Bleacher Report - Articles by Nick Klopsis

Alfredo Aceves Deserves Another Shot in the New York Yankees' Rotation

Nick Klopsis — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:41:45 -0400

It's no secret that the fifth and final spot in the starting rotation has been an Achilles' heel for the New York Yankees this season.

In spite of the team's great overall strength, Yankees fans have recently found themselves holding their breath whenever Sergio Mitre takes the hill, praying that he can keep the game close enough for their explosive offense to do its thing.

Even though the Yankees have won three of Mitre's five starts this season, it's not because of the 28-year-old right-hander.

Since being called up to fill Chien-Ming Wang's rotation spot on July 21, Mitre has averaged four-and-two-thirds innings per start, has allowed no less than three runs in any of his appearances, and sports a 1.91 WHIP and .373 BAA to go with his 7.04 ERA.

With numbers like that, you'd be lucky to have a spot on a local beer league softball team, much less pitch every fifth day for the Yankees.

During the latest post-game conference, manager Joe Girardi said that Mitre would make his next scheduled start. However, with all of the options available for the Yankees, you have to think that the Mitre experiment is coming to a close very soon.

So now the question becomes, "Who should take Mitre's spot in the rotation?"

For quite some time now, the Yankees have been collecting veteran arms like a geek collects old comic books. Retreads like Russ Ortiz, Jason Hirsh, and Chad Gaudin have cropped up as potential replacements, and while the Yankees hope that one of these starters could end up becoming the 2009 version of Aaron Small, chances are that none of those names will be able to provide any significant impact right out of the gate.

Which brings me to Alfredo Aceves.

I wrote an article earlier on how Aceves was the Yankees' "secret weapon", a guy who flew completely under the radar, while quietly posting very solid numbers out of the bullpen.

Since then, "Ace" has continued to assert his role as one of the most dependable relievers for the Yankees this season. Primarily a long-relief man, he has done everything from closing out games to pitching on short rest when needed.

Think Ramiro Mendoza circa 1996.

Where Mitre has failed this season, Aceves has picked up the slack, keeping the Yankees in the game once Mitre gets the hook.

So why should Aceves—and not Gaudin, Ortiz, or even Mr. Scranton himself, Kei Igawa—replace Mitre in the starting rotation?

Aceves has quite a bit of starting experience in his young career. In addition to a spot start he made back on July 5, Aceves saw extensive time in the rotation in September 2008, when he pitched extremely well in four spot starts for the Yankees and their then-injury-decimated pitching staff.

If Girardi were to put Aceves into the rotation, now would probably be the best time to do so. Aceves has slowly seen his innings increase over his past five appearances, meaning his arm is getting stretched out more and more each time out. And he has regained his effectiveness since taking some time off earlier to rest his tired arm.

It might not be too big of a stretch for the Yankees to give "Ace" another shot in the rotation and leave the newly-acquired Gaudin as the long-reliever just in case Aceves were to falter.

If Aceves were to pitch well in his first few starts, then that's great—they can leave him there for the stretch run and possibly into October. Problem solved.

If not, it wouldn't necessarily be a big loss, as they can return him to his regular relief duties and summon a veteran from Triple-A to plug the hole, so long as it's not Mitre.

In any event, the Yankees must act quickly if they want to fix one of their most glaring weaknesses and prevent it from being their downfall come crunch time, and Alfredo Aceves just might be the best man for the job.

Should the New York Giants Be Worried About Antonio Pierce?

Nick Klopsis — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:26:18 -0400

Although Plaxico Burress is long gone from New York, his actions continue to have an effect on the Giants as they report to training camp.

At the very least, they may be affecting Antonio Pierce.

Pierce has told Tom Coughlin that the hoopla surrounding his involvement in the Burress shooting has been "frustrating," and that he's been looking forward to training camp to get everything behind him.

With all the talk that Pierce may face charges as an accessory in the crime—including driving the injured Burress across state lines, taking him into a hospital under an assumed name, and dropping the gun back at Burress's New Jersey house—it might be natural for people both inside the Giants organization and outside to worry about Pierce.

Will he be able to focus on the season at hand?

Will he end up being indicted and face charges?

If he does face charges, will he miss a significant amount of playing time, and what are the Giants' options in case he does spend time in a jail cell?

A lot of questions, yes. And the Giants can ill afford to have any off-the-field issues, as they need to put all of their effort into proving that they are still one of the NFC's best teams.

But if history is any indication, Pierce should be fine.

First of all, if there's anyone in the league who knows how to keep focused in difficult times, it's Pierce.

The unquestioned heart and soul of one of the NFL's top defenses year in and year out, Pierce knows how to get both himself and his teammates fired up when the time calls for it.

Whether it's coining the Giants' "no respect" motto during the their 2007 playoff run or proving to NFL scouts that they made a mistake in letting him go undrafted in 2001, Pierce has that uncanny ability to turn almost anything into bulletin board material, which is what makes him one of the most respected guys in the locker room.

Pierce will no doubt be working his hardest to show that he's ready to put these legal issues behind him and play some football.

Nevertheless, he is still at the mercy of a Manhattan grand jury—they will ultimately decide if Pierce sits or starts this year.

If Pierce plays his cards right, he might not even face indictment—and all signs show that he has done everything right so far with the grand jury.

Pierce appears fully willing to cooperate with the grand jury, which could end up in his favor. They seem more interested in nabbing Burress than anything else, and if Pierce helps them out he could very well be completely off the hook.

In addition, the fact that he voluntarily chose to testify this past week should speak volumes with the grand jury, and that could play an important factor as to whether Pierce faces indictment or not.

And if by some bizarre reason Pierce ends up serving jail time, the Giants have enough depth at middle linebacker to soften the blow—Chase Blackburn has started in the middle in past seasons for the Giants, Jonathan Goff is ready to go following an injury in his rookie season, and Danny Clark has the versatility to start in the middle if needed.

But it most likely won't have to come to that—as long as Pierce keeps a cool head and doesn't do anything to draw the ire of the grand jury in Manhattan, he should be able to start all 16 games this season.

So relax, Giants fans—the aftermath of the Burress saga shouldn't be an issue for Pierce or for the team in general.

Also featured at blogNYG.com

Thanks to Cody, The New York Yankees' Offense Is Held Up For "Ransom"

Nick Klopsis — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:07:15 -0400

Ransom (n.): a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity

With the way that the New York Yankees' offense has performed recently, you could say that their offense is being held up for Ransom.

Cody Ransom, that is.

In their last 10 games—dating back to July 23rd against the A's—the Yankees are an alarming .219 with runners in scoring position, while going 5-for-31 in their last three losses.

Meanwhile, Joe Girardi insists on giving Ransom and his .190 batting average more and more playing time, which has given Yankee fans stomach ulcers every time he steps up to the plate.

Ransom looks lost every time he makes an appearance for the Yankees, which begs the question: Why is he still here?

Originally, it was to provide some depth on the bench just in case someone needed to take a game off.

I understand that everyone needs to take a game off or DH once in a while. It's a good thing to recharge the batteries and keep your best players fresh every now and then.

But didn't Brian Cashman just acquire utility-man Jerry Hairston Jr. just for that very reason—to effectively spell the starters when they need a day off?

Not only that, they have Eric Hinske—who has played third base, first base, and every outfield position at some point this year—and Nick Swisher, who can play first base if needed.

In addition, Ramiro Pena is in AAA waiting for his shot and Shelley Duncan just took an express trip on the Scranton Shuttle for nothing, as he was sent back down after a day.

All of them can hit, field, run, and jump better than Ransom.

(Wait... scratch that part about the jumping, I may have spoken too soon.)

Despite all of this, the Yankees inexplicably continue to hang on to Ransom like a dog holds on to his favorite chew-toy.

Did I mention that he currently has a .190 average?

Meanwhile, the offense continues to struggle and is showing no sign of snapping out of it anytime soon.

It's time to free the offense so the Yankees can get back to their winning ways. Hopefully they won't have to pay a king's Ransom to do so.

Yankees Trade For Reds' Jerry Hairston Jr.

Nick Klopsis — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:07:17 -0400

In an attempt to add bench depth at the deadline, the New York Yankees have acquired Cincinnati Reds' utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr.

While it was not known who was traded at first, it has been confirmed that the Yankees sent Single-A Charleston catcher Chase Weems to the Reds.

In 86 appearances this season, Hairston Jr. has hit .254 with 78 hits in 307 at-bats, including eight home runs and 27 RBI.

However, his true usefulness comes in defense—he has played all three outfield positions in addition to second base, third base, and shortstop.

This most likely means that Cody Ransom has seen his last days in pinstripes, as Hairston Jr. provides more versatility and can actually hit somewhat decently.

Chase Weems has struggled a bit with the RiverDogs this season, hitting .260 in 55 games played this season with 45 hits in 173 at-bats, one home run, and 14 RBI. While Weems was drafted in the sixth round in 2007, he has become mired in the Yankees' minor league system behind top catching prospects such as Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero, and Austin Romine, making him virtually expendable.

While he didn't get a solid back-of-the-rotation starter as expected, Yankees fans have to give Brian Cashman some credit—at least they won't have to endure another horrible 0-for-4 night from Ransom when Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, or Robinson Cano needs a night off. He can also serve as a temporary fill-in for Brett Gardner, who is on the disabled list with a broken thumb.

