The FreeLancers

Three-Round 2016 NFL Mock Draft

2016-02-21T13:05:00.003-05:00

The NFL draft is more than 60 days away. These projections are sure to change. These picks have changed based on performances from the 2016 Senior Bowl.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

1st Round

1. Tennessee Titans- Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
The Titans take the best player to protect their jewel in Marcus Mariota

2. Cleveland Browns- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Wentz has escalated the boards recently. The world knows how desperate Cleveland is at the quarterback position

3. San Diego Chargers- Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
Ramsey is the first defensive player taken at three. He can play safety or corner for San Diego.

4. Dallas Cowboys- Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
A healthy Jack could be picked even higher. Has the potential to be a perennial all-pro.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars- DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
A combination of Buckner and Fowler could devastate quarterbacks for years to come.

6. Baltimore Ravens- Joey Bosa, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Bosa will help bring toughness to a Baltimore defense.

7. San Francisco 49ers- Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame
Much like Myles Jack, Smith can be the replacement for Patrick Willis.

8. Miami Dolphins- Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Brent Grimes is coming of age. Youth and depth can help Miami defend against the likes of Tom Brady and Tyrod Taylor in the division.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
It will be interesting to see where the former Buckeye will land will off-the-field questions.

10. New York Giants- Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
There are many holes needed to be filled in New York. Billings can be a stalwart for years to come at the DT position.

11. Chicago Bears- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Stanley won't overwhelm pass rushers with elite strength or quickness, but he is a solid pass-protecting left tackle who can start day one.

12. New Orleans Saints- A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
Any player on defense would help this team. A'Shawn Robinson isn't any slouch, the Saints would be happy to take him.

13. Philadelphia Eagles- Jared Goff, QB, California
A player who can be seen taken at 2, takes a huge tumble here. There is no doubt that having a great quarterback can win you games, yet, teams above Philly are building great defenses instead.

14. Oakland Raiders- Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB, Georgia
Oakland struck gold with Khalil Mack, can they do it again? Oakland will continue to build a stout defense.

15. Los Angeles Rams- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
If Goff were to fall to 13, look for the Rams to do everything they can to trade up. They will gladly settle for Lynch.

16. Detroit Lions- Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Things couldn't work out better for Detroit. A legend retires, and they select the best WR right after.

17. Atlanta Falcons- Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Vic Beasley had a solid rookie season, yet the Falcons still lack a pass rush. They get it with Dodd.

18. Indianapolis Colts- Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State.
We got a glimpse at a Colts team with a banged up Andrew Luck. They receive much needed protection with Conklin.

19. Buffalo Bills- Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
Mario Williams career in Buffalo is most likely all but over. Bills' defense needs to get to the quarterback to succeed.

20. New York Jets- Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
The Jets need youth at the linebacking spot. Ragland can be productive from day one.

21. Washington Redskins- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
Washington isn't far from seriously contending in the NFL. If they can build a defense around Kirk Cousins and the offense, watch out.

22. Houston Texans- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
There is no quarterback to reach for at this spot. Elliott may take the reins from Arian Foster who will be on the move.

23. Minnesota Vikings- Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
The Vikings are in need of more receiver help. Still, giving Bridgewater some needed protection can help him let it loose more often.

24. Cincinnati Bengals- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Doctson will add to a Cinci offense that can be dangerous.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
The Pittsburgh offense is loaded even with Heath Miller retiring. The Steelers are desperate for secondary help that played better in the post-season.

26. Seattle Seahawks- Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
Nkemdiche, who's off-field problems are noted, can absolutely thrive in Seattle. Scary pick here.

27. Green Bay Packers- Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
With Raji's situation still up in the air, the Packers reload and draft a clogger in Rankins.

28. Kansas City Chiefs- Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State
The Chiefs stock up on defensive line players. Jones is a good one.

29. Arizona Cardinals- Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State
Arizona needs youth along the defensive front. Lee at 29 could be a steal.

30. Carolina Panthers- Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
This team managed to go 15-1 with arguably no number one or two receiver. They get Benjamin back, along with Coleman.

31. Denver Broncos- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Running back and defensive line are options here. Whoever plays quarterback needs to be protected better.

2nd Round

32. Cleveland Browns- Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
33. Tennessee Titans- Vonn Bell, FS, Ohio State
34. Dallas Cowboys- Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
35. San Diego Chargers- Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
36. Baltimore Ravens- Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
37. San Francisco 49ers- Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
38. Jacksonville Jaguars- Darian Thompson, S, Boise State
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- William Jackson III, CB, Houston
40. New York Giants- Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas
41. Chicago Bears- Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State
42. Miami Dolphins- Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State
43. Los Angeles Rams- Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh
44. Oakland Raiders- Miles Killebrew, SS, Southern Utah
45. Los Angeles Rams- Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
46. Detroit Lions- Derrick Hnery, RB, Alabama
47. New Orleans Saints- Jalen Mills, CB, LSU
48. Indianapolis Colts- Su'a Cravens, LB, USC
49. Buffalo Bills- Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
50. Atlanta Falcons- Jeremy Cash, SS, Duke
51. New York Jets- Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State
52. Houston Texans- Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama
53. Washington Redskins- Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
54. Minnesota Vikings- Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
55. Cincinnati Bengals- Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State
56. Seattle Seahawks- Shon Coleman. OT, Auburn
57. Green Bay Packers- Nick Vannett, TE, Ohio State
58. Pittsburgh Steelers- Keanu Neal, SS, Florida
59. Kansas City Cheifs- Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
60. New England Patriots- Germain Ifedi, OG, Texas A&M
61. Arizona Cardinals- Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
62. Carolina Panthers- Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State
63. Denver Broncos- Jordan Howard, RB, Indiana

3rd Round

64. Tennessee Titans- Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
65. Cleveland Browns- Jihad Ward, DE, Illinois
66. San Diego Chargers- Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
67. Dallas Cowboys- Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida
68. San Francisco 49ers- Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
69. Jacksonville Jaguars- KeiVarae Russell, CB, Notre Dame
70. Baltimore Ravens- Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
71. New York Giants- Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
72. Chicago Bears- Kyler Fackrell, OLB, Utah State
73. Miami Dolphins- Devontae Booker, RB, Utah
74. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona State
75. Oakland Raiders- Landon Turner, OG, North Carolina
76. Los Angeles Rams- Max Tuerk, C, USC
77. Philadelphia Eagles- DeAndre Houston-Carson, CB/S, William & Mary
78. New Orleans Saints- Bronson Kaufusi, DE, BYU
79. Philadelphia Eagles- Nick Martin, OG, Notre Dame
80. Buffalo Bills- Rashad Higgins, WR, Colorado State
81. Atlanta Falcons- Vadal Alexander, OG/OT, LSU
82. Indianapolis Colts- Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA
83. New York Jets- Thomas Duarte, TE, UCLA
84. Washington Redskins- Scooby Wright III, ILB, Arizona
85. Houston Texans- Jacoby Brissett, QB, N.C. State
86. Minnesota Vikings- Jordan Jenkins, LB/DE, Georgia
87. Cincinnati Bengals- Kentrell Brothers, OLB, Missouri
88. Green Bay Packers- Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU
89. Pittsburgh Steelers- Jerell Adams, TE, South Carolina
90. Seattle Seahawks- Deion Jones, OLB, LSU
91. Kansas City Chiefs- Joshua Perry, OLB, Ohio State
92. New England Patriots- Artie Burns, CB, Miami
93. Arizona Cardinals- Willie Henry, DT, Michigan
94. Carolina Panthers- Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia
95. Denver Broncos- Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska

The Race for the Top Pick is Closer Than You Think

2016-02-21T13:05:00.002-05:00

The general consensus is that the freshman phenom out of LSU, Ben Simmons, will declare for the 2016 NBA draft and be picked 1st overall. This general consensus was also seen last year, when Duke Center Jahlil Okafor was presumably the first overall pick. This is why they play the games people.

Karl Anthony-Towns and DeAngelo Russell were picked in front of Okafor even with Okafor's Blue Devil's taking the Championship.

This isn't a " Ben Simmons is overrated" article. Nor is it a bandwagon for folks to jump on. The facts are, the race for the number one pick is much closer than many think.

Ben Simmons can attribute his fading light to another fantastic freshman for a team previously mentioned. Brandon Ingram of Duke has stepped in to question whether Simmons is the right way to go at the top of the draft.

Before we say anything more on the subject, let it be known that the hype surrounding Ben Simmons is 100 percent warranted. There may not be a more prolific talent since Lebron James entered the 2003 draft. His game back it up.

Simmons has a rare combination of size, ball-handling and pass vision. For someone standing at 6-foot-10 and have the elite athleticism Simmons has immediately warrants discussion as to where he would land in the 2016 draft. The measurables are great. However, teams want to see a player produce. Simmons has done that as well.

So far, Simmons is averaging a double-double, scoring 19.3 points a game and racking up 12.0 rebounds a game as well. He leads all freshman with 19 double-doubles this year alone.

The real questions that pertain to Simmons is the intangibles. He is carrying a less-than talented LSU team and not doing a great job. The Tigers are fighting for a spot and are currently on the bubble according to Joe Lunardi. Simmons has been criticized for tending to fade away late in close games. Many question if Simmons has it in him to lead an NBA team and carry said team into the limelight, which is what a potential number one overall pick should be able to do.

Simmons also does not have much of a game passed the free-throw line. He is a less-than sufficient mid-range shooter and is a liability on the perimeter. His scoring comes from the paint. As we all know, at the next level, it gets increasingly hard to score down low even with the athleticism shown by Simmons.

Yet, it isn't likely an NBA team would pass up on such a talent because of intangibles, especially if said intangibles do not pop up off the court.

What Simmons lacks, may be found in Brandon Ingram.

Late last night, the Blue Devils were down 60-68 against hated rival North Carolina. The game couldn't have been bigger. Ingram who hadn't made much of an impact on the offensive end of the ball to that point, took the game into his hands.

Ingram proceeded to score 3 straight tough baskets to close the gap to 2 points. Duke wouldn't look back and eventually beat the Tarheels by a single point.

Imgram can score. Offensively, he is often compared to Kevin Durant. His long frame and deceptive athleticism helps his get to the basket. He can score from all over the court. He is a solid rebounder and defender.

The 6-foot-10 forward does not have the NBA-ready build that Simmons possesses. They seem to be polar opposites. One complements the other. Ingram isn't as NBA-ready as Simmons is. Ingram's perimeter game is what makes him stand out. We have seen what a team like Golden State can do when they are hitting from the 3-point line. Before you know it, you're down 30. The NBA is moving towards a more perimeter-orientated game which Ingram would fit perfectly into.

Simmons would have trouble fitting in on a team like Golden State.

Nonetheless, Simmons is a once-in-a-generation type player and it will take some real balls for a team (most likely Philly) to pass on such a prospect.

Just know that Ingram is closing the gap. If Simmons cannot carry the LSU tigers into the tournament, look for Simmons' stock to fall further. Ingram's Blue Devils now have a real chance at the title. We will see this Summer.

