Bleacher Report - Articles by Jerry Frasier

New York Giants: Should the Giants Attempt to Trade for a Star Receiver

Jerry Frasier — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:43:26 -0400

Hakeem Nicks went down with an injury in the first game of the season and is now out for two to three weeks. Do the Giants need something more to keep them as one of the best teams in the NFC? All throughout the off season there were talks of trading for Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin, and these trades talks may still be lingering.

Even without Nicks the Giants still have a solid receiving corps consisting of Mario Manningham, Steve Smith, Ramses Barden, Sinorice Moss, Domenik Hixon, and Derek Hagan. Yet this core is inexperienced and still has fans thinking, do we need an experienced, star receiver to lead this corps?

The Giants could be entering trade talks with either the Denver Broncos for Brandon Marshall or the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan Boldin. Either of these players would be extremely helpful and a great acquisition for the Giants.

Trading for either one of these players would cost the Giants a lot, most likely in draft picks. Anquan Boldin would probably be the better fit for the Giants because he knows how to be a team player, and he has more experience winning in the league. On the other hand Marshall is probably an all around better player, but he can bring a team down. He is looking a lot like the next T.O.

The likeliness that either of these teams is willing to trade these players is very little. As the days go by it becomes more and more unlikely and the price will continue to rise. If either of the deals is going to happen they would have to happen soon or else it would hurt the Giants, who do not want to have to work a receiver into their system any later than that.

Neither the Boldin nor the Marshall trades are likely to happen, although the trades would help the Giants along in their quest for a second Super Bowl in two years. The Giants are likely to stick with the receivers they have and wait for Nicks to come back to have a complete unit.

Do The New York Jets Have What It Takes to Be a Contender in 2009?

Jerry Frasier — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:14:23 -0400

The New York Jets had a great showing against the Houston Texans on NFL Opening Day. They showed signs of greatness against a team that many writers picked to win the AFC South over the Indianapolis Colts, but do the Jets really have what it takes to keep up with the New England Patriots and be a contender in the AFC East this season?

The Jets offense had a very good game against the Texans defense. Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez threw for 272 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington also combined for another 167 yards out of the backfield and Jones ran for two touchdowns. The receiving corps also did a good job helping their rookie QB through his first NFL game.

On the defensive side, the team stuffed the Texans offense only allowing them to score once in the game. The Jets defense gave up only 204 yards to the Texans and was led by linebacker David Harris, who produced 11 tackles and one sack. Lito Sheppard also picked off his first pass and a New York Jet.

The Jets can look back at this game and say, “If we play like this every week we are a great team.” The Jets could be a great team this year, but they have to continue playing at the level they played against the Texans, who may be a weaker team than anybody thought.

Next week, the Jets have the Patriots to look forward to. This is a difficult matchup and may serve as an essential game for the Jets this season. If the Jets want to win, both the offense and defense will have to step up this weekend. Even if the Jets don’t win, but still produce a good effort, it could help their season tremendously.

In the first game of the season, the Jets looked better than anybody thought they would, and if they continue to play this way, they will have a successful season. The Jets probably do not have the firepower or defense to keep up with the Patriots, but could be a strong Wild Card contender in 2009.

David Lee, the Perfect Fit for the New Jersey Nets?

Jerry Frasier — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:54:27 -0400

The New Jersey Nets are currently a team on the brink of becoming a above average NBA team despite trading away a star player this offseason. They are coming into this season much younger and tougher on defense after the additions of Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee, along with returning stars Devin Harris and Brook Lopez.

In the aftermath of trading away long-time star Richard Jefferson in exchange for Yi Jilian, a power forward who has not lived up to expectations, the Nets were still weak in the Power Forward position. Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Not giving the Nets the production they expected.

Former New York Knick power forward David Lee seems like he may be a perfect fit into the Nets lineup. Lee is currently a restricted free agent this NBA offseason. A restricted free agent can sign with any NBA team, but their original team can match the offer within 14 days and match the player.

David Lee would be an improvement over Yi if the Nets were to sign him. This season Lee averaged a double double per game with 16 points and almost 12 rebounds per game. He also had a much higher field goal percentage than Yi at .549 compared to Yi’s .382.

David Lee fits into the Nets play scheme well also. The pick and roll would work even better if both Lee and Lopez were running it to free up Harris and Lee. Lee finishes much better than Yi and also would be another improvement on defense.

One downside to signing Lee is the salary cap space for the Nets over the next couple of years. The Nets are planning to make a run at Lebron James and or Dwayne Wade as well as others next offseason. Signing Lee may put the Nets out of contention for some of these stars available in free agency after this season.

If the Nets were to sign Lee they would still be thinking about the future. Their team would have one of the youngest staring lineups in the NBA with an average age of 23.6. If they sign Lee they would be a top five NBA team within the next five seasons.

It depends on if the Nets want to throw away this season or not, but the Nets are close to being a playoff team next season. If the Nets were to add David Lee to their arsenal they would be a playoff team. Although they more than likely won’t win the championship within the next couple of seasons they will be one of the best teams in the NBA.

Michael Boley: A Future Hero for the New York Giants' Defense

Jerry Frasier — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:37:22 -0400

The New York Giants' defense has been known for their pass rushing ability. The defense has been known for its great defensive ends, Osi Umenyiora, Antonio Pierce and Justin Tuck who have led the team in sacks over the past two years.

Antonio Pierce has held down the line-backing corps, but during this off-season the Giants have added another weapon to their defense; this weapon is former Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Michael Boley.

Michael Boley is a 26 year old, 6'3", 223-pound linebacker out of Southern Mississippi has five years of experience in the NFL. In 2008, Boley had 73 tackles, one interception, nine pass deflections, and was key to the Falcons playoff run last year. This loss severely hurts the Atlanta Falcons defense, but this addition adds a new factor for opposing teams to think about when facing the Giants.