In short, while this is nowhere near the big-name trade that the Yankees were looking for, it may be a move that will pay dividends when the end of the season rolls around.

Baseball Must Brace Itself and Reveal "The List" Once and for All

Nick Klopsis — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:16:41 -0400

It's something that every baseball player has heard of, but only a select few are "privileged" enough to be featured on it.

I'm talking, of course, about "the list"—104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing substances in MLB's survey testing in 2003.

Thanks to the list, shadows have been cast over every player's performance. Players once regarded as role models have suddenly become reviled, no-good frauds who have soiled the good name of the game.

I'm not out to crucify those who have been leaked. The players were under the impression that everything was anonymous and would be destroyed following notification of a failed test—so it's not really their fault their names were leaked, even if they knowingly took steroids.

Instead, I can't help but wonder what happened to the supposed "anonymity" of the list—and what the people releasing the names want from the league.

So far, four players of the 104 have been leaked, causing rampant speculation as to who else's name is on the list.

The fact that they've been leaked in the first place is obviously an issue. If the union was in fact supposed to destroy the samples after testing, then somebody has some explaining to do.

But what may be even more disconcerting may be how the results have been leaked.

At a time when baseball is desperately trying to distance itself from the Steroid Era, the names have slowly but surely trickled from the list into the public eye, courtesy of "lawyers with knowledge of the drug-testing results of that year."

In the two articles accusing Manny Ramirez/David Ortiz and Sammy Sosa of steroid use, Michael Schmidt of the New York Times cites these anonymous lawyers as having access to the list.

So what exactly are they doing?

Yankees skipper Joe Girardi described the situation perfectly in a pregame interview before yesterday's game against the White Sox: "It's like ripping a Band-Aid off slowly. It's unfortunate, because we're trying to get this era beyond us and repair the game. The names keep coming out. It just seems to make it more difficult and last longer."

First off, I'm very suspicious about these lawyers that Schmidt cites—if they are indeed ripping that Band-Aid off, they don't appear to be doing it for the good of the game.

If they wanted to help usher out the Steroid Era, they would have released all 104 names at once, not in small bits.

No, the way they've been slowly releasing those names to baseball writers and the general public is almost too methodical in a way.

Why they are doing this is puzzling, to say the least. I understand that the whole list is sealed under court order. But that hasn't stopped them from leaking names up until now, so why can't they just tell Schmidt all 104 names in one shot?

Maybe they're afraid of the legal repercussions if they release all the names at once. Maybe there's something much more sinister at play here—after all, not all lawyers are as upstanding and ethical as they make themselves out to be in those commercials.

Regardless, baseball won't be able to move past the Steroid Era if the names keep leaking out in this fashion—which is why MLB needs to just brace itself, grab the loose Band-Aid on its arm, and completely tear it off by itself.

Yes, it would reopen the very wounds that everyone has been trying to forget about over the past few years.

Yes, there would be a ton of legal issues that would need to be taken care of first, such as how to get a copy of the list from the union—Bud Selig's office has repeatedly denied having the list, and Donald Fehr will not just hand it over.

But if baseball is ever going to move on from the Steroid Era, it needs to reveal the other 100 names on the list.

The fact that names have already been revealed compromises any privacy guarantee—there's no telling how many unauthorized people have access to the list.

Instead of keeping people guessing and casting clouds over current players, the entire list must be thrown out into the open for all to see, eliminating the lawyers' slow leakage of names while also helping to push Major League Baseball past one of the darkest eras in sports.

Otherwise, we may never escape the Steroid Era.

Why the Minnesota Vikings Should Not Go After Michael Vick

Nick Klopsis — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:03:31 -0400

Brett Favre has finally ended the drama surrounding his potential return, announcing that he's going to stay retired and relax at his Hattiesburg, Miss. home.

Upon hearing this announcement, many football people, now free from the incessant ESPN coverage and rumors concerning Favre's return, are taking a deep sigh of relief.

Except for the Minnesota Vikings.

Favre was supposed to step in and be the final piece to Minnesota's puzzle, the guy who was finally going to take the Vikings to the promised land.

Now finding themselves back at square one, Vikings brass now have to deal with the fallout of this news. Every move that quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels make will be scrutinized under the finest of microscopes, with people wondering whether No. 4 would have done any better.

Maybe they should try another former star quarterback from the NFC—old No. 7, Michael Vick.

Could the Vikings, fresh off of a Hall-of-Fame quarterback snubbing, consider signing Vick?

Yeah, Vick might be worth a look—he has a reputation as quite a playmaker.

Should they?

Not if they're looking for an upgrade at QB.

At first glance, Vick's name alone would be a huge draw. He was a household name with Atlanta and led the Falcons to two playoff appearances. He's also been named to the Pro Bowl three times.

No doubt, he has an impressive resume. And something that the Vikings may consider if they want to sell tickets and make a push for that new stadium they've been clamoring about.

But a deeper look at his numbers show that he isn't what the Vikings are looking for. Let's compare Vick's numbers to Minnesota's incumbent QB, T-Jack.

In 74 games, Vick has completed 930 of 1,730 passes for 11,505 yards and a 53.8 completion percentage, which is tied with the great Randy Wright for 134th all-time.

Jackson, on the other hand, has had very similar numbers to Vick's—in 25 career games, he's completed 306 of 524 passes for a 58.4 completion percentage.

The main difference is that Jackson has yet to hit his prime, while Vick is most likely past his prime.

Not to mention that Vick probably hasn't even touched a football since his incarceration and won't be able to play until Week Six of the season. There'd be quite a readjustment period for Vick, one that the Vikings wouldn't want to have to deal with.

The only thing Vick truly has going for him is his speed, which might work on a team featuring Harvin and Adrian Peterson.

But Minnesota isn't looking for another running back. They need someone who can throw the ball down the field efficiently, someone who can manage the air attack while Peterson carries the offense.

Remember why the Vikes wanted Favre in the first place—Jackson has been frustratingly inconsistent during his three years in the league, and Rosenfels has never played a full season under center. In theory, Favre would have been the ideal person to sling the ball to Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, and Bobby Wade.

That may be asking too much of Vick, who has always struggled with making accurate passes throughout his career.

For Minnesota, it would be better to either continue developing the 26-year-old Jackson or turn the reins over to Rosenfels, who showed flashes of success while subbing for an injured Matt Schaub last year in Texas.

One thing is certain, though: making a run at Vick would be a big mistake for the Minnesota Vikings.

Let's Play Two: The MLB's All-Time Converted Player Team

Nick Klopsis — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:53:28 -0400

The Kansas City Royals announced yesterday that they would be converting their light-hitting shortstop, Tony Peña Jr., into a pitcher. Peña showed some encouraging signs when asked to pitch in the ninth inning of a 19-4 blowout at the hands of the Tigers—he only needed 12 pitches to get out of the inning and even struck out Ivan Rodriguez in the process. All after hitting .156 with 62 strikeouts and eight walks in two years at shortstop. This is not a new phenomenon, however—players have switched positions for multiple reasons in the past. Some players are just the unfortunate victims of depth, and must change positions in order to have a shot. Some are moved to new positions to lessen the strain on their aging bodies. Others, like Peña, lack certain tools to thrive in the big leagues and switch positions to resurrect their careers. Some of these have found success after switching positions, which got me thinking: What if you could only put together a team of converted players—that is, players who permanently switched positions at some point in their career and didn't miss a beat? It was a tough call for almost every position, but these players are all perfect examples for future converted players such as Tony Peña Jr. to follow.

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Rumor: New York Yankees Close To Signing LHP Barack Obama [HUMOR]

Nick Klopsis — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:27:30 -0400

In a stunning turn of events, the New York Yankees are reportedly "very close" to signing highly sought-after left-handed pitcher Barack Obama to a multi-year contract.

Pending a team physical, Obama is expected to join the team following the All-Star break.

It is currently unknown whether he will assume the starting role once held by Chien-Ming Wang—who has been on the disabled list since July 5 with a strained right shoulder—or push the struggling Joba Chamberlain back into the bullpen.

GM Brian Cashman was unavailable for comment, but a team official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that Obama "will definitely come in and make an impact, especially with Wang's injury and Joba's inability to pitch even halfway decently."

Yankees scouts were on hand at both of Obama's previous outings and were extremely impressed with the 47-year-old's accuracy and velocity.

Said one of the scouts, "He has all the tools to eventually become a top-of-the-rotation starter. He has a nice changeup that he likes to throw low in the strike zone—that's his money pitch."

While terms of the contract were not announced, the signing was a major turn of events as the Chicago White Sox appeared to be the front-runner to sign the lefty.

Obama even wore a White Sox jacket to his most recent start, then found out the Yankees had outbid Chicago for his services.

The Washington Nationals were also rumored to be a possible landing zone for Obama because of its proximity to his home, but let's be real here: since when do they ever sign anyone of stature in free agency?

Despite questions about his ability to pitch deep into games—both of his previous outings mysteriously lasted only one pitch—Obama sounded confident that he can turn the Yankees' rotation around.

"I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors," said Obama in a recent statement in Washington, D.C.

No word yet on whether George W. Bush has received any offers, however.

The State of the Universe: What the Yankees Must Do in the Second Half

Nick Klopsis — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:30:21 -0400

After 88 hard-fought games, the New York Yankees finally have a chance to breathe, thanks to a four-day break—the usual three-day All-Star break and a scheduled off day on Thursday.

