Thursday Night Football and other Notables

I'm Not Going to Say the Knicks are Back

Yet...They're 16-10 and a good possession away from being 17-9 and having a win over the best team in the Eastern Conference. I mean seriously, who are these guys? You couldn't expect them to really have much chemistry through the first ten games of the season, but for them to be clicking and playing as well as they are at this point is the most pleasant surprise I've had in sports since the 2009 Jets playoff run.

Amar'e Stoudemire is as legitimate of an MVP candidate as there is in the NBA this season, and Raymond Felton is really getting the most out of guys who have never sniffed a .500 season. I know that every Knicks piece I've written has been centered around Stoudemire and Felton but these two guys are just such difference makers. And the team will live and die by them, that is, until they get Melo...

Please God...don't allow the 2010 Jets to become the 2007 (and 2008) Mets

If you were to pick up a milk carton in the Tri-state area you may find a picture of the Jets offense on the side of that carton under a bold headline that reads "MISSING." Ok, I know milk cartons haven't done the "missing" thing in years now, but you get my drift. After starting 9-2 and averaging 24 points per game, the Jets have gone 0-2 and scored a total of 9 points against the Patriots and the Dolphins.

They have road games against the Steelers and Bears coming up, before coming home to play the Bills in the season finale. If they don't win either of the next two this team is in serious trouble of not making the playoffs, or backing themselves into a spot due to another teams futility. While I know that the ultimate goal is to make the playoffs anyway you can, it's going to look awful if a team that started 9-2 finished 10-6 with losses against pretty much every good team they face. I got news for you, if you can't beat the good teams in the regular season, you probably won't beat them in the postseason. Get it together Jets.

The World Series has been Decided in December

Cliff Lee's on the Phillies, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez are on the Red Sox, what else do you need to know? While these two teams have had the most successful offseasons so far, not to mention they're already building on stacked rosters, I'm being mightily sarcastic with my headline. I know that I'm a Yankees fan and readers will take that and think I'm being biased, but it is December and they do play the games for a reason. Who expected the Giants to win the World Series a year ago? I mean they weren't even in the playoffs until the final week of the season.

Not to completely shoot down my headline, with the addition of Lee the Phillies now have two of probably the three best starting pitchers in baseball and the Red Sox lineup is probably the scariest in baseball heading into the season. The Phillies offense has also been one of the most productive in baseball since 2008 and the Red Sox have three (maybe four if you include Bucholz) guys who could be aces on just about any team in baseball. New York baseball fans hold your breathe.

Line as of Thursday afternoon, home team in caps

SAN DIEGO (-10) over San Francisco

Two teams that I tend to be wrong on a lot, and two teams that I have little to no confidence picking. Ten points is a lot, but as the Chargers proved last week, they will stomp somebody out (31-0 over the Chiefs, wow). They did however prove the week before that they're very vulnerable against gritty teams (second loss of the season to the Raiders). The Niners aren't exactly gritty, but they do have a good defense, their offense is what scares me. I talked about the Smith quarterback carousel last week, and I don't feel any better heading into a game against the team that gives up the least amount of yards in the NFL. I really want to pick against Norv Turner, but the Chargers still have a playoff spot in sight and the Niners are awful despite wins over the Seahawks and Cardinals in two of their last three (sarcasm, those teams are believe it or not worse than the Niners).

Week 14 Picks

As bad as the two teams playing Thursday night have been, Week 14 kicked off with a bang as the Colts ended their skid with a 30-28 win over the Titans. Kerry Collins had his best game of the season, but more importantly, Peyton Manning didn't throw an interception and the Colts pretty much rolled all game.

Peyton's doing better, but seeing how the Colts didn't cover (damn last second touchdown) Jared is not. In celebration of the Knicks current 7-game winning streak, this weeks picks will be done D'Antoni style (7 words or less)...not to mention the games will be under way in less than an hour. Lets get to it...

(Lines as of Sunday morning, home team in caps)

Oakland (+3.5) over JACKSONVILLE
Raiders are still very much alive.

