Bleacher Report - Articles by Josh Brewer

Five Coaches Who Have What Notre Dame Football Needs

Josh Brewer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:56 -0500

When Bob Davie took over for Lou Holtz before the 1997 NCAA football season, nobody knew it was effectively the end of Notre Dame's reign amongst the nation's elite college football programs.

With Holtz leading the Fighting Irish, success was a given.

Notre Dame won fewer than eight games only twice in Holtz's 11 seasons as coach. In those 11 seasons, Holtz led Notre Dame to nine bowl games (six of which are now considered BCS bowl games) and the 1988 National Championship.

Since then, the list of Notre Dame coaches has been riddled with rash hires and emphatic burnouts.

Davie and Tyrone Willingham combined for two BCS bowl games—both losses—in eight years.

And then there is current Head Coach Charlie Weis.

Weis was supposed to bring change to South Bend. Instead, his five years have been filled with high expectations and shortcomings. Over the past three seasons, the Fighting Irish has a 16-19 record.

Davie, Willingham, and Weis had a combined one bowl victory before coming to Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish need a coach who is well established as a success in college football.

Names have been flying in the rumor mills over the past couple of weeks, but here are five coaches Notre Dame needs to take into consideration.

5. Gary Patterson (83-27 Career Record)

Surely the dark horse in this scenario, Patterson has seen plenty of success in his nine seasons at TCU.

Patterson is a defensive-minded, hard-working coach that would bring a new type of discipline to Notre Dame. His consistency is unrivaled, evidenced by seven winning seasons and six 10-win campaigns in Fort Worth.

4. Les Miles (76-32 Career Record)

Miles doesn't have the track record the next three coaches on this list do, but he does have something one man ahead of him doesn't: a National Championship.

Throughout his nine years as a head coach, Miles has proven he can handle the big time. He has seen consistent success in one of the toughest conferences in the country, and consistency is something Notre Dame dearly needs.

3. Bob Stoops (109-25 Career Record)

Though his Sooners are 6-4 and unranked, the impact of injuries across the board cannot be ignored in Stoops' 11th season at Oklahoma.

Stoops returned the proud Sooners back to national prominence following more than a decade out of the national title hunt.

At only 49 years old, Stoops has plenty of time to return the most famous college football program in America to the national title picture year in and year out.

2. Mark Richt (85-23 Career Record)

If Stoops coached in the SEC, his track record would mirror Richt's.

Richt, lacking the BCS bowl bids of Stoops, has been as consistent as anyone in the SEC.

Winning games on a week-to-week basis is tough enough down south, but Richt's Georgia teams have won six or more conference games six times in his nine years in Athens.

Not only would Richt bring a heightened level of success to South Bend, he would also prepare his players for big games in ways Davies, Willingham, and Weis never could.

After all, Richt has been there before.

1. Urban Meyer (93-17 Career Record)

Meyer brings success wherever he goes.

Under Meyer's watch, Utah became the first non-BCS conference team to earn a BCS bowl bid. He also has two national championships at Florida.

Before Weis was hired, Meyer turned down the job at Notre Dame to take the vacancy in Gainesville. He has referred to Notre Dame as his dream job.

Despite saying he was never going to leave Florida for Notre Dame, the powers that be in South Bend need to change Meyer's mind.

Quiet Offseason Not The Doctor's Order in Boston

Josh Brewer — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:16:43 -0500

Keeping up with the Joneses becomes an even tougher task when your hated next-door neighbor cruised through the defending world champs on their way to a World Series victory.

Such a task is the one laid at the feet of Theo Epstein, Terry Francona and the Boston Red Sox this offseason. The acquisition of Jeremy Hermida from Florida is the beginning of what should be a handful of minor changes made to the Red Sox roster in order for Boston to take the division, and the pennant, back from the Yankees.

1. The infield quagmire needs to be resolved.

Having four former All-Stars to play catcher, first base and third base is a luxury, not a necessity. It's time something is done about Boston's current four-man rotation at the aforementioned positions.

Kevin Youkilis and Victor Martinez should undoubtedly be starters in 2010. Decisions on the futures of the aging Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek need to be made this winter.

Youkilis led the Red Sox with a .305 batting average to go along with 27 home runs and 94 RBI. Youkilis also led the team in slugging (.548) and on-base percentage (.413). Martinez was right on pace with Youkilis, batting .303 on the season with 23 homers and 108 RBI.

As strange as it may seem for Red Sox Nation, it is time Jason Varitek steps out from behind the plate as the team's full-time catcher. While his chemistry with the starting pitchers is top-notch, Varitek's arm, as well as his abilities at the plate, are becoming more of a liability.

2. The back end of the starting rotation needs an upgrade.

Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are going to anchor the top end of the rotation for 2010 and beyond, if Beckett stays in Boston after next season. But after that, things start to get a little dicey.

Clay Buchholz will likely fit into the rotation next year, but the wildcards are Daisuke Matsuzaka and Tim Wakefield. Wakefield turned 43 two days after the trade deadline this summer and hasn't had an ERA under four since 2002. He's also cracked 200 innings pitched only twice in the last 11 seasons.

Dice-K, on the other hand, has been the topic of trade rumors over the past year due to his inconsistency and occasional outspoken desire for a trade.

A trade of Dice-K would be a plus, but the probability of getting equal value for the 29-year-old Japanese starter isn't high.

As with Varitek, it's time for Wakefield to step out of the starting rotation and into a lesser role. In his place, a free-agent acquisition could step in.

John Lackey may be the top free-agent hurler on the market this winter. If the Sox were to go after, and miss, on Lackey, Randy Wolf or Rich Harden may be the answer. An incentive-laden contract for Erik Bedard may also be a possibility.

3. Left field must be locked up.

Jason Bay or Matt Holliday? It doesn't much matter as long as one of them is patrolling left field at Fenway Park next season.

Bay has been in talks with Red Sox brass regarding an extension since last offseason, so the interest in returning to Boston is clearly there. Bay filed for free agency, but has expressed interest in returning to Boston in 2010.

If Bay signs elsewhere, the Red Sox must make a strong play to sign Matt Holliday. After all is said and done, Holliday may be the better fit for Boston. Holliday had a higher batting average (.313 to Bay's .267) and fewer strikeouts (101 to Bay's 162) while achieving similar home run and RBI numbers.

Regardless of what happens, Bay or Holliday will be a formidable addition to a stacked Red Sox batting order.

4. Theo Epstein must continue to hold on to the team's young pitchers.

Before J.J. Hardy was traded to Minnesota, Epstein was in talks with the Brewers regarding the former All-Star shortstop. Milwaukee's asking price of either Clay Buchholz or Daniel Bard was too much for Epstein's taste and Epstein should be commended for that.

Boston's bullpen is loaded with young talent, with the likes of Bard, Manny Delcarmen, Michael Bowden and Junichi Tazawa at Terry Francona's disposal.

Epstein's penchant for wrangling young pitching talent is clear, as evidenced by the success of Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Jonathan Papelbon. As long as Epstein sticks to his guns, Boston's pitching staff will be solid for years to come.

What the NFL Can Learn from European Football

Josh Brewer — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:10:21 -0400

For the first time in what seems like forever, there are a plethora of bad teams in the NFL. Parity surely hasn't died (see: Cincinnati Bengals), but a chasm may be developing.

Maybe the NFL is getting a little too convoluted. Maybe having 32 teams bogs down competition a little. Maybe owners in Detroit, St. Louis, Oakland, and elsewhere need a bit of motivation to field a strong team year in and year out.

The NFL needs to institute a policy of relegation. Lucky for them, I've already come up with the solution.

First, the AFC/NFC idea is out. The divisions that share the same directional name join (i.e. teams from the AFC and NFC North combine to make the North Division), leaving the league with four divisions.

After the combination comes the separation. The two worst teams in each division are relegated to the NFL's second-tier league—we'll call it NFL-B. Using the current standings, Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington, Buffalo, St. Louis, and Kansas City will be sent packing.

The 24 teams remaining in the NFL battle it out in the same manner the 32 teams currently do. A team plays each of its divisional foes twice (home and away) while battling every team from another division once. As per current scheduling standards, inter-divisional games rotate every year.

This structure would ensure the continuation of many rivalries (Chicago-Green Bay, Denver-Oakland, New York Giants-Dallas, etc.) while introducing the potential for new rivalries, like a bi-yearly battle between the Giants and Jets.

Division winners will automatically enter the playoffs. Unlike the league's current format, however, the six best non-division winners would fill the remaining playoff spots, regardless of division affiliation. The teams with the two best regular-season records would receive first-round byes.

In NFL-B, the eight relegated teams would play a double round-robin schedule (with each team playing every other team at home and on the road), with the four best records earning a spot back in the NFL. In the case of a single region having two of the top four marks, the team with the better mark would be promoted.

Using this year's example, if Washington and Buffalo both sported top-four records in NFL-B, but the Bills had the better record, Buffalo would return to the NFL's East Division while the Redskins would remain in NFL-B.

Conversely, the last-place teams from each NFL division are relegated to NFL-B to fill the four spots vacated by the promoted teams.

The rift in monetary gains seen in Europe wouldn't be relevant in the bi-divisional NFL. High-dollar TV deals would still be given out to teams in both levels of the league. Time conflicts could be resolved by moving NFL-B games to an different kickoff time or, possibly, an entirely new day.

In an effort to prevent permanent relegation, the eight teams in NFL-B would receive the top eight draft picks in April's draft. Draft order would be determined the same way it is now, with the first eight picks being handed out to NFL-B teams exclusively.

The new batch of divisional games would bring even more excitement to an exciting regular season. Instead of playing once every four years, the Colts and Saints would clash twice a year. The same can be said about the Steelers and Packers, Cowboys and Patriots, and Chargers and Cardinals.

Even more, the threat of relegation would prevent teams with poor records from giving up on a season. If relegation were to be installed at the conclusion of this season, the 0-6 Titans surely wouldn't be coasting come December.

The old saying says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," but would it be such a bad thing to improve a product in danger of slipping a notch or two?

Punishment Not Fitting For Blount's Actions

Josh Brewer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:03:03 -0400

The punch LeGarrette Blount delivered to the chin of Boise State's Byron Hout was suspension-worthy. His actions afterward were worthy of a much more severe punishment.

There is no doubt Blount should have been suspended for cold-cocking Hout after No. 14 Boise State's 19-8 victory Thursday night over No. 16 Oregon.

But, for coming within feet of physically attacking fans at Bronco Stadium, Blount should have been kicked off of the football team and out of the University of Oregon.

If it weren't for a handful of coaches and police officers holding him back, Blount would have created a scene all too reminiscent of Nov. 19, 2004, in Auburn Hills, Mich. On that night, Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson entered the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills to engage in a fistfight with fans.

Artest was suspended for the entirety of the year—which ended up being a total of 83 games—for being the primary offender in the incident. For even considering mixing it up with Boise State's fans, Blount should have been kicked off the Ducks football team and had his scholarship ripped up.

Entering any type of physical altercation with fans is the No. 1 mistake any athlete, on any level, can make. Doing so when you are a 6'2", 240-pound athlete in full football pads makes a scary situation even scarier.

There is no reason that can justify an athlete entering the stands. No matter what was said, Blount should have been the bigger man and walked away from the situation—much like he should have been after Hout said whatever he said to instigate Blount's punch.

Football players on all levels are role models and representatives of whatever institute or organization's logos adorn the sides of their helmets. The University of Oregon should be appalled at Blount's actions, especially since Blount was donning Oregon's well-known green and white football uniform. The university should be so appalled, in fact, that they shouldn't want Blount on their campus altogether.

Instead, Blount was suspended for the rest of the year—meaning he can practice with the team for the remainder of the 2009 season—while keeping his valuable scholarship. That punishment is sufficient for Blount's sucker punch only.

It seems the university is OK with Blount's nearly attacking Boise State fans. Such is likely not the case, but the sanctions handed down to Blount should be reflective of all his transgressions, not just the ones performed on the gridiron.

Phillies Fans: Prepare For Second Consecutive October Celebration

Josh Brewer — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:24:04 -0400

In Major League Baseball, defending a World Series title is a tall order. Few teams are up to the task while many more fall short of defending their crown.

As the sun rose Wednesday, the Phillies were among the favorites to win the National League pennant...like they were for much of the first half of the 2009 season.

By sunset, though, they became the favorites to win it all this October.

The Phillies added reigning American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee Wednesday, bolstering a starting rotation that wasn't exactly struggling. Lee and his 3.14 earned run average-which ranked sixth in the AL before the trade-join a starting rotation, led by young guns J.A. Happ and Cole Hamels.

Jamie Moyer is no slouch and two-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez will make one heck of a back-end starter once he makes his Philadelphia debut.

Lee will undoubtedly flourish over the next month or two. First, most National League batters will be seeing Lee for the first time. Second-and most importantly-Lee will shine now that he will finally receive run support.

In Cleveland, Lee's lack of run support was instrumental in his 7-9 record, despite having a top-flight ERA. The only legit threats he had backing him up were Grady Sizemore (who is having a down year) and Victor Martinez.

In Philadelphia, Lee will have the support of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth. Quite a contrast to the lack of firepower in Cleveland.

If Lee's four interleague starts are any indication, Philly's opponents are in for a lot of trouble. In 29 innings, Lee allowed only eight earned runs (a 2.48 ERA) while striking out 20 and walking nine. He was only 1-0 in those four starts, but he never allowed more than three earned runs in a single start and received more than three runs of support once.

Despite there being 16 teams in the NL, only two-St. Louis and Los Angeles-pose even the slightest threat to Philadelphia's throne. Both teams have otherworldly hitters but lack depth in the rotation and the bottom of the batting order.

The defending champs are stacked from top to bottom, both on the mound and at the plate. They are, essentially, an American League team playing in the National League. Come October, when the Phils take on the Red Sox, Yankees, Rangers or Angels, they will have the power to top the AL's best once again.