The addition of Boley to the Giants' defense is giving them another experienced linebacker. Last season the Giants' line-backing corps consisted of Bryan Kehl, Antonio Pierce, and Danny Clark. Last season 200 tackles. Boley will be replacing Kehl at the starting weak side linebacker spot where he will replace Kehl’s 35 tackles with his 73.

The aspect of having another experienced linebacker adds a new facet to the Giants Strategy. The Giants can now add even more blitz schemes and blitz the linebacker more. Boley is also a great pass defender.

While playing the Eagles last year, the Giants struggled to defend Brain Westbrook when he ran receiving routes. Boley could be vital in the defense of Westbrook this year.

The Giants have improved their defense this year with the additions of Canty, Boley, and Bernard. They filled all their weak spots from last year, but Boley may be the best addition made by the Giants this off-season. Boley has a long career ahead of him, and he adds all sorts of aspects to the Giant’s defense.

Boley will be key in the success of the Giants this season, and if his career stays on the track that it is currently on, he will be a future hero for the New York Giants.

Why the New York Giants Will Return to the Playoffs in 2009

Jerry Frasier — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:32:28 -0400

Today, Yahoo Sports featured an article called, “NFL playoff teams that might not make it back">Six NFL playoff teams that might not make it back” written by Mike Florio listed the New York Giants as one of the six teams that will not make the playoffs this year.

He included the Giants in a list with the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, and the Arizona Cardinals.

Some of the other teams in this list are understandable. The Dolphins could have been a fluke, the Chargers are aging, the Vikings have no QB (unless they sign Brett Favre), the Titans have an aging QB, and the NFC West is strengthening for the Cardinals.

The main argument against the Giants in the article is the loss of Plaxico Burress. The former Giants wide receiver who was cut from the team after an accidental shooting and legal troubles.

The article states that the Giants will miss the playoffs because of the loss of one player.

The article does not mention the key acquisitions by the Giants over the off-season. The Giants signed Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty, and Michael Boley to bolster the defense.

Along with this, they also had a pretty good draft, drafting two wide receivers, one of which may be the replacement to Plaxico Burress.

Without Burress, the Giants may not have someone who draws double coverage depending on the performance of Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden. Aside from this the Giants may have the deepest receiving corps they have ever had.

The Giants will make it to the playoffs in 2009. In 2008 they had one of the best defenses. This defense can only get better with their additions and the return of Osi Umenyioria. The new and improved defense can only help the Giants cut down the opposing team’s offense.

The Giants also are returning with one of the best running games in the league. The Giants have one of the best offensive lines and a returning 1,000 yard downhill rusher in Brandon Jacobs.

The Giants rushing game will be keys in their return to the playoffs, and the team has an opportunity for back-to-back years with two 1,000 yard rushers. This part of the offense will be the weapon of choice entering the season.

With the Giants playing in the best division in football, must play well the entire season to return to the playoffs. The Giants will rely on their running backs and defense, but I can assure you they won’t shy away from passing the ball.

The Giants will return to the playoffs in 2009 and have another shot at a second Super Bowl appearance in three years.

The Top 10 New York Giants Since 1980

Jerry Frasier — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:22:37 -0400

Since 1980 the New York Giants have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. They had four Super Bowl Appearances and three Super Bowls(1986, 1990, 2000, and 2007) victories (1986, 1990, and 2007) in this time period. Although the Giants have struggled through some parts of this time period they have also been very successful. This success can be thanks to some of the greatest players in New York Giants history. This list shows who I feel the top ten players are in this time period.

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How Will the Giants Fair Without New York Derrick Ward?

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:10:40 -0400

Last year running backs Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward became the first duo of running backs to have 1000 yard seasons since Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick did it in 2006.

This year though, the New York Giant’s no longer have Derrick Ward. He is now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, and the Giant’s are hoping one of their other backs can take the load.

Derrick Ward was a great change of pace back for the Giants and with his departure the Giants lose 182 carries, 1025 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 41 receptions, 384 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdowns. Derrick Ward helped the Giants to the playoffs and his contributions to the team will be hard to replace in this upcoming season.

The Giants still have returning power-back Brandon Jacobs, but they have to replace Derrick Ward as the change of pace back. Ahmad Bradshaw seems like the obvious choice to fill the spot, but they can also look at rookie Andre Brown who is a very similar back to Ward.

Ahmad Bradshaw has great speed and is the exact opposite of Brandon Jacobs and would be a great change of pace back. When Jacobs is in the defense has to worry about getting run over by the 264 pound back, but when Bradshaw is in the defense has to be worried about him making you miss.

Last year Bradshaw averaged 5.3 yards per carry, virtually the same as Ward who averaged 5.6 yards per carry.

Bradshaw would fill the place of Derrick Ward pretty well. He is a bit faster than Ward and he can make people miss, but he is less powerful than Ward. To replace Ward though, they don’t need the power part that much because they have Brandon Jacobs.

Giants also have another choice to fill Wards spot. The Giants drafted Andre Brown running back out of North Carolina State with their fourth round pick. He is a lot like Derrick Ward in both running style and body type.

Both backs are almost identical in size. They both also run with good speed and agility. The most important part is that Brown is extremely hard to take down in the open field just like Ward.

Ahmad Bradshaw will probably take the place of Ward as change of pace back on the Giants roster. Bradshaw will have a shot at his first thousand yard season, but he will probably settle for around 800 yards in his first season with an adequate amount of carries. Brown will fall into the role Bradshaw had last year.

He will be the third back, but will still receive a good amount of carries to get a chance to prove himself. If Bradshaw slips or gets injured Brown could slip into the change of pace role.

The New York Giants will still have a good rushing team this year. With the loss of Ward they may not be the top in the league though. The Carolina Panthers will be the real challenger as the best team with their combo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Should Congress be Involved in the BCS?

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 03 May 2009 00:58:56 -0400

Congress has been involved in many sports issues anywhere from Olympic scandals to boxing regulations, and they have already dealt with the BCS once. In 2003 congress decided that the BCS favored colleges from six conferences and Notre Dame.

