360 Sports Network

Horizon League Tournament Preview

2012-02-26T15:57:00.000-05:00

The Horizon League is wide open for claiming the automatic bid. Valparaiso has the edge with the home court advantage and two great foreigner forwards, but you can never count out the Butler Bulldogs. Coach Stevens might need four straight wins to get his team to the dance, though. Could Youngstown State make some noise on the road to a tournament berth? Any team could claim the Horizon League title this year.

Big South Conference Tournament Preview

2012-02-26T15:49:00.001-05:00

The 2012 Big South Conference Tournament begins on Monday, February 27. UNC-Asheville is the favorite to clinch the automatic berth, ranking 6th in the country in points per game. Can Charleston Southern or Coastal Carolina make a run to stop the Bulldogs? Or will Asheville be dancing again?

Daytona Weekend - Issues.

2012-02-25T13:17:00.001-05:00

NASCAR. This weekend provides excitement of going to Daytona. It's the first weekend of the NASCAR schedule. It's also the biggest race on the schedule. The Daytona 500 kicks off the NASCAR schedule each year, and other than the name, to me there is very little good that comes out of this weekend. I have lots of issues with NASCAR in general right now, but the opening weekend especially just really, for lack of a better phrase, grinds my gears.

First, start with the Nationwide Series race. This series irritates me throughout the entire series, but becomes even more of an irritant for me to start the year. The Nationwide Series is a developmental series for drivers to prove their worth and make it to the big leagues of the Sprint Cup Series. So why is it that there are more seasoned Sprint Cup racers in the Nationwide Series this week than developmental drivers? Why is Tony Stewart, a 15 year NASCAR veteran and defending Sprint Cup champion, still racing in the Nationwide Series? He has an unfair advantage of experience in a series that is designed for development, and he has won four straight Nationwide season openers at Daytona. He's not alone in racing where he doesn't belong. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, and the Busch brothers also join in the Nationwide race. That'd be like the entire New York Yankees starting lineup going down to play in the minors for a week while still playing at Yankee Stadium. How can you develop new and better drivers when they some don't even get the chance to make the field due to seasoned veterans taking up spots?

Continuing with the Nationwide Series, Danica Patrick won the pole for today's race in Daytona. All throughout the qualifying process, the announcers did not make one mention of her skills behind the wheel. They kept making excuses as to why she ended up the fastest. Okay, I do admit that it is possible a small gust of wind could have helped her, but at least make some mention of the quality of racer that she is? Announcers and most fans are expecting her to get "run over" to start the race today. I hope she smokes 'em.

Now, on to the Daytona 500. For such a prestigious race, the most important on the schedule, I find it very disappointing that it is a race that cannot be won on driving skill any more. These restrictor plate races do nothing for me, as the result is two cars pushing each other around the track. You need somebody to push you to go fast. At the end of the race last year, the winner of the race (rookie Trevor Bayne, making his second career start) was announced as the winner by announcers with still well over a half mile to go because there was no way for somebody to pass him. "It's over" they said, with still a huge amount of track left. Others were less than a car length behind him, but because of the aerodynamically unsound properties of a stock car, there was no competition to the finish line. ...At least he wasn't intentionally wrecked, which is seen all too often. But still, just disappointing finish when cars run so close together for 500 miles but are unable to pass each other on their own.

With no-names like Bayne winning the most prestigious race on the schedule, only due to the fact that he was pushed to the front and nobody can pass him back on their own, to me there is nothing prestigious about this race anymore. It's about finding a buddy and hoping he (or she) will push you to the end. I don't agree with this style of racing. But maybe that's just me.

I tried watching this dual-drafting junk last year, and I lasted about five laps before turning it off. To me, I see no skill being demonstrated by being pushed to the finish line. Luckily, restrictor plates only exist for a couple of races each year. Even as such, lack of aerodynamics means it's nearly impossible to pass the car in front of you. That means racers like Tony Stewart will "wreck my mother" to win a race, to win a championship. That's not racing. It's high-speed bumper cars. Just not my cup of tea.

NFL Free Agency : Running Backs

2012-02-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ground and pound...sounds kind of classless, but in the NFL, it means eating up the play clock, getting yardage and grabbing solid control of the offense and game in general. There are some decent players at the running back position, others who have some injury questions and some team-focus questions. Let's take a look at free agent running backs in the NFL!

Ray Rice (RB - BAL) averaged 24.7 utilizations for 129.25 yards from scrimmage and 0.94 TDs in 16 games in 2011. That's a lot of punishment...but he is in his prime, has no huge track record of injury, nor down-time and just getting better. This means, my fantasy football friends, that Ray Rice will be franchised, will then sign a long-term deal (I'm envisioning 4-5 years, if not more) as the Baltimore Ravens expected to see more AFCC games.

Marshawn Lynch (RB - SEA) was a madman last season for the Seattle Seahawks. Averaging 80 yards a game, with 12 touchdowns on the ground, he became many weeks of the only offense that the Seahawks were looking at. This leads me to believe he gets resigned or tagged.

What is standing in his way of receiving some big bucks, or possibly even seeing the franchise tag, lays in the fact the Seahawks are more concerned with resigning Red Bryant (DE - SEA), the teams leading tackler the past three seasons, to a long-term deal, including using the franchise tag is necessary. Keep an eye who gets resigned and who doesn't, as Lynch is Seattle's backbone on offense.

Ben Tate (RB - HOU) is an appealing running back to quite a few teams. While rushing for a little under 1000 yards in 2011 in the NFL season, and 5 yards per carry as serving as the backup running back for the Houston Texans behind Arian Foster, he really looks to become a starting running back on an NFL roster this upcoming season. The Texans could also be looking for a 3rd round pick for Ben Tate, as Tate will only count for $500,000 against the cap over the next two years.

I am thinking offers will come in from the Jets and the Broncos initially, but look for the Buccaneers to grab a healthy running back in their rebuilding process of that offense.

Matt Forte (RB - CHI) has been fairly public about his contract situation and his desire to be resigned, long-term to the Chicago Bears. However, the Bears have been fairly reluctant to do just that, while Forte has been a solid offensive threat in the past few seasons.

Matt Forte has average 998 yards and 4 touchdowns over the past three seasons, while also grabbing 500 yards and one touchdowns on average in those three seasons. These type of stats, the all-around effect of a running back, makes him a primary target for a franchise tag, which is what most reports out of Chicago are stating.

Rashard Mendenhall (RB - PIT) wasn't initially on my list of projections, but you never know what will happen. Right now, the newest reports are saying he could miss all of the 2012 NFL season due to an ACL tear suffered during the regular season.

In the past 3 seasons, Rashard Mendenhall has averaged 1120 yards and 10 touchdowns per season. These are fairly attractive stats to teams...but then you have the flip-side. From a broken leg and ACL tear, to controversial stances and public tweeting about 9/11. Combine these together, and if he is fully recovered for this season and has a solid year, the Steelers may elect to trade or release him.

Michael Bush (RB - OAK) is in a good position, unless he wants to be an Oakland Raider in 2012. Last season, Michael Bush developed into a solid starting running back, going 977 on 256 rushes for 7 touchdowns, with 8 touchdowns in the previous season. He also saw 37 receptions for 418 yards last year.

However, with Darren McFadden already in the backfield, a $7.7 million price tag for a franchise designation for a backup running back doesn't equate. Look for him to potentially find greater pastures elsewhere, unless Oakland smartens up, and decides a 4 year contract isn't so bad for someone that will produce.

Peyton Hillis (RB - CLE) may have outlived his time in Cleveland. From his ability to hire sports agents who make his medical decisions for him, to him deciding to air contract frustrations during a losing streak, Hillis may have played his last down as a Brown.

Teams in need of Running Backs: New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos

Teams in need of Running Back Depth or help: Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Free Agency : Quarterbacks

2012-02-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Hey all in the fantasy football world, how did the past year treat you? Well, no more time to look at slight losses and cry in taking third or second place in your leagues because you just couldn't fire the trigger to grab that free agent we had talked about for weeks and weeks and weeks...

Instead, let's take a look at some notable names in the upcoming 2012 NFL and Fantasy Football Season. We're going to take a look position by position, including some defensive analysis, as well as wrapping things up with a check as to what each team really needs, in both free agency and in the upcoming NFL draft.

