What Would You Do: Sports Edition
Sports figures often face difficult decisions, and it's a favorite pastime of fans to ponder what they might do in a given situation.
With the NFL Scouting Combine happening this week, a lot of offseason uncertainty is in the spotlight, but the big decisions aren’t just in football. Perhaps a legendary NBA shooter is contemplating retirement? Or a free agent is weighing the possibility of going to a new team? Or maybe a general manager is trying to figure out how to rebuild an underperforming team?
Here, we give you the chance to play GM or athlete. If you could trade places with the following 12 sports figures or teams, what would you do?
Ray Allen: Call It a Career?
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Ray Allen is currently an NBA free agent and hasn’t played with a team yet this season. There has been much speculation, as detailed by Bleacher Report's Tim Daniels, about whether Allen will retire or sign with a team at some point. Several teams have expressed interest—including the Atlanta Hawks—and Allen has said he will make a decision soon.
Allen is 39 years old and already the all-time NBA leader in three-pointers made. What do you think—is it time to call it a career?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The No. 1 Draft Pick
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. According to Gil Brandt at NFL.com, the team’s top needs are at quarterback, offensive line and pass-rusher.
Head coach Lovie Smith recently said that he is a fan of Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, and he doesn’t think Winston’s off-field issues should be a concern.
Pat Yasinskas of ESPN reported that Smith told reporters, “To me, I think he's told us an awful lot with how he's handled it. It's not like he's getting ready to go into the NFL and scrutiny is coming his way. He's gone through it a couple years now and he's answered the bell.”
Certainly, all NFL teams should have a clearer picture after the combine, but at this point, what would you do? Would you take Winston at No. 1?
Don Maloney: NHL Trade Deadline
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The NHL trade deadline is March 2, and a lot of teams have some decisions to make. The Arizona Coyotes hope to use it as an opportunity to rebuild after a frustrating season so far.
Jacob Withee of Arizona Sports reported that general manager Don Maloney said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, “We know we're having a difficult season. We need to bring some young assets in. We want to introduce more youth and speed into our line-up, which is what we plan on doing going forward.”
What moves would you make if you were Maloney? Defensemen Keith Yandle and Zbynek Michalek might be on the block as well as forward Antoine Vermette as contenders look to boost their rosters. In return, Maloney can hopefully enhance his own team for 2015-16.
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Kobe Bryant: Retirement?
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We pretty much know where Kobe Bryant’s head is at with this whole retirement speculation. That is, it’s not happening. According to ESPN, Bryant recently said during an interview with NBA TV, “I thought the Spurs were done 20 years ago. Those guys are still winning. I’m hoping I can have the same rebirth.”
Despite yet another season-ending injury (this time a torn rotator cuff), 36-year-old Bryant seems determined to come back strong. That said, would you want to go through another lengthy recovery process only to return to a team of uncertain potential?
MLB Teams: Signing Yoan Moncada
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With spring training underway, Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada still doesn’t have a team. Here is a little background: Moncada is 19 years old and hit .277 over two seasons in the Cuban National League. It's believed it will take a $30 million signing bonus to land the switch-hitter, despite the fact that he’s not major league ready.
Among interested teams are the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, but it’s risky business spending so much money on a 19-year-old player. Would you dole out tens of millions for an unproven prospect?
Chicago Bears: The Jay Cutler Situation
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One of the most pressing offseason questions for the Chicago Bears is what to do about quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler is guaranteed $15.5 million in 2015, but it's no secret the team isn't thrilled with his overall performance.
Bears head coach John Fox has been wishy-washy when it comes to discussing the embattled QB. According to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times, Fox told reporters at the combine, “We’re going to take the full amount of time to gather information, visit and build a relationship. Hopefully, [we’ll] make the best decision for our organization.”
The Bears met with free agent Josh McCown, who played in Chicago from 2011-13. The Bears could also look to trade Cutler and/or pick up another QB via free agency or the draft. But that’s all speculation—what would you do?