Congress ordered that the NCAA add a fifth BCS game that began being played in 2006.

Since the season ended with a 26 to 14 Florida Victory over Oklahoma, congress began to stir over the BCS once more. The BCS (Bowl Championship Series) is the selection system for NCAA football’s National Championship game.

The BCS uses a formula that looks at several polls, strength of schedule and other methods to select the nation’s best teams. This is meant as a replacement for a playoff system.

Since undefeated Utah was overlooked for the national championship game many fans have been up in arms over the decision. Now Congress is looking into the situation. Some congressmen are even going as far as comparing the BCS to communism, and President Barrack Obama has also spoken out about the BCS system.

Republican Joe Barton has lead the case against the BCS telling them, “If we don’t see some action in the next two months, on a voluntary switch to a playoff system, then you will see this bill move,” but is this reaction needed from congress?

The United States is currently fighting through a recession, fighting two wars, dealing with the threat of terrorism, natural disaster, and going through a possible epidemic of swine flu. The BCS is college football should it really be looked at on a National level by congress?

The United States is going through tough times. Congress should be looking into protecting our country and helping it continue to be the greatest in the world. College football should be looked at by the NCAA not congress.

Congress has been involved in sports before. For some of the issues it is important that congress stepped in and did something. These issues include steroids in the MLB and outlawing sexual discrimination in high school sports. Congress should be involved in sports when a law is being broken or freedoms being infringed.

In an interview with YAHOO.com, constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley of George Washington University said, “This is a rare effort by Congress to prevent people from using what is a common description of sporting events.”

He said the law, “may run afoul of the contractual agreements between parties, wiping out benefits that have already been paid for by companies.”

Not all fans are for or against the BCS, but I am sure we can agree that most of us can say we don’t think Congress should be involved. Congress has more important things to deal with.

They should leave the BCS issues to the NCAA; the association meant to deal with colligate athletics.

2009 New York Giants' Receiver Outlook

Jerry Frasier — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:12:28 -0400

After the 2008 season ended, the Giants lost two key receivers. They lost Amani Toomer to free agency and cut Plaxico Burress due to legal problems (that we all know).

Last season, these two receivers combined for 83 receptions, 1034 yards, and eight touchdowns. These two receivers were the top producers for the Giants this year, and they will clearly be hard to replace.

Rumors swirled about the Giants trading for Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards, or Chad Johnson. As the draft rolled closer, the trades did not work themselves out, and the Giants were forced to look to the draft to replace their star receivers.

The Giants drafted two receivers in this year’s draft, Hakeem Nicks in the first found and Ramses Barden in the third round.

The Giants currently have eight receivers on the payroll. It is likely that only five of the receivers will make the team and the rest will be placed on the practice squad. The eight receivers are Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, Dominick Hixon, Steve Smith, David Tyree, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham, and Derek Hagen. These receivers will all enter summer camp on the same level and will be fighting for these five spots on the team.

This article will analyze each receiver and decide who these five roles go to and which of these receivers get to spend their season on the practice squad at this moment in time.

WR 1: Dominick Hixon (Height : 6-2 ; Weight: 182)

Dominick Hixon became the replacement for Plaxico Burress after he went down with his bizarre injury. Hixon ended the season with 596 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 42.6 yards per game. Hixon had a great season, and his stats are skewed by the fact that he was not a starting receiver the whole season. Hixon is a big target like Eli Manning likes, but he is no Plaxico Burress. He does not have the leaping and the ability to catch any ball like Burress.

Hixon will more than likely enter the season as the Giants No. 1 receiver. As the season goes on, he might not prove to have the talent for the No. 1 spot, and by the end of the season, he may be replaced by rookie Hakeem Nicks.

WR 2: Hakeem Nicks (Height: 6-1 ; Weight: 212)

The Giants selected Hakeem Nicks with the 29th pick in the draft. The Giants selected him hoping he could fill one of the holes at wide receiver after departures of Plaxico Burress and Armani Toomer.

Nicks had a great career at UNC, and experts believe he is the most NFL-ready receiver in the draft. Nicks received for 2,840 yards and 21 touchdowns during his colligate career.

He has good leaping ability and may be able to run Burress’ patented fade route. Nicks also has great catching ability, making several amazing catches during his career at UNC. If he brings this into the NFL, Eli Manning would really appreciate it.

Hakeem Nicks will start the season as the No. 2 receiver in the depth chart. As the season progresses and he becomes more experienced and better at running routes, he may surpass Hixon as the No. 1 receiver on the team.

WR 3: Steve Smith (Height: 5-11 ; Weight: 195)

Steve Smith is a steady receiver who puts up steady numbers in the NFL. In the 2008 season, he received 574 yards and one touchdown. Smith has proven in his two years in the NFL that he is a good receiver that can run routes and catch the ball over the middle. Steve Smith has a playing style that can be compared to Wes Welker—a possession receiver that can put up yards.

Steve Smith will fall back into a well known role in the Giants’ depth chart. He will be a solid receiver in this spot, and Eli Manning will look to him on third-down plays.

Smith may be Manning’s new Amani Toomer in third-down situations. Smith is a receiver that will put up good numbers, even in the third spot.

WR 4: Ramses Barden (Height: 6-6 ; Weight: 229)

In the third round of the draft, the Giants selected Ramses Barden. After losing Eli Manning’s favorite target, 6-foot-5 receiver Plaxico Burress, they may have drafted his future replacement.

The 6-foot-6 receiver has great jumping ability and can probably out-leap any defensive back in the league. He will come in handy in the red zone, where the Giants struggled after losing Burress. Although he is not completely pro ready yet, he will gain experience as the season goes on.

Barden will start the season in the No. 4 receiver spot. He will get most of his playing time in the red zone, and we may see that corner-fade being thrown to him. If he proves that he can beat defensive backs and can catch a ball at its high point efficiently, he may be able to work his way up the depth chart. If he does not prove himself, he may find himself on the practice squad.

