the WWE at the Royal Rumble, but he has put on a great show and has been one of the company's most consistent in-ring workers. Having Jericho win seemed more like a way to reward his fans than anything. Many of Jericho's followers complain that he doesn't win enough, but that argument is no longer valid. Jericho gave a shoutout to his fans after the big victory on Twitter.

The loss won't necessarily cripple Fandango, but it will be interesting to see where he goes from here. A blow-off match against Jericho at Payback is certainly possible and a win there would pretty much erase his Extreme Rules loss. If they don't wrestle again, though, the feud ends in a stalemate. Fandango doesn't have to win every match he's in; however, a triumph at Extreme Rules would have given him the decisive edge in his rivalry with Jericho.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

UFC 160 Preview: Glover Teixeira vs. James Te Huna Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Craig Amos — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:15:00 -0400

This weekend's UFC 160 card is loaded with tantalizing matchups that promise to deliver exciting, competitive action. Among the event's many gems is an intriguing light heavyweight showdown between hard-hitting sluggers James Te Huna and Glover Teixeira.

Both Te Huna and Teixeira are rolling right now, which means there is a lot at stake. That they are both aggressive, explosive finishers only adds to allure of this main-card bout.

It's one that you most certainly won't want to miss.

Here we will take a look at the fight between Te Huna and Teixeira and examine how it is likely to play out. We will assess which fighter has an edge in each of the striking, wrestling and submission areas of the game and use those assessments to project the probable winner.

Begin Slideshow

How Rafa Benitez Proved His Worth at Chelsea

Jack Alexandros Rathborn — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:02:40 -0400

It was an opportunity that Rafael Benitez could not turn down. The Spanish manager had to put his allegiance to Liverpool, Chelsea's bitter rivals, to one side in order to grasp the chance at furthering his career.

The 53-year-old entered Stamford Bridge to replace the beloved Roberto Di Matteo in a storm, and although that feeling of resentment will never diminish, it was certainly quelled by the end.

It is important to immediately decipher what Benitez did better than Di Matteo and why, then, was Roman Abramovich proved correct in making the change.

Benitez did not alter the formation too much, it was more or less a 4-2-3-1 formation that was utilised by both managers. There was a key difference in the way that one player was used, though, which was vital.

Juan Mata candidly revealed in Sky Sports' Special Report last week that under Benitez he had been told to position himself closer to the lone striker—either Fernando Torres or Demba Ba—which really helped bring out the best qualities of Mata, even if he has such an array of skills to offer a coach in numerous roles.

Mata was named Chelsea's player of the season, and it is Benitez who should be credited for altering the impact of the Spaniard, rather than the performance.

The 25-year-old played 64 games this season and contributed a staggering 20 goals and 35 assists, but with Mata closer to the holding midfielders, there was an increased pressure on him to carry the ball forward before being able to make those decisive passes in and around the penalty area.

By starting closer to the striker, it definitely prevented Torres, for example, becoming so isolated as he had done under Di Matteo. And while Torres and Ba were hardly prolific, they were at least much more of a handful for the opposition's centre-backs, preventing them from simply double-teaming them.

Good examples of this would be the Ba goal against Manchester City and the Torres goal against Benfica—both examples of the striker holding his position on the shoulder of the last defender and waiting for a pass to be lifted in behind the opposition's defence.

Benitez, in this regard, added more variety to Chelsea's game, and while he encouraged Mata to position himself closer to the striker, he certainly did not prevent him from dropping deeper and looking to influence things when the opposition opted to press higher up, rather than drop deep.

This is when the Frank Lampard factor came into play. Lampard is another player who vastly improved under Benitez as he was given more freedom to join in with the attack when Mata opted to drop deep. Simply put, Benitez allowed the pair to switch at times, and this is where Lampard's goal streak arrived from.

In crucial games to deciding Chelsea's destiny in their race for a place in the top four, Lampard's cleverly timed runs proved very fruitful, such as in the game against Aston Villa. The England international only netted once in open play under Di Matteo this season in nine games, while under Benitez, there were 16 goals in 38 games.

Benitez had a similar record in terms of win percentage compared to Di Matteo, roughly 58 percent, but that does not take into account the first few months in charge, when the Spaniard suffered relentless abuse from the fans that had a knock-on effect on the team's performance and created hostile atmosphere that the Blues had to contend with at home games.

Benitez also proved to be more successful in games against other teams inside the top four (Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal), winning three times in seven games and losing just two. While Di Matteo won twice in five top-four clashes, winning twice.

As the season drew to a close, Benitez also had to compromise his personal ambition to ensure that he delivered Champions League qualification, which was imperative for the future of the club, even if an FA Cup or a Europa League would have been a more attractive goal for Benitez.

Benitez managed to juggle the three competitions well, ultimately finding the perfect balance between satisfying the fans and the owner, while also claiming a trophy to justify his decision to manage a club that was such a fierce rival during his time at Liverpool.

It was a short relationship, but ultimately a good one when you consider the uncertainty behind Di Matteo's ability to deliver relative league success and maintain a push for a trophy in one of the cup competitions.

Di Matteo will always be remembered for delivering the Champions League, but he actually went backwards in the league, falling to sixth place, and this must have been the concern of Abramovich.

Chelsea have a proven track record of delivering trophies, but there was no guarantee that Di Matteo could deliver another. Therefore, Abramovich had to know that the Blues would at least be guaranteed a place in the top four.

Abramovich craves the glory that winning the European Cup brings, it is his ultimate ambition, so while there is great joy in winning other cup competitions, there would be a bad taste at the end of the season if Chelsea knew that they would not be able to play in Europe's premier competition in the next season.

So Benitez found a great balance and ultimately ensures that Chelsea can target the very highest calibre of players and also remain on track to meet the financial targets required in UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP).

It may have taken some months for Chelsea fans, but ultimately they had no option but to endure Benitez and the good work that he achieved at Stamford Bridge, and now greater times await thanks to the Spaniard's ground work to set up next season.

All statistics from Transfermarkt.

Curtis Axel Is the the Perfect Choice to Join Paul Heyman in WWE

Tom Clark — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:06 -0400

Paul Heyman surprised WWE fans on the May 20 edition of Monday Night Raw when he introduced Curtis Axel as his newest client. WWE’s resident evil genius made the announcement to a somewhat shocked audience who may have been expecting someone from Heyman’s ECW past to walk down the ramp and join him in the ring. But for me, Axel is the perfect choice.

First off, the name change is very well done. Let’s face it, Michael McGillicutty was just awful. We’re talking Repo Man kind of awful. Leave it up to WWE to take the son of Mr. Perfect and saddle him with such an imperfect and instantly forgettable name.

But Curtis Axel, in homage to his father Curt and his grandfather Larry “The Ax,” now has a name that is immediately recognizable. WWE all but ignored Axel’s family history during his first stint, but with this new take on his character, it as been acknowledged. And now that it has, we can move on and allow him to build on the opportunity.

And what a huge opportunity it is.

Axel went from zero to 60 in virtually no time, and while many fans believed he deserved a chance, no one saw this coming. Now, Axel has a chance to show what he can do. And he will do it under the tutelage of perhaps the best manager WWE has ever seen.

Paul Heyman is crazy good at what he does. With one promo, Heyman can completely change the tone of the night and truly have you hanging on every word he says. He is so naturally talented on the mic and just makes it look so easy.

Heyman is the epitome of what a great pro wrestling manager should be. When Heyman speaks, he gets your interest. He makes you care. More importantly, he makes you believe. He is an expert in getting over and could teach a heel psychology course that every WWE Superstar should be required to take.

Let’s hope his newest pupil is ready to take notes.

Axel now has the benefit of standing shoulder to shoulder with a 26-year veteran of the business. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from with Heyman and though the manager role is usually just a work, I have to believe that Paul will speak up to help Curtis in his new role.

But with Paul Heyman, there is a certain amount of pressure for Axel that he will have to deal with if he is to succeed in WWE. After all, Paul is basically a legend in the eyes of many fans so for him to do business with a newcomer must mean that he sees something in the young man that WWE did not exploit the first time around.

In other words, don’t screw it up, kid.

Curtis Axel must step up to the plate and take advantage of this opportunity. He has a great mouthpiece in Paul Heyman, a renewed spotlight that is shining like it never has before and a clean slate in terms of what he’s done in his WWE career.

Are there other Superstars in the WWE locker room who are still waiting for their shot? Yes. Are there other veteran stars, in the same vein as CM Punk and Brock Lesnar who could have been paired with Heyman? Of course there are.

But those are safe choices. There are no chances being taken with an existing Superstar who has already had mainstream WWE exposure. There are also no chances taken by featuring an established star that we have seen countless times before.

But we have the great unknown with Curtis Axel. We have a younger Superstar who has not already had an opportunity like this to shine and could not get over. With Axel, there is the feeling of a new start, a new day, one that could potentially bring not just a good career but perhaps even a great one.

Right now, the sky is the limit with Curtis Axel. And he has not even started yet.

That is the power of Paul Heyman’s influence. He has already made fans believe in Axel and the havoc that they could wreak together in the very near future. Heyman is the right man for this job because he is the only one in WWE who could sell this kid to the masses and not only get him over but truly make him a star.

And Curtis Axel is the right talent to represent Paul Heyman in WWE because he is young, talented and hungry. He wants it right now and has all the tools necessary to get where he wants to be. With hard work and commitment to his craft, the son of Curt Hennig should excel in his new role, proving that he is the best choice that WWE could have made.

In fact he is the perfect choice.

NBA Lottery 2013: Best Selections for Winners of Top 3 Picks

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:05 -0400

Now that the NBA draft lottery has come and gone, I can finally start mocking with some certainty. And I am certain of the first three picks.

After that, things get a little murky. However, with the Cavaliers, Magic and Wizards taking the top three positions in the NBA draft, there will be a perfect fit for each.

So, take a look at the upcoming draft order for the first round, and then I'll get into the first three selections.

Bleacher Report has it for you in picture form.

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

Has history taught us nothing? Taking big men with knee issues over an exciting perimeter player is a risky proposition (see Greg Oden and Sam Bowie).