Long-suffering Philadelphia will host back-to-back victory October victory parades. Hopefully the formerly pessimistic Philly sports fans will smile a bit more after their Phillies claim another world championship.

Head of Bench Not the Only Change Needed at Stamford Bridge

Josh Brewer — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:55:01 -0400

After a season that included silverware in the form of the FA Cup, a semi-final appearance in the UEFA Champions League and 83 points in the Barclays English Premier League, resting on your laurels may be an acceptable practice.

Not in West London, where the Chelsea faithful expect true greatness from their beloved Blues.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked as Chelsea manager after the team faltered midseason. Guus Hiddink stepped in admirably, righting the Chelsea ship and motivating enigmatic players like Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda.

But Hiddink's prior commitments forced a move away from Stamford Bridge at season's end, leaving the manager seat open once again.

All signs seem to indicate Carlo Ancelotti will fill that vacancy. Ancelotti resigned his post at AC Milan with rumors circulating across Europe that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has already tabbed Ancelotti to lead the Blues.

Ancelotti should mark some much-needed stability on Chelsea's bench, but the change at bench's head isn't the only necessary one for Chelsea.

Depth is a big issue. With a talent-laden Manchester United squad and a surging Liverpool side standing between Chelsea and the top, adding depth is a move Abramovich needs to make.

Chelsea's defensive front is as solid as it gets. Petr Cech mans the net while Ashley Cole, John Terry, Alex and Jose Bosingwa shut down attacks. Juliano Belletti, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Branislav Ivanovic provide solid back-up.

Nicholas Anelka and a motivated Didier Drogba are more than most fronts can handle at the striker spot. Andriy Shevchenko returns from his stint on loan, adding solidarity to the position.

The midfield, however, needs the most attention. Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Florent Malouda provide a formidable attack. Salomon Kalou is youthful and full of promise, but the depth after that is lacking.

Whether 2008-09 was a slump or something more for Joe Cole, only time will tell. Deco hasn't been the contributor he was expected to be, Michael Ballack is aging and Ricardo Quaresma returns to Inter this summer.

The off-and-on rumored acquistion of Brazilian midfielder Kaka may be exactly what Chelsea could use. A rotation of Kaka, Lampard, Essien, Obi Mikel, Malouda, and Kalou would put a top-notch group of midfielders on the pitch nearly every contest.

Adding a midfielder should sit at the top of Abramovich's priority list this summer. Depth in the middle should provide West London's finest with the necessary kick to challenge Manchester United and the rest of Europe's elite in 2009-10.

Why the Orlando Magic Will Beat The Los Angeles Lakers

Josh Brewer — Sun, 31 May 2009 13:12:29 -0400

The 2009 NBA Finals were set before the playoffs began, in the minds of many. Kobe Bryant would lead his Los Angeles Lakers into battle against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that was that.

King James and Kobe were supposed to square off for the title of NBA Alpha Dog and the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Then, Superman stepped in and changed everything.

Instead of LeBron and the Cavs, it is Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic set to go head-to-head with the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

This series won't be what most pundits will say it is. Orlando is the perfect storm—much like an under-the-radar team driving through the NCAA tournament. Clicking at the right time is huge, and as long as the Magic continues to click, the Larry O'Brien Trophy will head to Orlando for the first time.

Nobody gave the Magic a chance against the Cavs. Most said LeBron would be too much for the Magic to handle. Those same people said Orlando's lack of a true superstar couldn't lead them to the title, especially with Cleveland standing in the way.

Orlando throttled the Cavs in six games. Howard came into his own, announcing his superstar status with 40 points in Orlando's Eastern Conference Finals-clinching victory. So much for the lack of a true superstar.

Cleveland's bigs aren't much to write home about. Los Angeles' Pau Gasol has played well throughout the playoffs, but he's done it against lesser talent. Denver has no inside presence to speak of, Houston didn't have Yao Ming for the majority of their series against the Lakers, and both teams gave Los Angeles trouble.

The NBA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year will give Gasol fits in the middle. Howard is more physical, stronger, and his defense is clearly superior.

Orlando has no problem shutting down superstars. They curtailed James in the East Finals, and James is actually willing to drive. Stan Van Gundy would be well advised to keep Mickael Pietrus on the floor and in Kobe Bryant's face as much as possible. Bryant doesn't drive much anymore, meaning Pietrus' smothering defense could be the difference in this series.

Orlando's Rafer Alston has been a true gift to Orlando's run. His ability to create plays and hit jumpers has fueled a team that heavily relied on Howard and Hedo Turkoglu for scoring.

The wild card in this series is the match-up between Los Angeles' Lamar Odom and Orlando's Rashard Lewis. Orlando's biggest problems may come from Odom, especially if Lewis disappears like he has at points during the Magic's playoff run.

If the Lakers can shut down Alston, Turkoglu, Howard, and Pietrus, all the while creating open shots for Bryant and open lanes for Gasol, Los Angeles will celebrate yet another world championship. That situation seems more like a keep-your-fingers-crossed event instead of one that is actually likely, though.

Look for the Magic to continue playing the game that has given opponents fits throughout the playoffs. The Lakers won't play the one-on-five game the Cavs did, but the Lakers will need to rely heavily on Bryant with Howard taking Gasol out of games.

As long as Howard continues his torrid play, Orlando will take home the title. Howard has only heated up the deeper the Magic has progressed in the playoffs.

The stage is set and the lights are shining as bright as ever. Dwight Howard will announce his arrival as the league's preeminent big man as the Magic upset the Lakers in six games.

Manny Ramirez's Positive Drug Test: The Painful, Overlooked Truth

Josh Brewer — Thu, 07 May 2009 19:17:14 -0400

I came home from work today and my roommate, Mike, informed me of the news: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez had been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for failing a drug test.

Ramirez joins the list of players that cheated the game, jointly headlined by super slugger Alex Rodriguez. At the height of the whirlwind of steroid accusations, there were some names (which, at that time, included Ramirez and Rodriguez) that nobody suspected as cheaters.

Rodriguez was added to that list this past offseason. Now Ramirez, considered by some as one of the top five right-handed hitters in baseball history, has joined him.

The immediate and obvious impact is that the hottest team in baseball is without their best hitter. Looking deeper, the Dodgers' fan base isn't the only one the ramifications may affect.

2004 marked the end of a long-standing stretch of pain and suffering for the Boston Red Sox and their fans. After 86 years, the infamous Curse of the Bambino was shattered in the biggest comeback in MLB playoff history, which was topped only a week later by Boston's first world title since 1918.

At the forefront of that World Series title was Ramirez, who was named the World Series' Most Valuable Player. And now, Red Sox fans worldwide have to ask the unthinkable: Was 2004's world title tainted?

Ramirez has already tested positive for banned substances. How many other players on the 2004 roster were—or still are—cheating?

The most notable name to question is Ramirez's partner in crime (on the diamond), designated hitter David Ortiz. After arriving in Boston via a trade with Minnesota, Ortiz lit the world on fire and became one of the best clutch hitters on the planet.

Fast forward to 2008.

Ortiz falls victim to a lingering wrist tendon injury that takes the blame for his fall in power numbers and average. This year, Ortiz has had nearly six weeks to adjust to big-league pitching and still hasn't hit a home run. Ortiz is batting .229 with an on-base percentage of .336—surely not Big Papi-type numbers.

Mark Bellhorn, who struck out more than anyone in the American League, suddenly became a dangerous hitter at the bottom of the Boston lineup. After 2004, he disappeared into pro baseball oblivion once again.

The same can be said for outfielder Trot Nixon. Neither player could stay healthy and neither could stay amongst the list of relevant players in the majors.

Even Johnny Damon, the unofficial leader of the "Idiots," suddenly became a semi-significant power hitter after arriving in Boston.

Every one of the players mentioned above could simply be a victim of circumstance and may never have touched any illegal substances during their Major League career. But in an age where nearly every big name in Major League Baseball is testing positive, it isn't out of the question to say Ortiz, Nixon, Bellhorn, and Damon were also cheating.

Ramirez also may have been the catalyst to the finger-pointing at every other relevant slugger in the league. Now, nobody is safe.

And thanks to Ramirez, the sanctity of Boston's 2004 World Series victory may not be pristine anymore.

2009 NFL draft - The Way It SHOULD Happen

Josh Brewer — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:50:00 -0400

Mock drafts may be the most readily available sports analysis on the internet. Despite the vast inaccuracies of mock drafts, countless versions are pumped out by countless writers, analysts, and bloggers.

Predicting how the first round will pan out is impossible. Nobody can read 32 general manager's minds or predict every trade—both up and back—that will happen.

That's why I'm not going to bother trying. This mock draft (of sorts) is a list of what would happen if logic were in charge of each team's first-round draft selection.

Unfortunately, logic and team needs aren't always top priorities in the NFL draft—ask Matt Millen. If they were, this is what the first round would look like.

1. Detroit - Eugene Monroe (OT, Virginia)

Matthew Stafford is rumored to be signing a contract Friday night, but committing $30 million or more to an offensive lineman is much safer than giving it to a quarterback with zero pro starts. Quarterbacks Rhett Bomar, Graham Harrell, or Hunter Cantwell could be possibilities later in the draft.

Monroe's well-rounded play gives him the nod over Baylor's Jason Smith.

2. St. Louis - Jason Smith (OT, Baylor)

The departure of Orlando Pace made the Rams' need at offensive tackle even more pressing. Bringing Smith into the fold will give the Rams solid bookend tackles to rebuild their offense around.

3. Kansas City - Aaron Curry (LB, Wake Forest)

With only one pick in the first two rounds, the Chiefs must make the No. 3 selection count—if they hold on to it. A trade back is possible; especially with a team looking to snag Stafford or Mark Sanchez before Seattle hits the clock.

Curry, considered the top talent in the draft, provides an immediate impact for a defense in dire need of one.

4. Seattle - Matthew Stafford (QB, Georgia)

Should Monroe or Smith slip down to No. 4, the Seahawks shouldn't take more than a minute to get their index card with either tackle's name up to the podium. With both gone, however, Seattle can draft Stafford to take Matt Hasselbeck's place as early as next season.

Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers proved that a year (or more) on the bench isn't a bad thing for a rookie quarterback.

5. Cleveland - Brian Orakpo (LB/DE, Texas)

The Browns managed only 17 sacks last season. Who better to fill that void than Orakpo, who earned the nickname "O-Sack-Po" during his senior season in Austin? Wide receiver has quickly become a need. Brian Robiskie would be a great fit when Cleveland hits the clock with pick No. 36.

6. Cincinnati - Andre Smith (OT, Alabama)

Cincinnati could use a player like Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe. Unfortunately, they are both off the board. Andre Smith will provide some serious attitude on the offensive line. His character has been in question since he bolted the combine unannounced. But when have character issues stopped the Bengals?

7. Oakland - Michael Crabtree (WR, Texas Tech)

Tackle may be a bigger need for the Raiders, but Michael Oher would be a stretch here. Javon Walker and Johnnie Lee Higgins highlight Oakland's receiving corps, an obvious indication that an upgrade is needed.

Crabtree may not have the speed Jeremy Maclin does, but Crabtree's superior hands, as well as his ability to run excellent routes and breaks tackles, makes him the pick.

8. Jacksonville - B.J. Raji (DT, Boston College)

Wide receiver was Jacksonville's biggest need, but that changed once Torry Holt signed with the team. The Jags' passing offense actually improved from 18th in the NFL in 2007 to 16th last season, furthering the argument that Jacksonville does not need to pick a receiver here.

Jacksonville's defense needs attention and pairing Raji with John Henderson is a great way to start.

9. Green Bay - Malcolm Jenkins (DB, Ohio State)

Contrary to popular belief, drafting an outside linebacker is not a necessity for Green Bay—Aaron Kampman and Brady Poppinga will be fine in Dom Capers' 3-4 defense. Cornerback is a need, however, and Jenkins' physicality will be a perfect fit in Titletown.

Tyson Jackson is a strong possibility, but Jarron Gilbert and Khalif Mitchell could be options in the second or third round instead.

10. San Francisco - Everette Brown (LB/DE, Florida State)

Considering Brown is listed at 6'1" and a shade over 250, his size isn't ideal for the defensive end position, which may be a blessing. Brown has elite pass-rushing skills, something the Niners desperately need. Manny Lawson has not been effective on the outside and Brown will either push Lawson to succeed or push him out of the starting lineup.

11. Buffalo - Michael Oher (OT, Ole Miss)

Before Jason Peters was traded to Philadelphia, addressing offensive tackle in the draft was only a matter of adding depth. That has drastically changed. Demetrius Bell and Jonathan Scott are not viable starters, making Oher a necessity. Buffalo is a strong candidate to move into the top five to snag one of the three premier tackles.

12. Denver - Mark Sanchez (QB, USC)

If only it were this easy. Denver will likely have to trade up to draft Sanchez, but if he falls to the No. 12 spot, the pick won't require a lot of thinking. Kyle Orton wasn't the answer in Chicago and he won't be the answer Denver. Drafting Sanchez allows new coach Josh McDaniels to hand-pick the new leader of Denver's offense.

13. Washington - Clay Matthews (LB, USC)

Washington's pass rush was abysmal last season, tallying only 24 sacks, the third-worst total in the NFL. Matthews is dangerous off the edge and has a non-stop motor that could fuel a sometimes indifferent Redskins defense.

Tyson Jackson is in play here, but Matthews' ability to create pressure off the edge makes him the choice.

14. New Orleans - Brian Cushing (LB, USC)

If the Saints want to start a new version of a thunder-and-lightning backfield, Chris "Beanie" Wells may be the choice to replace Deuce McAlister.

New Orleans' Achilles' heel of late has been defense and Cushing is a playmaker, something the Saints don't have on defense. Cushing's intelligence, work ethic, and toughness will add to a defense in need of immediate improvement.

15. Houston - Jeremy Maclin (WR, Missouri)

The Texans could use a cornerback to play opposite Dunta Robinson, but Jacques Reeves' consistency last year may be enough of a holdover for 2009. Andre Johnson draws constant double-teams without a true field-stretching deep threat on the other side of the field.

