Bleacher Report - Articles by John Hart

The New York Jets' Matteau Moment

John Hart — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:42:01 -0400

Recently, a fellow bleacher report writer had written an article about Matteau's game winning goal against the Devils in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals that launched the Rangers to the Stanley Cup finals. This got me thinking, what is the New York Jets' Matteau moment?

Well if you know the Jets then you know they have not had much playoff success. And in my mind the moment that comes closest to matching Matteau didn't happen in the playoffs at all.

If you woke up on Tuesday October 24th, 2000, you would have seen the headlines on the newspapers saying "The Monday Night Miracle Men", and for a day that is exactly what they were.

The night before, the Jets took on divisional foe Miami Dolphins and it was a key match-up in the season. The Meadowlands was packed to capacity as the J-E-T-S chants could have been heard from Maine, to Florida, and across to LA, only because it was a nationally televised game.

But the intensity was short lived as the fish swam out to an early lead and built that lead to 30-7 going into the fourth quarter. The fans began to pile out of the stadium while Jets announcer Howard David quoted "And with a whole quarter to go, this game is over."

There were a few optimists left in the stands, they remained loyal to their team and stuck it out. Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the booth at halftime and made a bold prediction that Wayne Chrebet would catch a TD to win the game. Arnold was close.

Chrebet would catch a fourth quarter TD which was followed by a Jumbo Elliot TD to send the game into overtime where John Hall would finish off the second largest comeback in NFL history.

To show how strange of a game this was, the Jets recorded 20 first downs in the fourth quarter and Vinny Testaverde threw three touchdowns to players who have never recorded a touchdown before, which were Coles, Wiggins, and Elliot.

In overtime, The Jets intercepted the ball twice, but one was fumbled immediately and given right back to the Phins. The second though led to John Hall's field goal.

OK, its not the playoffs and it didn't propel the Jets to the Super Bowl like Matteau propelled the the Rangers to the Cup Finals. But to me,this is the greatest Jets moment in my lifetime.

And it isn't the same because there is no single hero in this game, there were several. It could have been Chrebet, Elliot, Testaverde, Hall, or even the "New York Sack Exchange" who were responsible for holding the Phins in the 4th quarter.

It just goes to show you, if you pay 80$ for that ticket, you may as well stay for the whole game because you never what will happen before the final buzzer sounds.

Video Replay Favoring Mets, But Possibly Flawed

John Hart — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:58:10 -0400

For the past few series', the New York Mets have been thriving on the success of their starting pitching, Gary Sheffield, and MLB's new video replay.

In recent games, the Mets have had three home runs reviewed. The first took place against the Red Sox in Boston when Omir Santos hit a fly ball just over the green monster to give the Mets a 3-2 ninth inning lead.

In game one of their next series against the Nationals, Gary Sheffield's home run was originally called a double to deep left, but, after review, the umpire crew determined if the ball had not been interfered with by a fan, it would have landed above the left field wall.

Finally, and this is the home run in question, Daniel Murphy hit a fly ball to right field that appeared to have died in midair and landed right in front of the wall. With Sheffield on first, this home run would have given the Mets a 5-3 lead.

Originally, the hit was called a double and Sheffield was thrown out at the plate on the play. But Jerry Manuel, Mets manager, argued that the overall trajectory of the ball changed in midair, leading to believe the ball hit the sign in right field. Remember, it was originally called a double—this is key.

Upon review, the umpire crew called the play a home run and the Mets were given a 5-3 lead. But after looking at multiple replays, it is almost clear that the ball did not hit the sign above the right field wall and the original call should have stood.

Many aspects of this play made it inconclusive though—the overall path of the ball, a fan simultaneously dropping a water bottle right next to where the ball landed, and Dunn's misplay of the ball.

As a Mets fan, I am more than happy that it was called a home run, but I am upset because I am almost certain it was not a home run.

The umpires blew the call.

Video replay was instituted into the MLB to get the call correct, that is it. There must be conclusive evidence to overturn the original call, which in this case, was a double. If anyone can see any evidence of a home run that I can't, please show me. It was bad enough to get the call wrong when there was no replay, but to get it wrong with replay would be inexcusable.

Kevin Burkhart, an in-game reporter for SNY, visited the sections just above and just below the sign that the ball supposedly hit. The people above—who had the best angle—said it never hit the sign. The people below the sign said it did hit. But the one thing all the fans can agree on is that no noise was made when the ball apparently hit the metal sign in question. Throw a ball against a metal sign and, trust me, you would hear it.

I could be totally wrong here, and if I am, I apologize. But the original call was a double, and I don't feel that there was enough evidence to overturn this call after a six minute review. All I know is that the video the umpires are looking at during the review better have some different angles than the fans at home have.

Sean Avery's Role against the Washington Capitals

John Hart — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:52:30 -0400

The New York Rangers barely made it into the playoffs, squeezing into the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Their first-round rival is the quick and deadly Washington Capitals.

There are superstars by the bundles in this series: Just look at names like Ovechkin, Lundqvist, Drury, and so on. Getting lost in the buzz is one giant factor, though, and that is Sean Avery.

I'm sure by now every hockey fan knows what impact Avery had in last season's first-round series against Brodeur and the Devils. In case you missed it, Avery used foreign and questionable tactics to screen Marty and spark the creation of the "Avery Rule."

So, what does Avery have in store for Ovechkin and the Caps here in '09? Who will be the target of his antics?

I think by now Avery's role in the postseason is clearly defined. He won't be depended on as a goal scorer, but instead as an agitator.

It would be easy for anyone to argue that the player of focus for Avery in this potentially seven-game battle would and should be Ovechkin, but really, Avery would be wasting his time if he were to key on Ovechkin solely. Ovechkin will be far too focused on putting the puck in the net to buy into Avery's tactics.

Since Ovechkin won't be the "King of Pests'" main victim, the next best target is Mike Green.

Green led all defensemen in the NHL in goals (31) and points (73), so it is obvious that getting him off his game would be a huge advantage for the Rangers.

One thing on Avery's side is that Green is still young; it's not unreasonable to believe that his immaturity and inexperience could get the best of him. His age for sure will play a factor and will be Avery's ally in regards to getting under Green's skin.

But, going against Avery is the fact that Green has shown discipline during the regular season. Green has recorded just 68 penalty minutes in 2008-2009, and none came from fights.

Green does a lot of his damage on the power play, too: This past campaign, Green recorded 18 power-play goals. This may be to Avery's disadvantage, as he does not see time on the penalty kill for the Rangers. Avery could be left just screaming from the bench in order to get Green off his game in these situations.

But, when both players are on the ice together, you can bet Avery will be trying to target Green.

There is no doubt the intensity of the game is greatly increased once the postseason begins, and the Rangers (along with their fans) are hoping Avery can harness this intensity to throw Green or another major Capitals player off his game.

Will we see anything as drastic as the actions that created the "Avery Rule?" I highly doubt it. But you can bet Avery will attempt something unorthodox to give New York a leg up.

Henrik Lundqvist's Greatest Weakness Heading Into the NHL Playoffs

John Hart — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:32:52 -0400

The New York Rangers have done a complete 180 a few weeks before the postseason. They went from a puck possession team with a player friendly coach to an aggressive shooting team with a strict and demanding coach.

This new aggressive play involves the defensemen pinching in the offensive zone, and when this fails it leads to more scoring opportunities for the opposing team. Because of this, Henrik Lundqvist has had to stand on his head for the Rangers to make it to the postseason.

Since John Tortorella has taken over, King Henrik has seen an increase in shots and odd-man rushes. This has pointed out one of Lundqvist's largest weaknesses.

That weakness is that he stands way too far in the crease, which allows opposing shooters to see more of the net and have a better target. The further out a goaltender plays, the more he will cut off the angle and have a far greater chance to make the save.

This was exposed in the Rangers' season finale against the Flyers. Jeff Carter took a wrist shot from the top of the left circle and was able to pinpoint it just above Lundqvist's glove.