Pittsburgh Steelers' 5-Year Draft in Review

2016-02-21T13:05:00.001-05:00

Pittsburgh Steelers' 5-Year Draft in Review

Following back to back playoff appearances in 2010 and 2011 including a Super Bowl appearance, the Pittsburgh Steelers put in back to back mediocre seasons in 2012 and 2013 that both finished 8-8. However in 2014, they came roaring back with an eleven-win season and won one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. The Steelers’ resurgence is thanks in part to a great crop of young talent acquired over the last five drafts. 2015 was also a success.

Most of the Steelers’ successful draft picks have been on the offensive side of the ball, producing multiple Pro Bowl players. The most notable is Antonio Brown who looks to be the best value pick in the last five years as the Steelers grabbed him in the sixth round. Brown has been contributing as a returner and receiver in all five years making the 2011 Pro Bowl as a return man. However in the past two years, Brown has emerged as one of the best receivers in the league after his historic 2014 season. He followed up that great year with an even better one, leaving him considered as the premier wideout in the NFL. Joining him at the receiver position are 2013 3rd round pick Markus Wheaton and 2014 4th round pick Martavis Bryant. With Brown as the star and the other two as contributing factors, the Steelers potentially have one of the best receiving corps for 2016.

Other Pro Bowl selections drafted in the past five years are 2010 1st rounder Maurkice Pouncey and 2013 2nd round pick Le’Veon Bell. Following a decent rookie campaign, Bell had an incredible break out season in 2014. Bell, had an injury-riddled 2015 but when on the field, produced at a high level. He was one of the best running backs in the league. With Bell on offense alongside Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger has two of the best offensive weapons. He also has one of the best centers hiking him the ball in Pouncey. Pouncey has been a Pro Bowl selection four times in his five years and is the anchor on one of the best offensive lines in the league. Also joining Pouncey on the line from the previous five drafts are 2011 2nd round pick Marcus Gilbert, 2012 1st round pick David DeCastro, and 2012 7th round pick Kelvin Beachum. With Roethlisberger being protected by this offensive line with Brown, Bell, Wheaton, and Bryant as his weapons, the Steelers had one of the most dangerous offenses in 2015 thanks to their recent drafts.

The draft picks on the defensive side of the ball have not been up to par with the offense. The 2010 2nd rounder Jason Worilds never did much to live up to his 2nd round selection. He was a contributor as a reserve in his first three seasons and a starter in his last two. However he retired from the NFL after only five years in the league. The 4th round pick from the same year, linebacker Thaddeus Gibson, did not even last through his rookie season. Sean Spence from the 2012 draft has had trouble staying healthy so far playing only one out of three seasons. The 1st round pick in 2013, Jarvis Jones, has yet to live up to his huge hype. He has only started eleven games in his first two years and had injuries issues. . He still has the chance to turn it around but will need to step up big time to do so. The Steelers did get a starter on the defensive line in Cameron Heyward, but he is nothing spectacular.

The jury may still be out on Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt. They had iffy rookie seasons, but came on stronger in their sophomore seasons. Shazier is growing into his role for Pittsburgh and has solidified himself as a future starter at the linebacking position for years to come.

The team drafted Bud Dupree at 22 in the 2015 draft. Dupree has raw athleticism, but he's also fairly raw as a pass-rusher. The Steelers drafted him, I believe, knowing a reasonable amount of patience is required with his development. He's had a few moments where he stands out, using his burst to get into the backfield in a hurry. But that usually comes when he's got a free lane or beats the tackle with raw speed. What I still need to see is feel for the game, instincts, counter moves to get loose. He had a less than productive rookie year.

Could Use of the Crying Jordan Meme Get You Sued?

2016-02-21T13:05:00.000-05:00

We all know the viral and wildly popular meme that is the Crying MJ Meme. Before we get into a serious discussion over the use of a meme, lets take a moment to look at the meme in use, to our pleasure.

What did Fitzpatrick do to deserve this?

The Steph ones are great.

As an Eagle Fan, this one is great.

There's a good chance you're familiar with Crying Michael Jordan, the viral meme that has become a sensation online and in social media. The now-famous image was captured when Jordan was introduced as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 11, 2009. That evening, he teared up during a memorably candid and edgy induction speech in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was a rare moment in which Jordan let his guard down and allowed us to see him in a vulnerable light.

"It just seems to have an appropriateness for so many different circumstances," said Andrew Selepak, director of the social media graduate program at the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. "That face can be used for a meme for a number of different levels, whether it's sports or non-sports related. But because of the passion people have for sports, I think it has legs like few other memes that have been popular in the past."

To wit, Crying Michael Jordan has the kind of staying power that eluded the poignant but outdated "I can has cheezburger?" cat meme.

Which leads us to a crucial question:

Can you get sued for using the Crying Michael Jordan meme?

The Associated Press could pursue legal action if it believes its copyright of the image has been violated. "We own the rights in our photo, which was taken in 2009," Associated Press spokesman Paul Colford wrote in an email to ESPN.com. "We could enforce those rights depending on the use and other factors, as is the case with all AP photos."

Likewise, Jordan spokesperson Estee Portnoy recently implied that the basketball icon's camp is keeping a close eye on usage of the meme. "We haven't seen anyone using it to promote their commercial interests, which is something that we're monitoring," Portnoy wrote in an email to the Chicago Tribune.

However, many creative uses of copyrighted material are legal in this country under the principle of fair use, as outlined in Section 107 of the Copyright Law of 1976.

"The United States has the strongest copyright law in the world," said Renee Hobbs, founder and director of the University of Rhode Island's Media Education Lab. "But we also have strong protection for users. It's a fundamental point. Fair use is important to the balance of the copyright law."

A key in fulfilling the requirement for fair use is to provide added value. Did the user provide additional context in some way? Or was the copyrighted material simply used as a substitute or replacement for the original?

In other words, if you are creatively modifying the work -- whether by adding witty text or photoshopping it onto another image -- you are almost certainly not violating copyright law.

"It's very situational and contextual," Hobbs said. "The Michael Jordan meme is legal because it's a transformative use of the original material."

Here's the kicker: Not only are you not violating copyright law in such instances, but your work has now become copyrighted as well.

"A work is automatically copyrighted at the moment of creation," Hobbs said. "If you make a transformative meme, it's copyrighted."

All of the above boils down to this: It's unlikely that a copyright suit over Crying Jordan would be successful.

Still, anyone can sue anyone else for anything. Like most things in life, there are no guarantees.

Penn State Brandywine's Most Underrated Player

2016-02-14T16:12:00.002-05:00

The Penn State Brandywine Women's Basketball team has had a strong season thus far, racking up 16 wins to just 8 losses. The record may not stack up to where previous Brandywine seasons have gone but that's not stopping the girls from playing hard down the stretch.

The team has won 4 straight games by an average margin of 16 points.

Junior forward Olivia Encarnacion leads Brandywine in scoring, averaging 12.0ppg, while senior guard Lauren Munro leads the team in rebounds per game and field goal percentage. Munro is also second in scoring, averaging 10.6ppg.

However, it seems as though the team needs a lift from a new face. Symantha Marrero, a sophomore guard, may be the hidden gem for Brandywine that can take them over the hump into being true contenders.

Number 10 may be the most underrated player on the team. The guard gets limited playing time, logging a modest 7.4 minutes a game. However, don't let that number fool you.

The sophomore netted seven points and snagged seven rebounds in 15 minutes in the win over Penn State Scranton on February 13th.

On February 8th, Marrero managed to score 9 points in a mere 6 minutes played the entire game. Marrero has a wet jumper and, when given the opportunity, can really light up the score board.

When crunching the numbers, Marrero has the 4th best points per minute average (16.0 points) of any player on the team, and the most of any player off the bench.

The numbers say it's time for a boost in minutes. Whether she gets that is yet to be determined. The season is winding down, now with just two games left on the schedule. We will see if Brandywine plans to use its secret weapon or keep her a secret for upcoming seasons.

The Philadelphia Eagles 5-Year Draft in Review

2016-02-11T21:31:00.000-05:00

With 48 picks in the last five years, the Philadelphia Eagles are tied with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers for the most in the NFL. How does that song go? One of these things is not like the other.

In the past five seasons, the Seahawks have two Super Bowl appearances with a Super Bowl victory; the 49ers have appeared in three NFC Championship Games, winning one. Meanwhile, over the same stretch, the Eagles have not won a playoff game and also had a four-win season. The biggest reason for the difference in the success of the three teams is the difference in production from their draft picks over this five-year stretch. While the Eagles have drafted a few solid players, their production from the draft has not been nearly enough.

Let's take it year by year to break down where the Eagles may have gone wrong.

The Philadelphia Eagles obtained a total of 13 draft picks in the 2010 draft. What was more amazing than the amount of draft picks accumulated was the amount of productivity from the 13 players selected. The issue here is how short the players' careers were at Philly. Six of the 13 picks spent a year or less with the team. A team could have a total of six picks in an entire draft; its amazing to see six picks wasted.

While none made a huge impact, the Eagles did get production at the safety position. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman played okay to say the least. However, neither are still with the team in 2016. The only pick who remains with Philadelphia is the 1st rounder Brandon Graham. Graham, up into this past season, has been a huge flop. Philly fans do not want to remember who went after Graham in the draft.

The 2011 draft is more of the same story but even worse, as it was another huge draft class (11 players) that has failed to produce. Only Julian Vandervelde and Jason Kelce are still with the team for 2015 with only Kelce being a contributor. Kelce has been very good for the Eagles, starting at center for four out of five years, missing 2012 with injury. Kelce was rewarded for his play with a contract extension before the 2014 season and followed it up with his first Pro Bowl selection. The rest of the draft was a huge failure with the first three draft picks gone after only two seasons or less with the Eagles. The class as a whole goes down as one of the worst in the last five years.

The 2012 draft was much more productive than the last two. Hindsight will tell you that the Eagles drafted some talented players on the defensive side of the ball. Take Fletcher Cox and Mychal Kendricks. Both have had great careers in Philly and are now starters at their respected positions.In 2015, Cox solidified himself as one of the leagues top defensive lineman. He also managed to go to Hawaii after being selected to his first Pro-Bowl. Vinny Curry was also drafted in this class. Curry recently signed a 5-year deal worth $47.25M. He is a great situational pass rusher who the Eagles had to lock up. Brandon Boykin, who was traded last offseason, also was drafted in 2012. He was solid for Philly, playing well as the Nickel corner. The final notable selection from this draft is Nick Foles. Foles looked like a potential franchise quarterback after a Pro Bowl season in 2013 which included an incredible 27 to 2 touchdown to interception ratio. However following an injury ridden average 2014 season, Foles was traded to St. Louis for Sam Bradford.

The Eagles followed up a good draft class with another. In 2013, Philadelphia found two solid starters in Bennie Logan and Lane Johnson, who was the 4th overall pick. On the offensive side of the ball, the team drafted Tight End Zach Ertz. Zach Ertz has emerged as one of the top young tight ends the league has to offer. He also recently inked a new 5-year deal worth $42M. He has taken the starting spot from Celek, who at times is a better blocker than Ertz.

