Bleacher Report - Articles by Brad Berreman

Will Tom Glavine Pitch in 2009?

Brad Berreman — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:28:10 -0400

Tom Glavine is unemployed.

The longtime Atlanta Braves pitcher, a 305-game winner, was released today.

Glavine, 43, endured the first truly injury-riddled season of his major league career in 2008, as he made just 13 starts for the Braves and went 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA. He had surgery on his shoulder and elbow within the past year, and made a few minor league rehab starts this season after Atlanta had signed him to a one-year deal.

Glavine was reportedly due to receive bonuses for being on the active roster and would have been owed as much as $4.5 million if he reached the incentives in his deal.

So this appears to be at least partially a financial decision for the Braves, and they also wanted to make room in the starting rotation for top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson.

Hanson will reportedly make his major league debut Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Atlanta general manager Frank Wren reportedly said the organization gave Glavine the option of retiring as a Brave, but Glavine asked the team to release him.

If Glavine pitches in the big leagues this season, and he has deemed himself ready to do so, which team(s) might be interested?

In my opinion, these are the teams most likely to be interested in Glavine:

Washington Nationals. Nationals' team president Stan Kasten is a former Braves' executive, and has long-time relationship with Glavine. Glavine could act as a mentor to the Nats' young pitchers, either as a player or even perhaps as a coach.

Since Washington is headed for another losing season, one might wonder how much interest Glavine would have in pitching for them.

San Diego Padres. The pitcher's haven that is Petco Park could definitely appeal to Glavine. But the Padres do appear to be looking to shed payroll (see Jake Peavy trade rumors), so it is unknown if they could reach a deal with Glavine.

New York Mets. Glavine pitched for the Mets from 2003-2007, so it would seem unlikely he would return to the Big Apple. But the Mets' pitching staff has struggled, and they could be interested in bringing him back if the price is right.

Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are in first place in the NL West, but could be interested in Glavine as a back-of-the-rotation starter and veteran presence.

I don't think Glavine is likely to want to pitch in the American League, so any team on the junior circuit seems a very unlikely destination.

If Glavine was indeed given the option to retire as a Brave and asked to be released instead, the decline of his relationship with the organization may stem from his decision to leave Atlanta and sign with the Mets prior to the 2003 season.

If he has a vendetta against the Braves and wants to "show 'em I can still do it," so to speak, that may tarnish his Hall of Fame legacy (see Brett Favre).

And that would be sad.

I have never really been a fan of the Braves or Glavine, but I think the organization may have mishandled this situation. Glavine deserved better, in my estimation. I think the Braves should not have extend his contract if they never intended on seeing him reach those "incentives."

I think Glavine will likely pitch somewhere in 2009, but I don't think he should. I think he should retire and join Greg Maddux and perhaps Mike Mussina as first-ballot Hall of Famers in the Class of 2013.

The NFC North In '09: Can The Vikings Repeat As Division Champs?

Brad Berreman — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:54:21 -0400

In 2008, the Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North with a 10-6 record. The Chicago Bears finished with a 9-7 mark, followed by the Green Bay Packers (6-10) and the lowly Detroit Lions (0-16).

I will take a brief look at the prospects for the other three NFC North teams and how each may impact the Vikings' chances of repeating as division champions in 2009.

Detroit Lions

Let's be realistic here, the Lions will not be going winless again in 2009. New head coach Jim Schwartz and a re-tooled coaching staff that will include former Vikings' offensive coordinator Scott Linehan should lead the Motor City Kitties (the NFL version) to at least a few more wins this coming season.

Among the notable offseason player acquisitions for Detroit are first-round draft picks quarterback Matt Stafford and tight end Brandon Pettigrew. Via free agency or trade, the Lions' front office also added linebacker Julian Peterson, defensive tackle Grady Jackson, wide receivers Bryant Johnson and Ronald Curry, cornerback Phillip Buchanon and offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam.

The Lions played the Vikings tough in both matchups in 2008, and an improved team could be even tougher to get a victory against for Minnesota. But I don't think Detroit will be a major factor in the division, and my prediction for the Lions is a step in the right direction and four or five wins in 2009.

Green Bay Packers

After all of the offseason Brett Favre drama leading up to the 2008 season, the reason for the Packers' 6-10 record was not quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He played well for the most part, and the Packers' offense ranked in the top ten of the league in yards (351) and points (26.2) per game.

The problem for Green Bay last season was the defense, which ranked 20th in the league (334.3 yards per game) overall and 26th against the run (131.6 yards per game). Enter former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Dom Capers as Green Bay's new defensive coordinator. Capers will install a 3-4 defense and has a very solid history of building good defenses during his NFL tenure, which includes stops in Jacksonville, Carolina, New Orleans and Pittsburgh as a head coach or defensive coordinator.

The Packers used their two first-round draft picks on defensive talent, which seems well suited to the 3-4 defense. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji (ninth overall) has the size (337 pounds) to play nose tackle, while linebacker Clay Matthews (26th overall) has the all-around skills that could allow him to play OLB effectively in the Packers' new defense.

I think Green Bay will be the biggest threat to the Vikings in 2009, and I think 9-10 wins is certainly a possibility if their defense improves.

Chicago Bears

The Bears made a big offseason splash by trading multiple draft picks and incumbent starting quarterback Kyle Orton to the Denver Broncos for quarterback Jay Cutler.

