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CNOTES
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Registered: Feb 2006
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Sunday, July 7

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Edmonton - 5:00 PM ET Hamilton -8 500 POD # 1


Hamilton - Over 56.5 500 POD # 2




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-07-13 05:45 PM
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Cnotes 2013 NFL Team Preview Of Each Division !

2013 NFL training camp preview: Seattle Seahawks

July 3, 2013 12:50 PM ET



In 2012, the Seahawks went 11-5 and seem poised to build on that momentum this year. In 2012, the Seahawks went 11-5 and seem poised to build on that momentum this year.

Some people will tell you there's only one team in the NFC capable of beating San Francisco, and it's not Atlanta. It's the Seattle Seahawks.

2013 NFL TRAINING CAMP

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They buried the 49ers late last year and were on target to meet them in the conference championship game -- until, that is, Atlanta got in the way.

The Falcons are loaded this season, but so is Seattle ... if, that is, Russell Wilson continues to play as he did as a rookie. There's no reason he shouldn't. As the season wore on last year the Seahawks turned more of their offense over to him ... and he responded.

So has his ballclub. The Seahawks made big offseason moves to close the gap between them and San Francisco and to make sure that this time neither Atlanta nor the 49ers keep them from getting to the top.
Key changes

Roster additions: WR Percy Harvin, QB Tarvaris Jackson, De Cliff Avril, DE Michael Bennett, QB Brady Quinn, DT Tony McDaniel, CB Antoine Winfield.

Roster subtractions: QB Matt Flynn, WR Deon Butler, DT Alan Branch, LB Leroy Hill, WR Ben Obomanu, CB Marcus Trufant, KR Leon Washington, DT Jason Jones..

Staff changes: When defensive coordinator Gus Bradley left to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Seahawks wasted no time reaching out to Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator for the University of Florida. Quinn's defenses finished in the Top 10 nationally in his only two years there and were a reason Florida was in the mix for the national championship game through the last weekend of the regular season. Not only did the Gators rank second in fewest touchdown passes allowed; they surrendered an average of 2.98 yards per rush -- sixth best in the nation. That's good, but this is better: Quinn has a familiarity with the Seahawks and what coach Pete Carroll wants. He was an assistant here before leaving to take the Florida job.

One of Quinn's first moves was to hire Travis Jones, former assistant defensive line coach at New Orleans, as his defensive line coach. Jones replaces Todd Wash, who left for Jacksonville to join Gus Bradley.


Position battles

Brady Quinn is the backup to Russell Wilson, right? Not so fast. The Seahawks moved a little too quickly to bring back Tarvaris Jackson after the completion of their mandatory mini-camp, and that should tell you something: Yep, they want competition at the position, and Jackson's history in

Seattle should make him the favorite.

Right guard should be a showdown between John Moffitt and J.R. Sweezy. Moffitt has been the starter here, so you'd think he has the edge. But he also has a history of injuries, which opened the door for Sweezy, a converted defensive lineman who, at times, rotated with Moffitt last season. Sweezy started the last few games last season and was solid. He's young, and the Seahawks like his fitness level and effort, which means they like him, period. He gains the early edge.

Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin moves to the strong side, where he competes with Malcolm Smith, while K.J. Wright moves from the strong side to the weak. Anyway, Irvin will be on the field for third downs, so that doesn't change. What could is his overall time on the field, but that should be determined by his face-off with Smith.


New scheme

Quinn takes over one of the league's premier defenses, and, as long as Carroll is in charge, there should be no big changes. First of all, Quinn has been here before. He was Seattle's defensive line coach 2009-10. Second, it's Carroll's defense, with his coordinators running it. If there is a difference it might be that Quinn blitzes more than his predecessor, Gus Bradley. He was more conservative, preferring to play coverage, while Quinn seems more likely to gamble.


Bubble watch

You can start with fullback Michael Robinson. The Seahawks spent a sixth-round pick on Spencer Ware and are trying him at fullback -- which is your first clue. With Robinson scheduled to pull down $2.5 million this year, Seattle might look to replace him. Guard Paul McQuistan is another possibility. He's due to make $3.3 million, and while he's penciled in as the starting left guard all plans are on hold until the Seahawks how comfortable they feel with James Carpenter after he missed time last season with a knee injury.


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Take your pick: Luke Willson or Sean McGrath. They're both backup tight ends, and they're front and center now that Anthony McCoy -- the previous No. 2 -- is out with a torn Achilles. McGrath is the more intriguing of the two. He's an undrafted rookie free agent who made it on the active roster late last year and looked good in OTAs.


Biggest concerns

Frankly, it's not so much Bruce Irvin's four-game suspension for PEDs that's the issue; it's whether he can play strong-side linebacker. It's a gamble, and Carroll knows it. He also knows that the suspension will affect the learning curve. "But that preseason will be hugely important for him," he said. No kidding. Concern going to be Aaron Curry part II.

Backup tight end Anthony McCoy is lost for the season, which means rookie Luke Willson and second-year pro Sean McGrath audition for a seat behind starter Zach Miller. Carroll said he liked the progress of McGrath, mentioning him as one player who "jumps out" at mini-camp, but that was June. Stay tuned.


Something to prove

Make it defensive lineman Red Bryant. The Seahawks re-signed him last year to a big contract, then he went out and struggled. No one is sure why, but they are sure that plantar fasciitis probably had something to do with. Bryant tried to play through the painful injury but lacked his usual explosiveness. That, in turn, had an impact on the Seahawks' run defense, which fell off the second half of the season.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-08-13 12:31 AM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: St. Louis Rams

July 2, 2013 12:17 PM ET


The Rams finished 2012 with a 7-8-1 record, third in the NFC West. The Rams finished 2012 with a 7-8-1 record, third in the NFC West.


The St. Louis Rams are supposed to be a year away from challenging Seattle and San Francisco in the NFC West, but don't be surprised if the timetable changes.

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Of course, a lot that depends on the development of quarterback Sam Bradford, and he's the beneficiary of key offseason moves that delivered him playmakers the club has been missing since ... well, since the days of "The Greatest Show on Turf."

These Rams aren't the Greatest Show Anywhere, but they're good enough that they had the division's best record a year ago and didn't lose to San Francisco. These Rams are better, which means these Rams could start squeezing the top a year ahead of schedule.

Don't be surprised if they do.
Key changes

Roster additions: TE Jared Cook; T Jake Long; S Matt Giordano.

Roster departures: RB Steve Jackson; WR Danny Amendola; T Wayne Hunter; S Quintin Mikell; DL Trevor Laws; LB Rocky McIntosh; G Robert Turner; WR Steve Smith; S Craig Dahl; WR Brandon Gibson.

Staff changes: Tim Walton becomes the new defensive coordinator. Walton, whom Jeff Fisher tried to hire a year before, comes in from Detroit -- which is perfect because it means the Jim Schwartz/Jeff Fisher/Tennessee connection remains intact. The team last year played without a coordinator after Gregg Williams was suspended in Bountygate, but Williams' son, linebackers coach Blake Williams, stepped in to serve as De facto coordinator. When he was fired after the season, the Rams first appeared to be in line to hire Rob Ryan, but that didn't work out and this did -- with Walton making the jump from secondary coach to coordinator.


Position battles

The departure of Steven Jackson means running back is wide open, with three inexperienced vets and one rookie competing for jobs. Daryl Richardson is the favorite, mostly because he's the only guy with a resume. As Jackson's understudy last season, he ran for 475 yards, averaged 4.8 yards per carry and demonstrated big-play capability. Isaiah Pead could push him, and the Rams would like that. But he was a huge disappointment as a rookie, with only 10 carries. That's not what the Rams were expecting from their second-round pick, nor is this: Pead must serve a one-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Nevertheless, look for him to compete with rookie Zac Stacy and journeyman Terrance Ganaway for carries in what could be a crowded, running-back-by-committee approach.

Undrafted rookie Bennie Cunningham is the longshot here, but let's be real: Given the makeup, anything's possible. The same goes for left guard where the Rams don't have an incumbent. Chris Williams, the former first-round draft pick of Chicago, is the favorite, but he could get squeezed by Shelley Smith, claimed off waivers from Houston. If neither works out, look for rookie Barrett Jones to get in the mix. I know, he's a center, but the guy can play guard -- and he may, once he recovers from his Lisfranc injury.

There's no incumbent at safety, either, where Quintin Mikell and Craig Dahl are both gone. Darian Stewart should man one position, but the guy barely played a year ago because of injuries and was in Fisher's doghouse. Then, of course, he was a starter in 2011. Rookie T.J. McDonald -- the son of former NFL star Tim McDonald -- will be in the mix, but so will free- agent acquisition Matt Giordano.


New schemes

The Rams have the same playbook, same terminology and same coordinator on offense. Nevertheless, expect them to shake things up. For the first time in years they have playmakers to surround quarterback Sam Bradford, and with so much speed and quickness there they should spread the field more, operate more out of the shotgun and try the no-huddle -- all of which Bradford does best. In short, St. Louis wants to be more explosive, and they have the people to get there. I know it's contrary to what Fisher has done with his teams, but there is so much speed here -- even including tight end Jared Cook -- that it makes sense to take advantage of what they have.

Even though there's a new coordinator on defense, don't look for much to change. It's basically the Tennessee Titans' defense Fisher brought with him, with input from former Tennessee assistants Dave McGinnis and Chuck Cecil. The Rams return seven linemen to a defense that tied for the league lead in sacks, so there's no need to fool with formulas. If there's a change, it's a small one, with the Rams going to left and right outside linebackers instead of weakside and strongside backers. They're undersized and aggressive at the positions, with Jo-Lonn Dunbar and rookie Alec Ogletree at their best when playing in space. Which means ... uh-huh, that pressure should be applied by a familiar source: The front four.


Bubble watch

The Rams don't have a lot of depth, so there's really no one of consequence in danger of getting cut.


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Safety Rodney McLeod. Undrafted a year ago, he looked good in spring workouts and could be a factor if Stewart is hurt again. In fact, some believe the undersized safety will be a key contributor and could wind up starting -- again, depending on what happens with Stewart.