The streak of successful draft classes ends at the 2014 draft. The only key contributor drafted in 2014 was Vanderbilt wideout Jordan Matthews. Josh Huff and Jaylen Watkins get playing time but are liabilities on the field. Jordan Matthews had a great rookie year but was plagued by drops his sophomore season in the league. He took on the number one option role at the receiver position in 2015 and it may have taken a toll. He is still promising. For the sake of Philadelphia fans reading this, lets not get into the Marcus Smith pick. Thanks.

It is still to early to grade last year's class. The jury is still out, especially with a new system and coaching coming in. Nelson Agholor was the team's first round pick. He had less than a productive rookie season, but with Doug Pederson coming to Philly, the implementation of the West-Coast offense may help Agholor be more effective as an underneath pass catcher. Eric Rowe had a rough go early on in the season, but sured up his game as the season went along. He may be a viable option for the Eagles moving forward. The best pick may be the third round pick of Jordan Hicks. Hicks was flying around the field, making plays and displaying leadreship before a season-ending injury reared its ugly head. He is also a promising young talent.

For a team with so many draft picks within the last five seasons, it's hard to imagine how Philly can still be playing so poorly. There have been questionable offseason decisions made by former Head Coach Chip Kelly, along with poor coaching strategies that may not fit the player's strengths. We will see what Philadelphia can do moving forward to leave their mark on the NFL.

The NFL Will Look Very Different Next Year

2016-02-11T11:46:00.001-05:00

We are only a week into the offseason, and we have heard some big names retire from the NFL. We are still waiting to here from one more big name, but presumably, three future Hall-of-Famers will be gone next season.

We also have heard some devastated news out of Cleveland and Philadelphia, that have us questioning the well-being of some NFL players. We may not see them play at all as well.

Calvin Johnson

An all-time great at his position. The franchise leader in almost every receiving category. No SuperBowl appearance, and a sudden retirement. Does this sound familiar Lion's fans? Calvin Johnson has retired from the NFL which has come as a shock to many.

After nine seasons in the NFL, Megatron's body flat out began to wear down. Johnson has a huge frame and his size makes him an easy target. It's safe to say that Megatron had plenty more in the tank, this wasn't a " I just cannot produce anymore." retirement. Dealing with multiple ankle injuries and other general body injuries may be too much for the 30-year old to handle. Who's to blame him.

None of us want to see arguably the greatest wide receiver in NFL history go, but he made a decision with his family and close friends. A decision to part ways with the NFL after just nine seasons and one playoff win.

Here are some parting gifts for those who are still mourning.

6× Pro Bowl (2010-2015)
3× First-team All-Pro (2011-2013)
Second-team All-Pro (2010)
2× NFL receiving yards leader (2011, 2012)
3x NFC Receiving yards leader (2011-2013)
2× NFC receiving touchdowns leader (2010, 2011)
10,000 Receiving Yards Club
NFL single-season record for most receiving yards (1,964, 2012)
Second most all time receiving yards in a game (329)
One of two players in NFL history with 5,000+ receiving yards in a 3-year period (Antonio Brown)
Pro football record for most career games with 200+ receiving yards (5, tied with Lance Alworth)
Detroit Lions all-time career leader in receiving yards and touchdowns
Fastest receiver to reach 10,000 receiving yards

Marshawn Lynch

The quiet, yet outspoken running back for the Seattle Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch has also retired from the NFL.

We all know what Beast Mode is known for doing, taking on hits with full force, and hardly ever being tackled by one defender. Now it seems as though those brutal hits have caught up with Lynch.

Lynch also has retired after just nine seasons and may still have some gas left in the tank, but if you're following the trend here, that's not what this is about. The NFL is getting more and more physical and the toll these hits can take on ones body can cause them to think seriously about their future.

I applaud both Johnson and Lynch for making these tough decisions.

Marshawn Lynch will leave behind a unique legacy that transcends the running back position. Many will remember the Media Days, many will remember the gang signs and terrible "thug" word being used torward Lynch. Quite frankly, many couldn't have a more respected career than Lynch. What Beast Mode meant to Seattle and their fans is undeniable. I know what i will remember. I will remember the BeastQuake back against New Orleans in 2011. I will remember the Skittles raining down from the stands after every touchdown. Lynch has left his mark on the league, a mark much like any other.

Super Bowl champion (2014)
2x NFC Champion (2013, 2014)
5× Pro Bowl (2008, 2011–2014)
First-team All-Pro (2012)
Second-team All-Pro (2014)
2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2013, 2014)
NFL total touchdowns co-leader (2014)
2× NFL post-season rushing leader (2013, 2014)
24th all-time in rushing touchdowns

Peyton Manning

Not much needs to be said about Peyton Manning. I know we're jumping the gun with this but let's be real, Peyton has to make a decision by March 8th, or someone on the Broncos will have to make a decision for him.

Peyton had a year unlike any other in 2015. He had led a team to a 7-0 record. Was then booed off the field. Was then benched for Brock Osweiler after a 4-INT game. Then the injuries started to kick in and made matters worse. Yet, just like Peyton would, he persevered. He made a Week 17 come-back and led the Denver Broncos to post-season wins against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.

Whenever Manning decides to hang up his cleats, he will go down as a first-ballot HOFer. What Manning has meant for the league is hard to put into words. He has stolen the hearts of many and is class-personified.

Manning has more Super Bowl titles than everyone mentioned in this article, combined. It is hard to imagine a quarterback having a better season than Manning's prolific 2013 season. Manning will go down as a top five player of all time. The stats speak for themselves.

2× Super Bowl champion (XLI, 50)
Super Bowl MVP (XLI)
4× AFC champion (2006, 2009, 2013, 2015)
5× AP NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)
14× Pro Bowl (1999, 2000, 2002-2010, 2012-2014)
7× First-team All-Pro (2003-2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1999, 2000, 2006)
2× AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2004, 2013)
AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2012)
4× NFL passing touchdown leader (2000, 2004, 2006, 2013)
3x NFL passing yards leader (2000, 2003, 2013)
Pro Bowl MVP (2005)
Indianapolis Colts all-time leader (career wins, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards)
NFL all-time leader in career touchdown passes and passing yards
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2013)
Other awards and honors

You all will be well missed. Leave a comment below on who you will mis the most.

Re-Drafting the 2009 NBA Lottery

2016-02-09T17:37:00.003-05:00

One of the funnest things we like to do here at TheFreeLancers is re-draft previous drafts whether in the NFL or NBA. We draft new players to previous positions with the help of hindsight of course.

This time around, we are going to look at the absolutely loaded 2009 NBA Draft. There are good picks, busts, and hidden gems just like any draft. Now, we will see how the Draft should have gone seven years later. Tell us what you think in the comments.

With the first pick...

#1 Stephen Curry
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Original spot for Curry: No. 7
Original Selection: Blake Griffin

#2 James Harden
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Orginal Spot for Harden: No. 3
Original Selection: Hasheem Thabeet

#3 Blake Griffin
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Original Spot for Griffin: No. 1
Original Selection: James Harden

#4 Demar Derozan
Team: Sacremento Kings
Original Spot for Derozan: No. 9
Original Selection: Tyreke Evans

#5 Jeff Teague
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Original Spot for Teague: No. 19
Original Selection: Ricky Rubio

#6 Wesley Matthews
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Original Spot for Matthews: Undrafted
Original Selection: Jonny Flynn

#7 Ty Lawson
Team: Golden State Warriors
Original Spot for Lawson: No. 18
Original Selection: Stephen Curry

#8 Taj Gibson
Team: New York Knicks
Original Spot for Gibson: No. 26
Original Selection: Jordan Hill

#9 DeMarre Carroll
Team: Toronto Raptors
Original Spot for Carroll: No. 27
Original Selection: DeMar Derozan

#10 Darren Collison
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Original Spot for Collison: No. 21
Original Selection: Brandon Jennings

#11 Brandon Jennings
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Original Spot for Jennings: No. 10
Original Selection: Terrence Williams

#12 Danny Green
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Original Spot for Green: No. 46
Original Selection: Gerald Henderson

#13 Tyreke Evans
Team: Indiana Pacers
Original Spot for Evans: No. 4
Original Selection: Tyler Hansborough

#14 Jordan Hill
Team: Phoenix Suns
Original Spot for Hill: No. 8
Original Selection: Earl Clark

This Re-Draft features James Harden and Steph Curry on new teams. Curry lands at the number one spot with the Los Angeles Clippers and Harden heads to Memphis. How this would shake up the NBA is fun to think about. Would Curry see the same success he sees at Golden State with the Clippers? How would Westbrook, Durant and Griffen work out? This was a great draft, yet somehow, Jonny Flynn, Hansborough and Thabeet were all lottery picks. What do you think?

The Sunday Spotlight: Ronnie Stanley

2016-02-07T15:47:00.000-05:00

As the 2016 NFL draft draws nearer, we at The FreeLancers will break down the top NFL prospects around the country. Be sure to check back every Sunday to see which future star will be under our Spotlight. This week the Spotlight shines on...

Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame, 6-5, 304lbs.

Pros

Pass Protecting- Stanley has the pass protecting talent expected from an early round left tackle prospect. He explodes off the line of scrimmage to get back into his pass set as well as anyone in the country. Is great at getting control of the flow of the snap by getting into quicksets, making it easy for him to get his hands of the pass rusher first. Does a good job of getting his feet under him to sustain blocks.

All-around Quickness- Everything Stanley does he does quickly, which is a huge plus when projecting his skill set to the next level. Plays with quick hands and has a well-timed punch. Not often beat around the edge by speed rushers because he is fast and athletic enough himself to beat the defender to his spot. His leg kick is top-notch.

Maturity- Many questioned Stanley's decision to stay after his junior season, when many thought his draft stock couldn't get any higher. Yet, Stanley wanted to work on his weaknesses and make sure he was ready to play at the next level and also , more importantly wanted to help the Fightin' Irish win a National Championship. Stanley is still a projected top-15 pick.

Cons

Strength- Stanley will not overwhelm defenders with power. Speed rushers will have a hard time getting around Stanley, but the more powerful defenders will find success bull-rushing their way through the OT. Stanley has average upper body strength and has trouble re-directing him man off course from the quarterback.

Recovery- When Stanley is beat, which is not often, he has trouble using various techniques to recover. A strength for any great offensive tackle would be his recovery speed. When beat, he tends to panic and lose his discipline in hand placement.

Pro Comparison

Lane Johnson, of the Philadelphia Eagles, serves as the best comparison to Ronnie Stanley. Both have similar build, and both thrive athletically. Both are versatile enough to play both tackles positions, which Stanley has experience doing at Notre Dame. The three-year starter has showed improved run blocking prowess and strength during his senior year. Stanley's core power is still a question, but the prospect should be ready to start day one for a team that is looking to protect a franchise quarterback.

What's Next for Johnny?

2016-02-06T11:48:00.002-05:00

Many have said it long before what has transpired in Cleveland. Johnny Manziel is no good, and won't ever be any good. Yet, the Cleveland Browns took the chance on Manziel and tried to trust him. Time after time, Manziel let his fans, family and organization down.

The latest news involving Manziel is the most disturbing news to date. No, there was not a video of Johnny pouring down drinks, no gambling in Vegas, no tailgating parties. Something much more troubling happened last Saturday.