Cutler should have a positive impact on the Bears' offense, and he gives them the talented quarterback they've lacked for seemingly decades. The receiving talent around him doesn't look to be the same caliber that he had in Denver, but Devin Hester is a dynamic big-play threat that Cutler should put to good use. Long-time St. Louis Rams' offensive tackle Orlando Pace was also brought in via free agency after being released by the Rams and should act as a mentor to 2008 first-round draft pick Chris Williams.

The biggest key for the Bears, as it always seems to be, will be the defense. Chicago ranked 30th in the league last season against the pass (241.2 yards per game), which led to a 21st overall ranking defensively (334.7 yards per game). Linebacker Brian Urlacher and other key members of the defense have battled injuries in recent years and aren't getting any younger.

I think the Bears will take a slight step back in the NFC North this season, and I predict six or seven wins for them in 2009 unless the defense finds the fountain of youth.

I think the Vikings will again win the NFC North in 2009, with somewhere between 10 and 13 wins. The Packers and Lions are likely to improve while I think the Bears may take a small step back this coming season. I think the Vikings will only have to match or perhaps slightly improve on their 2008 season to make their second straight trip to the postseason as NFC North champions.

The 2009 Minnesota Vikings: Position Battles To Watch

Brad Berreman — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:35:38 -0400

2009 will be a big season for the Minnesota Vikings. If they fail to reach the lofty expectations that many have set for them, Brad Childress and the rest of the coaching staff seem likely to pay the price by losing their jobs.

A team with a lot of talent such as the Vikings has only a few spots that truly up for grabs in terms of starting spots, but they do have competition at some key spots due to offseason acquisitions and departures.

Here are the most notable position battles for the Vikings leading into the 2009 season, in my opinion.

Quarterback

Minnesota reportedly tried to acquire quarterback Sage Rosenfels from the Houston Texans prior to the 2008 season, only to have to wait a year to bring him aboard via trade. He will compete with incumbent Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job, but Rosenfels should be considered the front-runner at this stage.

Rosenfels has just 12 NFL starts under his belt, including 10 over the past two seasons with Houston. In his seven-year career, he has thrown 30 touchdowns and 29 interceptions and has a 62.5 percent career completion percentage.

In three NFL seasons, Jackson has a 10-9 record as a starter, including 8-4 in 2007. He has thrown 20 career touchdowns and thrown 18 interceptions. Jackson played solidly at the end of 2008 in place of an injured Gus Frerotte as the Vikings won the NFC North and ultimately lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs.

Whoever wins this battle will hold a big key to the Vikings' success in 2009. Lack of consistent quarterback play has been a major issue for the Vikings under Brad Childress, and if the team doesn't reach it's goals this season bad quarterback play is likely to be the biggest reason why.

Center

Since veteran Matt Birk departed via free agency during the offseason, second-year man John Sullivan seems likely to become the Vikings' starting center in his place. Offensive tackle Ryan Cook could also be in the mix, since he played center in college.

Birk will be missed for his veteran presence and his talent, although his physical skills had declined a little in recent seasons.

If the new starting center struggles with the mental aspects of making line calls or is over-matched physically (or both), it could easily lead to the entire Vikings' offense struggling to move the ball.

Right Offensive Tackle

Ryan Cook is also in the mix at right tackle, as he has started 33 games in his three-year career. It is an understatement to say that his play at right tackle has been underwhelming.

Which is why the Vikings used their second-round pick this season on big Phil Loadholt out of the University of Oklahoma. The rookie would seem to be an upgrade if he can step in and learn all aspects of the position. His skills seem to make him well suited to playing right tackle in the NFL.

In my opinion, Loadholt should be the front-runner for the starting job as long as he is healthy and works hard to learn his craft. He is certainly physically superior (6'8", nearly 340 pounds) to Cook (6'6", 325 pounds).

If they can find a consistent right tackle, the Vikings' offense could open up some and become less predictable. Especially in terms of the running game, since Adrian Peterson and company could find more room to run on the right side.

The Third Cornerback

Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin are locked in as the Vikings' starting cornerbacks, barring only injury.

After that, depth could be a concern. Marcus McCauley struggled last season, so the team brought in Karl Paymah via free agency from the Denver Broncos and used their third-round pick on Asher Allen from the University of Georgia to the mix.

If Winfield or Griffin are out for a significant length of time this season, the Vikings' defense could struggle in pass coverage on the outside.

My Expectations for the 2009 Minnesota Vikings

Brad Berreman — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:59:34 -0400

After winning the NFC North in 2008 with a 10-6 record, expectations will be high for the 2009 Minnesota Vikings in their fourth year under head coach Brad Childress. The Vikings have realistic Super Bowl aspirations, and significantly less than that could lead to Childress being fired.

It is realistic to expect the Vikings to win the NFC North again in 2009, with the amount of Pro Bowl-caliber talent on the roster. RB Adrian Peterson is coming off a league rushing title in 2008, and guard Steve Hutchinson, defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams and cornerback Antoine Winfield are in the top tier at their position in the NFL.

If the Vikings can get solid play from the quarterback position, they could exceed the standard they set last season and win one or more playoff games in 2009. Sage Rosenfels was acquired from the Houston Texans this offseason, and he will compete with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job.

Rosenfels would have to be considered the front runner to win the job, but it will reportedly be an open competition. Another season of mediocre quarterback play could easily lead to the Vikings not reaching their goals for 2009.