Cincinnati (+8.5) over PITTSBURGH
Nine points is a lot.

CHICAGO (+3) over New England
Game will be played in blizzard, Pats don't run.

BUFFALO (even) over Cleveland
Don't love Browns without McCoy.

NY Giants (-3) over Minnesota (game played Mon. night in Detroit)
Giants are healthy, Vikings lost home field.

Green Bay (-7) over DETROIT
Pack rolled first time, may kill Stanton.

CAROLINA (+7.5) over Atlanta
Have a hunch that Carolina will play hard.

Tampa Bay (-1) over WASHINGTON
Tampa beats bad teams, Redskins aren't good.

St. Louis (+9.5) over NEW ORLEANS
Saints are hot, but Rams don't lay down.

SAN FRANCISCO (-5) over Seattle
Quarterback carousels generally aren't good, but Seahawks are awful.

NY JETS (-5) over Miami
Jets play better on short weeks.

Denver (-4) over ARIZONA
Won't pick the Cards without huge spread.

Kansas City (+10) over San Diego
Chiefs will run 50 times, how does that lose by 10 or more?

DALLAS (+3.5) over Philadelphia
Like the way Cowboys are playing, like home dogs.

HOUSTON (+3) over Baltimore
I really think the Texans will surprise.


Last Week 9-6 (whimped out on the Monday night game)


Thanks for reading and feel free to post your picks in my comments section. Enjoy the festivities...

Thursday Quick-Hits

How About Them Knicks?

Quick, who's the last Knick to score 30 or more points in 6 straight games? Good ole Willie Naulls did it in seven games back in 1962. That was until Amar'e Stoudemire poured in 34 points (18 in the fourth quarter) Wednesday night as the Knicks extended their win-streak to 6 (and 11 of 12) against the Raptors. Raymond Felton hit an Allan Houston-esque three with 2.7 seconds to go in regulation to give the Knicks the final lead for the night.

The Knicks are 14-9 and are playing their best basketball in nearly a decade. They've had a weak schedule but you can only play the teams that you're scheduled to play, and the Knicks have done a great job of that. Stoudemire was named Eastern Conference player of the week last week, and is on pace to take home the award again this week if the Knicks continue to surge. Award or not, Amar'e teamed with Felton have been the two best players the Knicks have had on a court together since Houston and Latrell Sprewell, and the teams record is indicative of it.

Red Sox Making Major Moves

Yep, my biggest fears are coming to life...I thought this was going to be the year they didn't make major moves. Instead the Red Sox add both Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to not just their already stacked lineup, but to really help bolster the defense. We're talking about two perennial MVP candidates going to beantown.

The Red Sox really were banged up last season, so you're not just adding Crawford and Gonzalez to the mix, Josh Beckett, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are coming back with something to prove. This team has a scary amount of talent, and the loss of Victor Martinez most likely will not hurt this lineup at all. We're not only looking at a threat for this coming season, but we may be looking at professional sports' newest dynasty.

Yankees, it's your move...

Kyrie Irving's Toe

The number one team in the country may be without their number one for the rest of the season. Freshman point guard Kyrie Irving severely injured one of his toes during Saturday's National Championship rematch against Butler, and while the injury was at first thought to be a sprain, full details are yet to be released and the situation looks grim to say the least.

While the amount of time Irving will miss is still undetermined, Coach K seemed very down about the situation after Duke's win over Bradley Wednesday night, and Irving tweeted "situation not looking good and I'm not feeling good...smh worst thing ever." That isn't too encouraging.

What is encouraging is that the Blue Devils still have Nolan Smith, Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins in the backcourt, as well as freshman Tyler Thornton. It's going to be tough playing without one of the best point guards in the nation, but adversity isn't a new theme for Duke or Coach K.

Thursday Night Football!