The woman who labels herself Manziel's ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, accused Manziel of striking her several times. The details are even worse. Crowley claims that Manziel threatened to "kill us both" while driving on a busy highway. The situation got out of hand to say the least. It truly opened our eyes to realize that Johnny Manziel, the person not football player, needs serious help.

This is actually the second time Manziel is being investigated for a domestic dispute. News now comes out that the Cleveland Browns plan to move on from the quarterback in March. Even Manziel's agent, Erik Burkhardt, is parting ways with Manziel. This is stunning to witness as just two years ago, agents across the map were dying to be employed by him.

The ball is really rolling down hill for Manziel to say the least.

Yet, too many stories or articles online take the negative approach to things. Now, that being said, there isn't much positive to hang your hat on when discussing Johnny Manziel, but we will take a look into what the future may hold for the 23-year-old quarterback.

The only true way the quarterback can get back into the NFL would be to stay clean. This is obvious. It is looking more and more likely that Manziel may not play at all this following season, as his beloved Dallas Cowboys have said to have no interest in him.

If Manziel takes a step back from all the limelight, which is clearly hard to do, he can have a shot at the NFL in the 2017-2018 season. The kid has tremendous talent, which is not the problem. If he can stay out of the news for an entire year, the chance a new team takes a shot at Johnny would be a good one.

The real question is, does he want to? This man's future is solely in his hands. More news broke out recently that Manziel's father, Paul Manziel, tried to get his son back into rehab, which the QB declined. Twice. This further hurts his image.

For Manziel to truly make it back to the league and fulfill his potential, he will have to stay out of the news. That being easier said than done. There is a sense of vulnerability seen within Johnny. If your average heckler was able to get into Manziel's head, how can you expect the man with presumably no job in the NFL to stay quiet?

It's look like its going to a tough road for Manziel, and as a true fan, I personally wish him the best. Nonetheless, his future as an NFL quarterback is slowly but surely dying out before our own eyes.

Meet the Emerging Talent, Myles Turner

2016-02-05T20:59:00.003-05:00

Last Monday night, the 6-foot-11 Indiana Pacers rookie set Twitter ablaze with his ferocious block of Lebron James.

Who exactly is Myles Turner? Here is a player that has been thrust into the starting lineup for Indiana and has been an instant impact. Yet, most likely, you haven't heard from him before the block of Lebron James. However, Turner has had an astounding two weeks. Two weeks in which he scored 31 points against the reigning champs, the Golden State Warriors and delivered a clutch, highlight reel block on one of the most prominent players in the game.

Here is what Turner had to say about his block on Lebron James:

"I saw [LeBron's] man got beat and I was like, 'All right, screw it,'" Turner told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "There's no way I can just let him dunk it. It was a close game and a momentum-swinging play, so I just went up, hoped for the best and I happened to end up on the right side of things."

Here is a look at the block in case you missed it.

Turner has come along way. Everyone has their own story on how they made it big, but Turner's was special. Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb that lived and breathed football. Being the athlete that he was, Turner tried out for the football team but was not cut out for the physicality and brutal nature of the sport. Myle's Dad, David Turner, had his son try baseball.

Baseball also didn't turn out well; one of his coaches told him he would never become anything special. That was just fuel to the fire for Turner. He focused all his energy and skills into the game of basketball.

Turner's parents struggled mightily trying to get their son into AAU tournaments out of high-school. The daily struggle was enough, but Turner breaking his ankle as a sophomore proved to be the breaking point for the young man. Questions arose as too whether Turner really wanted to continue the daily grind needed to produce on the court.

Turner didn't quit. It was his parents who kept him in check and helped him throughout his 6-month rehab. The hard work paid off and Myles Turner had quickly risen to the level of a 5-star recruit.

As a senior, Turner averaged 18.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 6.8 blocks a game. The obvious phone calls came. The likes of John Calipari, Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim all wanted their hands on Turner. Yet, he elected to stay close to home and play for the Texas Longhorns, the team he grew up rooting for.

Turner went on to have a terrific career at Texas, being voted the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He was ultimately drafted 11th overall by Indiana this past summer.

Turner remembers the hard work it took to get him to this level. His confidence continues to grow now starting for the Pacers. On January 17th, Turner scored 25 points in just 29 minutes. Ever since that game in Denver, Turner has taken off. He followed up that preformance with scoring games of 15, 31, 11 and 16.

The ceiling just keeps getting higher for the youngster. How high can it get? The rookie of the year candidates have already been set. Can Turner make a late push for the award? Watch your back rooks, Turner is coming.

2016 Dunk Contest: Who We Really Wanted to See

2016-02-04T20:21:00.001-05:00

The 2016 Dunk Contest participants have been named. Denver's Will Barton, Detroit's Andre Drummond and Orlando's Aaron Gordon will be joining reigning champ Zach Lavine in this year's dunk contest. No complaints to see Lavine back defending his title. Lavine was electrifying to say the least.

Andre Drummond, the only all-star on participating in the contest, is more of an in-game dunker and gets most of his dunks off lobs when rolling off a screen. It'll be hard to imagine the 6'11, 280 pound monster flying high on February 13th. Will Barton and Aaron Gordon are names unfamiliar to the casual fan. Barton and Gordon can really fly but are hardly key roles to their teams winning on the court. Does that matter?

Every year we ask the same question. Where are the stars? I think we are past the campaigns to see Lebron James preform in the contest. He is getting up there in age and may not bring the flare we expect him too. So we won't have Lebron on this list. Yet, here are some of the players we actually want to see in the Dunk Contest.

Russell Westbrook PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

Need we say more with Russell Westbrook. The OKC point guard brings energy and excitement in everything he does on the court, and that's during the long regular season grind. With the spotlight on him, Westbrook would be sure to deliver if he was in the dunk contest.

Andrew Wiggins, SG, Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota has another young high-flyer in former number one overall pick Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins, who assisted teammate Levine in 2015's dunk contest, can bring his own flare to the game. Who wouldn't want to see T-Wolves' teammates go head to head for the crown?

DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Clippers

DeAndre Jordan, similarly to Drummond, in a primarily lob dunker who has the ability to posterize and presumably end players careers. Yet, we saw what Dwight Howard did in previous years. Maybe Jordan can just have people stand under the basket and we can watch him dunk all over them.

Some younger, less-known names to look forward too are Nerlens Noel, the Knicks Derrick Williams, The Jazz's Rudy Gobert, or even Kristaps Porzingis, another New York Knick.You have another player you would like to see in the Dunk Contest? Leave the name in the comment section below.

NFL Pro Bowl Revamp

2016-02-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

Let's face it. We know how hard the Pro Bowl can be to watch. For you and I, the more invested fan, it may not be so difficult. However, to the casual fan, this is flat out unwatchable. The Pro Bowl can have its moments to be fair. Players still make great throws and catches. That doesn't take away the lack of tackling and competitiveness seen throughout the game that gives off a sense of disingenuous football. We know its an exhibition game. We know players don't want to risk injury. This is all fine.

Yet, how can we make this more entertaining for the fans? Let's start with what the Pro Bowl gets right. This is a game for the fans so the fans earn the right to pick who they want to see. The backyard captain style of drafting players is a plus. The game staying in Hawaii is also a huge plus. That's pretty much where the good part ends.

Here are some changes and innovations we at The FreeLancers think should come to the Pro Bowl in 2017.

An All-Star Weekend

Much like the NBA, the NFL should adopt an All-Star Weekend. Call it the Pro Bowl Weekend. Have events leading up to the game itself. There's no doubt people will come fill the seats for two more days in Hawaii. Adding two more days of football would surely increase profit, which the NFL would comply with. Here are some ideas as to what the other two days of events could consist.

A Rising Stars Bowl

I know, more NBA comparisons. Having a game between NFC and AFC rookie or sophomore players could be very interesting. Although, this may mean these players wouldn't partake in the actual Pro Bowl on Sunday.

Top Collegiate players play top NFL players

We are all sick of the "Could Alabama beat the Titans?" talk. This game would put an end to it. However, this idea would be unlikely as many of the top collegiate players would have serious risk of hurting their draft stock. Playing against the top NFL players could expose a player or severely injury them.

A Flag Football Game

This would give fans the opportunity to get to know the best players in the NFL by their faces, not just through a visor or name on the back of a jersey. Also, seeing these athletes fly without pads holding them back will be interesting to see. They're in Hawaii as it is, why not play in shorts and a t-shirt?

WR/CB 1-on-1s

For those who have played football as a kid or in high school, we know that one of the funnest parts of practice were WR/CB 1-on-1s.

Punt Pass Kick Competition

Punt/Pass/Kick competitions are a great way to get kids to compete amongst each other while still having fun. Seeing NFL players like Richard Sherman, Julio Jones or Odell Beckham participating in this kind of competition would be intriguing.

Field Goal Competitions

Seeing non-kickers try to hit a field goal may alleviate some of the pressure of Blair Walsh. That being said, watching top NFL players try to kick a field goal would be great.

One Hand Catch Competitions

We all see the amount attention Odell Beckham gets before a Giants game. His pre-game show of one-hand catches is a spectacle and to see other great receivers do the same would be fun.

Position Swaps/Swap Field

Some were intrigued to see Richard Sherman play offense and Odell Beckham and Devonta Freeman play defense. How about a game where defensive players solely play offense and vice versa?

There are more serious changes that could take place to change the Pro Bowl off the field:

Moving Pro-Bowl to after the Super Bowl again
Repercussions for not attending
More Fan interactions
Better incentives that may involve the next football season

There are those who will see some of these event ideas and think the Pro Bowl will be a joke. That's not what we want to see, the game become a joke. However, watching that "game" this past Sunday wasn't far from a joke. Some of the ideas mentioned here are less realistic than others. Nonetheless, some of these are fun. Leave a comment on what you think below.

Post-Senior Bowl NFL Mock Draft

2016-02-02T07:19:00.001-05:00

The NFL draft is more than 80 days away. These projections are sure to change. These picks have changed based on performances from the 2016 Senior Bowl.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

1. Tennessee Titans- Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
Priority number one- keep Mariota off his back. Taylor Lewon simply hasn't panned out. Titans take the number one tackle.

2. Cleveland Browns- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Wentz is the trendy pick. He was solid in the 2016 Senior Bowl. Cleveland will acquire a quarterback with an ideal frame and all the skill sets to thrive at the next level.

3. San Diego Chargers- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

Stanley won't overwhelm pass rushers with elite strength or quickness, but he is a solid pass-protecting left tackle who can start day one.

4. Dallas Cowboys- Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

The Dallas D still lacks identity. Drafting the Ohio State product, arguably the best overall player in the draft, will add instant production along the defensive line. QB may be the trendy pick, but Dallas plays it safe.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State

The Jaguars would like to add depth along the defensive line. However, the secondary needs to get addressed immediately. Whether Jacksonville buys big on DT or CB this upcoming free agency will tie into this pick.

6. Baltimore Ravens- DeForest Buckner, DT, Oregon
The Ravens are missing Haloti Ngata, and are seeing the end of Terrell Suggs career. A stud on defense would give the Ravens their identity back. Hargreaves and Treadwell are possibilities.