Enter Maclin, who will stretch the field, allow Kevin Curtis to play in the slot, and draw attention away from Johnson.

16. San Diego - Tyson Jackson (DE, LSU)

San Diego doesn't have a ton of needs, but with the departure of Igor Olshansky, defensive end is one of them. Jackson's strength and athleticism will allow him to disrupt the offensive line, allowing San Diego's linebackers to pressure the backfield. Jackson's selection won't be a flashy one but it may prove to be greatly beneficial.

17. New York Jets - Josh Freeman (QB, Kansas State)

Wide receiver has more value at this spot. Freeman may be a bit of a stretch at No. 17, but it won't matter which receiver the Jets select if there isn't a capable quarterback throwing to them.

Freeman isn't proven as a starter, but Kellen Clemens hasn't shown he can be a consistent NFL quarterback. Wide receivers Louis Murphy and Demetrius Byrd could be options in the second or third round.

18. Denver (from Chicago) - Vontae Davis (CB, Illinois)

Linebacker appears to be a need, but D.J. Williams is a solid player and the free-agent addition of Andra Davis takes immediate attention off the position. Denver ranked 31st in opponent passer rating in 2008. Champ Bailey is 30 and Andre Goodman is average at best.

Davis can immediately play nickel corner and possibly move into the starting spot opposite Bailey by the end of the year.

19. Tampa Bay - Aaron Maybin (DE/LB, Penn State)

Maybin fills a need for Tampa Bay much the way Everette Brown does for Buffalo. Maybin could play defensive end opposite Gaines Adams or stand up and play linebacker to give the Bucs some much-needed pressure off the edge.

Maybin is a raw talent, which new coach Raheem Morris could mold whichever way he chooses. Michael Johnson has been drawing a lot of steam at this spot, but Maybin's flexibility will be more beneficial to the Bucs.

20. Detroit - Rey Maualuga (LB, USC)

When Detroit's 0-16 season came to an merciful end in Green Bay, Ernie Sims had little help surrounding him at the linebacker position. Julian Peterson was acquired in a trade to aid the rush off the corner.

Drafting Maualuga could complete the makeover and give the Lions a defensive leader for the next decade.

21. Philadelphia - Knowshon Moreno (RB, Georgia)

The Eagles might be best served to draft Chris "Beanie" Wells here to acquire a running back that is effective between the tackles, but injury concerns haunt Wells and make Moreno the pick.

Moreno should fit well in Philly's offensive scheme and will provide insurance to the perpetually questionable Brian Westbrook.

22. Minnesota - Alphonso Smith (CB, Wake Forest)

Wide receiver is a need for the Vikings, but Percy Harvin and Darrius Heyward-Bey aren't the type Minnesota needs. If they go for a wideout, a possession receiver is a must.

Smith, however, can immediately make a difference on a defensive unit that ranked 18th in the NFL against the pass. With Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler in the division, stopping the pass is becoming a priority.

23. New England - James Laurinaitis (LB, Ohio State)

Bill Belichick drafts intelligent team players with a high football IQ and great character. With a need to infuse youth into the linebacking corps, no player may fit the Pats better than Laurinaitis.

His slip down the draft board is solely due to a poor 40 time and in time, he could be considered a steal at No. 23.

24. Atlanta - Evander "Ziggy" Hood (DT, Missouri)

Atlanta nearly drafted Glenn Dorsey with last year's No. 3 overall pick to fix the need at defensive tackle. Nothing has changed since last April. The Falcons are in dire need of a playmaker inside and Hood is just that.

His size isn't ideal, but extra time in the gym can change that. His ability to disrupt in the middle makes him a huge positional upgrade over Kindal Moorehead.

25. Miami - Hakeen Nicks (WR, North Carolina)

Ted Ginn is developing nicely as an deep threat with ability to break open the big play, but the Dolphins need a possession receiver to compliment Ginn. Greg Camarillo has played well but is probably better fit as a slot receiver.

Nicks may be shorter than Rutgers wideout Kenny Britt, but Nicks' consistent hands make him a better option.

26. Baltimore - Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR, Maryland)

As usual, Ozzie Newsome makes Baltimore a wildcard. UConn cornerback Darius Butler and Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew will be in play, but at the end of the day, Newsome need only look 40 minutes down I-95.

Heyward-Bey will give Joe Flacco a deep threat and compliment Mark Clayton while giving Baltimore an eventual replacement for Derrick Mason.

27. Indianapolis - Peria Jerry (DT, Ole Miss)

Indy is very small at defensive tackle—neither starter tops the 265-pound mark. In a division with Steve Slaton, Maurice Jones-Drew and the Chris Johnson-LenDale White combination, that won't cut it.

Though he isn't the space eater B.J. Raji is, Jerry is a disruptive force inside and should pay immediate dividends for the Colts.

28. Buffalo (from Philadelphia via Carolina) - Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Oklahoma State)

When it comes to filling a need for Buffalo, options are somewhat limited here. The Bills need a defensive end to aid in the pass rush, but Tampa Bay may be the only team that thinks Michael Johnson is first-round material.

Buffalo also needs a pass-catching tight end, and while Pettigrew isn't a downfield threat, his balanced play will help both the pass and run games.

29. New York Giants - Kenny Britt (WR, Rutgers)

With Plaxico Burress gone, the Giants lack a true deep threat receiver for Eli Manning. While the best options for the Giants, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jeremy Maclin, are long gone, Britt is nearly two inches taller while clocking in with speed nearly identical to Maclin's.

Britt's attitude has come into question but shouldn't be a problem in Tom Coughlin's locker room.

30. Tennessee - Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee)

The team with the league's best record in 2008 doesn't have a burning need on either side of the ball. Tennessee is aging at defensive end and Ayers, a work-in-progress with good upside, can be a situational player before taking over a starting spot in a year or two.

31. Arizona - Chris "Beanie" Wells (RB, Ohio State)

Though Edgerrin James is still on the roster, he won't be when the season begins in September.

Wells is a strong downhill runner that can give the Cardinals a between-the-tackles running game they didn't necessarily have with James. Wells will need to work on his receiving skills to become a true weapon for Arizona.

32. Pittsburgh - Max Unger (OL, Oregon)

It is no secret that Pittsburgh's offensive line is in dire need of an upgrade, even after last year's Super Bowl victory. Unger may be the most versatile offensive lineman in the draft and will be able to play wherever Mike Tomlin chooses to put him.

Not first-round material ...

Percy Harvin (WR, Florida) - In short, he's a Devin Hester-type player: Lots of big-play ability that doesn't convert well to the pro game. Look for Harvin to follow in the underachieving footsteps of Florida wide receivers Travis Taylor, Chad Jackson, Jabar Gaffney, Jacquez Green and Taylor Jacobs.

Michael Johnson (DE, Georgia Tech) - Call him what you will, Johnson is a product of offseason hype more than anything else. He was a projected top-10 pick before the 2008 college season began and he all but disappeared on the field during his senior season. He has a ton of upside but isn't worth a first-round pick.

Eben Britton (OT, Arizona) - Britton falls out of the first round based on need more than anything. Minnesota is high on the former Wildcats tackle but has more pressing needs at the moment. Britton could be a gem for a team at the front of the second round.

Small Personnel Holes Create Draft-Day Flexibility for Baltimore Ravens

Josh Brewer — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:43:18 -0400

When it comes to the first round of the NFL Draft, there are few with a better track record than Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome.

After taking over the position in 2002, Newsome made University of Miami safety Ed Reed his first draft choice. He followed with the selections of Arizona State linebacker Terrell Suggs (2003), Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (2006), Auburn guard Ben Grubbs (2007), and Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco (2008).

As days pass and the draft grows closer, it appears the Ravens' most glaring need is at the wide receiver position. Derrick Mason is 35 years old, and Mark Clayton will need a tag-team partner once Mason hangs up his cleats.

Maryland wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey has been a popular name in Baltimore, and for good reason. Heyward-Bey possesses top-notch speed and the ability to stretch the field for Flacco. Heyward-Bey would be an ideal match for Clayton and could be ready to step in for Mason when he retires.

Florida's Percy Harvin isn't the type of player Baltimore should be going after. Though Harvin has top-tier speed and could potentially be a great kick returner, Harvin's style of play doesn't fit Baltimore's offense. Heyward-Bey, however, does. If it comes down to Harvin and Heyward-Bey, the local product is the clear choice.

There are also some dark-horse candidates for the 26th pick. With the departure of Bart Scott, there is a hole next to the aging Ray Lewis at middle linebacker. There may be no better man to fill the spot than Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, whose slip down the boards can be attributed to poor combine times and not lack of talent.

With Todd Heap's steep drop-off last season, Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew may also be a player to keep an eye on.

Though one of the three aforementioned players should be available, the Ravens may be in a bit of a bind should all three come off the board before their time on the clock begins.

Cornerback Samari Rolle returned to Baltimore after being cut earlier this offseason, but the position still couldn't be considered a strength. Players such as Connecticut's Darius Butler or Wake Forest's Alphonso Smith could get a look, if available.

Depth is an issue at some positions for the Ravens, a problem Newsome and company will likely address in the later rounds of the draft.

Aside from needs at wide receiver and cornerback, Baltimore must address the lack of depth at tight end, linebacker, defensive end, and offensive tackle. None of those positions are needs requiring immediate and swift attention, but without being addressed in the draft, that could change.

Parity: College Basketball's Biggest Myth

Josh Brewer — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:53:07 -0400

This year was supposed to be different.

The 2009 NCAA tournament was ballyhooed for its balance. So many different teams were supposed to be dangerous. These teams were supposed to be legitimate threats for a trip to Ford Field.

One by one, first round games came and went with few upsets. The second round produced even fewer.

When all was said and done, college basketball's powers once again prevailed. Perennial powerhouses North Carolina, Connecticut, and Michigan State are joined by consistently successful Villanova in a Final Four that has a combined 10 national championships and 33 Final Fours.

Seven of the country's most historic basketball programs, Louisville, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan State, UConn, Duke and North Carolina, made the Sweet 16. The three biggest non-power conference schools, Memphis, Xavier, and Gonzaga, also survived their first two tournament games.

Even more, 14 of the tournament's top 16 seeds advanced to the regional semifinals. Only Washington, replaced by No. 5 seed Purdue, and Wake Forest, who was beaten by No. 12 seed Arizona, missed the sweetness of the tourney's second weekend.

And none of the tournament's top four seeds failed to make the regional finals.

What happened to the parity?

The death of parity began on Selection Sunday.

One mid-major, Butler, received an at-large bid, due in large part to their top-25 status for much of the season. Xavier and BYU, two non-power conference schools, earned at-large bids.

Power conference teams received 31 of the tournament's 34 at-large bids.

Parity's passing continued during the first weekend of the tournament. Discounting the No. 8 versus No. 9 and No. 7 versus No. 10 match-ups, which are not really upsets in the first place.

Only five upsets occurred in the first round. Four of the teams that pulled first-round upsets lost their second game.

The biggest second-round upset was No. 5 Purdue beating No. 4 Washington 76-74.

The biggest upset in the regional semis? A pair of No. 3 seeds, Missouri and Villanova, beating their No. 2 seed counterparts.

In fact, lower seeded teams have a 15-45 record heading into this weekend's Final Four in Detroit. A third of those wins, however, came by the No. 9 and No. 10 seeds in the first round.

This year's tournament follows last year's trend in developing truly dominant programs across the college basketball landscape. Will we see a George Mason-like run any time in the next five years? The next 10? 20?

Parity says yes. But first, that parity must actually exist. Until further notice, the kings of the college basketball world will continue their respective reigns uninterrupted.

It's Tournament Time! The 2009 NCAA Tournament by the Numbers

Josh Brewer — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:30:04 -0400

As if the powers that be in college basketball knew a calendar change had come, March exploded with last-second shots, heartbreaking losses and upsets galore.

That trend carried itself into the conference tournaments, where two of the six major conference tournaments were won by teams either on the outer reaches of the bubble (USC) or out of consideration altogether (Mississippi State). A third (Baylor) came out of nowhere to nearly steal another automatic bid.

With the tournament set to hit full swing Thursday morning, we are down to the final 63 games—and final 10 days—of the 2008-09 college basketball season.

Let's take a look at this year's 10 Days of March Madness, by the numbers.

10 potential must-see matchups

It may be pure speculation, but some titanic games could happen down the line once the regionals get underway next weekend. And if they do, you wouldn't want to be any place other than your favorite chair, parked in front of your TV.

(1) UConn v. (2) Memphis - West regional finals

The region's two consensus favorites clash with a trip to Detroit on the line.

(2) Memphis v. (3) Missouri - West regional semi-finals

Could the loser of this game score 80? 90?

(2) Memphis v. (3) Kansas - National semi-finals

A rematch of last year's unforgettable national title game.

(1) Louisville v. (4) Wake Forest - Midwest regional semi-finals

Athletes near and far in this one...if Wake can put it all together.

(2) Duke v. (3) Villanova - East regional semi-finals

Like outside shooting and good ball movement? This is your game.

(1) North Carolina v. (2) Oklahoma - South regional finals

Tyler Hansbrough v. Blake Griffin. Enough said.

(1) UConn v. (4) Gonzaga - National championship game

These teams put on a great show earlier in the season. A rematch crowns a national champion.

(1) Pittsburgh v. (3) Villanova - East regional finals

The 'Cats won the first meeting in Philly. How would they fare in Boston?

(1) UConn v. (1) North Carolina - National championship game

Which Hasheem Thabeet would show up against Hansbrough- the dominant Thabeet or the one that got flipped and dominated by DeJuan Blair?

(3) Missouri v. (4) Washington - West regional final

Defense is optional as two of the most potent offenses in the country clash.

Nine players that make or break their team's success

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma - Never was this clearer as when Griffin missed nearly two complete games with a concussion. The Sooners' record in those two games? 0-2.