Henrik was playing too far in the net for a shot that should have been played at the top of the crease. Lundqvist has great quickness and mobility from post to post and he should use this quickness to create better positioning and cut down the shot angles.

This may be a poor example to use because Jeff Carter has arguably the best wrist shot in the NHL behind the great Ovechkin. But if Henrik would have cut down the angle of Carter's shot he would have most likely made the save and kept it a 1-1 game.

I bring up Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals because they are the team the Rangers need to face in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

If "The King" plays the Capitals this way he may find himself in much trouble. The Capitals are a quick shooting team that will take any opportunity from anywhere on the ice, especially Ovechkin who takes many shots.

This style of play can be scary for a goalie like Lundqvist because he will be forced to use his limbs to make saves opposed to the core of his body like his chest. It will be quite the battle to see who is quicker, Lundqvist's post to post agility and quickness, or the Capitals fast moving, quick shooting style.

Fredrik Sjostrom and Blair Betts: The Most Under-Appreciated New York Rangers

John Hart — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:58:53 -0400

Lost in the NHL playoff push, the team's new coach, and the additions of Sean Avery, Nik Antropov, and Derek Morris, are Blair Betts and Fredrik Sjostrom, the two most under-appreciated New York Rangers.

Throughout the season, the Rangers' penalty kill has been one of, if not the best, in all of hockey. They currently sit No. 1 in the NHL with a penalty kill percentage of 87.1, just ahead of the Minnesota Wild who have a penalty kill percentage of 86.8.

The biggest reason for this is the play of Sjostrom and Betts, who appear to give more than 150 percent on every penalty kill.

Betts is now in his fourth season with the Rangers, spending most of his time on the fourth line. It seems like whenever there is a shot from the point during a penalty kill, Betts is not only already there defending but is also waiting to sacrifice his body for the block.

Betts is not only a strong penalty killer, but he can also be considered a threat on offense. He has nine points on the season with five goals and four assists, but much of that came while short handed (two goals, one assist).

He is also a very reliable player who is rarely injured. In the 71 games the Rangers have played this season, Betts has played in 70. It never ceases to amaze me how someone that gets so beaten from blocked shots is able to get up the next day and do it all over again.

The other key player in the Rangers' penalty kill is Sjostrom. Sjostrom was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes late last season and has provided the Rangers with a nice burst of speed and youth.

He has shown that he has multiple weapons, starting on the penalty kill. Like Betts he is willing to give up his body for the greater good of the team. He also has three short handed points (two goals, one assist).

On the season, Sjostrom has seven goals and three assists for 10 points in 68 games.

Sjostrom has the potential to be a second line winger one day because the speed is there, and he certainly has the skill to put the puck in the net. If you surround someone like Sjostrom with other goal scorers and playmakers like Scott Gomez or Chris Drury, then he could be a very deadly weapon.

Another strength he has is his shootout scoring. This season, Sjostrom is 4-of-10 in the shootout. He is so effective because of his quickness, which he uses to draw the goaltender either out of position or forces him to make the first move.

If the Rangers make the playoffs and end up making a long run, these two players deserve much of the credit. Without the strong penalty kill, the Rangers could very well find themselves nowhere near a playoff birth.

New York Rangers: Best Case, Worst Case

John Hart — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:59:12 -0400

It's late March, and while everyone is getting caught up in March Madness, I am focused on the final stretch of the Rangers' season.

With just 11 games to play, the Rangers find themselves fighting for one of the many postseason spots up for grabs in the chaotic Eastern Conference. The Rangers (sixth), Panthers (ninth), Sabres (10th), Canadiens (seventh), Hurricanes (eighth), Pens (fifth), and Flyers (fourth) are all fighting for the remaining five Playoff seeds and are within eight points of one another.

Looking at their schedule, the Rangers are at something of a disadvantage compared to those they are competing with. They're done with their division and city rival, the Islanders, who are at the bottom of the East. Also, they finish their season against postseason contenders: They must travel to Carolina and Boston, they host the Canadiens, and round out the season with a home-and-home against the Flyers.

There is a good chance that the Rangers will end up with the sixth, seventh, or eighth seed in the East, and that means their likely opponents would be the Bruins, Devils, or Capitals.

The Rangers playing the Bruins in the first round would be the most favorable for N.Y. of the three cases. The Rangers are 2-1 on the season against Boston and have one game left to play with them this campaign. The only loss came in a 1-0 shutout in which the Rangers couldn't get by Rask, who made 35 saves.

Not only have the Rangers had the Bruins' number, but Boston has struggled as of late. They have gone 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, a stretch that includes an inexcusable 2-1 loss to the West-worst Coyotes. It is not only possible, but likely that the Devils will catch them for the one seed in the East.

The next possible opponent is the Washington Capitals. The Rangers have not played well against them this season, going 1-3. Worst was the embarrassing 5-4 OT loss at the Garden, sustained after blowing a 4-0 lead.

The Capitals have what everyone wants, the best player in hockey. Ovechkin leads the NHL with 49 goals and single-handedly pulled the Capitals back from that 4-0 deficit in N.Y. earlier in the year. There is no doubt he thrives playing in the world's greatest arena.

Of course, Washington has more than just Alex; they also have a great mix of youth and veterans. Backstrom has 55 assists, and Theodore has a GAA of 2.81. This just shows how balanced this team is and how scary a first-round opponent they'd be.

The last potential matchup is against the Devils, and if you're a Rangers fan, this is the last thing you want to see in the first round.They are currently red-hot, as they're 22-6 in their last 28 games. This season, they are 3-2 against the boys in blue and won the last three meetings.

Last season's opening-round series against N.J. worked out well, but there was speculation that had to do with a tired Brodeur. Down the stretch, Martin did not get the rest he needed, and it showed in the Playoffs.

This season, he has been off for nearly four months, so he is peppy and should be right back on his game come time to chase the Cup. He hasn't missed a step since his injury.

It is easy to compare the teams the Rangers may see in the Playoffs, but keep in mind that New York went through a metamorphosis this season. A new coach and the additions of Avery, Antropov, and Morris make the them a serious Stanley Cup contender.

Avery especially has added a spark the Rangers needed; he's scoring goals and drawing penalties.

It will be interesting to see what will happen if the Rangers and Devils do end up meeting in round one. It will be another battle in the Avery-Brodeur war, not to mention a continuation of the historic Rangers-Devils rivalry.

Jay Cutler's Demand Creates Opportunity for the New York Jets

John Hart — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:04:41 -0400

After a meeting with first year coach Josh McDaniels early Saturday morning, Jay Cutler told the Denver Bronco's he wanted to be traded because of a lack of trust. After the meeting, Cutler felt that he was not the most desired quarterback of the franchise and needed to move on.

There are many teams that should keep their eyes on the situation, the big three being the Bears, Jets, and Bucs. The Bears will likely not pursue Cutler after sitting out on the Matt Cassel contest.

The Jets are an attractive choice for Cutler because its a big city with a massive football market, a new stadium is on the way, and Rex Ryan is a lovable coach with a newly revamped team.

The Jets are a team currently rising in status on both sides of the football. Scott is on of many big names that were added to the defensive depth chart. Also, Jones was the AFC leading rusher last season along with the speedy Washington. This would allow to open the field and allow Cutler more room to pass.

Another reason why Cutler may want to be a Jet is because the O-line is the same as last season, and they will only get better and build more chemistry. This will help both the running and passing game, allowing Cutler plenty of time and space to make his passes.

The Jets pose two major problems that may prevent Cutler from wanting to come to New York. First, the Jets now have an identity which is a running smash mouth team.

Like I mentioned, the one two punch of RB's Jones and Washington make this a running football team and they will be their largest threat whether or not Cutler is a Jet. This is both a positive and a negative. Cutler may not get to see as many passing attempts.

The second reason why Cutler may avoid NY is the fact they the Jets just parted ways with their No. 1 wide receiver Coles. This may give the impression that there will be a major lack of targets. Cotchery is very reliable and has the ability to be a No. 1 wide receiver, but he has yet to have that responsibility.