Then it's back to the regular grind of the baseball schedule as the Yankees open the second half of their 2009 campaign. Currently at 51-37, New York finds itself three games behind Boston in the AL East race.

While the Yankees have shown that they are a playoff-caliber team, there's still quite a bit of work to be done if they want to make a serious push for the division title and/or avoid the all too familiar one-and-done exit in October.

Looking back at the first half of the season, this is what the Yankees must do going forward to mount a strong playoff charge.

1) Win Against the Red Sox, Angels, and Other Contenders

It sounds like such a simple concept. If I were talking about any other team, I probably wouldn't list this as a "must do" for the second half.

Not the Yankees, though.

We all know about the Yankees' dreadful 0-8 record against the Red Sox, and it was just this weekend that we cringed as they were swept by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Los Angeles of Angels (or whatever they're called these days).

However, it gets worse. The Yankees are 5-15 against the four division leaders that they have faced, with a 2-12 combined record against the Red Sox and Angels, a 1-2 record against the Phillies, and a 2-1 record against the Tigers.

For the Yankees, it's not just enough to win games. They need to show that they can hold their own against the teams that they may very well see again come October.

2) Find Some Stability in the Rotation

Overall, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have shown the Yankees why they deserved their mega-contracts, and Andy Pettitte has quietly put up solid numbers without having to carry the team.

I wish I could say the same about the remaining two spots in the rotation.

To put it kindly, it's been disastrous ever since Chien-Ming Wang went down with his shoulder injury a few weeks ago. Adding to the problems has been the maddening performance of Joba Chamberlain—or, as I've come to calling him recently, Job-ugh.

I could write a whole article on this. For the longest time, I've given Job-ugh plenty of slack. I've vehemently defended his rotation spot and preached that he needs time to blossom into an effective starter.

Now I'm not so sure anymore.

For the second half, Joe Girardi HAS TO have Chamberlain on a shortened leash. Just remind him that Phil Hughes is sitting in the bullpen as our setup man right now and could swap roles with Joba if need be.

As for the final rotation spot once held by Wang's 9.64 ERA, the solution might have to come from the outside, as a starter by committee won't cut it.

Alfredo Aceves was used in a spot start, though his services are more necessary in the bullpen than anywhere else. Sergio Mitre will most likely get the next start, and although he has done well in AAA Scranton, he has a history of spending time on the DL—not exactly what you'd want from someone who's supposed to fill a rotation hole.

There are a few possible trade scenarios available for the Yankees, one of the most obvious ones being Roy Halladay. Yes, he would instantly make the rotation much more feared, but I'm more concerned with Toronto's asking price—the Blue Jays have been rumored to want the same haul that the Twins wanted for Johan Santana, which may just be too much.

They could also make a move for someone like Jarrod Washburn—a low-risk innings-eater who has quietly posted a 6-6 record with a 2.96 ERA in Seattle.

Either way, the Yankees need to address their pitching woes if they want to succeed in the second half.

3) Maintain Some Semblance of Offensive Consistency

It's no secret that the Yankees' success is tied to their offensive performance. They've averaged 5.62 runs per game through the first half of the season, tops in the majors.

But when the Yankees fail to score runs, they look horrible.

In each of their 51 wins, they've averaged 7.01 runs scored.

Compare that to each of their 37 losses, however—they've only managed to get an average of 3.72 guys to cross the plate.

This was especially evident in the middle of June, when the Yankees were on a 5-9 swoon against the likes of the Red Sox, Mets, Nationals, Marlins, and Braves. During the stretch, the were shut out three times and—excluding the 15-0 outburst against the Mets—scored an average of 3.08 runs.

There's not much that the Yankees can do internally to help keep run production up, other than resting their players every now and then. They may look at an extra outfielder to replace Nick Swisher, as his offensive stats have been pretty atrocious.

Here's where someone like Matt Holliday may come in handy, but only if the price is right—the Yankees have high hopes for young OF Austin Jackson, and he could be ready to play in the Bronx come September.

So there you have it—three pretty simple yet necessary things that the Yankees must do to succeed in the second half. With the AL East looking more competitive than it has all season, Yankees Universe must pull out all the stops if it want to be known as the 2009 AL East champions come playoff time.

Something More Than Just Sports: A Father's Impact On His Son

Nick Klopsis — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:44:36 -0400

If you were to compare my sports allegiances to those of my father, you would probably wonder how we make it through family dinners without some sort of heated sports-related debate arising.

To be completely honest, I'm not even totally sure why there's such a big difference. Most father-son duos I know of often root for the same teams, so why am I a Yankee/Giant/Ranger fan while the old man is a Met/Jet/Islander guy?

I tend to believe that it was destiny—that, for some odd reason, we were fated to support opposite teams.

That, or I might have just gotten sick of hearing how great the Jets were every Sunday of my childhood, despite their propensity for causing him headaches.

Nevertheless, if you were to ask me who was responsible for this unhealthy sports fanaticism that I have harbored for the past 19 years, the answer would have to be Nick Klopsis Sr., without a shadow of a doubt.

In fact, I can safely say that my father has played a huge role in shaping who I have become as a person.

I can vividly remember the first Giants game I ever went to—the Sunday night season opener against the Colts in 2006. It was just my father and I up in the nosebleeds, watching as Eli and Peyton vied for the title of "Best Manning Brother."

The Giants lost a close one by the score of 26-21, but that night the score wasn't important—what was important was the father-son bond that had strengthened as a result.

We've gone on countless road trips to NASCAR races, shared in the joy of World Series championships, heartbreak of just missing the postseason, and debated everything from A-Rod to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The funny thing is, I wouldn't have it any other way.

The forging of this bond hasn't just been limited to professional events, however. As a matter of fact, many of the life lessons I've learned were through my own personal sports endeavors, none of which would have been possible without my father's constant support.

There were countless meets during my high school cross-country days where he would be standing at the foot of Cardiac Hill, the biggest and most infamous hill at Sunken Meadow State Park, helping me find the inner strength to push forward when my body was aching all over.

During each and every one of my Jiu Jitsu belt tests, from my first yellow belt at age 10 to my black belt test seven years later, he was there sitting in the back of the dojo and watching as I put my martial arts knowledge to the test.

He has even taken a deep interest in my sports-writing passion, often critiquing my B/R articles before they are published and suggesting ideas on topics and relevant examples.

Each of these experiences have helped me grow as an athlete, as a sports nut, and more importantly as a man, teaching me important lessons that have served as my personal creed throughout life. He never gave up in times of difficulty, putting 150 percent into everything that he did, and taught me the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork.

And I owe it all to my father's unwavering support.

It's more than just sports, though—my father has taught me valuable things that I will forever carry with me. He has always been there for his family, and he has always been supportive of my various endeavors, both athletic and non-athletic.

In short, he is my hero—Met/Jet/Islander fan or not—and has made a huge impact on me and the way I live my life.

I can only hope my future children will look at their father the same way I do mine.

Thanks again Dad, and happy Father's Day.

The New York Giants Should Not Trade for Broncos WR Brandon Marshall

Nick Klopsis — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:20:34 -0400

As soon as news broke that Denver Broncos WR Brandon Marshall wanted out of the Mile High City, speculation began swirling as to where he would end up.

All but gone after posting a farewell message on his personal blog, Marshall has been linked to several receiver-starved teams. The Baltimore Ravens, the New York Jets, and even the Chicago Bears—where he would be reunited with ex-Broncos QB Jay Cutler—are rumored to be potential landing places.

Notice how the New York Giants, once regarded throughout the league as a team that severely needed a top-flight wideout, are absent from that list.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

While it may seem at first glance that the Giants could use a top receiver with experience in the league, there's no need to make a trade for Marshall.

First of all, the Giants have already stockpiled a ton of young talent at wide receiver. Rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden have clicked quite well with Eli Manning throughout the Giants' OTAs.

Steve Smith is primed for a breakout season, Domenik Hixon will be a threat on the offensive side of the ball as well as in the return game, and Mario Manningham and Sinorice Moss will see more playing time as they finally recover from their injuries.

Adding someone such as Brandon Marshall would inevitably create a logjam at wideout. With Eli and the current crop of receivers in sync early, it would be too much of a hassle to quickly get him on the same page as Eli.

Second, the Giants just got rid of a tall, physical wide receiver with tons of legal troubles in Plaxico Burress.

Do they really need to acquire another potential headache in Marshall?

Marshall has already felt the wrath of the all-powerful Roger Goodell in his young career, having been suspended for one game for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

He has also been arrested four times in three years, most notably on suspicion of domestic violence in March 2007. His most recent arrest on March 1, 2009 may result in a longer, more severe suspension.

To bring Marshall in would mean bringing in his troubled persona as well. After releasing Burress because of his off-field drama, it wouldn't make much sense to trade for someone who is just a drama queen, if not more of one.

Let's say Jerry Reese overlooked Marshall's flaws and wants to cram him into a crowded receiver depth chart. There would still be the tiny matter of what to give up to Denver in exchange.

The Broncos would almost certainly set a starting price similar to what Detroit got for Roy Williams—a first-round, third-round, and sixth round pick in this year's draft.

That may be too much for the Giants, who scoffed at giving up their first-round pick in April for Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin—two of the top receivers in the NFL today.