Another looming situation for the Vikings is the possible suspensions for defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams, affectionately known as "The Williams Wall."

They have reportedly tested positive for a banned substance in the weight-loss supplement StarCaps, and legal proceedings in a case against the NFL on their behalf (and a few other NFL players) are still ongoing.

If the Williams' are suspended, they would likely be suspended for four games under league rules. That would obviously have a negative effect on the Vikings' defense and hurt the team's chances overall.

All things considered, I expect the Vikings to win 10 or 11 games (or possibly more) in 2009 and win the NFC North. I also expect they will win at least one playoff game, but being a somewhat jaded fan I cannot confidently predict much more than one playoff win.

Minnesota Vikings Offensive Personnel Changes For 2009-Big Impact?

Brad Berreman — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:54:12 -0400

The 2009 season bring some changes to the Minnesota Vikings' offensive personnel. I will outline the potential impact of the most notable changes, from a playcalling and offensive scheme perspective, on a player-by-player basis.

Quarterback-Sage Rosenfels or Brett Favre

Rosenfels was acquired via trade from the Houston Texans, and will compete with Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job under center for the Vikings. Rosenfels has to be considered the front runner at this point, since Jackson has not proven himself despite having the opportunity to do so.

Of course, the potential of Favre joining the Vikings is largely speculation right now, but the future Hall of Famer would be handed the starting job if he came to Minnesota.

If Rosenfels or Favre is the starter, improved QB play over the combination of Jackson and Gus Frerotte of 2008 seems very likely. That could lead to a more aggressive and productive passing game, which could help Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor be even more effective runners.

Rookie Wide Receiver Percy Harvin

Minnesota ignored character concerns in making the University of Florida wide receiver the 22nd overall pick in last month's draft. Harvin adds big play potential that the Vikings' offense is in need of from the wide receiver position.

Harvin could be used out of the backfield as a runner or a receiver as a target for screen passes, and could allow the Vikings to use reverses and other trick plays as a way to get the ball into his hands. He could even draw attention from the opposing defense as a decoy, which would allow other players the opportunity to produce.

At the very least, Harvin's presence will challenge the creativity of the Vikings' offensive coaching staff as they will need to find ways to get the ball into his hands to maximize the impact he has on the field.

Rookie Offensive Tackle Phil Loadholt

Loadholt was the Vikings' second round pick in last month's draft out of the University of Oklahoma. He is big (6' 8", 340 lbs, depending on the source) and seems well suited to being a right tackle in the NFL. The Vikings have seemingly struggled to find a good right tackle since the untimely death of Korey Stringer in 2001.

If Loadholt wins the starting job at right tackle, he seems capable of being an instant upgrade over the combination of Ryan Cook, Artis Hicks, and others that the Vikings have used in recent seasons.

That circumstance could make running plays to the right more effective, which would obviously help the productivity of the Vikings' offense as a whole.

Center John Sullivan

With veteran center Matt Birk's departure via free agency to the Baltimore Ravens, Sullivan seems to be the front runner to take over as the Vikings' starting center in 2009.

Sullivan was drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round of 2008 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, and did not start a game as a rookie.

If Sullivan wins the job, opposing defenses will probably challenge him with exotic blitz packages as he makes the offensive line calls. If he is up to the task, the Vikings' offense should be able to be productive right from the start of the season. If he can't handle it, particularly early in the season, the offense could struggle to keep the chains moving.

A Look at the Key Cogs in the Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staff

Brad Berreman — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:33:07 -0400

The 2009 season is a big season for the Minnesota Vikings. Coming off a NFC North title in 2008, expectations for the coming season are high. Owner Zygi Wilff has put his stamp of approval on some big money free agent signings since becoming owner of the team, and he expects to see big results.

I will take a brief look at the three members of the Vikings' coaching staff who will have the most say in the team's success in 2009.

Head Coach Brad Childress

Childress started his coaching career at the University of Illinois in 1978, and was an assistant at various universities through the 1998 season. His most notable experience as a college assistant was from 1991-1998 as he served under Barry Alvarez at the University of Wisconsin.

Childress became the quarterbacks coach for new (and still current) Philadelphia Eagles' head coach Andy Reid in 1999, a capacity he served in through the 2002 season. He was then promoted to offensive coordinator, a position he held through the 2005 season before becoming the Vikings' head coach in 2006.

In Philadelphia, Childress helped mold Donovan McNabb into the star quarterback he has become.

In Minnesota, Childress has not been able to repeat the success he had working with McNabb. His fate has coach seems inevitably tied to the play of QB Tarvaris Jackson, who has not proven himself to be a NFL-caliber quarterback and the team keeps bringing in competition for him.

Childress has faced scrutiny for conservative offensive game planning during his tenure as Vikings' head coach, but that is perhaps a bi-product of an overall lack of talent and consistent play at quarterback and wide receiver.

2009 will be a big year for Childress, and he is probably coaching to keep his job in 2010.

Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell

Darrell Bevell came to Minnesota in 2006, and has served as the team's offensive coordinator during his three seasons. Previously, he had served as an assistant coach on the offensive side of the ball for the Green Bay Packers from 2000-2005.

Bevell played quarterback at the University of Wisconsin in the mid-1990's, at the same time Brad Childress was on the coaching staff there.

Bevell worked with quarterback Brett Favre as Packers' quarterbacks' coach from 2003-2005, and his friendship with Favre has played a part in the speculation that Favre may want to play for the Vikings.