Today, we take a look at quarterbacks. Yes, those leaders of the grunts, the shouters and play-makers...and in some cases, those injury-prone jerks who your team, for some reason, can't live without.

Alex Smith (QB - SF) has not been the biggest factor on the field for the San Francisco 49ers; at least not the most positive. Looking back at his first 5 seasons in the NFL has been more about seeing mediocrity, rather than any type of stardom. However, with a new coach, in Jim Harbaugh, comes a new version of everything. Before this season, Alex Smith averaged only 175 yards a game, less than 1 touchdown and at least one interception per game. But this season? He averaged 190 yards, 1.1 touchdowns and only one interception per 3 games.

Any teams interested in Alex Smith need to keep their public calls in check. Alex Smith and Jim Harbaugh have a great relationship, and from what sources are saying, his resigning as a 49er for the next 4+ years is evident.

Matt Flynn (QB - GB) hasn't seen a lot of action at quarterback in the NFL. As a Green Bay Packers quarterback, though, he has made the most of his opportunites behind Aaron Rodgers. In 12 starts in the last two seasons, he threw for 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in very undesirable starts, sometimes taking over mid-game from Rodgers.

Matt Flynn, according to many reports, is expected to land Florida, and become a Miami Dolphin before the draft. You may even see Washington make an offer, just to get their feet wet in the race.

Peyton Manning (QB - IND) is a player, that while not considered an UFA, nor released, the Indianapolis Colts are entertaining offers, and some from unusual places, like Houston, like Seattle. I don't know how the Colts are going to handle Manning, but I do know the number one draft spot in the NFL this year is owned by the Colts, and a quarterback WILL be taken with the #1 pick.

Colt McCoy (QB - CLE) has seen better days before the NFL. He has only averaged 200 passing yards and a touchdown to interception ratio of 10:10. These poor stats have been blamed on plenty of things, from horrible direction in his rookie campaign, to bad coaching, to a poor receiving corps. However, this is the same team that played with Tim Couch, and this feels just like that situation...one in which Robert Griffin III will become the new starting quartberack for the Browns after they trade up to nab him.

Mark Sanchez (QB - NYJ) is another quarterback that has seen many, many better days than those experienced in the 2011 NFL season. Between the public feuding with starting Wide Receiver Santonion Holmes, to other negative comments by teammates, both in public arenas and private...well, then there were the stats.

When you look at the whole season, an average of almost 290 yards per game and a touchdown to interception ratio of 26:18, things didn't look too bad. However, half of his games last NFL season, Sanchez threw for less than 200 yards. His touchdowns were also riding a roller coaster, with some weeks connecting 3 times, and others seeing the end zone only 1, if any (yes, he even registered zero touchdown games last year).

Christian Ponder (QB - MIN) had a typical rookie outting last year, when he took over for the aged Donovan McNabb midseason, throwing 158 of 291 for 1853 yards and a touchdown to interception ratio of 13:13. However, the big hit to Ponder's ability to maintain his starting quarterback status lies in the fact that the Minnesota Vikings hold the #3 spot in this year's draft. And, from my experience and a lot of opinions around the NFL, if Andrew Luck (if the Colts don't grab him) or Robert Griffin III (if the Cleveland Browns don't get him somehow) is available, Christian Ponder would be seeing more of the pine, or be looking to be released or traded.

Jason Campbell (QB - OAK) and Drew Brees (QB - NO) are both quarterbacks with different situations on their teams. However, what is similar, is that both teams want to secure these quarterbacks, so you will see their return for the 2012 NFL season.

Teams in need of quarterbacks: Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns

Teams that might be looking for more quarterback help from a release or trade: Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars

Could the "chosen one" return home?

2012-02-19T19:31:00.006-05:00

Lebron James rocked media headlines this week when he said he wouldn't rule out a return to Cleveland in the future. Most Cavalier fans I talked to said they don't want him back. Now I can understand why they wouldn't accept him back but let's be honest here. Let's say if the Cavs continue to have losing seasons and down the road it turns out the Lebron is genuine in his return, would you REALLY not want him back? He may not have won a title during his Cleveland tenure but he can at least deliver winning seasons and playoff appearances. It would bee up to fans to decide if they would want more continuous losing seasons or Lebron. I would take Lebron back in a heart beat, but then again I'm not a Cleveland guy so I may not understand the hatred for him. Yes he embarrassed the City and left, but everyone acts like he assaulted one of their family members or something. The NBA is business and people shouldn't take what happens in it personally. People need to grow up and swallow their pride, Lebron is going to be the NBA MVP and now that Kobe is aging he is gonna be hands down the best player in the NBA. So fans should accept Lebron back because he might be their only shot at ever getting close to a championship, not just in basketball but in any sport. Personally I would take the winning seasons and best player in the NBA over losing seasons and being a bottom dweller in the NBA but hey that's just me I guess.

By Adrian Wojnarowski from Yahoo Sports

LeBron James came to Cleveland with an unmistakable mission this week, the beginning of a campaign to soften the fans and ownership on his desire to return to the Cavaliers in 2014. Free agency is forever on his mind, and James is determined to make his hometown want him as much as he wants it again.
This was no accident, no misspeaking, nothing out of context. Before mentioning Thursday his openness to playing in Cleveland again, James months ago had an emissary or two carry that message to the Cavaliers’ front office, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. His camp wanted the message delivered to owner Dan Gilbert, sources said, but so far, the response has been silence.

The Heat play the Cavaliers on Friday night in Cleveland, and yes, LeBron has manufactured the drama of his return again. James can’t opt out of his contract until after the 2013-2014 season, but he understands that the Cavaliers would have to make a decision to hold back on their rebuild, preserve cap space, and wait on him all over again. He has to convince Gilbert to make the leap of faith, and that includes first working over the fans.

Of his return, James said: “I think it would be great. It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. … I’m here as a Miami Heat player, and I’m happy where I am now, but I don’t rule that out in no sense.

“And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me.”

And then, Friday morning, James tried to play the other side: “The fans of Miami shouldn’t be worried about anything at this point.

At this point. Make no mistake: James will need to make this easy for Gilbert, make it a public mandate. It promises to be a delicate dance for Gilbert. After all that, how do you welcome him back. And, well, how do you tell that talent, that kind of winning and profit, no?

“He has started to lay the groundwork, and he’s waiting to see what Dan Gilbert’s reaction to it is,” one league source with direct knowledge told Yahoo! Sports.

Here we go again, yes. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reported a month ago that James had expressed unhappiness in Miami, and that a return was on his mind. Different dynamics are working here too. James loves to be in perpetual recruitment, always wanting to be wanted. LeBron is the MVP of the NBA this season, and yet, he isn’t the story. And he likes to be the story. In the middle of Linsanity, James made a bid for some bold headlines – and that worked. It always works for him.

James’ doubts on his choice of Miami started as soon as his cable television show ended July 8, 2010, sources said, and it wasn’t until Gilbert released that hellacious public statement that James knew fully that he would leave Cleveland behind. Cleveland’s reaction still haunts him, and he never wanted to be hated there.

Those who know Heat president Pat Riley believe he has to be livid with the past 24 hours, because loyalty is everything to him. The Heat stood with James through the public evisceration of a season, the NBA Finals collapse, and, with three more trips to the playoffs under this contract still awaiting him, it is beyond belief James is publicly discussing his next stop in free agency.

James’ camp hasn’t heard a word out of Gilbert, nor will they. Under NBA tampering rules, Gilbert isn’t allowed to engage them on the matter. Gilbert hired a private law firm and spent several hundred thousand dollars to investigate what he believed to be tampering by Riley and the Heat when James was a Cavalier. He never made any of those findings – if there were any – public, or turned them over to the league office.

Gilbert hasn’t bothered to weigh the pros and cons of such a historic reconciliation, sources said, largely because it’s well over two years away. Things change. How James feels tomorrow could be entirely different than how he feels today. Within the Heat, they have to wonder about his investment with them, his commitment. As one league executive briefed on this matter said, “At least with Cleveland, this didn’t start until the last year, or year and a half. He has a long way to go there. “

Whatever his desire to win championships, LeBron James lives for the recruitment, lives to be wanted elsewhere. That never changes, and it promises to start the hysteria to 2014 free agency all over again. LeBron James comes home on Friday, and yes, he may yet come home again for good.

Contender or Pretender?