So while it may seem at first that the Giants need a proven wideout, Brandon Marshall is not what they'd be looking for if they were open to adding to their receiving corps.

Also featured at blogNYG.com

Red Sox-Yankees: Yanks Get Soaked in Sweep at Fenway

Nick Klopsis — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:07:05 -0400

For Yankees fans, the pouring rain at the end of the final game fit the overall mood pretty well.

When Mark Teixeira hit a screamer right at Boston's Kevin Youkilis to seal yet another three-game Red Sox sweep, you could feel the hearts of thousands of Yankee fans collectively sink to a new low.

Exuding confidence in the days leading up to the series, the Yankees were 7-3 in their previous 10 games, and all seemed well—the bats were hot, there finally seemed to be an answer to their rotation questions, and overall team chemistry was high.

It took only three games for it to all come crashing down. What in the name of Babe Ruth happened?

Let's take a deeper look into the wreckage to try to find some answers.

Pitching

Most of the blame for Games One and Two falls squarely on the Yankees' starters.

In the series opener, A.J. Burnett thought that Bud Selig might credit a poor performance as a game off from his suspension, and subsequently went out and stunk up Fenway—2.2 innings, five runs, five hits, five walks, one strikeout, and a home run to the previously powerless David Ortiz.

Not to be outdone, Chien-Ming Wang—he of the 34 runs allowed in 21.1 IP—nearly matched Burnett's performance in Game Two, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with three K's in 2.2 innings pitched.

Thankfully, CC Sabathia looked like he was able to right the ship in the final matchup, holding the Red Sox to one run in seven innings.

That is, until he ran out of gas in the eighth inning and allowed the game-winning runs to get on base.

Perhaps the only bright spot for the Yankees' pitchers was that the bullpen seemed to perform decently well when asked.

Outside of Alfredo Aceves, who was saddled with the blown save in Game Three as he allowed two of his inherited runners to score, the other relievers seemed to keep the Sox from doing a lot more damage.

Brett Tomko and Phil Hughes—who were called upon to relieve Burnett and Wang, respectively—made sure that Boston didn't take the games too far out of reach. Tomko especially helped out, allowing one run on two hits in 2.1 innings in Game One.

In addition, Phil Coke continued to improve, as he didn't allow a hit in either of his two appearances. Same goes for David Robertson as well—his scoreless inning in Game Two was definitely a positive. Jose Veras also seemed to get back on track, despite allowing a home run to Nick Green in the seventh inning in Game One.

So it's not quite the bullpen's fault that the Yankees were pounded for 17 runs and 26 hits, which leaves only one group of pitchers to blame: the rotation.

With questions arising once again like an undead zombie, the Yankees need to figure out who belongs in the rotation once and for all if they want to return to the top of the AL East.

Hitting

Prior to the New York-Boston series, the Yankees' bats were in full force.

They could bring out the boom stick and unload on the other team at will. They could lie in wait and pull off the dramatic come-from-behind win. They could provide just enough firepower to hold on for the win.

Against the Red Sox, none of those scenarios happened when they were needed most. In fact, it looked like Boston was able to demonstrate its ability to win in each of those manners.

The Yankees' bats were disturbingly quiet in Game One, as they were baffled by Josh Beckett and limited to five total baserunners the entire night while the Red Sox offense was busy pounding Burnett and getting a huge lead early in the game.

Then, in the second game, the Yankees mounted a late charge but fell short, as Boston put just enough runs on the board to hold on for the win.

In the final game, the Yankees were able to take the lead thanks to A-Rod's heroics, but it was Boston who had the last laugh as they finally got to Sabathia in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring three runs to effectively neutralize the Yankees' late-inning scramble.

No matter what the situation, however, the Yankees could not seem to figure out Red Sox pitching. In total, the Red Sox threw 22 innings of shutout ball while fanning 23 batters and allowing only eight runs.

Time to hit the batting cage and heat those bats back up.

Team Morale

When you're playing good baseball, it shows in the clubhouse—things get a lot lighter, and you just go out there and have fun.

When you're losing to your hated enemy, however, everything completely changes.

Every time the TV cameras cut to a shot of the Yankees dugout after the final out, you could almost taste the disappointment and feel the dejected atmosphere as the players and coaches slowly trudged to the locker room, heads down and backs slumping forward.

Just as winning breeds winning, losing creates a sense of desperation and brings out negativity that can snowball if things don't get better quickly.

Especially when you have lost eight straight games to your rival—nine if you go back to the final game of 2008—and that funk doesn't seem to go away.

In short, it seemed like everything that the Yankees needed to go their way didn't quite go their way. The bats cooled off to dangerously low levels. The pitching was atrocious. And the pressure of winning their first game against Boston led to even higher levels of team disappointment.

On the plus side, the teams don't meet again until Aug. 6.

For the Yankees, that's plenty of time to dry off from the rain and figure out what to do to settle the score.

The MLB's All-Draft Hidden Gem Team

Nick Klopsis — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:26:13 -0400

With the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft kicking off later today, GMs and scouting directors will be scouring mountains of scouting reports to find a future All-Star or even Hall-of-Famer. While all of the hype and attention will inevitably be on the first round, that doesn't mean the other rounds are just chop liver. If anything, the later rounds are even more crucial for finding hidden talent. When a prospect is drafted in the later rounds, many people doubt whether they have a future in the big leagues and predict a long and difficult career toiling in the minors. When that same prospect ends up make the Hall of Fame, however, you can't help but wonder what team executives were thinking when they passed on them. With that, I present the MLB All-Draft Hidden Gem Team, consisting of players taken in the later rounds of the draft who have gone on to have stellar careers.

Begin Slideshow

Meet Alfredo Aceves, The New York Yankees' Secret Weapon

Nick Klopsis — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:01:09 -0400

Entering the 2009 season, not many people were confident about the Yankees' bullpen situation. Outside of Mariano Rivera, the team lacked a true workhorse, someone who could do whatever the team asked at any time.

Enter Alfredo Aceves.

Now, people outside of New York might be scratching their heads and asking each other, "Who the heck is this guy?"

Two years ago, scouts were asking the same thing.

Pitching in the Mexican League for six years, Aceves was a solid starter, going 34-23 with a 4.06 ERA with the Yucatán Leones and Sultanes de Monterrey.

After watching him dominate the competition in 2007 with an 11-5 record, 3.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts, the Yankees inked him to a minor-league deal the following season. He then proceeded to have a phenomenal rise through the Yankees farm system, going a combined 8-6 with a 2.62 ERA for Tampa, Trenton, and Scranton before reaching the top club in August of that same year.

He was called upon in early September to replace an ineffective Darrell Rasner and did not disappoint, as the team won all four of his starts. He ended the season 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings pitched.

Then, Joe Girardi converted Aceves to a reliever in Spring Training. He did not make the Opening Day roster and was optioned to AAA Scranton to perfect his stuff.

Boy, did he perfect his stuff.

Since being called up to the majors this season as a reliever, Aceves has been nothing short of spectacular, going 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA, 40 strikeouts, and 15 walks. This season, he has been lights out, posting a solid 4.8:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 1.11 WHIP.

But that doesn't even begin to tell the whole story.

The most interesting aspect about Aceves is his versatility. He can pitch in long relief, set up for Mo, or spot start when needed.

On May 21, Aceves was called on to replace an injured Joba Chamberlain. He pitched 3.1 innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits and a walk. Four days later, he came on again in relief, pitching one inning against Texas in the wake of a Yankees offensive blowout.

Aceves truly is a jack of all trades coming out of the bullpen.

His Yankee teammates have certainly been paying attention, and two of the senior members of the ballclub have especially taken special note. Jorge Posada has said that Aceves reminds him of former Yankee Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, and Andy Pettitte likens him to Ramiro Mendoza during the Yankees' championship years—an important swingman who did whatever was asked of him, regardless of the situation.

Reviews like those aren't just given to anybody. Aceves certainly deserves those compliments for what he's done up to this point.

For Yankees fans, however, the beautiful thing about Aceves is that he is only 26 years old. He's going to be an important piece of the Yankees' pitching puzzle for years to come.

Pretty soon, everyone outside of New York won't be scratching their heads and asking each other who Aceves is. Rather, they'll be scratching their heads and asking each other how to stop him.

MLB Sends High-And-Tight Message to A.J. Burnett: No Head Shots Allowed

Nick Klopsis — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:42:32 -0400

Yesterday, news broke that Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett would be fined and suspended for six games for throwing high and inside to Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz on Tuesday.

Riots instantly broke out within the Bronx. Upset fans overturned vehicles and set fire to local buildings, police were called in to keep the angry mobs of flaming bat-wielding people at bay, and general chaos ruled the streets.

Okay, so that didn't really happen.

But the way many fans reacted certainly could have made you think that something odd was up, especially considering the Rangers' Vicente Padilla, who instigated the whole thing by hitting Mark Teixeira twice in consecutive pitches, escaped the principal's office with nothing more than a lighter wallet.

You could say the MLB brass were trying to hold to their recent standards for suspensions. After all, Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was suspended for six games after throwing some high cheddar at ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu.

If that's the case, however, why wasn't Padilla suspended at all for plunking Teixeira not once, but twice? I'm sure Tex's bruises are still big enough for fans to argue that Padilla deserves to be parked for at least 10 games.