Biggest concerns

Depth is one issue. There just isn't much of it. Then there's the offensive line. It's either feast or famine with these guys. If the five starters stay healthy, the Rams could have one of the league's best units -- with Jake Long, Harvey Dahl, Scott Wells and Rodger Saffold protecting Bradford. One problem: None of them played 16 games last year. The Rams are expecting a lot from their offensive line, but there's danger with age -- and of the Rams' three players 30 or older, two are on the offensive line.

The concern at running back isn't so much that there's not much experience; it's that there's not much experience picking up blitzes. If there's one thing overlooked about Steven Jackson's game it's how effective he was on blitz-pickups. Most of the backs the Rams audition are smaller than Jackson, and no one can be certain how effective they'll be in the passing game -- not so much as receivers but as blockers.


Something to prove

It has to be Sam Bradford. He's in his fourth year, and it's not exactly make-or-break time. But it is time for him to move to the next level. With the additions the Rams made on offense, some of the excuses for his inconsistent play are gone. If nothing else, this could be a defining year for Bradford, with the quarterback returning the same coordinator and outfitted with valuable outside weapons for the first time in his pro career.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-08-13 12:32 AM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: Arizona Cardinal

July 3, 2013 1:11 PM ET


New head coach Bruce Arians will get to work trying to reverse the Cardinals' recent fortunes. New head coach Bruce Arians will get to work trying to reverse the Cardinals' recent fortunes.

The Arizona Cardinals think they finally found the quarterback they've been missing since Kurt Warner, and that's great. But this isn't: They still have to survive in the NFC West.

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Arizona is the consensus last-place choice in a division dominated by two playoff teams and a St. Louis club ready for takeoff.

It's not that the Cards don't have talent. They just added Carson Palmer to play catch with Larry Fitzgerald. It's that they don't have enough of it.

Maybe that's why hiring coach Bruce Arians made so much sense. He did the improbable a year ago, helping to turn a 2-14 Indianapolis doormat into an 11-5 miracle under extreme circumstances, and he'll have to perform magic here. Arizona is not a bad football team. It's just good enough to push the top of this division.
Key changes

Roster additions: QB Carson Palmer, RB Rashard Mendenhall, LB Karlos Dansby, S Yeremiah Bell, CB Antoine Cason, LB Lorenzo Alexander, DT Frostee Rucker, DE Matt Shaughnessy, QB Drew Stanton, CB Javier Arenas.

Roster departures: QB Kevin Kolb, CB Greg Toler, RB Beanie Wells, WR Early Doucet, S Adrian Wilson, CB William Gay, RB LaRod Stephens-Howling, LB Paris Lenon, LB Quentin Groves, DT Nick Eason, DE Vonnie Holliday, QB John Skelton, FB Anthony Sherman, S Kerry Rhodes.

Staff changes: Let's start at the top. Steve Keim replaces Rod Graves as the team's GM and made an immediate impact by acing the draft -- starting with the choice of guard Jonathan Cooper. Now let's work our way down. The head coach is new, with Bruce Arians replacing Ken Whisenhunt, and his entire staff is new, with a couple of exceptions. Freddie Kitchens moves from coaching tight ends to coaching quarterbacks, and Ryan Slowik, who coached outside linebackers a year ago, takes over the defensive backs. Otherwise, it's an entirely new crew, with the exception of the strength-and-conditioning group, though it's not entirely young. Included are 77-year old Tom Pratt and 74-year-old Tom Moore, both assistant coaches.


Position battles

Jerraud Powers was signed to take over as Patrick Peterson's partner at cornerback, but he'll have competition from Antoine Cason. The Cards made the offseason play for Powers first, so it figures that he probably has the inside track. Plus, they signed Cason to only a one-year deal. But Powers has a hard time avoiding injuries, and Cason is determined. This one bears watching.

The inside linebacker position is unsettled because of a four-game suspension to Daryl Washington. The Cards signed Karlos Dansby to play there while Washington is gone, which is great. But what happens when Washington returns? They'll have a decision to make. They already have Jasper Brinkley at one inside spot, and he's not going anywhere. The question is: How does this all come together when Washington returns?


New schemes

The Cards talk about getting more physical within the division, but let's be honest: With Arians in charge, they're bound to throw more -- more specifically, throw more downfield. Not only do they believe they have the people in Palmer, Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd to put a vertical game together, but they believe they have the pass protection to do it, too -- especially after the second-half performance of Bobby Massie last season. What they don't have is a fullback, and no surprise there. Arians didn't have one in Indianapolis, either, which tells you a little about how much Arizona might run. So that's one change. Floyd's promotion to the first team is one change, with Arians hopeful he makes more and better use of him. Then there's the tight end. The plan is to incorporate that position more in the passing attack, with the Cards high on Rob Housler. With Housler's talents, it makes sense.

Defensively, they will stay with the 3-4, but new coordinator Todd Bowles likes to play a scheme that more closely resembles a Wade Phillips production than what the Cards ran last season. Under former coordinator Ray Horton, the front three was asked to play two-gap, read-and-react football. Bowles wants to cut them loose more and get to the backfield, though for the last few days of spring practices, players were in all-out blitzes and attacking off angles as they did under Horton. Skeptics are right to question how a changed defense worked. It was the only thing that went right for the Cards last season. Nevertheless, Bowles is hoping his scheme makes Darnell Dockett a factor again, and that's a huge issue. He faded last season, and the Cards faded with him. Now, they're hoping he finds himself and emerges as something close to what Houston has in J.J. Watt.


Bubble watch

The Cards weren't happy with defensive tackle Dan Williams when he gained weight in the offseason. But he's since lost it and vows to report to training camp at 315 pounds. Still, that doesn't change things. He could be in for a challenge. The Cards picked up Frostee Rucker as insurance at the position, and second-year pro David Carter -- a grinder who can play nose tackle or defensive end -- could be in the mix. Bottom line: It's time for Williams to respond with a decent year.

Darnell Dockett's not on the bubble, but he is under the microscope. He's coming off a horrible year, one where -- after the first month -- he had no impact. Dockett turned 32 this year, so there's that obvious question: Was it the scheme, or is he starting to lose it? We won't have long to find out.


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Tight end Rob Housler. He's someone who can run and catch, much like, say, Rob Gronkowski in New England. He has unusual speed for the position, which should create matchup problems for opponents, but he still needs to work on his blocking.


Biggest concerns

Let's start with the offensive line. When you allow a league-high 58 sacks that's something a new coach will want to fix -- which is why the Cards used their first pick on Cooper. Nevertheless, tackle Bobby Massie made a remarkable recovery last season, producing a stellar second-half after a forgettable first, and Levi Brown returns after a season off because of injury. So the Cards could have the pieces up front to help produce respectable passing game, but please don't pass the word to cynics. They've heard it before.

Then there's the Cardinals' rushing attack. It almost always was among the league's bottom feeders, finishing dead last in 2012. They've talked about developing a power running game, but they're shaky at the position. Rashard Mendenhall is the lead back, but he's coming off of an injury-plagued season, and Ryan Williams spent most of his two years in the league on the sidelines recovering from something. Maybe rookies Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington can help out, but I don't blame Arizona fans if they're skeptical.

The passing attack should be improved if only because Palmer is a huge leap forward from what the Cards rolled out a year ago, but depth at wide receiver should be a concern. Beyond Fitzgerald, Floyd and Andre Roberts there's not much.
Something to prove

This one's easy. It's Palmer. Critics say he's finished, and the Raiders all but admitted it by giving the guy away. So it's up to him to prove he can do what he hasn't the past three years -- namely, win and become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Of course, Dockett deserves mention here, too, but the Cards go nowhere if Palmer isn't fixed. So that's where you start.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-08-13 12:35 AM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: San Francisco 49ers

July 2, 2013 4:55 PM ET


The defending NFC champion 49ers regroup with the goal of getting back to the Super Bowl. The defending NFC champion 49ers regroup with the goal of getting back to the Super Bowl.

The San Francisco 49ers aren't just one of the best teams in the NFC. They're one of the best teams anywhere.

2013 NFL TRAINING CAMP
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In two years under Jim Harbaugh, they've been to two conference championship games, one Super Bowl and were within five yards of a sixth Lombardi Trophy. They have a raft of talent, a coach who can't lose and a reason for wanting to be just a little bit better.

They believe they were the best team a year ago.

Of course, they're going to have to prove it all over again -- only this time with Colin Kaepernick as their starter entering camp, without Michael Crabtree and with a defense that no longer is a slam-dunk to stonewall anyone.
Key changes

Roster additions: G Adam Snyder; CB Nnamdi Asomugha; WR Anquan Boldin; S Craig Dahl; DT Glenn Dorsey; PK Phil Dawson; QB Colt McCoy; LB Dan Skuta.

Roster departures: S Dashon Goldson; TE Delanie Walker; QB Alex Smith; DT Isaac Sopoaga; DT Ricky Jean Francois; WR Randy Moss; PK David Akers; LB Tavares Gooden; LB Clark Haggans.

Staff changes: Former head coach and defensive coordinator Eric Mangini joins the 49ers as an offensive consultant, and I know what you're thinking: Huh? Well, the move makes sense. Mangini's job is to study opposing defenses, pass the information on to offensive assistants and tell them how and where those defenses are vulnerable. My guess: If this works, you'll see others making similar hires.


Position battles

With the departure of Dashon Goldson, there's a Help Wanted sign at starting safety. Rookie Eric Reid is the favorite to win the job, mostly because the 49ers traded up to draft him -- and they would like nothing better. But first things first, and first he must beat out veteran Craig Dahl.

The loss of Michael Crabtree means there's a void at wide receiver, with Anquan Boldin the most likely to move in there. Boldin is by far the 49ers' best receiver now. With his expected move to this position, the question is: Who becomes the other wideout? The 49ers would like it to be A.J. Jenkins, but he's a work in progress.

Then there's the defensive line, where the 49ers lost veteran tackles Isaac Sopoaga and Ricky Jean Francois. The obvious question: Who replaces them? The most logical response is Ian Williams -- mostly because he has the size to do it. If for some reason he doesn't make it, the 49ers' next option may be newcomer Glenn Dorsey, but he's undersized for the position, as Kansas City found out.