The offensive game planning, which has been known to be on the conservative side under the Childress/Bevell regime, probably will not change much in 2009 since running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor seem to be the team's two best offensive players and the offensive line is strong.

Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier

Frazier was a defensive back on the 1985 Chicago Bears who won Super Bowl XX, so he knows a little bit about good defense.

Frazier served as head coach for Trinity College from 1988-1996 and then was the defensive backs coach at the University of Illinois before joining the coaching staff of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999.

He would serve as the Eagles' defensive backs coach through the 2002 season before becoming the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator in 2003.

Frazier would serve on the Bengals' coaching staff through the 2004 season before joining the staff of Indianapolis Colts' head coach Tony Dungy in 2005. He served as the Colts' defensive backs coach through the 2006 season.

Frazier replace Mike Tomlin as the Vikings' defensive coordinator prior to the 2007 season, when Tomlin was hired to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Due to the success of the Vikings' defense under Frazier, he has been interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies in the NFL during the past two offseasons. It seems to only be a matter of time before he is a head coach at the NFL level.

Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson: A Hypothetical Interview

Brad Berreman — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:12:58 -0400

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has made quite an impact in his first two NFL seasons. He was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, and followed that up by winning the league rushing title in 2008. Peterson is one of only five players in NFL history to rush for over 3,000 yards in their first two NFL seasons.

This makes Peterson an interesting interview subject.

Here are the 10 questions I would ask him if given the opportunity:

1. Much has been made of your proclamation that you want to gain weight before the 2009 season. If you're able to do it, do you think that will help you reach your stated goal in 2008 of a 2,000-yard rushing season?

2. How much do you expect the loss of veteran center Matt Birk to impact the Vikings' offense?

3. Many fans think you should be more involved in the Vikings' passing game or perhaps be used in the same backfield with Chester Taylor. What are your feelings about those topics?

4. What do you think of the Brett Favre "will he or won't he" drama?

5. Who was your favorite NFL player to watch as a kid?

6. Did you excel at any other sports in high school, college, or before?

7. Is there anyone currently playing in the NFL, regardless of position, that you admire for their playing ability?

8. What defensive player currently in the league do you fear the most, if there is one?

9. What can you tell me about rookie offensive tackle Phil Loadholt, who shares your collegiate alma mater?

10. I may have touched on this with my first question, but what are your personal goals for the 2009 season?

The 1998 Minnesota Vikings

Brad Berreman — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:14:25 -0400

The 1998 Minnesota Vikings, led by head coach Dennis Green, were an offensive juggernaut. They scored a then-league record 556 points during the regular season on their way to a 15-1 regular season record and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.

Brad Johnson started the 1998 season as the Vikings' starting QB, but Randall Cunningham took over when Johnson was injured early in the season. Cunningham threw for 3,704 yards and 34 touchdowns that season. He really came out of nowhere, as he had been out of the league as recently as 1996 before joining the Vikings in 1997.

As luck would have it, WR Randy Moss fell to the Vikings at the 21st overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft due to concerns about his character. Moss would set a rookie record for touchdown receptions with 17 and catch 69 passes for 1,313 yards.

Joining Moss was WR Cris Carter, who had a team-leading 78 receptions for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns. WR Jake Reed made it a dangerous trio, as he caught 34 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns.

The running game was led by Robert Smith, who rushed for 1,187 yards and six touchdowns while also catching 28 passes. RB Leroy Hoard was a goal line threat, as he rushed for a team-leading nine touchdowns.

Not to be overshadowed by the team's prolific offense was a Vikings' defense led by DT John Randle. Randle had 10.5 sacks on his way to a Pro Bowl appearance, and LB Ed McDaniel joined him in Hawaii. The Vikings' defense allowed just 296 points during the 1998 regular season.

The Vikings would take on the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, but would lose 30-27 in overtime. During the game, kicker Gary Anderson missed a field goal that could have put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Anderson had not missed a kick all season up to that point.

In the weeks following the season Vikings' offensive coordinator Brian Billick would be hired as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, a position he held through the 2007 season.

Will A Big-Name NBA Player End Up Overseas?

Brad Berreman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:13:25 -0400

The NBA has gone to great lengths to make its league more popular in countries outside the U.S., and has been very successful in creating a "global brand" of sorts. There are more and more NBA stars coming from European and Asian countries as well.

But the trend is beginning to go the other way, with NBA players making the trip overseas to earn more money.

Top high-school recruit Brandon Jennings has chosen to forgo playing at the University of Arizona this fall, and signed with a team in Europe.

This is likely a response, at least in part, to the NBA's rule that players need to play at least one season at the collegiate level before being eligible for the NBA Draft.

But why should kids have to go to college for a year if they never intend to get a degree? With the NCAA's eligibility requirements as it pertains to basketball, the label of "student-athlete" appears to be just a facade for those that plan to jump to the NBA after one year anyway.

So who can truly blame Jennings for going to Europe for what will probably only be one year? The money will be good of course, and he can come back and be eligible to be drafted into the NBA in 2009.

How long will it be before other highly touted high school basketball players do the same thing? I think that depends on the success Jennings has, so only time will tell if he will be a trailblazer in that regard.

The more troubling trend is the exodus of current NBA players to Europe. Josh Childress, Earl Boykins, Dan Dickau, among others, have signed lucrative contracts with European teams this summer.