The Jets have younger talent at the position including Clowney, Stuckey, and Wright but it is unclear as of now how they will develop.

It is a long shot, especially since the Jets have stood fast on their plan of developing their own franchise QB. There are options though, Ratliff showed a lot of promise in last year's preseason and Clemens never had the opportunity to develop under a legitimate offensive line.

But there is no doubt that adding a QB like Cutler could launch the Jets into possible Super Bowl conversations.

Fairfield-Manhattan: Stags Win Propels Them to Final Four in MAAC Tourney

John Hart — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:34:52 -0400

On Saturday, March 7, the Fairfield University Stags beat the Manhattan Jaspers 68-61 to move on to the MAAC Conference semifinals against the No. 1 seed Siena Saints.

As you may already know, the Stags have been plagued by injuries all season long. These injuries include Anthony Johnson, Warren Edney, and Greg Nero, who has returned but is still not 100 percent.

After the first half, Fairfield had a one-point 25-24 lead in a half that featured tough defense from both sides. The Jaspers came out of the gate on fire, starting the second half with a 10-0 run to take a 34-25 lead. After Stags coach Ed Cooley took an early half timeout, the Stags went on a 22-7 run to take a 47-41 lead with just 8:51 to go in the second half.

The points leader for the Jaspers was Darryl Crawford, who posted 21 points with six rebounds, three of them on the offensive side of the ball. Chris Smith scored 14 points and led the team with eight rebounds.

One big name back in the lineup for Manhattan was Devon Austin, who missed a month due to injury, but he only played 13 minutes, scoring just five points.

The Stags were led by the play of Mike Evanovich and Herbie Allen. Evanovich had 18 points and four rebounds, while Allen put up 17 points and three assists. Evanovich is the Stags' largest threat from behind the arc and made two of Fairfield's three attempts from three-point land.

The reason why Allen's numbers are so impressive is because he missed much of the first half due to foul trouble. He was called for his third foul with 12 minutes to play in the first half.

On the afternoon, the Stags shot 50 percent from the floor, most of which came in the second half 43-point explosion.

Allen, Evanovich, and Jamal Turner all committed four fouls with plenty of time to go in the second half but were able to avoid fouling out of the game. In my opinion, the Jaspers failed to control the game when they were unable to get the top players of Fairfield to foul out.

The Jaspers are the type of team that will score quickly and not take much time to set a play. If they see an open lane, they take it to the basket. The positive of this strategy is that it prevents the defense from getting set, but the negative is that it results in lower percentage shooting.

Any viewer of the game will know that this way of running an offense worked in the opening of each half, but Fairfield adjusted and was able to keep the Jasper offense in check.

All season long the Stags have faced challenges with injuries and their top point guard Jon Han being suspended for the rest of the season. This game was no different. Greg Nero was showing signs of fatigue and back pain late in the second half from being absent for almost a month, while Yorel Hawkins battled a lower back injury that took him out of the game for short time in the second half.

Despite the setbacks, Nero was able to maintain great positioning under the basket, while Hawkins came right back in the game to maintain the Stag lead.

With 1:23 left in the game, the Stags had control of a 59-56 lead when the Jaspers began to use the full court press and try to force a turnover. Because of this, Mike Evanovich was left wide-open near the basket, took the pass, and made a two-handed dunk to put an exclamation mark on the game.

After that, the Jaspers had no other choice but to foul and allow the Stags to shoot free throws. The Stags made seven of their last 10 free shots to win the game 68-61.

Next up for the Stags is the Siena Saints, who are No. 1 in the conference and routed Canisius in their semifinal game 77-52. The Saints were led by Edwin Ubiles, who put up 18 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Ubiles, along with Ryan Rossiter and Kenny Hasbrouck, will pose the biggest threat to Fairfield chances at winning their semifinal matchup and moving on to the MAAC championship.

Previewing the MAAC Tournament

John Hart — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:06:06 -0500

This weekend, March 6 through March 9, the teams in the MAAC will play in a tournament in Albany, New York for their chance to go to the national tournament. Usually, the MAAC only has one team representing on the national stage.

SIENA

The preseason favorite in the MAAC was Siena, and they have lived up to expectations. They went 16-2 in the MAAC and 23-7 overall. Their only two losses in the MAAC were on the road to third place Rider and second place Niagara.

Siena is such a dangerous team that can dominate anywhere on the court. They have three players that average double-digit points per game and two players that average 7.4 rebounds per game. Senior guard Kenny Hasbrouck leads the team with 14.8 PPG and 1.9 steals per game. Siena also gets its points from Edwin Ubiles, who averages 14.7 PPG, and Alex Franklin, who averages 13.8 PPG and 7.4 RPG.

This team has a perfect balance of an underneath presence and a threat from three-point land. Both Franklin and Ryan Rossiter average 7.4 RPG, while Hasbrouck is shooting 37 percent from three-point land.

Siena has a relatively easy road to the finals, especially in the first round. They will face the winner of the Loyola-Canisius game, which are the eighth and ninth seeds of the MAAC. Siena has won all four games between the two possible first round challengers. I do not see an upset against Siena in round one.

In the second round they will be playing the winner of the Fairfield-Manhattan game; both teams failed to beat Siena once this season.

One of the biggest aspects going in Siena's favor is the fact that the tournament is in Albany, just miles away from Siena's campus. The home crowd and high play against the MAAC makes them the favorite to win and go to the national tournament.

NIAGARA

Niagara finished second in the MAAC this season, going 14-4 in the MAAC and 24-7 overall. This is going to be Siena's largest threat to the national tournament. They have performed well against Siena this season, handing Siena one of their two MAAC losses in a 100-85 offensive explosion for the Purple Eagles.

While Siena's stats are impressive, Niagara's are even better. The Purple Eagles have four players that average double-digit points per game. The player to watch for the Purple Eagles is Bilal Benn. He averages 14.1 PPG and 9.1 RPG. He provides a strong senior presence capable of doing a lot of damage. In the 100-85 win over Siena he put up 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals.

Their first round matchup is fairly easy like Siena. They will face the winner of the Iona-Marist game, which are the seventh seed and the MAAC's worst, 10th seed Marist.

Marist really only has one major threat, and that is the senior forward Ryan Schneider. He averages 16.1 PPG and 8.2 RPG. He is unique for the MAAC because this conference is not known for its three-point shooting, but Schneider is the exception. This season he is 84-for-227 from behind the arc, making him a 37 percent three-point shooter. He is also an 87 percent free throw shooter, which is one of the best in the MAAC.

The only other player in double figures for points is David Devezin, who averages 10.2 PPG. He contributes in assists, leading the Red Foxes at 4.1 APG. Besides Devezin and Schneider, Marist doesn't have many threats, which landed them the last seed in the MAAC and the tournament.

RIDER

After the top two powerhouses of the MAAC comes Rider, who was 12-6 in the MAAC and 18-11 overall. They are somewhat of a sleeper team because much of the attention will be on Niagara and Siena as the projected final game contenders. The Broncs will be facing St. Peters in the first round, the No. 6 seed in the MAAC.

The Broncs are led by junior Ryan Thompson, who averages 17.7 PPG and 6.3 RPG. Thompson has one of his best games against the Peacocks in the regular season, posting 25 points and six rebounds in a 78-67 win at St. Peters.

Since the Broncs are overshadowed by the top two seeds in the MAAC, it makes them somewhat underdogs, but they shouldn't be underestimated. They beat Niagara and Siena, both games at home. So it is not like Rider cannot compete with the fierce top two, but they will have to be at the top of their game to win this tournament.

FAIRFIELD

The last two teams that have a chance to win are Fairfield and Manhattan.

Fairfield was ranked second in the MAAC before the season, but they went 9-9 in the MAAC and 16-14 overall. Fairfield has had the strangest season of any team in the MAAC. After losing key players Anthony Johnson to blood clots in the upper chest and Greg Nero to back spasms, they also lost the leader of the team Jon Han because of differences with the coach Ed Cooley. The situation escalated and ended Han's season after a 65-60 loss at Manhattan.