7. San Francisco 49ers- Jared Goff, QB, California
San Fran' will happily take Goff at seven. This situation reminds me of the one in Seattle when Flynn was signed. The 'Hawks brought in Flynn and drafted Wilson so they can compete. The 49ers will stick with Kaep, and have Goff competing by his side.

8. Miami Dolphins- Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Brent Grimes is turning 33. The defense needs to add talent and Hargreaves gives that and more. The Dolphins really need interior line help, but the value is not there.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
The team's defense thrived on the pass rush for years. They lacked a pass rush in 2015 and will add Lawson to help fix that situation.

10. New York Giants- Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
Back to back Clemson players here. We got to see what life is like without JPP, he may still not be 100% and will also be testing the market. Elliot is a pick to look at as well, the RB position wasn't too productive. However the Giant offense still got by.

11. Chicago Bears- Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
Chicago also lacks a prominent pass rusher. They get the best inside linebacker in the draft who can do it all. Baltimore will look to get back to their identity, so will Chicago here.

12. New Orleans Saints- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

The Saints can use all the help they can get on defense. Mackensie Alexander's stock is falling because of his injuries. A solid corner in the first round will help build the defense.

13. Philadelphia Eagles- Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
The Eagles receiving corps is full of C-grade players. Protection was not great last year, but Bradford still managed to put up okay numbers. Adding a potential A-grade player in Treadwell is too good to pass up.

14. Oakland Raiders- Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
D.J. Hayden has not panned out to what Raider fans and executives were expecting. The Raiders lack youth and talent in the secondary, and in a passing league, talented corners are a must.

15. Los Angeles Rams- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

The Rams are sure to pick a QB here, whether its Goff, Wentz, or in this case Lynch. The Rams are expected to bring in an RG3 or Manziel to try for the job. Developing a young talent under center would be a better route.

16. Detroit Lions- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Riley Reiff looks to be more suited to play right tackle or guard. He has played solidly but the Lions could use some help along the offensive line. Receiver may come into play at this spot since Calvin Johnson's recent retirement.

17. Atlanta Falcons- Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
Nkemdiche was a sure-fire top 5 pick when the 2015 college football season started. Off-field issues have arose since then and his stock has fallen because of it. We saw what happened to Randy Gregory last year. Nkemdiche falls to 17.

18. Indianapolis Colts- Jaylon Smith, OLB, Notre Dame
The Colts have a glaring need to solidify the offensive line. Not picking one could outrage fans, but Jaylon Smith is still on the board at 18. The Colts do not have young talent on defense. Jaylon Smith is a player they could build around.

19. Buffalo Bills- A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
The Bills could use some added depth along the defensive line. It seems as though Cordy Glenn will get signed up, reaching for an offensive lineman here wouldn't be smart.

20. New York Jets- Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
D'Brickashaw Ferguson has a huge cap hit looming. Expect him to be gone. Whoever plays quarterback for the Jets this coming year needs to be protected. The Jets have solid players on offense and defense. It's a matter of getting good quarterback play consistently.

21. Washington Redskins- Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

Competition along the defensive line will be paramount this upcoming season. No young talents sprung out. Reed will make an immediate impact on the field.

22. Houston Texans- Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
The Texans miss out on a quarterback here unless they move up. Sticking it out with Hoyer may be the best option. Elliot has traits similar to that of Arian Foster's. He can catch the ball out of the back field and has a knack for making big plays.

23. Minnesota Vikings- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
The Vikings are all smiles with the emergence of Stefon Diggs this past season. If the offense can get another weapon to help Bridgewater in the passing game, this team could be very dangerous.

24. Cincinnati Bengals- Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama
Could be the biggest steal of the draft. Ragland could be the first inside linebacker taken this draft. Cinci will have key linebackers hitting free agency as well as Burfict being suspended next year.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
The Steelers flat out cannot stop the pass. New blood at the position may result in some added energy and depth. Fuller is length and has solid technique.

26. Seattle Seahawks- Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
We think the Seattle defense is indestructible. Well, all things come to an end. The Seahawks will try to not let that happen. They have key defensive tackles ready to hit the market. Adding some young inexpensive talent would be great.

27. Green Bay Packers- Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
Going TE here may be an option, however, the Packers have to many holes along the entire defense. B.J. Raji is also set to test the market.

28. Kansas City Chiefs-Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
Linebacker is not a glaring need for Kansas City but Lee at 28 may also be a steal. Lee is a phenomenal inside backer who could keep the production level high in KC.

29. Arizona Cardinals- Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
The Cardinal defense has young talent in the secondary but have no rising stars along the front seven. Georgia's Floyd will bring some speed and flash on the outside.

30. Denver Broncos- Vadal Alexander, OG, LSU

The defense is stacked on this team and has no holes on that side of the field. Osweiler looks to be the guy in the future, protecting him will only help him develop better. TE and RB could also be an option.

31. Carolina Panthers- Darian Thompson, S, Boise State.
Carolina could use a stout safety who is young and coachable. Coleman, who makes plays from time to time, is not the answer long term for the Panthers. Thompson's stock is rising.

The Sunday Spotlight: Ezekiel Elliot

2016-01-31T11:51:00.001-05:00

As the 2016 NFL draft draws nearer, we at The FreeLancers will break down the top NFL prospects around the country. Be sure to check back every Sunday to see which future star will be under our Spotlight. This week the Spotlight shines on...

Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State, 6-1, 225 lbs, Junior

Pros:

Build: Weighing in at 225 lbs, Elliot has the size and strength needed to sustain a long career in the NFL. He's an exceptional pass blocker who doesn't mind standing up blitzing linebackers. He runs with a reckless abandon. His rare combination of strength and balance allows him to take tacklers for a ride after the point of contact. Ends every run on his terms, seldom running out of bounds.

Vision: His ability to read blockers inside and out may be his most prominent skill. He has great quickness that allows him to show patience and read his blocks on inside runs. Shows the ability to bounce outside when linebackers load the box. Possesses incredible lateral quickness in and out of cuts and picks up blitzers well.

Pass Catching: A more than capable pass catcher. Shifty and elusive enough to lose defenders in the open field. Solid pair of hands and can adjust to throws out of the backfield. Solid route runner and displays the potential to line up in the slot if needed.

Cons:

Workload: Elliot accumulated over 600 touches throughout his final two years as a Ohio State starter. With this workload, accompanied by his down-hill running style, Elliot's ability to continuously play at this pace will be hard to imagine. He projects as a every down back, but teams will have to take into account the workload he garnered over the past two seasons.

Maturity: After the Michigan St. loss, Elliot took to the media to voice his displeasure about the number of touches he had during the game. This kind of immaturity will not fly in the NFL. He also is known for his less-than-trendy uniform violations. Also was cited for driving without a license. Teams will take a look at these things.

Decision-making: Elliott will need to understand when it is the right time to lower his shoulder or head out of bounds. Although it my be a trait coaches desire, to preserve his body, he will have to learn how to end runs the smart way. Too many times, Elliot will too often take the brutal hit trying to get extra yardage when it is not needed. A nit-pick, but running backs at the next level know all too well about how important it is to preserve their bodies.

Pro Comparison:

Carolina's Jonathan Stewart may be the best comparison to Ezekiel Elliot. Stewart, a highly underrated back, plays with the same down hill mentality Elliot played with in Ohio State. Both have big statures that help play with the aggressiveness needed in the NFL. Elliot projects to be a one cut back with the ability to catch out of the back field, something Stewart has made a living doing for years when healthy. Le'Veon Bell is also a close comparison, but Elliot is not that well established as a pass catcher.

Braxton Miller a 1st Round Talent?

2016-01-30T06:45:00.001-05:00

The 2016 Senior Bowl showcases the best NFL prospects the collegiate game has to offer, all of which have completed their eligibility.

The Senior Bowl will be played today at 2:30PM Eastern time, however, we have had the luxury of watching the week of practice prior to the game itself. Players have stood out across the board. Carson Wentz has made a huge leap because of the poise and leadership he has shown at practice. Louisville stand-out DT Sheldon Rankins has been dominating practice, as has Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler.

One of the more surprising developments was that of Braxton Miller's. A collegiate star at the quarterback position for much of his career at the Ohio State Universiry, Miller made the transition to wide receiver his senior year due to a crowded quarterback situation. For a first time receiver, Miller provided solid production, catching 26 balls for 341 yards. Three of those catches resulted in touchdowns. He was seen as a work-in-progress, which is expected for a quarterback switching positions.

We have seen many players improve their stock dramatically, solely because of the Senior Bowl. Nick Marshall and Danny Shelton had great Senior Bowls in 2015, which improved their stock vastly. The same may be happening with Braxton Miller.

Braxton Miller has had complete control over solid corners throughout practice. He has shown legitimate over-the-top speed to blow past defenders.He possesses solid hands but his concentration and perception of the ball is what really stands out. For a receiver so new to the game, he uses well-timed leaps to catch the ball at its highest point. There is no doubting Miller's athleticism, what there is to doubt is if Miller can learn the ins and outs of the wide receiver position quickly. He still has major route running problems, and doesn't make too much of an impact in the middle of the field. Ball security may be an issue as well. Take a look at what Miller has been doing to defenders as a red-zone threat here.

What surprises me the most is that well-respected draft analysts Chad Rueter has Miller going 24th overall to Cincinnati. That came as a huge surprise as Miller was thought of primarily as a return-specialist and project at receiver. However, Rueter believes Miller has made the leap. We will see what he shows us at the game today. We may be witnessing the emergence of a star here.

Lebron Wouldn't Be the First Coach Killer

2016-01-28T16:46:00.000-05:00

Coach Killer: a player who's overall failures fall on someone else's shoulders, often the head coach.

This is what Lebron James believes he is not.

Lebron James went on a semi-rant just days after his most recent head coach, David Blatt, was relieved of his position. This move has come into question because of its timing. The Cavaliers sat atop the East with a 30-12 record. Blatt and the Cavaliers were just two wins away from becoming NBA Champions this past June. So why the firing? Cavs GM David Griffin spoke about how the team lacked chemistry, and that Blatt lacked the ability to garner respect from his players. Does this sound familiar?

The same allegations were brought about when Lebron took his talents to South Beach in 2011. There were serious accusations made that Lebron James wanted former and current Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra gone. There were talks that Spoelstra, also a rookie head coach at the time, couldn't handle the superstar players he had on his team. Still, Spoelstra managed to make it out alive.

Lebron James played his first two years in the NBA under head coach Paul Silas. Here is the Paul Silas firing explained by ESPN:

The dismissal came with 18 games left and the team clinging to the fifth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. James seems to have been the only player who saw the move coming.
“You could kind of tell the way the air was, how things were going around here, there was going to have to be a change,” said James, who scored a franchise-record 56 points Sunday. “I didn’t know it was going to be this soon.”

Then, Mike Brown coached Lebron for five seasons and was head coach for the epic collapse against the Boston Celtics in 2010, which ultimately led to Lebron's departure from Cleveland. Mike Brown was also fired.

You can add David Blatt to the list.

Lebron now must face some serious questions as to whether or not he had a say in Blatt's firing. Yet, have we seen this throughout NBA history? Lebron isn't the only prominent player to have been called a coach killer before.