Indianapolis (-3.5) over TENNESSEE

Wow, who would've thought that this game may be a stinker? With the way these two teams are playing as of late this game is really a toss up, I mean who would've thought that between Kerry Collins and Peyton Manning it would be Manning that's thrown ELEVEN picks in his last three games (all losses). Well I think the bleeding ends tonight. It's Peyton, it's Primetime, and it's the Titans who have lost 5 straight and are just a complete lost cause. The division is still in sight for the Colts, and as banged up as they are, they still have the best quarterback in football (and that's in no way a dig at Tom Brady who I'm well aware picked apart my favorite teams defense last week).

Week 13 Picks

Week 13 started with a bang as Michael Vick rebounded from his tough outing last week to have a monster second half, and carry his Eagles over the Texans on Thursday night. Houston led 24-20 with less than a minute to go in the third, but the fourth quarter was a completely different ball game. Vick threw for 106 yards and a score, and also ran in a short touchdown as the Eagles offense had their way with the Texans.

Eagles 34, Texans 24. Gary Kubiaks job security is not looking too good, and I start the week 0-1.

I know I skipped out on last week’s picks, but I’m back in full effect for Week 13, coming off back-to-back double-digit victory weeks. I’m going to post my picks for Sundays games now, and come back Monday to really weigh in on my Superbowl (that is, until the Jets make it to their date in Dallas in early February).

(Lines as of early Saturday afternoon, home team in caps)

Buffalo (+5.5) over MINNESOTA

This really feels like a stupid pick. The Vikings are hot, and motivated playing for Leslie Frazier, and Sidney Rice is coming back into form. This is also Brett Favre’s final month of his NFL career, unless the Vikes surge and make the playoffs (just kidding). I always find a way to write about why the team I’m picking to lose should win, but the Vikings could be without Adrian Peterson, and the Bills have been playing their tails off. Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for over 250 yards in four of the teams last six games, and running back Fred Jackson has found the end-zone in four straight games. Steve Johnson needs to put last week behind him, and the Bills need to continue doing what they’re doing, and that’s staying in every game. They’re 2-4 since the bye week with a point differential in those six games of +8. Lets go Bills.

Cleveland (+5) over MIAMI

For some odd reason the Dolphins are an awful home team. I’m not overly impressed with the Browns being led by Jake Delhomme (especially after a 1-point squeak-out against the Panthers, Delhomme’s former team and probably the worst team in football). Delhomme threw for no scores and two picks for a 64.6 QB rating week 12, and the Browns really had a good thing going with Colt McCoy. Brandon Marshall is questionable for the game, but Chad Henne is questionable at the quarterback position, and I think the Browns are simply playing better football right now.

Jacksonville (+3) over TENNESSEE

This game is a land mine. I think it’ll either be close, or the Titans will blow them out. There are just too many question marks with the Titans offense and the Jaguars have been so consistent. Best-case scenario for Tennessee is Kerry Collins is ready to go, and then that he doesn’t play awful, which has often been the case with him this season. The Jaguars hung in tough with the Giants last week, but were just overwhelmed by one of the best pass rushes in the league. It all depends which Titans team shows up. If Kenny Britt and Kerry Collins are in top form they look a lot better than they would with Rusty Smith, but the Jags will show up either way, so I gotta go Jacksonville to cover this one.

KANSAS CITY (-8.5) over Denver

I almost had a fourth straight road-dog in this one, for some reason I always want to pick Denver against a large spread, but I tend to lose when I do that. Todd Haley wants this one after refusing to shake Broncos coach Josh McDaniels hand after Denver won their first matchup, but McDaniels is a gamer and will probably have his guys ready in his defense (it’s too bad neither of these guys actually get to step on the field). The Chiefs seem to be flying high after spanking both Arizona and Seattle, and Denvers down and pretty close to out. I think this is the game where the Chiefs really establish themselves and send a message to San Diego that the playoff spot is theirs.

NY GIANTS (-7) over Washington

This is a game that I would love to pick the Redskins in, but insight is going to overrule gut on this one. The Redskins are hurting on both lines of the ball, and the Giants, despite injuries have found a way to still dominate up-front, especially on defense, especially where the Redskins are very, very thin. McNabb seems to play well against the Giants, but the Giants have had the Skins number the last couple of seasons and I expect that to continue on Sunday.