2012-02-19T13:20:00.002-05:00

Only three weeks separate us from Selection Sunday, and with that the debates begin of who will make the big run to the Final Four. Who are the contenders and who are the pretenders? Let the debate begin! Agree or disagree? Let your voice be heard!

There is still lots to be learned in the last two weeks of the regular season and the conference tournaments. We will analyze each conference in the near future as the tournament field begins to fill! Stay tuned to 3SN for the latest college hoops updates! Now, for who we can count on and who we cannot:

#1 Kentucky - CONTENDER - One loss on a buzzer beater at Indiana this year. Nobody is playing better than the Calipari Crew right now. A shut down defense and a diverse offense will make UK a tough out in the tournament.

#2 Syracuse - PRETENDER - Yes, this may come as a shock to say a one-loss team from the Big East is a pretender, but I'm willing to do it. They lost to Notre Dame, should have lost at home to West Virginia, and has needed extra time to win their last couple of conference games. Boeheim's team just doesn't look in sync lately, and it will show come tournament time. They're the type of team that could get a tough early matchup against an outside-shooting mid-major, and that 2-3 zone is then obsolete.

#3 Missouri - CONTENDER - 80 points per game, they can score with anybody. Their two losses came on the road against K-State and OK-State, two teams that play scrappy ball. Here's the deal: The Tigers shoot over 50% from the field. That's a recipe for success. They'll be in the tournament for a few weekends.

#4 Kansas - CONTENDER - Keep an eye on the matchup vs. Mizzou next week. That might tell us which of these two teams is the real contender. If Missouri sweeps the season series, then I might have to say watch for an earlier-than-anticipated exit for Kansas. They find a way to win in March, though, so they are a contender for now.

#5 Duke - PRETENDER - Yes the beat #5 UNC at Chapel Hill. But they did it with a buzzer beater. I look at their horrible loss to Ohio State, and even more I look at their losses at Cameron Indoor against Florida State and Miami as the reasons why Duke is a pretender. If you can't win at home, Cameron Indoor of all places, against these teams, then I cannot take you far in the tournament. They rely too much on the outside shot (Duke normally does) this year, and they just are not shooting it well.

#6 Ohio State - PRETENDER - The Buckeyes have scored points galore this year...until the last week. Jared Sullinger isn't getting fouls called every time he touches the ball anymore and that's hurting their ability to put points on the board. Averaging over 75 points per game, OSU only put up 48 against the Spartans and 51 against the Wolverines. Inconsistency hurts, and teams now know what to do to cause problems for the Buckeyes.

#7 Michigan State - CONTENDER - Two words: Tom Izzo. Five Final Four appearances since 1999 tells you all you need to know about the Spartans chances. Keith Appling and Draymond Green run the show for MSU, but watch out for a freshman Branden Dawson to make some noise down the stretch. High scoring or low, Izzo's bunch finds a way to "survive and advance."

#8 North Carolina - CONTENDER - Really not much to say about the Tar Heels. Three of their last four games are on the road, including the finale at Duke. If they lose two of those four, move UNC to the pretender category.

#9 Baylor - PRETENDER - Until yesterday, Baylor's four losses were against Missouri and Kansas. At first it seemed like they just couldn't win against the top teams. Now they lost to K-State in a game where they just looked terrible from start to finish. You cannot trust Baylor to go far the way they are playing right now.

#10 GTown - PRETENDER - The Hoyas rank 123rd in points per game. Their advantage is their height, but they rank 81st in the country in rebounds per game. Numbers never lie. They always are in danger of a first (now "second") round upset because a small, scrappy team can easily counteract the big men of GTown. I don't see that being any different this year.

#11 UNLV / #13 San Diego State - PRETENDERS - Neither of these two Mountain West teams will do anything. UNLV has lost three of their last four games, their only win coming against SD State, who now has lost three straight. They're declining at the wrong time, and neither has a single, big-name player who can take over a game if needed. Honestly, the true contender out of the conference would be New Mexico, who is playing the best right now.

#12 Marqette - CONTENDER - I'm normally not a Marquette fan come tournament time, but the way they are playing this year is just a little different for some reason. They're spreading the ball around and are staying under the radar. If they make a decent run in the Big East Tournament they can end up with a 3-seed and possibly have a smooth road to the elite eight or beyond! Johnson-Odom is playing too well right now to ignore Marquette.

#16 Murray State - CONTENDER - We can't forget to mention the one-loss team who lasted the longest before losing the goose egg. Isaiah Canaan could become the newest household name if he keeps playing like he is right now. Steph Curry who? Depending on the Racers' matchups, they could make a strong run in the dance. They will probably only end up as a #5 or #6 though, so it is going to be tough for them to get it done. But stranger things have happened, especially in recent memory! Don't count out the Racers.

Randy Moss Wants One More Chance

2012-02-13T10:54:00.002-05:00

Randy Moss announced on his ustream that he is going to attempt to return to the NFL. Key word "attempt". You all know Randy Moss is my favorite athlete but i just cant see a team taking a chance on him. He is 35 years old and has been out of football for a year. He says he can still run a 4.3 40 but I dont know how much I believe that. Lets see if he still does have "it" then there could be a few teams that can use his talents but I still think the best fit for him is the Patriots and I don't think they want to deal with him any more. I was estatic to hear about this at first but then I realized that this isnt the Moss of 2007 and sometimes you got to just know when to call it quits. I hope BADLY that I am wrong and he comes back to rip the NFL up.

Will Brinson -sportsline.com

There's really nothing more surprising in life than finding yourself watching Randy Moss do a live USTREAM chat at 10:00 a.m. on a Monday morning. Except for this: Randy Moss announcing that he wants to return to the NFL while chatting live with fans on USTREAM.

"I wanna play football," Moss said Monday morning. "Your boy is going to come back here and play some football, so I'm really excited. I had some things I had to adjust in my life."

It just so happens that Monday is Moss' birthday, so he gave back to fans by hopping on the Internet and holding a live chat. He seemed genuinely surprised by the fact that 100-plus people were watching around 9:45 a.m. ET, but was straight-up shocked when the number swelled to over 500 by the end of the hour, thanks to various people like our own Mike Freeman sending out links on Twitter.

Moss' live chat was both bizarre and entertaining. At one point, he pulled out a bag filled with all the hair he recently cut off and said it smells like "sauerkraut."

But, again, the most important thing is that Moss said he's coming back to football in 2012. Or, at least, wants to come back to football. There are teams (the Vikings, Raiders and Titans most notably) that can be crossed off the list.

Perhaps the Patriots are too much of a stretch for Moss. But there will be someone interested in taking a flier on Moss, particularly if he's as motivated as he sounded on Monday morning. On his birthday. During a USTREAM chat.

Free Agency in College Athletics

2012-02-10T23:35:00.000-05:00

In our latest installment of "What's Wrong With Sports" we take a look at what essentially amounts to free agency in college sports.

Free agency, with no salary cap, no limitations. That's what college football and basketball has become over the past couple of years thanks to the graduate student transfer rule.

When a student-athlete transfers from one university to another, that student-athlete must spend one year in residency at the new institution before participating in athletics at the new school. This costs the athlete one year of his eligibility, thus ensuring that he (or she...don't mean to be gender specific as this issue is going to affect both men's and women's athletics) does not change schools just go join a "better" program. If you decide to change schools, whether due to playing time or you just don't like the coaches anymore, you have to pay with a year of eligibility.

There are certain exceptions to this rule, many on a case-by-case basis. For example, if an athletic program is cancelled at a school, athletes of that sport are allowed to transfer without having to sit out a year. Some more specific cases allow students in difficult situations to leave without being penalized. After the Carlton Dotson incident in 2003, where the Baylor forward was charged with murdering his teammate, other members of the team were granted immediate transfer requests.

These exceptions to the transfer rule are appropriate. A student should not be penalized for something that is out of his control.

However, there are other ways that student-athletes can transfer without losing a year of eligibility that undermines the system.

If a student-athlete graduates with an undergraduate degree from his school and still has a year or more of eligibility left, he may transfer to another school to enroll in a graduate program there. If he enrolls in a graduate program that his original institution did not offer, then he does not have to sit out during the one year residency period.

Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson is the poster-child for this newest form of transfer. After four years on the roster for NC State, the Wolfpack released him of his scholarship after the 2010 season. He still had one year of eligibility remaining (he redshirted during the 2007 season). Wilson graduated in the spring, enrolled in a graduate program at Wisconsin, and joined the football team for the 2011 season. He led the Badgers football program this season to the inaugural B1G Championship and a trip to Pasadena.

Here's the rub with this transfer. ANY school can offer a graduate program that a student-athlete's former school did not have. ANY big FBS / Division 1 program especially is going to have enough graduate degree options for a student to enroll in. This means any program, especially a big name big school program, can pick up a player for a year through this method, which essentially is just a form of free agency.

Wilson isn't the only benefactor of the transfer rule. RB Zach Brown transferred from Wisconsin to Pitt for his last year of eligibility. Greg Paulus transferred from Duke to Syracuse to play a year of football for the Orange after years of shooting the rock under Coach K. Next year QB Dane Crist will rejoin forces with Charlie Weis when he transfers from Notre Dame to Kansas. This year, Valparaiso star guard Brandon Wood graduated and transferred to Michigan State. His presence with Tom Izzo has helped the Spartans go from unranked in the preseason to a top 10 team with less than a month before Selection Sunday.

It is Wood's success that scares me more than anything, especially for college basketball. The last few years has been outstanding for college hoops with the success of mid-major teams like Davidson, George Mason, Butler, and most recently Virginia Commonwealth. On any given night, any team can come out with the W. Now, with the ability to transfer for your senior year to a big name program like Michigan State that always has the chance to make the Final Four, why wouldn't a star player from a small program make the switch? The reason Butler and VCU last year both made the Final Four is due to a great TEAM EFFORT from a group of players who had been together for three or four years.

Put it this way...if this transfer had been more popular a few years ago, it is very likely that somebody like Stephen Curry would not have lasted all four years at a mid major school like Davidson. Instead, he would have transferred for one year to a school like Duke (like his brother Seth did...although Seth was just a regular transfer having to sit out a year) and played with the Blue Devils, probably all the way to a Final Four appearance.

Give it two more years and you'll see the same big name programs each year in the Final Four. The mid major team may very well be dead. The great stories of Butler and VCU will no longer be heard of. Combined with the pathetic "one and done" rule (a future article for What's Wrong With Sports you can rest assured), the graduate transfer rule is quickly destroying college athletics. Enjoy this picture to the right, because you will likely never see it again.

State of the Pirates

2012-02-10T10:29:00.008-05:00

It's been a long time since the Pirates have had a winning season. 1992 was the last time. Most 90's kids that grew up in and around Pittsburgh don't really know what it's like to follow a baseball winner unless they root for a team outside of the Burgh. Last season the Pirates were competitive basically up till the beginning of August. Even though the team finished with a losing record I still had so much fun following the season. You all know how much I love my Pitt Panthers and Steelers but up until August I can honestly say I never had as much fun following a Pittsburgh team. That is mostly due to the fact that I never seen the Pirates win the way the did. I have always followed the Pirates but up until August I truly felt like a was watching something special. Something special for the first time and then It was taken away from me. I want to be able to follow the Pirates without being in heartache for most of the season. More than anything though, I wan't Pittsburgh to be known as the "City of Champions" not the "City of Champions, and the Pittsburgh Pirates."

This is an article from Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. I tend to disagree with him alot on stuff (especially Pitt and Steve Pederson) but I think he hit the nail on the head with this Pittsburgh Pirates team. Let me know what you all think.

-Bob Smizik

We learned some interesting facts of Pirates life this week.

The good news is Keith Law ranks the Pirates as having the eighth best minor-league system. Whoopee!

The bad news is the stench of the Pirates has so infiltrated MLB that the team can’t give its money away. Pitchers Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt, both of whom would be the ace of the team's rotation, rejected offers from the Pirates for significant money.

Jackson wanted a team that would enhance his resume for a return to free agency next season. Oswalt wanted a contender. Clearly, the Pirates fit neither purpose.

Earlier in the off-season, first baseman Derrek Lee rejected the Pirates offer of arbitration, which, if accepted, would have guaranteed him a one-year contract worth about $8 million.

There you have it, folks. No one with any leverage in the market place wants the Pirates money. And Lee, apparently, would rather retire than play for the Pirates for $8 million.

Is there a greater condemnation of an organization than that? And coming, no less, from a player who spent two months with the team last season.

It seems that ``Welcome to hell,’’ is not a secret around the clubhouses of MLB.

Nineteen consecutive years of losing will do that for an organization. So will a reputation of having next to no interest in putting a winning team on the field. The Pirates commitment to winning is an absolute joke and it’s not a secret.

Despite the near-hopelessness of the situation, some fans believe the team can win by continuing on its course of building a farm system. That’s why the No. 8 ranking by Law, a leading authority on amateur and minor-league baseball, has generated some excitement. Law generated more excitement later in the week when he named five Pirates among his top 100 prospects. He also named his top 10 Pirates prospects.

All of this is commendable but not cause for great excitement. Early on in this nearly two-decade long losing spree, the Pirates had the No. 1 ranked farm system. And we can see where that got them.
It would be more encouraging for the future of the Pirates if these rankings were the result of some sort of baseball acumen. They are not. Pirates management deserves litte credit for these rankings. Unless, that is, you want to credit them for putting such bad teams on the field they consistently get high draft picks.

There is a tremendous premium on high draft selections in compiling these ratings. Gerrit Cole, the highest-ranked Pirate, was the first overall choice in the 2011 draft. Jameson Taillon, the second highest ranked, was the second overall pick in the 2010 draft.

The third-highest ranked Pirate was Josh Bell and there are people who fall all over themselves congratulating GM Neal Huntington and his staff for this pick.

The man who deserves the credit for Bell is not Huntington, not co-GM Frank Coonelly and not any of their lieutenants. It's owner Bob Nutting. When Bell was still available in the second round, it was an easy choice -- if you are willing to pay him $5 million, which Nutting authorized.

The draft is a rare example of the Pirates spending money. But since their combined draft spending and payroll puts their total expenditures at or near the bottom of all MLB teams, what’s the big deal?

Here’s hoping Cole, approximate arrival date 2013, Taillon (2015) and Bell (2016) go on to be great players. But that does not alter the cold, hard, repetitive fact that the Pirates are terrible and there is no end in sight.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and The Haley Family

2012-02-10T10:17:00.001-05:00

Today I smiled when I heard the news finally made official by Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin. Todd Haley is now the Offensive Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Haley family has had a long and good relationship with the Rooney family. Dick Haley was the Director of Player Personnel in the 1970's. Dick Haley was responsible for the Famed 1974 Draft which vaulted the Steelers into the four Superbowl wins in the 1970's.

But wait a second... we are not hiring Dick Haley... we hired Todd. Todd was the beleaguered coach of the hapless Kansas City Chiefs this past year. Todd lost his job to Romeo Crennel. Some say that Todd lost his mind out in Kansas City with his eccentric ways of not shaving and wearing old clothing on the sidelines. With this said, I say don't worry!

Todd Haley grew up in Pittsburgh in Upper St. Clair. He is a Pittsburgh kid at heart with a tremendous pedigree. Todd was a ball boy for the Steelers and stood alongside his father in breaking down Steelers practice films. Todd attended Upper St.Clair High School and went on to attend The University of Florida and the University of Miami.

Todd Haley's resume is stacked with coaching experience. He was hired by the New York Jets in 1995 and served in the scouting department for two seasons. He worked with Charlie Weis as the offensive assistant/quality control coach. In 2001, Haley joined the Chicago Bears as the Wide Receivers Coach and worked with Marty Booker in 2002 to be the Chicago Bears first Pro Bowl wide receiver since 1971. Haley worked with the Dallas Cowboys as the Wide Receivers Coach and passing game coordinator from 2004 to 2006 and has worked extensively with Tony Romo. In 2007, Haley joined up with Ken Whisenhunt as the Offensive Coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals and coached against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.

Let's face it... some coaches are not cut out to be head coaches. Look at Dick LeBeau, the creator of the Zone Blitz. Let's not worry about Todd Haley. Working along side Mike Tomlin, there will be an unpredictable offense that should be quite entertaining and will win games. Welcome Home Todd! It's good to have you back!