However, there is a reason teams always take this risk, and that is because it is so hard to find an impact player on the inside. And Noel has the potential to be just that.

At 6’10” with a wingspan reaching nearly 7'4", Noel is an athletic marvel. He is extremely light, as he checked in at 206 pounds at the scouting combine, but he is also in the midst of rehabbing from knee surgery.

While this eases a bit of the concern over his lack of bulk, it brings a more ominous concern to the table. It is always risky taking a big man with knee issues.

However, Noel's upside is through the roof, and assuming his knee returns close to 100 percent, he will be an elite defensive player right off the bat. His ability to block shots, swipe steals and grab boards will help Cleveland.

ESPN's Chad Ford agrees this will be a good fit:

And while his offensive game is raw, he has all the tools to be a solid offensive weapon.

No. 2 Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore, G, Kansas

Ben McLemore is a prototypical NBA shooting guard. He is 6'5", 185 pounds. He can drain threes and take it to the rack. He is explosive and can jump out of the gym.

ESPN highlights that with this tweet:

McLemore shot 42 percent on 4.7 three-point attempts per game last year, and he was solid on the boards grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game.

The Magic were 29th in three-point shooting percentage last year, and they have a promising and youthful frontcourt. McLemore is exactly the kind of perimeter scorer this team needs.

No. 3 Washington Wizards: Otto Porter, F, Georgetown

Otto Porter is the kind of player who can be the unheralded backbone to a championship team. Porter is never going to be an elite scorer, but he will do everything else.

He is a rugged defender, solid ball-handler and good passer. He won't stall out the offense trying to score on isolations, he will just do all the little things that helps teams win.

Washington has a solid backcourt brewing with John Wall and Bradley Beal. Those two form a combo that is dynamic and can be prolific, but they also need the ball in their hands a lot.

Porter is not that kind of player. He will help this with his strong defense and heady play. His passing ability will help stretch out the defense and keep the Wizards in motion on offense.

This is the exact kind of player the Wizards need to help mature into a complete team.

NBA Playoffs 2013: What Losing Would Mean to All Four Conference Finalists

Brian Mazique — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:05 -0400

Two games are in the books in the Western Conference finals and the Eastern Conference finals are set to start on Wednesday night. Having come this far, the Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs believe they are championship material.

As we know, only two teams will advance to the NBA Finals. That said, what becomes of the two teams who are sent packing after this round?

Here's what losing in the NBA's version of the Final Four would mean for each team.

No Team Would Be More Devastated Than the Heat

When you are the defending NBA champions, you have league MVP LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and your regular season featured a 27-game winning streak, anything short of an NBA championship is a failure.

How is that for pressure?

It wouldn't matter if the Heat lost in a seven-overtime thriller in Game 7 against the Pacers. If they lose, they will again become slammed with taunts, jeers and other insults almost immediately.

We'll hear references to the "not one, not two, not three" speech from LeBron when the Big Three joined forces. Hating on LeBron will become the "in" thing again.

The Heat trolls in the NBA universe will root for this to happen, but even they know it is a long shot.

The Pacers Have Already Grown, They are Playing With No Pressure

Almost no one expects the Pacers to win more than two games in their series against the Heat. It seems almost certain that the Pacers will try and make the series a tough—borderline dirty—affair, but in the end the Heat will prevail.

With those expectations, losing will hurt, but the Pacers will rebound and their fans should be excited for the 2013-14 season.

With a young, budding superstar like Paul George and a potentially valuable trade piece in Danny Granger, this team is still on the upswing. Their berth in the conference finals pulls them even with a healthy Chicago Bulls team in the East.

For now, those two teams would be in a fight for the title of second-best team in the East.

As Miami ages—more specifically Wade—the Heat will become beatable.

The Pacers and Bulls are the two teams in conference best prepared to pounce. I just don't see it happening this year.

Memphis Will Realize They Still Need More Two-Way Perimeter Players

Moving Rudy Gay and not signing O.J. Mayo didn't come back to bite the Grizzlies until the conference finals. As they trail two games to none, Memphis has too many one-dimensional specialists.

When they go for offense on the perimeter, they lose size and defense with players like Jerryd Bayless. When they go for defense, they lose too much on offense with players like Tony Allen and Tayshaun Prince.

Allen is set to enter free agency; while he is one of the premier on-ball defenders in the NBA, his lack of offense is crippling.

The Grizzlies could handle this weakness in Allen's game and likewise in Prince's game if they had consistent threats from the perimeter.

But they don't.

Offensively, this team just doesn't have as many good athletes as they need. Losing to the Spurs should prove to Memphis they need to add a few three (shooter) and D (defender) players.

It would provide more spacing for Mike Conley and options for Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to pass to out of the post.

A Spurs Collapse Would Be Almost as Bad as a Heat Loss

No one would bat much of an eye if the Spurs advanced to the NBA Finals and lost to the Heat. But if they blow a two games to none lead against the Grizzlies, it would be shocking.

Perhaps it would signal the end of the Spurs' less-publicized version of a Big Three.

Tim Duncan is 37 years old, Manu Ginobili is 35 and Tony Parker is 31. At some point, the Spurs will have to blow this threesome up.

Losing this series would likely speed up the process. With the way the Spurs have handled the Grizzlies through the first two games, it doesn't appear as though we'll have to wonder about this just yet.

However, even though they would be obvious underdogs against the Heat, a loss in the NBA Finals would still create questions as to how long the team will go with Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.

Follow me, because I watch more basketball than anyone should admit.

NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Potential Movement in 2013 Draft

Alex Kay — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:05 -0400

With the 2013 NBA draft lottery over and done with, many general managers are going to begin exploring potential pre-draft moves in the coming weeks.

Whether it’s trading up to grab a lottery pick, moving down to get more value for a prospect they feel is underrated, flipping a selection for a veteran piece that can help win now or acquiring future assets, there’s always a reason and plenty of transactions prior to—and even during—the draft itself.

Let’s take a look at some of the latest buzz surrounding possible trades involving the upcoming draft.

Trail Blazers Need a Big

Due to the presence of a handful of decent guards, swingmen and power forwards, the Portland Trail Blazers seem to be on the cusp of making a playoff run. The team finished 33-49 in 2012-13, falling short of a playoff spot after a 13-game losing streak cemented their late collapse.

It’s clearly evident that GM Neil Olshey needs to bolster the front line and bench in order to get this roster back into postseason shape. With incumbent center J.J. Hickson set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, you can expect the team to let him walk and seek an upgrade at the position.

One way for Portland to accomplish that goal is by flipping its lottery selection for an established big man. Joe Kotoch of ProBasketballDraft.com is reporting that the organization is seeking a veteran or two and has put their pick on the block.

While there are plenty of promising young PFs and Cs that will be available when the Blazers select, it seems they aren’t looking to develop any more younger pieces and want to contend in the immediate future.

It’s a risky proposition that could come back to bite the squad, but with their pockmarked history of drafting big men (Sam Bowie, Greg Oden, etc.), the Trail Blazers may be best off trading for one.

Lakers Looking for First-Rounder

After checking out this year’s crop of talent at the draft combine in Chicago, the Los Angeles Lakers are allegedly looking into making some blockbuster moves that could land them a first-round selection.

Fox Sports Ohio’s Sam Amico noted that the organization possesses only the No. 48 pick this year, but could add to that by flipping Pau Gasol and his expiring contract for picks, youthful talent or more manageable contracts.

At 32 years old, Gasol is still a solid contributor and could help a contending team push into the NBA Finals. He put together two triple-doubles at the tail end of the regular season and added another in the playoffs, boosting his stock going into the offseason.

If the Lakers aren’t able to retain Dwight Howard in free agency, it’s completely feasible that they flip Gasol and attempt to blow things up.

The rebuilding effort may even happen before D12 makes his decision this summer, as Kobe Bryant is projected to be out a while and Steve Nash is reaching 40 years old next season.

Those factors may force Mitch Kupchak to scrap this current team and try to build through the lottery in 2013, which is a choice that will have to be made prior to June 27’s draft.

NBA Draft Lottery Results 2013: Top 3 Teams Are in Position to Fill Biggest Need

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards earned lucky bounces of the ping-pong balls in Tuesday's NBA draft lottery.

The Cavs moved up to the No. 1 overall selection and the Wizards No. 3.

The Cavs had just the third-best odds of winning the No. 1 pick at 15.6 percent. Meanwhile, the Wizards beat even longer odds as they had less than a five-percent chance of at grabbing the third pick.

As you might imagine, the Cavs fans were pleased with the outcome. Check out this happy scene from the Cavaliers' official Twitter feed:

The two teams sandwiched the Orlando Magic, who will draft second despite having the league's worst record last year.

All three of these teams are now in a position to grab difference makers, and while this draft class is entering with a ton of hype, fans of these teams should be excited about the talent they will be able to bring in.

Bleacher Report tweeted the first-round draft order after the lottery:

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

The Cavaliers, according to NBA.com, only had 4.07 blocks per game, which was 29th in the league. They were 22nd in the league in rebounds per game, and 17th in rebound differential. Also, at plus-0.28 in steals per game last year, they ranked 20th in the league.

Nerlens Noel will help dramatically in all these categories.

In his only college season, Noel averaged 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 2.1 steals per game.

The 6'10", 18-year-old has a nearly a 7’4” wingspan and his athleticism is off the charts. While he needs to bulk up, he will be dominant on the defensive end from Day 1. And with his good speed and hands, he will always be able to score in transition.

This is assuming, of course, that Noel can recover from knee surgery and stay healthy.

This presents an obvious risk to the Cavs, but the possibility of adding Noel to the exciting young nucleus of Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson is too much to pass on.

As Matt Jones, the founder of KentuckySportsRadio.com, points out, this is a perfect situation for Noel to step into:

Not only will he be able to fit into the young core, but with Anderson Varejao also on the roster, Noel won't be asked to do too much as he builds the strength of his knee back up.

No. 2 Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore, G, Kansas

While the Orlando Magic finished with the league's worst regular-season record and didn't win the top spot, it is not an unfortunate thing.