WR 5: Sinorice Moss (Height: 5-8 ; Weight: 185)

Sinorice Moss has been somewhat of a bust in his career as a Giant. He is still a good receiver that can come in and catch the deep ball. He will not rack up the stats, and he hasn’t since entering the NFL. He can also return kicks if the Giants ask him to.

Moss will earn the final receiver spot on the depth chart. He will be used to catch the deep ball in desperate situations; otherwise, we won’t see him on the field that much. He may also return kicks for the Giants, which may give them another reason for him to be on the team.

Who’s Left Out?

David Tyree—The receiver whose catch once won the Giants a Super Bowl will be left off the roster for the second straight season. Although he made that catch, he is still not a great receiver in the NFL and won’t make the 2009 roster.

Mario Manningham—It was once thought that last year he could be the replacement for Burress, but it never happened. Now he will be riding the pine again, because he has very little chance of making the team.

Derek Hagan—He has had a short career and it is already on a downward slide. He only had three receptions in 2008 with the Dolphins. He probably will make a good receiver to let the cornerbacks defend on the practice squad.

From USC to NYC: Mark Sanchez

Jerry Frasier — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:25:27 -0400

Coming out of the draft some of the biggest questions are going to the New York Jets. The Jets traded up in the draft to select Mark Sanchez with the number five pick. The questions are who will start? Will Sanchez handle the pressure? Will the Jets win this season?

After selecting Sanchez with the fifth pick in the draft, they are sure to give him up to a 20 million dollar contract. The Jets are hoping it will be worth it, but some experts believe this is a great pick, while others don’t see him being great in the NFL.

Mark Sanchez passed for 3,965 yards and 41 touchdowns in his career at USC, most of it coming from the 2008 season. In 2008 Sanchez had a QB rating of 164.64, 3,207 yards, and 34 touchdowns. These stats are completely comparable to the number one overall pick Matthew Stafford who threw for only 252 yards more than Sanchez, 9 less touchdowns, and 10 less QB rating points.

The difference between the two top five picks is experience.

Both quarterbacks left their schools in their junior year, but Stafford has started since being a freshman. Sanchez has started only 16 games while Stafford has started 39 games in their careers. This lack of experience at the collegiate level could carry over into the NFL.

One thing that can help Sanchez with his inexperience is the Jets great defense and running back unit. The defense can hold other offensives of the board, while they have a great group of backs to open up the passing game. Thomas Jones (pending his return to the team), Leon Washington, and Shonn Greene will be heavily depended on in the Jets offense this year.

One thing the Jets don’t have to worry about is Sanchez’s ability to play in the big time. Sanchez played great in this seasons Rose Bowl, one of the biggest stages at the college level. He also played for the most hype up college in the NCAA. USC is the New York Yankees of college football. They are the biggest team in college football.

Sanchez should get a chance to start this season, and more than likely he will be the starting the season as the No.1 quarterback.

Sanchez could be compared to last season’s Matt Ryan who led the Falcons to the playoffs and Joe Flacco who led the Ravens to the playoffs and became the first rookie, of the draft class, to win a playoff game. Sanchez does come into a good position. He has a great group of backs to open up the passing game for him and a good defense that could make up for his rookie mistakes.

All in all Sanchez seems to be a good pick for the Jets in this year’s draft. He could step up and lead them into the playoffs, something that Brett Farve couldn’t do last season. He should have a good season, but if this lack of experience affects him he and the team could be in for a harsh season.

Breaking Down the New York Giants' Draft

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:53:49 -0400

The New York Giants went into the draft knowing what they needed. They needed to fill two huge losses at the Wide Receiver Position. They also wanted to beef up their line-backing core. The Giants needed this draft to be a big one if they want to be successful in the upcoming 2009 season.

The Giants had nine picks in the 2009 draft and they selected wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, linebacker Clint Sintim, tackle William Beatty, wide receiver Ramses Barden, tight end Travis Beckum, running back Andre Brown, quarterback Rhett Bomar, defensive back DeAndre Wright, and defensive back Stoney Woodson.

The Giants are hoping these nine selections lead them deep into the playoffs and hopefully to the Super Bowl.

The Giants selected Hakeem Nicks with the 29th pick in the draft. Nicks is a 6-foot-1 212 pound wide receiver out of the University of North Carolina. The Giants selected Nicks hoping he could fill the huge hole at wide receiver left by the departure of Plaxico Burress and Armani Toomer.

Nicks received for 2,840 yards and 21 touchdowns during his career at UNC. Nicks could become a star in the NFL with his big play capability and good hands. Nicks is a decent leaper and could fill the role in the Giants famous fade play.

Nicks is a good selection for the Giants, the pick was obviously between him and Kenny Britt. Either receiver would have been a suitable and supported pick. Nicks could be stepping into the Giant’s number one receiving slot in his rookie season.

Giants fans hope that Nicks will be a dominant receiver and help Eli Manning out.

Clint Sintima 6-foot-3 256 pound linebacker out of the University of Virginia was selected with the 13th pick in the second round received by the Giants from the Saints. This is a good second round pick for the Giants.

Although the Giants have one of the better defences in the league you can never have enough, we all know the saying, “Defence wins championships.” Sintim had 246 tackles in college and can really stop the run.

In 2008 he also proved he can get to the quarterback producing 10 sacks. The downside to Sintim is that he is not a good coverage type linebacker and will have trouble covering tight ends and halfbacks in passing situations.

The bad part about this is that Mathias Kiwanuka is also a weak coverage linebacker and you don’t want two on the field at the same time. Sintimcomes into this season with a good chance to start and accumulate a good amount of tackles.

He will probably get most of his opportunity in running situations or blitzing the quarterback, but he could be targeted as a weak spot in the defense when he drops back into coverage. He will probably sit behind Danny Clark until he proves himself.

The Giants selected William Beatty with their second round Pick. Beatty is a 6-foot-6 307 pound offensive tackle out of UCONN. Beatty is a big man witha lot of raw talent. He couldn’t be falling into a better situation.

