2013 MLB Season Recap

This year’s baseball season wasn’t the most exciting but more emotional. Recently, Mariano “Mo” Rivera, Sandman, played his final home game in Yankee Stadium. With the Yankee’s disappointing miss of the postseason there was more than just heartache over Rivera, there was question of the Yankees future.

The six divisional winners include: Boston, Detroit, Oakland, Atlanta, St. Louis, and Los Angeles (Dodgers). Only one of the wild card slots has been secured [as of Sept. 26] that of which being Cincinnati.

The National League Central (NL Central) can be described as the best division and the worst division of the MLB. While the Chicago Cubs had another hopeless season, three out of the five teams reached the postseason.  The Cincinnati Reds secured one of the NL wildcard slots and the Pirates are competing for the NL Central title, however the loser of the title will still claim a wildcard slot.

Although not the most dominant, the most exciting division this year is the American League Central (AL Central). While the Detroit Tigers have already secured the AL Central, the Cleveland Indians are in a tight race for their wild card with some competition from their division rivals, the Kansas City Royals. Currently the Tampa Bay Rays and the Indians are the front-runners for the AL wildcard while the Texas Rangers are only one game behind the Indians.

Some rumors have been spreading upon the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP). With the outstanding season from the St. Louis Cardinals, many have speculated that Second Baseman, Matt Carpenter or even the All-star Catcher, Yadier Molina. However over in the AL the leading candidate is Miguel Cabrera, previous Triple Crown winner and Detroit’s clean-up kid.

My personal prediction for the World Series is a matchup between the Tigers and the Atlanta Braves. I think there will be six games and the Tigers will win it all.

2013-2014 NFL Season

I know we are more than a month away from opening kickoff of the regular season, but I will make my pre-season playoff predictions.  I will list who I think will be the top ten teams in each conference, only six make the playoffs, and see who is in, and who is out, of the playoffs.  (My order does not compensate for playoff seeding, only records)

                                                                                                                 AFC

10)  Steelers: I do not see how the Steelers can be good this year.  They lost a lot of players on the defensive side, and their star receiver, Mike Wallace.  It also does not help when you have to play the Ravens, Bengals, and up and coming Browns twice a year.

Projected Record:  8-8

9) Dolphins:  The Dolphins lost some key players through free agency in the forms of Karlos Dansby and Reggie Bush, but they added receiver Mike Wallace from the Steelers which gives an interesting twist to their offense.  With Ryan Tannehill getting another year of experience, look for the Dolphins to be a playoff threat, if not this year, in the years ahead.

Projected Record: 8-8

8) Chargers:  The Chargers were pitiful last year.  I expect them to turn it around this year.  They have a new head coach and a key offseason signing in Dwight Freeney.  They have some problems on offense though, mainly because their running back, Ryan Matthews, can not stay healthy.  Their signing of Danny Woodhead might compensate for that though.  The Chargers will make a push, but ultimately they will miss the playoffs.

Projected Record:  8-8

7)  Colts:  They made the playoffs last year, but they will have a tough time making it again this year.  They lost some big defensive weapons mainly in Dwight Freeney, plus Pat Angerer and Fili Moala were placed on the physically unable to perform list.  They did sign Ahmad Bradshaw who will help their offense when he is rarely healthy.   Andrew Luck will try hard, but I predict they will miss the playoffs by one game at most.

Projected Record: 9-7

6) Patriots:  I think the Patriots will`be very lucky to make the playoffs this year.  They lost almost all of their offensive weapons this season including Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, and the notorious Aaron Hernandez.  Their starting receivers are Danny Amendola and Michael Jenkins.  If I were Tom Brady I would be sobbing.  They still have Rob Gronkowski, but he is not pprojected to play until late October.  They also still have running back Stevan Ridley, who rushed for over 1000 yards last season, but he has a hard time holding onto the ball.  On top of that, defenses will not be afraid to stack the box against the Pats.  Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will somehow sneak into the playoffs, but the Patriots are definitely on the decline.

Projected Record: 10-6

5) Chiefs:  The Chiefs look to start new with Alex Smith like they did with Matt Cassell a few years ago.  If you recall, Cassell led the Chiefs to the playoffs in his first season.  I think this team can be a threat with offensive weapons like Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe.  Historically, the Chiefs also have one of the best home-field advantages ever.  They also have a very successful new coach running things. All these factors plus a fairly easy schedule which  features games against the Jaguars, Raiders twice, and Browns, will push the Chiefs on the better side of the playoff  hunt.

Projected Record: 10-6

4) Ravens:  I have to say right now, the Ravens won the Superbowl because of three flukes.  The mistimed jump by Bronco’s Safety Rahim Moore, the unusual terrible accuracy of Tom Brady in the conference final, and the no-call on Michael Crabtree in the late minutes of the Superbowl.  They have lost the core of their defense, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.  On the offensive side of the ball they lost starting receiver Anquan Boldin.  Their only big name signing was Elvis Dumervil, a Defensive End from the Broncos.   I think the Ravens will come out overconfident and will not even win the AFC North.