It wouldn't have been wise for the Magic to take Noel, and Ben McLemore didn't need the added pressure from the scrutiny of being selected ahead of Noel. Not to mention, general manager Rob Hennigan doesn't need that pressure either.

With Nikola Vucevic, Andrew Nicholson, Glen Davis and Tobias Harris giving the Magic a youthful front line with depth, the Magic didn't need to risk taking Noel and have him struggle with health issues.

Now, the Magic could have traded down from No. 1, but they likely then would not have had a chance to pickup up McLemore, and he is a great fit. According to Fox Sports' Sam Amico, the Magic already realize this:

Orlando needs shooting. They shot 32.9 percent from beyond the arc last year, and that was 29th in the league.

McLemore has a sweet stroke, and he isn't just a shooter. He is a tremendous athlete who can play defense and grab boards.

No. 3 Washington Wizards: Otto Porter, F, Georgetown

The Wizards needed a wing player, and with John Wall handling the rock at point guard with Bradley Beal next to him in the backcourt, they don't need one who needs the ball a lot on offense.

Last year, the Wizards largely relied on Martell Webster and Trevor Ariza to handle the small forward duties, and this just isn't going to cut it. Neither guy posted a PER over 14.0.

Porter will add new dimensions to the Wizards. His defense will give them a lockdown defender on the wing with the strength to offer some help on the inside.

And on offense, he will give the offense a second facilitator to help take some of the pressure off of Wall in half-court sets.

With Porter's local ties from Georgetown, obviously, this would be a fan-pleasing selection. However, the Wizards won't let this force them into taking him. Yahoo! Sports Marc J. Spears explains:

They should like him. He is a perfect fit.

Porter is a smart and versatile player. He won't mind filling a role for this team while Wall and Beal get the bulk of the highlights, and he will make the Wizards more sound on both ends of the court.

Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Analyzing Latest Red Devils' Summer Buzz

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

The 2013 summer transfer window will see a fresh start at Old Trafford as new manager David Moyes seeks to establish himself as the new United boss.

Yet as they learned in 2012 with Robin van Persie, one summer transfer can completely change the season that's to come. And as such, United will no doubt be looking to improve their squad in the transfer window so that they are even stronger by the start of the 2013 season.

Being a strong and successful club, the Red Devils have had a number of players linked with them this summer about potential transfers and new deals.

So much so that it can be a little difficult to track it all at once, which is why it's helpful to find all of the rumors, news, updates and analysis in the one place!

Read on for a full breakdown of all the latest United summer transfer buzz.

Mats Hummels Staying at Borussia Dortmund?

Details

Having been linked with a move to Manchester United previously, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels appears content to remain at the Champions League finalists this summer—telling Kicker magazine (h/t Sky Sports) that he doesn't think this year will be his last at Dortmund.

I've not had any contact with Barcelona or any other club. I don't think it's my duty to dismiss rumors which other people invent.

If there was to be any truth in them, I would say so. If I say that there is nothing behind the speculation, then people should believe me.

Analysis

Hummels appears pretty sound in what he's saying here, and while the rumors to United might have made sense a little while ago, they certainly don't now.

United have a number of good central defenders on hand (Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling) and while Hummels would definitely be an upgrade on some of those, he's unlikely to leave Dortmund this summer to go and play at Old Trafford.

Dortmund are the Champions League finalists and seemingly poised for just as bright a future (if not brighter) than whatever he would find at Manchester United.

Moving now just wouldn't make any sense.

I can't see this one happening any time in the near future.

Wayne Rooney Doesn't Want Out Now? Will He Still Go?

Details

After reportedly handing in a transfer request asking to leave the club, The Daily Mirror now reports that Wayne Rooney doesn't want to leave Manchester United after all. They state that the 27-year-old hadn't handed in a request and fears that United fans will struggle to forgive him for the perceived error, and they also highlight that he's still likely to leave over the summer transfer window.

Analysis

This one seems to just get more and more complicated as the window drags on—and the window hasn't even officially opened yet!

One important thing to note is that if Rooney has handed in a transfer request, you wouldd have to think that it's likely he has an offer from a club or two waiting for him and he could move to one of them this summer. He's not stupid enough to submit a transfer request and then not find an offer in the summer—especially not after what he endured several seasons ago with his new contract.

However, if there's no transfer request, then this one is just very complicated indeed, and it would take a wise man to correctly predict how the drama will unfold.

David Moyes has a pre-existing relationship with Rooney, and the striker is loved at United—both of those are facts, however helpful or not they might seem in this transfer discussion. It's also clear that the Red Devils don't want to sell Rooney and they know firsthand just how key he was this season—so if he hasn't handed in a transfer request, then he may well end up staying at Old Trafford.

It all depends on whether that transfer request was official or not.

If I had to lean one way or the other, I think he stays, but I certainly don't think we've heard the last of this incredibly important summer transfer rumor.

David Moyes to Bring Marouane Fellaini With Him to Old Trafford?

Details

Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini will reportedly follow manager David Moyes out the door of Goodison Park and head to United, according to The Daily Mirror. The Belgian international was quoted as saying he "only wants to go to a club where the manager really wants me," and stated that Moyes "made me the player I am now."

Analysis

This is an intriguing rumor because it originated before Moyes became the new manager. And now, knowing what we know about Moyes, this one does seemingly make sense for United and Fellaini—especially given the comments that Fellaini also made about his playing position in the future.

I'm happy with my season, although I didn't play in my best position. I'm not a number 10. David Moyes predicts my future as a defensive midfielder, but due to a lack of offensive power, he plays me up front. In the future I want to play as a six or an eight. From there, I can create danger and score goals.

For me, that changes the nature of this rumor completely.

No longer is this a central attacking midfielder wanting to come to a club that already has two world-class players in that position in Rooney and Shinji Kagawa. No, this is now about a central midfielder who can play in either an attacking or defensive role wanting to come to a club that is still yet to find a world-class central midfield combination and could do use some new talent in the middle.

And in that sense, the transfer rumors actually make a lot of sense.

Moyes has a plan for Fellaini and knows how to get the best out of him with that plan—something that can now only happen if the Belgian moves to United.

And currently listed as a £25 million prospect according to Transfermarkt, I think we may well see a strong push from the Red Devils as a result.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

Arsenal Transfer News: Adding Stevan Jovetic Would Be Huge Boost for Gunners

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

Having been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, there's little doubting that Stevan Jovetic would be a great signing for the Gunners.

The talented striker is young, a proven goal-scorer and would add a great complement to their attack for many years to come. And, according to Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle, his current club is seemingly ready to prepare for life without him next season in Serie A—suggesting that a summer transfer could be on the cards for the 23-year-old.

Della Valle reportedly told Italian media (h/t Sky Sports):

I'm going to meet him [Jovetic] when he comes back from the national team. He has a right to decide where he plays. I hope he can stay with us [but] if here were to leave we have to be happy with the money that we'll have to strengthen the team.

Those comments were further boosted by the news via The Metro that Jovetic’s agent, Fali Ramadani, is currently negotiating a deal with Arsenal in London.

According to the media outlet, the transfer fee is expected to reach £25 million, and it's therefore easy to see why Della Valle is happy with selling this prized asset—especially given that the club doesn't have the prospect of playing Champions League football to try and lure players like Arsenal can.

From Arsenal's point of view, the £25 million is a substantial fee, but one that would seemingly be a great option for them as they look towards the future.

Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla all thrived in their debut Premier League season, and showed towards the back end of the year in particular just how strong they can be. That trio is seemingly primed for a strong future at the Emirates, and if Arsenal can move to add in another world-class attacker to that mix, they'll seemingly be a very strong club once again.

And then the talk of winning titles can begin once more.

Jovetic is a gifted player who is a mazy dribbler with the ball at his feet. He has excellent vision and passing skills, but is also capable of finishing with deadly accuracy and skill. His poise on the ball gained from Serie A will be particularly valuable to the Gunners' possession-centered attack, and if he can develop a good relationship with Giroud, could well turn into a very good Premier League striker.

For Arsenal, there's no price that can be put on that.

The Gunners will know that they were somewhat lucky to make the Champions League this year, and very nearly cost themselves a big payday. Signing someone like Jovetic would no doubt ensure a similar process didn't happen next year as well.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Dwight Howard, David West and More

Alex Kay — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

The 2013 NBA offseason will represent a time of hope for a number of franchises across the league.

Whether these organizations are looking to completely rebuild and claw their way up from the bottom of the league or if they are just trying to add the missing piece to a roster on the cusp of contending, there are plenty of potential trades, signings and other transactions just waiting to happen in the coming weeks.

Some of these moves may take place at the draft on June 27; others may take place at the start of free agency on July 1; and some could even happen later on in the summer. Regardless of when they go down, though, transactions are almost always exciting in the NBA.

Let’s take a look at some of the latest buzz about possible deals, signings and more being rumored around the Association.

Clippers Want David West

After a disappointing first-round playoff exit to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Clippers have some soul searching to do this summer.

Clearly, retaining unrestricted free agent and superstar point guard Chris Paul is the top priority, but after that, the roster could use some adjustments.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, David West, the starting power forward for the Indiana Pacers—who are currently competing in the Eastern Conference Finals—is at the top of L.A.’s wish list.

The 32-year-old with a deadly mid-range game and veteran leadership is a major asset in Indy and can earn more with his current team than the $5.15 mid-level exception that the Clips could offer, but there are some other benefits in L.A.

Most importantly, it would reunite West with CP3—assuming he re-signs—who helped launch his career when both were members of the New Orleans Hornets. He’d also presumably have a better chance to make the Finals in the wide-open Western Conference, although that could change if the Pacers somehow top the favored Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

If the Clips could pull off the coup to land West this summer, it would likely push them into the upper echelon of the NBA and have folks talking Finals in L.A. However, it’s a long shot, and it will require quite a bit of luck to score the forward.

Dwight Howard Unhappy with Coach D’Antoni

Dwight Howard will have the chance to sign wherever he chooses this offseason. Because the big man tends to constantly waffle on big decisions, it’s extremely important that the Los Angeles Lakers do everything in their power to keep him content over the next few months.