DeLlav's Daily Blog: Ochocinco going back to Johnson

2012-02-09T21:31:00.001-05:00

Ochocinco is changing his name back to Chad Johnson. Good for him. Good for everybody. I never thought it was "cool" when Chad changed his last name to Ochocinco. It was creative and unique but I just thought it was clownish. Ever since Chad changed his last name a few years ago, he was on a steady decline in terms of statistics and production. Of couse, a different last name isn't/shouldn/t bring a player down but its almost as if thats when Chad became full of himself and lost his game. After having a disaster season in Foxboro this past year, many are wondering if this is the beginning of the end for Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson.

by Josh Katzowitz (sportsline.com)

As Ochocinco reported on OCNN Twitter (via Yahoo Sports), Ochocinco will transform himself into Chad Johnson again by July 4, so, as TMZ reports, his fiancé Evelyn Lozada* won’t have a made up last name.

He changed his name before the 2008 season, and with his newest surname, his production dramatcially declined from when Chad Johnson was in his prime (particularly in 2010 when Terrell Owens was the top Bengals receiver and 2011 when Ochocinco was barely an afterthought with the Patriots).

*At the Indianapolis airport on Monday afternoon, CBSSports.com colleague and reality TV show junkie Pete Prisco pointed her out to me as we were going through the security line. I wish I could have asked her about this topic.
Eye on Baseball’s C. Trent Rosecrans makes an interesting point on the timing of the name change (if Ochocinco actually goes through with it). Although many of us in the Cincinnati market figured he would change his name back to Johnson after he retired, he might be making the move now because the league is switching from Reebok to Nike as the NFL’s official uniform provider.

With that move, the players won’t have to buy the entire backstock of their jerseys for changing their numbers and names, like they would have if Reebok still supplied the uniforms. Thus, it makes more financial sense for Ochocinco/Johnson to change his name this year, when every player hypothetically could switch numbers and names for free, than it would at any other time he is playing.

DeLlav's Daily Blog: Eli vs Ben

2012-02-07T00:45:00.002-05:00

Eli Manning has two Super Bowl rings and both came at the expense of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Big Ben has been to three Super Bowls and has two Super Bowl rings just like Eli. The difference though is that Eli has been SB MVP both times he was in the game and Ben doesn't have any MVP's. Ben's first Super Bowl performance wasn't that impressive even though his Steelers beat Seattle 21-10. He had a 23.9 passer rating and almost cost his team the game. He played great against Arizona in 2008 but he played awful against Green Bay in the Super Bowl last year. So how do you compare Eli Manning to Big Ben? I say Manning has the edge because of the two MVP awards but Big Ben's three Super Bowl trips are pretty good also.

-From NFL.COM Associated Press.

Tom Coughlin said he has every intention of returning to coach the New York Giants next season.

"I certainly hope so," Coughlin said at a news conference Monday when asked about returning to coach the Giants. "My intentions are to be that way. I do have some ownership that has to give approval but I'm looking forward to it.

New York beat the New England Patriots 21-17 on Sunday night to give Coughlin his second Super Bowl win.

The coach signed a contract extension last summer to stay with the team through 2012, but the Giants struggled for much of the regular season, leading to questions about Coughlin's job security.

When asked if he'd be coaching the Giants in 10 years, the 65-year-old Coughlin jokingly said, "I'm only 45, maybe that could happen."

"No, I'm not really into that stuff to be honest with you," Coughlin said. "It's not about me ... We're about team, we're not about individuals, we're about the team, and what's in the best interest of our team, and making sure ... We feel all our power is generated by the team."Coughlin diffused questions about his legacy now that he has become the 12th head coach in NFL history with multiple Super Bowl wins.

Coughlin also said he is looking forward to Tuesday's parade up the Canyon of Heroes in Manhattan.

The Associated Press

Super Bowl XLVI Recap

2012-02-06T20:06:00.000-05:00

Did the Giants win the Super Bowl? Or did the Pats lose it? What is Eli Manning's legacy? Or Tom Coughlin's? Can the Patriots be considered legit without a post-Spygate Super Bowl victory? All these questions and more answered in our latest podcast!

What 2 Watch 4 - Super Bowl XLVI

2012-02-05T11:20:00.001-05:00

The following is a list of what to expect for the big game tonight. You can guarantee that everything on this list WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT.

Kelly Clarkson's rendition of the National Anthem will last at least 140 seconds...twice as long as the song is designed to be played/sung.
Bill Belichick will be in his typical cut-sleeved sweatshirt tonight in Indianapolis, which started when the Colts raised the temperature in their home dome many years ago.
The David Tyree catch from Super Bowl XLVII will be shown at least four times during the game.
Fans will NOT hear Al Michaels saying "Do you believe in miracles?" but still wishing he was talking about Mike Eruzione instead of Tom Brady.
The Giants will win the coin toss. The NFC representative has won the coin toss for 14 straight years now, and even though it's technically a 50-50 shot, the odds surely are in New York's favor.
Budweiser / Bud Light will have one of the first two commercials after kickoff. I hope that $3.2 million is worth it.
Tiquan Underwood will become a household name because Belichick released him late last night.
Expect Underwood's replacement (the Chad formerly known as Johnson) to do very little in the game.
If Gronkowski is unable to play, or even if he's not at full strength, red zone woes for the Pats will be expected, and lots of field goals for Gostkowski will result.
Whether or not Gronkowski plays, expect 12+ touches for the Gronk/Hernandez combo.
For those who will play the drinking game of taking a shot every time Eli's big brother Peyton is mentioned, expect to be knocked out before halftime. (Maybe that's good, they won't have to hear Madonna)
A majority of fans (those not playing the Peyton drinking game) will be shaking their heads at halftime, wondering why Madonna was chosen to sing at the Super Bowl. Good singer, yes. Super Bowl appropriate? Not exactly...
If WR-to-DBack convert Julian Edelman has to guard Victor Cruz in the slot (he won't cover Nicks or Manningham outside, and sure won't cover a tight end, so expect to see a lot of this), then watch for double digit targets and catches for Cruz.
Expect to see other matchup troubles with Giants players who didn't play in the first matchup: Nicks, Bradshaw, and Hynoski all did not play in the week 9 victory for the G-Men.
Tom Brady can throw three interceptions for the Pats, but if they win the game, no matter what you can expect to see Brady become the first three-time Super Bowl MVP.

What else can we guarantee? Fans add your guarantees by commenting below or by sending us a tweet @3SNetwork and your guarantees will be posted for the world to see! Enjoy the game (and the commercials)!!

DeLlav's Daily Blog: Future of Peyton Manning

2012-02-04T20:06:00.002-05:00

I think it would be wrong if Peyton Manning was on any team besides the Colts. That dude buit Lucas Oil stadium. That being said Jim Irsay and the Colts are in a difficult situation. Do they draft Andrew Luck and part ways with their head horse or could they possibly have both on the roster? I would like to see them both on the roster. People have to realize no matter how good Andrew Luck is (and he is good) he will never be Peyton Manning. That is no knock on him but Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning for goodness sakes! The Colts have the cap room to have both Luck and Manning on the roster but Irsay is not sure if he wants to use up all that cap space on two quarterbacks. Well we all saw what happend to Indy when they didnt have Manning so at this point do they really expect any thing to be different if Manning is not under center for at least the next couple of years? Colts should draft Luck and keep Manning. Period.

By Matt Brooks,

The biggest story of Super Bowl week in Indianapolis continues to have nothing to do with Sunday’s big game between the Patriots and Giants and everything to do with the host city’s home team.
Earlier this week, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning told ESPN’s Trey Wingo he hoped to meet with team owner Jim Irsay next week to settle his contract situation as he looks ahead to 2012. With the four-time MVP due a $28 million roster bonus on March 8, that remains the latest date a decision on Manning’s future with or without the Colts could come.
But on Wednesday, Irsay said that deadline could be delayed to give the team more time to consideration its future plans.
“Look, anything is possible if the two parties choose to get together,” Irsay said. “If it helps us win, I’ll pay (the roster bonus) in a second. But when it comes to salary cap ... we have real problems. You can’t make a decision that straps you for the next three seasons. If we make a decision based on just affection, and we have cap problems for three years, the fans will call me an idiot.”