That's beside the point, however. What matters is that Burnett's pitch nearly hit Cruz in the head. Accident or not, there could have been potentially devastating consequences.

Now, I'm not saying Burnett shouldn't have protected his teammate and retaliated. If one of my guys gets hit twice out there, I'm not just going to sit there and take it.

But where do you draw the line between retaliation and serious injury?

For Major League Baseball, the answer is increasingly becoming "the head."

If Burnett wanted to retaliate, he could have thrown anywhere else and it would have been fine. Maybe if he brushed him off the plate with a fastball by the hands, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

But going for the head? That will certainly catch the league's eye, especially with a history of careers getting cut short by facial injuries.

Dickie Thon instantly comes to mind. A shortstop with Hall of Fame potential, his life was instantly changed when he was hit in the head by a Mike Torrez fastball on April 8, 1984, breaking the orbital bone around his left eye.

While he did come back the following season, he was never the same.

Does Major League Baseball really want another Dickie Thon indicent on its hands?

The answer is no, and in order to do that, the league is throwing its own high-and-inside warning to Burnett, Beckett, and other pitchers: Pitch near the head and suffer the consequences.

Analyzing the Yankees' Rotation "Problem"

Nick Klopsis — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:35:58 -0400

After activating Chien-Ming Wang from his rehab assignment on May 22, the Yankees found themselves in a bit of a predicament—they now found themselves with six capable pitchers to fill five slots.

Such is the life when you have too many starting pitchers.

This is definitely something the Yankees have not seen in a while. Last year, they had 12 different starting pitchers start games due to a combo platter of injuries and ineffectiveness.

(As a side note, there were technically 13 different pitchers who started games last year, as setup man Brian Bruney started on April 9 when rain threatened to wash out the game. For the sake of simplicity, I'm only using actual starting pitchers.)

Of those 12, seven had ERAs above 4.00, and six had ERAs above 5.00.

Translation: The Yankees had a pretty below-average rotation.

This season, they have six quality starters who can come in and pitch well on any given day, which begs the question: What is to be done?

First off, let's get this out of the way: CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte are not going anywhere. This is more of a discussion about which two pitchers should fill out the back of the rotation.

Last night, Joe Girardi made the call to insert Wang back in the rotation and put youngster Phil Hughes in the bullpen for the time being.

In addition, fans have been clamoring for Joba Chamberlain to return to his previous role as an eighth-inning bridge to Mariano Rivera, thereby leaving both Wang and Hughes in the rotation.

Still others are not fully convinced that Wang is back to full shape and want him to stay in the bullpen as a long reliever and spot starter.

There have even been arguments made for a six-man rotation so that everyone can start.

Let's look at each of these options in greater depth and find out which one is best for the team.

Wang and Joba in Rotation, Hughes in Bullpen

Girardi's rationale for putting Wang back in the rotation was that the team believes in the stuff that won him 46 games in two-and-a-half years. Wang has delivered in his few relief appearances so far, allowing two runs and nine hits in eight innings of work while cutting his ERA from 34.50 to 16.07.

While Wang would be allowed to reassert his dominance in the rotation, this means that Hughes will be losing out on valuable seat time. He has performed admirably while filling in for Wang and has shown flashes of dominance, especially during his start against Texas on Memorial Day.

Keeping Hughes in the bullpen means less work, which could have its consequences once Hughes returns to the rotation. Hughes is too good to go back down to AAA, so he'd just be sitting idly waiting for the bullpen phone to ring.

Wang and Hughes in Rotation, Joba in Bullpen

I could write a whole separate article on this alone. One of the most popular choices among Yankee fans, this would allow both Wang and Hughes to continue their successes on the mound, as well as giving Joba the chance to return to what made him so popular back in 2007 when he was first called up.

I'll say it again: Joba does not belong in the bullpen. The Yankees need Joba to mature into his role as a starter, and putting him back into the bullpen would be completely counterintuitive. The only reason why he should return to the bullpen is if he is recovering from injury or has reached his pitch limit for the season.

Like Hughes, Joba has shown us that he can be a staff ace in the near future, and he can only get better with experience in the rotation. To quote Brian Cashman, "Wake up and smell the coffee." Joba is a starter, for better or for worse.

Hughes and Joba in Rotation, Wang in Bullpen

Well, this would solve the problem about giving seat time to the younger pitchers, as Hughes and Joba could continue to develop behind the seasoned veterans ahead of them.

However, you now have a proven workhorse in Wang who is finally cured and has voiced his displeasure with not being in the rotation. This one doesn't quite make sense to me.

A Six-Man Rotation

This is a good idea in theory—just push everyone back a day and slide Wang into the rotation as it is now. That way, everyone gets to start.

The problem is, most pitchers these days are so routine-oriented that giving them an extra day of rest could throw the entire balance of the rotation out of whack. I wouldn't recommend this as a long-term solution, but if there was a way to keep the rotation as effective as possible, then I like it.

Overall, I think Girardi made the right move in sending Hughes to the bullpen and promoting Wang to the rotation. While it definitely had to have been a tough decision, Wang is ready to contribute now that his sinker has regained its drop and his fastball has regained its velocity.

Hughes is very young and will definitely have a chance to come back into the rotation into the near future. He definitely has major league-quality stuff, so sending him down to AAA Scranton would be pointless, other than to get some work every fifth day.

My bet is that something will happen where Hughes can crack the rotation, but other than that, he can provide a direct lift to the bullpen.

Gotta love the "problems" the Yankees are having now, huh?

In the Results-Driven NFL, Vince Young Feels a Sense Of Entitlement

Nick Klopsis — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:21:16 -0400

In a classic episode of the hit TV show Scrubs—an excellent show for those who have never seen it—Dr. Robert Kelso imparts some valuable words of wisdom onto a difficult patient: Nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy.

Now if only Vince Young watched Scrubs.

VY created another media firestorm the other day by declaring that he wanted to play elsewhere if he did not start with the Titans.

In an interview with WMAR-TV in Baltimore, Young stated his ultimatum to the Titans organization: I'm willing to compete for the job, but if I don't get it then I want out, because if you guys don't want me on your team then some other team will.

He feels entitled to have his job back because he thinks he's ready. After Kerry Collins's revival last season, however, he's going to have to work for the job.

Not a problem, says Young. If I don't get the job then I'll demand a trade. Someone else will want me to play for them.

Problem is, nobody else would want Vince on their team.

His NFL resume is not very impressive: in 33 games, he has completed 444 of 775 passes for 4,964 yards with 22 TDs, 32 INTs, and an overall 68.8 QB rating.

Oh yeah, don't forget about his emotional baggage too.

In his three years in the NFL, VY has considered retiring after his rookie year, went missing after his two-interception performance against Jacksonville and had to have Nashville police search for him. He was "hurting inside and out" (according to his mother), and even was contemplating suicide.

And now he's asking for his starting job back.

Young is in absolutely no position to make trade demands or threats with the way he's carried himself both on and off the field.

If he wasn't as emotionally unstable, then maybe some teams might look at him as a development project. If he had the track record of success in the NFL, then some teams might be able to deal with Vince's episodes.

Unfortunately, Vince has neither of these going for him right now.

If Young is going to develop into a true team leader, what he should have said was, "It's going to be a great battle for the starting role, and I'm going to go out there, give it my all, and hopefully everyone will see that I'm ready to take my game to the next level."

He shouldn't be asking for his starting job back or for a trade. That's taking the easy way out.

Nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy. Even for Vince Young.

Defensive Driving: Why the Yankees' World Series Hopes Hinge on Defense

Nick Klopsis — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:53:27 -0400

There's an old saying in football: Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships.

If that's the case in baseball, then the New York Yankees are doing quite well for themselves.

While the Yankees have had an offensive renaissance since the return of third baseman Alex Rodriguez, one of the most important—yet often overlooked—reasons for their success has been their stellar defense.

Last night, the team broke the major league record for consecutive error-free games with their 18th game played.

During this stretch, the Yankees are 14-4 and have reclaimed first place in the AL East, thanks in large part to the defensive clinic that they've held every time they take the field.

It was not always this way, however. The Yankees' fielding was one of their biggest areas of concern entering the season. Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera weren't drawing any comparisons to Joe DiMaggio. Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter were supposed to have lost a step due to age. Robinson Cano wasn't supposed to recover from his dismal 2008 campaign.

So much for those question marks.

Nowadays everyone's getting in on the fun—even hefty Joba Chamberlain, whose bellyflop to catch a popped-up bunt in the fifth inning of last night's game may have caused an earthquake somewhere in the world.

In order to sustain this success, the Yankees must continue to have defensive gems out there on the field.

Overall, the team is 27-8 when they do not commit an error in a game.

Compare that to their 3-13 record in games that they do commit an error, and you can see that the Yankees' success this season is contingent upon their defensive prowess.

In addition, a great defense can be a pitcher's best friend. Knowing that they have a strong defense backing them up, pitchers are more likely to be aggressive and go after opposing hitters.

A solid defense will help the Yankees' pitchers—especially their shaky bullpen—become that much more effective.

Let the offense sell tickets. The Yankees' defense will take them to the World Series.

Youth Movement: How the New York Yankees' Young Guns Have Turned the Team Around

Nick Klopsis — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:54:49 -0400

After a humbling sweep at the hands of the hated Boston Red Sox this past weekend, the Yankees have turned their ship around.