Take the great Magic Johnson into account. A first year coach, in Paul Westhead, and a rookie sensation, in Magic Johnson, teamed up to win an NBA Championship in 1980. All was well, until Magic and Westhead had a heated dispute regarding the pace at which the Lakers were playing. Magic thought the Laker offense was unimaginative and slow. Does this sound familiar? Magic demanded a trade. The Lakers wouldn't dare trade the rising star, and thus Westhead was gone and replaced by Pat Riley. Big deal. The decision was a great one.

Take Dwight Howard's situation in Orlando as another example. Howard notoriously changed his mind, back and forth, on his desire to be traded from Orlando. Then head coach Stan Van Gundy followed up Dwight's drama with his own, publicly claiming Howard demanded his firing. This eventually led to Van Gundy's firing, as well as GM Otis Smith. Here is the infamous press conference.

Great players who haven't had the luxury off playing along side the great Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, or Gregg Popovich, ( Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'neal) of course would be labeled as coach killers. Had Michael Jordan or Shaq been dealt a mediocre head coach for most of their careers, they too would be talked about in this article. Great players need great head coaches who are on the same page. Not to say a mediorce coach can't win a title here and there, but the true dynasties had great coaches to back up and demand respect of their great players.

I see nothing wrong with Carmelo Anthony, Stephon Marbury or Lebron James being labeled coach killers. It is what they are. Had any of Phil Jackson's players not played for him, the same label would fall on those players as well.

One man cannot do it by himself.

Who will be represented in 2016's Hard Knocks?

2016-01-27T15:14:00.000-05:00

The HBO series "Hard Knocks" is a reality sports documentary that shows the ins and outs of the everyday life of the athletes we've come to love. HBO typically announces the team that will partake in the show around late May or early June. So we have plenty of time to speculate. With the NFL season dwindling down, we won;t have to much to talk about so here we go !

In 2013, NFL owners passed a resolution stating teams can avoid mandatory inclusion into the series if they fall into any of the three exemptions.

1.) They have a first year head coach in place.

2.) They have had a playoff berth in the last two seasons.

3.) They have appeared on the Hard Knocks show in the past 10 years.

If your team does not fall into any of those three exemptions, the league can force them to partake in the show. Keep in mind that teams can volunteer as well, although many teams find the show to be a "distraction"

There are seven NFL teams that are open to the mandatory stage. Those seven teams are the Bills, Saints, Chargers, Rams, Raiders, Bears and Jaguars.

Out of those seven possible teams, who would you like to see appear on the series in 2016?

Bills head coach was down-right hilarious when he appeared as head coach for the New York Jets. The Bills would be a popular choice solely because of Ryan, let alone his brother Rob joining the staff. If the Bills were to be shown on Hard Knocks in 2016, HBO will have their hands full. F-Bombs everywhere.

The recently-moved St.Louis Rams would be interesting. Watching the process of moving an NFL team to Los Angeles would be great to watch. With players having to let go of so much during one offseason, the show could get highly emotional.

Watching the growth of the many great young players the Jaguars and Raiders have to offer would also be enticing. The Jaguars have a talented offense, and a former 3rd overall pick recovering from an ACL tear, in Dante Fowler Jr.. Who wouldn't love to see young emerging star Amari Cooper further enhance his chemistry with third year quarterback Derek Carr?

You decide. Vote on our poll what team you would like to see appear on the HBO series Hard Knocks in 2016.

2016 NFL Free-Agency Class

2016-01-26T22:19:00.004-05:00

The start of free-agency is still a good month away. Here are the top 25 players that will test the market in 2016.

1. Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos:

Good luck trying to lure Von Miller away from re-signing with the Broncos. The stud linebacker has helped pave the path to the Super Bowl in 2016. There is absolutely no way the Broncos let this man walk.

2. Josh Norman, CB, Carolina Panthers:

Here is another expected free agent who is playing in the Super Bowl. Josh Norman played his butt off when it was time to sign a new contract. There is hardly a chance that Carolina lets him walk as well.

3. Alshon Jeffrey, WR, Chicago Bears:

Has had his fair share of injury problems throughout his career. Yet, receivers with his body frame and skill set are hard to find. Someone will throw a lump sum of cash his way.

4. Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets:

The Jets have a great defensive line, even If Wilkerson, their best lineman, were to walk. Expect the franchise tag here.

5. Cordy Glenn. OT, Buffalo Bills:

Glenn emerged as one of the top tackles in 2015. He had a stellar year protecting Tyrod Taylor. He is another franchise tag possibility.

6. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs:

Toughness is not a question for who ever signs Berry. He had a Pro-Bowl year in 2016. His versatility will be highly sought after this off-season.

7. Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami Dolphins:

Miami can only spend so much money on the defensive line. Expect Vernon to walk and get paid big time. He is an above average pass-rusher who had been overshadowed for years.

8. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants:

Here we have another pass-rusher who struggled to see the field in 2015 because of a devastating injury. Is he still the premier pass rusher he once was? Expect JPP to have a new home in 2016.

9. Eric Weddle, S, San Diego Chargers:

Eric Weddle is getting up there in age, but still is one of the best safeties and can sure up any secondary with solid safety play.

10. Malik Jackson, DT, Denver Broncos:

Much like Josh Norman, Malik Jackson had a breakout year on the final year of his contract. He is now entering his prime, but do the Broncos have enough money to please him?

11. Sam Bradford, QB, Philadelphia Eagles:

The quarterback market in 2016 will be slim. It is headlined by Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford had a solid year. Expect Philly to re-sign him.

12. Bruce Irvin, LB, Seattle Seahawks:

An underrated linebacker who didn't get much attention in Seattle. he would be a solid pick up where ever he lands. Teams will love his versatility.

13. Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

The league's number one back in 2015 in many peoples eyes. Martin had a spectacular season. He won't see the money other guys will see because of the position he plays.

14. Kirk Cousins, QB, Washington Redskins:

Kirk Cousins led the Washington Redskins to a division title and to the playoffs. For a team that was desperate for a franchise quarterback, they will take it. I don't see Washington letting him walk.

15. Andre Smith, OT, Cincinnati Bengals:

A solid tackle for most of his career. Will he see big bucks from a team again? It seems unlikely. Expect Smith to find a new home in 2016.

16. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins:

One of the more underrated running backs the league has to offer. He is a pass catching talent and has progressed each year. Fantasy football owners will keep an eye on wherever he lands this offseason.

17. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Los Angeles Rams:

Now a solid starting cornerback in this league, Jenkins will provide consistency to which ever team tries to sign him.

18. Brock Osweiler, QB, Denver Broncos:

Although Peyton Manning has led the Broncos to the promise land, he more than likely won't be able to do it again. The Broncos liked what they saw during Osweiler's brief stint. He will be signed quickly and is a priority of the team.

19. Danny Trevathan, LB, Denver Broncos:

Denver can only re-sign so many players. With Miller and Osweiler being sure bets, will Trevathan, a solid young linebacker, be pleased making less money? Doubt it.

20. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears:

Forte, year in and year out, will bring consistency to the running back position. Although he suffered injuries last year that led him to miss games, he was still productive at his age. He will find a team.

21. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, New York Jets:

Fitzpatrick had a career year in 2016. It will be interesting to see what the Jets want to do with him. He led them to a 10-6 record and just outside of the playoffs.

22. Derrick Johnson, LB, Kansas City Chiefs:

Johnson was a tackling machine in 2015. Kansas City has always been known for their tremendous linebacking core. Yet, will they let the old vet test the market?

23. Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets:

This 1,000 yard rusher will look to beef up his wallet in 2016. It looks more than likey that He and the Jets will part ways. Yet, do not leave it out of question that he will resign with New York.

24. Russell Okung, OT, Seattle Seahawks:

The Seattle Seahawk offensive line did not play well for the most part in 2015. We see what Russell Wilson can do with a clean pocket. Expect Okung to be resigned here.

25. Prince Amukamara, CB, New York Giants:

Prince is a slightly-above-average corner. Solid corners are hard to come by in this league. Some one will reach for him.

Super Bowl L Preview

2016-01-25T15:48:00.001-05:00

The number one seeded Denver Broncos and number one seeded Carolina Panthers will meet in the Super Bowl in 2016. This is the third straight Super Bowl in which both number one seeds have advanced to play in it.

The 17-1 Carolina Panthers are looking like a team of destiny. Coming out of no where to dominate all who oppose them. There team is led by the more than likely MVP of the league, Cam Newton. This is not Newton's first rodeo. Newton's 12-4 team lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2014 and lost in the divisional round the following year. The former number one pick has advanced this team further and further every year along with a stout and confident defense that exuberates swagger.

The defense boasts an awesome linebacking core consisting of Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis Jr.. Kuechly has caught an interception for a touchdown in each of the playoff games this year, while Davis has made big tackle after big tackle. Davis appeared to break his arm in the NFC Championship game, but is still expected to play in the Super Bowl 13 days from now. The defense also has the arrogant and outlandish corner Josh Norman who's name you havent heard to much this postseason, partly because he is shutting down his receiver and quarterbacks would not dare throw to him.

Carolina beat the Seattle Seahawks 31-24 in the first round and routed the Arizona Cardinals 49-15 the following round.

The 14-4 Broncos traveled a rougher road as opposed to their Super Bowl counterpart. They too possess a former number one overall pick in Peyton Manning. Yes, the 39 year old quarterback is making his 4th Super Bowl appearance, hoping to win his second. There is no need to get into the many accolades Manning has accumulated over his illustrious career. He is a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Peyton had some adversity this year, being benched for Osweiler and dealing with some injuries that lingered throuhgh out the year. Yet, he is still here. Just a testament to his greatness.

If you thought the Panthers defense was loaded, check this one out. The Broncos defense has been ranked 1st overall all year long and literally have a defense with no holes. They are great at all levels of the defense. Demarcus Ware and Von Miller will cause a ruckus on Super Bowl Sunday, while Aqib Talib and Chris Harris are on the back end of the defense.

The Broncos have not dominated in the fashion the Panthers have this postseason but still got the job done. They beat the injury-riddled Steelers 23-16. They moved on to defeat the defending champion Patriots the following round 20-18.

So who you got? Claim your winner in our Poll on the main page.

The Sunday Spotlight: Paxton Lynch

2016-01-24T13:29:00.001-05:00

As the 2016 NFL draft draws nearer, we at The FreeLancers will break down the top NFL prospects around the country. Be sure to check back every Sunday to see which future star will be under our Spotlight. This week the Spotlight shines on...

Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis, 6-7, 245 lbs, Junior

Pros:

Body Frame: Lynch has fantastic height. Ideal for a prototypical pocket passer which is so coveted in the NFL. His height will let him scan the field with ease as offensive lineman will not cloud his vision. His weight is average. At 245 Lynch will more or less be able to handle the rigor of hits at the next level at his current weight.

Athleticism: Lynch has the skill set to be a pocket passer. The size, the vision, and the accuracy. What sets him apart is his deceptive athleticism. Lynch has poise in the pocket and does not scramble often, but when he does, he always keeps his eyes down field. The quarterback is a red-zone threat not only with his arm but also with his legs. He rushed for 13 touchdowns in 2014 and added two more in 2015. In the open field, Lynch is tough to bring down one-on-one and can even show a bit of elusiveness as well.