He has the opportunity to be tutored by a line, who some experts, consider to be the best in the league. He is agile, has good length, and is a very good pass blocker. He is very raw at this point in his career and if he started now he would be way overmatched by any defensive lineman in the NFL.

If he sits on the bench for a few years he could learn from the starters and eventually take over for the aging Kareem McKenzie.

In the third round the Giants picked another wide receiver. This 6-foot-6 229 pound receiver out of Cal Polytechnic named Ramses Barden is a good pick for the Giants. This could be the New York’s smartest pick during this draft.

After losing Eli Manning’s favorite target, 6-foot-5 receiver Plaxico Burress, they may have drafted his replacement. Bardenis a tall receiver with pretty good speed. His ability, which Manning will really like, is his jumping ability. He has the ability to catch the touchdown pass which is what the giants need.

He caught 50 touchdowns in his career at Cal Poly. He has good control and knows how to catch a ball at its highest point. He doesn’t have the greatest speed so he will be more dependent on his jumping abilities in the NFL.

He seems to be one of the more underrated receivers in the draft. The draft saw two similar receivers to him go in the first round. Bardenwill probably start as the Giants third receiver but by the end of the season he may surpass Steve Smithfor the number two spot on the depth chart.

With their compensatory third round selection the Giants drafted Travis Beckum, a 6-foot-3 243 pound tight end who played for Wisconsin University. He will be a good tight end to play opposite of Kevin Boss.

He is a good receiving tight end, whose speed could be compared to a young Jeremy Shockey at this position. He has good catching ability and continues to run hard after the pass. He had 2,149 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns in his four years at Wisconsin.

One downside is that he only played six games in his senior year, and could be injury prone, much like Jeremy Shockey. Beckum will fall into the number two tight end spot opposite of Boss quite well, and don’t be surprised if you see him make a few big catches this year.

In the fourth round the Giants selected running back Andre Brown out of North Carolina State. This 6-foot 224 pound running back could be Derrick Wards replacement. Brown will probably fall into the role that Ahmad Bradshaw had last season. He will get into the No. 3 running back position for the Giants.

Brown consists of both good size and speed. Along with this he is extremely hard to take down in open-field situations. All these qualities gives him a very similar running style to Derrick Ward. He is a good pick in the fourth round and does have a shot to play for the Giants this season.

The Giants selected former Oklahoma University quarterback Rhett Bomar. This 6-foot-2 225 pound quarterback finished his colligate career at Sam Houston State. Rhett Bomar was once a Hiesman Trophy candidate who was compared to John Elway until he encountered some problems in his career.

In August of 2006 he was dismissed from Oklahoma after he received payments for work not completed from a car dealership owned by Oklahoma University donors. Bomar is a sneaky pick and could be a sleeper pick in the 2009 draft. If he gets the opportunity to play he could put up numbers in the NFL.

In three years at Sam Houston Bomar threw for 7,632 yards and 47 touchdowns. He did this at a division 1-AA school so he had less receiving, but also less defense. There are reasons to be skeptical about Bomar, he has not played a good defense since his freshman year.

This is why he was a fifth round pick, if he remained at Oklahoma he could have been number one.

Although he has a chance to have a good career, he will probably spend most of it as a backup. In his rookie season he probably will only make the Giants practice squad, but does have the opportunity to play as high as second string.

In the sixth round the Giants elected to choose DeAndre Wright. This defensive back out of New Mexico weighs in at 5-foot11 198 pounds. Wright has very good talent, natural ability, and ball hawk skills, but he is very undersized. He will most likely only make the practice squad because the secondary is already good in New York.

With their final selection the Giants selected 5-foot-11 195 pound defensive back Stoney Woodson out of South Carolina. Woodson is similar to Wright. He has good ability, but is undersized.

He posseses good speed, but does not have the ability to change directions. One upside is that he has the skill to play safety as well as defensive back. Woodson is not likely to play a big role in this season for the Giants. Presumably he will only make the practice squad.

This year’s draft was a good draft for the New York Giants. They both filled roles they needed as well as thought ahead to the future. The receivers were the most needed position for the Giants and they went out and completed their goal to find good receivers. In the end the Giants draft deserves and A.

The only thing they could have done to better it would have been to trade up for Hayward-Bay or Crabtree.

Shonn Greene: A Hidden Gem of the 2009 NFL Draft

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:45:08 -0400

The 2009 NFL Draft was filled with a lot of surprises such as Darrius Hayward-Bey going to the Raiders, but in every draft there are sure to be the players who get drafted in the second day that can really help your team. Every draft fans hope for one player who they can consider a hidden gem.

With the 65^th pick in the 2009 draft the New York Jets selected Shonn Greene (5-foot-10, 227 pounds), running back out of Iowa. Many believe this was a message to Thomas Jones, to either get ready to play and stop complaining or to be replaced by Greene. Greene has a real opportunity in the NFL and it is surprising that he wasn’t a highly touted prospect in this year’s draft.

This could be because of his personal problems; Green missed his sophomore year because he was academically ineligible. Green rushed for 2,228 yards and 22 touchdowns while at Iowa, including a huge 2008 season in which he rushed for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns.

This pick opened the second day, and many were surprised that Green made it to day two of the draft. In the 2008 season some believed that Green deserved the Heisman Award. He was eventually given the Doak Walker Award which is awarded to the nation’s top running back. Along with the Doak Walker Award, Green was voted First-Team All-American, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and Outback Bowl MVP. All in all Green had a huge 2008.

Green could be a huge pick up for the Jets with their third-round pick. Jets currently have Thomas Jones and Leon Washington as their halfback tandem, but with this pickup they could be forming a three-headed monster like the one of the 2007 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

Jones will still receive the bulk of the carries, but as Bradshaw and Ward were for the Giants, Washington (Bradshaw) and Greene (Ward) will be for the Jets. These two backs are both big play threats.

