Bleacher Report - Articles by Aaron Keel

Phoenix Coyotes Start Season With A Bang

Aaron Keel — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:46:54 -0400

The Phoenix Coyotes may just have something going here.

In an opener to a season that the team and its fans hope will end in the team’s first playoff appearance since 2002, the Coyotes looked dominant in a 3-1 victory over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets.

Olli Jokinen, the center Phoenix acquired in an offseason deal with the Florida Panthers, made his presence felt early on. He scored the game’s first goal less than seven minutes into the game off a beautiful feed by rookie Kyle Turris, with the team on the power play.

Jokinen added an assist on a first period power play score by Peter Mueller and Keith Yandle slapped home a tally in the second, as the team looked to get the season started on the right foot.

And while it is only one game it is an important one for a team with expectations of the postseason.

The Coyotes showed off their speed and displayed an incredible amount of toughness, handing out several bone-crushing hits to the Blue Jackets who just seemed to lose steam after Yandle’s goal made it 3-1. Goal tender Ilya Bryzgalov was solid in the net for the ‘Yotes, giving up a power play goal where he had a Blue Jackets player draped all over him, blocking his vision.

After the game the players and coaches were of course careful not to get carried away with one win. However, there is definitely a feeling in the air that this team is on the verge of finally breaking through.

A scout for an opposing team told me during the game that he thought the Coyotes looked “much improved” and that their chances of making the playoffs were “very good.”

Getting the first win is definitely a start in the right direction, especially when the win comes at home where the team had a horrific record last season and was the number one reason Shane Doan gave when asked why the team didn’t reach the playoffs.

The team now embarks on a road trip, where the team ironically was excellent last season. The Coyotes will play four games in six nights before coming home for four straight, including tilts against the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.

For now the expectations seem well-founded. Whether the Coyotes live up to them is a different story, but for one game at least the story is a good one.

Don't Be Sad Cowboys' Fans: Help is on the Way

Aaron Keel — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:15:48 -0400

Everyone, may I have your attention please.

We are in the midst of a major crisis.

Not the bailout plan crisis or the larger economic crisis.

No, I mean a real crisis.

There might be a problem in the Dallas Cowboys locker room.

Because Terrell Owens, in frustration after a tough loss to the Redskins mind you, said he wanted the ball more. Because Owens may or may not have had a meeting with Tony Romo to discuss his concerns about his role in the offense and Romo’s throws to him.

Apparently this counts as a crisis in Dallas where the team is an abysmal 3-1.

But the team’s record is neither here nor there I guess.

Now Owens is “tearing the team apart”, Romo is “overrated”, and you can all but erase the Cowboys out as favorites to win Super Bowl.

Get a grip people.

If I’ve learned anything, it is that in sports, winning solves any problem. And thankfully, for those in a panic, soulutions for the Cowboys' problems are on their way in the form of their next three opponents.

The Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, and the St.Louis Rams are three of the best problem solvers in the league. Three franchises that are a director away from being the basis for Disaster Movie part 2.

First let’s take a look at the Bengals, who travel to Dallas this weekend. Trust me, the Cowboys could only wish to have the kind of dysfunction the Bengals seem to always have surrounding the team.

A team that is a Michael Vick signing away from fielding an all mug shot team, especially after signing RB Cedric Benson to bolster their running game.

Then there are the Arizona Cardinals, who hosts Dallas in week six.

They had dreams of the playoffs and a possible first division crown after starting the season 2-0. Those dreams have quickly turned into nightmares after a tough loss to the Washington Redskins and a beating at the hands of Brett Favre and the New York Jets.

Offensively, Kurt Warner has been well, offensive, throwing 4 interceptions and losing 3 fumbles in his last two games. The defense is shall we say, susceptible to the pass, as evidenced by that Jets game.

And last but certainly not, well forget that last sentiment. The St. Louis Rams are without a doubt the worst team in the NFL.

I don’t know what else you can say about the Rams that hasn’t already been said about a hooptie.

Steven Jackson must be wishing he were somewhere else and Torry Holt probably wishes he could trade places with his former teammate Isaac Bruce, who at least plays for a team that competes—the San Francisco 49ers.

The defense of the Rams is actually worse than the offense. So bad in fact that the Defensive Coordinator, Jim Haslett, has been promoted to head coach!

And you thought the company you worked for was run by idiots.

If there is anybody who can get the Cowboys back to their “winning” ways it’s these three.

Worried about all those supposed “problems” in the Cowboy offense?

All three defenses rank in the bottom half of the league in points allowed and only Arizona ranks in the top half in the league in yards allowed.

And the troubles in the Cowboys defense?

Of their three opponents in their next three games, only Arizona can actually claim they have an offense. And at the rate they’ve been turning the ball over, that might not be true shortly.

The other two offenses both rank in the bottom seven in points per game, rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, and total yards per game.

So what does this mean for the Cowboys?

Yes!

Add it all up and you have what should be three blowout wins, smiles on the sideline, and a 6-1 record as the team goes into Tampa Bay before heading into New York for a week nine showdown with the New York Giants.

So there you have it everyone, crisis averted.

No, no. No need to thank me—it’s what I do.

Everyone can climb back in from the window ledge and relax.

Whew.

Now I feel safe.

The Devil's Advocate: Why Ken Whisenhunt Should Share the Blame

Aaron Keel — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:32:10 -0400

A shiver.

That’s what went down my spine when I saw the Jets’ safety Eric Smith’s helmet to helmet hit on Arizona Cardinal receiver Anquan Boldin that left Boldin lying, seemingly, motionless on the ground while players from both teams gathered around forming prayer circles.

For those of us watching live on television thoughts of Kevin Everett, the Buffalo Bills special teamer, who was paralyzed during Week One of last season couldn’t help but invade our brain. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I was that close to tears.

As Boldin was strapped to a board and taken out of the stadium two questions remained.