Colts fans may have called Irsay far worse in recent months as he sent head coach Jim Caldwell, vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian packing following the team’s 2-14 season.
But if Indianapolis is set on a complete rebuild, keeping Manning — healthy or not — around just doesn’t seem overly practical.
Irsay has said the Colts will draft a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick this spring, and all signs point to that being Stanford standout Andrew Luck.
Meanwhile, Manning continues to rehab the neck injury that cost him the entire 2011 season and consider his options going forward.
One potential destination could be the Arizona Cardinals, who went all-in on former Philadelphia Eagles QB Kevin Kolb with disappointing results. Kurt Warner enjoyed a twilight resurgence in the desert, and playing catch with All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald could ease Manning’s transition.
According a report from the Terre Haute Tribune Star’s Tom James, Fitzgerald could make his sales pitch to Manning when the two friends have dinner together this week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter repoter on Jan. 22 that the Cardinals have “real interest” in Manning.
On Thursday, new Colts GM Ryan Grigson said he recently sat down with the franchise quarterback — something he did not do in his first hours on the job.
“It was an open conversation and I told him what I know,” Grigson said. “Whatever I knew, I told him. It was a straightforward, man-to-man conversation. It was fine.”

DeLlav's Daily Blog : ACC insterts Pitt, Cuse into future schedules

2012-02-03T14:44:00.007-05:00

Finally after all these years The Pitt football schedule will face a significant increase in quality.Today the ACC announced that the new format will be employed when Pitt and Syracuse join the league (hopefully for the 2013 football season). Pitt will be plugged into the Coastal Division in football, which has Virginia Tech and Maimi in it. There will be no divisions when it comes to basketball because teams will be assigned a "primary partner" that they will play two times during the season. For Pitt, Maryland will be that partner. It will play the rest of the league once a season on a rotating basis. I think its great that Pitt will be paired with two great programs in Miami and Virginia Tech. Pitt has history with both schools so its nice to see these rivalries renewed. I can't wait for this because It will as if we will be brought back to the Walt Harris era of Pitt football!!! Oh well, on second thought....

By Mark Giannotto, Washington Post

The ACC still doesn’t know when Pittsburgh and Syracuse will be able to leave the Big East, but the conference went ahead and announced Friday how it will operate whenever that day arrives.
The 14-member ACC will stick with its current two-division format in football, with Pittsburgh joining the Coastal Division along with Virginia Tech, Virginia, Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami and North Carolina. Syracuse will join the Atlantic Division with Maryland, Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina State and Wake Forest.
The scheduling format remains largely the same, except teams will play nine conference games each year, instead of eight. Every school will play one game each year against the opponents in its division, one game against a primary crossover opponent and two rotating foes from the opposite division.
Virginia Tech will still play Boston College every year as its cross-over football game, while Maryland and Virginia will remain cross-over partners.
For basketball, however, that is not the case. In lieu of divisions, each ACC team will play one primary partner twice a year and every other league team four times over a three-year cycle. In an intriguing twist for Terrapins fans, Pittsburgh was named Maryland’s primary partner. The other pairings are Virginia and Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Boston College, Duke and North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest, Florida State and Miami, and Clemson and Georgia Tech.
Each primary partner will play a home-and-away series every season. A team’s other 12 league opponents rotate in groups of four: one year both home and away; one year at home only; and one year away only.
The league previously announced that it would turn to an 18-game conference schedule beginning next season, but there is sure to be some hand-wringing over the fact that all four North Carolina schools will no longer play one another twice in basketball, and that Maryland will no longer get two annual regular season games against Duke, seen as the Terrapins’ biggest rival.
The ACC also said in its announcement, which came at the conclusion of the league’s annual winter meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that all 14 teams will still qualify for the ACC tournament but a decision on the format will be announced at a later date.
In Olympic sports, all conference teams will play one another at least once during the regular season. Baseball is the exception as they don’t currently play all conference opponents. The conference also said it will now hold an ACC championship event in women’s gymnastics. Maryland is one of three schools in the conference to currently sponsor the sport, but Pittsburgh will be the fourth.
The league reiterated, however, that it still is not certain when Syracuse and Pittsburgh will be able to leave the Big East, which has a 27-month exit notice clause that is being challenged in court by West Virginia as it tries to depart for the Big 12.
Since the ACC announced it would be adding two schools as part of the latest wave of conference expansion back in September, many had speculated whether the league would go to a north-south divisional format to reflect its growing footprint along the East Coast. Commissioner John Swofford acknowledged it was a possibility in October.
Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver was against the north-south arrangement because for the Hokies it would be “too much of yesteryear.” Virginia Athletic Director Craig Littlepage and Wake Forest athletic Ron Wellman said they were worried about preserving long-standing rivalries with North Carolina schools.
“We have been engaged in discussions on the various options for integrating Pitt and Syracuse since early fall,” Swofford said in a statement. “It’s a tremendous tribute to the leadership at our schools that we will be able to seamlessly add Pitt and Syracuse at the appropriate time when they become full playing members.”

DeLlav's Daily Blog

2012-02-02T16:30:00.005-05:00

This is my new installment for blogging. I'm actually going to be commenting about other blogs. Either agreeing with them or disagreeing. Ill try and keep this daily but chances are ill miss a day here and there. I'm going to talk about Chris Dokish's blog about the Pitt Panthers recruiting class. I agree with him for the most part although im not sure how I feel about QB Chad Votyik. He is a talent that for sure but I'm a little bit worried because he was recruited to play Grahams radical spread offense but if anyone can get the most out of him its Paul Chryst. Also, its not like the talent at QB right now is that great for Pitt...

From panthersprey.blogspot.com

How Pitt has improved and what they need in 2013

Quarterback: Obviously this is a position of need in both talent and depth. Chad Voytik is a breath of fresh air in terms of talent and leadership. Ideally, he would be redshirted or at least play little. Either way, he has the ability to play a lot of football for the Panthers.

2013: Ideally the Panthers would land two quarterbacks, one elite level player and maybe a promising local kid who just wants to play for Pitt. One intriguing option would be athletic 6'1" Ohio lefty Malik Zaire. He will be a priority for Ohio State but with Braxton Miller only a sophomore and 2013 elite recruit Jalin Marshall being given a chance at the position, Zaire may decide to take his chances battling Voytik. And he loves Paul Chryst and Joe Rudolph so it's not crazy to think the Panthers can't pull it off.

Running Back: With Ray Graham coming back and Isaac Bennett and Malcolm Crockett among others returning, the position wasn't a dire need this season. But that's okay because the Panthers went out and landed a potential superstar anyway in Rushel Shell.

2013: Even with Graham moving on this is a good, young, deep unit, but you can never have enough. Look for them to try to bring in at least one topnotch halfback and a fullback, since they don't have any on scholarship right now.

Wide receiver: Chryst can utilize small receivers but because of Graham and even Wannstedt before him, he has a lot of them. Too many, in fact. Demetrious and Chris Davis are also small, but quick. Demetrious, despite being 5-10" at most, has electrifying potential. But the big receivers were absent.

2013: Needless to say, some big NFL type receivers are needed. Probably at least three. And the state has some very good ones, led by Central Valley superstar Robert Foster. Ohio State wants him badly but it's imperative that Pitt keeps him home.

Tight end: Hubie Graham is returning as the starter and Brendan Carozzoni is a good, young talent. The other TEs from last year, Anthony Gonzalez and Drew Carswell, could end up at different positions. Adding J.P. Holtz was an excellent addition.

2013: Chryst uses a lot of tight ends and Graham is moving on, so depending on how they handle Gonzalez and Carswell, they could use two tight ends next year. The main target here obviously is PA's Adam Breneman, an elite prospect that could be an All-American at Pitt. The competition for him will be fierce, but being close to home and with Chryst a master of tight ends, the Panthers have a legit chance.

Offensive Line: Obviously this is a unit that needs huge help in talent and depth. Adding Adam Bisnotawy was very beneficial and he has the type of talent that Bob Bostad can turn into a future All-American. Gabe Roberts is a sleeper at guard who could develop in time. But obviously that's not enough.

2013: Expect at least five linemen here. The biggest target is guard Patrick Kugler of North Allegheny.

Defensive Line: A lot of seniors have departed and the depth is hurting. It wasn't helped much by this class with only Terrell Jackson and Darryl Render coming in, and both of them are for more down the road.

2013: At least four new linemen have to come in.

Linebacker: The Panthers possess three good young linebackers in Juan Price, Todd Thomas, and LaQuentin Smith but many more will be needed. Devon Porchia and Mike Caprara was added, and I do think Bam Bradley will end up there, too. But more is still needed.