Now the winners of three straight, the Yankees look to have regained their confidence and are making fans forget their earlier-season struggles with some solid pitching performances, gritty at-bats, and solid defensive play.

Who does one thank for their recent turnaround? Jeter? Teixeira? Burnett? Swisher?

The answer is the Yankees young guns.

Let’s take a look:

It all started in the second game of three against the Detroit Tigers: 22-year old Phil Hughes—he of the 0-4 record and 6.64 ERA last year—was called upon to save a Yankees rotation that had one of the worst team ERAs in all of baseball.

Boy, did he deliver.

Hughes tossed six innings of shutout ball, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out six in an 11-0 win.

The next day, the Yankees held on for an 8-6 thriller against the Tigers, with Detroit rallying for five runs in the bottom of the ninth against a shaky outing by Jonathan Albaladejo.

Lost in the score, however, is Joba Chamberlain’s outstanding game—he matched Hughes’s performance pitch for pitch, giving up only one run on three hits and three walks, fanning six in seven innings of work.

Then, in today’s game against the Angels, Melky Cabrera came through in the clutch, driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the eighth inning as the Bronx Bombers came back to win the game 7-4.

In these three games, Phil Coke pitched two shutout innings and did not allow a base runner, earning the win in the Angels game.

Even Ramiro Pena got in on the action, netting his first two RBI directly after Cabrera drove in the go-ahead run against Los Angeles.

Talk about youth being served.

In order for the team to continue this streak of success, they need this kind of production from the younger guys on the team, especially in the rotation.

With Chien-Ming Wang on the Disabled List and CC Sabathia having his usual slow start, Hughes and Chamberlain need to step up and become the stoppers that Yankee fans have expected them to be since last year.

In addition, the offense cannot flow through Nick Swisher forever—the Yankees need both Melky and Robinson Cano to maintain their recent hot streaks, as well as for the weaker players such as Pena and Brett Gardner to step up and contribute on a regular basis.

Only then will the Yankees truly be a contender in the cutthroat AL East.

Grading the First Round of the 2009 NFL Draft

Nick Klopsis — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:31:06 -0400

Throughout the first-round of the 2009 NFL Draft, I jotted down all of my thoughts on every pick that was made. After the dust finally settled, I took a good hard look at what each team did and came up with a letter grade for each pick (based on team needs and how well that pick satisfies the need).

Below are the results:

1) DETROIT LIONS: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

Taking a page out of the Dolphins’ and Texans’ book, the Lions signed QB Matthew Stafford to a six-year, $78 million deal the night before. The true kicker, however, is the amount of guaranteed money the former Georgia star will receive—an unprecedented $41.7 million.

For that kind of money, people will be expecting Stafford to produce and produce early. The Lions can only hope that Stafford will be this year’s version of Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco.

The key is patience, Lions fans.

Stafford will need some time to get acquainted with his coaches and teammates, and may sit for the season (if not for part of the year) to learn behind Daunte Culpepper.

Nevertheless, this choice was widely expected throughout the league, and for good reason: Stafford has all the tools to become a solid starter in the NFL in a year or so—great arm strength, the ability to win a big game, and poise—and I fully expect him to be the primary catalyst to any major turnaround in Detroit. GRADE: B+

2) ST. LOUIS RAMS: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

Again, another widely-expected selection. Jason Smith really blossomed this past year and established himself as the top lineman available early on since fellow lineman Andre Smith had his well-documented fall from grace.

Recent history has shown that linemen taken early on are able to live up to the hype and then some (see: Joe Thomas, Jake Long, Levi Brown). Smith should be able to come right in and make Rams fans forget about the departure of longtime OT stalwart Orlando Pace. This is a very solid choice by the Rams. GRADE: A-

3) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

A bit of a surprise here, although Jackson did have a meteoric rise up draft boards in the week leading up to today. A lot of people had Jackson going later on in the draft—most mock drafts had him topping out somewhere barely inside the top 10.

Regardless, Jackson is a solid 3-4 end who can come in and make an impact for the Chiefs’ defense. This pick also, interestingly, marks the reunion of Jackson and fellow LSU defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, who was the Chief’s first rounder last year.

I think Jackson was somewhat of a reach at third overall—Kansas City could have possibly traded down and still gotten him.

This is a good pick, and I can see where GM Scott Pioli was coming from when he made it, but I really think that this too big of a risk as well. GRADE: B-

4) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

A lot of people were talking about Curry sliding once the Chiefs passed on him, but he didn’t have to wait much longer to have his name called as he got snapped right up by the Seahawks with the fourth pick.

Curry may just be the best overall prospect in the draft, and Seahawks fans must be thrilled to see him fall into their laps. Despite the trade rumors, Seattle brass looked at who was available and made the decision that the available prospects were better than any trade.

I really like this selection by the Seahawks. Seattle needed to fill a linebacker void left by the trade of Julian Peterson, and Curry will be able to come in right away and line up next to current LBs Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill. GRADE: A-

5) NEW YORK JETS: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

To quote the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight: “And here… we… GO.”

Cleveland traded the fifth overall choice to the Jets for the 17th overall pick, their second round pick, DE Kenyon Coleman, QB Brett Ratliff, and DB Abram Elam. With their new pick, the Jets instantly answer their biggest offseason question and pick up their QB of the future.

The Jets needed to make a big-time trade in order to make a statement to the rest of the NFL, and they’ve done just that.

With his tenure at USC, Sanchez may be the more pro-ready of the top two quarterbacks and is by far the bigger name. He has a powerful arm, great accuracy, and a great work ethic. A few teams—namely USC—were worried that Sanchez would have done better with another season in college, but he is still ready for the pros.

The main question in the Big Apple will be whether Sanchez is worth it.

I actually think the Jets robbed the Browns blind: the three players that the Jets traded away weren’t top-tier talent, and in they felt they could do without their second round pick. In return, they get their franchise QB.

I absolutely love this move by the Jets. Sanchez will fit in perfectly with the New York atmosphere and will thrive from day one. GRADE: A+

6) CINCINNATI BENGALS: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

Talent-wise, Andre Smith is one of the top tackles, if not THE top tackle, in the draft. However, weight issues, along with character questions, were his downfall.

Enter the Bengals, who are never one to worry about character issues.

Smith will project as a left tackle with the Bengals, who solidify their offensive line and finally give Carson Palmer some protection. If Smith can get on the right track, he will be a dominant force in the NFL for years to come. GRADE: B

7) OAKLAND RAIDERS: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

Typical. Al. Davis.

With surefire, safer WR bets, such as Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin still available, the Raiders revert back to their normal, predictable ways and indulge in their speed fetish with Darrius Heyward-Bey.

DHB was the fastest player at the combine with a 4.3 40-yard dash, but a lot of people doubt that he has the hands, toughness, strength, or overall skill set to be successful. A straight-line speedster, Heyward-Bey fits the Al Davis mold of fast players with not much else to offer.

In addition, this was WAY too early for someone like DHB to come off the board. For crying out loud, Crabtree is still out there, and he’s being compared to Larry Fitzgerald. What are you doing, Al?! GRADE: D+

8) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

Lost in all of this madness was Eugene Monroe’s fall. A lot of people had him going in the top 5, but the trade and other surprises going on above the Jaguars led to Monroe falling to 8th overall.

It’s not any of his fault, though. Monroe is a great tackle that is probably one of the most technically sound linemen in the draft. Because Jacksonville needed a lineman to replace Khalif Barnes departure, the pick makes total sense.

I don’t know if you can call a top 10 pick who fell four spots a “steal”, but it certainly feels like Jacksonville made off with something special. GRADE: A-

9) GREEN BAY PACKERS: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

The Packers needed a force on the defensive line to complement their new 3-4 defense, and Raji is just that person. He can play in any scheme, and he is the high-motor, high-energy player that people seek in a top-notch DT.

Raji will step into what was a weak spot last year for the Packers and make an instant impact. GRADE: B+

10) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

Say what you will about Michael Crabtree’s attitude—he is one of the best pure football players in this draft. He has it all—hands, speed, route-running, the ability to separate from defenders, the ability to make outstanding catches… I could go on and on.

The fact that he fell this far is mostly due to Al Davis being Al Davis and going with speed over skill. Once the Raiders took DHB, people knew that Crabtree would slide a few spots. Despite having other (more pressing) needs, the 49ers just couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to pass on a potential superstar, and I completely agree with such a move. GRADE: A-

11) BUFFALO BILLS: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

Maybin, like Raji, is another high-motor lineman who knows how to get to the QB. It was widely expected that Maybin would go to the Bills, and there’s not much surprise here. He had a decorated career under Joe Paterno, and will only get better while in Buffalo, where he will become a mainstay at end for years to come. GRADE: B+

12) DENVER BRONCOS: Knowshon Moreno, HB, Georgia

A little surprising, considering that many people thought that the Broncos would address their defense with both of their selections. In addition, the Broncos are stacked at running back with players like Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, Selvin Young, Andre Hall, Peyton Hillis, and Ryan Torain.

A bit too much to warrant adding another HB.

This is why this move really doesn’t make any sense to me. While Moreno is a huge talent and has enormous potential, Denver would have been much better served addressing their linebacker corps or their defensive line. GRADE: C+

13) WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

A surprise gift for Daniel Snyder at No. 13.