Trevor Booker, Clemson - Averaging a near double-double during the regular season, Booker is the key to Clemson's success. If he's on, the Tigers are tough to beat. If not, they head home early.

Toney Douglas, Florida State - The clear leader for the Seminoles. His scoring and defensive effort drives Florida State's success. Shutting down Douglas is a must to beat FSU.

Dionte Christmas, Temple - Christmas averages nearly 10 points more than Temple's second-leading scorer. His 1/1 assist-to-turnover ratio must improve for the Owls to succeed.

Marcus Thornton, LSU - The Tigers' leading scorer is a creater on offense and a threat to make opponents pay for keeping LSU close late in the game.

Evan Turner, Ohio State - Turner is the straw that stirs the Buckeyes' drink. Simply put, the offense and defense run through him.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State - Leads the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding while averaging only 28 minutes per game. Must avoid turnovers for MSU to have a chance against Washington.

Greivis Vasquez, Maryland - Vasquez is to Maryland what Evan Turner is to Ohio State. Vasquez must shoot well for the Terps to advance.

Luke Nevill, Utah - Nevill is an offensive force, shooting 60 percent from the field while nearly averaging a double-double. But will Arizona's Jordan Hill be too much to handle?

Eight teams that will play for a trip to Ford Field

(1) Louisville v. (3) Kansas - The road isn't too tough for the tourney's top overall seed until the defending champs come calling. Sherron Collins has the experience to lead Kansas to Ford Field, but the question lies in whether his teammates are ready for Louisville's suffocating D.

(1) Pittsburgh v. (3) Villanova - Villanova beat Pittsburgh Jan. 28 thanks to a dominating second-half performance. DeJuan Blair was absent in the first meeting, scoring only seven points while tallying eight rebounds. If 'Nova contains Blair again, they have the advantage.

(2) Memphis v. (5) Purdue - The Boilermakers are jelling at the right time, riding high after a Sweet 16 upset of top-seeded UConn. Memphis is healthy and plays a much stingier brand of defense, something the Boilermakers must adjust to if they wish to return to the Final Four for the first time in 29 years.

(4) Gonzaga v. (6) Arizona State - The game nobody saw coming. Gonzaga got here using great offensive play while the Sun Devils did it with defense. Arizona State's youth matches up against Gonzaga's balance to provide a highly entertaining regional final.

Seven seeds: beware!

For the first time in years, all four No. 7 seeds need to be on high alert. No. 10 seeds USC, Maryland, Minnesota and Michigan all present dangers to their first-round counterparts. Boston College (v. USC) and Texas (v. Minnesota) may be in the most danger thanks to their opponent's momentum and their own inconsistency, respectively.

Six teams on first-round upset alert

(4) Xavier - The Musketeers draw a Portland State team playing close to home. Jeremiah Dominguez can cause fits and leads the upset charge.

(5) Purdue - Northern Iowa is stingy and would cause match-up problems for any opponent. Purdue must carry the momentum of winning the Big Ten tournament with them to Portland.

(5) Illinois - Western Kentucky has experience after making a Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 last year. Illinois is vulnerable with or without Chester Frazier.

(5) Utah - The sexy pick to fall, and for good reason. The Utes don't pressure teams defensively, and Arizona's deadly distance shooting will give Utah problems all game long.

(6) Marquette - Can the Eagles really win without Dominic James? Not against Utah State.

(6) UCLA - Another trendy pick for a first-round upset, and again, for good reason. VCU took down Duke a couple years ago and is a constantly dangerous draw thanks to their prior experience.

Five injuries that will change their team's fate

Ty Lawson, North Carolina - With Lawson completely healthy and ready to run, the Tar Heels may be the favorite to win the national championship. Anything short of a trip to Detroit could be considered falling short.

But with Lawson less than 100 percent, North Carolina is susceptible to upset if a talented, offensively strong opponent comes along. Gonzaga fits the bill and takes down Roy Williams' crew.

Dominic James, Marquette - Remember when Marquette was a top-10 team and in the conversation for a Final Four appearance? Buzz Williams and company surely do. James was the leader of Marquette's strong guard play. Without a leader, the Golden Eagles fly back to Milwaukee after just one game.

Jerome Dyson, UConn - If a North Carolina team with a healthy Ty Lawson isn't the favorite to win it all, a UConn squad with Jerome Dyson is. Dyson complemented Hasheem Thabeet, making the Huskies incredibly tough to beat.

Purdue, a swarming, consistent defensive team that can control the paint and shoot efficiently, sends UConn home early.

Rob Lowery, Dayton - Dayton may not be seeded as low as they are if they didn't lose Lowery in early February. If Lowery is here, the Flyers are a threat to make the second weekend. Their inconsistencies without him make Dayton a outside upset candidate at best.

Darren Collison, UCLA - Collison is necessary for any UCLA success this postseason. He was very ordinary in the Pac-10 tournament, his first games playing with a bruised tailbone. The long layoff won't prove enough to prevent a first-round Bruins exit.

Four teams that will play in Detroit

Louisville - The Cardinals are too strong and too hot to leave the dance early. Rick Pitino has plenty of tournament experience and will keep his team focused throughout.

Pittsburgh - Pitt's main criticism is the inexperience of coach Jamie Dixon. If that type of nitpicking is the only knock the Panthers have to overcome, they will be in great shape.

Memphis - Motivated by receiving a No. 2 seed and the loss of the region's top seed, the Tigers return to the Final Four looking to finish the job they nearly completed last year against Kansas.

Gonzaga - Mark Few and his players finally put it all together to break through for the school's first Final Four appearance. Don't count the Bulldogs out in Detroit, either.

Three first-round games to watch

(5) Purdue v. (12) Northern Iowa - I've predicted the Boilermakers to come within one win of the Final Four, but their first assignment may be the toughest. Northern Iowa is more than capable of beating Purdue and the Washington/Mississippi State winner.

(8) Oklahoma State v. (9) Tennessee - If you're looking for offensive fireworks, you've come to the right place. The Cowboys and Volunteers should light up the scoreboard. Don't expect solid defensive play from either side, though.

(7) Clemson v. (10) Michigan - Clemson wants to prove their domination of Duke wasn't a fluke. Michigan wants to show they were deserving of an at-large bid. If these talented teams are clicking, expect a closely fought affair.

Two national championship dark horses

Michigan State - Michigan State has all the talent to compete with the nation's best...if they put it all together and remain healthy. If Tom Izzo can get his team clicking and into Detroit, the Spartans may steal the national title playing just a short drive from their East Lansing, Mich., campus.

Villanova - The Wildcats ran to the Sweet 16 last year and the Elite Eight in 2006. Both years, it was the eventual national champion to eliminate Villanova. Coach Jay Wright and his 'Cats could be ready to break through to win the school's first national title since 1985.

One national champion

Louisville.

Rick Pitino becomes the first coach to lead two NCAA teams to a national title by beating Big East rival Pittsburgh April 6.

Wisconsin Badgers: Tall Task Lies Ahead in NCAA Tournament

Josh Brewer — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:55:08 -0400

After a year in which lofty expectations and a high NCAA tournament seed were not met, the Wisconsin Badgers weren't seen as a threat to the Big Ten throne in 2008-09.

As most Bo Ryan-coached teams do, the Badgers grinded through their schedule—one of the country's toughest—to finish 19-12 and earned their 11th straight ticket to the Big Dance.

Since the field expanded to 64 teams, the Badgers have never been seeded lower than ninth. A No. 12 seed makes the Badgers significant first-round underdogs for the first time in program history.

The matchup Wisconsin draws in Boise, Idaho, couldn't be worse. The No. 5-seeded Florida State Seminoles and hot-shooting Toney Douglas await the Badgers in the first round's final tip-off, set for 9:55 p.m. EDT Friday night.

Wisconsin had a lackluster 4-10 record against teams in this year's NCAA tourney field, topped by a 63-50 home victory over Illinois.

The Seminoles, on the other hand, hold a victory over North Carolina and played another No. 1 seed, Pittsburgh, close earlier in the season.

The difference is clear. Illinois is a first-round upset candidate, while North Carolina and Pittsburgh have eyes set for the Final Four and a national championship.

It all starts with Douglas for Florida State. He is their unquestioned leader, averaging team-leading totals of 21.3 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. The senior guard shoots 80 percent from the free throw line, nearly 40 percent from three-point range, and only averages two fouls per contest.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, really doesn't have a go-to scorer like Douglas. No Badger player averages more than 13 points per game. Even more, no Badger averages more than three assists per game, and only Joe Krabbenhoft averages more than five rebounds per contest.

The Badgers have never been a superstar-oriented squad, but the lack of a player such as Alando Tucker, Michael Flowers, Devin Harris, and, to a lesser extent, Brian Butch, handicaps Wisconsin's chances of advancing in this year's tournament.

While the Badgers are strong on defense (opponents average 59 points per game), the Seminoles are strong as well. Without much surprise, it is Douglas that leads the charge on the defensive side as well.

The key for a Wisconsin upset is two-fold.

First, the Badgers must shut down Douglas and force the offensive load on Florida State's supporting cast. No Seminole other than Douglas averages more than 27 minutes per game (as compared to Douglas' 36.4 minutes/game), and no player averages double-digits in scoring.

Wisconsin must also find consistent scoring. Marcus Landry and Trevon Hughes, the team's top two scorers during the regular season, must step up when the lights shine the brightest to aid any defensive containment of Douglas.

If both of these things do not happen, the Badgers will fly back to Madison early. If they do, it may be the Seminoles heading home early.

Look for Florida State to take the Badgers down on their way to a possible regional semifinal matchup with top-seeded Pittsburgh.

The Terrell Owens Sweepstakes: Five Teams That Need Him

Josh Brewer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:35:13 -0500

When a player of Terrell Owens' skill level hits the open market, teams are usually tripping over themselves to get an offer sent to the player's agent. But considering the player in question is T.O., teams are only tripping over themselves to deny interest in acquiring the controversial-but-talented wide receiver.

Just more than 12 hours after his release became public, nearly a third of the league has officially declared its non-interest in Owens.

The Giants, Redskins, Ravens, 49ers, Vikings, Falcons, Browns, Dolphins, and Cowboys (for obvious reasons) are already out. Don't expect T.O.'s other former team, the Eagles, to want him back in Philly after the messy divorce the team had with Owens.

There are some NFL teams without a need at wide receiver, T.O. or not. Count the Patriots, Cardinals, Packers, and Chargers out.

Owens has been called a locker-room cancer multiple times over the course of his career, and many teams won't be interested in adding a player like that, including the Buccaneers, Steelers, Jets, Texans, Jaguars, Broncos, and Saints.

Indianapolis lost WR Marvin Harrison, possibly creating a hole if Anthony Gonzalez isn't ready to step in aside Reggie Wayne. But the Colts will likely use one of their first-day draft picks to fill the void left by Harrison's departure.

The Bengals don't have any history of shying away from volatile characters. With that being said, what would happen if Chad Ocho Cinco and T.O. had to share catches? Yikes.

Carolina already has its hands full with Steve Smith, who is underrated as a locker room disruption. Having T.O. in town would only make Smith worse.

Tennessee's offense focuses on the run. While they still need a solid receiver, Owens won't be donning the blue and white in 2009.

Buffalo has the money to sign Owens, but the team is looking to keep Lee Evans (and his hefty contract) atop the wide receiver depth chart. The Bills are an outside contender, but unlikely to sign T.O.

Detroit is rebuilding. Owens is, most likely, completely uninterested in being a part of a rebuilding team.

So five teams remain. Which team is most likely to sign Owens?

5. Seattle

After signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Seahawks are an outsider in this sweepstakes, but an intriguing one. Deion Branch and Nate Burleson haven't set the world on fire, and putting Owens opposite Houshmandzadeh would take Seattle's receiving corps to near-elite status.

Money may be a problem in Seattle, especially at the wide receiver position. Houshmandzadeh, Branch, and Burleson all carry big price tags and there may not be room for T.O.

4. Chicago

Chicago hasn't had a top-flight receiver since, well, never.

While Owens may not be the ideal type of player for Chicago's locker room, he would make the Bears' offense immediately better. But Chicago's run-first offense, paired with the underachieving Kyle Orton, probably keeps T.O. out of the Windy City.

3. Kansas City

New coach Todd Haley is used to having big-play receivers. How good would T.O. look opposite Dwayne Bowe?

Haley probably won't have the final say. That honor goes to new G.M. Scott Pioli, who studied success at Bill Belichick University. T.O. wouldn't fit with New England and, for the same reasons, probably wouldn't fit in Kansas City.

2. St. Louis

With Torry Holt reportedly looking for his release, there's going to be quite a hole to fill in St. Louis.

A new coaching staff, led by head coach Steve Spagnuolo, will look to make a splash in their first season. Spagnuolo has experience dealing with volatile characters, as he worked directly with Plaxico Burress in New York.

If Owens lands in the NFC, it may very likely be in St. Louis.

1. Oakland

Al Davis probably won't be able to help himself.

The Raiders are in dire need of a big-play receiver. Davis loves big-play receivers and already took a chance with Randy Moss. Owens could have the attention of everyone in the Bay Area.

Oakland has been more of a circus than a successful football team over the past few years. Why not put the proverbial cherry on top by adding the biggest prima donna in the NFL?

Heart, Swagger Return to Ravens' Defense As Baltimore Re-Signs Ray Lewis

Josh Brewer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:15:04 -0500

The thought of Ray Lewis lining up without the purple, black, and gold 52 on his jersey seemed awkward and uncomfortable, especially for Ravens fans.

After Wednesday, the only place you'll be able to see that image is a Photoshop program or the latest installment of the Madden video game franchise.

Lewis agreed to terms on a three-year deal that is reportedly worth $20-25 million and will allow the future Hall of Famer to retire as a Raven.

If the Ravens can put a price on success, it's $20-25 million over the next three seasons.