2013: Look for at least three more to be added, with at least one hopefully talented enough and big enough to see time immediately.

Defensive Back: Really the only truly deep unit on the team right now but you can never have enough defensive backs. The Panthers took Deaysean Rippy as a safety and he could be a good one there. Like I wrote earlier they list Bradley as a safety, too, but I doubt he stays there. Jahmahl Pardner, Trent Cole, and Ryan Lewis were also added defensive backs this year.

2013: The numbers will still be large but like I said you can never have enough. I'd take three, with Clairton's Tyler Boyd being the top target.

Assuming there are 25 scholarships given, these are my projections:

Quarterback: 2
Running Back: 1
Fullback: 1

3SN Live

2012-01-31T21:06:00.003-05:00

3SN will broadcast LIVE from the Crane Room Bar and Grill in New Castle, PA tomorrow, February 1st, at 6:30 pm EST. Come on out or tune in right here at 360sportsnetwork.com for a great time!

Live Video streaming by Ustream

Joe

2012-01-27T18:47:00.001-05:00

I remember Joe Paterno as a great head coach who did good things for the University. I remember him as a good man who stood for the right things. That being said I will not elevate him into sainthood just yet because I think what has happened the last few months has to be considered and investigated. So I reserve judgement for Joe in that regard till more facts come about. I never thought JoePa wanted kids to get hurt or let them but sometimes people make mistakes and dont handle things the right way. That being said this might have been or was a GRAVE mistake so I still have no problem with the way things went down in happy valley. Just like in any other profession if something bad happens under your watch then you got to pay the price for it even if it was a mistake. So for now my thoughts are that Joe handled the situation way too lightly. Maybe because he thought the situation was under control or maybe not. I dont know. But I highly doubt he didn't do more/enough because he could care less of the kids. Until any facts come out that dispute Joepa's character I will continue to think he was a good guy. I have a few more thoughts on some things.

I think the biggest issue when it comes to Joe Paterno is whether he had all kinds of power at Penn State or not. He was just a football coach but he was treated as more than a football coach, at least by most. Most people think he was the most powerful. Maybe Paterno didnt think that way about himself but I think the thought of him having all the power at Penn State came when Joe's bossess tried to convince him to retire and he threw them out of his house. I mean if you're a coach for 40 years and your bosses are afraid to fire you then you do have lots of power.

I can't stand the media sometimes. Take it from a Catholic and a Penn Stater. It sucks. The media was an absolute circus. BUT it is expected though. Penn State University is well known and proud so when something as big as a child molestor running around on campus comes about, the media is going to have a field day with it. I dont think the media portrayed Paterno as the villian. They wanted answers from Joe and I think thats fair. THE MEDIA IS NOT TO BLAME FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AT PENN STATE. Sandusky, Curly, Schultz, and everyone else who covered this up and let the monster stay on campus to protect their own asses and their brand is to blame. The media would not have anything to attack if people knew how to protect children. Here is a good article about the "media" and encourage everyone to read it http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/bob-smiziks-blog/31656-a-word-about-the-media .

I dont like when people say "he did all he should have done" or "he told his bosses that's good enough" because if it was your kids, you would feel differently. Alot differently. I also dont like the thought that Joe should not have stopped it cause it could've caused a lawsuit to the university or whatever. I read a post from "that lawyer dude" (real credible name eh?) and while it all sounds good, I would take saving a child over risking a lawsuit for my university any day. But thats just me...

I do believe Joe wasn't proactive enough but I don't believe Joe wanted kids to get raped or didn't care that kids were getting raped because of a few things. He did tell his bosses, and he did testify against Sandusky. If he really wanted to be involved the coverup he would've had the same story as Curly and Shcultz and lie just like the both of them to the grand jury. I was also thinking maybe his age could've been a factor but if he is able to coach his team at that age then he can prob tell when something as severe as this is going on. I'm sure my co-blogger james dotson will disagree with me on that.

Like I said before Joe Paterno was a good man. When more info comes out I may adjust my opinion. IFFFFFFFFF it turns out Joe did in fact brush this under the rug (doubt that's the case but still possible) and didn't give a crap about the kids or whatever then anything good he has done in the past is meaningless to me. But like I said I highly doubt that and we should be thankful for Joe and be proud of what has done not just for Penn State but for people in general.

"Joements"

2012-01-26T19:22:00.000-05:00

This moving video tribute was created by current Penn State student Robbie Young. These images will last forever, like the memory of the great coach and even greater man that Joe Paterno was.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

2012-01-25T18:11:00.001-05:00

Every Wednesday at 5:30 pm, the 360 Sports Network joins the Ryan and Christian Show on ESPN 1240 WBBW to talk fantasy hoops. We can't cover every fantasy question a fan might have, so we encourage you to comment, tweet, or email us with your fantasy questions so we can help YOUR team get a win!

Air Date: January 25, 2012

Remembering Joe Paterno

2012-01-23T18:22:00.002-05:00

Ode to Joe

2012-01-23T00:20:00.000-05:00

Earlier today, Joseph Vincent Paterno passed away of complications relating to his recent battle with lung cancer. He was 85 years old. His death is overshadowed by the sex abuse scandal at Penn State that has surfaced in the past three months. After Paterno's firing, the elderly man with the weak and withered voice that just about everybody recognizes was turned from legend to scapegoat. Now, 72 days after a night where students took to the streets to protest the legend's less-than-ideal departure, the legend himself is no longer with us.

I have always said that Joe Paterno would not survive more than six months after retiring. That's because he lives for football and for his University. I always said he, sadly, wouldn't survive. I just always hoped that I was wrong. And I was, as he didn't last three months.

I believe Matt Millen, former Nittany Lion and current ESPN analyst, said it best, and most around the country I believe agree: Joe Paterno died "of a broken heart."

In this Ode to Joe, there are so many things to discuss. I could talk about his 62 years as a Penn State coach, 44 as head coach of the Nittany Lions. I could talk about two national championships, 409 victories, and countless images on the field. Or I could talk about the last three months, about Jerry Sandusky and the Second Mile and the child sex abuse scandal. But anybody who is close to the University or to the Paterno family knows that none of these would truly explain what a great man Joe Paterno was. I hope to exemplify a different side of the man known as JoePa.

Academics. In a college athletics world where it's all about winning and winning now, Joe Paterno has done that and then some. After being hired in 1966, Paterno began what was considered a "Grand Experiment" of combining quality, winning athletics with success in the classroom as well. As an Ivy-leaguer himself, Paterno sure knew about the importance of an education. This past year, Penn State ranked #1 in the BCS Academic Rankings, which takes the BCS top 25 teams and ranks them on academic performance.

I have proctored exams for the math department at Penn State for the past three years. During football season, practice interferes with scheduled exam times for math exams. The routine that the staff puts forth for the players is unbelievable. Exams start at 6:30 pm. The team ends practice around 7:00. Those who have an exam to take are personally escorted from the practice field back to the football building. They change out of their practice gear and then are escorted straight to the exam room. This structure is just a little proof that academics still come first. Not to mention that, all through the football building, little reminders are posted everywhere that education comes first. A huge picture of 18 seniors who graduated prior to their trip to the Champs Sports Bowl in 2009 hangs in the academic center. Dean's List players are posted and rewarded. Articles listing PSU as one of the top five football programs in terms of graduation rate (consistently around 80%) cover the doors. It's a sight to behold. JoePa began a mindset that few other schools can boast having.

Dedication. Numerous times throughout his career, Joe Paterno was offered big name jobs with even bigger salaries in the NFL. Some, including the Pittsburgh Steelers job in 1969, he highly considered. But he always said family first, and he considered Penn State and State College to be one big family.

Penn State would try to increase Paterno's salary, attempting to keep him on staff and as one of the top paid in the country. He always resisted. In the end, he would finally give in, saying essentially that "pay me more if you want, you're getting it all back anyway." And that's what he always did. He would end up donating close to half of his salary during the last few years of his career. Most of the money, over $13 million, went toward renovating the campus library which now bears his name.

Personal Life. Everybody knows about Joe on the football field. Very few have had the pleasure of meeting him in person. I wish I could have. I have heard stories from numerous students who had walked past him on their walk to 8:00 am class. He lives on campus and in his prime he was seen often walking or jogging around the University. He would say hello to students on those trips around campus, give a friendly wave, and even stop to have full conversations with some. He was always interested in what was happening on campus.