Marshawn Lynch: Retire at 28?
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The average NFL career doesn’t usually last more than a few years, but for one of the league’s best players to retire at 28? That would be a surprise.
Last year, speculation arose that Marshawn Lynch might consider retirement in part due to health concerns. Running back is a brutal position, and Lynch has played through pain in the past. But, he also ran for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014 and helped the Seattle Seahawks to a second-consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com reported that Seahawks general manager John Schneider said he wouldn’t be surprised if Lynch retired. Schneider stated, “He does what he wants. He would never let you know one way or the other. There’s been a lot of great running backs that have just walked away, so I have no idea.”
Who knows what Lynch is thinking, but if it were you, what would you do?
Dallas Cowboys: Franchise Dez Bryant?
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is currently an unrestricted free agent, and the team has until March 2 to decide if it wants to use the franchise tag on him. According to ESPN, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team is leaning that way, but things could change.
This is a business decision, for sure, but Bryant has indicated that he wouldn’t be thrilled to be tagged. The tag represents guaranteed money, but just for one year, and Bryant wants a long-term deal. He responded to a fan tweet that suggested he doubts the Cowboys’ dedication to him.
Bryant set a team record in 2014 with 16 touchdown receptions. Would you risk an adversarial relationship with a star player, or do what it takes to get a long-term deal done?
Jahlil Okafor: One-and-Done?
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It’s a bit early to be talking about the NBA draft, but for some talented college players, a big decision is looming. For example, Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor is already at or near the top of most NBA draft boards.
In fact, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated recently predicted that nine out of the first 10 draft picks will be players who are currently freshman or overseas players who are 18 or 19 years old. The first older player on his board is Frank Kaminsky, the senior from Wisconsin, at No. 10.
Despite his high draft stock, Okafor recently told Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"I know I’ll be in position to live my dream in the NBA or live my dream and stay here at Duke with people who truly love me. I totally feel comfortable with staying here in college, and my family wouldn’t care one bit as long as I’m happy. They know how much I love being here.
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If you were a near-lock to go No. 1 in the NBA draft, would you stay in college?
Big NFL Free Agents: Where to Sign?
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Kenneth Arthur of Sports on Earth recently released his list of the NFL’s top free agents of 2015. Among the big names are Ndamukong Suh, Julius Thomas, Demaryius Thomas and DeMarco Murray. Some look likely to re-sign with their current teams, but not so much in the case of Julius Thomas.
According to Mike Klis of The Denver Post, the Denver Broncos are scheduled to meet with several agents at the combine, including those of Terrance Knighton, Demaryius Thomas, Orlando Franklin and Rahim Moore. No meeting is on the schedule with Frank Bauer, who represents Julius Thomas.
Thomas was offered a multiyear deal last year, but the word now is that he wants to test the free agent market. Thomas is one of the more dominant tight ends in the NFL when healthy, but recent injury issues could cause some concern. If you were Thomas, would you test the waters or stay put?
Peyton Manning: Potential Retirement?
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Speculation about Peyton Manning’s future began almost instantly following the Denver Broncos’ playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Manning doesn’t seem too rushed to make an announcement, but he told Mike Klis of The Denver Post, “I'd like to make a decision soon. At the same time, both coach and Joe and John have instructed me to take some time, so I'm kind of following their orders.”
Manning will turn 39 in March, and he has faced some recent injury issues. However, the Broncos seem to want him back, and for now, a return looks promising.
What about you? Imagine you’re a 39-year-old legend with a recent history of injuries, but you also might have something left to prove. What would you do?
New York Yankees: The Alex Rodriguez Situation
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At this point, it looks like the New York Yankees are just going to see what happens with Alex Rodriguez in spring training, but what would you have done?
The Yankees owe the 39-year-old slugger at least $61 million, and that’s whether he’s playing or not. So, some wonder, why have him on the team at all? He just missed a year due to suspension, he’s aging, injury prone and most of all, he’s a walking distraction.
Would you have cut A-Rod?
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