First and foremost was if Boldin would be okay.

The answer to that was a very thankful yes. All tests came back negative and as of this writing Boldin is back in Arizona recuperating.

The second was how long Smith’s suspension would be and how much he would be fined for his hit.

Commissioner Roger Goodell answered that himself by handing Smith a one game suspension and a $50,000 fine.

For his part Smith denied any malicious intent and said he would try and get in touch with Boldin.

Some have argued that the punishment was too soft with some even going as far as to suggest a season long suspension would be in order.

While I disagree with that kind of punishment I do believe Goodell only got it half right.

The man who should share in the blame with Smith is Boldin’s own head coach Ken Whisenhunt.

The reason is simple, there is no way Boldin or any of the starters for the Cardinals should have been anywhere near that field at that point in the game. The Cardinals were down 21 points and the game for all intents and purposes was over. That when you bring in your backups and finish out the game for two very important reasons.

One is so your backups can get a little game time experience, especially your quarterback.

The other and most important reason is so you don’t needlessly lose any of starters to injury. This holds especially true for Whisenhunt’s team where they have a quarterback in Kurt Warner who has a long history of injury.

By leaving his starters in the game in a no win situation he was asking for something bad to happen and as Boldin will be happy to tell you it did.

Unfortunately, seeing his star receiver taken away in an ambulance didn’t send that message home for Whisenhunt because instead of taking a knee to end the game as a right thinking person might have done he left his starters in there and attempted another pass play.

After the game Whisenhunt had the gall to criticize Smith’s hit on Boldin by saying "I think it's one of the hits that falls into the category of being dangerous to players.”

Dangerous to players?!

Give me a break Ken, if there was anyone who was a danger to players on Sunday it was you.

This may be the defining moment for the Cardinal’s season and Whisenhunt’s tenure with the team. There were reports of player grumbling about the starters still being on the field to pad the statistics and many Arizona fans have voiced their displeasure at that same fact. How the players respond to their coach after this will go a long way in determining how long he stays in Arizona.

Will they still play hard for a coach that they think will leave them out to dry? Not only that but will Boldin, who asked for a new contract in the offseason, demand a trade after this season if he feels the same way?

Only time will tell but it is clear that one play on Sunday may destroy what many thought was a promising season.

And Whisenhunt only has himself to blame.

Why Daunte Culpepper Is the Answer for the Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Keel — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:41:35 -0400

So it comes down to this.

In a move that probably says more about his job status than anything else, Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress has benched starter Tarvaris Jackson in favor of backup and more “experienced” Gus Frerotte.

No, that’s not a typo; I’m talking about THE Gus Frerotte.

As in the guy whose claim to fame is injuring himself by headbutting the padded wall behind the end zone in 1997 during a Monday Night Football contest against the New York Giants.

Yes Vikings’ fans, this is the guy who is supposed to resurrect the struggling passing offense in Minnesota and restore the hopes of a franchise who had visions of a playoff berth.

Don’t worry Vikings faithful, if you’re thinking what I’m sure you are, be confident in the knowledge that no one else thinks this is going to work.

Which of course begs the question, is Gus “Headbutt” Frerotte the best the Vikings can do?

A team with playoff and possible Super Bowl aspirations can’t honestly believe they can reach those goals with Gus at the helm. Thankfully, there are other options available to the team however.

They could work out a trade for Chad Pennington, whom I thought they should have landed in the offseason, and who, talk has it, may be benched in favor of Chad Henne in Miami.

Or perhaps they could really make a splash by trading for Jeff Garcia, who as we all know is having issues with Coach Jon Gruden down in Tampa Bay.

Both quarterbacks would provide good leadership and would complement a dynamic Vikings running game with very solid play behind the center. Unfortunately, the knock on both Pennington and Garcia is their limited arm strength. This would be a big problem considering the money the Vikings spent on deep threat Bernard Berrian during free agency.

Money that so far has gone to waste, as Berrian has only caught three passes for 38 yards and zero touchdowns through the first two games, as the Vikings' passing game has struggled to find it’s rhythm with Jackson at the helm. And while Frerotte has enough arm strength to get the ball downfield, his lack of accuracy would be a liability in the end.

This is why I believe the Vikings should go in a completely different direction by reaching into their past to save their present and bringing back the one quarterback that can get them where they want to go.

Daunte Culpepper.

Yes, I know he’s retired. No, I haven’t gone crazy. But hear me out, and I think you’ll see why it’s clear that Culpepper is the most logical answer to the Vikings' quarterback conundrum.

He brings experience to the table, knows how to lead a team, and more importantly, he has the most valuable kind of experience, the playoff kind. Considering the Vikings' goals, having a quarterback that has won a playoff game in Green Bay is never a bad thing.

Culpepper’s familiarity in playing against the NFC North and the pressure that comes with divisional contests would give the team a huge boost, as they still have seven divisional games whose outcome may decide the division.

His arm strength and accuracy on deep throws would allow the Vikings’ offense to stretch the field, with Berrian and Sidney Rice making Adrian Peterson even more dangerous, as opposing defenses won’t be able to stack the line of scrimmage without fear of getting burned deep.

His biggest help to the team may be the role of mentor he can provide to Tarvaris Jackson, whom I still believe is the future of the franchise, but he needs more time to hone his still-raw talent. An opportunity to sit and learn from Culpepper, who himself sat for a year before becoming a starter, would give Jackson the time he needs to do that.

Of course, there are questions that would come with a Culpepper return.

The first one, of course: Can he still play?

During the offseason, Culpepper worked out with the Steelers, who were looking for a backup to Ben Roethlisberger. All reports from that workout indicate that Culpepper was in top form, and there was some surprise that a team in need of a starter had not gone after him.

He obviously had a rough time in Oakland and Miami, but in all fairness, any quarterback would have had a hard time playing on those teams. Culpepper, when surrounded by adequate talent, has proven he can be a top quarterback in the league. If Kurt Warner can look like the Warner of old in Arizona, then there is no reason to think Culpepper can’t do the same.