After Han left the team, senior Herbie Allen took over as the leading guard and has been a breath of fresh air for this Stags team. Allen averaged 17.6 PPG in the last five games of the season and was the spark Fairfield needed after losing all of its key players.

Greg Nero is also going to return for the Stags, and he led the team with 12.9 PPG and 6.6 RPG. Mike Evanovich provides a threat from three-point land off the bench. Since the teams witnessed so many injuries, Evanovich has done a nice job stepping in. In the last game of the season against Rider, he had 14 points and went 4-for-10 from outside the arc.

Fairfield may be battered and bruised, but they have a lot of fight left in them. The younger players are performing like this is their third year, and if all goes well, they could potentially make a run. The only problem for the Stags is that if they win their first round matchup against Manhattan, they will have to face Siena on their home court.

MANHATTAN

Manhattan is another team that could potentially make some noise in this tournament. They will face off against the Stags of Fairfield; the two teams split the season series 1-1. Fairfield came back from being down 10 in the fourth quarter to win in the most recent meeting.

Manhattan went 9-9 in the MAAC while going 16-13 overall. The Jaspers have three players who score double digits in points, led by junior Darryl Crawford. The biggest flaw for this team is the lack of size, which results in a lack of rebounds. Chris Smith leads the Jaspers with 5.6 RPG, and he is just 6'3". Their tallest player is Laurence Jolicoeur, who is 6'9", but he only played 17 games and averaged 2.8 RPG.

Like Fairfield, Manhattan has a very rough road to the finals. Both teams are equally matched against one another but outmatched against Siena, Niagara, and even Rider. They can compete, and I expect the winner of this game to give Siena a decent run, but Siena will prevail in the end.

PREDICTION

While Siena is the early favorite, I feel Niagara is on a great run right now. They have won 10 of their last 11, including an emotional home win against Siena. They have the confidence and momentum, and I believe they will win this tournament and win a shot at the national tournament.

The Pats Lose Out In Trading Matt Cassel

John Hart — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:20:55 -0500

On Saturday, February 28th the New England Patriots traded the player that shows the most potential in the entire organization, Matt Cassel. Last season, Cassel was given the starting position due to MVP Tom Brady tearing his ACL and MCL tendons in his left leg, Brady's plant foot.

Cassel's proved to be a very capable quarterback, bringing the Patriots to an 11-5 record throwing 3,696 yds, 21 TD's and 11 INT's. Unfortunately Cassel's efforts went to waste when the Patriots missed the playoffs because the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets in the final game of the season.

The reason why letting Cassel go is a big mistake is becasue in the long run he would have been a far better asset then Tom Brady. I know, its Tom Brady and the Patriots would never turn their back on a man who has won them three Super Bowls in recent years.

But the fact it, Tom Brady is turning 32 in August and will only be getting older. He is also getting over one of the most devastating injuries a quarterback can face, tearing both ACL and MCL tendons in the knee of his plant leg. This is not an injury players can just come back from and be 100 percent all season.

Matt Cassel not only has a strong arm but he offers more mobility then Tom Brady. Cassel ran the ball for 270 yds and two touchdowns in 2008. Also, if anyone saw the Thursday night game against the Jets they will know he can throw on the run under pressure. That is where Cassel threaded the needle to Moss with Ty Law all over him. Plays like that show that Matt Cassel will be one of the leagues best quarterbacks in coming years.

It was the right move slapping the franchise tag on Matt Cassel, but it was the wrong move to trade him. If i am a general manager of a team looking toward the future, Matt Cassel is a much better asset to have over Tom Brady.

He is young, mobile, and a proven talent. Brady is just a proven talent whoes mobility is diminishing and age is progressing.

This does not mean Tom Brady is not a great quarterback, and even with this injury he is still one of the best in the league and one of the best to ever play the game. His knee is still a question though and cant be answered untill the season is well under way. No one knows how his knee is going to feel in week 15.

So what i have been implying is that Tom Brady should be shown the door and Matt Cassel should have been made the quarterback for a new era of Patriots football. As a Jets fan i am personally happy to see Cassel leave the AFC East because the Brady era will be ending much sooner then the Cassel era.

Tom Renney Firing Unfair, But Necessary

John Hart — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:33:15 -0500

After the Rangers honored Howell and Bathgate at MSG this past Sunday, they ended the night by losing in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team that has given up the most goals in the NHL. Glen Sather then made the decision to fire coach Tom Renney and would replace him with John Tortorella the next day.

This brought up the question, was this the correct move for the Rangers to make? Yes, it absolutely is. The Rangers play of late has been awful at best, losing eight of their last ten and one of those wins coming from the NHL worst Islanders.

Renney can and cant be blamed for this recent slump. Keep in mind that this is the team that Renney wanted. He pushed Sather to get players like Redden and Naslund so go along with Renney's puck possession style of play.

When Renney tried to be like Tortorella by making the team skate suicides before the Dallas game, it backfired and the players did not respond well. The Rangers lost in Dallas 10-2 the next game right at the heart of the current losing streak.

This just reinforced the fact that Renney was too much of a players coach and when he tried to be tough the players didn't buy into it.

Tortorella will without a doubt put the enthusiasm into a Rangers squad that looks like it has no heart, grit, or will to win. Watch any one of his press conferences from the 2004 Stanley Cup finals and you will see he is the perfect person to restore the play of players like Redden.

Some players on the Rangers will love what Tortorella will bring to the team. Players like Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Petr Prucha, and Nikolai Zherdev will excel in the fast pace and higher scoring game that Tortorella will implement.

Renney's game didn't allow these players to use their full potential because he used more of a puck possession game opposed to more pucks toward the nets and more shots.

One player that will excel in this new system is Petr Prucha, a player that constantly gives 110 percent but never got to player under Renney. His hustle and effort will impress Tortorella and he will begin to be in the lineup much more.

A huge problem the Rangers may face is that Scott Gomez may not fully approve of Tortorella being coach. Tortorella is one of the prospected coaches for the upcoming Winter Olympics and he said he would not have Scott Gomez in his lineup. This could affect the relationship that these two have both on and off the ice.

While there are players on this team that will love the new coach, other players wont buy into it as much. This may lead Tortorella to ask Sather to make some moves at the deadline that will turn the team into a Tortorella team.

Players like Wade Redden, Dmitri Kalinin, and Aaron Voros do not fit Tortorella's style and may be shopped at the deadline. It is very unlikely that any team will take on Redden's contract, but if the right deal comes along it would be wise for the Rangers to make that move.

AAron Voros will definitely see a decrease in playing time if Petr Prucha is in the lineup more frequently. Voros has had a dramatic decrease in production since the beginning of the season where he scored five goals and four assists in the first eight games.

He has only put up three goals and three assists since. To Tortorella, production is everything, and if Voros doesn't find a way to put the puck in the net he will not be playing.

The final aspect to this new coach is Sean Avery. If the Rangers are able to pick him up off waivers then he will be playing under a man that criticized his actions and believes he shouldn't be playing in the NHL.

These two conflicting personalities can either be a massive distraction or the spark this team needs.

In the overall outlook of this Rangers squad, the point of blame needs to be put on Sather. The season after the lockout Sather did the right thing by investing in the younger core of players. Since, Sather has begun to invest in the older players who are being paid for what they did in the past, not what they can do for the future.

Tortorella is the perfect person to be the coach of this lost team. Renney is a fantastic coach but he just is not what this team needs right now. They need a spark and Renney's personality doesn't include that. It was not all Renney's fault, but he certainly did not help his own cause.

There Is Something Wrong in Stag Nation

John Hart — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:40:03 -0500

Before the NCAA basketball season began, most people ranked the Fairfield University basketball team second in the MAAC, behind only the Sienna Saints, who went to the National Tournament last year and won a first-round game against No. 4 Vanderbilt.