New schemes

It's possible the 49ers may go more to the read-option and Pistol than they did last year, if for no other reason than this: They suit the talents of Kaepernick. OK, so that's a good reason. It's not a lock, but it does make sense. Kaepernick is the focal point of the offense, and the 49ers won't put him in uncomfortable situations or schemes.


Bubble watch

Asomugha may be back in the Bay Area, where he starred with the Raiders, but there's no guarantee he makes the team. Still, the guy looked good in practices, and the 49ers got him on the cheap after he bombed out in Philadelphia. Running back Anthony Dixon, who seems to be on the bubble every year, is another possibility ... but he probably makes it again primarily because draft pick Marcus Lattimore won't be ready for some time. Nevertheless, if Jewel Hampton or a fullback emerges, Dixon could leave. It's not likely, but it is possible. Linebacker Parys Haralson, who took a pay cut in the offseason, is another possibility, mostly because the 49ers have a glut of young pass rushers. Cam Johnson is beginning to make an impact, and the 49ers have high hopes for rookie Corey Lemonier. Haralson is solid, and he's a veteran -- so the 49ers know what they have. That should help, though the 49ers like the potential they have in their young players.


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Wide receiver Ricardo Lockette is buried on the depth chart, but the guy has talent. He's fast, tying for the third fastest time at the 2011 NFL combine and winning the Division II 200-meter sprint at Fort Valley State (2008), and he's big, checking in at 6-2, 211 pounds. So he's everything you want physically. Plus, he roomed with Kaepernick, so the two know each other well. He and A.J. Jenkins are guys to watch at wide receiver. If Jenkins doesn't wash out, the 49ers could look to Lockette as their downfield threat. But first he must learn the offense and be more consistent catching the football.


Biggest concerns

Finding a replacement for Michael Crabtree. Crabtree was Colin Kaepernick's favorite receiver, with Kaepernick targeting him 94 times in his 10 starts. Well, now he's gone for at least six months, and he takes with him 85 catches, 1105 yards and nine TDs ... as well as one security blanket for his quarterback. The auditions for a successor have begun, with Anquan Boldin, A.J. Jenkins and Quinton Patton first in line, and tight end Vernon Davis not too far removed. Yes, that Vernon Davis . He worked out with wide receivers during the 49ers' June mini-camp, and he and Kaepernick seemed to find a connection they'd been missing during most of last season.

There's also a question about the defense and where it goes next. The 49ers were one of the league's best through the first 14 games of last year. Then Justin Smith and Aldon Smith were hurt, and the defense sprung leaks -- suddenly allowing almost twice as many points per game. The secondary is older, just lost Goldson and still has Carlos Rogers as a nickel back -- most of which isn't good. They have new faces on the defensive line, too, and people wonder how they fit in with the vets. Mostly, they wonder how good this defense is. The consensus seems to be it's not the unit we watched most of last year and that there's a shift from defense to offense with the 49ers. If so, it wouldn't be the first time.
Something to prove

There are cornerbacks Tarell Brown and Chris Culliver, and then there's incoming safety Eric Reid. But the guy with the most to prove is wide receiver A.J. Jenkins. The 49ers spent a first-round draft pick on him a year ago, and he didn’t do squat. Now that Crabtree is sidelined an estimated six months, there's an opportunity for Jenkins to prove the 49ers were right to take him. So will he? More important, can he? It would make this season easier on Kaepernick and offensive coordinator Greg Roman.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

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2013 NFL training camp preview: Baltimore Ravens

July 5, 2013 4:37 PM ET


The Ravens are the only team in the NFL to reach the postseason each of the past five years. Coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco are flawless in that regard thus far through their careers.

Surely the time will come when they are watching at home come January, and as camp begins everyone is now shooting for the reigning champs. The bar has been raised, again, and with Flacco now the second-highest paid player in the history of the game, all eyes will remain on him as the practices begin. A year ago the Ravens were dealing with the Achilles tear by Terrell Suggs and looming questions about the age and health of the roster.

Their veteran purge has largely silenced that talk and the expectation is that a healthy Suggs begins taking over the vocal leadership reigns with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed among those gone.

Key changes

The exodus of talent from Baltimore was one of the NFL’s primary early offseason storylines. Two future Hall of Famers departed: linebacker Ray Lewis retired, while safety Ed Reed left for Houston as a free agent. Veteran center Matt Birk, a natural leader, also retired, esteemed veteran receiver Anquan Boldin was dealt to San Francisco for a late draft pick and young defensive starters Paul Kruger, Cary Williams and Dannell Ellerbe left for greener pastures as well, as free agents. Special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo, the vocal leader of that group, is gone, too. Hard hitting safety Bernard Pollard was let go to save more cap room and fullback Vonta Leach is also gone. Um, am I missing anyone? That sounds like all the significant departures.

The Ravens were soon to offset much of this with signings of their own, however.

Versatile defensive linemen Chris Canty and Marcus Spears were signed in the second wave of free agency, at a value price. Patience was a virtue for them, and it served them well. The Ravens won the derby to land pass rusher Elvis Dumervil once Denver lost his rights over a fax snafu, filling a major void. Baltimore retains the rights to “retired” linebacker Rolando McClain, who they signed as a free agent after his release by Oakland. Safety Michael Huff was snapped up on the cheap as well, to help with coverage at the safety position. They also waited until deep into free agency to re-sign free agent tackle Bryant McKinnie, a key part of their late Super Bowl run, and addressed vacancies at safety (Matt Elam) and inside linebacker (Arthur Brown) in the top rounds of the draft.

On the staff side, Baltimore made its biggest change late in the 2012 regular season, when Jim Caldwell replaced Cam Cameron as play caller. Caldwell received the offensive coordinator title following the Super Bowl win, and Juan Castillo, former longtime offensive line coach and also a defensive coordinator with Philadelphia, came on as a consultant for the playoffs as well. Expect him to have an even greater hand in putting together blocking schemes and protections. Castillo worked with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in Philadelphia, as did former defensive coordinator and head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who joins the staff as a defensive consultant. An already strong staff is even that much more experienced and varied, now.

Position battles

This roster is fairly set. It remains to be seen who emerges as the No. 2 receiver with Boldin gone, though team sources believe pass-catching tight end Dennis Pitta is ready to be a dominant presence in the slot and is also able to be split out wide. Depth receivers Tandon Doss, David Reed and Deonte Thompson were given a run with the starters during OTAs while receiver Jacoby Jones was on Dancing With the Stars, and perhaps one of them emerge as well. At various times all have generated a buzz, but nothing has carried over to actual games yet.

The Ravens drafted versatile fullback/H-back Kyle Juszczyk, who could end up filling a blocking and pass-catching role. And at center, second-year man Gino Gradkowski comes into camp as the favorite, but the Ravens acquired A.Q. Shipley from the Colts and he is expected to make a push there as well. If McClain comes back, things could get interesting at inside linebacker as well, with Brown and Jameel McClain, coming off a neck issue, also in that mix.

New schemes

Caldwell had the offense open up under his hand last year, and expect that to continue to be the case. Quarterback Joe Flacco has had more of a voice in audibles and game planning, and threw more passes down the seams and utilizing the middle of the field. There was more of an emphasis on spread formations and this offense wants to speed up things at the line of scrimmage.

Defensively, Spagnuolo can be very exotic and aggressive with his blitz concepts, and the Ravens got back to more of that attacking mindset with Dean Pees as the defensive coordinator last year. The renewed depth across the defensive line will allow for plenty of shuffling and creativity and could result in edge player Courtney Upshaw shifting inside some, too.

Bubble watch

Baltimore pretty much ended any mystery about its roster by parting with the last of their aging, higher-priced veterans with the release of Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach last month. Jah Reid is a player worth watching in camp. Drafted to be a right tackle of the future he might not even crack this roster as a swing tackle depending on how healthy and productive he is in camp. The Ravens don't miss on too many kids in the first three rounds, but Reid and defensive tackle Terrence Cody could face an uphill climb to avoid the turk.

Unheard-of-guy to watch

It wasn't that long ago that many on the Ravens' coaching staff were very high on receiver David Reed. He was seen as a potential special teams difference maker, and the heir apparent to Derrick Mason as a possession receiver. Since then, he's flamed out as a return man with fumbling issues and struggled with injuries and for playing time. But at a time when the team was cutting players all over the place, Reed got $2 million to stay. Seems to me he will get a good chance to move up the receiver pecking order with Boldin gone. This looks like his last stand and I wouldn't be shocked if he takes advantage of it.

Biggest concern

The reigning Super Bowl champs appear to be much better defensively from the middling unit that didn't live up to the franchise norm in 2012. But saying that, much will depend on how top corner Lardarius Webb returns from another knee surgery, with the secondary almost totally overturned. Sorting out the linebackers, post-Ray Lewis, will be a major chore and replacing Boldin's production will be key.

Most of all though, the Ravens must find harmony and leadership in the locker room given the kind of players, and people, who have departed. New voices must emerge. And avoiding the typical pitfalls that follow great success -- complacency, ego -- will go a long way toward dictating the type of season they follow their Lombardi with.

Something to prove

The Ravens won a Super Bowl with Terrell Suggs being a shell of his normal self. It was amazing that he came back at all after his Achilles tear last spring. Now, he needs to return in peak shape and ready to be the kind of force he was in 2011 as Defensive Player of the Year. Similarly, Haloti Ngata was paid just a few years ago as one of the elite defensive linemen in the game, but his production has waned with injuries taking a toll. Renewed depth should result in better matchups for Ngata and he, too, has the potential to be Defensive Player of the Year at his best.

With so many veterans gone, the focus and expectations will be even higher for this duo, and the way they bounce back from off years could determine the team's fate. If they do get back to their best, this defense could be infinitely more disruptive than it was a year ago.




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Old Post 07-08-13 10:54 PM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: Pittsburgh Steelers

July 5, 2013 3:44 PM ET

In Pittsburgh, fans start camp talking about adding rings to that second hand and seeking a seventh Lombardi. But just getting back to the playoffs would be a start. The front office has had its hands tied by cap and budgetary issues, and old age is catching up with them, on defense in particular.

The focus will remain on the offensive line, as an injury to Ben Roethlisberger derailed a promising 2012 campaign. Projected starting right tackle Mike Adams is trying to race back from a recent stabbing, and while Mike Wallace's holdout is no longer the distraction it was a year ago, his departure as a free agent, and how he will be replaced, will dominate summer chatter.