The other, and biggest, question facing a Culpepper comeback to Minnesota is the hardest to answer.

Would he do it?

In John Clayton’s latest mailbag article on ESPN, Clayton wrote that, when Tom Brady went down, he tried to no avail to contact Culpepper. What makes Minnesota so different then?

I think Culpepper realized that playing for New England was a no-win situation with the fans and the media, because anything less than a Super Bowl would not be tolerated. In Minnesota, Culpepper would not be asked to win a title this season. He would just need to right the ship.

Plus, playing for the Vikings would give him a chance to end his career on a high note by coming back to where he started his career and getting his team back to the playoffs.

From the Vikings' perspective, you bring back a fan favorite and what could be the feel-good story of the NFL season, all while hopefully making it to the playoffs.

That sounds like a win-win to me.

In the end, the Vikings could offer the one thing Culpepper would be willing to come back for.

A shot at redemption.

The NFL Stock Report: Week Two

Aaron Keel — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:40:44 -0400

BUY

NEW ENGLAND- I find it amusing that all these so-called Patriots fans gave up on their team as soon as Brady’s knee gave out, yet I, Patriots hater No. 1, actually thought they’d be ok.

Let’s see how fast everyone gets back on the wagon. With the hapless Dolphins up next, expect the Patriots to continue their winning ways.

BUFFALO BILLS- Last week’s thrashing of the Seattle Seahawks may have been considered a fluke. After seeing them beat a tough Jaguars team on the road, it looks like the Bills, not the Jets, may be the Patriots’ toughest challenge in the AFC East.

DENVER BRONCOS- Apparently they play to win in Denver. Shanahan showed a brass pair by going for two and the win, when conventional wisdom said to go for the sure extra point and overtime.

Cutler looks like a bona fide star, and Brandon Marshall certainly made up for his one-game suspension with 18 receptions. With the rest of the AFC West in shambles, the Broncos put a definitive stamp on the division.

CAROLINA PANTHERS- Who would have thought that the Panthers would be 2-0 to start the year, especially without star receiver Steve Smith? Now that Smith will be joining the Panthers for this week’s contest against the Vikings, expect their passing offense to be more explosive.

That will open up the running game for rookie Jonathan Stewart, who looked like an absolute stud against the Bears, going for two touchdowns in their second-half comeback victory.

ALSO BUY: N.Y. GIANTS, DALLAS COWBOYS, GREEN BAY PACKERS, SAN DIEGO, PITTSBURGH, INDIANAPOLIS

SELL

N.Y. JETS- Maybe those predictions of the Jets in the Super Bowl were a little premature. Brett Favre looks like he still hasn’t gotten a complete grasp of the offense, and the running game’s inability to punch it into the end zone from up close may have cost the Jets their game against the Pats.

Things unfortunately don’t get any easier for the J-E-T-S, as they travel to San Diego to play a very angry and motivated Charger team on Monday night.

CLEVELAND BROWNS- If there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s bad coaching on game day. Romeo Crennel’s decision to go for a field goal instead of going for it on fourth down, when a touchdown was needed either way, was as bad as they come.

A trendy pick to make the playoffs this season, the Browns look lost on offense and can’t really stop anybody on defense. Consider this the start of the official countdown to Crennel’s firing and the start of the Brady Quinn era in Cleveland.

DETROIT LIONS- In case you were wondering, Detroit is bad. Their defense is atrocious, having given up 82 points in just two games, the worst in the league. The offense has the potential to be explosive with a better quarterback, say Daunte Culpepper instead of Jon Kitna at the helm.

How Matt Millen still has his job is anyone’s guess, only weathermen can be as wrong as Millen and still have a job. Marinelli should start dusting off that resume, since the odds of him keeping his job are as good as me getting it. Then again, Millen is running the show, so maybe I’ll throw my name in the hat.

ALSO SELL: ST. LOUIS, OAKLAND, KANSAS CITY, MIAMI, CINCINNATI

HOLD

ARIZONA CARDINALS- I know the team is 2-0 for the first time since 1991. I know that they went bizacko on the Dolphins. I’m just not convinced that they can actually keep this up. Just how serious we can take this team will be decided in the next four weeks, as the team travels to Washington, New York (Jets), and then comes home to face the surging Bills and favorite Cowboys before heading into their bye week.

So, realistically, it is not a stretch to think that the Cards can be 2-4 going into their bye.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Losing that game to the Colts is hard, I’m sure, but there are some silver linings in the dark cloud hanging over the team. The defense is superb and Adrian Peterson looks even better than last season. The only thing holding the team back is their lack of a passing game, which I blame on the coaching staff for not letting Tarvaris Jackson open up the offense.

Didn’t they get deep threat Bernard Berrian in the offseason? It would be nice to see them take advantage of opposing defense's focus on Peterson by going deep more often off of play-action fakes.

If they can get better play out of Jackson, they go back to being the dark horse Super Bowl team many thought they could be.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- The Saints have the opposite problem of the Vikings, they have the great quarterback play, but their defense is bad to say the least. How else do you explain the Redskins scoring 29 points and Jason Campbell going for over 300 yards just a week after looking so anemic against the Giants?

Next week comes the big test as they travel to Denver to face Jay Cutler and a red hot Bronco offense.

ALSO HOLD: S.F. 49ERS, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, CHICAGO, TAMPA BAY, ATLANTA, BALTIMORE, TENNESSEE, HOUSTON, JACKSONVILLE, PHILADELPHIA

Week Two by the Numbers

18- Receptions by Brandon Marshall, tying him for second most all time with L.A. Ram Tom Fears and just two short of the record set by Terrell Owens against the Bears in 2000.

158.3- Passing rating of Kurt Warner tying him with Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history with three.

1974- The last year the Cardinals started a season 3-0.