Another reason for drafting Green would be if he didn’t return for the 2009 season, the Jets would still have two running backs to fall back on. Greene would be a solid No. 2 back to Leon Washington if Jones does not play this season.

About the pick, Rex Ryan commented, “This is a young man that I think has the ability to be a starting running back in this league. You look at his size, and he has outstanding vision for a back and that’s what you have to have to be able to run the football.” Ryan is correct; Greene does have what it takes to be a running back in the NFL. He has a great combination of speed, strength, vision, and talent.

One running back that Greene can be compared to is Derrick Ward of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ward and Greene are both about the same size and have a lot of the same abilities.

Ward was drafted by the Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 draft. Although Ward did not make an immediate impact in the NFL, he has become a great back, compiling his first 1,000 yard season of his career in 2008.

If Greene is given a good offensive line and a good amount of carries he could do the same thing for the Jets in the upcoming years, even as soon and the 2009 season.

Greene seems to be a great selection for the Jets in this year’s draft. It is surprising that the running back of the year slipped to the third round.

The Jets seem to be working on putting together a great group of backs to help rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez and could replace Jones if he were to hold out or be traded. As the upcoming season unfolds we will most likely see a successfully Shonn Greene, and we can say that he was a hidden gem in this years draft.

A High School Player Going Pro?

Jerry Frasier — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:44:11 -0400

Jeremy Tyler, a junior on the basketball team at San Diego high school, has decided to play professionally instead of continuing his high school career. Tyler is 6-foot-11, 260 pounds and is considered by many to be the best high school junior player in the nation.

Instead Tyler has decided to skip his senior year in high school to play professional basketball in Europe.

Tyler is a for sure a future NBA star who was already committed to attend and play for Louisville in two years.

Instead he will be moving to Europe and more than likely will be playing for a team in Spain, Israel, or Italy, and he will receive a contract of several hundred thousands of dollars. More than most adult Americans make in several years.

Tyler says this in an interview with Yahoo! Sports,

“I know I can do great things with my talent. My goal in life is to get better. Playing with the pro guys will get me a lot better faster. It will help me fulfill my dreams of playing in the NBA.” He can surly do a lot with his talent, but is the best idea to go to Europe and skip a year of high school and a year in college?

When Tyler goes to Europe it is almost certain that he will improve, but there are what ifs and could be negative effects. What if Tyler injures himself trying to keep up with the older veteran European players? What if Jeremy Tyler gets dominated by the bigger, older, stronger players? Will it affect his confidence? What if Tyler doesn’t make it in the NBA?

Tyler would be better off staying in the states for two years until he is old enough for the NBA draft. If Tyler is injured their while trying to keep up with European talent, it could end his career.

While if he is playing with college and high school kids that he is better than there is less of a chance that he is injured. If Tyler’s attempt at bettering himself fails, he may lose all confidence, he would never make it in the NBA. Lastly what if he doesn’t make it in the NBA, he doesn’t even have a high school diploma to fall back on.

Jeremy Tyler will move to Europe in an attempt to better himself. There are undoubtedly other ways to improve other than moving to Europe. He could move to a better basketball high school such as Oak Hill.

And certainly at Louisville he would receive great coaching that would prepare him for the NBA better than in Europe. Rick Pitino and the rest of the coaching staff would give him most their attention as their star player, but instead in Europe he will receive less attention from coaches.

In Europe there is a greatly different playing style where big men step out and shoot. Not many big men shooters in the NBA excel, while many big men who are able to pound bodies in the paint do. If European coaches groom him into a shooter, will he be effective in the NBA?

In the end the question is, is it really worth going to Europe? No, it's not. Jeremy Tyler is not better off going to Europe instead of playing college ball. Let’s hope Tyler does not start a new trend for high school players because it could change both the NCAA and the NBA forever if he does.

(Photo courtesy Kelly Kline)

What Will the New Jersey Nets Decide?

Jerry Frasier — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:03:52 -0400

The New Jersey Nets enter the pre-lottery draft stakes with the No. 11 pick. Many mock drafts show the Nets taking Jonny Flynn with this pick, but there are several directions they could go with this pick.

The Nets are clearly going to get a future star in this deep draft class, but with some luck in the lottery or with other teams picks the Nets could strengthen their roster very well, and more than likely, they could become a playoff caliber team.

Jonny Flynn (age: 20, pos.: PG, H: 6’0”)
Flynn, the point guard out of Syracuse is being predicted as the Net’s first round draft pick in several mock NBA drafts. This selection seems like a good decision, to draft a guard that averages almost 18 points and seven rebounds per game, but when you think about it, is it really the best choice for the Nets.

Currently the Nets deepest position is at the point. Devin Harris is obviously the starting point guard and Keyon Dooling fills that bench spot very well. The only reason to draft Flynn is if they were planning to shop Dooling.

Hasheem Thabeet (age: 22, pos.: C, H: 7’3”)

The powerful big man out of UCONN is a very nice pick that could easily fall to the Nets at the 11th pick of their lottery pick. Thabeet plays a very good defensive center and can also put up some offense.

He averages 14 points per game, but more impressively he averages almost 11 rebounds and five blocks per game. Thabeet will make a solid center in the NBA, but the Nets spent their first round pick on center Brook Lopez, one of the top rookies this year.

Thabeet could play as a defensive specialist, or they convert him or Lopez to power forward and play Yi off the bench. Right know the Nets have an alright defensive center off the bench in Sean Williams, and have Brook Lopez who led rookies in blocks per game this season.

It is not worth using a second straight pick on a center and the Nets should look somewhere else in the draft.

Demar Derozen (age: 19, pos.: SG, H: 6’7”)

Just like former USC guard O.J. Mayo, Derozen is going to have an immediate effect to his team. Derozen plays a good shooting guard, and he also has the height to learn to play the small forward position.

In his freshman year at USC he averaged 14 points and six rebounds per game, and with some NBA coaching, he might be able to shoot the three-ball very well. Nets are looking for a small forward because right now Jarvis Hayes and Bobby Simmons both seem like they should be roll players off the bench.