While Lewis isn't the only reason the Ravens win games, he plays a bigger part than anyone that lines up on defense with him. Taking Ray Lewis out of the middle of Baltimore's defense takes away its edge and its swagger.

The Ravens would still have a strong defense without Lewis in the middle. But without Lewis, would the Ravens defense really be the Ravens defense?

Baltimore's defense has been built on cornerstones since the turn of the century. Players like Peter Boulware, Tony Siragusa, Chris McAlister, Ed Reed, Suggs and Lewis have been the blocks on which the Ravens' defense stood. Losing one of those blocks would do nothing to help the continued success of the unit.

It was imperative that Lewis return to Baltimore in 2009. The loss of Bart Scott via free agency does not do the damage losing Lewis would have. If Baltimore's defense were a living being, Lewis would undoubtedly be the heart.

A player of Lewis' stature, skill and importance is irreplaceable. Lewis may be the single-most important defensive player to his team in the league, and the Ravens did right to make sure he did not leave town.

Lewis isn't only important on the field. While he may begin to lose a step in his final years as an active NFL player, his leadership will continue to drive Baltimore's veterans, as well as newcomers, to excel and keep the Ravens among the NFL's elite defensive squads.

Winners, Losers from the 2006 NFL Draft

Josh Brewer — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:56:22 -0500

Since there are all too many "Winners and Losers" articles after this past weekend's NFL Combine, I will take late-February draft analysis in a much different direction.

Common belief in NFL circles is that it takes three years to determine the value of an NFL draft class. Lucky for us, the 2006 draftees just finished their third season of professional football.

Which teams won and lost in April 2006? Who was the draft's best value pick?

Biggest overall steal: Brandon Marshall (WR, Central Florida)

Marshall didn't leave UCF with much hype. In fact, he flew well under the radar, finally coming off the board with the 119th overall selection, midway through the fourth round.

He has appeared to overcome early off-the-field troubles to become one of the best receivers in the league. Playing in only 15 games, Marshall was third in the league with 102 receptions. His 1,265 receiving yards was the seventh-best mark in the NFL.

2008 was a breakout year for the third-year receiver, who will continue to be Jay Cutler's go-to receiver in Denver.

Biggest first-round steal: DeAngelo Williams (RB, Memphis)

Williams had some serious competition in this category. Antonio Cromartie (CB, Florida State) was taken 19th by the Chargers and Santonio Holmes (WR, Ohio State) went 25th to the Steelers.

The man that nearly took this honor, Colts running back Joseph Addai, went 30th overall, three spots after Williams. Addai and Williams have comparable career numbers, but Williams' game-changing abilities give him the edge.

Williams has just 36 more career rushing yards, but Addai has run the ball 104 more times. Williams finished third in the NFL in rushing yards this past season, despite being the focal point of many opposing defenses in 2008.

Biggest bust: Vince Young (QB, Texas)

Drafted ahead of an equally underachieving Matt Leinart, Young was supposed to be the first franchise quarterback the Titans franchise had since Warren Moon took the snaps during the team's days in Houston.

Young showed promise early in his career but his struggles easily shadowed his strong outings.

After an early-season injury in 2008, Young was replaced in the starting line-up by Kerry Collins, who helped lead the Titans to an AFC-best 13-3 record.

As preparations for the 2009 season begin in Nashville, Young is set to be embroiled in a battle for the backup quarterback position with Chris Simms.

Not exactly where Young, or the Titans franchise, thought he'd be as his fourth NFL season began.

Biggest winner: Green Bay

Most people would jump to Green Bay's first-round selection, Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk, as evidence as to why the Packers had the best draft class of 2006.

Those people would be wrong.

The gem of Green Bay's draft was their second second-round pick, Western Michigan wide receiver Greg Jennings, who has become one of the league's best playmaking receivers.

Hawk and Jennings aren't the only two regular starters for the Packers. Second-rounder Daryn Colledge, third-round pick Jason Spitz, fifth-round pick Tony Moll and sixth-round selection Johnny Jolly also start for the Pack. Will Blackmon has also seen significant playing time.

Biggest loser: Miami

Unfortunately for Miami, Ted Thompson was running Green Bay's draft board. Regardless, I could have done a better job on Draft Weekend 2006 than the Dolphins did.

The 'Fins whiffed badly on all six of their selections. Tennessee defensive back Jason Allen, selected 16th overall, has been nothing more than a nickel back, at best. Defensive tackle Rodrique White is the only other pick still with the team, and he is buried at the bottom of the depth chart at his position.

Miami's four other picks aren't household names with their new teams, either. Derek Hagan (Giants), Joe Toledo (49ers), Fred Evans (Vikings) and Devin Aromashodu (Bears) haven't seen significant playing time since leaving Miami.

Best decision: Houston Texans at No. 1

When news broke less than 24 hours before the draft that Houston had reached an agreement with NC State defensive end Mario Williams, the NFL world was in shock.

It may be the best decision in the history of the Texans franchise.

A No. 1 overall pick should be a franchise player and Williams is just that. Super Mario is the best young defensive end in the game and an anchor for Houston's defense.

The alternative and consensus No. 1 at the time, USC's Reggie Bush, hasn't been the same for New Orleans. Bush has fought off injuries and rushing inconsistencies to become a poor man's Brian Westbrook...without the rushing yards.

Bush is, in fact, of similar make-up to Chicago's Devin Hester: a shifty but all-too-inconsistent playmaker. The ups are great, but they aren't nearly as plentiful as the teams would like.

Five Burning Questions for 2009 Milwaukee Brewers

Josh Brewer — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:54:21 -0500

With pitchers and catchers reporting to Milwaukee Brewers spring training in just a few days, excitement for the 2009 season is on the rise.

Fresh off the organization's first playoff appearance in nearly 25 years, the Brew Crew look to improve on last season's success and parlay it into a second consecutive October showing.

Milwaukee's roster saw quite a bit of changes. A team full of changes is surely a team full of questions.

5. Will Ken Macha be effective in his first year on the Milwaukee bench?

In four seasons as a Major League manager, Macha has 368 victories and has never coached a team to a division finish worse than second.

All this was done with a young, talented Oakland A's team earlier this decade. So it appears Macha is the right man to lead the Brewers.

Macha will have the challenge of getting consistency out of a few young players taking the field as starters for the Brewers, though. His past says he can do it, but the challenge ahead of Macha will be to channel his success of years past into the present.

4. Will Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, and Bill Hall be contributors or liabilities?

It is players like Hart, Weeks and Hall that will provide Macha with his new challenge.

All three players struggled at the plate and in the field last season. Hall saw plenty of time on the pine, and the same may be due for Weeks and Hart if immediate improvement from 2008 isn't shown.

Hart led this trio with a .268 batting average in 2008. Hall and Hart were among the team's worst at drawing walks, combining for less than Prince Fielder drew on his own. All three players struck out at least 100 times.

If improvement isn't shown by the middle of May, it may be the time for Tony Gwynn, Craig Counsell or Hernan Iribarren to step in.

3. Will Trevor Hoffman cure the Brewers' ninth-inning blues?

Hoffman brings his Major League-record 554 saves with him to Milwaukee. But will he bring the dominance we saw in San Diego or will his age catch up with him?

For the first time since Francisco Cordero left town, the Brewers have a legitimate closer. Hoffman is considered by some to the best closer in the history of the game, so his stature alone may make him the best the organization has ever seen.

There is no evidence that Hoffman will fall off drastically. While Hoffman should provide stability at the end of the line, Milwaukee's set-up crew needs to get Hoffman out on the bump...which may prove to be the biggest struggle of all.

2. Will the Brewers survive the loss of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets?

The loss of Sheets isn't nearly as bad as it appears. He would have missed at least the first half of the year if he were still under contract with the Brewers thanks to a tendon injury.

Even more, Sheets missed plenty of time when he was a Brewers pitcher. Milwaukee fans are used to seeing the golden boy-turned-injury risk on the disabled list.

It will be the loss of Sabathia that will hit the rotation hardest.

Sabathia was an inning-eating machine. He dominated opposing batters upon arriving in Milwaukee. There is no pitcher on Milwaukee's staff that has the credentials or skills Sabathia has.

1. Are the playoffs a legitimate possibility in 2009?

It appears the playoffs are within reach for the Crew in 2009. But it will taken an unforeseen effort from the starting rotation to get there.

The bats are in place. The fielding is servicable. But with the Chicao Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals looking stronger than the Brewers, it will be extremely tough for Milwaukee to make back-to-back playoff appearances.

Weekly NFL Picks: Super Bowl XLIII

Josh Brewer — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:41:05 -0500

The biggest day in sports is finally here and the Arizona Cardinals are prominently involved.

Who would have guessed it?

On the other side of the ledger is the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers, sitting pretty with a quarterback who already has one Super Bowl ring, a young coach and a revived running game.

But don't the Cardinals have the same thing?

Yes, the Steelers have the stout defense, which has been called everything from tough to historically unbeatable.

Will defense lead the Steelers to their record-breaking sixth Super Bowl victory? Or will the Cardinals tally one more upset to win their first trip to the biggest game of the year?

Let's get to the pick.

Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers (14-4) v. Arizona Cardinals (12-7)

For the last two weeks, all we've heard about is Pittsburgh's defense and Arizona's offense. Let's take a look at both units.

To call the Steelers historically prominent is a bit irresponsible. The Baltimore Ravens' defense allowed only 18 more yards—or just more than one yard per game—on the ground this season than the Steelers defensive unit did. Pittsburgh forced 29 turnovers, fewer than eight other teams, including the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets...and Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona's offense has drawn comparisons to another Kurt Warner-led unit, the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf." Those comparisons are also a bit irresponsible.

While the Cards' offense is surely nothing to scoff at, St. Louis had all-world running back Marshall Faulk to run the ball and make plays in the passing game while coming out of the backfield. Arizona's Edgerrin James has been making plays this postseason but did not do the same during the regular season.

The battle which will decide this year's Super Bowl champion is not the 'Zona offense-Steelers defense matchup, but is in fact the struggle between the Pittsburgh offense and the Arizona defense.

There is always a particular key that is overlooked in deciding each Super Bowl winner. Last year, it was the battle between New York's defensive line and New England's offensive line. The Giants won that battle and won the game.

This year's big game will boast a similar battle. Arizona's defense has been blitzing effectively throughout the playoffs and will look to do the same against a Steelers offensive line that has struggled at times this year.

If the Steelers manage the blitz and give Ben Roethlisberger time in the pocket, the advantage goes to Pittsburgh. But if Arizona blitzes effectively and Roethlisberger puts on a show like he did in Super Bowl XL, a game which he finished with a Rex Grossman-like 22.6 QB rating, the Steelers will be in trouble.

Hines Ward swears he will be fine once kickoff rolls around Sunday evening in Tampa. But is his definition of fine going to allow him to play at the level he needs to help his team win another world championship?

Pittsburgh showed their struggles with the blitz in their AFC Championship Game win over the Ravens. Roethlisberger couldn't complete half of his passes against a Ravens secondary that seemed to have more injured players (including starters Chris McAllister and Samari Rolle) than healthy ones. The Ravens sacked Roethlisberger four times and, were it not for one huge pass play, would have kept the Steelers offense out of the end zone.

The Steelers defense benefited from rookie Joe Flacco's abysmal showing, which included three interceptions. Warner and Flacco couldn't be more different, though.

In the end, it will come down to Arizona's ability to fluster Roethlisberger bottle the run. They shut down two of the league's best rushing attacks this postseason and look to do the same Sunday night.

Can Ben Roethlisberger beat the Cardinals' blitzing, opportunistic defense on his own?

Can Kurt Warner continue his solid play, attacking blitzing defenses and making intelligent decisions along the way?

Will the Cardinals abandon the run game against the league's top rush defense?

Will Hines Ward be healthy enough to make an impact?

All of these questions will be answered at Raymond James Stadium Sunday night. But until that time, The Pick provides the answer.

The Pick: Arizona 30, Pittsburgh 26.

Last week: 2-0

Playoff record: 6-4

Overall record: 168-95-1

2008-09 Milwaukee Bucks Midseason in Review

Josh Brewer — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:37:44 -0500

January brings the mid-way point of the 2008-09 NBA season, and the Milwaukee Bucks have overachieved in some eyes. Their 20-23 record heading into Monday night's game with the Portland Trail Blazers has the Bucks in third place in the division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Let's hand out some well-deserved awards.

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Brett Favre, Tony Dungy—Who's Next? The Unhealthy Obsession with Retirements

Josh Brewer — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:01:40 -0500

I had a front-row seat for the biggest NFL retirement of the decade.

Well, not quite front row. It was actually the seventh row in the Legends Club, located in the Lambeau Field Atrium. At 23 years old, I was easily the youngest reporter in the room to watch Brett Favre put an end to his 17-year NFL career.

The scene was unlike any press conference I had been to before or since. Risers lined the back of the room, stacked three levels high and packed from end to end with cameras. ESPN had a presence there, as did every major news station in Wisconsin. Green Bay's local newspaper, the Green Bay Press-Gazette, had its four-man Packers coverage team sitting up front, just feet from Favre and his wife, Deanna.

When Favre entered the room, I could not see him until he took his seat at the table in front of the 100-plus reporters there. Cameras clicked and flashed as if the Pope had stepped into the Legends Club.

I arrived early, and Favre's late-arriving flight made my 35-minute wait into something in the ballpark of an 80-minute wait. As I sat waiting, I celebrated the end of the ridiculous hoopla that was the Brett Favre Retirement Saga. 2008 was the third, and apparently final, year of the annual event.

But the Fourth Annual Brett Favre Retirement Saga kicked off days after the Jets' season ended.

Shortly after, ESPN turned the story of Tony Dungy's possible retirement into an annoyance of Favre-like proportions. As if there wasn't anything else happening... like the NFL playoffs, college bowl season or the midway point of the NBA schedule.

For a solid week, every NFL-related story ran on this premise: Will Dungy retire or will Dungy return?