321- Passing yards for 49ers QB J.T. O’Sullivan, the first 300-yard passing day for the team in four seasons.

FANTASY PICK OF THE WEEK

J.T. O’SULLIVAN- With that dreaded Lions defense coming to town, O’Sullivan could have a breakout game, in what may turn into a shootout. Perfect for a one-game pickup of you need it.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

(WINNERS IN BOLD)

ARIZONA @ WASHINGTON

KANSAS CITY @ ATLANTA

OAKLAND @ BUFFALO

HOUSTON @ TENNESSEE

CINCINNATTI @ N.Y. GIANTS

MIAMI @ NEW ENGLAND

TAMPA BAY @ CHICAGO

CAROLINA @ MINNESOTA

ST. LOUIS @ SEATTLE

DETROIT @ SAN FRANCISCO

NEW ORLEANS @ DENVER

PITTSBURGH @ PHILADELPHIA

JACKSONVILLE @ INDIANAPOLIS

CLEVELAND @ BALTIMORE

SUNDAY NIGHT

DALLAS @ GREEN BAY

MONDAY NIGHT

N.Y. JETS @ SAN DIEGO

Buyer Beware: The Arizona Cardinals

Aaron Keel — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:48:50 -0400

The opening weekend of the NFL season has passed, and we’ve seen a little bit of everything, from crazy finishes (Carolina’s last-second victory), devastating injuries (Tom Brady), and some surprises (Atlanta’s 34-21 victory over the Lions).

But one of the things that makes opening weekend so great for fans is that every team starts out 0-0, with at least the hope of the playoffs or maybe more. And for those fans whose teams have serious playoff aspirations, winning the opening game only adds fuel to the fire.

Take for instance fans of the Arizona Cardinals. In 20 seasons since coming to the valley of the sun the Cardinals have been to the playoffs a whopping 1 time. To put that into perspective 14 different teams have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in that time frame.

Thankfully for the Cardinal faithful, going into most seasons it was obvious that the losing trend would continue. But thanks to an 8-8 record last season, just the team’s third season of .500 or better, expectations were high, considering the commonly held perception that the NFC West was there for the taking.

Sunday’s victory in San Francisco has only boosted these expectations and has everyone in Cardinal land going to sleep with dreams of division titles and playoffs dancing in their heads.

Unfortunately, I have to deliver the rude awakening, so I will be as clear as possible.

The Arizona Cardinals are not winning their division, and they will not, I repeat, will not make the playoffs this season.

For those Cardinals fans who will undoubtedly question my sanity after watching their team beat the 49ers 23-13 on Sunday, I ask a simple question.

What did you see that makes you think the Cardinals will actually make the playoffs or (in case hell freezes over) win the NFC West?

Let me take a guess.

You saw a Cardinals defense that forced five turnovers.

An offense that held a 37:05 to 22:55 time-of-possession advantage, including a whopping 22:38 to 7:22 advantage in the second half.

A rushing game that dominated the fourth quarter and also produced a 100-yard day for Edgerrin James (a total he reached only three times last season and only six times in two seasons with the team).

And most importantly, you’ll say you saw the Cardinals do something they’ve done just three times on the road and just four times overall in the past 21 seasons.

Win on opening day.

Not bad, all decent points.

Now let me tell you what I saw.

A Cardinals defense that got shredded by a 'Niners rushing attack that averaged 5.4 ypc, including a 41-yard touchdown run by Frank Gore.

An Arizona offense that managed only two touchdowns in six red-zone trips (the seventh was kneel downs to end the game).

A rushing “attack” that averaged a pedestrian 2.8 ypc.

A team that, despite winning the turnover battle 5-0, all the above mentioned trips to the red zone, and having starting field position a head coach could only dream of, only managed 23 points.

A team that was outgained 291-285 in total net yardage, yet they ran 28 more plays then San Francisco.

And lastly, I saw a team that will be watching the playoffs on TV, if they play like they did on Sunday.

What most fans missed from Sunday’s win was the golden opportunity that was flushed down the drain by the Cardinals. An opportunity to announce themselves not only to a very winnable NFC West but the rest of the league as a team not to be taken lightly.

With the Seahawks and the Rams getting crushed on Sunday, Arizona, with the beating they should have given the 49ers, could have staked their claim as the team to beat in the division.

Did you see the way the Eagles, Cowboys, and Steelers dominated their games? Arizona should have dominated the 49ers in the same manner, putting that game away before halftime.

Instead, they proved that, once again, they are not ready to make that leap to becoming a playoff team.

Can you honestly tell me they are one of the top eight teams in the NFC?

I can’t either, and with a brutal schedule ahead of them, the discussion may be over before it begins. Cardinals fans can go back to hoping that next season will be the one.

Again.

The Devil's Advocate: Why Larry Brown Could Be The Answer In Phoenix

Aaron Keel — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:20:30 -0400

The writing is on the wall.

No, forget that. The writing is splattered all over the building.

The building in this case being the U.S. Airways Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns.

The writing is as clear as day.

Suns coach Mike D’Antoni might want to start clearing out his office. And after the way the Suns were dropkicked by the defending champion San Antonio Spurs 115-99 Friday night in Phoenix to go down 3-0 in the series, he should think about sooner rather than later.

The dismal performance elicited boos from the home crowd, who expected more from their home team.

This came after an article in Friday’s Arizona Republic questioned D’Antoni’s job security if the Suns were eliminated by the Spurs. This seems to be a matter of "when," not "if."

The speculation, however, is nothing new.

The rumblings started before the season began: the Suns needed to reach the NBA Finals, or D’Antoni’s job would be in jeopardy.

Those rumblings turned into loud roars when the Suns stumbled after the acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal. Not only were the fans calling for D’Antoni’s job, but a few even blasted Suns GM Steve Kerr, who pulled the trigger on the Shaq trade.