None of these guys I mentioned would be considered NBA stars. It is scary to think what a marquee NBA player like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant could fetch from a European team willing to pay the salary.

James has suggested he would consider playing overseas "for $50 million" per year. It seems to me this comment was made in jest—but he could be serious.

Bryant makes for a slightly more interesting case because he speaks fluent Italian, having lived in Italy as a boy when his father played there.

James, as well as Dwayne Wade, is a free agent in two years and could be willing to make a move to Europe even if it was only for a year or two. As the saying goes, "money talks"—especially tax-free, Euro-money.

I think it will be very bad for the NBA to lose any prominent star player, even for a short time.

It's one thing to embrace our pro basketball league and be knowledgeable about the players, teams, etc. That is good for the most part—but it's entirely another thing to effectively steal the NBA's best players because the European leagues have no salary cap restrictions

2008 Fantasy Football Busts

Brad Berreman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:55:44 -0400

With football season and fantasy football season fast approaching, here's my breakdown of players that are unlikely to meet expectations in the coming season. I will outline them in no particular order.

Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Yes, his 1,222 rushing yards in 2007 looks pretty good. But the 3.8 yards per carry and seven touchdowns don't look so good. James will turn 30 during the season, the age at which running backs tend to begin to decline. His decline has already started since signing with Arizona a couple years back, but this could be the year James' decline gets steeper.

Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots

Welker is unlikely to replicate his 112 receptions and 1,175 yards from last season. The Patriots could make more of an effort to establish the running game, making Welker and the rest of the passing game unlikely to put up the numbers they did in 2007.

Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Parker is coming off a broken leg and the Steelers drafted RB Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of the draft this year. He only scored two touchdowns in 2007 as well. Mendenhall looks likely to get most of the goal line carries and might get a significant amount of touches otherwise as well.

Parker most likely will never score anywhere near the 13 touchdowns he scored in 2006.

Derrick Mason, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Mason had 103 receptions and 1.087 yards in 2007, to go along with five touchdowns. He is unlikely to get that many catches again with the retirement of QB Steve McNair, who looked to Mason a lot.

Young WRs Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams look likely to get a chance to produce and that could cut significantly into the amount of targets Mason sees as well.

Javon Walker, WR, Oakland Raiders

With second year QB JaMarcus Russell throwing him the ball this year, it is unlikely Walker will produce at the level his big money contract suggest he should or will. Add that to a lingering knee issue Walker has had and a likely to run-oriented offense, and that looks like a recipe for disappointing production.

Jon Kitna, QB, Detroit Lions

With the departure of pass-happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz to San Francisco this past off season, so goes the significant passing stats for Kitna. The Lions have suggested they will try to establish the running game better this year, so Kitna's two consecutive 4,000 yard passing seasons should become three in a row.

There could be a short leash for Kitna this year too, with young QB Drew Stanton possibly getting a chance to play if he's ineffective early in the season.

Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

I know what your thinking, how can a guy who had 1,355 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2007 be a bust this year? I think T.O. will still produce well, but not to the high standard he has set for himself. This could be the year, as he will turn 35 during the season, where the leg injuries Owens has had in his career start to catch up to him.

Dishonorable Mention: Jerry Porter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars; Jason Elam, K, Atlanta Falcons; Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans; Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers; Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers.

Kerry Wood to the 15-Day DL As Of 10 Days Ago?

Brad Berreman — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:15:22 -0400

This past Thursday, the Chicago Cubs placed relief pitcher Kerry Wood on the 15-day DL due to a blister on his throwing hand (or more likely a finger I'd suppose).

That in itself didn't really catch my eye, given Wood's injury history and the fact that I knew he had the issue and they hadn't been using him recently.

What caught my eye was the phrase in the report, "retroactive to July 14." This means that the 15 days started on July 14, making Wood eligible to return as soon as July 29. The day he was placed on the disabled list, to reiterate the first sentence, was July 24. Or, 10 days into the stint as far as the injury report is concerned.

I wondered if it was within regulations to place a player on the disabled list 10 days after he could have been and use the "retroactive." label. It turns out that 10 days is the limit as far as this maneuver goes.

I've seen a few days used with this retroactive label before, but I don't recall ever seeing anything beyond a week being used. Ten days just seems ridiculous. If a player is injured, he's injured. There's not much room for interpretation.

This sort of deception by the Cubs (and that's what it boils down to) is almost on par with what the NFL's New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick do with that league's weekly injury report. I can't even recall how many weeks running QB Tom Brady has been listed as "probable" with a shoulder injury.

Both of these scenarios demonstrate blatant and intentional abuse of the rules.

I think the Cubs knew they weren't going to use Wood until he was healthy and the blister issue was rectified. Under the rule in place, they could sit on him for 10 days and then put him on the disabled list for the remaining five.

You could say that hurt the Cubs, as they essentially lost a roster spot for that stretch of days if Wood was most likely not going to pitch and they didn't have another player to take that roster spot. This is another reason that the rule is a bad one.

The disabled list rule may need to be modified. Limiting the use of the "retroactive to" label to seven days back seems logical and, most importantly, fair to the rest of the teams competing for playoff spots, division titles, etc. It would also prevent teams from keeping what is effectively a "dead" roster spot any longer than a week.

Top NFL Training Camp Competitions To Watch

Brad Berreman — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:44:14 -0400

As training camps open over the next week or so, some jobs that are significant to fantasy football are up for competition. I'm going to break down some of the top camp competitions you need to pay attention to as a fantasy football owner approaching draft day.