Chicago (-4.5) over DETROIT

Drew Stanton’s starting for the Lions, and I think the Bears are one of the best teams in the NFC right now. The defense has been getting better every week, and Jay Cutler is coming off of one of the best games of his career. I’m sorry Lions, it’s not me, it’s Drew.

GREEN BAY (-9.5) over San Francisco

Brian Westbrook carried the load for the Niners on Monday Night Football, put can he do it against a real defense this week? Same question has to be asked for leader of the new school Troy Smith, who hasn’t played a cold-weather game yet this season. The Packers have passed the eye-ball test so far this year, and need a big win against an underachieving team that has been beaten by every good team they’ve played this season.

New Orleans (-6.5) over CINCINNATI

The Saints are surging and getting healthy at the right time. The Saints have scored 30+ in their last three games, and are playing against a team that gives up 26 points a game (26^th in the NFL). The Bengals look dead while the Saints look very much alive since losing to both the Browns and the Cardinals earlier in the season.

Atlanta (-3) over TAMPA BAY

All the analysts are talking that if there’s a game for them to lose and still be comfortable it’s this game. They’re 9-2 with two games left against Carolina, a game in Seattle, and a home game against the Saints. Everyone knows they’re a better home team than a road team, so why not lose this one? Because they know the Saints are going to catch them if they don’t keep winning, and if they lose this week and somehow let the 12^th man get to them in Seattle, their playoff spot could be Tampa’s playoff spot. As surprising as the Bucs have been this season, they’re 7-0 against teams with losing records, and you guessed it, 0-4 against teams with winning records. That previously mentioned 9-2 record is a very winning record and the Falcons are a very good team, the Bucs are still at least a year away.

Oakland (+13) over SAN DIEGO

The Chargers want to make me pay for never picking them, so they’re going to keep covering on these games where they’re given outlandish point spreads. I don’t think the Raiders are bad enough to lose by two scores to the Chargers, and I don’t think the Chargers are going to win out, which is what they’re going to have to do if they want to make the playoffs. I still think they’ll beat the Raiders, but not by 13 or more.

SEATTLE (-5) over Carolina

And here’s your stinker. Matt Hasselbeck has had two 100+ QB ratings in three of his last games and he gets his top receiver in Mike Williams back to go against…THE WORST TEAM IN THE NFL. Carolina’s awful, they’re excited to get their struggling rookie quarterback back. I hope this game turns into a shootout, but I expect it’s a snooze-fest unless you’re a diehard Seahawks or Panthers fan, in which case, I’m very sorry.

St. Louis (-3.5) over ARIZONA

I’m supposed to believe that the Cardinals are going to come back and defend their home turf after the way they performed on Monday night, and the way their “leader” performed afterwards? They have a terrible quarterback and the Rams have an improving defense, not to mention a legitimate leader in probably Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford. The Rams haven’t won five games in a season since 2006, and I expect them to get to six sooner rather than later.

Dallas (+5) over INDIANAPOLIS

This is a really tough game. The Colts 4-1 home record is the most impressive number working in their favor, definitely more impressive than Peyton Mannings seven interceptions over the last two games. Manning is still one of the greats, but this season he’s looking human working with a less than a legitimate NFL offense. The Cowboys defense is fast and should play well in the dome. It’s hard to imagine the Colts not taking advantage of their competitive division stance, but this team is looking more vulnerable every week, and the Cowboys are playing their best football of the season.

BALTIMORE (-3) over Pittsburgh

Since entering the league in 2004, the Steelers are 7-2 against the Ravens in games Ben Roethlisberger has played in, and 0-4 in games he hasn’t, including the Ravens 17-14 win week 4. The big story out of Pittsburgh this week was that Roethlisberger was in a walking boot nursing a sprained right foot. He’s supposed to play Sunday, but the Steelers offense hasn’t excelled the way they’re capable of and I don’t know if they’ll be at their best with a limping quarterback. I like the Ravens to end Big Bens 5-game win streak over them.