His relationship with his family has always been quiet, as any should be. But in every major interview he's done, Joe and his wife Sue have talked about how great they have it with their five kids and 17 grandchildren. It is reported that his entire family was able to make it to his bedside on Saturday night to say their goodbyes.

Not a Figurehead: Sadly, many have said that Joe only stayed head coach for so long because he was a figurehead, that he was only coach "in name", that somebody was "pulling the strings", that he was senile and didn't know what was happening. The last few years it's no secret that his assistants took over a bigger role, but to say Joe didn't know what was happening is just wrong. As shirts across campus say, "Joe Knows Football" and he showed it every week. Few forget that in 2008, a Rose Bowl bound season for the Nittany Lions, Paterno ended up coaching from the press box for all but two or three games that year. Many forget why he was up there: he hurt his hip when he physically demonstrated how to properly execute an onside kick. A few years prior he was seen chasing down referees because he thought a call was missed. It's sad that people think he was unaware of what was going on out there.

The best moment I remember from the end of Joe's coaching tenure that showed he still was in it was the Rally in the Valley before the Alabama game this past September. "Let's show some respect (for Alabama)...but that doesn't mean we don't want to beat their you know what!" he shouted as he waved around "this...pardon me ladies...this damn cane!" His words that day and every day resonate with Nittany Nation. He preaches family. "Stick together." He's still in it to say the least. Just listen for yourself.

Final Words: After the Sandusky scandal, Paterno turned to a scapegoat. Some called him an old perv. After his passing, it's only words of reverence. Which will last beyond the next few days? Such a great man should be remembered for what he was: a great man who turned a small "Cow College" into a national prowess and did countless good deeds for his school.

Looking back, how fitting was the last game under Joe Paterno. In a defensive struggle in the cold, snowy Happy Valley, a walk-on QB Matt McGloin leads his team down the field for the go-ahead touchdown to put the Nittany Lions up 10-7. It was textbook Paterno with the stingy defense and the run-first offense that wears down the team down the stretch. That stingy defense had to make one more stand, which ended with a field goal attempt with just a couple of seconds left. In the greatest moment I've witnessed at Beaver Stadium, the "Great Migration" occurs. Over 20,000 students all rush behind the goal posts for the final kick. The ball was in the air for less than three seconds, but it felt like thirty minutes as the crowd waited in silence. DOINK. Eruption. Pandemonium. Sheer excitement by over 100,000 fans.

That was JoePa's 409th career victory, passing Amos Stagg. It was also the last game he ever coached. He went out in style, at least on the football field.

But we need to remember the man he was off the field. That corny little guy in the coke-bottle glasses with the one-of-a-kind voice. A voice that I personally will never forget hearing. RIP Joe.

Championship Sunday

2012-01-21T18:11:00.000-05:00

We are less than 24 hours away from the start of Championship Sunday in the NFL.

The New England Patriots try to return to the big game for the first time since their unbeaten season was stopped just short. They host the Baltimore Ravens, who are under the direction of QB Joe Flacco who has been criticized numerous times for his troubles on the field. They kick off at 3:00 pm EST.

The NFC Championship will kick off approximately at 6:30 pm EST in rainy San Francisco. First-year head coach Jim Harbaugh will lead the 49ers as they host the red-hot New York Giants. Eli Manning has been unconscious lately, especially in his connection with WR Hakeem Nicks.

We will break down both matchups in six categories: Quarterbacks, Running Back vs. Linebackers, Receivers vs. Defensive Backs, Trenches, Special Teams, and Coach. Using these breakdowns, we will predict the teams that will travel to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

AFC: Baltimore at New England

Quarterbacks: This one is a no-brainer. Tom Brady is a two-time Super Bowl MVP and coming off a payoff record-tying 6 TD passes last week against Denver. Joe Flacco has been criticized by everybody in the country, including his own teammates. Flacco has had zero success in big games in his career. His record is still very strong (four road wins in the playoffs, tied for most by a QB in a career), but that's because he can manage a game well. He'll need points to keep up with Brady. Advantage: New England.

RB vs. LB: Ray Rice is a dynamic running back. What more can you say? Even his backup of Ricky Williams is better than any of the RB options in Foxboro. The Law Firm of BenJarvus Green-Ellis is a goalline back at best, Danny Woodhead is a modern day Kevin Faulk but lacks durability, and Stevan Ridley is a decent change of pace back for two or three carries. As for linebackers, the Ravens have Ray Lewis. The Patriots...don't. Advantage: Baltimore.

Receivers vs. D-Backs: Ed Reed has unbelievable numbers in the postseason...8 INTs in 10 playoff games. But who is he going to cover? Gronkowski? Branch? Hernandez? Lardarius Webb is a Pro Bowl-caliber D-back, but his size will most certainly limit him to covering slot superstar Wes Welker. Reed can't cover the rest of Brady's options. Just too many of them. The biggest threat against the NE defense is Torrey Smith going deep. They contained Demaryius Thomas last week from going deep. They know better than to let Smith go deep. Advantage: New England.

Trenches: I think the injury concerns on New England's O-line might cause some troubles for Tom Brady. Haloti Ngata and Cory Redding might have meetings at the quarterback all night! The Baltimore O-line always allows running room for Ray Rice. Advantage: Baltimore.

Special Teams: Gostkowski and Edelman vs. Cundiff and Webb. Advantage: New England.

Coach: Three Super Bowl rings or none? Advantage: Belichick Advantage: New England.

Final Thoughts: Just keep in mind that New England has only won two games this year against teams with winning records: Denver, twice. Denver finished 9-9, and their only win against a team with a winning record was an injury-decimated Steelers squad. Even so, it's still Brady and Belichick, and it's still a hapless Flacco. For Baltimore to win this game, Ray Rice needs at least 30 touches. He'll be lucky to get 20. New England 30-20.

NFC: New York Giants at San Francisco

Quarterbacks: Eli Manning is the hottest QB in the league. And no I don't mean his looks...He has great receivers in Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Mario Manningham. He hasn't played a top 10 top defense since before the bye week. The best he's faced was Washington's 12th ranked pass defense. Result? Ugly loss. Alex Smith has done everything right. He has made all of the right throws in all the right situations. He even runs the ball now! This west coast offense has be perfect for him. Advantage: San Francisco.

RB vs. LB: Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter will take on a LB corp that has been injury stricken and ever-changing all year. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have to take on Navorro Bowman and Patrick Willis. Advantage: San Francisco.

Receivers vs. D-Backs: This one is pretty obvious. Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis are special players, but they cannot match the production of Nicks, Cruz, and Manningham. Carlos Rogers can't cover them all! The New York secondary smothered all of Aaron Rodgers' targets last week, which it's pretty safe to say that they are stronger performers than the 49ers have. Advantage: New York.

Trenches: Jason Pierre-Paul is the difference maker in this game. If he can get pressure on Alex Smith, then the game is all for New York. If Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, and Anthony Davis can contain JPP and company, then the Giants might have to blitz more than they want. Alex Smith has a 96.75 rating against the blitz (3rd in the country). Harbaugh isn't afraid to keep Delainey Walker in to block. Advantage: San Francisco.

Special Teams: David Akers and Andy Lee rival the cross-bay Raiders' tandem of Janikowski and Lechler. Lawrence Tynes is inconsistent at kicker and have no return threat. Bottom line: if the clock is winding down, I want Akers, not Tynes. Advantage: San Francisco.

Coach: A rookie coach or a Super Bowl winning coach? Advantage: San Francisco. That's right, Tom Coughlin is a joke in my book. He should have been fired the year that they won the Super Bowl. His team won enough games at just the right time and his job was saved. They've been terrible since. He should be fired again. But his team is all of a sudden getting good again at the same time. Coughlin is not a good coach. Harbaugh has turned a team around without making any personnel changes. Vernon Davis went from scapegoat to superhero. Alex Smith went from potential benchwarmer to possible Super Bowl QB. Harbaugh is the real deal.

Final Thoughts: Don't forget that the weather is supposed to be less than ideal in San Fran tomorrow. The running game will be vital as a result. If nothing else matters, remember who has the better O-line and running game. San Francisco 23-21.