One of those measures to keep D12 happy could involve Mike D’Antoni’s future with the organization, as the superstar center is reportedly not happy with the way he’s treated by the head coach.

After an up-and-down season in which D’Antoni struggled to get the most from his oft-injured roster, ESPN Los Angeles’ Dave McMenamin noted that Howard felt “marginalized” and “discounted” when it came to leadership and advice.

While it makes sense that D’Antoni would lean on elder veterans Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant over the 27-year-old Howard, it seemed to have rubbed Superman the wrong way.

Since the Lakers only managed to sneak into the playoffs after compiling a mediocre 45-37 record, there is a possibility that the brass cuts ties with D’Antoni during the offseason.

All signs currently point away from that line of thinking, but general manager Mitch Kupchak may have to resort to desperate measures if he feels that Howard may sign elsewhere in free agency.

The big man will have no shortage of suitors in the coming months—whether it’s via a normal contract or a sign-and-trade—so expect the Lakers to do whatever they can, within reason, to appease the superstar.

Eric Gordon Not on the Block

When the New Orleans Hornets traded Chris Paul at the outset of the 2011-12 season, the key piece they received in return was supposed to be swingman Eric Gordon.

Unfortunately, he’s been a non-factor for much of his tenure with the organization, having appeared in only 51 games since his arrival.

However, it doesn’t seem that the Pelicans are giving up on the young star that still oozes potential, as he’s been great when healthy. Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune tweeted that there is no merit behind any trade rumors concerning the 24-year-old sniper.

It makes sense that the NOLA would want to retain this youngster, as over the aforementioned 51-game span, Gordon averaged 17.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds. He is fully capable of scoring from anywhere on the court and possesses a big frame that allows him to easily absorb contact when driving to the hoop.

Unless the Pelicans receive a “Godfather” offer that they cannot refuse, expect this former Indiana Hoosier to remain in the Big Easy until his contract expires in 2015-16.

SEC Baseball Tournament 2013: Ranking Top Contenders in Conference Tourney

Tim Daniels — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

Although the SEC Baseball Tournament got underway on Tuesday, the real action starts today, as the top seeds play their first games. While division champions LSU and Vanderbilt are seemingly on a collision course, the other teams left standing have different ideas.

The tournament takes in a double-elimination format until the semifinals, when it will become single-elimination until a champion is crowned on Sunday. The entire event is taking place at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Alabama.

As always, the margin for error in these type of tournaments is small, which makes for a tremendous atmosphere and plenty of pressure-packed innings. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the top contenders hoping to capture the SEC title.

1. LSU

The difference between LSU and Vanderbilt is microscopic. Both teams are extremely strong and clearly capable of winning the championship. The reason the Tigers get the edge is pitching depth, which is crucial in tournament play.

All three of the team's full-time starting pitchers have an ERA of 2.70 or better. Ace Aaron Nola led the way with a 10-0 record and 1.99 ERA in 13 starts. The bullpen is equally impressive. Closer Chris Cotton had a 1.62 ERA, 12 saves and struck out more than a batter per inning.

The offensive attack is led by Mason Katz and Alex Bregman, who both hit .388 in the regular season. In all, the Tigers have five players hitting at least .325. It illustrates how few weaknesses there are on the roster, and there is no doubt that LSU is the team to beat.

2. Vanderbilt

Checking in right behind LSU is top-seeded Vanderbilt. The Commodores went 26-3 in SEC play and are the owners of the conference's top offense. A major reason for that success is infielder Tony Kemp, who hit .408 with 27 stolen bases.

Having a player like Kemp, who puts immediate pressure on the opposing pitcher to start the game, is a huge advantage for Vandy. The other key piece of the offense is Connor Harrell. He smashed 11 home runs and must be the team's main run producer with men on base.

The key for the pitching staff will be the third starter. Kevin Ziomek and Tyler Beede combined to make one of the conference's top one-two punches, but Philip Pfeifer hasn't been as reliable. If he gets the call, he must step up and provide solid innings for the team to win it all.

3. South Carolina

The top two teams are a step above the rest, but South Carolina leads the second group of contenders. What makes the Gamecocks dangerous is their power. They led the conference with 46 home runs. The team was led by LB Dantzler, who had 14 homers, and Joey Pankake, who added 10.

That type of game-changing power can work in two ways. The Gamecocks could get hot at the plate and have a legitimate chance to win the title, or the bats could go cold and the team will make an early exit. Momentum will be key over the next few days.

South Carolina has used a rotation by committee throughout the season, but it has the two things every staff needs: an ace and a top-notch reliever. Nolan Belcher and Tyler Webb fill those roles. They give the Gamecocks a chance to go the distance if the top two teams falter.

French Open 2013: Dark-Horse Players to Watch for in Roland Garros

Patrick Clarke — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

No two players enter the 2013 French Open in Roland Garros hotter than Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

Between them, Nadal and Williams have won a combined 39 straight matches, including each of the last two tournaments in Rome and Madrid. But the bad news for both Rafa and Serena is that now they each enter Paris with Eiffel Tower-sized targets on their backs.

Plus, every year the men's and women's draws feature a handful of surprises, and 2013 will be no different. After all, Serena Williams was bounced in the first round at the French Open a year ago.

With upsets sure to unfold, here we'll highlight a trio of dark-horse players to watch for at the 2013 French Open.

John Isner

American hopeful John Isner has struggled on clay as of late, but did earn his first singles title of the season on the tricky surface last month, winning the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston.

In that tournament, the 6'9" Isner, currently ranked No. 21 in the world, took out a pair of talented clay-court specialists in Juan Monaco and Nicolas Almagro.

Recent early-round failures at Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome have Isner flying under the radar heading into Roland Garros, but if he can pick up some positive results in Nice, France this week, there's a good chance he'll enter Paris with some key confidence.

While Isner has achieved most of his Grand Slam success on the hard courts of the U.S. Open over the years, he has reached the third round of the French Open in the past.

Will this be the year the 28-year-old goes a step further?

Roberta Vinci

An extremely talented doubles player, Italy's Roberta Vinci has won three Grand Slam titles in the past two years with teammate Sara Errani.

Vinci hasn't been quite as successful by herself, however, bowing out of the French Open in the first round a year ago.

But after beating former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on the indoor clay in the final of the Katowice Open in Poland last month, the 30-year-old Vinci has made it clear that she'll be a tough out for any contender in Roland Garros this summer.

Vinci has won only eight career singles titles since 2007, but five of them have come on clay.

While the underrated Italian lacks the overall game to defeat the likes of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in Paris in 2013, her experience and ability to maneuver on the red stuff makes her a dark-horse player worth watching at the French Open.

Stanislas Wawrinka

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka has had a strong clay-court season in 2013 and looks like a legitimate threat to the top contenders at the 2013 French Open.

The 28-year-old won the Portugal Open earlier this month and has elevated himself all the way up to No. 11 in the ATP World Rankings. After winning in Portugal, Wawrinka made a deep run at the Madrid Masters, upsetting Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych and reaching the final before losing to Rafael Nadal.

He withdrew in the second round at the Rome Masters in his most recent outing, but should be well-rested for Roland Garros.

An accomplished doubles player, Wawrinka has achieved most of his singles success on the red stuff, winning three clay-court tournaments since 2006 and reaching eight clay-court finals since 2005.

Like Roger Federer, Wawrinka possesses a vicious one-handed backhand. But he also boasts a lot of power from the baseline, which allows him to have above-average success on clay. If the veteran can keep his cool in Paris, there's no telling how far he can go.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

NBA Draft Order 2013: Targets for Teams That Were Unlucky in Lottery

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

While the Cleveland Cavaliers were awarded the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft for the second time in three years on Tuesday, some teams weren't so lucky.

While no team dropped significantly, moves by the Cavaliers and Washington Wizards in the lottery definitely shook things up.

So what will become of the teams that dropped a place or two in the lottery? Will they be able to find consolation prizes after missing out on some top talent in the class?

Here's how I see some of the unlucky teams in Tuesday drafting.

*Check out NBA.com for the complete 2013 NBA draft order

Orlando Magic (No. 2)

The Magic dropped from the No. 1 spot to the No. 2 spot on Tuesday.

The thing is, it may actually work out for the better.

The Magic have an emerging young center in Nikola Vucevic, but it would have been difficult to pass up on Kentucky center Nerlens Noel at No. 1 overall.

Instead, the Magic will address a more pressing need in the backcourt. I like them selecting Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore, an electric scorer who could be a star in the NBA if he continues to develop.

Charlotte Bobcats (No. 4)

The Bobcats are still going to land a promising prospect here, but they entered Tuesday's lottery at the No. 2 spot.

Charlotte may miss out on McLemore, but Indiana's Victor Oladipo isn't a bad consolation prize. Oladipo doesn't have ideal size for the position at 6'4", but he's shown he can be an excellent, tough defender who can match up one-on-one, as well as be disruptive.

Oladipo also improved his jump shot down the stretch last season, shooting 60 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point territory.

The 21-year-old would be a good fit for a Bobcats team searching for a leader and an identity.

Sacramento Kings (No. 7)

It could be a domino effect for the Kings.

I originally had them selecting UNLV forward Anthony Bennett at No. 6 overall—one of my favorite prospects in the class—but, after the Washington Wizards passed up just about everyone en route to No. 3 on Tuesday, I have the Wizards taking him instead.

The way I see it playing out, the Kings will end up with Maryland big man Alex Len.

Len is another promising prospect, but he will probably need to develop a bit more before he makes a significant impact on the court, unlike Bennett. At 7'1", 225 pounds, he will need to add strength before banging down low with the bigs of the NBA. Len is also coming off ankle surgery.

Liverpool Transfer Rumors: Reds Parting Ways with Andy Carroll Is Smart Move

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Andy Carroll will seemingly move on from Liverpool this summer, with reports beginning to emerge that the Reds have agreed on a transfer fee with West Ham.

The England international—who spent the year on loan at Upton Park—has reportedly been subject to a bid of £15 million from the London club, and the Reds are believed to have accepted that bid, though no official confirmation has been given by either club.