1. Matt Leinart/Kurt Warner, QBs, Arizona Cardinals. Leinart is likely to be given every chance to take a stranglehold on the starting job, but when he missed most of last year Warner was effective in his stead. Some have questioned Leinart's desire to get better and commitment to being a good NFL QB, but as a former first round pick he is penciled in as the starter in the desert. Whoever wins the job becomes very fantasy relevant, with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin at WR, and the declining Edgerrin James at RB likely leading to a lot of throwing to move the ball.

2. Justin Fargas/Darren McFadden, RBs, Oakland Raiders. Fargas rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, and the thanks he gets is for the team to draft Arkansas RB Darren McFadden fourth overall this year. This opens a competition between the high-profile rookie and Huggy Bear's kid. Finding carries for both is a good problem to have for the otherwise decrepit Raiders. McFadden looks to be the front runner, but keep an eye on this since the Raiders have had a solid rushing offense even when their offense struggles as a whole.

3. Matt Forte and Kevin Jones, RBs, Chicago Bears. With the offseason release of former first round pick Cedric Benson, the Bears have an opening at RB for someone to become the primary ballcarrier. Forte is a rookie second round draft pick out of Tulane that was very productive in his senior season. Jones is the former Detroit Lions' first round pick that was released this offseason after suffering a knee injury last season. Forte looks like the frontrunner right now, but Jones could provide competition.

4. Alex Smith/Shaun Hill/J.T. O'Sullivan, San Francisco 49ers. I know what you're saying, "Why would you want to pay attention to San Francisco's QBs?" The main answer is the offseason hiring of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator.

Martz has proven to have a pass-happy schemed in previous stops, and that isn't likely to change a lot in San Francisco. Smith, the former No.1 overall pick, should be the front runner based on the expectations he comes with. But Hill played well late last season after Smith was out with a shoulder injury, and O'Sullivan was with Martz in Detroit and knows the offensive system.

The offseason additions of WRs Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson should help whoever takes the job. This seems to be just a facade of a "competition" as Smith should easily beat out Hill and O'Sullivan.

5. Chad Pennington/Kellen Clemens, QBs, New York Jets. I know, I know, who cares about the Jets. This competition is more important for the impact it could have on WRs Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles and RB Thomas Jones. Cotchery would be more effective with the stronger armed Clemens at the helm, which may also help loosen the defense for Jones to be more effective running the ball. This is truly an open competition.

Jeremy Shockey: Will The Giants Miss Him?

Brad Berreman — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:46:01 -0400

According to various media outlets, the New York Giants have traded TE Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints for second and fifth round draft picks in 2009. The deal was rumored around draft time, but at that time never materialized.

The Giants will miss him, but not as much as some might think. He was a distraction to QB Eli Manning with his demands for the ball, often letting Manning know his displeasure on the sidelines. With the retirement of Michael Strahan, Eli now appears to be the unquestioned leader of the team. Super Bowl impact player Kevin Boss now looks to be the team's starting tight end.

Shockey steps into what looks like an ideal situation in New Orleans. Head Coach Sean Payton, who was the Giants' offensive coordinator during Shockey's rookie season, obviously has experience working with the former Miami (FL) All-American.

QB Drew Brees had shown an affinity for throwing to the tight end while playing in San Diego (see: Antonio Gates) and outside of Marques Colston the Saints don't have a lot of proven commodities in the receiving corp.

All that should add up to plenty of opportunities for Shockey to make a major impact, provided he can avoid the nagging injuries that have plagued him in previous seasons.

NBA: Who will be the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year?

Brad Berreman — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:18:35 -0400

With the NBA Draft in our rearview mirror, I suppose it's not too early to speculate on the frontrunners for next season's Rookie of the Year in the league.

The obvious choices as frontrunners are the top three picks: Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo, though someone could come out of nowhere to win the award.

For our purposes, I will briefly outline the factors for and against each of the top three picks and then give my early pick for 2008-2009 NBA Rookie of the Year.

First up is first overall pick Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls.

One of the things that works for Rose is the simple fact that he was drafted number one overall.

It seems obvious he will get a chance to play, and being from the Chicago area doesn't hurt either.

The fact that the Bulls are only one season removed from being in the playoffs bodes well for Rose's initial success as well. Working against Rose is the glut of guards the Bulls seems to have.

Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and others seem to be fighting for playing time right alongside Rose.

It would seem likely that the Bulls would attempt to move someone from their existing guard rotation to make room for Rose.

I say Kirk Hinrich is the most likely to go.

Michael Beasley was drafted second overall by the Miami Heat.

It seems he plays the same position as Heat forward Shawn Marion, assuming Marion stays put and doesn't opt out of his contract.

It seems that Heat executive Pat Riley wasn't too excited to be getting Beasley on draft night, and you have to wonder how that may play out.

Riley is not the coach though, and shouldn't have any say in how much Beasley plays.

Beasley has power forward skills around the basket, despite being somewhat undersized height-wise. He also has a solid all-around game, with some ability to shoot perimeter shots as well.

Third overall pick, O.J. Mayo, was traded for the team that originally drafted him, the Minnesota Timberwolves, to the Memphis Grizzlies in an eight-team trade involving fifth overall pick Kevin Love.