Decision-Making: Shows the ability to move defenders with his eyes and make the correct read in a simple offense. Majority of throws were designed off a single read which simplified things for Lynch. Lynch was efficient in Memphis' offense, completing 67 percent of his passes in 2015. Only 4 interceptions were thrown all year. His decision-making is a plus.

Weaknesses:

Adaptability: Like most collegiate quarterbacks, adapting from a spread-offense to a more pro-style offense in the NFL will cause growing pains. Lynch was used to bunch and 5-WR sets. Those formations are definitely still used but seldomly at the next level. We will see how Lynch will do under center.

Accuracy: This may be a nit pick here. For the most part, Lynch's accuracy is good and he is on the mark on most intermediate throws as well as throws behind the line of scrimmage. His deep ball accuracy is a question mark. Lynch often misses badly outside the numbers on deep balls. His deep ball locations are inconsistent as a whole.

Mechanics: Because of his height, Lynch has freakishly long arms, which can cause his throwing motion to be a little robotic. He has the tendency to load up and throw which causes a delay in his release. When your throwing motion is delayed, all other aspects of the game can be effected. Accuracy, decision making, and timing can all be effected badly as a result of bad mechanics.

Pro Comparison

Superbowl winning quarterback Joe Flacco is the best comparison to Paxton Lynch. Both quarterbacks share a similar build. Tall, lanky, with the ability to be mobile when the defense least expects it. Coming out of Delaware, Flacco had mechanic problems similar to Lynch's. Flacco refined his game and thus lead the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl win in 2012. Flacco is a pure pocket passer who the franchise can build around. Lynch also brings this capability to which ever franchise decides to pick him in the upcoming draft this Spring.

An In-Depth Look Into 76ers' Rebuild

2016-01-23T21:02:00.003-05:00

From the outside looking in, it may seem preposterous what the Sixers are doing in Philadelphia. Even from the perspective of actual 76er fans, the question of "What the hell are we exactly doing here?" arises. With the accusations of tanking and key players being traded, including a rookie of the year winner and a future Finals MVP, its easy to ask that question. Where is this franchise heading? Why the hell are we trading away all our promising players? Will we ever be a respectable team again?

Well we at The FreeLancers will do our best to open the eyes of every NBA or 76er fan who reads this. We will break down every intricate detail of the 76er's rebuild with the hopes that some closure can be made. With the hopes of instilling some faith into people that this team will rise again. We will start with the last playoff berth.

The 2011-2012 Lock-Out Year

The 2011 was the 4th time the NBA experienced a lockout. It delayed the the start of the 2011-2012 season, reducing the number of regular season games from 82 to 66. Teams could not trade, sign or even talk to players during this time period. Even with this drama looming, the 76ers still managed to finish 4 games above .500 under head coach Doug Collins and even made the playoffs as the 8th seed in the East. I know right? It is almost unfathomable to think that not to long ago, this 76er team was in the playoffs, actual making a not-so realistic run at a title. Here's a look at the depth chart and starting lineup.

Not a bad lineup considering what we are working with now in Philly. As we move on, let us watch how this roster will deteriorate over time. This team finished 35-31 and beat the Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. The Sixers then faced another injury-riddled team in The Boston Celtics the following round. They almost advanced. They lost the series in 7 games. Unthinkable, The Sixers were a game away from being in the Eastern Conference Finals. Wow.
Here is where it all went downhill.

The 2012 Offseason: The Andrew Bynum Trade

After a promising year during the NBA lockout, the 76ers made a roster move that more or less sent this team into a rebuild. At the time, there was not to much question as to whether this deal would hamper the team at all. In fact, it was thought that this trade would boost the Philadelphia squad to a new level.
Here is the block buster trade in recap, it included 4 teams and some huge names:

The Sixers get Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson.

The Lakers get Dwight Howard, Earl Clark and Chris Duhon.

The Nuggets get Andre Iguodala.

The Magic get Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Christian Eyenga, Josh McRoberts and protected first round picks from each team, and a second round pick from Denver.

This trade rocked the NBA. Lets take a look into who the Sixers lost. Andre Iguodala, the teams leader and captain has been sent to Denver. They lose their first round draft pick Mo Harkless, and quality bench player Nik Vucevic in this trade. Hindsight will tell you that the Sixers just lost a quality scorer and rebounder in Vucevic and a Finals MVP. Now, lets take a look at who we received. We received a valued veteran in Jason Richardson and a perennial all-star center in Andrew Bynum. Jerseys flew off the counters. After a promising 2011-2012 year, all things were looking up.

Except when hindsight kicks in, and you realize Andrew Bynum would never set floor as a 76er. That's right, we all remember the terrible hair-styles on the bench, we remember the jerseys, we remember the bowling injury to Bynum's foot. What we do not remember was the baskets because there weren't any. Bynum would never play for the 76ers and was then traded to the Cavs. The team just gave up Iguodala, Vucevic, and Harkless, for Jason Richardson. In hindsight, this was awful. But in fairness, no one could have seen this coming.

The General Manager who made this decision, Tony DiLeo, was let go because of it. The man hired to take his place would send this 76er team into a new era. An era of losing.

The Sam Hinkie Era

Sam Hinkie had been hired to the General Manager position and would soon make many moves that will leave you to scratch your head. The 2012-2013 season would not go as well as previous seasons. The 76ers would finish 34-48, good for 9th in the East. Doug Collins would resign. Many thought Collins was running from a terrible situation that was ready to start its rebuild. However, he stated that he was missing his family and needed to reconnect. The 2012-2013 season was a dud. The team lost the players mentioned in the trade above, but also lost Lou Williams to free agency as well as Elton Brand to the Mavs in an amnesty trade. So here is a look at the 76er starting lineup entering the 2013 Draft:

PG- Jrue Holiday
SG- Nick Young
SF- Evan Turner
PF- Thaddeus Young
C- Spencer Hawes

Not a terrible lineup to work with. There is some young talent here. But what will Hinkie do with it?

2013-2014 Season: Hinkie Makes His Mark

Hinkie made his first splash during the 2013 NBA Draft. Boy were fans upset with this one. We already saw a fan-favorite leave for a Big Man with knee injuries. We learned our lesson right? Sam Hinkie and the 76ers would trade point guard Jrue Holiday, beloved in the city who was holding on tight, to New Orleans, for Kentucky Center and 6th overall pick, Nerlens Noel. Who, yes, just came off a devastating ACL-tear. The Sixers also picked up a 2014 protected pick from NO. The Sixers also acquired Michael Carter-Williams, point guard from Syracuse, with the 11th overall pick. The team acquired two young talents and a future draft pick at the expense of Jrue Holiday. Before things get too confusing, here is a look at the new 76er
lineup heading into the 2013-2014 season.

PG- Michael Carter-Williams
SG- Hollis Thompson
SF- Evan Turner
PF- Thad Young
C- Spencer Hawes

Wait wait wait! Where is our new Center Nerlens Noel? Why is he not starting? Well, that was because of a reaggrevation in Noel's injury that kept him out the entire 2013-2014 season. This couldn't happen again right? The team just could not catch a break. Another big man, lost to injury.

The team still had no head coach. Sam Hinkie would hire former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown to lead the team into the 2013-2014 season. Fans, although still upset about Noel not playing, saw hope that a man who had been so accustomed to winning in San Antonio, could bring some of that magic to Philly. Well, there was anything but magic in Philly. The 2013-2014 was one of the worst seasons the team had had in its entire franchise history. The team finished 19-63, while losing 26 consecutive games along the way.

Before the 2014 trade deadline, Sam Hinkie made more moves. Moves that would forever be questioned. Evan Turner was traded to the Pacers, Spencer Hawes was traded to the Cavs, and Lavoy Allen was also traded. These moves garned an aging Danny Granger, Henry Sims, and a total of 5 2nd round picks.

In hindsight, these trades have helped the team dramatically. And seeing what the moved players have become helps the cause even more. At the time, fans had been heartbroken to see that playoff team be completely broken apart. Here is the starting lineup after the 2013-2014 season:

PG- Michael Carter-Williams (Rookie of the Year)
SG- Tony Wroten
SF- Hollis Thompson
PF- Thaddeus Young
C- Nerlens Noel

Before the 2014-2015 season could start, Sam Hinkie had another trick up his sleeve. Once the season had commenced, Hinkie traded Thaddeus Young to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Miami Heat's 2015 first-round pick, Luc Mbah A Moute, and Alexy Shved. Another devastating blow to a fanbase that was getting frustrated.

2014-2015 Season: More losing

The 2014 NBA Draft would only bring more questions as to what Sam Hinkie was thinking. With the third pick in the 2014 draft, the Sixers picked Kansas center Joel Embiid. More and more outrage ensued because the Kansas big man had also endured many lower-body injuries, just like Bynum and Noel. In the same draft, the Sixers also had the 12th pick which they used to acquire power forward Dario Saric, another big man who had played overseas. To this day, we have not seen Embiid nor Saric play a minute for the Sixers because of injuries and international technicalities.

Many Philadelphia fans began to lose faith as the Sixers continued to draft big men who had injury issues. At this point, Bynum has gone, Noel has yet to play, and the team is expecting Embiid to also miss the upcoming season.

Another dreadful season was ahead. The Brett-Brown-led 76ers went 18-64 in the regular season. However, whatever Sixers fans were left still had hope because the team had the reigning Rookie of the Year, Michael Carter-Williams. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Hinkie traded MCW and K.J. McDaniels to Milwaukee for JaVale McGee, Isaiah Canaan, a protected first-round pick from the Lakers and Thunder, and a second-round pick.

At first glance, it seemed as though the Sixers were losing on purpose, trading away all young talent, including the 2014-2015 Rookie of the Year. Yet, if you take a deeper look, the moves Sam Hinkie made during his current tenure have put the 76ers into a great position to draft new players that will fit the mold while also clearing up enough space to make big moves in free agency.

Here's the starting lineup after the 2014-2015 season:

PG- Isaiah Canaan
SG- Hollis Thompson
SF- Robert Covington
PF- Nerlens Noel
C- Henry Simms

By now, if you are a Sixer fan, you're getting laughed at by the rest of the league. There isn't much to hold onto here besides an abundance of draft picks, Noel and Embiid's potential, and a 2015 lottery pick.

2015-2016 Season: The 2015 Draft

In this draft, the Sixers obtained the third-overall pick. Philadephia fans had hoped to land Ohio State's DeAngelo Russell to replace MCW at the point guard position. However, the Lakers picked Russell at two, leaving Philly to draft another big man for the third consecutive year. This center was named Jahlil Okafor from Duke University. If you thought it couldn't get any worse, it did in the current 2015-2016 season.

If you didn't know, the Sixers started 0-28 this year, the record for the longest losing streak in American sports. Jahlil Okafor was the small and dim light that shined in Philadelphia thus far. Okafor is averaging 17.6 PPG and 7.4 RPG this year, thrusting his name into the Rookie of the Year conversation.