Thankfully for D’Antoni and Kerr, the team righted its ship and went on a roll to close out the season. The fans were subdued until the two wins against the hated Spur, with O’Neal doing a good job on Suns killer Tim Duncan.

Those wins led the Suns’ players and coaches to believe that would finally be able to overcome San Antonio in the playoffs. D’Antoni himself seemed supremely confident, referring to the Suns as the “better team.”

Instead, a 3-0 deficit has taken the air out of the team’s and D’Antoni’s sails.

And those rumblings for his job?

They’ve morphed into an earthquake-sized tremor as the fans' love affair with him appears over.

But if D’Antoni is to be let go, this begs not one, but two questions.

Who can management hire to get over the hump to an NBA championship?

A college coach is too big of a risk, and unless Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich leaves his team (not happening), there’s no current coach worth going after.

This leaves the logical and easy choice.

Larry Brown.

The former coach who recently resigned his post as executive VP with the 76ers and is looking to get back into coaching would make the perfect fit for the Suns.

Now let me preface this by making one thing clear.

I do not like Larry Brown.

He’s a little too "old school" for my taste which is why he seems to wear out his welcomes at some point.

Having said that, one thing is certain about Larry Brown.

This guy can coach.

Period.

He is energized and ready to go after taking a break from coaching the past two seasons. He has a history of taking teams to the next level.

Defense?

Let’s be honest. The Suns defense is, how should I put this, non-existent. The Spurs, who averaged 95.36 ppg during the season, are averaging 111.33 ppg during this series. Brown would help change that.

Take a look at his run with the Detroit Pistons, which netted the team back-to-back Finals appearances and a championship. Those teams were all about defense. Just ask O’Neal, whose Lakers were dismantled by the Pistons in five games in 2004.

Larry Brown would also bring something else the Suns desperately need on and off the court. Toughness, on and off the court, is something the team is not particularly known.

It is a staple of all Larry Brown-coached teams. Brown’s emphasis on toughness would help not only on defense but also in the rebounding area which has also been a weakness of the Suns for awhile now.

These, of course, are just some of the problems to which the hiring of Larry Brown would be a great solution. There are others (like lack of bench depth) that team management needs to address before next season.

Still, the addition of Brown would solve many of the major problems that have kept the team from reaching the promised land.

The only question now is for Steve Kerr.

He took a risk with the O’Neal trade which many will say is a dud with the Suns playoff exit near.

Does he have the brass ones left to make another huge splash by going after Larry Brown?

The Devil's Advocate: Why the Phoenix Suns and Their Fans Aren't Laughing Now

Aaron Keel — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:20:40 -0400

"Not again."

This is the sentiment shared by most fans of the Phoenix Suns as the team’s series against the San Antonio Spurs moves back to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4.

With the team down 2-0, the players might be sharing in their fans' sentiment.

Sure, losing to the Spurs is nothing new for the Suns, who are a combined 9-16 against them, including during the playoffs, since Steve Nash rejoined the team in 2004.

But this season was different; the Suns actually won the season series with the Spurs 3-1, with two of those victories coming after their acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, who did an excellent job on Tim Duncan.

Going into this playoff series, the Suns had an air of confidence about them. They truly believed they were the better team in the matchup and that they would finally get past a team that had been a major road block on the way to a championship.

Needless to say, things have not gone the way the Suns or their fans had planned so far.

First the team lost a heartbreaker in a Game 1 thriller after blowing a 16-point lead, controlling for most of the game.

That’s OK, the fans said, Shaq and Stoudemire were in foul trouble the whole game and the Spurs got lucky.

The players themselves seemed to believe that the game was an aberration as well, citing flopping by the Spurs and calling Tim Duncan’s miracle 3-pointer an early birthday gift. In the Suns locker room the consensus was simple going into Game 2: As long as they stayed out of foul trouble, victory was theirs for the taking.

For the first half of Game 2 it looked like they were right as the team stormed out of the gate leading by as many as 14 before going into the half leading by seven, feeling good about how the game had gone so far.

Shaq and Stoudemire were dominating, with Stoudemire going for 25 first half points and Shaq asserting himself on the defensive end, giving the Spurs fits. Better news yet, they had combined for just a single foul in the entire half.

Yep the game is ours; the attitude of the players seemed to say.

But then something happened in the second half—something that has plagued not only the team for years but their fans as well.

The Phoenix Suns happened.

In a third quarter that may have permanently shifted the balance in favor of the Spurs, the Suns became their own worst enemy as they were outscored 27-11 with almost half of those points coming from Shaquille O’Neal free throws (yes, you read that right).

The rest of the game didn’t go much better for the team, although they did manage a late rally that got them to within five before Tony Parker put the game away.

In the Suns locker room after the game the confidence shared by all before the game was replaced by disbelief.

While there is plenty of blame being thrown around for the 2-0 deficit, one thing is painfully obviously for the team and their faithful fans: an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.

This time though, for the Suns and their fans, something is different.

Unlike years past when there was always nothing but hope and high expectations for the next season just under the surface, there seems to be a feeling from the fans that this might be the last chance for this Suns team at a title.

The reasons for that thinking are, of course, simple enough.

The age of some of the team’s key players (including Steve Nash), large player salaries (Shaq will be due $21 million next season), and much improved competition in the Western Conference (Lakers, Hornets, Jazz) are all reasons why fans of the Suns are even more concerned than usual about the possible exit of their team.

The writing is on the wall and a first round exit will almost certainly lead to some serious changes in the offseason, including the possible dismissal of head coach Mike D’Antoni.

The Suns players and staff are also more than aware of what an early exit means and as they prepare for Game 3 on Friday with their season on the line (they are not coming back from 3-0 to the Spurs). In the back of their minds they may be asking themselves the same questions as the fans.

Is this the end?

Rookie Kyle Turris Gives Phoenix Fans Reason to Hope

Aaron Keel — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:08:38 -0400

Thursday night was another hockey night in Glendale, Arizona.