This team could still put up scary offensive numbers, but will the defense be able to bury opponents with the avalanche of sacks and turnovers that defined this defense in its prime? It's time for a host of 2010-2012 draft picks to step up and begin filling a void, as the former fixtures of Dick LeBeau's defense continue to depart, retire or slow down.


Key changes

The Steelers' roster is in transition. An era is ending there, particularly on defense, with James Harrison and Casey Hampton gone, Troy Polamalu likely a year away from the same. The Steelers lost top skill players in receiver Mike Wallace and running back Rashard Mendenhall to free agency, with Pittsburgh trying to get its salary cap back on track and tight on cap space. Longtime offensive linemen Max Starks and Willie Colon left as well. The onus is on kids from recent draft classes to emerge, while longtime backup quarterbacks Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich are also gone.

Pittsburgh is never going to be all that active in free agency, and this year they displayed extreme caution. The stagnant cap tied their hands and they were bargain shopping. Plaxico Burress returns to try to bolster the receiving group and be an option in red zone situations. LaRod Stephens-Howling enters the running back mix as a free agent. Bruce Gradkowski comes in to serve under Ben Roethlisberger. And the Steelers matched the one-year offer sheet from New England to receiver Emmanuel Sanders, which can't be overlooked, either.

The staff is largely intact, with one key change being Danny Smith coming over from Washington as special teams coach. The Steelers had tried to hire him in the past, and the Redskins had always blocked, but Smith is now back in his hometown. His upbeat, relentless approach to practice should add life to their return units and bring a renewed energy as well. Mike Tomlin has wanted to hire him for a long time.


Position battles

Running back is screaming out for someone to step up and become the featured guy. Jonathan Dwyer earned more playing time as the season went on and can be a wrecking ball, and Isaac Redman returns on an RFA tender as well. The Steelers really like draft pick Le'Veon Bell out of Michigan State, and it wouldn't surprise if the rookie ended up with a hefty dose of carries before the season plays out. That process starts in earnest in camp.

With Wallace gone, and Sanders and Antonio Brown in line for even more work, the Steelers need a new slot presence to emerge. Jerricho Cotchery is the obvious candidate, but rookie draft pick Markus Wheaton has the body to serve that role as well.

It's also time for things to shake out at linebacker. Draft pick Jarvis Jones, taken in the first round, is seen by many as the natural replacement for Harrison, but he'll have to prove it. The pedigree of Pittsburgh linebackers goes back forever, and there is usually a learning curve. Jason Worilds is in that mix, and, frankly, he flashed enough early on that some thought he'd be ready to take over at right outside linebacker, but that's far from a certainty now. Veteran Larry Foote is back, though the team hopes more youngsters emerge, like Stevenson Sylvester.


New schemes

You know what you are going to get from Hall of Fame coordinator Dick LeBeau on defense. He's back for at least one more season, though at this point he could stick around five more years and no one would be surprised. He is truly ageless.

Todd Haley is back for his second season as offensive coordinator and expect to see more use of the tight end and quick-hitting passes on offense. Losing Wallace takes away a real longball threat and Wallace didn't find his way in the offense much in 2012. The interpersonal dynamics between Haley and Roethlisberger will be dissected on a weekly basis, too.


Bubble watch

At this stage of his career, Burress is by no means assured of a roster spot, even with a need at receiver. Tomlin is a fan of his, however, which helps. For a guy who couldn't find work a year ago, he should be plenty motivated and it will be interesting to see how many reps he gets early on. And can warrior Brett Keisel maintain and have his body hold up through the rigors of another season, given all the abuse he has absorbed over the years?


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Cortez Allen made some big strides last season when forced into a key role in the secondary and stands poised to get plenty of action this season as well, opposite Ike Taylor. Spreading out the Steelers and getting after their corners is a tact many clubs will take, especially if the pass rush is not as vaunted as in years past. Allen, from The Citadel of all places, is in line to begin making a name for himself if he can continue the progression he began to show last year.


Biggest concerns

For years people have been talking about the age of this team, particularly on defense. And while a transition is afoot, expect to hear plenty more. What some forget, however, is how well this team ended up finishing in overall defense again, in 2012. Can they keep it up?

The Steelers desperately need a handful of recent draft picks along the defensive line, like Cam Heyward, Ziggy Hood and Al Woods, to step up to maintain the level of defensive excellence Steelers' fans are accustomed to.

The offensive line remains a work in progress as well, and the stabbing of projected starting right tackle Mike Adams was unfortunate to say the least. He was starting to really adapt to his switch to the right side and the goal was to get as many reps as possible this spring. Will Adams be ready to go at the start of camp, as expected? Solidifying the tackle spots and also keeping guard David DeCastro healthy is another key.

And will the loss of Wallace limit the scope of this offense, one that -- even without him -- has the potential to be explosive?


Something to prove

Polamalu is the highest-paid safety in the league but hasn't been the same since signing his last contract extension. Merely staying healthy would be a big step. It's hard to put a first-ballot Hall of Famer in this category, but at this stage of his career he will have to improve if he wants to be around in 2014. This is Pittsburgh, after all, and they embrace change no matter how popular the player is when the time comes.

LaMarr Woodley hasn't been able to sustain his top pass rushing form, either, and he needs a bounce-back year, too. For some stretches, he looks like the best pass rusher in the NFL, but doesn't flash nearly as much during other portions of the season. With Harrison gone, they need sustained pressure from Woodley.




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2013 NFL training camp preview: Cincinnati Bengals

July 5, 2013 3:08 PM ET


The Bengals went 10-6 and snared a wild card berth in 2012. Will the momentum continue? The Bengals went 10-6 and snared a wild card berth in 2012. Will the momentum continue?

Have the Bengals truly changed their culture and broken with their past? Are the sins of past teams no longer cast upon them? Are they now, truly, a franchise that can compete for a spot in the postseason on a yearly basis?

This upstart group proved many people wrong by getting back to the playoffs in 2012 and continuing their growth on field and off. The former bad boys brought in by owner Mike Brown had largely stayed out of trouble (Adam Jones' recent incident notwithstanding). They seemed like a maturing unit capable of dealing with, and sustaining, success.

Having a drama-free camp would only help matters, as would managing to get a contract extension done with a defensive lineman or two. With many of the team's best young players in line for a payday in the next 6-12 months, sending a message to the locker room, the fanbase, and the rest of the NFL about the Bengals' intent to remain viable would be imperative.


Key changes

The Bengals have finally reached a point were continuity is the norm. After beefing up the scouting department and putting together strong drafts, they have a quality roster, much of it still young, cheap talent. Coach Marvin Lewis received a contract extension before last season and they've reached the playoffs two years straight, and managed to maintain coordinators Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden, despite them having some head coaching interest.

They're never going to splurge in free agency as long as Mike Brown is in charge, but they did slap the franchise tag on Michael Johnson to prevent him from leaving, and waited out a lethargic market for Andre Smith before re-signing the right tackle. They took a shot on longtime Steeler James Harrison, who could add a situation pass rush to an already potent front seven, and brought in tight end Alex Smith. Otherwise their moves were decidedly low key, bringing in Josh Johnson and John Skelton to compete for a backup quarterback spot.

And they also managed not to lose much, besides longtime fullback Brian Leonard. they re-signed depth corners like Adam Jones and Terrence Newman and kept linebacker Rey Maualuga as well. The biggest move could be the drafting of tight end Tyler Eifert in the first round.

But for the most part, you're getting last year's team, plus some draft picks, and a few value free agents. And given the steps this franchise has made in recent years, that's hardly a bad thing for Bengals fans.


Position battles

Josh Johnson was brought into the league in Tampa on Gruden's staff, so I would give him the leg up over Skelton coming into camp to back up Andy Dalton. Johnson has elite athleticism and Skelton was pretty much awful in Arizona last season, albeit behind the worst offensive line in the NFL and without any aid from a run game. The jockeying for spots behind Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green will be more closely watched. Mohamed Sanu is trying to come back from an injury that ended his rookie season early, with Marvin Jones, Brandon Tate and Andrew Hawkins among those trying to push for playing time.

In the secondary, Dre Kirkpatrick pretty much had a lost rookie season due to injury. Can he stake a claim to the corner spot opposite Leon Hall, or will a veteran like Newman or Jones hold him off? Kirkpatrick was a first-round pick in 2012, and expectations are high for him to break through.

And most notably, who carries the rock for this team this season? The Bengals absolutely love rookie running back Giovani Bernard, and I would not be surprised to see him get a good long look at displacing veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis (who finally started actually fumbling the football last season) this summer.


New schemes

You can expect more of what you've come to know from this outfit, except that pressure will continue to mount for Dalton to take more ownership of the offense and the huddle and have his voice in Gruden's attack. Pedestrian performances, tepid at best, in the postseason two years in a row have the microscope on the offensive side of the ball, and with the drafting of Eifert look for more spread formations and two tight end sets from Gruden this year.

Zimmer, long one of the best defensive coordinators in the game, will just keep on doing what he does, only with some new toys to add to the mix like Harrison and second-round pick Margus Hunt.


Bubble watch

Harrison was signed to a decidedly team-friendly deal, and given his age and a body that has been succumbing to all the years of punishment, I suspect he gets abundant rest in camp to try to navigate him through a long season. His back issues have been chronic and there are concerns with his knees as well.

Can he really be a starter and play major reps for this team? No doubt he's crazy motivated to do so, and to try to show the Steelers he can still do it. The reality is the money he left on the table from Pittsburgh's reduced offer to him is coin he'll likely never see again, and getting through the preseason close to full health may be enough of a chore.


Biggest concerns

Does this team have the mindset to shed its past and become a playoff force? That's all that matters now.

Finding leadership come January and getting it done -- quite possibly on the road, given the makeup of the AFC North -- will define their season, and instilling that psyche in camp will be a big part of what Lewis is selling to his group. Harrison's arrival likely has something to do with that -- he only orchestrated one of the signature plays in Super Bowl history -- and the offense must find a way to match the defense's consistency.

Are there enough secondary cogs around Green? Will Dalton step up? Can they go running back by committee, or is there a feature guy on this roster right now?