Lots of good games, and don’t forget the Monday Night Megabowl! I’m not as excited as my words may indicate, but I’ll be back with more on Monday. Enjoy…

LeBron's Last Seven Years...in a 48-minute Nutshell

Check out these two stat lines:

38 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 0 turnovers

28 points, 9 assists, 13 rebounds, 11 turnovers

Guess which one was LeBron James line and guess which one belongs to that of the Cavaliers starting five. And you still need to rationalize why he left?

Not only did LeBron outscore his former teams starters in his return to Cleveland on Thursday night, he almost outscored the entire team in the third quarter alone (24-25). This was the screaming explanation for why LeBron is in Miami this season and not Cleveland (as well as Dwyane Wade’s 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists).

The Cavs just stink, with or without LeBron. This was their Superbowl, and they showed up in the same capacity as these guys did for all of the LeBron led playoff runs over the past few years. Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison, this was your chance to make LeBron pay for thinking he could do better without you, and the gruesome twosome combines for 22 points on 6 for 18 shooting from the floor…sounds like a Cavs playoff game to me.

I’m not even writing this to really shout out LeBron’s performance, obviously he was going to come out and play incredible, he’s the best player in the league. I’m writing this to really point out why LeBron left. The way the Cavs played last night is how they played in so many big games during the Cavs run of near supremacy in the Eastern Conference.

Just think if LeBron was still on the Cavs. LeBron drops 38 points and 8 assists, while his two other best players put up underwhelming performances, and a guy off the bench gets hot to help put the Cavs over the top (Boobie Gibson put in 21). Why would LeBron waste however many more years playing with these guys when he could play with Dwyane Wade? Wade almost put up a triple-double in the biggest game of his teammates season, and afterwards said the Heat were exceptionally focused to back up their teammate. LeBron’s former teammates never backed him up, and although he always shared the ball and tried to get the most out of them, he knew he couldn’t win with those guys on his side.

The point I’m trying to convey is that no great player has ever done it by himself. Jordan needed Pippen, Olajuwon needed Jordan (to retire), and don’t even get me going on Kobe. LeBron came so close with these goons that make up the Cavs roster, and while it would’ve been great to see him be the exception to the rule and really win on his own, the NBA has too many good teams for that to happen anytime soon and LeBron knew it.

There’s still no denying that he went about leaving the wrong way, and Cleveland’s ill-will toward him is understandable, but him leaving Cleveland for Miami is the most understandable factor in this equation. Not that one game can really make sense of everything, but Thursday nights reunion went the way it should have. And if you think there’s any kind of LeBron/Cavs rivalry you are sadly mistaken.

Thursday Night Picks/Thoughts

Houston (+8) over PHILADELPHIA

I’m taking the spread over the matchup here. Yes I think the Eagles are the better team than the Texans, especially considering how explosive the Eagles are when they have the ball and how inefficient the Texans are on defense. The Texans defense did look better against a depleted Titans offense (really quickly, who played quarterback for them last week? Bet you didn’t answer that one right), and I think it was the win they needed to get back on track and at least compete for the rest of the season. Hopefully we have a good game, but if we don’t there’s always…

The Return of the Evil Empire!

Okay, so LeBron isn’t exactly an empire and the Cavs don’t really matter since said evilness took his talents to South Beach, but this is probably the most anticipated game of the early NBA season. The Cavs went from being six point favorites to six point underdogs in the matter of a day, and I’m going to go with the masses and say Miami will rout them tonight.

Yes the game is being played in Cleveland, yes there is extra security at the Q tonight, but the three best players on the court will be wearing road jerseys and you can give Ramon Sessions all of the support and momentum in the world, but he’s still Ramon Sessions, not LeBron James.

To put this in perspective, LeBron should have let the organization know he wasn’t returning before letting everyone else in the world know, but he gave more to Cleveland than anyone ever has in the past. I’d be really upset if I was a Cavs fan because it’s like when the girl you’re reaching for and are successfully dating decides she’s had enough and can do better. It’s very hard to let go of the best thing you’ve ever had, but as a human being you have to understand that the other human being has needs which you just cannot fulfill.