The hometown Phoenix Coyotes faced off against division rival Dallas Stars.

Besides the fact that this was the last home game of the season for the Coyotes, there seemed to be nothing special about the match. The Coyotes had already been eliminated from playoff contention, whereas Dallas had already clinched a playoff spot.

But there was something different about the night.

There was a buzz in the air; a palpable energy you couldn't help but notice. From the fans in the stands to my fellow journalists in the media lounge, it was there.

The reason for the buzz was simple.

The team’s No. 1 (3rd overall) draft pick of 2007, Kyle Turris, was about to appear in his first action with the Coyotes, dressed in full uniform.

Turris, for his part, was of course excited to see his first NHL action just days after his University of Wisconsin Badgers were knocked out of the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament.

After his first practice with his new teammates on Tuesday, he expressed his amazement to reporters at the chain of events that took him from classes at the university on Monday to preparing for his first NHL game the next day.

"It's been crazy I mean mixed emotion obviously from losing the final eight to the next morning talking here and the next night I'm in here."

"So it's been crazy and I'm so excited I can't even talk right now."

During the practice Turris centered a line with Coyotes captain Shane Doan and fellow rookie Peter Mueller, a line that Coach Wayne Gretzky decided to use for Turris' first game.

Once the game got underway you could sense that the crowd was holding its collective breath every time Turris touched the puck waiting to see if the youngster could provide some magic on the ice.

But alas, there was not enough magic to keep the Coyotes from dropping the contest 4-2 to the Stars.

The rookie, however, did his best to send the crowd home confident that his future with the team would be very bright indeed.

Talking to reporters after the game Doan was quick to praise Turris' first outing in the NHL.

"He's a kid that has incredible hockey sense, he knows where to be on the ice and he gets the puck away too."

"He's going to be a great player for us and he's such an incredible kid too in the dressing room and amongst the guys."

After the game Turris himself admitted that while he did some things right, there was a lot upon which he would have to improve.

"My shot's got to get harder, gotta be smarter, gotta be better defensively, gotta be stronger on my face offs."

"I could go on and on all night, there's lots of things I gotta get better at and like I said that's what I'm going to work on this summer".

Thankfully he’ll get a few more chances in the team’s last two games against the Stars and the Anaheim Ducks to make adjustments.

Make no mistake, with only one game under his belt, no one is ready to call Turris the next Sidney Crosby.

But even at his young age, with his raw skill level, coupled with hard work during the off season will give the Coyotes faithful next season what they experienced Thursday night in Glendale—something they haven’t experienced very much in recent memory.

Excitement.

At the Buzzer: The NBA Week That Was

Aaron Keel — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:46:17 -0400

FREE THROWS

1) After Houston’s win over the Lakers on Sunday I can’t help but think that although talent wise Houston isn’t the best team in the league, collectively they are playing the best basketball in the league.

Their victory over Los Angeles illustrated this point to perfection. With their leader, Tracy McGrady, struggling all day the rest of the Rockets picked up the slack with Rafer Alston playing out of his mind and Shane Battier playing hard-nosed defense on Kobe.

Now the team no one thought had a chance when Yao went down suddenly sits atop the Western Conference and while they won’t be the favorites come playoff time, with the way they play as a team, the Rockets are the most dangerous team in the West.

2) The West’s former top seed, the Lakers, may have a serious problem on their hands with the injury to Pau Gasol. If his ankle sprain keeps him out for more than a few games the Lakers could see their spot in the tight West drop significantly.

At the least Gasol’s ankle will keep him out of the next two games but with Pau saying that this sprain felt similar to the one he suffered in training camp that cost him two weeks there is more than a little cause for concern in Lakerland. In a race as tight as the West every game counts and without Gasol the question becomes can the Lakers keep up?

3) Don’t look now but Dallas and Phoenix are both on a roll with the Mavs winning their past five and the Suns their past four. Both came under fire for their recent trades and for now it looks like things are starting to work themselves out. Dallas is now nine and five since acquiring Jason Kidd and the Suns are seven and six with Shaq manning the middle.

A look at the schedules ahead show that Phoenix’s record should only improve with pseudo gimme games against Portland and Seattle before a tough one against the Rockets. Dallas, on the other hand, has a much tougher go this week with home games against the Lakers, Celtics, and Spurs. While I’m still not sure whether either team’s trade will pay off in the form of a championship this year these win streaks should build confidence for both teams going into the playoffs.

4)With all due respect to Phoenix Suns’ color analyst Eddie Johnson but I have to disagree with his recent assertion that home court in the playoffs, specifically in the West doesn’t matter that much. His reasoning that all of the teams can win on the road seems to make sense. And he’s right, of the top eight teams in the West only Utah and Dallas play below .500 on the road.

But the problem with Johnson’s theory is this. With the teams so closely matched there is a good chance that at least one series will go the full seven. Now you tell me, would you rather play that game seven at home or would you rather try and win it in let’s say San Antonio, L.A., or perhaps Dallas? Yeah, I didn’t think so. I don’t care how good you are on the road, it’s always better to be playing at home; especially when do or die games are concerned.

TIME OUT

David Stern insistence on upping the age limit to 20 is not something I can get behind. Until the commish can produce hard evidence that the extra 2 years will make a difference then I will continue to say this is a bad idea. If someone is ready to play at 18 then why can’t they play? And do not play that “maturity” card here. If an 18-year old can join the military and go off to war then there is no way you can tell me that the same 18-year old cannot do something as simple as play the game of basketball.

BECAUSE WE’RE BETTER THEN YOU (MVP RANKINGS)

1) Tracy McGrady—The second longest winning streak in NBA history doesn’t just happen, especially when the player most consider the best on your team goes down. It takes someone stepping up and becoming the leader. T-Mac has done that and as long as the streak continues he’ll continue to get my support for MVP.