Orakpo is regarded as one of the top talents at DE in the draft, but some people were worried that he could end up being a bust.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

Orakpo reminds me of Terrell Suggs—a defensive end that has the ability to drop back and play linebacker when needed. He will thrive next to newly-acquired Albert Haynesworth and become the eventual replacement for Jason Taylor. He will make an instant impact and continue to be successful for years to come. GRADE: A

14) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

No surprises here. The Saints needed to shore up their defensive backfield, and Malcolm Jenkins is regarded as the best overall CB in the draft.

Jenkins has the coverage ability to do well in the league, but some people question his speed to the point that some scouts projected him at safety instead of cornerback. I think he’ll do just fine in the Saints system. GRADE: B+

15) HOUSTON TEXANS: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

Out of the three USC linebackers expected to go in the first round, I think Cushing is the best overall. He has great technique, good instincts, and can get to the ball carrier as well as rush the QB. A very solid selection by Houston, and I think Cushing has all the makings of a Pro Bowl linebacker in due time. GRADE: A-

16) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois

This is a bit of a reach here for the Chargers, who shore up their defense with another hybrid pass-rushing type of player in English.

A lot of people doubt that English was even a first round pick, with most mock drafts having him towards the bottom of the first round.

In addition, there is still talent on the board in DE/OLBs Everette Brown and Robert Ayers—two similar players who, in my opinion, would have more of an initial impact than English.

Nevertheless, San Diego did make a good choice in addressing their pass rush, which suffered in Shawne Merriman’s absence last year. This pick gives the Chargers three solid pass rushers, and teams such as the Giants have proven that you can never have enough pass rushers. GRADE: B-/C+

17) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

It was no secret that the Bucs have had an unhealthy obsession with Freeman, and they even traded up with the Browns to get him. I’m not so sure that they needed to trade up to get him, but I can understand their logic—it is very possible that the Broncos could be looking at Freeman to be their franchise QB, and Tampa Bay brass did not want to take any chances.

Freeman has the prototypical size and strength that teams look for in an NFL QB, even evoking comparisons to Ben Roethlisberger. Though he is probably the least ready for the NFL of the top three QBs right now, I would say that he has the most upside of the group.

This could work out to be one of the greatest moves in Buccaneers history if Freeman pans out as expected, which I honestly think he will. GRADE: A-

18) DENVER BRONCOS: Robert Ayers, DE/OLB, Tennessee

The Broncos FINALLY address their defense with the second of their two first-round picks, picking up a quality defensive end in Robert Ayers.

Ayers really came on during his senior season, and will only continue to get better with playing time. His versatility is also a huge plus—the Broncos can fit him in at end or linebacker as they see fit. This is a very solid pick by Denver. GRADE: B/B+

19) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Yet again, the Browns trade down two selections, this time with Philadelphia. The Eagles pick up Jeremy Maclin, who had a pretty steep fall—most people were expecting him to go in the top 10 or early into the teens.

The Eagles couldn’t land Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards via trade, but they still manage to get a top WR at the end of the day. Maclin is a great all-around player with good speed, great hands, and the big-play potential. Good job by the Eagles to snap him up. GRADE: A-

20) DETROIT LIONS: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

Now, Matthew Stafford has a toy to play with.

Pettigrew is a large target that can catch the pigskin and run with It as well. He will be an excellent target once he steps in, and will help Stafford come along immensely.

I think this pick would have been better served by addressing the offensive line or on the defensive side of the ball, but I don’t think this was a bad choice at all. GRADE: B

21) CLEVELAND BROWNS: Alex Mack, C, California

Finally, 17 picks later, the Browns make their choice—and it’s honestly a bit disappointing.

Don’t get me wrong, Mack is a fine player who gives 110 percent on every play and will develop into a solid lineman. I just think that this was too early for him to go off the board. Mack was projected to be a low-first round to mid-second round choice, and he goes in the middle of the first round.

I’m starting to think that this wasn’t the Browns’ original choice. It seems like they had someone else in mind when they traded down with Philly (maybe Pettigrew?), but had to go with their next best option when their guy was taken off the board.

This isn’t as sexy of a pick as some hoped, but don’t discount Mack—who, with some time, can be an anchor on the line for years. GRADE: B-

22) MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

With this pick, the Vikings pick up much more of a playmaking threat at WR.

With Adrian Peterson already a threat to take it to the house on any given play, the Vikings add Harvin, who not only shores up the wideout position but also gives Tarvaris Jackson another dangerous, versatile weapon.

With defenses paying special attention to Harvin and Peterson, this will allow other receivers such as Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice to get open. The Vikings offense just added a whole new dimension. GRADE: A-

23) BALTIMORE RAVENS: Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

After Jason Brown left for St. Louis via free agency, the Ravens needed a solid lineman to anchor their offense and protect young signal-caller Joe Flacco. Michael Oher can step in and do just that.

I would have liked to see the Ravens address the wide receiver position with this pick, but I do see the reasoning behind taking Oher—he is one of the premier tackles in the draft, and they can wait until the later rounds to select a wideout because of the depth throughout the second and third rounds. GRADE: B

24) ATLANTA FALCONS: Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

Ole Miss teammates go back-to-back, with the Falcons turning Peria Jerry to fix their defense.

With the recent exodus of defensive players from the Falcons, the team needed a young player to re-build around. With a few seasons under his belt, Jerry can be a solid run-stuffer in the middle for the Falcons. GRADE: B

25) MIAMI DOLPHINS: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

The Dolphins address a need at CB with Vontae Davis. Vontae is an athletic and physical freak—just like his brother, 49ers TE and former first-round pick, Vernon Davis.

Davis is a boom-or-bust prospect, and to be honest, I don’t know how he’ll turn out. If the Dolphins simply throw him into the fire, I’m not sure he’ll succeed. However, he has the skill set needed to do well at CB, and with some seasoning I think he could be fine. GRADE: B-

26) GREEN BAY PACKERS: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC

Let the Packers’ textbook defensive renaissance continue.

They’ve already picked up their nose tackle in B.J. Raji and now pick up an outside linebacker in Clay Matthews.

It’s also fitting that Matthews goes to a storied team like Green Bay, considering his lineage includes Hall Of Famer Bruce Matthews.

Scouts have said that Matthews’s skills would be best for a 3-4 defense, and he should thrive in Green Bay’s new defensive scheme. He can step in alongside A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Aaron Kampman (who will see time at both DE and OLB) and further solidify the Packers’ defense. GRADE: B+

27) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Donald Brown, HB, UConn

At first, this seemed like an odd choice, and my first reaction was to rip Colts brass a new one.

I had a feeling they would pick a DT such as Evander “Ziggy” Hood here out of need.

But then, I realized something that makes a lot of sense:

When the Colts won the Super Bowl, who was their halfback?

That’s right; it was a shared workload between Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes.

Before Rhodes left for Oakland after the Super Bowl, Addai never really experienced a full amount of carries—even at LSU, where he split time with Justin Vincent and the rest of the Tigers’ backfield.

Once he was given the full share of the running work, he tired out easily and struggled, which made the offense even more one-dimensional than it already is.

Donald Brown is a phenomenal young man and an absolute workhorse, having carried the UConn offense for the past two years. He can come in and spell Addai every now and then, or he could become the feature back if for some reason the Colts decide to cut their losses on Addai or he gets injured. GRADE: B/B+

28) BUFFALO BILLS: Eric Wood, C, Louisville

With the pick received in the trade for lineman Jason Peters, the Bills select his replacement Eric Wood out of Louisville.

Like Alex Mack, this might have been a bit earlier than most people expected for Wood. However, Wood has a great work ethic and the tools to succeed. I expect Wood to sit for a season or so to learn before he sees any action. GRADE: B

29) NEW YORK GIANTS: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

He’s no Plaxico Burress or Braylon Edwards, but Hakeem Nicks is—and will be—a great wideout.

The Giants address their wide receiver issues in a big way, taking the sure-handed Nicks from UNC.

While Nicks might not have Burress’ height or deep-threat ability, he more than makes up for it with his hands and route-running. I saw his performance at the Meineke Car Care Bowl this year, and to say that Nicks never drops the ball is an understatement. He will do ANYTHING to hold onto the ball, even if it includes catching it behind his back and trying to pass it through his legs.

Reminds me of a another fan-favorite Giant—does Amani Toomer ring a bell?

GM Jerry Reese knows what he’s doing, and I love this pick—it addresses the Giants’ primary need in a huge way. GRADE: A

30) TENNESSEE TITANS: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

The Titans get younger at the WR position with Kenny Britt, a tall, physical receiver who can create separation with his sheer size.

At only 20 years old, Britt is very young, but by no means is he raw—as a matter of fact, I think that he (along with Nicks, Crabtree, and Maclin) are the most pro-ready receivers in the entire draft. He should be a nice target for Kerry Collins. GRADE: B+

31) ARIZONA CARDINALS: Chris “Beanie” Wells, HB, Ohio State

When things go right in Arizona, things keep going right.

Cardinals fans have to be happy that Wells slid this far, considering his name was being thrown around as the best HB in the draft. Wells is a feature back with a power running style, and he’ll probably split carries with Tim Hightower in the Cardinals’ backfield.