The Nets need a clear cut starting small forward and with some coaching Derozen could be groomed into a pretty good one. Also Nets will continue to shop Vince Carter and if a trade occurs Derozen could become the starting shooting guard.

It seems unlikely that the Nets will be able to pick Derozen, but if he slides down just a few picks, it would be a good pickup for the Nets.

Earl Clark (age: 21, pos.: SF/PF, H: 6’9”)

Clark is a good small/power forward out of Louisville. He helped lead his team to a Big East Championship, a Big East Tournament Championship, and a Final Four appearance. Clark averaged 14 points, three assists, nine rebounds, and almost two blocks per game.

He can play both the small forward and power forward spots which the Nets seem to need upgrades in, especially if Yi doesn’t become the star that he is supposed to. He can also step outside and shoot the three, something that the Nets have had their small forwards do this season.

This overall is a good pick for the Nets, and this pick is completely plausible since right now mock drafts have Clark going 12th to the Bobcats.

Terrence Williams (age: 21, pos.: SG, H: 6’6”)

Terrence Williams is a lot like Derozan just a little older and can shoot the three a lot better. He helped Clark lead their team to a Big East Championship, a Big East Tournament Championship, and a Final Four appearance. Williams averaged 13 points, five assists, nine rebounds and two steals per game.

He could help the Nets out tremendously on the defensive side at the guard position, and as Derozan could, he can also fall back to the small forward position and replace Cater if they were to shop him.

Williams is probably a back-up pick for the Nets, but he still would be a solid pick, and he could be groomed into a solid NBA player.

With the 11th pick in the 2009 draft the New Jersey Nets select: Earl Clark

If I was the Nets Clark is the pick for me. Clark will fall great it to the role of starting small forward on the Nets and let Hayes and Simmons fall into the outside shooter role off the bench. He will also allow Yi to have more rest.

Nets would be given more points by Clark than their other small forwards and also more rebounds and height. With his ability to step out and hit the three point shot he fits the Nets offensive scheme quite well.

Wishful Thinking: Picks we want, but we need a lot of luck in the lottery to get.

Blake Griffin: We all know he will fill the power forward spot in New Jersey very well, but we also all know that he is the clear cut number one pick.

Jordan Hill: Also a very good power forward, but it will take some luck in the lottery to get a shot at him.

Talk About Ridiculous—The Washington Nationals

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:02:03 -0400

The Washington Nationals have clearly started off on the wrong foot. They have the worst record in Major League Baseball, and now they have fined a young man, trying to get his life back on the right track, for doing charity work.

On Saturday April 18, 2009 Elijah Dukes, who is one of the few shining spots for Washington Nationals Organization this year, was benched and fined 500 dollars for showing up five minutes late to the game.

Dukes career has been filled with off the field problems much worse than this. He has been arrested several times and even threatened to murder his wife, but since coming to the Nationals Dukes has began to get his life on track.

Dukes was doing charity work for the Nationals at a nearby Little League field. Dukes showed up five minutes late to the game after this service. Everybody knows that rules are rules, but there are times when you have to be lenient.

Dukes was doing this charity work for the team. It wasn’t even on his own time that he showed up late, the organization knew about the charity work.

Also Dukes is probably doing this service as part of him trying to turn his life around. Now Dukes is being punished for good things. Who knows maybe Dukes will think that this is a sign to go back to his old lifestyle, if trying to do good things is going to get him punished why try?

In the end what it comes down to is that Dukes did break a rule, and most times Manny Acta would be correct for benching a tardy player, but there are also times when Acta should try to be more lenient.

If Dukes was out partying before the game, and he showed up late Acta could bench him. Dukes showed up late after community service, he should not be benched.

Emilio Bonifacio: Rising Star

Jerry Frasier — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:20:14 -0400

In this short Major League Baseball season the Marlins' switch-hitting infielder Emilio Bonifacio has emerged as a hidden gem. Bonafacio is currently batting .378, has one HR, five RBI, 12 runs, and leads the National League with four SB.

Bonifacio was part of two trades before finally settling in with the Marlins this season. Last year he was traded to the Nationals for Jon Rauch, and then Bonifacio was traded to the Marlins for Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen. Now Bonifacio seems to be settling in to the lead-off spot for the Marlins quite well.

Bonifacio showed that he could be a star in this league on Opening Day. He became the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1968 to hit an inside the park home run on Opening Day.

Since the Marlins acquired Bonifacio they have been able to bat shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the three hole where he belongs instead of the lead-off spot. Bonifacio is helping the team by scoring runs, and he is doing it quite well, already scoring 12 in 11 games. Both he and the Marlins hope he continues to put up these stats and continues to be a rising star in the MLB this season.

Blake Griffin to the NBA

Jerry Frasier — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:04:37 -0400

Oklahoma University’s star forward and winner of the AP Poll's Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Blake Griffin, will forgo his junior and senior year in college to enter the NBA draft. Griffin announced his decision on April 7, putting an end to his extraordinary career at Oklahoma.

Griffin led the NCAA with 30 double-doubles and averaged almost 15 rebounds per game. He led the Big 12 with 23 points per game. In the NCAA Tournament, he averaged almost 30 points per game and 15 rebounds before losing to the eventual champion UNC Tarheels.

After spending two seasons playing with his older brother, Taylor, he has the opportunity to be selected first overall in this year's NBA draft, and will most likely be selected in the top five. Any lottery team would be happy to draft Griffin, a player who gives his all in every game. Taylor has not made a decision as to whether he will declare for the draft or not.

Oklahoma would also have been glad to take him back. If he returned, the Sooners would have had the Heisman winner and Men's Basketball Player of the Year returning to their respective sports next season. But with this announcement, the only question now is, who will be the lucky team to select him?

Why Should Plaxico Burress Get His Money?

Jerry Frasier — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:26:25 -0400

Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress won his grievance filed against the Giants and regained his $1 million bonus.