The Daily Mirror reported the news:

Liverpool and West Ham have agreed a fee to make striker Andy Carroll's loan to the Hammers permanent. ... The Press Association is reporting that Liverpool agreed several weeks ago to accept a fee of £15 million—rising with various add-ons—to get the 24-year-old off their wage bill, as they prepare to start their own summer spending.

However, as the report goes on to state—and Chris Bascombe at The Telegraph highlights further—the deal is still dependent on Carroll agreeing to move.

Carroll held talks with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in the last 24 hours when he was informed he could move to Upton Park on a permanent transfer. Instead, the former Newcastle United forward said he remained determined to prove himself at Anfield despite knowing he would only be a squad player.

Liverpool will have to convince Carroll that it is unlikely he will ever establish himself on Merseyside and he would be wiser to move on.

That, it seems, might be difficult for the Reds, but there is a relatively easy argument to be made for Carroll leaving Anfield in order to benefit his long-term future.

With the 2014 World Cup approaching with every passing week, Carroll will desperately want to prove himself as a great asset to the team. However, without regular starting appearances, he is unlikely to do that, and thus will likely end up making the switch to Upton Park in order to play first-team football.

Especially since he's out injured for the upcoming international fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil, Carroll needs to be playing constant football in 2013 if he's going to make the squad. Thus the decision to move away will seemingly be an inevitable one from the striker—especially given that Rodgers can now highlight his lack of necessity to the current Liverpool squad.

And given his lack of necessity, this is actually quite a good deal for Liverpool.

Having played the season without the 24-year-old, it was clear that the Reds do not need him, per se, next season. They probably do need another striker this summer to add depth, but from a financial standpoint, they could likely get someone much cheaper (and potentially even better) than the forward, whose style and strong points don't really suit the system now in place at Anfield.

With Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, the Reds' attack is no longer centered around a dominant big man up front, which is what Carroll provides.

And given his wages, it's therefore smart to part ways with him.

West Ham—having seen firsthand just how good Carroll can be—will no doubt love the move and potentially got themselves a steal at just £15 million.

For despite the fact that Carroll isn't the £35 million he was originally transferred for, he's still a very, very good striker. He brings great athleticism in the air and gives the attack a big man to target, which the Hammers showed could bring them great success in the English Premier League.

And whilst their success might seem like a poor decision from Liverpool, the fact that they don't need his style means that parting ways with him is a good move.

Not only will it swell Rodgers' transfer kitty for the season ahead, but it will get the large and unnecessary wages of Carroll off Liverpool's books and allow them to upgrade a position that better suits their system. And with the attacking talent already existent at the Merseyside club, that could turn out to be an inspired decision in the 2013-14 season.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

NBA Draft 2013: Players Who Will Suffer on Draft Day Due to Size Concerns

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

No matter what anyone tells you, size really does matter. That is never truer than in the NBA, where a couple of inches in height can make a huge difference.

While there are certainly successful players in the league that are undersized for their position, it is much easier to get rebounds, play defense or get off shots if you are taller than your opponent.

In this year's NBA draft, there are a few players who will be hurt in the draft by a lack of height. The recent scouting combine provided scouts with accurate measurements of every player, and these numbers will hurt the stock of these top prospects.

Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky (6'11.75", 206.4 lbs.)

Throughout the draft process, Nerlens Noel has been called a center instead of a power forward. Right now, it is hard to imagine the player surviving in the middle of the defense.

The problem is not only his height, but his weight at 206.4 pounds. Noel might have great athleticism and timing to be an elite shot-blocker. However, he will seriously struggle to prevent a player like Dwight Howard (listed at 265 pounds) from backing him down in the low post.

Obviously, the Kentucky player can put on some strength. Still, that is a lot of weight to put on, and it is unknown if he will lose some agility when he does gain that weight.

Considering he does not have the offensive game to be a power forward at this point, his lack of size has to be a serious concern to any team thinking about drafting him with the No. 1 overall pick.

Shane Larkin, PG, Miami (5'11.5", 170.8 lbs.)

The combine measures by the quarter-inch, and Shane Larkin had to be disappointed by this measurement with shoes. He might have been able to reach the six-foot mark with a different haircut.

Still, the lack of height remains a concern for those looking for a point guard of the future.

Larkin proved last season that he can do it all as a lead guard for a good team. He can create shots for himself either around the basket or from deep, find open looks for teammates and is solid on the defensive end.

However, he still might have trouble against some of the bigger players around the league. This could lead a team to prefer a taller prospect at the position like Michael Carter-Williams of Syracuse.

The good news is that he was a star at the athletic portion of the combine, showcasing great athleticism and quickness that will have him right back near the top of draft boards.

Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA (6'6.25", 221.8 lbs.)

For most of the regular season, Shabazz Muhammad was considered one of the top three picks in the upcoming draft. Unfortunately, he has seen his stock slide a lot over the past few months.

First, he was caught lying about his age which meant that he was really a year older than he let on. This changes the mindset of scouts who figured he would be more developed by this point.

To make matters worse, it seems that he is shorter than originally thought at just over 6'6". This puts him about average for a shooting guard, but small for a wing.

At this point, Muhammad does not have a strong mid-range game and struggles at times to create his own shot. He could end up being a good scorer as a 2-guard, but he has little chance to succeed as a small forward.

Still, this is yet another red flag to keep teams away from a once-promising prospect.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

7 NFL Teams Who Could Shock the World in 2013

Brad Gagnon — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Every year, at least one team emerges from the slums of the football world to make a surprising run. It's only natural in a league with so much parity—one in which a bad team can become good and a good team can become bad with merely a single positive or negative offseason development.

Of course, success is relative. Some of the seven sleeping giants we're about to reveal could become Super Bowl contenders just like that, while others might simply surprise people by climbing out of the basement.

All have the ability to become much better, though, and all have a chance to do some damage.

Begin Slideshow

How Concerned Should Patriots Fans Be About the Effect of Injuries on 2013?

Marc Freshman — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:44:03 -0400

Injuries in the National Football League are emotionally crushing, even during the dog days of summer.

When players' bodies aren't working properly, it clouds the future and provides a murky, unfinished image of what a team will ultimately look like.

Case in point—the New England Patriots.

They're a tough bunch to nail down right now. They've been dealing with bumps, bruises, surgeries and rehabs for months. Their fans are justifiably invested in these injuries because the fate of the 2013-14 season may hang in the balance.

For many fans, the concern begins at the top with tight end Rob Gronkowski.

The concern stretches back to 2010 when his draft profile on NFL.com highlighted "durability issues" as his weakness, referencing the three games he missed in 2008 for the University of Arizona and the back surgery which caused him to miss his 2009-10 senior season.

The Patriots weighed the issues and elected to pick him anyway.

At the end of the 2011-12 season, Gronkowski had surgery to repair an ankle injury from the AFC Championship Game. Expectations were that he'd roar into the 2012-13 season with a vengeance, but that didn't happen.

Gronkowski instead eased into last season. He was a work in progress all year, as his conditioning and improvement always felt like a week-to-week thing.

Then injuries started piling up, beginning in November against the Colts when he broke his left forearm and missed five games. In January, he re-broke his arm against the Texans in the playoffs and in February, he had surgery to clear an infection in the same arm.

As if the forearm situation wasn't enough, concern began growing about potential back surgery for the tight end following his fourth surgery on his forearm. ESPN's John Clayton addressed this issue last Monday, saying:

The New England Patriots now have to be concerned because a fifth operation for Rob Gronkowski could really throw off everything in training camp and also the start of the regular season.

Everything was expected to be going as planned, when they had the fourth surgery planned on the forearm. They knew it was a 10-week, 11-week recovery, everything was on schedule there. But now you have to throw in the disc problem and where this is going to hurt, even though he can recover in time, is it’s gonna hurt his conditioning.

He has been in great shape, that’s one thing I think that’s been very positive. But now, if it’s gonna slow down his conditioning to go with his recovery from the forearm surgery, it could throw everything back.

Nevertheless, they still anticipate he’s gonna be there for the regular season. But another surgery, particularly one to a problem he’s had before, is a concern that really worries the Patriots.

Following Gronkowski's fourth surgery on his forearm, Mike Reiss, of ESPNBoston.com, had this update on Tuesday:

There is optimism with the results of Monday's surgery. There were no signs of infection. They did take some cultures to test, and if for whatever reason there is a residual infection that is found, they feel that it can be treated with antibiotics.

The best-case scenario is that Gronkowski returns in about the ten-week time frame, although a possible surgery on a disc in his back still looms, so that can alter any projected time frame.

The worst case scenario is that Gronkowski wouldn’t be ready for the regular season.

Unfortunately, New England's injury saga extends beyond just Gronkowski.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman has been in a walking boot for a portion of the offseason whilerehabbing a foot inury which derailed his 2012-13 season. His start dates for camp are still up in the air as is any clear grasp on what his role, or health, will look like in 2013.

There were also reports that tight end Aaron Hernandez had shoulder surgery earlier in the offseason according to NFL.com and ESPN. This comes after he missed six games last season and saw a major dip in his numbers from the previous season.

Another player to monitor is wide receiver Danny Amendola, who missed five games in 2012-13 and 15 games in 2011-12. Fans will also be keeping an eye on defensive end Chandler Jones, cornerback Aqib Talib, linebacker Dane Fletcher, cornerback Ras-I Dowling and running back Stevan Ridley—all of whom were struggling with varying degrees of injuries when we last saw them in action.

For Patriots fans, concern is warranted, but remember, it's only May. There's a long way to go so it's too soon to worry about what New England's health will look like in December and into the playoffs, which is when health matters most.

Even so, with all of that time, it still might be difficult for some to balance the stress of Gronkowski's situation. It's a mess, no doubt. For those fans who are burdened by the unreliability of Gronkowski's body, it might help to readjust the expectations they have of him. The same goes for Hernandez.

Getting these tight ends at simultaneous prime health will be a matter of timing, matters of timing can't be relied upon. One should have faith, but not expectation.

If you expect perpetually injured players to be healthy, then you're doubling your anxiety level—tripling it, even. You're also setting yourself up for disappointment, so why do that?

The power of this tight end tandem is akin to capturing lightning in a bottle—let it happen as it happens while accepting the possibility that it might not happen at all.