Whether or not he grew up near Cleveland, the Cavaliers organization had seven years to get LeBron another star player and the best they could do was Mo Williams, an almost 40-year old Shaq, and Antawn Jamison for less than half of a season. If LeBron didn’t put up his average 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists on a given night there wasn’t anyone else carrying the load.

I’m rooting for Miami tonight, and I’d LOVE to see LeBron drop 60.

Quick Hits going into December

I'm back from my little Thanksgiving hiatus, and while I'm thankful for the holidays, I'm also very thankful for the 9-2 New York Football Jets, and the 10-9 (they're over .500 baby!) New York Knicks!

Here are a few things that have really caught my attention recently...

Amar’e is in another league than David Lee

The Knicks have won seven of eight games and are a game above .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2004. While I know it’s pathetic to make a big to do about being a game above an even record at just the end of November, it’s exciting that the three best players on the team are new additions, and that the team seems to be improving their chemistry, and gaining confidence at the same time.

Amar’e Stoudemire, the teams coveted free agent acquisition, has scored 37 and 35 points over in the teams last two games. I hate to keep going back to Amar’e’s predecessor David Lee, but Lee has never in his career had back-to-back 30-point games. Stoudemire has also gotten to the free-throw line at least 10 times in four of the teams last six games. He’s not the best big in the league, but he’s the type of player the Knicks have been starving for since Patrick Ewing deteriorated. He gets to the basket, blocks shots, can play with power and finesse, but most importantly, he possesses the confidence to lead his team with his abilities. He makes big plays on both sides of the court, and while he isn’t going to be able to shut down a Brook Lopez, he will go tit-for-tat with him and not disappear in big games.

Although Stoudemire’s playing great, Raymond Felton’s contributions to the team cannot be overlooked as one of the factors behind the Knicks early success. Felton’s always looking to push the ball, plays hard-nosed defense, and has an ability to take over a game that this team hasn’t had in a point guard…in a really long time. Marbury had the ability to do it, but he didn’t do it with the Knicks the way he did with other teams. When the offense has struggled, Felton has often times been the one to put them on his back with his ability to get to the basket and finish in traffic with a scoop or a tear-drop, but has also sparked the offense with his quick first step and much improved jumper.

Felton and Stoudemire have really embraced their role as team captains, but the other guy that I see making the biggest impact on the team is rookie second round pick Landry Fields. I recognize that both Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari may be more talented, and maybe even more important to the team than Fields, but without Fields hustle and intensity on both ends of the court, we’d be looking at less second-chance points and less defensive efficiency. Fields impact on the game is immeasurable. All I know is that anytime I see him on the court he’s staying in front of his man on defense, taking smart shots on offense, and is always near the ball on rebounds regardless of who’s shooting the ball.

I’m not going to get ahead of myself by saying the Knicks have turned the page, because they really haven’t by any means. It’s very encouraging that they came back from a six game losing streak to win seven of their next eight, and it’s great to see them look like they’re clicking, really on both ends of the court. They have a tough schedule in December, and I think we’ll really get an idea of what this team is made of over the next several weeks.

These Big East guards can ball!

It shouldn’t be a secret, but the Big East really has a talented crop of guards this year. Let’s start with the Player of the Year to this point in Kemba Walker. Not only is Walker leading the nation in scoring with 30 points per game, but he led the unranked Huskies to upsets over ranked Michigan State and ranked Kentucky last week combining for 59 points in the two games. Needless to say UConn isn’t unranked anymore, but Walkers basically outscoring his teammates and is doing everything he can to get UConn back on the map after a disappointing season in 2010.

Walker isn’t the only Big East guard to not only vastly improve himself, but improve his team. Austin Freeman has put up back-to-back 30 point games as his #14 Hoyas have started the season 7-0 including road wins over NC State and #8 Missouri. Freeman has knocked down 13 threes in his last two games and he and battery mate Chris Wright make up one of the nations best backcourts.