Here's the starting lineup to date:

PG- Ish Smith
SG- Jakarr Sampson
SF- Robert Covington
PF- Nerlens Noel
C- Jahlil Okafor

The Future

So what does the future hold for this team? This season is a loss. The Sixers are projected to have these picks in the upcoming draft: 1st, 17th, and 28th, all within the first round. Embiid's health is still a question as he has yet to step on the court because of injury setbacks, Saric is still in Croatia, and the combination of Okafor and Noel has actually hurt the team.

We know fans don't want to hear it, but trading Jahlil Okafor while he still has value may be the best option for the Sixers. Okafor is dead-last in plus minus in terms of helping on the court. Nerlens Noel seems to be a better fit and the front court would be crowded if they keep all three big men. Embiid has the greatest potential of all three, but has no trade value as he has yet to play. Okafor may be next on the list to go from Philly.

This all may be overwhelming to Sixer fans, but they have to trust in Sam Hinkie's ways and believe that the accumulation of draft picks will pay off.

Here's what Sixer fans have to look forward to:

Two talented big men in Noel and Embiid (presuming Embiid will be healthy in 2016-2017)
Dario Saric coming to Philly from Croatia
The projected number one overall pick, which in all likelyhood will be power foward Ben Simmons
A valuable big man in Okafor who could get traded for more assets
A good amount of cap space to use to bring in free agents, such as Harrison Barnes, Brandon Jennings, Mike Conley, or Demar DeRozan.

It is a scary time for the organization, but Sixer fans should be looking up. The best way to get better is through the draft (i.e. Thunder and Bulls) and not by buying your players (i.e. Nets). We will soon find out whether Sam Hinkie's plans will ever work. Continue to be patient and let the plan unfold. Hinkie just might be onto something.

The Not-So-Easily Star-Struck Usher

2016-01-22T03:46:00.001-05:00

As an usher for the Philadelphia Eagles, I have my fair share of stories that i can tell based on some of my experiences. I have seen it and heard it all. Hell, I have even tasted it all with the amount of food, beer and other wonderful concession food I have had thrown on me.

Every time I get a chance to see a Philadelphia Eagle up close, my heart starts to pound. Just the thought of being so close to the players reminds me how much of a dream come true it is to work for the Eagles.

However, none of the stories I tell can match up with 65-year-old Pacer usher Jim Saddler. Whats so special about him? Has he shaken hands with Paul George or Larry Bird? Has he shared a drink with Frank Vogel? No. Saddler was once a flight attendant on Air Force One. Yes, that Air Force One.

Saddler used to have to answer to three of the most powerful people on the planet. Those three men were the Presidents of the United States. Saddler used to cater to the every need of Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, and Bill Clinton. If you ever wonder if Saddler gets star-struck during Pacer games, I think the answer is quite clear. Most of Saddlers work was done when the Presidents were off the plane.

Interestingly enough, on numerous occasions, Saddler would actually sneak lobster, steak and chicken cordon bleu, to Ronald Reagan. Reagan's wife insisted that Reagan eat healthier which he did, when his wife was present. But when Reagan was flying solo, he would have Saddler to rely on to bring him his most beloved dishes.

Saddler recalls the time as unbelievably nerve-wrecking but also calls it "such an amazing time." The pressures of being an usher at a professional sports arena or stadium can be overwhelming at times. I believe Saddler has a fine time dealing with miserable or rude fans. After all, he had to deal with three of the most stressed men in America.

However, Saddler would go on to reveal that all Presidents were extremely kind to him. When asked if he knew any secrets and could share them, he wisely answered, " I'd have to kill you if I told you everything." Saddler also referees high school basketball, volleyball and softball. Its safe to say, any heckling, rude, vial thing you have to say to Saddler will not get under his skin.

The Evolution of Hassan Whiteside

2016-01-21T21:56:00.001-05:00

Hassan Whiteside came on to the scene last year for the Miami Heat. After bouncing around the D-league, China, and a few NBA teams, he signed with the Miami Heat November 24, 2014. After countless DNP's and a few garbage time minutes, Whiteside finally got his chance to showcase he belonged. He recorded his first double double vs the Nets (11 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks) January 4th, 2015. He showed flashes of being able to rebound the ball at a high level and protect the paint. You could see he was still raw with all that talent. He was undisciplined when playing defense which led to his minutes being low due to foul trouble. On top of that he struggled to keep his composure on the court that led to incidents on the court and caused him to be suspended and inactive for a few games.

His talent even received praise from the great Bob Cousy calling him as talented defensively as Bill Russell. This guy comes off the scene and has a few good games and he's receiving Bill Russell comparisons? But the more you watched the more you understood what Bob Cousy was saying. He was one of the best rim protectors from the time he stepped on the court. He displayed his tenacious shot blocking ability when he posted his first career triple double in a win against the Bulls putting up 14 points, 13 rebounds and 12 blocks in just 24 min! In 48 games he had 7 games with 5 or more blocks and had at least 1 block in all of 8 games.

Fast forward to this year and he's been more mature on and off the court. He's been able to stay out of foul trouble stay on the court while earning trust from players, coaches and ownership. He's emerged as the best rim protector in the game today. He's been a beast averaging 3.9 blocks a game which is leading the league by a wide margin. He has 23 games this year with 4 or more blocks. He also gives so much more than rim protection. He's been very productive on the glass (11.2) and been reliable when given the opportunity to score (12.3). His domination continued when he posted his 3rd triple double this season with 19 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocks against the Nuggets. He's a fun, young, energetic player to watch. His high energy on both ends of the floor is a joy for this Heat organization to have and come this off season Whiteside is going to have a very high price tag.

2014 NFL Draft Do-Over

2016-01-21T11:55:00.000-05:00

Hindsight is 20/20. We will take into account who has played the best in the past two years and re-do the 2014 NFL Draft.

1. Houston Texans- Blake Bortles, QB, UCF

Former Pick- Jadeveon Clowney

Through two years in the NFL, Bortles has been the best QB to come out of this draft. Clowney has not produced. The Texans have their man.

2. St. Louis Rams- Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State.

Former Pick- Greg Robinson

Tough choice between Carr or Beckham. Deciding factor was the Rams' 13th pick. Would you rather own a franchise quarterback and a talent at WR? Or have the top WR and have a question at quarterback two years later?

3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Former Pick- Blake Bortles

The Jags had Bortles, but in this re-draft, he is taken. They cannot afford to pass on a potential franchise quarterback here, even with so much talent at other positions still on the board.

4. Buffalo Bills- Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo

Former Pick- Sammy Watkins

The best defensive player in the draft who previously played for Buffalo in college, heads to the Bills in Buffalo.

5. Oakland Raiders- Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh

Former Pick- Khalil Mack

The Raiders miss out on OLB Mack, but will be happy to settle on an outstanding defensive tackle Donald.

6. Atlanta Falcons- Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

Former Pick- Jake Matthews

Clowney has not seen the playing field too much in his first two years, mainly because of injury. Clowney still has the highest upside of all defenders,

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Odell Beckham Jr., WR, LSU

Former Pick- Mike Evans

Beckham is the best offensive weapon in this draft even with so many great WRs.

8. Cleveland Browns- Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

Former Pick- Justin Gilbert

To this date, the Browns still have no real WR threat. Evans is a physical specimen that will instantly be the number one WR on this team.

9. Minnesota Vikings- Zach Martin, OL, Notre Dame

Former Pick- Anthony Barr

The Vikings are out of a franchise quarterback, but a pro-bowler on the offesnive line would help who ever plays QB.

10. Detroit Lions- Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA

Former Pick- Eric Ebron

Lions will grab a linebacker to add depth to a position that is lost its strength in 2015.

11. Tennessee Titans- Jake Matthews, OL, Texas A&M

Former Pick- Taylor Lewan

Titans get an upgrade from Lewan and continues to solidify the offensive line.

12. New York Giants- Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson

Former Pick- Odell Beckham Jr.

Bryant was a fourth-round pick and now jumps to twelfth. Giants lose Beckham but gain height and equal talent with Bryant.

13. St. Louis Rams- Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

Former Pick- Aaron Donald

Watkins drops from 4th to 13th but may be in better position to succeed in St. Louis.

14. Chicago Bears- Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

Former Pick- Kyle Fuller

Kyle Fuller has not played well. Bears get top corner in draft class with Verrett.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers- Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State

Former Pick- Same

Nothing changes here. Shazier adds speed and physicality to Steelers defense.

16. Dallas Cowboys- Joel Bitonio, OL, Nevada

Former Pick- Zach Martin

Cowboys substitute one pro-bowl offensive lineman for another.

17. Baltimore Ravens- Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville

Former Pick- C.J. Mosely

In 2015, Ravens' secondary has never been worse. Pryor would bolster the defense.

18. New York Jets- C.J. Mosely, LB, Alabama

Former Pick- Calvin Pryor

Having linebacker depth will help long-term. Calvin Pace will soon be retiring,

19. Miami Dolphins- Taylor Lewan, OL, University of Michigan

Former Pick- JeWan James

Dolphins would be happy to get an upgrade over previous 2014 pick JaWuan James.

20. New Orleans Saints- Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregan State

Former Pick- Same

Nothing changes here. Cooks, when on the field, has been a tremendous help to the offense.

21. Green Bay Packers- Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, S, Alabama

Former Pick- Same

Has coverage problems but has played solidly through his first two years.

22. Cleveland Browns- Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State

Former Pick- Johnny Manziel

The Justin Gilbert pick was a failure. Browns take second-best corner in draft class.

23. Kansas City Chiefs- Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State

Former Pick- Dee Ford

Even with the Jeremy Maclin addition, Kansas City could use length and athleticism on the outside.

24. Cinncinati Bengals- Bashaud Breeland, CB, Clemson

Former Pick- Darqueze Dennard

An underrated corner who jumps to the first-round.

25. San Diego Chargers- Greg Robinson, OL, Auburn

Former Pick- Jason Verrett

Phillip Rivers continues to get sacked too frequently. Robinson drops from second overall to 25th.

26. Philadelphia Eagles- Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State

Former Pick- Marcus Smith

Benjamin has potential to be the best receiver in this class. Any pick would be better than Marcus Smith for the Eagles.

27. Arizona Cardinals- Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State

Former Pick- Same

Nothing changes. Bucannon mostly plays linebacker and fits well in Arian's defensive scheme.

28. Carolina Panthers- Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU

Former Pick- Kelvin Benjamin

Panthers lose Benjamin but pick up a solid slot-receiver in Landry.

29. New England Patriots- Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU

Former Pick- Dominique Easley

The Patriots have lacked a stud in the running game. They produce as it is, but Hill would be dominant on this team.

30. San Francisco 49ers- Telvin Smith, LB, Florida State

Former Pick- Jimmy Ward

In the last two years, the 49ers linebacker core has been diminished significantly because of injuries and retirements. Telvin Smith, a tackling machine, will bring some life to the depleted defense.

31. Denver Broncos- Devonta Freeman, RB, Florida State

Former Pick- Bradley Roby

Broncos are still looking for a solid run game. Freeman will bring that, along with pass-catching abilities.

32. Minnesota Vikings- Preston Brown, LB, Louisville

Former Pick- Teddy Bridgewater

The Vikings need youth at LB; losing Barr will not hurt as much if they add Brown here.