I got sick of hearing about Dungy. I felt he would retire after this season and I was right. But unlike Favre, he didn't waste time and drag his team down. Unlike Favre, Dungy won't be back. Ever.

With Favre set to take weeks to make a decision, Jets fans and New York sports fans will likely experience what we in Green Bay experienced in each of the last three off-seasons. There will be countless Favre stories, countless attempts at speculation and one overdue decision.

The question has been asked time and time again, but I've never heard an answer: Why can't we just leave these athletes alone and stop writing speculative stories?

We know the situations. We know the possibilities. Let's wait and see what happens. Favre may retire. He may come back for season No. 19. He may retire and come back for season No. 19. We get it.

Why are we so obsessed with every intricate detail about an athlete's decision-making process? What will it take before we leave retirement stories alone until there is actually a story there?

The biggest detriment to journalism is the tabloids that tell us every unnecessary detail of the lives of our biggest celebrities. That trend seems to be leaking into the world of sport journalism, and I couldn't be more let down.

Weekly NFL Picks: Championship Weekend

Josh Brewer — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:40:21 -0500

It seems like yesterday that I wrote my first picks column of the 2008 NFL season. And now, here we are, with only three games remaining until we crown a world champion.

I posed this question to one of my roommates, who responded with a laugh: If I told you, at the beginning of the season, the Arizona Cardinals would be hosting the NFC Championship Game, what would you say?

But it will happen. The Cardinals (completely unexpected) and Steelers (a surprise to few, if any) provide the venue for this weekend's title games. Road teams are a stunning 5-3 thus far in the postseason.

San Diego eliminated the Colts at home in the wildcard round. The other two home winners?

Arizona and Pittsburgh.

The bandwagons are full and the wheels are about to fall off two of them. How will the road warriors fare with everything on the line?

Let's get to the picks.

NFC Championship: Philadelphia (11-6-1) at Arizona (11-7)

The most popular of postseason bandwagons has already rolled through Minneapolis and East Rutherford, picking up loads of passengers along the way. Now bursting at the seams, it rolls into Glendale, along with the Eagles, to take on the Cardinals.

Statistical rankings become irrelevant at this time of year and these two teams indicate that better than anyone. Arizona's defensive unit ranked 19th in the NFL during the regular season but has been lights out this postseason. Philly's offense was one-dimensional during the regular season but has found balance in January.

ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski felt the need to claim the Eagles were "a virtual lock for the Super Bowl" on Sunday night, not six hours after Philadelphia's win in New York. A bit premature, Gene, don't you think?

Nobody is giving the Cardinals a chance Sunday afternoon. Seemingly everyone has Philadelphia booked for Tampa to face the winner of Sunday night's Ravens-Steelers tilt.

Before Saturday night's Cardinals-Panthers game, I said if any team had a chance to be last year's Giants—the team nobody believed in—it was these Arizona Cardinals.

I've picked against the Eagles five weeks in a row. I wouldn't do it again...would I?

The Pick: Cardinals 30, Eagles 21.

AFC Championship: Baltimore (13-5) at Pittsburgh (13-4)

It's hard to beat a team three times in a season. These two teams just don't like each other. This game won't be for the faint of heart. Defense wins championships and these teams have the best defenses in the NFL.

Pick your cliche. They're all overused...but they're also all true.

Nobody can get over the no-call delay of game in last week's divisional match-up between Baltimore and Tennessee. Everyone seems to forget it took a highly controversial touchdown for the Steelers to beat Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium last month.

The focus all week has been on Joe Flacco's play—and when he'll make his first huge rookie mistake. Pittsburgh hasn't drawn any criticism and, according to most so-called experts, shouldn't have much of a problem Sunday night.

The line on this game is an inexplicable six points as of Friday afternoon. That's up from the five points the Ravens were giving earlier in the week. Of all the picks I've read this week, not one person is picking the Ravens to win.

It took Pittsburgh two games to beat Baltimore by a total of seven points. Now the Ravens will lose by at least a touchdown, without question, this weekend? This doesn't add up, rookie QB or not.

My gut says Baltimore wins. My pre-playoff pick says Pittsburgh wins.

I hope my gut overrides my pick for the second week in a row. But, because I have to ...

The Pick: Steelers 14, Ravens 12.

Last week: 2-2
Overall record: 166-95-1

LaDainian Tomlinson: The NFL's Alex Rodriguez

Josh Brewer — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:07:30 -0500

Near the end of the first quarter of Sunday's AFC divisional playoff game, CBS's Jim Nantz wondered aloud if Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson would play if San Diego were move on.

The result of Sunday's game, along with Tomlinson's health, won't matter. Even if the Bolts host the Baltimore Ravens with a trip to Super Bowl XLIII on the line and Tomlinson suits up, he won't have much of an effect on the game.

Tomlinson is all-world from September to December. Once January rolls around, the man this generation of football fans know as LT disappears.

Sound familiar, baseball fans?

It should. LaDainian Tomlinson is the NFL's version of New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

During their respective regular seasons, both players are sure-fire Hall of Famers.

Tomlinson has rushed for 11,760 yards and 126 touchdowns in eight NFL seasons. That pans out to averages of 1,470 yards and about 16 touchdowns per season.

In 13 full seasons and two partial seasons in the majors, Rodriguez has a .306 batting average, with seasonal averages of 42 home runs and 123 RBI.

Both players have won league Most Valuable Player honors. Both players are considered to be amongst the best at their respective positions. Heck, both players have been mentioned as the best to ever play their respective positions.

But when playoff time comes around, Tomlinson and Rodriguez become different players. Do they lose their motivation? Are they just not clutch?

Tomlinson uses ticky-tack injuries to cover his shortcomings. Rodriguez simply ignores them.

In six career playoff games, Tomlinson averages 50.5 yards and less than a touchdown per game. That pales in comparison to his regular season per-game averages of 92.6 yards and a touchdown.

The drop-off in Rodriguez's statistics are just as sharp. He has a .279 postseason average to go along with just seven home runs and 17 RBI in 39 career postseason games.

One more stat Yankees fans, especially, loathe: Rodriguez has 38 strikeouts in those 39 games, 22 of which have come with Rodriguez wearing pinstripes.

While Tomlinson and Rodriguez will more than likely head to Canton, Ohio, and Cooperstown, N.Y., respectively, the praise these players receive needs to be curtailed to a degree. Other players in the NFL and MLB get the job done when everything is on the line while these two do not.

Success is measured in championships. In 21 full seasons, combined, Tomlinson and Rodriguez have as many titles, combined, as I do: zero.

Weekly NFL Picks: Divisional Playoffs

Josh Brewer — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:10:30 -0500

I'm still feeling a bit ill after listening to Thom Brenneman profess his love of Tim Tebow throughout the broadcast of the BCS national title game. Regardless, it's time for the divisional round NFL picks, and I couldn't be more excited.

After spending 14.5 hours watching every snap of NFL football played last weekend, I am prepared for a similar feat this weekend.

Last weekend didn't pan out as well as I had hoped. A last-second switch prevented a 1-3 weekend for me—Arizona saved me, as I lost out by picking Indianapolis and Minnesota.

The top pair of teams in each conference hit the field after a weekend off. Will the bye week help or hurt the teams?

Let's get to the picks.

Baltimore over Tennessee

Only because I have to.

Of the four divisional-round games, I only picked one correctly, and this was it. In my full playoff prediction (check out my blog for that), I picked the Ravens to upset the Titans in Nashville.

As the week progressed, I have become more and more concerned with Baltimore's chances. Both teams have a defense capable of winning a Super Bowl title and both sport a solid two-pronged rushing attack.

The difference is the man behind center. Tennessee starting quarterback Kerry Collins started Super Bowl XXXV (against the Ravens, ironically) while Joe Flacco has exactly one postseason start. Taking a rookie quarterback to win, on the road, in the playoffs, is a tough sell.

But I'm doing it. Because I have to.

Carolina over Arizona

The Panthers must be careful in this game. If the Cardinals get their pass game rolling, Carolina's 18th-ranked pass defense may be in trouble.

With that being said, it's going to be awfully tough for Arizona to get rolling without a healthy Anquan Boldin. Carolina will likely double Larry Fitzgerald to make the likes of Steve Breaston beat them.

Arizona did a solid job of containing Michael Turner, the league's second-leading rusher, last weekend. A raucous home crowd had a good bit to do with that and the Cards won't have that crowd to help them contain DeAngelo Williams.

New York over Philadelphia

For the last month, I've written the same thing about the Eagles. I'm not breaking the streak today.

The Eagles are vastly overrated and cannot perform against a strong team, especially on the road.

I thought the Cowboys and Vikings were stronger than they were, but their play against the Eagles in Philly's last two games proved me wrong. The Giants, however, won't.

The defending Super Bowl champs are healthy and rested, and if they needed any more motivation, they got it when the hated Eagles drew Sunday afternoon's ticket to the Meadowlands.

Two plays—Asante Samuel's interception touchdown and Brian Westbrook's 71-yard touchdown—pulled the Eagles through to this weekend. They will need much more than that to get past the NFC's top squad...And they won't get it.

Pittsburgh over San Diego

When it comes down to tough picks, I go back to the predictions I made before the playoffs began. And this game is decided exactly that way.

I don't believe in the hype San Diego is drawing as of late. Peyton Manning threw for more than 300 yards and Reggie Wayne tore the Chargers apart last weekend. While Ben Roethlisberger is no Peyton Manning, he is capable of beating down an underachieving defensive secondary.

The Chargers do have the capability of going into Heinz Field and leaving with the victory. After all, San Diego is 2-0 in Pittsburgh in playoff games, including last year's divisional-round victory.

Pittsburgh's defense, and the running game in support of Roethlisberger and the ill effects of the Week 17 concussion, gives the Steelers the slight edge and sends Mike Tomlin's crew to the AFC Championship next weekend.

Last week: 2-2

Overall record: 164-93-1

No. 1 Team in College Football: Utah Utes? No Doubt About It

Josh Brewer — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:29:43 -0500

When the votes are tallied after the Jan. 8 national title tilt between No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Oklahoma, either the Gators or Sooners will be crowned national champions of college football.

But will they deserve the distinction?

The answer is simple: no.

For eight consecutive weeks, the Alabama Crimson Tide was ranked either first or second in the country. Friday night in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the Utah Utes beat Nick Saban's team in every facet en route to a 31-17 victory and a 13-0 season.

When those final polls come out next week, it should be the Utes sitting atop the world of college football, not Florida or Oklahoma.

Regardless of who wins Jan. 8, only one team will have finished with a spotless record against ranked opponents.

Oklahoma lost to Texas. Florida lost to Ole Miss. Utah lost to no one.

Oklahoma and Utah both beat TCU, which ended Boise State's run at perfection. Florida and Utah both beat Alabama. It was the Utes, however, winning by a larger margin. The Gators took down the Tide 31-20 in a neutral-site Georgia Dome in the SEC title game. In a Louisiana Superdome clearly swayed in favor of Alabama, Utah blew out to a 21-0 lead, winning the 2009 Sugar Bowl, 31-17.

If ever there were a reason for a playoff system, this season would be it. Most certainly, Utah will finish ranked second behind the winner of Thursday night's game.

Three coaches broke ranks of BCS voting and voted USC as the national champions, over BCS title game winner LSU, at the end of the 2003-04 season. Are there any coaches out there with the spine to vote Utah over Florida or Oklahoma?

Would it take 32 BCS coaches (the lowest possible majority) to vote Utah atop their poll to give us a legitimate chance at seeing a playoff system installed in major college football?

Unfortunately, we will most likely never have these questions answered. If BCS voters are anything, they are sheep.

No matter their beliefs, they will vote the winner of the Florida-Oklahoma game as national championship, even if neither one of those teams are the deserving national champions.

NFL Coaching Carousel Spinning at Break-Neck Pace

Josh Brewer — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:38:05 -0500

For 20 NFL teams, the 2008 regular season has been over for a single day. But for three of those teams, a change couldn't have come fast enough.

By noontime Monday, Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli and Romeo Crennel had a brand new title: former NFL head coach.

The list of coaches that could feel the swing of the ax doesn't stop with Monday's victims. Buffalo's Dick Jauron, Kansas City's Herm Edwards, Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis and St. Louis' Jim Haslett may not return next season. Seemingly everyone but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants Wade Phillips gone, but Jones has adamantly stated Phillips will return in 2009.

Some coaches - Edwards and Lewis come to mind - deserve to lose their jobs. Crennel, Jauron and Haslett don't. Mangini surely didn't.

Following the 2006 season, New York media was referring to Mangini as Mangenius. Two years later, following a 9-7 season, he is unemployed.

Was it because the Jets missed the playoffs? If it was, I fully expect to see Bill Belichick fired by week's end. Even though the Patriots went 11-5, their season is over.

Last season, the Browns stunned the NFL and finished 10-6. Thanks to the NFL's complicated tie-breaking system, a Week 3 loss to Oakland was essentially the only thing that kept Cleveland out of the playoffs. But Crennel is out of a job just a year later.

NFL coaches have always been on short leashes. But the turnover rate for NFL coaches is becoming sad. It has reached an extreme to which winning—and winning big—is seemingly expected every year.

Will it reach a point that a man in the position of Tom Coughlin - the head coach of the defending Super Bowl champions—will be in danger of losing his job if a division championship and deep playoff run doesn't follow the next season? Did New York's 12-4 campaign this season save Coughlin's job?

It is time for NFL owners and general managers to loosen the reigns a little bit. Crennel lost his job because his quarterbacks don't make smart throws and his biggest offensive star, wide receiver Braylon Edwards, couldn't hold on to the ball. The mistakes made by Crennel's, and other coaches', team was not his fault.

The players on the field need to start shouldering more of the responsibility for failures of the team. Quarterbacks don't get cut for having a bad season. Nor do running backs. Or any other position player.

In a win-now league, the pressure on NFL head coaches has never been higher. When team owners say win now, it seems they are more serious than ever.