On paper, the defense is stacked, but getting something off the edge in the pass rush from Harrison or Hunt to complement Carlos Dunlap and Johnson will be key as well, and the search for those options begins in July.


Something to prove

The Bengals have a few, starting with Dalton. They need him to make the kind of postseason progress Joe Flacco did with Baltimore, or something at least in that direction, because merely getting to the playoffs is not enough. After this season Dalton can renegotiate his deal -- having played three full seasons under this new CBA -- and these questions will loom over everything the franchise does in 2013.

Is Dalton the guy to lead this team for the next decade? Or is he a functional system guy? He's had flashes of brilliance in the regular season, but is not being judged on the biggest of stages.

The drafting of Eifert could signal that the time for change is drawing near for tight end Jermaine Gresham, who was just drafted in the first round himself in 2010. Even in a two tight end set, there are only so many balls to go around. And with so many Bengals in line for fat new contracts in the coming years, will there be enough money for Gresham here? His production this season will go a long way toward deciding that.

Maualuga has yet to develop as expected as well, playing out his rookie deal and returning to Cincy on more of a bargain rate. This is a prove-it year for him as well.




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Old Post 07-08-13 10:59 PM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: Cleveland Browns

July 5, 2013 3:29 PM ET


With Norv Turner running the offense, could the Browns finally break into contention? With Norv Turner running the offense, could the Browns finally break into contention?

It's been a long time since the Browns entered a training camp free of concern or distractions and this one is no different. As the weeks go on, more troubling reports have surfaced about the conduct of executives at Pilot Flying J, the company run by new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, and the financial state of affairs at that company. Haslam's non-football doings, his liquidity and any wrongdoing on his part in regard to Pilot Flying J will trump, say, embattled quarterback Brandon Weeden having a good day at camp.

Browns fans always have something to fret over, and as the investigation unfolds and more findings and eventual charges and penalties come out, more questions will be asked of Haslam, and the NFL for that matter. What seemed like the dawn of a bright new era in Cleveland is now much more murky during Haslam's first full training camp in charge.


Key changes

The Browns cleaned out much of the building this offseason, overhauling the business operations, front office and coaching staff, with Joe Banner now running the show. And the clean-up job is quickly extending to the roster as well. It will take more than one offseason, but expect a continued influx of talent as the squad is remade.

Banner and GM Mike Lombardi knew that with this program so bad for so long, they would have to dig deep financially to get free agents to come to Cleveland and they did just that, looking within the division to nab young pass rusher Paul Kruger from Baltimore for $8 million a season. He will be counted on to provide immediate impact and work with guys like D'Qwell Jackson to keep quarterbacks under duress.

Of course it all starts at quarterback and this regime came in with low expectations for incumbent starter Brandon Weeden. To that end, they signed free agent quarterbacks Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer, and I would not be surprised at all to see either, or both, of them to end up with more starts that Weeden by the end of the season.

The Browns traded for possession receiver Davone Bess. Still in need of weapons, acquired back Dion Lewis for linebacker Emmanuel Acho, and also added free agent tight end Kellen Davis, linebacker Quentin Groves, and receiver David Nelson. They're hoping for big things from defensive lineman Desmond Bryant as well and believe they have a monster pass rusher on the way in first-round pick Barkevious Mingo.

As for key departures, Josh Cribbs was a record-setting return man for the team but has slowed in recent years and was battling injuries as well. Veteran linebacker Scott Fujita, a team leader, was forced to retire due to a neck condition, and linebacker Chris Gocong was released. Backup Colt McCoy, who lacked arm strength and never seemed like a good fit given the geographic realities of Cleveland, was dealt to the 49ers. Former top kicker Phil Dawson is gone, as are defensive linemen Frostee Rucker and tight end Ben Watson.

The biggest changes though are at head coach, with Rob Chudzinski in place, and new coordinators in Norv Turner and Ray Horton, giving the team very strong men with ample experience running both sides of the ball. And with a completely new set of eyes evaluating talent, including personnel man Ray Farmer, there is as much sel- scouting going on, sorting out this perennially last-place roster, as there is piecing through every other roster in the league looking for new parts.


Position battles

Position battles don't come any bigger than a quarterback competition, but we'll have one here as the preseason plays out. Weeden will need to show a quick grasp of this system and avoid the kind of mistakes that plagued him as 2012 rolled on. Lombardi has long had a feeling that Hoyer could be a diamond in the rough. He has many of the attributes he looks for in a quarterback. Campbell has a big arm and has been plagued by bad luck as much as anything else.

Does anyone emerge as anything close to a No. 1 receiver from this bunch? Josh Gordon and Greg Little have shown flashes, but neither is polished or seemingly ready to be a consistent go-to guy. The guard positions are up in the air a bit as well. Shawn Lauvao and Jason Pinkston will battle at left guard, while John Greco and Jarrod Shaw are part of the group vying for the right guard spot.

With Trent Richardson's health already an issue, as he enters just his second year, the battle between running backs like Montario Hardesty and Lewis will be interesting as well, with plenty of snaps up for grabs early in camp to see who gets the jump on being the backup/occasional starter, given Richardson's status.


New schemes

The Browns are totally changing their identity on both sides of the ball.

Turner may be the best playcaller in the NFL. He is a quarterback guru, and his entire focus is on the offense now without having to coach the entire team. That will free Chudzinski up to handle macro issues. The Browns offense has nowhere to go but up. Campbell throws a helluva a deep ball, which Turner loves, and could lead to him grabbing this job. The Browns have to find ways to stretch teams out, and I suspect Richardson's touches will be monitored more closely by Turner as well.

This team, while still lacking playmakers, won't be as predictable offensively any longer.

On defense, Horton's 3-4 hybrid scheme is much more aggressive than what the Browns ran under Dick Jauron. Expect much more pre-snap movement and varied looks. He will bring pressure from all over, and that should only aid a secondary with question marks outside of stud corner Joe Haden.


Bubble watch

Weeden was a first-round pick just a year ago, but he might not be long for Cleveland. If Campbell and Hoyer take off quickly, perhaps Weeden could be trade bait. He will be the most talked about Brown during camp, by far. He certainly is fighting for his job. The Browns did most of their purging already early in the offseason, trying to bring in younger bodies to fight for depth spots.


Unheard-of-guy to watch

Mitchell Schwartz enters his second year as a starting right tackle in Cleveland, but like many recent picks of the former regime, he will be watched very closely. The Browns couldn't upgrade at every spot in the offseason, but nailing down bookend tackles will be imperative when you look at the edge rushers division foes Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have to offer, And Schwartz had his share of difficulty in his rookie campaign.


Biggest concerns

Anytime your first-year owner has his business raided by the feds, on multiple occasions, it's never ideal. There are worries about how far the probe into Jimmy Haslam's truck stop company could go to eventually impacting the cash flow of the Browns, and whether or not his tenure at the helm could ultimately be cut short because of it.

It's not something the front office is concerning itself with -- they have enough work to do just trying to turn around the lagging franchise -- but the timing, for Haslam, could hardly be worse.

Cleveland still lacks talent on offense and, besides its center and left tackle -- both studs -- you have to wonder about the rest of the offensive line. With so much youth on that side of the ball, you'd prefer a veteran line anchoring things down, but again, this rebuild will take time. And if you have three quarterbacks, well, you know how that saying goes. It all starts and ends there, and the true quarterback of the future for the Browns likely is not on the roster that will open camp.

The Browns added bite to an already sound defense, which was huge, and loaded up on 2014 draft picks, which should be a better crop of players to add to what they are developing here. But taking immediate leaps forward playing in this loaded division won't be easy.


Something to prove

Josh Gordon was taken with a second-round supplemental pick a year ago, and while he displays moments of brilliance, he has a ways to go to become a true threat in this league. He is very raw after missing considerable time in college and while speedy, needs to learn the position and harness his ability. There were concerns about his maturity and off field habits coming out of Baylor as well. He will need to take a positive step forward in all regards, much like fellow enigmatic young receiver Little, to avoid receiver becoming a focal point of the organization come next offseason.




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Old Post 07-08-13 11:02 PM
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Anna Benson used to be "baseball's hottest housewife" — or so said the magazine covers. Now she's an estranged baseball wife who was arrested and booked on trespassing, assault and gun-possession charges.

Her husband Kris Benson — who pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles, among others from 1999-2010 — called police in Georgia reporting that Anna had allegedly attempted to raid his apartment on Sunday night with a gun and metal baton while wearing a bulletproof vest.

Celebrity gossip site TMZ has the skinny:

According to law enforcement, Kris — who filed for divorce last year — reported that Anna showed up in a rage last night after being forced by the court to vacate their marital home. Kris says Anna arrived and immediately whipped out an "expandable metal baton," threatening to hit him.


But it didn't stop there ... Kris told police Anna then pulled out a handgun and demanded money. She must have been expecting Kris to pull a gun on her too ... because she was allegedly wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the alleged assault.

According to the police report, Kris told Anna he would get her the money following the altercation ... but then left the home and called police instead.

She parlayed her baseball wife mystique and firecracker personality into modeling and poker playing, everything culminating in the most fitting place — the "Baseball Wives" reality TV show, which aired in 2011.

But all was not well in Bensonville, as Kris filed for divorce in 2012. She alleged infidelity after that. He hasn't played in MLB since 2010 when he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks and appeared in three games.

The couple has three children together, plus another they raised from Anna's previous marriage. For their sake, here's hoping the next chapter in the Benson saga doesn't require guns or bulletproof vests

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Two days after returning from a vacation in Europe and Israel, Patriots owner Robert Kraft finally broke his silence on Monday about Aaron Hernandez’s arrest on a murder charge and subsequent release from the team

Kraft, who has owned the Patriots since 1994, said he was “limited” in what he could discuss Monday because of “an ongoing criminal investigation, as well as other potential civil proceedings.” It is unclear if the family of Odin Lloyd, the victim in Hernandez’s murder case, will attempt to sue the Patriots.

But Kraft said it “is important that our fan base hear directly from our organization.” Kraft said the team knew Hernandez was “immature,” but didn’t think his off-field activities would ever lead to a murder charge.

In fact, the Patriots were willing to draft Hernandez because they believed he had owned up to his past. Kraft produced a letter on Monday that Hernandez sent to the Patriots on April 16, 2010, six days before the NFL Draft.