You have to assume that Mayo would step in as the starting shooting guard on either team, so the trade had no effect on his playing time or opportunity to play a lot.

In Memphis, they are struggling for star power and Mayo should instantly give that to them.

Credibility is one thing, as Mayo looks to be the best player on the team instantly. He should have all the opportunity to play that he wants, barring injury or laziness.

My pick for 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year at this incredibly early stage is O.J. Mayo.

As I stated, he should get significant minutes and should be a primary focus of the offense.

The 2007-08 Rookie of the Year, Seattle Supersonics' forward/guard, Kevin Durant won the award in similar fashion— bad team.

He can have all the shots he wants, which should equal production for Mayo as it did for Durant.

If I had to pick a sleeper candidate I would pick New Jersey Nets' center Brook Lopez or Indiana Pacers guard Brandon Rush.

The O.J. Mayo/Kevin Love Trade: Who Got The Better Deal?

Brad Berreman — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:24:44 -0400

After the NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies announced a blockbuster trade involving top five picks O.J. Mayo and Kevin Love.

The Wolves will send Mayo, this year's third overall pick, to Memphis along with forward Antoine Walker and guards Marko Jaric and Greg Buckner. Memphis will send Love, this year's fifth overall pick, with guard/forward Mike Miller, forward Brian Cardinal and center Jason Collins.

This deal shocked me. The week before the draft, Kevin Love worked out for the Timberwolves. They really liked him, but he seemed like a reach at number three overall. Speculation was that the Wolves may consider trading down and they'd still get the guy they wanted.

But even I thought it was over when I went to bed Thursday night. O.J. Mayo would be a Timberwolf, and that wasn't such a bad thing.

In the end, Memphis may have gotten the better player in the deal when we look back in five years. But Minnesota may have done better overall.

They got rid of a player with a bloated contract (Jaric) and unloaded two veterans who hardly played last season (Walker and Buckner). The Wolves filled a need for a perimeter shooter by getting Mike Miller, and got a couple of front court veterans for depth.

So here's what the Minnesota Timberwolves' starting five might look like in 2008-09:

PF- Kevin Love
SF- Corey Brewer
C-Al Jefferson
SG-Mike Miller
PG-Randy Foye

NBA: Where Will Gilbert Arenas Play in 2008-09 and Beyond?

Brad Berreman — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:10:41 -0400

As he had promised he would do, Washington Wizards' guard Gilbert "Agent Zero" Arenas has opted out of his contract and will now be a free agent.

The question now is this: Where will Arenas sign this summer? Will he re-sign with Washington? Will a team with money to spend burn it on a guy who missed a big chunk of last season with a knee injury?

My feeling is he may re-up with the Wizards. He could easily be perceived as an injury risk to other teams and thus not worthy of a long term deal.

But let's say he doesn't want to rejoin the Wizards, who might pursue him in free agency? Charlotte? Detroit if they make the changes Joe Dumars is promising? New York, maybe in some type of sign-and-trade deal? Or Cleveland, to be Lebron James' running mate?

Needless to say, it will be interesting to see if anyone gives Arenas a big, long term contract this off-season. If he's 100% healthy, he automatically makes whatever team he's on better.

Doug Collins: Will Chicago Bulls Really Re-Hire Him as Head Coach?

Brad Berreman — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:44:49 -0400

It's true that the Chicago Bulls underachieved dramatically in the 2007-08 season, missing the playoffs just one season after looking like a young team on the rise in the NBA's Eastern Conference. That underachievement led to the firing of coach Scott Skiles during the season, and was perhaps a byproduct of the dysfunctional atmosphere surrounding the franchise.

With young talent like Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni, Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich and now the number-one pick in this year's NBA Draft, it would seem to be a dream job for a new coach.

Enter a blast from the past: former NBA head coach and current TNT NBA analyst (as I write this, Game Five of the Western Conference Finals is going) Doug Collins. Collins became a first-time NBA head coach in 1986 with...yes, the Chicago Bulls. He was replaced in 1989 by Phil Jackson.

Published reports have it that Collins is basically going to he hired, something Bulls' general manager John Paxson has downplayed until Collins is done covering the Western Conference Finals for TNT.

I think Collins could be good for the young Bulls, but one would wonder why he wants the job. Joakim Noah appears to be an immature kid that would get under Collins' skin, though he could get the young talent to mesh with each other better.

But there is the number-one pick. The prospect of coaching Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, the two players most often mentioned as potential number-ones, would be enticing to any basketball coach.

Spurs-Lakers: Does San Antonio Still Have a Chance?

Brad Berreman — Wed, 28 May 2008 03:51:11 -0400

With the Los Angeles Lakers win in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, they took a 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs.

History would suggest that the Spurs have no chance at winning the series. A 3-1 deficit is nearly insurmountable, and I think the statistics will back that up. I think the Spurs make be able to win Game 5 but will not make it past Game 6.

In my eyes, the series was over during Game 1, when San Antonio had a 20-point lead in the third quarter and lost the game. The Spurs could have taken Game 1 on the road, and that alone would have changed the series dramatically.

Three messages would have been sent to the Lakers: that the Spurs can win at Staples Center, that the Spurs are indeed the defending champions, and that the Spurs are still a team to be reckoned with.

Instead, the Spurs just look like a feeble team on the decline.

NBA Lottery: Is the Fix In?