The beginning of the season went well for the Stags, despite losing in Memphis 90-63 in the opener and dropping two of three in a tournament that took place in Puerto Rico. After the tournament, though, the Stags went on one of their best winning streaks in recent history, winning seven in a row, including victories over American, Holy Cross, and Drexel.

After the winning streak is when the team really began to go downhill, and it began with an away game in UConn, where the Stags at one point held a lead but eventually lost, 75-55. With that loss the Stags became the streakiest team in the MAAC, alternating between winning three and losing three.

So what happened with the team that showed so much promise at the start of the season?

First, injuries can certainly be a reason for blame. Anthony Johnson is most likely out for the season with blood clots in his upper chest, an injury that could have been a lot worse and was originally diagnosed as an upper body muscle pull. Johnson was the big presence down low and provided a sense of leadership among the rest of the team. When playing, he averaged 9.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Next, up-and-coming sophomore Warren Edney has missed 11 games this season with an ankle injury that will likely keep him out the rest of the season. He played in just three of his last 14 games for just 17 minutes and posted just nine points.

The third major injury that has hurt the Stags is forward Greg Nero, who has suffered a back injury. While it hasn't put a huge dent on his playing time, it has influenced his ability to post opponents, get rebounds, and create opportunities under the net. This injury has kept Nero off the floor just once and that was the last game against Niagara, in which the Stags lost 83-76.

Nero will likely be a game-to-game decision in hopes he will be ready for the MAAC tournament coming up in early March.

The biggest loss for the Stags was not done by injury, but drama. Jon Han left the team after constant disputes with coach Ed Cooley, which escalated after a 65-60 loss to Manhattan. Han has been at arms with Cooley ever since he took over for former coach Tim O'Tool, who originally recruited Han.

Han's presence has been missed on the court. He averaged a career-high 12.5 points and 5.3 assists per game. His leadership on the court is what is missed the most, because he was able to set up the offense at will and make passes to players like Nero and Johnson.

Han is most noted this season for single-handedly getting Fairfield back into a game against the MAAC-leading Sienna Saints that, at one point, had the Stags down 22-4. Han posted 20 points and two assists, and went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

The free-throw line is where the Stags have struggled the most this season. They're shooting just 66 percent, which is nowhere near other teams in the conference, like Loyola, who is shooting almost 76 percent.

Three-point shooting is also a weakness for the Stags, and they tend to rely on it too often when losing late in a game. The Stags are shooting 32 percent from three-point land, where teams like Marist shoot 38 percent.

Not all has been bad for Fairfield, though.

They have seen many bright spots in the lineup, including Ryan Olander, who has stepped in nicely for Johnson, and Herbie Allen, who has done very well stepping in for Jon Han. Allen, with a hurt wrist, has led the Stags to a 3-3 record while posting 8.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

The Stags are currently fifth in the MAAC, one game behind Manhattan and one game ahead of Iona. They have just two games against conference opponents—Manhattan and Rider—so finishing in the three seed is not far-fetched, but they could fall as far as the eighth seed, where they would face a tough opponent in the first round.

One thing is for sure: If they want to make a long run in the MAAC tournament and have any hopes of making the National Tournament, players like Nero, Olander, Allen, and Evanovich will have to step up and play their "A" game down the stretch.

Mike Komisarek: A Modern Day Jeff Beukeboom

John Hart — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:39:50 -0500

Normally, I would not give so much attention to a single player, because I like a lot of different kinds of players. But growing up, I remember hearing about this great hockey player, who was just a few years older than me, going to my middle school.

Little did I know that he would end up being an All-Star in the NHL years later.

Mike Komisarek comes from a small town on Long Island, a place where very few people even get the opportunity to play in the NHL. If you make it there, you truly deserve it.

I too come from a small town just near his, and I remember seeing him in his Catholic school uniform—which is a funny thought now when I see him finishing a hard check on Malkin.

At 6'4", 245 pounds of pure hockey grit and talent, he stands as one of the most punishing players in hockey. A check is never unfinished and he will always stand up for a teammate. He truly is the definition of an authentic bruiser.

He was chosen seventh overall in 2001 by the Montreal Canadiens. In his short three-year career, he has accumulated 375 penalty minutes, 10 goals, and 36 assists.

The stat that really jumps out at me is his plus/minus, it currently sits at +20 with a +7 this season. He also played in the world junior championships three times between the years of 2000 and 2002, and then the Men's world ice hockey championships in 2006.

I became a diehard Rangers fan in 1994 when Mike was still only 12 and I was going to school with him. That is when I found one of my favorite players of all time that reminds me of Mike, and that is Jeff Beukeboom.

Beukeboomm, like Komisarek, was a big hard-hitting defenseman that shot right-handed. He was not known for his skills with the stick, but the fact that he could change the momentum of a game with one big fight or one big hit.

While their games are similar to one another, I hope their fates are very different. If you do not know, Beukeboom's career ended with a series of concussions, including one massive blow that was a sucker punch from LA Kings forward, Matt Johnson.

No stat sheet can ever tell you why he is such a valuable player, because that's just not the kind of player he is, and that is why I feel he is somewhat underrated.

But any person who is a fan of hockey and follows it closely wishes they had the seventh pick in the 2001 draft, because then he would be in their team's uniform.

Why Isn't Ovechkin, not Crosby, the "Face of the NHL"?

John Hart — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:52:07 -0500

As I sit in my apartment here at Fairfield University watching the Rangers-Pens game on NBC, I can't help but to reinforce all of my preconceived notions of the "Face of the NHL" (Sidney Crosby).

First, if the NHL did not build him up before the draft, would he be this popular? Do his numbers really separate himself from the pack as the best player in the NHL?

Look, I understand the NHL was going through a very hard time after the off year and needed a face to lift the league back into the national view. I also understand that the NHL had no idea that Ovechkin would end up being the player he became.

First, let us look strictly at the numbers without looking at the roles that they play with their respected teams.

In 289 games, Ovechkin has 192 goals and 175 assists for 367 points, plus a career +/- of +24. He has also helped out on special teams with 67 power play goals and four short handed goals.

In 258 career games, Crosby has 116 goals, 237 assists, for a total of 353 points and a +/- of +31, while notching 38 power play goals.

One can argue that Crosby has more points in less games, but then Ovechkin fans will argue that Ovechkin has had less to work with in terms of teammates. Crosby has had the luxury of playing with Hossa, Malkin, and Sykora, while Ovechkin hasn't quite had the same support.

Currently, Ovechkin is surrounded by quite the cast that is leading them to the top spot in the South East division and second in the East. But I am speaking in terms of his career.

Malkin leads the Pens in almost every single state category including goals, assists, and +/-. Maybe one could argue that Malkin deserves to be the face of the NHL more than Crosby.

So why do i believe Ovechkin should be the face of the NHL? It is because he brings an energy with every play that makes hockey fun to watch. He celebrates a goal like some guys celebrate winning the Cup.

This is the type of person that should be on commercials and should be showcased on NBC every week like the Penguins and Crosby are.

Please, don't get me wrong, I think Crosby is an amazing player, but when push comes to shove, if I had the first pick in a fantasy league, I would take Ovechkin over Crosby in a heartbeat.

With all the hype that came with Crosby, he didn't have to do a whole lot to reinforce that hype. He's a great player, but he is not the best. I would rather have a guy who will put the puck in the net and have the ability to finish goals on his own, then have a guy like Crosby who just sets them up.

Henrik Lundqvist Vs. Mike Richter

John Hart — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:52:44 -0500

So which of these two goalies is the best in New York Rangers history?

Before i begin, i must show Giacomin some respect, because i believe he is the third best in Rangers history, he was still a great one.

I will now begin comparing Richter to King Henrik. Richter is responsible for one of the greatest championships New York has ever seen. In his 13 seasons with the Rangers, Richter had 301 wins in 666 games played. He had 24 shutouts in his career along with a 2.89 GAA and a .904 save percentage.

New Yorkers especially have a love for him because he is American born, something fans have always had a soft spot for.

The one thing he has over the King is the fact that he won a championship that ended a 54 year drought that stained Rangers fans for years, especially after a New York Islander dynasty.