2) LeBron James—I don’t think I need to justify this but let me give it a try. He. Is. LeBron—Fricking—James.

2a) Kobe Bryant—Last week he was above LeBron, this week not. Bad losses to the Hornets and the Rockets will do that to you.

3) Insert name here—Me being the crowd pleaser I am I will let you, the reader; insert your pick for the 3 spot here. Honestly let’s be real, unless your pick’s team go undefeated the rest of the way they stand a chance.

TECHNICAL FOUL

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Pau Gasol’s injury will have the most impact on the MVP race from here on out. If he’s out for a few weeks and the Lakers struggle to win with Kobe then King James get the trophy. But if Gasol is out for a few weeks and Kobe can carry the team and keep them towards the top of the standings then the award is his.

THERE’S NO I IN TEAM BUT THERE IS IN MY POWER RANKINGS

Houston Rockets—Last week I said that 18 in a row was good enough for the No. 3 spot on my list. This week? 22 in a row is more than worthy of my top spot. How long they stay here is up for debate with a tough schedule ahead.

Boston Celtics—Holding steady at No. 2 although it seems to me that they’ve somehow gone under the radar with all the talk about the West and the Rockets. That seems crazy to me when you consider that they are the only team with 50 or more wins in the league.

L.A. Lakers—Last week’s No. 1 is this week’s No. 3 after losses to the Hornets and Rockets and also the loss of Gasol. I was going to take them off my top three completely but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt since No. 24 is still on the floor.

The “Sorry Honey Not Tonight” Games of Week

TUESDAY

Boston at Houston

WEDNESDAY

Detroit at Cleavland

THURSDAY

Boston at Dallas

FRIDAY

Houston at Golden State

SATURDAY

Boston at New Orleans

SUNDAY

San Antonio at Dallas

I hope nobody is having their honeymoon this week because with a lineup of games like we have this week divorce may be a small price to pay to catch all the action.

Enjoy this week’s action and tune back next Monday for the next At The Buzzer.

At the Buzzer: The NBA Week That Was

Aaron Keel — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:15:14 -0400

FREE THROWS

Sunday’s huge win against the Spurs put the Suns record at 4-6 with Shaq in the lineup.

Getting the win was the good part.

The bad part? The Suns with Shaq may now be better equipped to handle teams that play a more conventional half court game like the Spurs, than run and gun teams like the Warriors and Nuggets. This from the team that was THE run and gun team in the league before the trade.

Speaking of the Spurs, they get no break this upcoming week as they have the desperate Nuggets at home before going on the road to face New Orleans, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

In a conference as tight as the West is, this schedule will do the Spurs no favors as they try to keep up with the Lakers for the top seed.

With the Yao-less Rockets on a 18 game winning streak led by Tracy McGrady, you get the feeling that if the team can keep this up and make it to the playoffs, it will take some of the heat off of McGrady for his playoff failures—even if the Rockets get bounced in the first round.

When Yao went down, many “experts” predicted the team would fold and miss the playoffs. McGrady seems to be on a mission to show his critics just how good he is.

Can you blame Boston and Detroit for being worried about facing the Cavs in the playoffs? After seeing King James go for 50, 39, and 38 this week, I’d be worried too.

In a seven game series, James alone, is probably worth two games; if his teammates step up like Daniel Gibson did in last year’s conference finals, the top 2 in the East will certainly have their hands full.

To those who think reseeding the NBA is a good idea, I offer this argument: the tightness of the Western Conference is giving us great matchups every night whose intensity rivals playoff action. When is the last time we could say that about either conference?

The other thing to look at as well is the fact that things like this happen in sports from time to time. The last thing anyone should do is get knee jerky about it.

ALLEY-OOP

If the Rockets finish the regular season with the number one seed in the West how many votes would Tracy McGrady get for MVP?

BECAUSE WE’RE BETTER THAN YOU (MVP RANKINGS)

1. KOBE BRYANT

His Lakers lead the West and barring anything crazy happening, should finish the season in the same spot. A player criticized for being selfish before has learned to trust his teammates but still takes over when necessary.

2. LEBRON JAMES

This is more like 1a since you can make the argument that James lacks the talent around him that Kobe does and yet his Cavs are the most feared team in the East because of what he brings to the table. My solution to the MVP debate is to have Kobe play Lebron 1 on 1 to 21- winner gets the trophy. Seems like the only fair way at this point.

3. EVERYBODY ELSE

You can put whoever you like in this spot, there’s KG, CP3, and Deron Williams just to name a few who belong here depending on who you ask. But since we all know that the trophy will come down to the 2 players listed above, there’s really no point in naming a number 3.

THERE’S NO I IN TEAM...BUT THERE IS IN MY POWER RANKINGS

1. L.A. LAKERS

With the best closer on the roster, this is one team I wouldn’t bet against no matter who they are playing.

2. BOSTON CELTICS

The “Boston Three Party” keeps rolling along and their victory against the Pistons all but guaranteed their number one seed in the East.

3. HOUSTON ROCKETS

Granted there are other teams better right now but when you win 18 in a row you have my respect and the number 3 ranking on my board. As soon as they lose rest assured they’ll never get back.

THE “SORRY HONEY NOT TONIGHT” GAMES OF WEEK

David Stern needs to step in and fix the schedule because on Friday we have the Lakers/Hornets and the Jazz/Celtics.

The only problem is that the Lakers/Hornets game starts 30 minutes after the Jazz/Celtics tip off. Stern please do something, you changed the ball without warning, and you can fix this!!!

Enjoy this week’s action and tune back next Monday for the next AT THE BUZZER.

Cactus League Report: Why You Need To Get Down to Arizona Already

Aaron Keel — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:51:30 -0500

Hey, buddy, quick question: What were you doing yesterday afternoon?

Let me guess…

Counting down the hours, finishing up another day in that mind-numbing prison we call work.

Pssht. Suckers.