Lowering expectations for Gronkowski and Hernandez may sting, but keep in mind that the allegiance here isn't to the two-tight end setup, it's to winning.

That's truly the Patriot way.

It's not about dedication to personalities or schemes or structures. It's about rings and banners. That's the system that owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have built in New England and it's a good system.

A good system with nine new receivers for Brady to play with.

If the two-tight end attack is unreliable as a focal point of the offense, shake it up. Instead of fixating on how Jake Ballard, Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui can compensate for an incomplete tandem or keep a shaky blueprint afloat, think about how Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Mike Jenkins, Lavelle Hawkins, Mark Harrison, Kenbrell Thompkins, T.J. Moe, Amendola and Donald Jones might go about bringing this offense back to a more reliable receiver-based focus.

Go with whatever works. As far as I'm concerned, Brady can throw it to the guys who fire the muskets. He can throw to the cheerleaders, too, if they're open and healthy—anything just so long as they win a championship this season and get this monkey off their back.

Here's the easiest way to tell whether or not you should be concerned.

Those expecting Gronkowski and Hernandez to duplicate their domination from 2011-12 and lead the march to a title in 2013-14 should be concerned. However, those fans expecting Brady and his new receivers to spark a new fire and lead the way to another championship this season with sporadic input from Gronkowski and Hernandez along the way should be very hopeful, encouraged and extremely excited.

In other regards to all of the offseason injuries, keep in mind that a team's headlines during the offseason don't necessarily indicate where it is headed. Teams like the Patriots, Giants, Ravens and Packers routinely stay quiet during the offseason, just before they win world titles.

By that rationale, it's wise to be patient with New England's offseason injuries. Things will get better. Bruises and scrapes aside, this is a good team and a contending team. Brady is New England's passport to the playoffs, but his new receivers and a revamped defense could very well be a ticket to the Super Bowl.

By that same token of taking offseason headlines with a grain of salt, it would be wise to take the Broncos' preseason bravado with that same grain. It's just noise.

Remember, it's only May. The tide has a funny way of turning in this game.

Miralem Pjanic: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Tom Sunderland — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:41:41 -0400

Once one of the most sought-after teenagers in world football, it would seem that Miralem Pjanic may once again be on the move this summer despite already having three club in his professional career. Here’s a report on the Roma midfielder and just where you might expect to see Pjanic end up should he indeed be moving on in the coming months.

Age: 23

Contract Situation: Pjanic signed for Italian outfit Roma in 2011 and has two years remaining on a four-year contract, set to expire in June 2015.

Career Stops: Metz Youth (2004-07), Metz (2007-08), Lyon (2008-2011), Roma (2011-present).

Current Campaign: Serie A—27 appearances, three goals, six assists; Coppa Italia—two appearances, one goal, two assists.

Video Showreel:

Scouting Guide: One of the more versatile talents in Roma’s squad, Pjanic is a central midfielder at heart but has shown the ability to play in a more attacking sense as well as out wide too.

During his career, the Bosnian has developed a habit of scoring long-range goals and proven to be somewhat of a set-piece specialist, scoring several memorable goals for his national team of this nature.

What's more, Pjanic's reputation as a bit of a linguist, speaking fluent Luxembourgish, English, Italian, French and German makes him even more of an attraction.

Although 5’11”, one of Pjanic’s weakness is his ability in the air as well as the more physical side of the game, showing tackling to not be among his strongest suits.

Where Next?

The most frequent suitor being linked with Pjanic’s signature in recent months has been Manchester City, who The Mirror allege are looking at the midfielder with a view to replacing Samir Nasri this summer.

Not only are the club interested but Pjanic comes as heavily recommended by compatriot, Edin Dzeko, who has been quoted by sport.ba (h/t Sky Sports) as saying: "If Mire came to City then I would certainly not want to leave the Etihad.”

Just whether that commitment is enough to push the Citizens into tying up a deal for their midfield target is unsure.

However, with two years left on his Roma contract, City can rest assured that they would be expected to fork out more than the £9.5 million pound paid for his signature in 2011.

Mats Hummels: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Tom Sunderland — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:35:46 -0400

Mats Hummels has been one of the most consistent aspects of a Borussia Dortmund side that’s enjoyed a meteoric rise in world football, entering the hearts of football “hipsters” on a global scale. Read on to find a scouting guide and more information on just where the German international is tipped to be moving this summer.

Age: 24

Contract Situation: Hummels penned a five-year contract extension in the summer of 2012, set to expire June 2017.

Career Stops: Bayern Munich Youth (1995-2006), Bayern Munich II (2006-07), Bayern Munich (2007-09), Borussia Dortmund (2008-09 loan deal), Borussia Dortmund (2009-present).

Current Campaign: Bundesliga—28 appearances, one goal, three assists, eight clean sheets; Champions League—10 appearances, one goal, one assist, two clean sheets.

Video Showreel

Scouting Guide

Although a central defender by nature, the frequency with which Hummels likes to come forward with the ball, providing a platform for those around him, makes him a valuable asset in attack, too.

Alongside Neven Subotic at Signal Iduna Park, the German international can often play the sweeper role and act as a sweeper should the occasion call for it, earning some comparison to German great Franz Beckenbauer.

Where Next?

After surrendering the Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich in an almost helpless fashion, one particularly bright side to Hummel’s 2012-13 season has come in the shape of a Champions League final.

Although the Black and Yellows head into the Bayern Munich clash as underdogs, the 24-year-old’s reputation has only grown as a result of this year’s tournament.

As a result, the German has been quite frequently linked with a move to Barcelona. These rumours kicked into overdrive mid-April, when the defender was quoted by Bild (h/t Sky Sports) as saying that he “would reject 99.9% of all clubs” but that Barca were “one of two or three clubs” that would interest him.

Since then, BBC Sport have reported Hummels as claiming that Saturday’s final will most certainly not be Hummels’ last game as a Dortmund player but that will only quash rumours for so long.

Lucas Moura: Assessing His 1st Season at Paris Saint-Germain

Jonathan Johnson — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:05:38 -0400

Big things were expected of Lucas Moura immediately after his arrival at Paris Saint-Germain in January. Although he has not quite lived up to those expectations just yet, through no fault of his own, the signs are there to suggest that he will be a big hit next season.

His first half-season with the capital club has been hit by injuries, but PSG have surely seen enough from the Brazilian to be confident that he will grow in confidence at the Parc des Princes. Already a champion, of course, after helping to seal the club’s first French title in 19 years, Moura has an encouraging semi-campaign to build on for next season.

Immediately after arriving from Sao Paulo in January, the Brazilian usurped Jeremy Menez for a space in the first team, despite the Frenchman having been a regular first-team selection. It quickly became evident why because, despite the fact that he is only 20 years old, his ability still makes him a natural first-team starter.

He had been expected to begin his PSG career on the bench, slowly introduced to the first team over the remainder of the season. However, after making his debut in a goalless draw with Ajaccio in early January, a month later he was starting a Champions League last 16 tie with Valencia and running the show.

That was on the back of a good start to life in Ligue 1, bagging three assists inside his first five games, shining particularly brightly in a 4-0 away win at Toulouse. He was stripped of his first goal for the club; a deflected strike against bitter rivals Marseille (credited as a Nicolas N'Koulou own goal) on David Beckham’s debut. But his impact was already being felt on the pitch as he drove PSG to some early 2013 victories.

It also became evident fairly quickly that Moura was not fully fit. Coming off the back of a Brazilian club season that finished in December, having won the Copa Sudamericana as he’d hoped to before leaving, the Selecao star linked up with PSG in Doha for their winter training break.

Instead of being rested, though, Carlo Ancelotti threw him into first-team action immediately to gauge how long it would take the Samba sensation to adapt. "No time at all" was the answer.

Despite his debut against Ajaccio finishing goalless, his performance individually was impressive. Some superb dribbling and a demonstration of his raw pace punctuated an energetic, purposeful display against the Corsicans.

That showing carried over into his next game, the muted 1-0 win over Bordeaux, played in the most difficult of circumstances. Following the death of Head of Performance Nick Broad, new arrival Moura provided Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the game’s only goal in an emotional match when PSG were forced to play against their wishes.

From then on, the Brazilian has been a first-team regular when fit, but it was obvious from his reaction when substituted in early April against Troyes that his niggling injury problems had not subsided.

With the summer break just one game away, Moura will have to wait to finally get that rest to recharge his batteries adequately.

The youngster has been selected in Felipe Scolari’s Confederations Cup squad so will be busy until the end of June, assuming that he stays fit for the entirety of the tournament.

PSG will have to wait until next season to see the best of him, though, after an inconsistent but encouraging start.

Speaking to ESPN upon his arrival, he talked about his bold desire to become the world’s best player in the French capital. If the club’s ambitious project continues its upwards trajectory, this will be possible in time if Moura continues to improve and can start scoring goals in Ligue 1.

A lot of that potential success, though, will depend on the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti who has spoken of his desire to join Real Madrid, according to ESPN. The Italian has been a big factor in PSG’s success this season and a bigger factor in the immediate impact of some big-name arrivals, most notably Ibrahimovic, Moura and Thiago Silva.

His exit would have a serious impact on those players’ comfort in the French capital, at least in the short term.

Moura can be pleased with his first five months in Paris; he has adapted quickly and become an important member of the PSG first team. But next season, more will be expected of him for both club and country as the capital club are expected to make a bigger splash on the European stage and Brazil gear up for a World Cup assault on home soil.

The Brazilian will be expected to have a big impact on both fronts.

Phillies 2013 Mock Draft: Projecting Their Top 5 First-Round Targets

Alec Snyder — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:03:50 -0400

With the 2013 MLB Draft right around the corner, the Philadelphia Phillies have likely narrowed their choices as to who they want to select with the 16th pick, their highest in the draft since 2002 when they drafted Cole Hamels with the 17th pick.

This comes from a 2012 season which saw the Phillies play .500 baseball, ending with an 81-81 record. While it wasn't a losing record, it was the first time the Phillies had not finished a season with a winning record since 2002 when they ended at 80-81.