So what is our infatuation with Henrik? Well, he is the first legit goalie since Richter so give success at the goalie position. We went through many interesting phases like Dunham and Weeks. New York loves their goalies, especially ones who appear and will break almost every Rangers goalie record ever.

The biggest difference though is that Richter won us a championship and gave us some of the best memories as a Rangers fan. Who can forget the save against Bure on the penalty shot in the 1994 Cup finals, or the way he kept them in game seven in the same series? The King is great, but Richter's the one with his number hanging from the rafters at MSG.

Who Is the Team To Beat in the NL East?

John Hart — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:06:40 -0500

Right off the bat, I'll tell you who it is, it's the Phillies. And I will tell you why; they won the World Series. That is why the Giants were the team to beat this past season in the NFL, and why the Red Wings are still the team to beat in hockey.

While they may be the team to beat in the NL East, it does not mean they will win the NL East. Go ahead and say I'm just being a fan, but I legitimately believe the Mets will win this division this season and will remove the title of "choke artist" from their history, as Cole Hamels so eloquently labeled them on WFAN with Joe and Evan.

It's hard to disagree with him, after all, two straight season of disappointment, pain, and failure will reinforce his statement. But next season is a new season, with an entirely new look.

The first place in which the Mets are better is in the coaching area. Willie Randolph is a great manager, but he tried to run the Mets like they were the New York Yankees. You can't do that because even I will admit the Yankees are in a class of their own. Willie Randolph was too strict for their own good.

It was like trying to run a public school like a military academy, and you saw it day after day.

Then, while the Mets were on the West Coast against the Angels, Willie lost his position as head coach and Jerry Manuel took his spot and after the team began to win because of his laid back way of managing while keeping a stern grip on the attitude of his players.

You saw it the first game he was manager when Jose Reyes refused to come out of a game for an injury but Manuel refused to be talked to and took him out.

Other things began to happen when Manuel took over. First, Delgado went off the charts and had a great second half of the season.

Then, with a new pitching coach, Mike Pelfrey had a rebirth because he was finally allowed to mix in his breaking and off speed pitches in with his sinking fastball, which is why he was so difficult to figure out.

So it was obvious the new coaching change was a positive for the Mets, but the only problem was it didn't prevent a miniature collapse this past year.

The next way in which the Mets will win the division is because of the new personnel added to the roster. I will begin with the bullpen.

First thing is first, understand what last years bullpen did to the Mets last season. 29 time the Mets had a lead after six innings, and lost the game. This was because the Mets had one of the worst bullpens in history filled with poor pitching and injuries.

If the games ended after eight innings, the Mets would have won the NL East by six games over the WS champion Philadelphia Phillies.

To solve their problems in the bullpen, the Mets added J.J Putz and saves leader last season K-ROD. Putz will act as a set up man while K-Rod will of course be the closer.

Putz had some injury problems last season, which could end up being a problem for the Mets down the road but he still posted decent numbers.

In 47 games, Putz was 6-5 with 15 saves and an ERA of 3.88. K-ROD played in 76 games last season where he posted a 2-3 record, 62 saves, and a 2.24 ERA. Those are your 8th and 9th inning men Mets fans, and it is hard to argue that they wont make the difference.

One major move that was made was not an addition, but a subtraction. Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis were sent packing and the guys that will be in their spots are Connor Robertson and Sean Green.

These are two young arms that will certainly not bring the same pain the the two that left gave Mets fans. The bullpen is revamped and will be looking to be a asset opposed to a liability.

We cant forget what the Phillies have done this offseason too, that helps and hurts the Mets Pat Burrell is no longer a Philly, and he is known among Mets fans as a Mets killer.

It seems in every big situation he is at bat and he is the reason the Mets lose to the Phils. As a Mets fan, I am happy he is gone, but I feel his replacement has the potential to be a new Mets killer. Raul Ibanez played 162 games last season where he scored 85 runs, 23 home runs, 110 RBI's, a .293 BA, and an OBP of .358. Those numbers scare any fan of the opposing team.

One problems the Phillies do have, which I don't think will influence their on the field play, is the fact that half their team is on arbitration, looking for more money. This group includes Ryan Howard, who will let his numbers do the negotiating for him.

Real quick before I wrap it up, I want to go through position, starting five, and bullpen to see which team have the advantages and where.

At shortstop, the Mets have the advantage with Jose Reyes over Jimmy Rollins. Rollins had an off year and he cant give the speed, runs scored, and stolen bases that Reyes can.

After hitting 30 HRs the season before last, Rollins' HR's dropped to just 11 in the championship year. He dropped from 94 to 59 in RBI, 139 to 76 in runs, and .296 to .277 in BA.

I am aware that it was a year of injury, but that doesn't hurt your BA. Reyes increased in almost every category including HR's, RBI, hits, BA, and OBP. So i feel the edge goes to the Mets.

At first and second base, it isn't even a contest; the Phillies rule with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. While Utley will be hurt and out in the beginning of this season, I still think he will have a solid year and Howard will continue to build on success and will lower his strike out numbers.

At catcher, it's hard to argue either way. I like Castro and Schneider, especially since Schneider improved slightly on his power numbers later in the season. Ruiz hits for low average with almost no power, so in my opinion, I will make this one a wash, neither give their team any major advantage.

In the outfield the Phillies spot Ibanez, who i said will be a major force, as well as Victorino and Werth. Those last two are only going to get better as their careers move on. Werth hit 24 HR's last season with 67 RBI's and a .273 BA. Victorino hit .293 and had 36 SB, showing near Reyes speed.

The Mets' outfield is still a question. Beltran and Church will be in center field and right, but it seems they will be platooning the left field position which has caused them some trouble in recent years with the likes of Alou.

It looks like Nick Evans, Daniel Murphy, and Fernando Tatis will each take turns in left until a definite role is taken by one of those three players. Because of this uncertainty in left field and the consistent play out of Werth and Victorino, I will give the outfield to the Phillies.

Like first and second base was totally dominated by the Phillies, i will do the same for the Mets at third base. Pedro Feliz is a very good player, but hes no David Wright. Wright hit .302, 33 HR's, 124 RBI, and 115 runs scored.

I will take David Wrights offensive numbers with his par defense any day, and I hope Philly fans would agree.

The starting rotation is key for both teams, because pitching wins championships. I would take Santana over Hamels because Santana was so clutch down the stretch, it was not his fault the offense couldn't come through.

Also, take into consideration that whenever Santana pitched, it was like the bullpen couldn't wait to blow the game for him. Finally, Santana refused to be taken out and began finishing his own games not caring about rest, he didn't need it.

He finished the season 16-7 with a 2.53 ERA.Hamels finished 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA and a much better bullpen.

The rest of the bullpen are fairly even. Phillies have Myers, Blanton, Moyer, and Kendrick and the Mets will show Redding, Pelfrey, Maine, and most likely Perez with the idea he will sign now that Lowe is out of the picture with the Braves.

I'm concerned with Moyer, and I honestly don't believe he will have the same kind of season he just had.

I call it the Tom Glavine, because older pitchers need to change their style to accuracy over speed and it works initially, but eventually good hitters will catch on and they will begin to be hit harder.

The final spot is the bullpen and because it changes to frequently, and how were still about a month away from pitchers and catchers on spring training, I will stick with the closer. K-Rod or Lidge?

Either way i can guarantee neither one will be able to give the same production as this past season. K-Rod led the league in saves but Lidge had 15 more strikeouts then K-ROD at 92.

I feel Lidge would have had more saves if he had more opportunities, with that lineup a lot of games tend to be a blow out by the time it would be his time to come in.

But the addition of Putz gives the edge to the Mets, but if it were strictly by closers i would have to give it to Lidge, hes too good.

So, I do believe the Mets will win a tight race for the division. I know i will have one or two Braves fans saying they are in the running for the division but i just don't see how they could make a real playoff push, yet.

The Marlins keep trading their players and Washington is still just a mess.