In the letter, addressed to Patriots’ personnel director Nick Caserio and written with help from Hernandez’s agents at Athletes First, Hernandez admitted to recreational drug use while at the University of Florida (marijuana) and said he would “willfully” submit to bi-weekly drug testing during his rookie season if the Patriots were willing to draft him (eight drug tests during the regular season). Hernandez then offered to reimburse the team for any money he would earn if he were to test positive and earn a suspension.

“My point is simple – if I fail a drug test, I do not deserve that portion of the money,” Hernandez wrote. “I realize this offer is somewhat unorthodox, but it is also the only way I could think of to let you know how serious I am about reaching my potential in the NFL.”

Kraft said the Patriots felt comfortable drafting Hernandez in the fourth round after receiving this letter, and didn’t believe he had any other major off-field issues.

“Here’s a guy writing a letter, taking responsibility,” Kraft said. “The only thing I ever heard on Aaron Hernandez was he was very young, immature and potentially had problems presented in this letter. Never saw signs of anything else.”

Kraft said Hernandez “knew how to push my buttons.” Hernandez, a native of Bristol, Conn., told Kraft after being drafted that the first jersey he owned was a Drew Bledsoe Patriots jersey.

“He was a New England kid who was a Patriot. I thought it was cool,” Kraft said.

Hernandez often greeted Kraft with a kiss on the cheek, and donated $50,000 to the Myra Kraft Giving Back Fund after signing a contract extension before the 2012 season that paid him $16 million guaranteed, with a maximum value of $40 million.

Kraft said he tried to give Hernandez the $50,000 back, but Hernandez insisted that the foundation keep it.

“He wanted to be a role model for the Hispanic community. He said that when he signed his contract,” Kraft said. “He said, ‘You gave me a second chance,’ and I believed him.”

Kraft said all he knew about Hernandez is what happened inside the practice facility at Gillette Stadium, and that for three years Hernandez was a model football player. He noted that Bill Belichick said that Hernandez had the best training camp of any Patriots player last August, after Hernandez had signed his contract extension.

“I only know what goes on inside this building. We don’t put private eyes on people,” Kraft said. “When he was in this building, I was never exposed to anything where he was not positive. He was always polite, respectful.”

Kraft didn’t say whether or not the team will be less willing in the future to take on players with character risks, but “you can be sure we’ll be looking at our procedures and auditing how we do things.”

Kraft certainly wishes he had done more research on Hernandez’s off-field activities before giving him the big contract extension last August, but felt that signing Hernandez to a long-term deal was the best move for the team at the time.

Hernandez’s rookie contract was supposed to run through the 2013 season, and the Patriots felt like they could get better value if they had signed him to a long-term deal before he reached free agency.

“If you let the best players go to free agency or get to the last year, you usually pay more,” Kraft said. “It was a business decision. We were paying for performance. He was undervalued his first two years, then we wanted to get him in range.”

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NCAAF Games of the Year: LSU could be FG faves at Ole Miss

NCAA Week 8: LSU Tigers at Ole Miss Rebels (+1.5)

Past history: LSU has won SU on five of its last six trips to Oxford, including a 52-3 annihilation on their last visit in 2011. But the Tigers never even sniffed a pointspread cover as 19-point home chalk against the Rebels last year, needing a wild fourth-quarter rally, sparked by a punt return touchdown, to escape with a six-point victory.

Early look at LSU: The Tigers have gone 34-4 over the course of the last three regular seasons, but they are lined at only 9.5 wins in 2013. After losing four NFL draft choices from their defensive line and two more in their secondary, early bettors are expecting a significant defensive dropoff from a mediocre offensive team.

Early look at Mississippi: The Rebels have finished above .500 in the regular season only twice in the last nine years, but the first posted lines have Ole Miss projected as an 8.5-win team in 2013. Second-year head coach Hugh Freeze has a strong group of starters -particularly on offense - but a lack of quality depth is a major concern.

Where this line will move: Ole Miss has road games against Alabama and Auburn as well as a home game against Texas A&M in the three weeks prior to this SEC West showdown - a trio of tough tests. While LSU will be in a potential letdown situation following a home test against Florida the previous week, the Tigers should have the better record and the betting market support heading into this matchup. Don’t be surprised if LSU is -3 or higher by game day.
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Old Post 07-09-13 08:09 PM
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FOXBOROUGH - Arnie Larson thought the jersey would make the perfect gift. Back in May, his fifteen-year-old daughter, Gianna, had a birthday coming up. On the soccer field, she wore No. 81. She liked the New England Patriots, and their young tight end, so Larson bought her an Aaron Hernandez jersey.

She never ended up wearing it. She was waiting until the season began in September to finally put it on. Then, two weeks ago, on the day that police began questioning Hernandez about his involvement in the murder of Odin Lloyd, Gianna told her father she didn't want the jersey anymore.

He told her to wait and see what happens with the case, but as more facts began to come out the less either of them wanted to hold on to that No. 81. Larson tried to take it to the Patriots ProShop and exchange it for a Tom Brady one. The store wouldn't take it. He didn't have a receipt.

"Who knew - why would you save the receipt?" Larson said. "They said 'Sorry there's nothing we can do.' I'm sure a lot of people came down and tried to do that."

Larson was back on Saturday. The Patriots announced they would offer a free jersey exchange for any Hernandez jersey purchased at the ProShop or online. Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Vince Wilfork authentic Reebok jerseys were available, and another eight replica player jerseys were in stock as well. Fans began lining up outside the store before 8:00 a.m. There were more than 100 people by the time the doors opened at 9:30 a.m. After a brief inspection of their Hernandez jerseys outside, fans were given vouchers to use in the shop.

The Patriots said that almost 1,200 Hernandez jerseys were exchanged by 5 p.m., and 300 were youth size. Wilfork's jersey was the most popular, followed by Brady, defensive lineman Chandler Jones, and running back Stevan Ridley. The organization hopes to find a way to recycle the Hernandez jerseys into another product, but if that can't be done they will be destroyed.

The move came as no surprise to Larson.

"I honestly thought that they would do the right thing," Larson said. "[Owner] Bob Kraft and his family have done nothing but do the right thing. It's a crapshoot when you draft players. I know that, because you really don't know who people are once they leave and what they do, but it seems like even when mistakes are made they do the right thing to correct those mistakes."

The offer was especially helpful to parents with young children. Mike Vitelli had already done his best to explain the Boston Marathon bombings to his eight-year-old son, Brady, in April. Brady was worried the bombers might show up at their home in North Attleborough. He was worried again when he heard about one of his favorite Patriots, whose jersey he got last season, being tied to a murder. And unlike the Marathon bombings, the murder allegedly happened right near their home.

"It's one of those things where you just try to explain that sometimes bad things happen, sometimes people that you think are good people aren't necessarily good people," Vitelli said. "That's the best you can do."

Vitelli appreciated that the franchise would sacrifice profits to help out fans and families. Brady was born in 2004, after the Patriots' Super Bowl runs, and he's been wearing the New England quarterback's jersey since he was three months old.

"They're going to lose a lot of money on this, but that's what makes it one of the best organizations definitely in the NFL," Vitelli said.

Chris Sousa was tempted to sell his six, authentic Hernandez jerseys. He loved the tight end since his days at Florida, and friends told him to see what he could get for them on eBay after hearing that some jerseys were going for thousands of dollars.
But the Somerville, Mass., native couldn't do it.

"There's no point," Sousa said. "I'm not in the game for that stuff. He's a good player. There's no need to defame his name and sell his stuff out there. I stayed true to who I am. I'm a huge Pats fan and I'm not going to defame the franchise and the player by doing that stuff."


Sousa is a jersey collector, and he passed out his Hernandez jerseys to other people in line who said they would help him with the exchange. He left Foxborough with Gronkowski, Brady, and Wilfork jerseys, in both blue and white.

"I don't drink, I don't smoke," Sousa said. "My addiction is sports jerseys."

He also tried to trade in a red throwback jersey, but the authenticity of the NFL equipment logo was disputed and he was sent to the resolution center. A team representative offered Sousa a moonlight poster of Gillette Stadium for his trouble, but he turned it down.

"I don't want it," Sousa said he told him. "Just keep the jersey. Take the name off the back and give it to someone who needs it. If there's a kid out there that doesn't have a shirt to wear, give it to him."

Old Post 07-09-13 09:57 PM
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Most compelling games on the New Orleans Saints' schedule: No. 9, vs. Dallas Cowboys

Saints Most Compelling Games 2013
New Orleans Saints schedule question of the day: How will Rob Ryan's defense play against his former team?Most compelling games on the New Orleans Saints' schedule: No. 9, vs. Dallas CowboysNew Orleans Saints schedule question of the day: What is the biggest threat to Saints against Carolina Panthers?Most compelling games on the New Orleans Saints' schedule: No. 10, vs. Carolina PanthersNew Orleans Saints schedule question of the day: Who wins battle between Drew Brees and Darrelle Revis?All Stories |
Judging the most compelling games for the 2013 New Orleans Saints is a difficult proposition because of the unknown variables (injuries, new coaches/coordinators, etc.) that ultimately play out during the course of an NFL season.

I used multiple factors in ranking the Saints' 16 regular-season games, including anticipated quality of the opponent, the opposition's quarterback situation, game times (late in the season, early in the season, prime time) and potential weather conditions.

I'll unveil the list every weekday as we count down to training camp.

The rankings are from easiest to most difficult games. Let the debate begin.


No. 9: Nov. 10 -- vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

QB ranking (among the 13 the Saints will face): Tony Romo -- 7

Anticipated quality of opponent ranking: 6

The factors: No more talk of Sean Payton pondering a coaching move to Dallas, and yet the talk may still continue if Tony Romo and Jason Garrett never win on a consistent basis. Offensively, Dallas seemingly has the pieces for a potent offense with RB DeMarco Murray, TE Jason Witten and WR Dez Bryant. It will always come down to Romo.

No more talk of Rob Ryan in Dallas, and yet the debate may still continue about bringing Monte Kiffin back to the NFL. The Cowboys' defense should be much healthier than when the Saints faced them in Week 16 last season. So you can bet a healthy DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee will make life a tad more difficult for the Saints.