The Phillies' farm system is pretty bare across the board as a result of the many high-profile trades Ruben Amaro, Jr. has made in his time as Phillies GM. Nevertheless, some areas of the farm have more depth than others, so while the Phillies may disagree with my philosophy and select someone based upon talent alone, positional play will impact this list.

With a farm system thin of outfielders and first basemen, players at those positions will be the primary focus of this slideshow. So without further ado, here's a look at the top five players the Phillies will look to take with their first draft pick on June 6.

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Arsenal: 5 Things Arsene Wenger Needs to Do to Win the Title Next Year

Charlie Melman — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:00:00 -0400

Arsenal celebrated finishing in fourth place like they had just won the title.

But if they really want to knock Manchester United off their perch, Arsene Wenger will need to make some serious changes at the club.

The Gunners certainly have the resources to do so this summer, and their Champions League qualification affords them the foundation on which to build lasting success.

Let's look at how Wenger can accomplish that between now and the beginning of next season.

Begin Slideshow

Orlando Magic: Magic Must Target Trey Burke in the Draft

Joshua J Vannuccini — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:47:24 -0400

The Orlando Magic were hopeful to obtain the first overall pick in this year's draft, but the second selection from the plethora of attractive talent is just as valuable. Their roster of very young talent, with an average roster age of 25, is ripe with potential, which makes their choice in the draft important to round out the team.

It must all start with Trey Burke.

The Magic have some intriguing prospects already, including Tobias Harris, Nikola Vucevic and Andrew Nicholson. Certain other players like Nerlens Noel or Otto Porter have high ceilings, but the front office must draft to accommodate the roster.

Burke had a phenomenal season for the Michigan Wolverines, averaging 18.6 points and 6.7 assists. He had a terrific 3.02 assist-to-turnover ratio, in addition to knocking down 46.3 percent of his overall shots. Burke's 38.4 percent clip from three-point range and 80.1 percent from the free-throw line are indicative of his prowess shooting the ball and are especially important when transitioning to the NBA level.

Orlando could form a "Big Three" of Burke, Vucevic and Harris, in what is the new NBA standard of building a team. The latter duo closed the season strong, with Vucevic putting up 18.5 points and 15.3 rebounds through April and Harris averaging 19.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 44 percent shooting.

Adding a dynamic point guard to the Magic's roster would create an effect much like what happened to the Portland Trail Blazers this past season. Damian Lillard's arrival in Oregon didn't ultimately translate to the success the Trail Blazers were hoping for, as they missed the postseason and finished with a worse record than last season.

It was mostly due to a 13-game losing streak to close the season, however Lillard's effect on the team was clear. Burke could do the same with the Magic, by being thrust into the spotlight and handed the keys to the franchise.

It would be a slight reach for Orlando to take Burke with the second pick, yet the other choices on the board clash with the other players on the roster. Noel's ability to play effectively after an ACL tear waves a red flag, and the drafting of a small forward puts a question mark above Harris' place in the rotation after performing really well in a Magic uniform.

Jameer Nelson, Orlando's current point guard, could provide veteran leadership and mentor Burke through his first season. Whether Nelson started and Burke came off the bench or vice versa, it would present an interesting one-two punch in the backcourt for the Magic.

Ben McLemore, a superstar talent out of Kansas, would also be a great choice for Orlando. However, the league is becoming more and more point-guard-orientated, and taking Burke allows the team to begin a proper rebuild immediately.

Adding McLemore would create discussions surrounding what to do with Arron Afflalo, the team's current shooting guard, and the plethora of 2-guards on the roster.

He's predicted to have a very high ceiling, but ultimately Burke is a better piece to Orlando's puzzle.

How Much Influence Does an Offensive Line Have on Quarterback Success?

Tyson Langland — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:18:44 -0400

Success at the quarterback position in the NFL is not only predicated on the individual success of a signal-caller, but it is predicated on the success of his supporting cast. Whether that is his backfield, wide receiving corp. or offensive line, everyone has a hand in the accomplishments of a team’s offense.

Moreover, the same can be said about a team’s offensive failures. On any given play, there could be an individual who misses a blocking assignment, fumbles the football, drops a pass or simply runs the wrong route. All of these misfortunes directly or indirectly affect the quarterback.

However, no offensive position affects a quarterback’s play more then the offensive line. Over the course of a game, offensive linemen are asked to keep the quarterback upright by giving him adequate time to throw the ball.

When given adequate time to throw the ball, quarterbacks have a higher probability of finding the open receiver. This, in turn, leads to more passing yards, completions, touchdowns and overall offensive success.

With the help of Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) in-depth analytics database, we are going to measure how much influence the offensive line has on quarterback success.

In the chart above, players are sorted from best to worst based on their Pro Football Focus passing grade. The 49ers, Titans, Jaguars, Chiefs, Cardinals and Eagles have combined quarterback grades because those six teams featured two quarterbacks who played more than 25 percent of their team's offensive snaps.

Aside from being sorted from best to worst, the list is equally separated into two groups. The top group features the 16 best quarterbacks in the NFL, and the bottom group features the 16 worst quarterbacks in the NFL.

When one takes the time to analyze the chart, it’s apparent that organizations suffer when they have to use two different quarterbacks. Jacksonville, Kansas City, Arizona and Philadelphia all finished with negative PFF passing grades. San Francisco and Tennessee were the two lone multi-quarterback teams that finished with positive PFF passing grades.

The 49ers were put in a unique situation when Alex Smith suffered a concussion against the St. Louis Rams, while the Titans had Matt Hasselbeck to fall back on after Jake Locker exited Tennessee’s Week 4 contest against the Houston Texans with a left shoulder injury.

After collecting the data and running the numbers, it also became evident that even the slightest of differences in offensive play affected a quarterback’s effectiveness over the course of a 16-game season.

For example, take a look at the calculated averages of the league's top quarterbacks and their offensive lines. The average PFF passing grade from Peyton Manning to Jay Cutler was a plus-24.8, while the average PFF passing grade from Joe Flacco to Brandon Weeden was a minus-9.6.

Moreover, the top 16 quarterbacks, on average, were sacked less, hit less and pressured less than the bottom 16 quarterbacks. Thanks in large part to the Cleveland Browns; the cellar dwellers did surpass the top-notch talent in one category (offensive line hurries allowed).

Yet, a year's worth of data doesn’t exactly tell the whole story. We need to go back in time and examine the success of past Super Bowl champions. In 2008, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) proclaimed that the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the five worst pass-blocking offensive lines in all of football.

That notion didn’t seem to bother Ben Roethlisberger and his offensive line. They rolled through the playoffs and beat the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Surely it was a fluke that they won the Super Bowl with such porous offensive line play, right?

The 2011 New York Giants would attest that it was no fluke. Per PFF (subscription required), the Giants had the worst offensive line in the NFL at the end of the 2011 season. There wasn’t a single offensive line that surrendered more quarterback pressures that year.

So, what did the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 2011 New York Giants have in common? Both teams had quarterbacks who managed to overcome subpar offensive line play all throughout the playoffs. Eli Manning and Roethlisberger combined for 1,911 yards passing, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions amidst bad offensive line performances in the playoffs.

Even though strong quarterback play can often outshine bad offensive line play, Manning and Roethlisberger are seemingly exceptions to the rule in years past.

In 2009, the New Orleans Saints had the 11th best pass-blocking offensive line in the NFL. Additionally, the Green Bay Packers had the third best pass-blocking offensive line in 2010, while the Baltimore Ravens had the 17th best pass-blocking offensive line in 2012.

This just goes to show that advanced data and analytics are great tools that help us understand the story, yet they are only a small piece of the puzzle. In terms of quarterback success, offensive line play may have the greatest impact on the position, but there are other factors that should be factored into the equation as well.

Accuracy, arm strength, toughness, pocket presence and awareness are a few of that attributes that help define a quarterback. A top-notch offensive line can only control what they do in pass protection; they can’t help a quarterback with his accuracy, arm strength, toughness, pocket presence or awareness.

Despite the fact that numbers from the 2012 season support the notion that strong offensive line play directly correlates with strong quarterback play, it’s simply unquantifiable based on numbers alone. Sure, it doesn’t hurt to have a good offensive line, but in the end the NFL is still a crapshoot.

Rather than a team’s offensive line, a handful of plays away from the line of scrimmage seemingly have a higher probability of impacting the annual success of a quarterback. Football is the ultimate team sport, which in turn makes each position equally valuable in terms of offensive and defensive success.

St. Louis Rams RB Breakdown: Complete Position Evaluation

Jamal Collier — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:13:22 -0400

Steven Jackson’s departure left the St. Louis Rams with more questions than answers at the starting running back position. Three tailbacks have their reasons to assume the primary ball-carrying duties in 2013, but they have combined to take just 108 carries as professionals.

That’s 4.5 percent of Jackson’s career 2,395 rushes.

With 98 career carries, Daryl Richardson is by far the most experienced of the trio, which also includes Isaiah Pead and Zac Stacy. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry as a rookie and produced the Rams’ biggest running play of the 2012 season: a 53-yard sprint against the Washington Redskins in Week 2.

Big plays are in the sophomore’s repertoire. He just hasn’t scored a touchdown yet.

Neither has any other Rams rusher, though. At least Richardson has a two-point conversion to his credit.

Maybe he is just a change-of-pace back, as plenty of analysts seem to believe. Alabama’s Eddie Lacy was even mocked to go to St. Louis in the first round—but the Rams didn’t take a running back until the fifth, and Lacy was selected in the second. The prevailing thought was that someone needed to replace Steven Jackson, and the guys on the roster were too small or inexperienced to do so.

Funny how a rookie was supposed to fix the latter problem.

Besides, Richardson’s two biggest runs in 2012 came in his only two appearances during which he received double-digit carries.

This wasn’t the case of inflated production due to lopsided scoring.

Both were three-point contests: Week 2 against the Redskins and Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins. In the nine games that he received six or more carries, Richardson averaged 3.0 yards per tote. In the seven that he took seven or more, he averaged 5.8 yards per carry.

At the very least, he deserves a shot at the starting job.