Prediction. Mets will win 96 games, Phillies 94, Braves 86, Marlins 78, and Washington 70. Agree or disagree, but i like the Mets' chances and really believe they will win the division and the Phillies will win the Wild Card, and these two teams will meet in the NLCS.

Sean Avery Will Return as a New York Ranger

John Hart — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:49:00 -0500

BEFORE YOU READ, DONT THINK THIS IS BREAKIGN NEWS. THIS IS MERELY MY OPINION!!!

There is a lot of speculation as to what the Rangers will do after losing out on Sundin to the Canucks.

Well, I have the answer for you.

Sean Avery will become a New York Ranger—and the Rangers just barely have the cap space to achieve this.

Last season, when Avery was in the lineup, the Rangers were 33-14-10 opposed to the record of 9-13-3 when he was out.

Currently the Rangers are first in the Atlantic division and are third in the East with 56 points, but seem to be missing a spark in their game. We all know that Avery can handle the New York press and attention, and he has made the team better in the past.

So why not?

Yes, he may have issues with some teammates—but remember that Drury and Gomez are the leaders of the Rangers now. They dealt with Avery last season, and would know how to deal with him again.

I am not worried that Avery would divide the locker room.

We all know he is good for annoying the enemy and getting into their heads, but do we forget that he is a goal scorer too? Last season with the Rangers, he put away 15 goals and 18 assists in just 57 games played, while putting in four goals home in the playoffs.

It seems to me that the benefits outweigh the costs, and I for one would love to see Avery on Broadway again.

Will the New York Rangers follow through on this rumor? I think and hope so.

Blame the New York Jets' Coaches, Not Brett Favre

John Hart — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:26:12 -0500

There is plenty of speculation on why the Jets missed the playoffs after being 8-3, then finishing 9-7. Was it Favre? NO, it was no Favre's fault. Yes, he made bad decisions but we must blame the play calling of both the offensive and defensive coordinator.

Brian Schottenheimer was giddy with Brett Favre mania he seemed to lose sight of the fact the New York Jets were built for the run.

I will take the last game against Miami as my example. First, several situations called for the run, especially third and fourth down and short to go. The pass was used, which is OK once or twice, but not three or four times with the AFC's leading rusher.

Next, you have two great tailbacks including Jones the AFC leading rusher. In the shadow of Jones was Leon Washington who was underutilized in the second half of the season. He played a large role in the Titans game in which he went 8 carries, 82 yards, and two touchdowns including a 60 yd. TD run.

In the last five games after that, he only had 17 carries with two TDs. Against Denver, he only had two carries in a game that was influenced by heavy rain and a struggling Brett Favre.

I know that the Jets had Jones, who proved to be a great tailback and was able to pound the ball for decent YPC. But I feel the Jets should have taken the Giants' approach with different styles of tailbacks that can give a change of pace.

Instead, Washington was underused down the stretch, which led to the Jets' demise and i blame Schottenheimer for it. Also, he didn't realize that Favre just doesn't have the big play arm anymore. In the beginning of the season they kept the passes in mid-range, between five and 10 yards and allowing the receivers to get the YAC.

As the season progressed, they extended the field and Favre's weaker arm was not able to deliver the zip and accuracy he used to.

This obviously contributed to the nine INTs down the stretch because they felt they could take advantage of "weaker" defenses. This was not the case.

While the defense was less the issue down the stretch it certainly could have been used to their advantage. Sutton, the defensive coordinator, refused to use the blitz which is redundant in a 3-4 defense. I understand having faith in your down lineman but the blitz wasn't even used against a Seattle offensive line that was inexperienced and unprepared.

If they blitzed then they would have given Wallace less time to throw. While i still stand by my opinion that the offense was the problem against the Hawks which failed to score a big touchdown early after a great opening drive.

Favre was awful down the stretch, but at least give the play calling its fair share of blame. If this team was well coached they would have been playing bonus football in the playoffs and may even be playing right now in the AFC Championship game. But since they failed late Mangini is out and Favre looks like he is on his way out, too.

This, to me, opens the opportunity of a fresh start by letting Brett Ratliff be the QB and incorporating the 4-3 defense which relies less on speed on our linebackers, and that is something the Jets don't have, speed.

The New York Jets and Their Offseaon Problems

John Hart — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:16:00 -0500

First, the quarterback position poses many possibilities for the Jets.

First is Brett Favre and the possibility of him coming back. I think Favre has too much pride to end his career the way he did, with nine interceptions in the remaining games after the win in Tennessee. Favre will take a month to figure out what is best for him and his family, but if he goes by what the fans want, he will not return.

I think he wants to play but not for NY. The fans made it obvious they do not want him to return, with the boo's that fell from the stadium during that last game against Miami, in which I attended.

He is too old and just does not have the arm strength to throw down field anymore, but why does that have to be the game plan? The Jets' game plan grew further and further away from the mid range passes and allowing the receivers to get YAC.

They also played further away from the run when this team was built to run the football, especially with the AFC leading rusher and an explosive secondary back that made it obvious that he can score touchdowns from 30+ yards out of the end zone.

Favre was not the problem, the play calling and utilization of the players around him was the problem. Where did Dustin Keller go? It seems after the dropped ball against SF Mangini decided to not use him and it was a tool Favre missed in the later stages of the season. So is Favre to blame? Yes and no.

He was horrible down the stretch but so was everyone else. Jenkins got no penetration on the D-line on either the pass rush or run defense. Harris, who was Vilma's replacement, did nothing the second half after being injured and limited in the first half.

In addition, Ty Law was a signing that was almost invisible after the Pats game in New England. Favre was not THE issue but was an issue. So will Favre return? No, I do not think he wants to be apart of the NYJ family any longer, like most of its fans.

So then, what are the other options?

My personal recommendation is Brett Ratliff. I know he is unproven from not playing in the regular season but if you watched him in the preseason last year, you saw he was calm and collective with an understanding of time and presence in the pocket. He reminded me of Flacco this season. He has a zip on the ball that was not seen by Favre or Chad in recent years and I love his attitude.

As a fan, I am willing to concede next season to develop him because in all honesty, I feel that they could be a much better team with a far worse record because of their schedule.

The Jets must face the AFC and NFC south next season and it seems every team in those divisions is on the rise. When the Saints are the worst team in the NFC South, there is a problem.

Take a year to develop him and if all works well then he may lead them to a decent season looking forward.

The next question is the coaching position. Mangini lost his job not only because of their record down the stretch but also because of the decisions made during that time. First, there were no half time adjustments and it was obvious when they were outplayed in the second half by team like the Bills, Seahawks, 49ers, and Dolphins.

The Jets refused to blitz frequently, which lead to giving quarterbacks more time to find an open receiver. The longer it takes A QB to be hit the better the chance of a completion.

A perfect example is against Seattle where Wallace was given all day to find his receivers. Mangini felt the Jets front D line was good enough to penetrate the inexperience of Seattle’s O-Line.

At the half it was apparent that the D-Line was not getting any penetration and no adjustment to blitz was made, therefore Wallace was able to move the ball at will and in the very least allow the Seahawks to win the battle of field position. Many other questionable calls in the Seahawks game led to his demise, which included not going for a TD on the Jets first possession.

If the Jets won that game their fate was in their own hands and Mangini was excessively conservative early and way too risky late. Not going for the first down with four and one inside the Seahawks five-yard line was a mistake, especially with the AFC leading rusher who running at will during that possession.

Later, Feeley made a field goal that would have been good from 60 yards out, but a false start penalty brought it back five yards and Mangini optioned to punt. Those three points turned it into a two-possession game later on when it could have been a one-possession game. This leads me to my last decision.

Mangini, with two timeouts and before the two-minute warning decided to go for 4th-and-long while being deep inside their own territory and he decided to go for it, which was a bad decision obviously because they didn’t get it, and it led to a Seattle field goal, which made it a two-possession game.

Citing the earlier FG, it still would have been a one-possession game if they had gone for it.

So who will replace Mangini?