Fearless predictions: Ryan will mention at least once about how he was fired by the Cowboys leading up to the game. Patrick Robinson, who was torched last season, won't defend Bryant.

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The sports news has officially taken a turn for the absurd. Not that this is a bad thing, mind you, particularly in the N.F.L., where it desperately needed a turn from the Aaron Hernandez murder charges. Even baseball could use a little silliness this time of year, just to get you through the All-Star Game break without resorting to checking Alex Rodriguez’s Twitter feed for entertainment.

But because Jets Coach Rex Ryan specializes in absurd, he has decided to star in this particular turn, surprising only in that he did so by running with the bulls in Pamplona. Really.

O.K., in this instance, “running with the bulls” means “holding on to a fence to avoid the bulls,” but what Ryan’s adventure lacks in bravado it gains in lack of stupidity. And with Ryan, well, that qualifies as an accomplishment. The bulls, you may have learned over the years, do not read the annual memo that this is a tourism publicity stunt. They actually gore people. This year they chased some folks into a river to get their point across effectively enough.

The Jets are lucky this fell into the all-in-good-fun category instead of having to schedule bull horn removal surgery, and in that category he gets to join Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has decided to make himself a rap star of the decidedly silly variety. Although you may curse him when you find yourself with a sudden craving for Pop Rocks.

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But give credit to the filmmakers: They might not have made a very good western, but they definitely know what good westerns look like. Although nominally based on the radio show and TV series of the same name, the film is draped in references to several eons of movie-western iconography. At times, it almost feels like a greatest hits collection: Now That’s What I Call The Western Genre!, with several different western plots piled on top of each other like ill-fitting Tetris blocks. Here’s a list of ten films that inspired the film: I recommend watching them several times and never watching The Lone Ranger ever again.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Director John Ford is best known for his widescreen cinematic vistas, but this talky black-and-white western is a sly, talky deconstruction of the western myth. Jimmy Stewart plays an east-coast lawyer who wants to bring civilized justice to the west; John Wayne is the cowboy who teaches him that law gets fuzzy on the frontier. In The Lone Ranger, protagonist John Reid (Armie Hammer) returns from his east-coast law school and tries to follow the letter of the law; his brother Dan (James Badge Dale) and eventual partner Tonto (Johnny Depp) teach him that there’s no law except for the way of the gun.

The Searchers: Did someone mention widescreen cinematic vistas? Here’s John Ford constructing the western myth, with the tale of a vengeful John Wayne going into Comanche country to pursue his brother’s murderer, and rescue his niece; it’s strongly implied that Wayne had a thing for his brother’s wife. In The Lone Ranger, Reid and Tonto go into Comanche country to pursue Reid’s brother’s murderer; Reid also has to rescue his nephew, and everyone is very aware that Reid has a thing for his brother’s wife.

Once Upon a Time in the West: One of several evil plots in The Lone Ranger hinges on the advance of the Transcontinental Railroad, which sows corruption and pushes out the old western ways as it crosses the frontier. The railroad is a common theme in westerns — see also Hell on Wheels, or maybe just don’t — and it’s at the center of spaghetti-western auteur Sergio Leone’s masterpiece. Like the corporate baddie in West, Tom Wilkinson’s nefarious tycoon works employs outlaws as muscle and keeps a groovy HG onboard his train.

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How SI's best and worst NCAAF coaches stack up for bettors

A recent article by Stewart Mandel over at Sports Illustrated looks at the 10 best and five worst head coaches in NCAA football.

We decided to have a look at said coaches and tally up their ATS and O/U records to see how each of these guys stack up.

Western Kentucky's Bobby Petrino was not included since he has not coached a game with the Hilltoppers.

Of the remaining nine coaches in SI's ten best, only LSU's Les Miles has a sub .500 ATS record.

Of SI's five worst coaches, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is the only one with an ATS record above .500.

SI's 10 best:

Nick Saban, Alabama - 68-13 SU, 45-35 ATS, 36-40-3 O/U
Urban Meyer, Ohio State - 12-0 SU, 7-5 ATS, 6-6 O/U
Chris Petersen, Boise State - 84-8 SU, 49-38-2 ATS, 43-45-1 O/U
Gary Patterson, TCU - 116-36 SU, 77-69-1 ATS, 65-63-2 O/U
Bill Snyder, Kansas State (second tenure) - 33-17 SU, 31-18-1 ATS, 28-21 O/U
Les Miles, LSU - 85-21 SU, 49-53-2 ATS, 53-48-1 O/U
Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M - 11-2 SU, 8-5 ATS, 4-7 O/U
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma - 149-37 SU, 97-83-4 ATS, 80-83-1 O/U
Bobby Petrino, Western Kentucky - N/A
Art Briles, Baylor - 33-30 SU, 36-25 ATS, 36-23-1 O/U

SI's five worst (alphabetically):

Tim Beckman, Illinois - 2-10 SU, 3-9 ATS, 6-5 O/U
Ron English, Eastern Michigan - 10-38 SU, 20-28 ATS, 26-21 O/U
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa - 100-74 SU, 93-75-2 ATS, 64-76-5 O/U
Lane Kiffin, USC - 25-13 SU, 17-21 ATS, 18-20 O/U
Charlie Weis, Kansas - 1-11 SU, 4-7-1 ATS, 4-7 O/U
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Old Post 07-10-13 04:07 PM
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NCAAF Top 5: Worst home bets in college football

Friendly confines and hometown crowds haven’t helped these college football programs come though against the spread. They have constantly letdown bettors on their home turf over the past five seasons.

Record between 2008-12.

Eastern Michigan Eagles (7-19 SU, 8-18 ATS)

Sports Illustrated recently released a list of the worst coaches in college football and Eagles head coach Ron English was among the bottom five. Eastern Michigan bettors wouldn’t deny that claim, having suffered through a 7-15 ATS mark in his time in Ypsilanti.

New Mexico State Aggies (7-22 SU, 9-20 ATS)

Aggies backers – if there are any left – are holding out hope that a move from the WAC to an independent will alter the program’s ineptitude against the spread. New Mexico State, which went 2-4 ATS inside Aggie Memorial Stadium in 2012, has a tough sked with Texas, UCLA, and Minnesota headlining.

Akron Zips (7-22 SU, 10-19 ATS)

The Zips had mirror-image home/away ATS records last season, going a profitable 5-1 ATS on the road but just 1-5 ATS at home. Akron was an underdog in all but two of those home games, including an embarrassing loss to UMass as a 14.5-point favorite.

South Florida Bulls (17-15 SU, 11-20-1 ATS)

Skip Holtz is gone and with him his 9-11 SU and 5-14-1 ATS record at home. The Bulls bring in Willie Taggart, who boasted an 8-9 ATS during his three seasons at Western Kentucky. The new Frankenstein AAC adds Memphis and SMU to USF home sked in 2013.

Louisville Cardinals (18-14 SU, 12-20 ATS)

The Cardinals enter 2013 as a dark-horse contender for the national title. Louisville has a solid chance of going undefeated, with a very easy home slate. Last season, UL went 3-4 ATS at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, and that was against much tougher competition. The expectations are high this year and the home pointspreads will reflect that.




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Old Post 07-10-13 04:07 PM
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NCAAF Games of the Year: Florida could be worn down vs. FSU

NCAA Week 14: Florida State Seminoles at Florida Gators (-2.5)

Past history: These teams have met in their regular season finale every year since 1977. They’ve split the last four meetings with the Gators winning in Tallahassee last year thanks to 24 unanswered points to open the fourth quarter.

Early look at Florida State: Following last year’s 12-2 campaign, the Seminoles are a legitimate national title contender in 2013 despite the loss of first-round draft choice E.J. Manuel at quarterback and six NFL draft choices from their defense. With arguably the best offensive line in college football, young QBs Jameis Winston or Jacob Coker will have the protection they need to get this offense clicking.

Early look at Florida: The Gators went 11-1 in the regular season last year before losing badly to Louisville in their bowl game. Junior QB Jeff Driskel needs to step up as the full-time starter this year if the Gators are going to match or exceed last year’s results, thanks to a positively brutal slate of opponents.

Where this line will move: It’s not easy to project where a line will be in late November – injuries, attrition and luck go a long way towards determining which teams will draw betting support at that stage of the season. That being said, Florida’s schedule is brutal compared to Florida State’s, which means the Gators are much more likely to come into this one with a weaker record and less market support. Don’t be surprised if the Seminoles take the money before kickoff.
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Old Post 07-10-13 04:08 PM
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2013 NFL training camp preview: Examining the new coordinators


July 10, 2013 12:43 pm ET



I asked a former NFL head coach how many new offensive and defensive coordinators there are in the NFL this season. He stopped, thought about it, laughed a little, and said 12 to 15.

Sorry, wrong answer.

There are 15 new offensive coordinators and 12 new defensive coordinators.

On top of that, at least five teams hired senior consultants who should have a major impact on his new team.

Throw in the eight new head coaches trying to turn around programs and there are 40 men in new positions. That's not even counting the new special-teams coaches.

There is zero stability in this league; it's no wonder players are struggling learning systems. Systems change all the time. The best advice I got from a coach was to develop a universal system so players and coaches can move around the league and be ready to play.

The nuts and bolts of any program rest in the hands of the coordinators. With 27 new coordinators plus five key consultants, there are changes all over the NFL.

Let's put this another way: There are 62 offensive and defensive coordinators in the NFL. The 2013 season will see 43.5 percent of play callers on both sides of the ball change. In reality, it's more like 50 percent when you factor in consultants like Tom Moore and Gregg Williams.
It's going to be a big challenge with the limited practice time. As one new coordinator said, "We have a challenge ahead of us about what our players can do, how much of our playbook will be effective, and how much we have to modify the plan as we go."

Below, I look at the new coordinators, the ripple effect their schemes will have on the team, the players who will fit well in the new packages, which players could struggle to play well, and some expectations for success.

Arizona Cardinals

Bruce Arians is the new head coach. That means he will be the biggest influence on the offense, even though Harold Goodwin was named the offensive coordinator and veteran Tom Moore is on the staff. Moore has been around Peyton Manning for years and knows how to win with the passing game. Arians is well known as a passing coach from his days with Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck. Early reports say all the coaches are excited about what they see from Carson Palmer and his arm. I expect 35-plus pass plays a game.