Weekly NFL Picks: Week 17

Josh Brewer — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 12:51:06 -0500

The final week of the 2008 NFL season is an all-or-nothing week. In some games, there is nothing on the line—the winner is essentially irrelevant with both teams left with nothing more to play for.

On the other hand, some games couldn't have more importance. Playoff spots are on the line in Baltimore, San Diego and New York. History is on the line in Green Bay.

Regardless of the consequence of Sunday's games, the lines are incredibly high for the second time in the last few weeks. Only five games have lines inside of four points. The Rams are giving 10.5 at Atlanta and the Browns are giving 9.5 in Pittsburgh.

Since the season ends Sunday night, I'm including some postseason award predictions after the games.

Let's get to the picks.

Atlanta (10-5) over St. Louis (2-13)

St. Louis is 28th in the league against the run. Michael Turner won't pass Minnesota's Adrian Peterson for the league rushing title, but he'll come close.

New England (10-5) over Buffalo (7-8)

Buffalo is 3-4 at home. The Patriots are better away from Gillette Stadium (5-2) than they are at it.

Kansas City (2-13) over Cincinnati (3-11-1)

Cincy looked good last week. Too bad they were playing the worst team in the NFL right now.

Detroit (0-15) over Green Bay (5-10)

Green Bay has been flat all month. Detroit has come close to getting win No. 1. The Lions don't want to be the ones to make history...and they won't be.

Tennessee (13-2) over Indianapolis (11-4)

The Titans returned to form last week by punishing the Steelers. Tennessee takes momentum into the playoffs.

Minnesota (9-6) over New York Giants (12-3)

The Giants' defense is banged up and the team has nothing to gain. Look for the starters to rest as the Vikings lock up the NFC North title.

Carolina (11-4) over New Orleans (8-7)

Drew Brees and the Saints offense are looking to be the most passing-proficient team in NFL history. They may get there Sunday but the Panthers will lock up the NFC's second seed.

Pittsburgh (11-4) over Cleveland (4-11)

The Browns are the worst team in the league right now. No way they go into Pittsburgh and win.

Tampa Bay (9-6) over Oakland (4-11)

Tampa Bay has looked terrible in the last couple games. Luckily the Bucs return home—where they are 6-1—to play the floundering Raiders.

Houston (7-8) over Chicago (8-7)

Houston is a different team at home. The Bears won't know it, but their performance in this game won't matter. Even if the Vikings lose, Chicago will fumble away the NFC North crown.

San Francisco (6-9) over Washington (8-7)

The fact that this line is even says everything you need to know about Washington's season. Let the Daniel Snyder-led courting of Bill Cowher begin.

Baltimore (10-5) over Jacksonville (5-10)

These teams reversed fortunes in 2008. The Jags were expected to compete for the AFC South title while the Ravens were written off. Baltimore wins to clinch the final AFC playoff spot.

Miami (10-5) over New York Jets (9-6)

All you need to know about the Jets' December play played out in last week's abysmal showing in Seattle. Miami is a much better team than the Seahawks and will clinch the AFC East.

Dallas (9-6) over Philadelphia (8-6-1)

I said it last week, but I'll repeat this for emphasis purposes: The Eagles, despite their recent hot streak, cannot beat a good team. The Cowboys aren't as good as expected but good enough to beat the Eagles.

Arizona (8-7) over Seattle (4-11)

The Cardinals don't want to be on a losing streak heading into next week's wildcard match-up. They won't.

San Diego (7-8) over Denver (8-7)

The stats give the slight edge to Denver. But this game is about location and momentum, and both of those favor the Bolts. Norv Turner's job may be saved with this victory.

Last week: 8-8
Overall record: 151-86-1

Postseason Awards
NFL MVP
Adrian Peterson

Peterson has been the driving force behind Minnesota's successful season. Despite continuous tumult at quarterback, it appears as though the Vikings will win the NFC North and could be a threat to make a run in the playoffs. If Minnesota misses the playoffs, look for Drew Brees or, possibly, Philip Rivers to walk away with the award.

Offensive Player of the Year
Drew Brees

It's clear Brees has been the most successful quarterback in the league. Through 16 games, Brees has thrown for 4,683 yards and 30 TDs. He'll need 402 yards against the Panthers to break Dan Marino's single-season passing yards record against a tough Panthers defense, but falling short of the record won't matter much.

Defensive Player of the Year
Ed Reed

DeMarcus Ware is Reed's main competition, especially if he tallies three sacks against the Eagles and breaks Michael Strahan's single-season sack record. Reed has made big play after big play all year and goes into Sunday's game with the Jaguars tied for the NFL lead in interceptions. Reed has scored three touchdowns, including his NFL-record 107-yard interception return against the Eagles.

Coach of the Year
Tony Sparano

It is clearly a two-horse race between Sparano and Atlanta's Mike Smith. Both coaches took over after absymal seasons in 2007 with a bare-bones roster, and both have flourished.

After a 1-15 season last year, the Dolphins are in position to finish 11-5 and win the AFC East over perennial division champion New England. That turn-around gives Sparano the slight edge. If the 'Fins miss the playoffs, the award goes to Smith.

Comeback Player of the Year
Chad Pennington

Pennington was left for dead professionally after the Jets acquired Brett Favre. His subsequent release led him to sign with the Dolphins, where Pennington has thrown for 17 TDs and only seven interceptions. His 96.4 quarterback rating heading into Week 17 is second only to San Diego's Philip Rivers.

2008's 12 Days of Sportsmas

Josh Brewer — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:04:05 -0500

Aside from the inclement Wisconsin weather causing drivers to forget their driving skills altogether, my least favorite thing about December is Christmas music.

All that aside, I’ve stolen an old Christmas favorite and created a yearly sports tradition: The 12 Days of Sportsmas.

Six days still remain in 2008, but the vast majority of newsworthy days have come and gone. But which 12 make the cut as the most important in the sports world this year?

Major League Baseball—and the New York Yankees—dominated this year’s Sportsmas list. But did the Bronx Bombers make enough noise to take the top spot this year?

12. Aug. 28

After holding out for years, Major League Baseball joined America’s three other major sports leagues by instituting instant replay.

MLB’s version of instant replay is a bit different, though, as the system is only used on questionable home-run calls. Umpires may rely on instant replay to determine whether a ball was fair or foul, whether or not a fan interfered with a home-run ball or whether the ball left the field at all.

11. Aug. 23

America’s pastime made its curtain call at the Olympics this summer, and the United States team was, in fact, nowhere to be found in the gold medal game.

South Korea upset heavily favored Cuba, 3-2, to win the gold medal. The United States finished the games 5-2, good enough to win the bronze medal.

In other Olympic action, world powerhouse Argentina used a 58th-minute goal by Angel Di Maria to beat Nigeria in the gold-medal match.

10. Sept. 21

For 85 years, "The House That Ruth Built" stood amongst the state-of-the-art stadiums as one of the few remaining symbols of baseball history. But after 6,581 regular-season games, the Yankees closed Yankee Stadium with a 7-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Starting next season, the Yankees will move across the street into New Yankee Stadium, with the first regular season game set for Apr. 16 against the Cleveland Indians.

9. July 31

Big trades are nothing new on MLB’s July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. But never have two more accomplished hitters changed teams on the same day.

The long speculated trade of Manny Ramirez finally went through, as the Boston Red Sox sent the enigmatic slugger to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade that brought Jason Bay to Beantown.

In the day’s most surprising move, the Cincinnati Reds sent Ken Griffey Jr. to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a pair of middle relievers.

8. Sept. 13

Eric Gagne came close in 2005, but former Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez did not fall short.

K-Rod struck out former Seattle outfielder Raul Ibanez to record his 58th save of the season, breaking Bobby Thigpen’s 18-year-old single-season save record. Rodriguez finished the season with 62 saves in 69 chances.

7. Dec. 23

For much of December, it was expected that Mark Teixeira would sign with the Boston Red Sox. But it was Boston’s arch rival that won the Teixeira sweepstakes.

Teixeira signed an eight-year, $180 million deal with the New York Yankees, capping New York’s $423 million free agent signing spree. Earlier in the month, New York signed pitcher CC Sabathia to a seven-year, $161 million deal and pitcher A.J. Burnett to a five-year, $82.5 million deal.

6. Aug. 13

Michael Phelps made the XXIX Summer Olympics his personal record-breaking show. Phelps won his fourth gold medal of the 2008 Summer Games by winning the 200-meter butterfly race in world-record time. The victory gave him 10 career gold medals, a new individual record.

Later in the night, Phelps took part in the gold medal-winning 4x200 relay team.

5. June 25

The 2008 College World Series was a who’s who of college baseball powerhouses. Stanford, Miami, Florida State, Rice, and LSU all took the field in Omaha, NE, in hopes of winning a national title.

It was Georgia advancing to the championship series to take on upstart Fresno State, the lowest ranked team to ever make the College World Series.

After losing the first game of the three-game series, Fresno State won the next two games to become the lowest ranked team to ever win an NCAA national championship in any sport.

4. Dec. 10

The city of New York dominated Dec. 10’s headlines.

In the early-morning hours, it was reported that the Yankees had signed free agent CC Sabathia, considered the best pitcher available on the open market.

The Yankees’ cross-town rivals were not to be outdone. The Mets signed record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez to a three-year, $37 million deal. Later in the day, closer J.J. Putz was traded to New York in a 12-player blockbuster trade.

3. Feb. 3

The game nobody expected the New York Giants to win was dominated by the G-Men from start to finish.

It was Tom Coughlin’s disrespected squad that took down the 18-0 New England Patriots 17-10 in Super Bowl XLII. Eli Manning threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left in regulation, to earn Most Valuable Player honors.

2. Mar. 4

It was the day Green Bay Packers fans knew was inevitable. After 17 years as an NFL quarterback, 16 of which were played in Titletown, Brett Favre hung up his spikes for good...or so we thought.

Plans were made in Green Bay for the retirement of Favre’s No. 4 during the Packers’ season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. But Favre filed for reinstatement July 29 and was traded to the New York Jets Aug. 7.

1. Aug. 17

The weight of the quest for Olympic immortality seemed to be the only thing capable of slowing Michael Phelps down in Beijing.

Seven events and seven victories led Phelps to tie Mark Spitz’s Olympic games-record seven gold medals. With the help of his three teammates on the 4x100 relay team, Phelps claimed his eighth gold medal, setting the record for gold medals won at a single Olympic games.

Phelps finished with seven world record and one Olympic record on top of his record medal tally.

Weekly NFL Picks: Week 16

Josh Brewer — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:22:00 -0500

It took until Week 15, but I finally tallied a sub-.500 week on the picks. I was so close to making it through the whole season!

Last week was full of high-drama games. Houston needed nearly every one of the 60 minutes they had against Tennessee to squeak out the victory. Baltimore was robbed of a shot at the AFC North crown on a pair of bogus challenge decisions.

I may be a little bias...but the refs clearly blew two calls, including the eventual game-winning touchdown. And I use the term touchdown incredibly loosely.

Week 16 is surely not short of big games, including Saturday night's clash of the titans in Dallas.

Let's get to the picks.

Indianapolis (10-4) over Jacksonville (5-9)

The Jaguars really didn't have any business beating Green Bay last weekend. The Colts are the hottest team in the NFL right now. Fairly simple math here: Colts win and remain hot as January approaches.

Baltimore (9-5) over Dallas (9-5)

The loser of this game isn't necessarily eliminated from playoff contention, but a loss isn't going to help matters.

The buzz coming into this game is the strong play as of late by the Dallas defense. But after last week's controversial loss to the Steelers, the Ravens defense is going to be spitting mad. It's an incredibly tall task to take on Baltimore's defense on a normal day—taking them on with the entire unit fuming will be trouble for Tony Romo and the Dallas run game.

Cincinnati (2-11-1) over Cleveland (4-10)

A second week with a game nobody wants to watch? Are you serious?
This game pits the two worst teams in the AFC. If the Lions had a shot at one of these two, they wouldn't be staring 0-16 straight in the face.

New Orleans (7-7) over Detroit (0-14)

Drew Brees, possibly the league's most valuable player in 2008, faces Detroit's abysmal secondary. There's only one word for this game's result: ugly. The clock is ticking, Detroit. Sixty minutes of football stand between you and ultimate futility.

Pittsburgh (11-3) over Tennessee (12-2)

If Albert Haynesworth is healthy, there's no way the Titans give 4.5 at home. This game will still be closer than some people are seeming to expect, but 2008 has seen most (if not all) the breaks fall for Pittsburgh. What will happen if the Colts and Steelers clash in the playoffs? Talk about prime-time football.

Kansas City (2-12) over Miami (9-5)

Miami's first cold-weather game of the year will be a doozy: highs in the mid-teens with 15-25 mph winds. How the Dolphins respond to the weather will tell a lot of this team's playoff chances in 2008. The weather, and a sneakily dangerous Chiefs team, take down the 'Fins.

San Francisco (5-9) over St. Louis (2-12)

St. Louis can't win at home. That's all you need to know about this team. The 'Niners are fighting to end the season on a decent note after a sour start. With slightly better numbers on both sides of the ball, San Francisco heads home with the victory.

New England (9-5) over Arizona (8-6)

2008 has been anything but normal, but answer this question: Under just about any circumstances, would you take a Bill Belichick-coached team at home in December or the Arizona Cardinals on the road in cold weather? The weather isn't expected to be pretty, which may make this game much the same.

Tampa Bay (9-5) over San Diego (6-8)

Only the Ravens have allowed fewer points at home this season than the Buccaneers have. Tampa Bay is 6-0 at Raymond James Stadium and is looking to bounce back after a pair of tough losses. The Chargers can't beat good teams, and Tampa Bay is a good team.

New York Jets (9-5) over Seattle (3-11)

Seattle seems to be getting luke warm. I don't think you can say a team like Seattle - you know, a team without any real talent—can get hot. Regardless, the Jets have gained confidence after last week's immaculate victory over Buffalo and are feeling the pressure to win this game. The John Madden Game of the Week goes to the J-E-T-S.