Well I want it to be Spagnuolo. He has the aggressive personality that Mangini lacked and has a great defensive mind that is not afraid to blitz. I think he could bring pressure on a QB that Jets fans have not seen since the New York Sack Exchange.

I know he would make the teamwork hard and would get a consistent performance out of them week after week. Players said Mangini eased his training camp to be less strict and less demanding, which leads me to believe that the team’s endurance was not as good as it was when he first started coaching.

Spagnuolo would get consistent play out of the team and would not let small feuds with players get in the way of the teams performance, like Mangini and Keller.

If the Jets cannot get him, I would hope they would go after Rex Ryan. He has a great defense mind like Spagnuolo and would give the defense the aggressive attitude the Jets' defense needs. The major difference is that Spagnuolo has won a Super Bowl and put out a defense in 2008 that lost major elements to its success and still made them a major part element of the Giants success.

The Jets need a championship winning mentality.

The Jets need help in other places too. First, they need to get rid of the 3-4 defense and go back to the 4-3. It works so much better and it relies less on speed and more on being big up front, which the Jets have. The 3-4 works if you blitz and give many different looks to the offense.

The 3-4 is used to confuse the offense and that is impossible when you give them the same look. Using the 4-3 will allow them to remain a good run stopping team while being able to better defend the short range and screen passes. The linebackers are simply not fast enough for the 3-4.

This brings me to my next problem, which are the linebackers. The Jets have decent linebackers but anyone who has the ability to be involved in every play like a Lewis or a Farrior.

They need to draft a linebacker who has speed, and can stop the run while being able to cover the pass. Next, the Jets need a safety.

I do not care who it is but I am sick of seeing the Jets safety playing back in a kind of "safe" coverage that would assure the tackle but never the interception or incompletion.

NFC and AFC Championship Predictions

John Hart — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:56:00 -0500

This past week, we saw a surprising win for Arizona, an upset win for the Eagles, a Ravens QB who is the first rookie ever to win their first two-playoff games, and a Steelers team who is getting healthier and more dangerous with every round of the playoffs.

The first matchup I will review is the NFC Championship game, which has two teams that no one thought would be in this position, especially earlier in the season. The Eagles came off a somewhat surprising win in a game that many believed they would win but also they were the underdog.

The Cardinals are coming off a win, which no one, including myself, gave them a chance to win. It is hard to decipher if the Cardinals won that game or if Delhomme lost it because his performance was absolutely pathetic. Looking forward to this Sunday's matchup, I would figure to give the Eagles the edge because of their momentum, but then again, the Cardinals are on just as much of a high right now.

The first area I will break this game down is the Eagles' defense against the Cardinals' offense. This is the matchup which will most likely decide the outcome of the game; they are the two teams' biggest strengths. Against the Giants, the Eagles did not have to worry as much about the passing game because without a big time WR in Plaxico there was no big time threat and no need for a double team on any one receiver.

This allowed the Eagles to use the blitz more often or allowed them to cover up the middle of the field where someone like Kevin Boss or a tailback on a screen would have the most success.

This week, there will be many instances where Larry Fitzgerald will need to be double teamed which will open these options for guys like James, Hightower, or Pope.

With the game that Fitzgerald had against the Panthers, which included eight catches for 166 yds and a touchdown, it is hard to believe that this receiver with big play capability will not constantly have a corner and a safety on him with every play.

One can look at the box score for the Giants Eagles game and say that the secondary for the Eagles were able to keep the Giants receivers as bay, which was not the case.

Eli Manning had a very hard time throwing in the swirling winds of the Meadowlands and looked like he was uncoordinated. Do not make the mistake thinking the secondary did a good job of keeping the receivers in check because Hixon, Toomer, Smith were wide open on many occasions.

I fully expect the same to happen in Arizona this week. If the Eagles' front four does not manage to get to Warner on a regular basis, it could be a very easy road to the Super Bowl for the Cards. Advantage Cards.

On the other side of the football is a deadly running attack of Westbrook and Buckhalter, while the passing game lacks the explosiveness that Arizona has.

Jackson is a rookie who has proven himself a threat down the field, Curtis is always a scary WR, Buckhalter and Westbrook have big play capability from the screen pass, and Smith is there for third and long plays to convert the first downs.

The biggest key to this offense is obviously McNabb. We saw his ability to not only lead, but also adjust, which I what he did so very well against the Giants this past week. Also, he cannot just beat you with his strong arm but also his ability to move outside the pocket and give his receivers more time to get open downfield. When he is hot, he is red hot.

However, we have seen his red-hot spells be quickly put out with a horrific cold stretch like earlier in the season when he was benched at halftime while being down by only three against the Ravens, a team they could end up seeing in the Super Bowl.

If McNabb is the same man who converted a long 3rd-and-20 while being hit and throwing across his body, then I cannot see him being stopped by the Cardinals' defense if the Giants defense could do it.

Advantage Eagles when they have the ball.

Overall, I look for a high-scoring game, even though I feel the Eagles want to keep it low to prevent a shootout. I have the Cardinals winning and going to the Super Bowl, 31-24.

The next matchup is even better then the first. The Baltimore Ravens go into Pitt to face the Steelers in a game that will certainly be a defensive struggle. Both defenses have been among the elite of the NFL all season.

Baltimore's defense is led by interception and touchdown machine Ed Reed and the man who leads the Ravens in tackles in the playoffs with 20, Ray Lewis. These two teams know each other well and I expect the Ravens defense to know what Pitt will throw at them.

The only problem I have with the Ravens defense was their inability to get at Collins this past week where they recorded only one sack and one interception. I know complaining about just one interception may seem odd, a lot of times teams go weeks without interceptions.

But it is different for this team because they depend on their defense, and their sacks, and their turnovers. Sacks and turnovers create good field position while keeping the other team off the board, and a rookie QB needs good field position in order to have success. If Baltimore wants, any chance in this game, their defense needs at least three turnovers and four or five sacks.

The Steelers' defense is almost as good as the Ravens, but they did give up three TD's through the air last week, which shows some vulnerability in the air. This team forced two turnovers against the Chargers including a Rivers interception and a Weddle fumble.

They also were contained by the Chargers' O-line, while Rivers was sacked only once and were able to stand in the pocket for over 300 yards.

The biggest difference in the two defenses is that the Steelers do want their defense to come up big and take pressure off the offense, but they are less dependant on the defense because the offense is more likely to win a game for the Steelers, unlike the Ravens.

Advantage on defense defiantly goes to the Ravens, and if they have a big game as they did against the fish, they will win this game. The other side of the ball shows two very different offenses.

Pitt has a veteran QB who has won big games before where Flacco does not have this kind of experience of pressure before. Flacco has not really experienced a hostile environment yet.

Miami is relatively easy to play compared to other places and while Tennessee is aggressive, it is nothing compared to what the Pitt fans will be. Big Ben will not give you a 250-yard game with three TD's but he will do enough to win. He has a lot more targets then Flacco does in Ward, Miller, Washington, and Holmes, all of which can make big plays and generate large YAC.

Flacco, on the other hand, does not have as many weapons. He does have Mason who had five catches and a TD last week in Tennessee but he had Clayton and Heap who also can make big plays.

On the running game, I think I must give the advantage to the Steelers because Parker is getting healthier and Moor is always a capable second back. Parker ran at will against the Chargers with 146 yards and two TD's and Moore seems to be used more for screen plays as opposed to rushing the ball.

For the Raven, McGahee and McClain only combined last week for 44 yards, which means that the offense relied on Flacco more and more.

Do not get me wrong, Flacco has done a great job and seems to have all the confidence in the world, but I do not think the game can be put on his shoulders without a legitimate and successful running attack.

Advantage on offense goes to Pitt.

Therefore, my prediction is simple. Two great defenses with one offense better than the other; I will give this game to the Steelers 16-10 in a low scoring defensive struggle. This means I believe it will be a Cardinals-Steelers Super Bowl, which would be amazing.

A high-powered offense that is beginning to have a great running attack and explosive passing abilities and a team with a stellar defense. Should be interesting to say the least.