The biggest beneficiary of the new offensive staff will be Larry Fitzgerald, whose production has been hurt by poor quarterback play. The offensive line is still a big issue, so using a seven-step drop will be risky.

Rashard Mendenhall was with Arians in Pittsburgh and will be given the opportunity to get 18-20 touches a game. Moore has been involved in a lot of wide-stretch run plays, which will be a part of the offense if Mendenhall demonstrates he can function in that scheme as well as he has on the inside run game. One thing is clear: The run game will come off the passing game.

As for the defense, Todd Bowles takes over for Ray Horton, who moved on to Cleveland. The defense will continue to be a 3-4 package, but reports say it is a simple version and the players feel they will play faster.

Don't be surprised to see some 4-3 concepts. Darnell Dockett was frustrated with the defense last year and will get a chance to resume his old production in this scheme. Reports from players on the Cardinals seems to indicate Patrick Peterson will get more opportunities to match up with premier receivers in man-to-man looks.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have kept the staff that won the Super Bowl intact and added former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Spags likes to use zone pressure, and when you consider who Baltimore has lost on defense (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe) the team might have to get creative with pressure calls.

Adding Spagnuolo when defensive coordinator Dean Pees is still on the staff could be a delicate situation, but Spags will go slowly and figure out his role as the season goes on. This team has the man corners to take chances in the front seven. Knowing the Ravens like we do, they will not sit back and play a read-and-react scheme.

Buffalo Bills

Doug Marrone is the new head coach and has an excellent background in offensive-line play and is influenced by his time in New Orleans. The Saints offense featured plenty of inside seam routes, so I expect a lot of it in the new Buffalo offense.
Meet new Bills head coach Doug Marrone

Previous stops: Syracuse Orange, Saints, Jets, Titans, Georgia Bulldogs
Doug Marrone

Makeovers are nothing new to Doug Marrone. In New Orleans, the Saints were a doormat before Sean Payton arrived in 2006, bringing Marrone with him. The same was true at Syracuse before he turned the Orange around. Buffalo hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999. That's right in Marrone's wheelhouse.

He's a tireless teacher. He's a good manager, able to oversee all phases of the game. He knows how to tap into players. He's adept at using all his weapons -- as he proved in New Orleans -- as well as building successful offensive lines (he coached the Jets' offensive line 2002-05). Best of all, he seems to know how to instill confidence in players whose clubs have a history of losing -- something that will come in handy in Buffalo.

By Clark Judge

Tight end Scott Chandler and rookie wide receiver Robert Woods should see significant opportunities in the "Saint" looks. The play calling will be handled by Nate Hackett, who has a West Coast background because of his father, Paul Hackett.

Don't be surprised to see the Bills experiment in the pistol offense, especially if EJ Manuel wins the quarterback job. Manuel hasn't done much in this area during his college career but neither did Russell Wilson before joining the Seahawks.

The Bills have been tightlipped this spring about their offense, but one opposing coach expects plenty of no-huddle and hurry-up offense. Keep an eye on the offensive line to see if they can handle the up-tempo pace.

As for the defense, Mike Pettine comes over from the Jets with a reputation for pressure calls and lots of man-to-man coverage calls. The front seven will be labeled a hybrid package as they toggle between 4-3 and 3-4 looks.

Pettine will have his 4-2 package ready to play against the three-wide receiver packages and won't be afraid to play it all game long. There will be added pressure on corner Leodis McKelvin if Pettine wants to play the same amount of man coverage and blitz as much as he used to with the Jets. McKelvin could be on an island for close to 50 percent of the snaps, and quarterbacks like Tom Brady will target him.

Mario Williams could be the key to how flexible the Bills defense will eventually be. Will Williams stand up and drop occasionally? Will he be a "joker" or a pure pass rusher?

Carolina Panthers

The only real change in Carolina is at offensive coordinator, where Mike Shula takes over for Rob Chudzinski, who became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. The concepts will not change very much but it sounds like Shula trimmed back the play-calling language to make things easier for Cam Newton to up-tempo the offense.

The Panthers got away from their power-run game in the past few years, but there are expectations to feature it again and take some of the run game away from Newton in the open field. Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams and rookie Kenjon Barner should benefit from the re-emphasis on the run game.

Newton has a solid relationship with Shula and the chemistry should be fine. In fact, Newton told me this spring he is excited about the direction the offense is headed. If the run game is truly established, then the vertical passing attack will be available, and Newton throws an exceptional deep ball.

All eyes should be on wide receiver Brandon LaFell, who will get opportunities with Steve Smith on the other side. Last year, LaFell was targeted 76 times with 44 receptions at 15.4 per catch, but had only six receptions over 25 yards. The big-play receptions should go up under Shula.

Chicago Bears

Marc Trestman is the new head coach and has a good reputation as a play caller with an emphasis on the passing game. His new offensive coordinator, Aaron Kromer, has an offensive-line background and brings the concepts of the Saints passing attack with him, which means expect plenty of inside seam routes.

There will be big expectations for tight end Martellus Bennett to play the Jimmy Graham role. Kromer and Trestman worked together in Oakland and have been influenced by Jon Gruden's offensive philosophy. The run game will not be ignored, but Matt Forte should really flourish in the run/pass checks at the line.

The Bears probably want to pick up the pace-of-play execution. Signing LT Jermon Bushrod helps the line but there is still a big challenge up front.

Jay Cutler should be the biggest beneficiary of the Trestman/Kromer offense, which is perfect timing for the quarterback, who is in his contract year. Cutler will have no excuses, because these offensive coaches will feature his arm and give him quick-pass concepts to avoid sacks and picks.

The defense is now under the direction of Mel Tucker, who comes from Jacksonville and is known as a 4-3 coach, which fits the Bears personnel. Tucker needs the line to be a better pass-rushing unit and avoid blitzing.

To get former first-round pick Shea McClellin on the field in non-pass rush situations, Tucker might use some 3-4 looks that could help the defense create some confusion. Keep an eye on how much man coverage Tucker uses compared to the previous staff, which could stress the corners.

Cleveland Browns

The previous staff did the right thing last year in playing as many rookies as possible. Rob Chudzinski now inherits a fairly talented young team.
Norv Turner's track record
Team Offense Rank:
Pre-Turner Offense Rank:
With Turner
Dallas Cowboys 28th (1990) 9th (1991)
Washington Redskins 26th (1993) 17th (1994)
San Diego Chargers 28th (2000) 11th (2001)
Miami Dolphins 21st (2001) 15th (2002)
Oakland Raiders 25th (2003) 17th (2004)
San Francisco 49ers 30th (2005) 26th (2006)
Full Story: Browns should see offensive turnaround under Norv Turner

As solid as Chudzinski is on offense, it appears offensive coordinator Norv Turner will design and call the offense.There will be a solid run game employing all the blocking schemes with execution -- and not a lot of plays -- being the backbone of the package.

Trent Richardson will get 20-plus touches a game in this offense as long as he's healthy, but Turner will be looking for as many deep shots off the run as he can get. Wide receiver Josh Gordon could have a big year in this offense when he gets back from his suspension. Tight end Jordan Cameron is going to get a chance to catch a lot of passes.

Brandon Weeden saw a lot of his passes get blocked last season; Chudzinski and Turner are going to have to figure out how to reduce that number. Turner will use plenty of shotgun and fast passes to get Weeden in a rhythm. Weeden might be the luckiest young quarterback in the league, getting Norv Turner as his mentor.

On defense, Ray Horton takes control, and that means pressure 3-4. He has to simplify the defense and make it easier to understand if he wants solid execution early in the season. Some Cardinals players complained Horton's system was difficult to grasp when he coached at Arizona, but most of that falls on the players, not the coaches.

It will be interesting to see how Horton employs Paul Kruger, Jabaal Sheard and rookie Barkevious Mingo. I could see Horton developing a hybrid defense to get them all on the field by possibly using a two-man defensive line.

Dallas Cowboys

All eyes are on Dallas, where head coach Jason Garrett gave up play-calling duties (or was forced to give up) and handed them over to offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Is Callahan running the Garrett offense, which was pretty effective last year, or is he bringing his own flavor to the package?

The Cowboys need to fix their first-down run game, which was the least-used in the NFL last year. Callahan will surely try and balance up the run/pass ratio, which means DeMarco Murray needs to stay healthy.

It's probable the Cowboys will use a heavy dose of two-tight-end packages with a check-with-me run game, which could take some pressure off the offensive line. How much freedom Tony Romo will have at the line of scrimmage will be an interesting dimension to monitor in the Callahan offense.

The bigger change in Dallas will be the defense. Gone is Rob Ryan and his 3-4 pressure scheme and in comes Monte Kiffin and his 4-3 Tampa 2. Don't be surprised to see a lot less Tampa 2 and a lot more man coverage.

Kiffin has studied what the Seahawks are doing with their 4-3, which has 3-4 principles and lots of man to man. Jason Hatcher could be used in the Red Bryant role at times, so while everyone thinks it's all one-gap penetration up front (like it was when Kiffin had Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice), it might change.

This can be a good defense for Jay Ratliff if he stays healthy at his age, and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will push DeMarcus Ware to new heights in pass rushing. I think this defense is the perfect fit for linebackers Sean Lee and Bruce Carter. No longer will the offensive guards get a clean shot on them like they did in the 3-4 front, and they should both be much more effective run-and-hit guys.

Denver Broncos

The only change in Denver is Adam Gase replacing Mike McCoy as offensive coordinator. McCoy is now San Diego's head coach. Gase is the son-in-law of Saints coach Joe Vitt and now has the privilege of watching Peyton Manning run this offense.

Peyton is in full control of everything from the play calling to the scout-team looks. Gase will do lots of research work to help Manning prepare. Expect Manning to lean on his coordinator between series to make sure the protections are right and to help adjust things they didn't see before.

A friend of mine who worked with Manning a few years ago says, "It's amazing to coach this guy, and he makes you a better coach." Gase is on the verge of a real opportunity.




Believe in the 3 G's
GIRLS, GOLF,GAMBLING not in any particular order.

Old Post 07-11-13 07:22 AM
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