If physique is any indication, Richardson’s role may be in direct competition with that of Pead, a 2012 second-rounder. Pead struggled to see the field in his self-described “miserable” rookie season: Despite leading St. Louis with 5.4 yards per rush, the sophomore only had 10 opportunities to carry the football.

He played 15 games.

Of his 54 yards, 32 came on three carries against the New England Patriots. That's 52.9 percent of his yards on 30 percent of his carries. St. Louis lost that matchup in London by 38 points, and Pead fumbled twice the next week against the San Francisco 49ers, losing one.

Nevertheless, Pead has a clearer path to more touches in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense with Jackson out of the picture. Stacy may be second in line behind Richardson by virtue of the coaching staff’s excitement about the fifth-rounder and the alleged contrast between his game and Daryl’s.

Physically, Stacy is expected to pummel potential tacklers at 5’8”, 216 pounds. He can move a pile, but he’s also pretty shifty between the tackles.

Zac tossed up 225 pounds 27 times at the NFL combine. He also took 24 or more carries in four games as a senior. Three were against the SEC, and the fourth was in a bowl game.

He scored seven TDs in his five appearances with 20 or more rushing attempts, including at least one each time he eclipsed the mark. Stacy should figure to get the first crack at the big-back touches ahead of Terrance Ganaway, who never touched the rock for St. Louis in the regular season as a rookie.

He rushed for 17 yards on seven carries in the preseason for the New York Jets.

If undrafted rookie Benny Cunningham from Middle Tennessee State is going to make the Rams' roster, it will most likely be on special teams. While St. Louis has plenty of questions regarding the hierarchy of ball-carriers this fall, the volume of running backs should prove that inserting oneself into the offensive rotation would be a long shot, barring injury.

Injuries seem to strike running backs the most, though, so a number of capable rushers is a welcome “problem” in the NFL.

For more St. Louis Rams thoughts, follow Jamal on Twitter: Follow @StatManJ

Why Arsenal Should Do Everything Possible to Sign Stevan Jovetic This Summer

James McNicholas — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 -0400

On May 19, as Arsenal prepared to face Newcastle in what had essentially become a playoff for Champions League qualification, Stevan Jovetic’s Fiorentina side were facing their own judgement day.

The Viola were also hoping to qualify for Europe’s elite competition and held up their own end of the bargain with a thumping victory over Pescara. Jovetic himself scored with a neat finish and also claimed an assist.

However, Vincenzo Montella’s side were foiled by rivals AC Milan. A Mario Balotelli penalty helped ensure the Rossoneri qualified at Fiorentina’s expense.

Stevan Jovetic is a player with the class to grace the Champions League. If he is to do that now, he’ll have to leave Florence.

Arsenal has long been mooted as a potential destination, with Italian paper La Stampa claiming that interest has formalised into a €28 million bid (via Football Italia). Recently, however, a rival has appeared on the scene, with The Independent suggesting that Jovetic is also attracting interest from Juventus.

Fiorentina’s sporting director, Daniel Prade, admitted to Tuttosport after the match with Pescara that Jovetic’s future is due to be discussed with the club’s president Andrea Della Valle (via The Independent):

Is this his last game with us? Never say never.

We will give a response only after a meeting between the player and Della Valle. Juventus still have not asked us about Jovetic.

For all Fiorentina’s posturing, there are bound to be private concerns that keeping Jovetic may have become impossible. The lure of Champions League football may prove too great.

Jovetic now needs Arsenal, and Arsenal certainly need him.

All of Arsene Wenger’s most successful teams have had a talismanic striker. Ian Wright was succeeded by Nicolas Anelka. Anelka was then replaced with the greatest striker in Arsenal’s history: Thierry Henry.

Since Henry’s departure, trophies have proved harder to come by, but Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie have shone fleetingly.

Olivier Giroud does not appear to be in that class. His first season in English football was littered with inconsistent finishing. He is a good centre-forward, but not one likely to win the same plaudits as Henry or Van Persie.

It took Arsenal 12 months to replace Cesc Fabregas. They waited until they could get their man, with Santi Cazorla eventually arriving from Malaga to take on Fabregas’ role as playmaker.

Perhaps 12 months after losing Robin van Persie, Arsenal are now preparing to bite the bullet and bring in the world-class striker required to replace him.

Jovetic has all the attributes required to flourish in the Premier League. He is powerfully built, moves with intelligence and finishes calmly.

Signing him would immediately improve the Arsenal team, but it’d also make a statement. Not since the arrival of Andrey Arshavin in February 2009 have Arsenal broken their transfer record to acquire one of the big-name stars of European football. Buying Jovetic would buck the trend and raise the bar.

Jovetic would bring glamour to the Emirates Stadium once more. In exchange, Arsenal could offer him the glamour of Champions League football.

It’s a move that ought to prove hugely beneficial to both parties.

3 Reasons the Diaz Brothers Need to Leave Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Dustin Filloy — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:53:17 -0400

Like most natural-born fighters, brothers Nick and Nate Diaz obviously won't ever grow accustomed to losing.

Nick illustrated this theory when he threatened to retire after each of his last two setbacks to Carlos Condit and Georges St-Pierre at UFC 143 and UFC 158, respectively.

And Nate, who's suffered back-to-back losses to Benson Henderson and Josh Thomson, received a 90-day suspension and a $20,000 fine for his use of a homophobic slur following his devastating loss to "The Punk" at UFC on Fox 7.

Although many believe the Diaz brothers each hit walls because of a hike in competition in recent bouts, their collective behavior outside of the Octagon has been even more alarming and unsavory.

Both Nick and Nate have trained under the tutelage of Cesar Gracie at his academy, Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, since they were teenagers.

But negative remarks from Nick following his loss over St-Pierre, coupled with Nate's decision to part ways with Gracie as a manager, have led many believe that the brothers should part ways with the coaching legend.

Here are three reasons the Diaz brothers need to leave Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

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2013 NBA Playoffs: San Antonio Spurs Are the Blueprint for Excellence

Martin Telleria — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:21:19 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs forgot the meaning of panic a long time ago.

Not even a furious comeback by the Memphis Grizzlies—down by as many as 18 late in the third quarter—was enough to rattle the ever-calm Spurs, who prevailed 93-89 in overtime Tuesday night.

This is nothing new; we’ve grown accustomed over the years to the Gregg Popovich-led squad imposing their will in the closing minutes of games.

Still, they’ve been doing it for a really long time. We expected the wheels to fall off three years ago, let alone it continue to this day.

But they haven’t. They just continue to roll along, game-after-game, series-after-series, season-after-season.

It appears as if father time has no jurisdiction in San Antonio.

The Grizzlies came into the series as the sexy pick to move onto the NBA Finals and battle the Miami Heat for the NBA title. After their dismantling of the L.A. Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder, it only seemed logical. Especially after the problems the Golden State Warriors presented the Spurs.

Once again, the Spurs have laughed in the face of sexy.

For too long their greatness has gone unappreciated, their brilliance on both offense and defense described as boring.

Beauty, it seems, is in the eye of the beholder.

It baffles me how one can come away from a Spurs clinic and leave anything but awestruck. It’s basketball the way it’s supposed to be played: the ball moving beautifully, players exactly where they’re supposed to be, perfect execution.

Tim Duncan proved once again why he’s the greatest power forward to ever step foot on the court, scoring six out of San Antonio's eight points in overtime.

Tony Parker, while he struggled with his shot—6-of-20 from the field for 15 points—found a different way to impose his will, dishing out 18 assists to his teammates.

This is a team that is simply designed to churn out wins, sexiness be damned.

Still though, anyone that doesn’t find the wizardry of Parker and the uniqueness of Manu Ginobili entertaining quite simply doesn’t like basketball. The plays they make and the shots they hit are bewildering at times.

Obviously this series is far from over. Despite being down 2-0, the Grizzlies are a team that commands nothing but the best.

Unfortunately for them, their best is all the San Antonio Spurs are wired to give.

Whether or not a trip to the finals is in the cards is irrelevant. The fact remains that the other four trips were not properly valued.

It’s time that the basketball community began giving the Spurs the respect they deserve. After all, father time can only be combated for so long.

The continued excellence that the Spurs have provided will be missed when they’re gone. Now, if only that excellence could be appreciated while they are still currently here.

Louisiana QB Brandon Harris to Visit Ohio State Next Week

Austin Kemp — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:06:16 -0400

Coach Urban Meyer has not taken his foot off the pedal in search for a quarterback for the 2014 draft class. Today, though, some news was released that should make Buckeye Nation hopeful. One of the most underrated prospects of the class, quarterback Brandon Harris, has announced that he will visit Ohio State on May 30.

Brandon Harris is one of the fastest rising QB prospects in the country - and he'll be in Columbus next week. bit.ly/10jVuOk

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) May 22, 2013

The Buckeyes extended an offer to the Louisiana native earlier this month, and if this visit does in fact happen, it’ll be huge for Urban Meyer and his staff.

Harris currently holds offers from Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn and many more. With Harris being from Louisiana, there’s no doubt that some of the southern schools could have the upper hand for one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, or at least that’s the way it has sounded recently. On Tuesday evening, Harris seemed to hush the talk of southern schools being at the top of his list: “Don't believe all the stuff you read. It's not true at all. I'm wide open,” he told Eleven Warriors.

At 6’2" 193 pounds, Harris has the size and the arm to be successful in any system he runs at the next level. However, his mobility makes him a perfect candidate to run the spread offense, most notably, Urban Meyer’s spread offense.

As a junior in 2012, Brandon Harris threw for over 2,500 yards and 26 touchdowns while also adding 667 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. His completion percentage only hovered around 50 percent though, and that’s probably why offensive coordinator Tom Herman made the effort to go see him throw at his high school.

Harris is planning to announce his choice sometime over summer, but we all know when it comes to high school kids, the official date could change anytime. This means Urban Meyer has two months to sway this kid to be a Buckeye. No one in the country closes in on a recruit like Meyer, and Harris’ visit on May 30 is just the start. Meyer and the Ohio State coaching staff will lay out the red carpet for Harris when he arrives on campus and we’ll see if that’s enough to make him a Buckeye.

Watch Harris' highlights here.