But I don't think Burress should have received this money after being cut from the team.

Burress was having a decent season until he shot himself in the foot, both literally and figuratively. Doing so may have cost the Giants a shot at repeating as Super Bowl Champions, and now he faces jail time.

Why should Burress receive this money?

He faces up to three years in prison, which would cause him to miss up to three years of playing time—the reason the Giants cut him in the first place.

If Burress is going to miss playing time because of his stupidity and inability to follow the law, he should not receive his bonus. He has a contract to play a certain amount of seasons, and the contract should be voided.

I don't know why the NFL always sides with the players and not the teams.

It is only out of fear of a strike by the players association that the NFL sides with the players. The teams deserve more of a say in these cases, and more appreciation by the NFL.

I just don't think Burress deserves his bonus.

Yankees-Orioles Recap: C.C. Sabathia—A Disastrous Debut

Jerry Frasier — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:21:27 -0400

C.C. Sabathia’s debut appearance as the New York Yankees' top starting pitcher didn’t go exactly as planned. Sabathia is supposed to be the Yankees' ace, but today he did not look like one. C.C. Sabathia suffered his first career loss in nine career starts against the Orioles.

Sabathia pitched just 4 1/3 innings in the Yankees' opener against the Orioles. In these four innings, he gave up six runs, walked five, and threw two wild pitches—the same amount as he threw all of last season. He did not strike out a batter for the first time since 2005.

Sabathia left the Yankees in a 6-1 hole when he left the game in the fifth inning. The Yankees almost climbed out of the hole in the seventh inning, but the Orioles held them off. Cesar Izturis put an end to the game, with his two run home-run in the bottom of the eighth.

Sabathia’s performance was very weak for someone who just signed a huge deal with the team that is supposed to be one of the best in baseball. Sabathia got rocked by the Baltimore Orioles—not a bad batting team, but they are clearly not a strong batting team like the Boston Red Sox or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Sabathia was not alone in the poorly-performing saviors of the Yankees. Could it have been because the fans in Baltimore booed the first baseman after he declined to play for his hometown team, or just be the limelight of a New York Yankees uniform?

Both Sabathia and Teixeira performed poorly in the game, and the Yankees are now wondering if these were the correct off-season moves. As the Yankees await the start of A.J. Burnett, they will surely have this opening day performance in the back of their mind.

Trip to St. Louis: Predicting the AL All-Star Starters

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:37:45 -0400

With the season just beginning so many players are hoping to be named to this July’s All-star Game in St. Louis. This shows the All-stars based on who has the best stats, not who has the most All-star votes. This is my list of predicted All-star starters for this summer’s big game. Leave some comments stating your starters or contradictions to my list or if you completely agree.

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Whats Next for the New York Giants?

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:15:05 -0400

Since catching the Super Bowl winning touchdown Plaxico Burress has caused nothing but problems for the New York Giants. The Giants cut the receiver on April 3, and now they are searching for the player that will fill Plaxico Burress’s role as their star receiver. This solution will come in the form of either trades, draft picks, or a combination of both. This slideshow shows who the possible replacements are for Plaxico Burress.

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Five Current Players Every Sports Fan Wants To Hang Out With

Jerry Frasier — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:05:48 -0400

Every sports fan dreams of hanging out with their professional athletes. Currently there are many who athletes who seem like they would be fun to hang out with or seem like they are just cool personable guys. These are five athletes who every sports fan wishes they could befriend. As you read this show think about how cool it would be to hang out with any of these athletes.

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Preseason Major League Baseball Power Rankings

Jerry Frasier — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:51:38 -0400

Free agents have been signed, Teams are finishing moving into thier new stadiums and the world is ready for a new season of Major League Baseball. During the off-season many moves were made as parody continues to spread through the MLB. The off-season saw the Yankees aquisitions of Mark Texaria and C.C. Sabathia, the Rays signed Pat Burell, and many other additions. This slide show ranks the 30 mlb teams in order of worst to best.

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MLB Players To Watch in 2009: Hanley Ramirez

Jerry Frasier — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:21:41 -0400

Hanley Ramirez had a great season in 2008. He batted .301, hit 33 home runs, and knocked in in 67 runs.

Ramirez had a surprisingly low number of RBI last season. Almost half of his RBI were himself with home runs. This year he should be batting in the No. 3 spot, so his RBI total should rise. Also, as he becomes a more experienced player, his batting average should rise. His home run total last year was high; it might wane this year to a little lower total.

Predicted Stats: BA: .318, HR: 26, RBI: 111, R: 120.

MLB Players To Watch in 2009: Josh Hamilton

Jerry Frasier — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:11:08 -0400

Josh Hamilton is coming off a breakout season in 2008 with the Texas Rangers. He finished the season batting .304, hitting 32 home runs, and driving in 130 runs. What should we look for this season?

Look for Hamilton to slow down a little bit this season, but not much. He no longer has the protection in the lineup that he had with Milton Bradley batting behind him. Now with Nelson Cruz after him, pitchers will be able to pitch around him.

Hamilton will continue to be an elite center fielder in the majors.

Predicted stats: BA: .298, HR: 31, RBI: 123, R: 82

Brook Lopez Deserves Rookie of the Year Honors

Jerry Frasier — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:14:43 -0400

Brook Lopez of the New Jersey Nets has been the most solid rookie in the NBA this year, and he has made the biggest difference to his team.

He is the Nets' first solid big man since Nenad Kristic left for Russia.

Lopez averages 12.7 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, and a rookie-leading 1.9 bpg.

These stats are impressive for a rookie.

Some may ask why doesn't he have as many points as somebody like O.J. Mayo or Derrick Rose, but what needs to be understood is that Lopez the center on a team with one of the highest scoring backcourts in the NBA.

He is not the main target for points. He plays a huge role in the Nets' pick and roll system. Few rookies play a bigger role in their system.

Brook Lopez should be taken largely into consideration for rookie of the year. His stat line is impressive and the role he plays in both offensively and defensively are impressive.