Me? I was at Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona watching the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Texas Rangers play their first game of Cactus League spring training.

It was, with the exception of the ol’ afternoon delight, the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

For those fans that have been to Arizona to take in the Cactus League games, you don’t need me to tell you how much fun it is. However, for those fans who haven’t had the pleasure I have five words for you.

Get.

Your.

Asses.

Down.

Here.

Because believe me when I say you have no idea what you’re missing. And while words won’t do the experience justice, I’ll try and paint the picture for you.

First and foremost there’s choice. 12 different teams call Arizona home for spring training. The Los Angeles Dodgers will also play six games in the valley before moving to the state for spring training permanently next year.

It’s like a buffet, only in baseball form.

Then, there’s the weather. In most of the country the weather isn’t exactly conducive to baseball. Yesterday, at the game? The high was in the very low 80’s with a slight breeze.

In other words, perfect baseball weather—for those playing it and especially for those watching it.

There’s also the price. A lawn seat at yesterday’s game was $6.00. My seat, which was located only 11 rows behind home plate, was a whopping $20.00.

This is very important in a day and age when taking the family to a game means taking out a second mortgage or selling an organ.

Spring training provides a cost effective way to have a family day at the ballpark and not break the bank doing it.

And let’s not forget the fans. They’re a huge part of the experience as well , due to baseball’s slower pace which provides many opportunities for you to get to know the people around you, whether you want to or not.

Take for instance the annoyingly loud blonde sitting behind me. All game long she was yelling and carrying on like no one was around. While normally this would’ve upset me to no end, the calmness that is watching baseball led me and most of my fellow fans to regard her with bemusement rather than death threats.

This actually had probably less to do with the slowness of the game and more to with the fact that this blonde had a chest both teams could have used for a bat rack.

You see? The people you encounter help make going to the games as enjoyable and memorable as the action on the field itself.

That of course is not to sell the game short. Not only do you get to see the big name players do their thing, but you also get to watch young up-and-comers trying to make it to the bigs. This makes for great baseball, as players go all out in order to win position battles.

So let’s recap, shall we?

A ton of teams to choose from, great weather, cheap tickets, entertaining fans, and great ball. What more can you ask for?

Well, besides the number of that blonde, of course.

New York Giants Not the Patriots' Only Foe on Super Sunday

Aaron Keel — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:43:53 -0500

Three Super Bowl wins, four AFC Championship game appearances, the longest winning streak in history, and arguably the single greatest regular season in NFL history.

For the New England Patriots, the last six years have been impressive to say the least.

Yet for all their accomplishments, this Sunday’s game against the New York Giants may be the single most defining game of this team’s incredible run.

Win and the Pats can stake their claim as the best team ever, having completed the greatest season ever.

Lose and all those accomplishments mean absolutely nothing.

Those touchdown records Brady and Moss set?

Pointless.

16-0?

Doesn’t matter.

The Pats lose and they’ll always be known as the biggest choke jobs in league history, if not sports history altogether.

That kind of pressure is enough to make any team crack, even one as mentally tough as the Belichick-led Patriots.

The G-Men?

Those guys have it easy.

They’ve already won just by making it to the Super Bowl.

Here’s what the Giants would say if you asked them about the pressure to win the Super Bowl.

“Pressure?!"

“Let the Patriots worry about pressure, we’re here for the golf.”

I think you get my point, the Patriots will have more than just the Giants to contend with when the Super Bowl kicks off this Sunday.

As a matter of fact I think they should change the scoreboard from Patriots vs. Giants to something more accurate.

How about: Patriots vs. Weight of the World?

Best of 2007: Saluting the Real Sports Heroes

Aaron Keel — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 08:26:44 -0500

My fellow writers and I would like to take a minute to thank the people who allow us to be who we are—the people who not only support but encourage our need for this thing called sports:

Our significant others—our wives, husbands, boyfriends, and girlfriends.

They're the real unsung heroes of the sports world.

For me, that hero is my wonderful wife Emily, who does more than just tolerate my passion for sports.

Anyone who loves sports and has dated someone who doesn’t will surely agree when I say support isn't something to be taken for granted.

Don’t get me wrong—I was going to marry this woman regardless, but her acceptance of my sports jones was like the extra point after the touchdown.

Emily not only allows me to watch hour after hour of games, but also tries to take an interest in them with me.

She's invaluable to my writing too, as she provides a great sounding board for all my article ideas...and is even kind enough to proofread them for me.

So the next time you’re watching the game with that special guy or gal, take a second to let them know just how much you appreciate them for letting you be the sports junkie you are.

During the commercials, of course.

Worst of 2007: Innocent No More

Aaron Keel — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:01:29 -0500

Remember when Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts finally overcame the New England Patriots and won the Super Bowl earlier this year?

How about when Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs hoisted their fourth NBA crown in nine seasons?

Or maybe when grizzled NHL veteran Rob Niedermayer led the Anaheim Ducks to their first Stanley Cup?

Hell, can you even remember when the Red Sox swept the Rockies to win the World Series just a few months ago?

Hard, isn’t it?

That brings us to the issue of the biggest sports story of the year.

It wasn’t the Michael Vick dogfighting scandal.

Nor was it the Mitchell Report.

No, it was what those scandals and the seemingly countless others mean in the big picture:

The complete and utter end of innocence in sports.

The days when we turned to sports to get away from the problems of the world are now over. The sports world IS problem these days.

Drugs, violence, grand juries—these used to be problems we only saw on the front page of the newspaper. Now, unfortunately, they're what we see all too often on the sports page.

This year has been by far the worst in recent memory for sports fans. From “Spygate” to Floyd Landis and everything in between, the storylines of 2007 have been the type the WWE could only wish they'd come up with.

Will all the scandals keep us from watching?

Of course not. We’re sports junkies. Watching sports is what we do.

But if this pattern of behavior keeps up, we just may find ourselves asking...

Is this sports, or Desperate Housewives?