While Walker and Freeman have been complete studs, don’t forget about Pitt’s Ashton Gibbs, the Corey’s (Fisher and Stokes) in Villanova, and I still see you Jeremy Hazell (Harlem stand up!). Since this may be the most attention he gets all season, the senior has averaged over 20 points per game for Seton Hall since his sophomore season. You won’t hear much about him as he’s stuck at the bottom of the Big East, but so far Hazell is shooting a career best from the field, down town included, and led the team to wins over Cornell and Alabama before breaking his wrist and missing the teams last three games.

North Carolina looks NIT bound…again

It’s very early to say this, and I’m not saying this to beat anybody to the punch, but I don’t think North Carolina is considerably better than they were last year. Harrison Barnes looks like a complete stud, he’s absolutely the real deal, and sophomore John Henson has shown signs of improvement, but teams don’t win because they have good forwards. Freshman guard Reggie Bullock may turn out to be solid, but between Larry Drew II and Dexter Strickland I just don’t see how this team is going to compete…at all. Those two guards are slow, they turn the ball over in transition at an alarming rate, and neither of them has any scoring abilities.

I can’t see how a Roy Williams coached team could have back-to-back disappointing seasons, but I just can’t see how this team will be competitive. It is still very early, and there’s lots of talent on the team. It’ll be interesting to see what Roy can do with this team this year.

This Derek Jeter mess needs to be cleaned up immediately

I’m not even saying the Yankees need to change their offer to the Captain, I’m just saying one way or another, this needs to end. I don’t know if this is the media digging for everything they can so they can make more of a story of the situation and sell newspapers, or if Jeter really feels he deserves A-Rod money and the Steinbrenners don’t want to pay him for what he has meant to the franchise. It really is a difficult situation, and as a Yankees fan, I really have to side with my team.

We saw Bernie Williams get old in pinstripes not too long ago, and as much as he meant to the team, you don’t want a guy who’s a shell of the all-star he was rotting away in your lineup and stinking up your teams defense. Not to say that Jeter isn’t the player he was in 2009 when he should have been named American League MVP, but he’s only getting older and his mobility isn’t going to get better. I hope Jeter continues to be the consummate professional he’s been since he donned the pinstripes and that he accepts his still overpaid contract (Jonny Damon had a better season in 2009 offensively than Jeter did in 2010, and the Yankees wouldn’t even offer Damon seven million a year). Either get Jeter what he wants, or move forward and start the Hanley countdown. One way or another, this has to end soon…

And lastly…The weeks hottest position in all of sports: NFL Wide Receiver!

Not only did Andre Johnson become the first wide receiver ever to notch 60 receptions in each of his first eight seasons this past Sunday, he also notched a fourth-quarter knock-out of Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan. The fight didn’t seem to frazzle Johnson’s counterpart, but Johnson wasn’t the first receiver to show frustration with Finnegans defensive tactics, and as a guy who goes out and lets his play do the talking week in and week out, its good to see him put his foot down and lay a beating on a guy who looks like Pauly D from the Jersey Shore.

Andre wasn’t the only Johnson to make waves Week 12. Let me take you back to Buffalo real quick, 10:38 to go in overtime, the Bills have 1^st and 10 at the Steelers 40, Fitzpatrick steps back, fires it into the endzone to a wide open Steve Johnson, he has Ike Taylor beat and even the safety Ryan Clark won’t catch him, over his shoulder, and he drops it! Ok, I know you all heard about it by now, even God heard about it via Johnson’s twitter account. Let it go buddy, you’ve had an unbelievable season for a 2-9 team, and things can only get better (hell, they can’t get worse).

From the good, to the bad, to the absolute ugly. Ok, I’m reaching here, but I wouldn’t want to be Early Doucet after Derek Anderson’s Monday night freak out. Not as if Anderson didn’t get everything out in his postgame tantrum, but for him to name-drop Doucet and add him as a catalyst to the walking disaster that has become Derek Anderson/the Arizona Cardinals just isn’t fair. You didn’t do it, but your name has been associated with the blame. Find new friends Early, better yet, find a new quarterback.