The likelihood that Edgerrin James will be released or traded increases with this pick. There is no way that the team can afford to keep both Wells and James on their roster, so it’s looking likely that the team will give James what he has been clamoring for. GRADE: B+

32) PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Evander “Ziggy” Hood, DT, Missouri

The Steelers are always able to find a way to bring a defensive talent in and utilize him to the best of his potential. I’m sure they can do the same with Ziggy Hood.

Hood is a great run-stuffer and can clog up the middle with ease, freeing up both James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley to do what they do best—run amok and wreak havoc on opposing QBs.

This is a good choice by Pittsburgh at the very end of the first round and watch for Ziggy to really develop after a year or two. GRADE: B

Sinking Sinkerballer: Should Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang Be Sent Down to AAA?

Nick Klopsis — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:26:23 -0400

5.3 IP, 34.50 ERA, 23 hits allowed, 23 runs allowed, .622 BAA, six walks, two strikeouts.

Surely this all must be some sort of nightmare for New York Yankees fans.

As of this writing, Yankees sinkerballer Chien-Ming Wang was the primary culprit of the most recent bloodbath at the new Yankee Stadium, surrendering eight runs on eight hits in 1.1 innings of work.

With the way Wang has struggled early on, one can only wonder what the Yankees can do to fix this.

Over the past couple of starts, Wang has been tinkering with his delivery to find out exactly what he is doing wrong.

Problem is, the majors is not the place to work on this, especially when you're giving up eight runs per game—which begs the question of whether or not Wang should be sent down to the minors to fine-tune his mechanics.

Now you might say that the problem lies not just with Wang, but with the bullpen; after all, they have been giving up their (un)fair share of runs recently.

However, it's not the bullpen's fault that in 12 games so far, the starting rotation has gone six innings or longer only five times. A tired bullpen is an ineffective bullpen, and if the Yankees keep this up, then everyone in the 'pen will have blown their arms out come season's end.

Which brings us back to Wang.

With the way this season has played out so far, it's a no-brainer to send Wang down to AAA ball for a month or two.

Spending some time in Scranton will afford him the ability to slow down and work on his delivery with about a quarter of the pressure on him.

Instead of getting shelled for a ridiculous amount of runs every time out in the majors, Wang can still try to fix what is wrong in a lower level of competition while taking his time doing so.

In addition, it allows Phil Hughes to prove himself at the major league level once again. Hughes, who is widely regarded among Yankees brass as the most major-league ready pitcher to come up if needed, has been solid in AAA ball so far, going 2-for-0 in his two starts with a 2.31 ERA and 12 K's in 11.1 innings of work.

Sounds a whole lot better than Wang's pitiful season line so far.

Goodbye Plax: What Burress' Release Means for the New York Giants

Nick Klopsis — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:44:53 -0400

It's been four long months, but New York Giants fans can finally exhale and move on with the rest of their lives.

The Giants, having had enough of the drama that shrouded their team in the recent weeks, released troubled wideout Plaxico Burress a few short hours ago in a move that signals the end of one era and, potentially, the beginning of the next.

What will become of Burress is not necessarily the question—chances are he will get jail time after his court hearing was adjourned on March 31 as lawyers fought over the terms of a potential plea deal. The question now turns to the Giants and what they will now do to fill the hole left by Burress's release.

Let's look at each of the Giants' options:

TRADING FOR A VETERAN WR

Originally, the Giants were in talks for Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin or Browns receiver Braylon Edwards. Both receivers are two of the best in the league, and they would instantly become a force in the Giants' offense.

However, as if the price wasn't high enough for both receivers—both teams have demanded DE Mathias Kiwanuka and WR Steve Smith in any deals—the Burress saga will only help other teams out further in negotiations.

The Giants could have used Plaxico as leverage in previous talks. They could have said, "Forget it, we don't need Boldin, we have Burress."

Now, they don't have that luxury.

Teams will now look the lack of skill at the Giants' receiver position and see just how desperately the Giants need help. As such, anyone who the Giants talk to will now demand even more in the hopes that the Giants will bite as the season draws near.

FREE AGENCY

There are a few big-name, veteran options in free agency that the Giants may think about. Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison, even Big Blue fan favorite Amani Toomer are all unsigned as of right now, and they all have a ton of experience.

The thing is, that is also their main problem.

There only credible free agents are all way past their prime, and are a shell of their former greatness. To sign one of these aging vets would be hoping that they can pull some sort of a Favre-esque miracle, and that's asking a bit too much.

DEVELOP FROM WITHIN

Giants GM Jerry Reese has put together some astounding drafts recently, and the team has quite a few young receivers that have potential. Outside of Steve Smith, who will most likely be taking Toomer's place as the possession receiver, there are Domenik Hixon, Mario Manningham, and Sinorice Moss, all of which are very young and have potential to do well.

None of these players particularly stand out, and it will take a lot of offseason effort and a good showing in the preseason for one of these to effectively replace Burress. However, I'm not completely ruling this out as an option. Jerry Reese has a history of making good decisions for the franchise—if he sees potential in one of Big Blue's current receivers, then let him do what he must to maximize that player's potential.

DRAFT

This is becoming more and more likely as the draft draws nearer. And the beautiful thing is, the Giants haven't done anything to improve their odds—it's other teams that have made moves.

The Bears were one of the teams that seriously considered drafting a wide receiver in the first round. However, they effectively ended that discussion when they gave up their first-round pick, 18th overall, to the Broncos for Jay Cutler.

As a result there will be one less team looking for a top receiver, meaning that the chances that a top receiver falling to the Giants are that much stronger.

The G-Men will seriously consider taking Hakeem Nicks or Kenny Britt at pick No. 29, but if Darrius Heyward-Bey falls, expect them to call his name—DHB has the size that the Giants need (6'2", 206 lbs), and runs a 4.3 40-yard dash.

To compare, Britt is 6'3", 218 lbs, and runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. Nicks is 6'1", 212 lbs, and runs a 4.51 40-yard dash.

Landing any of these prospects would be a step in the right direction toward replacing Burress, however. They all have tremendous upside and would provide a big target for Eli to throw to, which is just what he needs to thrive in the Giants' offense.

Many Giants fans are thankful that the Burress situation is now over and that he is no longer a thorn in their side. However, that's not enough: now the team must find out a way to make them forget all about Burress.

Predicting the 2009 NFL Draft in Pictures

Nick Klopsis — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:15:54 -0400

With less than a month until the 2009 NFL Draft, teams are finishing up their scouting reports and getting ready to make what may be their biggest offseason move - selecting who will become the future of their franchise. Who will go first overall? What surprise picks will be made? Who will YOUR team take? I answer those questions and more in this NFL Round 1 mock draft slideshow.

Begin Slideshow

Assessing The New York Giants' Wide Receiver Issues

Nick Klopsis — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:18:36 -0400

About a month has passed since free agency opened up, and without a doubt, one of the biggest winners so far has been the New York Giants. Making their stout defense even scarier with the additions of LB Michael Boley, DT Rocky Bernard, and DE Chris Canty, the Giants look to be the team to beat on paper.

Yet, there is still one glaring weakness that could very well prevent the Giants from continuing their recent success, and that is the mess that is the wide receiver depth chart.

While the team has been awaiting word on what will become of team idiot Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer has been quietly sitting on the free agent market waiting for someone to snatch him up. This leaves the Giants' receiving corps with Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, Mario Manningham, and Sinorice Moss—or a combined career total of 151 receptions, 1667 yards, and six touchdowns.

Yeah. Not quite Super Bowl-caliber numbers.

Now, don't get me wrong: Steve Smith has shown phenomenal growth since his rookie season in 2007 and will be able to comfortably fill the possession receiver role that Toomer once had. It's the situation with Burress that has fans of Big Blue asking who Eli's go-to guy will be this year.

They could hope for one of the young members on their current roster to step up. After all, that's what they tried with Hixon last year. However, the stats tell otherwise: After the Giants lost Burress last year in Week 12, Eli threw for 200 or more yards only twice, and had a 63.6 QB rating. Compare that with his 89.0 QB rating and four (nearly seven) 200+ yard games before the Burress fiasco.

They could also wait for Burress' legal proceedings to finish up and hope he comes back. However, the chance of that happening are quite slim, regardless of what the Giants say publicly.

So who will the Giants call upon now?

Rumor has it that the Giants have inquired about disgruntled Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin and Browns wideout Braylon Edwards—two young, talented receivers who could instantly come in and make an impact.

Problem is, the asking price for either pass-catcher is too high for Giants brass; Arizona wants the Giants' first and third-round draft picks this year, as well as next year's first round, and Cleveland has demanded that young DE Mathias Kiwanuka and Steve Smith be included in any talks for Edwards.

The simplest option—which this writer also feels is the best—is to address the issue in the draft. Fortunately for the G-Men, the bottom of the first round has a plethora of young receiver talent. They could go with the sure-handed Hakeem Nicks out of North Carolina, the tall speedster Darrius Heyward-Bey from Maryland, or local product Kenny Britt of Rutgers.

The main issue with rookie receivers, however, is the immense learning curve they face. The average rookie wideout takes about two to three years to adopt to a pro offense.

In addition, the Giants have drafted a wideout in each of the past three years; drafting another would be taking a page out of the Detroit Lions' textbook. However, any of the rookies mentioned above would be considered an upgrade to the Giants' current situation.

The Giants could be one receiver away from playing in Miami on Feb. 7, 2010. The question is: Who will it be?