Houston (7-7) over Oakland (3-11)

If only the Texans would have played the entire season as they've played it over the past six weeks. Even with wins in its final two games, Houston won't make the playoffs. Oakland, on the other hand, probably forgot what the playoffs are. The slippery slope remains slick for the Raiders.

Buffalo (6-8) over Denver (8-6)

Denver is carrying the weight of the world in this one. Buffalo, now eliminated from the playoffs, has no pressure. Jay Cutler feels a little too much pressure and throws a late pick as the Bills steal one from the Broncos.

Philadelphia (8-5-1) over Washington (7-7)

Jim Zorn must watch his back. After a hot start, the Redskins are free-falling and won't make the playoffs once again. Despite having one of the best rushers in the NFL, Washington just can't seem to get anything right. The Eagles capitalize and look to remain an outside contender for an NFC playoff spot.

Minnesota (9-5) over Atlanta (9-5)

One of the biggest games of the week in the NFC takes place in Minneapolis. The Falcons must win to remain in the hunt for the NFC South crown, while a victory by the Vikings—paired with a Bears loss—gives them the NFC North title.

The NFL's top two rushers—Minnesota's Adrian Peterson and Atlanta's Michael Turner—clash with the spotlight sure to be shining on the two feature backs. The Falcons' 22nd-ranked run defense will doom them, though.

Carolina (11-3) over New York Giants (11-3)

There is no two ways about it: The winner of this game will hold home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The defending champs have come back to earth a little in the last two weeks while the Panthers have kept on rolling along.

Carolina's top-notch pass rush will fluster Eli Manning enough to force him into mistakes and steer the road to Super Bowl XLIII through Charlotte.

Chicago (8-6) over Green Bay (5-9)

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. After a 13-3 campaign in 2007, the Packers just can't seem to get it right. Chicago and Green Bay usually play close games, with the edge going to the Bears at Soldier Field.

Last season, the Bears thoroughly handed the Packers their backsides, and while that probably won't happen this weekend, the Bears should cruise to victory.

Last week: 7-9
Overall record: 143-78-1

Weekly NFL Picks: Week 15

Josh Brewer — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:30:00 -0500

I'm having a hard time figuring out why everyone is treating the Detroit Lions like a charity case. Yes, they haven't won a game this year and just may be the first team ever to finish 0-16, but this was self-imposed. Bad decisions caused this team to be in the position it is in.

Mounting victory numero uno won't be easy against a red-hot Indianapolis team. Will the breaks finally favor the Lions?

Let's get to the picks.

New Orleans (7-6) over Chicago (7-6)

Huge playoff implications are on the line Thursday night at Soldier Field. Whichever team wins stays in the race for a division title while the loser suffers a tough setback. The Saints need to be desperate since both NFC wild-card teams may come out of the South. New Orleans does just enough to keep pace with the Falcons and remain in the playoff hunt.

Tampa Bay (9-4) over Atlanta (8-5)

The Buccaneers didn't show me what I expected to see out of them in last week's 38-23 loss to Carolina. Atlanta looked sloppy in losing to New Orleans last week.
Much like the Saints-Bears game, the winner of this game goes into prime playoff position while the loser takes a hit.

The Bucs have been shaky on the road but their players know what it takes in crunch time. Atlanta's leader—rookie quarterback Matt Ryan—hasn't been through the rigors of a playoff race. Advantage, and the game, goes to Tampa Bay.

Washington (7-6) over Cincinnati (1-11-1)

The Redskins fell apart. Plain and simple. But there is no better elixir for a slump than visiting the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy hasn't been good all year and something needs to change by the time the 2009 season kicks off. As for Sunday, Washington should have a field day against the helpless Bengals defense.

St. Louis (2-11) over Seattle (2-11)

For the suffering of NFL fans everywhere, this game actually has to be played. Matt Hasselbeck isn't playing—again—which hurts Seattle's chances. The Seahawks can't stop the pass at all and the Rams can move the ball fairly well through the air. Chalk up an ugly home victory for St. Louis.

Miami (8-5) over San Francisco (5-8)

I keep picking against the 49ers and they keep winning. The 'Niners stink on the road, and the Dolphins know how to get it done at home. Tony Sparano may be the NFL Coach of the Year, especially if he gets the 'Fins to the playoffs. A win Sunday sure won't hurt.

New York Jets (8-5) over Buffalo (6-7)

The John Madden Game of the Week hasn't been very good to me as of late. As opposed to my 49ers picks, I keep picking the Jets to win and they keep losing. I'm sticking to my guns this week as the Jets play a crucial home game against the self-destructing Bills.

Brett Favre knows how to get things done in the winter months, and after watching him for nearly all of my life here in Green Bay, I would imagine he'll do the same Sunday.

If you're hearing a pounding sound as you read this, it's just me beating my head against the desk for complimenting Favre.

Indianapolis (9-4) over Detroit (0-13)

Every week, I give thought to a Lions upset. If the Colts were playing as they were in October, I'd give this one to the Lions. Unfortunately for Detroit, the Colts are playing like the Colts of old, which means this one goes to the home team. Sorry kitties, 0-16 is just 120 minutes of football away.

Kansas City (2-11) over San Diego (5-8)

How the Chargers are 5-8 is the biggest mystery of the 2008 NFL season. It's clear LaDainian Tomlinson isn't the machine he used to be, but it is also clear Phillip Rivers is becoming a superstar quarterback.

The Bolts' biggest shortcomings have come on the road, and regardless of how down the Chiefs may be, Arrowhead is not a fun place for visiting teams to play. KC squeaks out the upset.

Green Bay (5-8) over Jacksonville (4-9)

Two of the most disappointing squads in the league clash Sunday afternoon in northern Florida. Neither defensive unit has played up to expectations. Green Bay's offense will be the difference as the Packers theoretically remain alive in the playoff race.

Houston (6-7) over Tennessee (12-1)

Only two teams—New Orleans and Denver—have a more productive offense than the Texans. Houston was hot going into Green Bay last week. After Matt Schaub's career day, he and the offense are confident. A late field goal give the Texans a big confidence-building victory.

Arizona (8-5) over Minnesota (8-5)

This game boils down to which strength—Arizona's passing attack and Minnesota's running game - can out-muscle the other. The Cards are No. 11 against the run while Minnesota's pass defense ranks 20th in the NFL.

With this one played in the desert, the Cardinals bolster their record while delivering a crucial blow to Minnesota's division championship hopes.

Carolina (10-3) over Denver (8-5)

The Panthers looked impressive in last Sunday's victory over the Buccaneers. Denver's second-ranked offense comes to Charlotte for the Panthers' final home game of the regular season, but Denver's defensive ineptitude will get Carolina one step closer to the NFC South crown.

Baltimore (9-4) over Pittsburgh (10-3)

A Ravens win means the AFC North race is anything but over. A Steelers win means it is over. Pittsburgh hasn't won in Baltimore since 2002 and the Ravens offense is the highest scoring unit in the NFL since mid-October.

Joe Flacco is giving Matt Ryan a heck of a run for Rookie of the Year. If Pittsburgh's offense clicks for the first time all year, though, this one could sway the other way.

New England (8-5) over Oakland (3-10)

It's been a long time since the Patriots have had a must-win game in December, but Sunday's late kickoff against the Raiders is just that. A loss, coupled with wins by the Jets and Dolphins, severely hinders New England's playoff hopes. Luckily for the Pats, Oakland isn't very good at football.

New York Giants (11-2) over Dallas (8-5)

It was just a matter of time before Terrell Owens started pouting. Evidently 50-some catches and a team-leading nine touchdowns isn't enough for T.O. Now is the worst time for any drama to be rearing its head, but the Giants will be glad to capitalize.

Owens will be throwing tantrums when the Cowboys miss the playoffs, regardless of the fact that he'll have nobody but himself to blame.

Philadelphia (7-5-1) over Cleveland (4-9)

Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel does not deserve to lose his job this offseason though he probably will. It isn't his fault the Browns can't play defense, the quarterbacks can't stop throwing interceptions and Braylon Edwards can't stop dropping the ball.

It isn't Philly's fault, either, and the Eagles will be glad to take advantage of the Browns Monday night.

Last week: 12-4
Overall record: 136-67-1

A Sensical Playoff System For The Non-Sensical Bowl Championship Series

Josh Brewer — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:56:23 -0500

Any writer who follows college football closely enough has some kind of playoff system devised. It may be a four-team system, an eight-team system or something more extravagant.

Count me as one of the few who favors a more extravagant playoff setup.

Two years ago, I wrote my first version of a college football playoff. It was an eight-team, single-elimination bracket played outside of the now five-game Bowl Championship Series games.

After reading around the Internet late last season, I amended the system to what it is today: a 12-team, single-elimination tournament that uses the BCS standings as a seeding mechanism instead of the determining factor for which teams play for the national title.

The champions of the six BCS conferences receive automatic bids regardless of their place in the final BCS standings. After that, any non-BCS conference team which finishes in the top 12 of the final BCS standings also receives an automatic bid.

The remaining spots are filled in order of final BCS standing until the 12-team field is set, with no conference limits. If one conference were to lock up four spots, so be it.

First-round games would be played at the home field of the higher seeds. Quarterfinal games would be played at a neutral site (for example, hosting a Florida-Oklahoma game in Memphis) while the semi-finals and national title game would be played in existing BCS bowls which rotate every year.

Here's what the 2007 field would have looked like:

1. Ohio State (Big 10 champion)

2. LSU (SEC champion)

3. Virginia Tech (ACC champion)

4. Oklahoma (Big XII champion)

5. USC (Pac-10 champion)

6. West Virginia (Big East champion)

7. Georgia (at-large)

8. Missouri (at-large)

9. Kansas (at-large)

10. Hawaii (automatic non-BCS bid)

11. Arizona State (at-large)

12. Florida (at-large)

The 2008 field would look something like this:

1. Oklahoma (Big XII champion)

2. Florida (SEC champion)

3. USC (Pac-10 champion)

4. Penn State (Big 10 champion)

5. Cincinnati (Big East champion)

6. Virginia Tech (ACC champion)

7. Texas (at-large)

8. Alabama (at-large)

9. Utah (automatic non-BCS bid)

10. Texas Tech (at-large)

11. Boise State (automatic non-BCS bid)

12. TCU (automatic non-BCS bid)

The top four teams in the seedings would receive first-round byes, leaving the remaining eight to be paired off to fill out the national title tournament.

There still may be nearly three weeks until the first BCS bowl game gets underway, but that won't stop me from crowning a national champion right here.

First round

(8) Alabama over (9) Utah

Bama's defense ranks in the top 10 in the nation in multiple categories while the Utes put up average numbers against average opponents. Utah's speed makes this one closer than expected but the Tide rolls on to a date with Oklahoma.

(12) TCU over (5) Cincinnati

Despite the discrepancy in the seedings, the Horned Frogs sit ahead of the Bearcats in every major poll. The combined record of the two teams to beat TCU? 24-1. The Horned Frogs' defense also ranks third in the nation in total yards allowed per game.

(7) Texas over (10) Texas Tech

Can Texas Tech beat the Longhorns again? Yes. But the Red Raiders needed a late score at home, and with this game being played in Austin, the advantage goes to the 'Horns.

(11) Boise State over (6) Virginia Tech

The Hokies were undefeated at Lane Stadium this year, but they didn't play anyone like Boise State. The Broncos walked out of Autzen Stadium winners against Oregon and that is no small feat. Trouble awaits the Broncos in the next round, though.

Quarterfinals

(1) Oklahoma over (8) Alabama - played in Little Rock, Ark.

Despite the rave reviews the Sooners offense has received, the defense may get the Sooners in a bit of trouble down the line.

Luckily Alabama's strength is its defense, which isn't strong enough to stop Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and the top-ranked scoring offense.

(4) Penn State over (12) TCU - played in Nashville, Tenn.

Penn State is underrated on both offense and defense. TCU may be underrated as well, but the Nittany Lions have blown past strong teams all year. A clash of the titans now awaits as Penn State and Oklahoma play for a spot in the national title game.

(7) Texas over (2) Florida - played in New Orleans

The biggest thing Texas will need to overcome is their pass defense. The Gators, however, rank No. 117 in passing offense in the country. Texas ranks fifth against the run, which will be enough to contain Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin to advance to the national semifinals.

(3) USC over (11) Boise State - played in San Francisco

Simply put, this one boils down to the strength of USC's defense. The Trojans have NFL-caliber players on the defensive side of the ball, a challenge too tall for Boise State to overcome. The Trojans move one step closer to yet another shot at the national championship.

Semifinals

(1) Oklahoma over (4) Penn State

If the Nittany Lions could pass the ball more effectively and protect the quarterback better, they'd steal one from the nation's top team. Oklahoma pressures the quarterback very well, something Penn State has struggled with at times this year.

The Sooners wouldn't light up the scoreboard against Penn State, but they would walk away with the victory and a trip to Miami.

(3) USC over (7) Texas

Different opponent, same story for USC. The Trojans' defense is great, but the difference is Texas' inability to stop the best offenses in the country.

Missouri hung 31 on the Longhorns, Oklahoma dropped 35 on them, and Texas Tech scored a cool 39. Colt McCoy and Co. are good, but not good enough to beat USC in a shootout.

National Championship

(1) Oklahoma v. (3) USC

Bob Stoops' reputation for falling short in big-time games would be erased with a victory over the Trojans. Pete Carroll's legacy as arguably the best college football coach of all-time could take another step toward realization with another national title.

Oklahoma's defense isn't as statistically strong as Texas', but its offense is better. On a normal bowl season's rest, the Trojans should win. But with a normal season's schedule implemented for the new playoff system, track meets with Boise State and Texas catch up to USC in the end.

Oklahoma 38, USC 34.

It seems with each passing year, more collegiate coaches say a playoff system is needed. But I'm not holding my breath. It may be decades before the BCS committee finally caves and implements a system to allow the crowing of an undisputed national college football champion.