Brad Berreman — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:35:38 -0400

In the first year of the NBA Lottery in 1985, the New York Knicks were awarded the first pick and selected C Patrick Ewing from Georgetown University. That pick certainly set the franchise up for success for many years to come, recent struggles aside.

In 1997, after a very down year in which David Robinson was injured, the San Antonio Spurs won the number-one pick and selected F/C Tim Duncan from Wake Forest. After four titles in nine years (with the possibility of five in ten), the franchise has become a dynasty.

In 2003, the Cleveland Cavaliers had the league's worst record the previous season and got the number-one overall pick. LeBron James was their prize, and the franchise was set on the right course. In my memory, this was one of the only occasions in the NBA Lottery's history where the team with the league's worst record the previous season (and the most mathematical chance at getting the number-one pick) actually ended up with pole position. James was a much publicized high school player from where? Akron, Ohio.

The past two NBA Lotteries have seen the Portland Trailblazers (2007) and this year the Chicago Bulls win the number one overall pick for June's NBA Draft. The Bulls had a 1.7 percent chance of getting the number one pick, and Portland faced similar, though somewhat better, odds of attaining the pick. Yet both did, leapfrogging many teams that had much worse records and therefore a better chance at winning the number one pick.

Don't even get me started on the numerical system the NBA now uses to determine odds of a team winning a certain spot. "Headache-inducing" would be putting it nicely. I long for the days of the simple ping-pong balls with the team logos on them, with how many each team had determined by their record. More losses equaled more ping-pong balls, which in turn equaled better odds at getting a top pick.

It occurred to me that one of the top two prospects in the upcoming draft, "one and done" Memphis guard Derrick Rose, is from Chicago. Coincidence? Seems to be, but it's hard to explain as well. There is no guarantee the Bulls will even take Rose at No. 1, but they now have the opportunity to do so.

Do I think the NBA Lottery is fixed to bring marquee players to big market teams? It's hard to disprove at times, though Portland or San Antonio wouldn't be considered major NBA markets for the most part. It certainly doesn't hurt the league to have major college prospects play in the major markets, and commissioner David Stern is known as a great marketing mind.

It has been under his watch that the league reached it's height of popularity—something it now seems to be getting back toward.

San Antonio Spurs: Will the Defending NBA Champs Be Dethroned?

Brad Berreman — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:35:04 -0400

I think the Spurs may well lose Game 6 at home against the New Orleans Hornets.

Tim Duncan looks disinterested at times, which does not cut it. New Orleans Forward David West was the dominant player on the floor in Game 5, putting up 38 points and 14 by just being more aggressive than Duncan.

Tony Parker is a terrific NBA point guard...offensively. Not that many people can guard Chris Paul effectively for very long, but you'd think with Parker's quickness he might be able to offer some resistance.

The only saving grace for San Antonio will be the fairly long gap between Game 6 and 7 if they can win Game 6 at home. I heard that there's a four-day layoff between those games, which is ridiculous. But that's one reason why the NBA playoffs go so long. That layoff will allow a predominantly old Spurs' squad to rest and recuperate.

There is a distinct possibility that it could be New Orleans and Utah, depending largely on Kobe's health, in the Western Conference Finals. You can bet that it would be a great series with the matchup of Paul and Deron Williams, even if the TV ratings might suffer without a bigger market team involved.

OJ Mayo Supposedly Accepted Cash, but Paying College Athletes Is Not the Answer

Brad Berreman — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:35:48 -0400

In light of the alleged acceptance of gifts and cash by former USC guard O.J. Mayo, some talking heads have suggested that college athletes should get paid. Others say that they are compensated with a free education.

I think the most culpable party in most of these situations is the university itself. USC has had two of these type of alleged incidents involving their athletes recently (Reggie Bush of course being the other).

The other common denominator in these two situations is the fact that both Bush and Mayo were on their way to pros when the allegations came out. Mayo has of course declared for June's NBA Draft and should be a lottery pick. Seems to be too late to really discipline the specific player.

I have also thought that the media coverage of this Mayo thing has been a little excessive. I can basically promise you that college kids get stuff on the side, probably even during the recruiting process.

How else would you explain Kansas State, not exactly a college basketball powerhouse, getting a talented kid the caliber of Michael Beasley? You can't tell me some of the bigger college basketball programs weren't recruiting Beasley. But maybe his high-school grades weren't up to par to get into some of those schools.

My point is that college athletes in the higher revenue sports, i.e football and basketball, probably see some reward on the side from program boosters, alumni, etc.

Should they? You could make an argument that they should, for the money they make the athletic department and the university as a whole at the more successful programs.

I don't think that paying college athletes is the answer, however. Universities should maintain a higher ethical standard, though I realize some don't so that their athletic programs will seem to be more successful, at least in wins and losses on the field of play.

But it occurs to me that academic standards, and thus graduation rates, for NCAA athletes are a joke. That needs to be changed.

Part of the blame may lie in the NBA's recent rule change that a player can no longer enter the NBA Draft directly from high school. Many of the better players enter college with no intent on staying four years and graduating.

Who Had the Best NFL Draft?

Brad Berreman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:03:19 -0400

The popular pick among some of the analysts about who had the best 2008 NFL Draft is the Kansas City Chiefs. I think they were solid, but with 12 (?) picks you better find a good player here and there.

I think the Pittsburgh Steelers had a great draft. In particular RB Rashard Mendenhall and WR Limas Sweed, who I think are both steals for where they were drafted. QB Dennis Dixon could also be a major find.