Projected Record 10-6

3) Bengals:  The Bengals have shown gradual improvement since Andy Dalton took over as Quarterback, and I do not believe that improvement will stop this year.  I really like their core of solid young players in Andy Dalton, A.J Green, Tight End Jermaine Gresham,  and BenJarvus Green-Ellis.  Their defense was good last year, and it can only get better with the signing of former Steelers star James Harrison.  I believe that if they have not had one yet, this will be the breakout year for the Bengals.

Projected Record 11-5

2) Texans:  The Texans have not changed almost at all since last season.  The only notable move was the signing of Safety Ed Reed.  The Texans are not a very young team, but they are not an old one either.  I do not see any factors that can change the success of the Texans from last year to this year.  I’m sure this is fine with them though, they had a tremendous season last year and I will expect another tremendous season this season.

Projected Record: 12-4

1) Broncos:  I think the Broncos will have a great season this year.  They acquired Wes Welker from the Patriots, and drafted very promising Running Back Montee Ball from Wisconsin.  These additions paired with their 12-4 record last season make the foundation of what looks like a very promising season.

Projected Record 13-3

NFC

10) Saints:  I think the Saints lost most of their momentum last year, and it will be hard to regain this season.  Sean Payton will come back as head coach, but the skill level on the saints has gone down quite a bit.  Even with Drew Brees being arguably the best Quarterback in the league last year, the Saints could not sneak into the playoffs.  I think the Saints run is fading fast.

Projected Record: 8-8

9) Vikings:  On paper the Vikings should be better than they were in their playoff-run 2012 season, but I think a few things hold them back this year.  The first is Christian Ponder.  They did acquire Greg Jennings from the Packers, but I’m not sure Ponder can consistently get him the ball.  Defenses can also play up on Peterson because of Ponder’s inability to accurately throw the ball.  I think it all comes down to this.  If Adrian Peterson rushes for 2000 yards again, the Vikings make the playoffs.

Projected Record: 9-7

8) Buccaneers:  I think the Buccaneers will be the surprise team of the season.  I think Quarterback Josh Freeman will have a breakout year.  The signing of Darrelle Revis was huge, it single-handedly made the Buc’s defense Elite.   This is huge because now their offense will not have to play from behind as much and can play more conservatively.  Look for the Bucs to be right in the thick of the playoff chase by the end of the season.

Projected Record: 9-7

7) Lions:  The Lions will deserve to be a playoff team.  I think the only thing holding them back is their schedule which makes them play the Packers, Bears, and Vikings twice.  Along with the Bengals, Giants, Ravens, and Washington.  They have to play ten teams that finished 10-6 or higher last season.   This is just a little bit much to overcome for a young team with a new Running Back.

Projected Record: 9-7

6) Redskins:  With RG3 looking to be ready to play by week one the Redskins season looks bright.  I do not think they will be as good of a team as the Lions, they will just take advantage of an easier schedule.  Alfred Morris looked amazing last year, and I’m not sure if defenses will have figured him out by the beginning of next season.   Overall I think the Redskins will make the playoffs, but just barely.

Projected record: 10-6

5) Giants:  The Giants are just another of those teams that have not changed much since last season.  They did lose starting Halfback Ahmad Bradshaw though.  They did not improve their defense which was one of the worst last season.  Overall I think the Giants will barely sneak into the playoffs, but not do much when they get there.

Projected Record: 10-6

4) Packers:  The loss of Greg Jennings will really hurt the Packers.  Now they only have Jordy Nelson and the wildly inconsistent James Jones as their receivers.  They still do not have a very reliable running back either.  Nevertheless, the Packers have Aaron Rodgers as their Quarterback, and with him, anything is possible.

Projected Record:  11-5

3) Seahawks:  The Seahawks look primed for a great season.  Russell Wilson looked amazing last year, but this year he will actually have a decent receiver to throw to in the form of Percy Harvin.  Marshawn Lynch is a big part of their offense, and I think he is fitting the job quite nicely.  Their defense is pretty much impenetrable.

Projected Record: 12-4

2) Falcons:  The Falcons are better than they were last year.  Improving is hard when you go 13-3, but I think the Falcons will do it.  They signed perennial all-pro Halfback Steven Jackson who will improve the Falcons rushing attack which ranked 29th in the league last season.  Overall I think the Falcons will be a force to be reckoned with.

Projected Record: 14-2

1) 49ers:  As long as Colin Kaepernick proves he is no a fluke, I see no one who can stop the 49ers.  Their defense is amazing, and their offense is catching up very fast.   Anquan Boldin will be a big part in the passing game.  Overall I think the 49ers will be a force to be reckoned with.

Projected Record: 14-2

These are my predictions for the 2013-2014 season.

P.S The new pro-bowl format looks tight.  The two leading vote-getters will get to draft their own team.

Go Broncos

2013-2014 NCAA Basketball Outlook

After a phenomenal year of college buckets to Kevin Ware’s horrendous injury, the outlooks for the 2013/2014 season seems to be changing rapidly. Big Ten will lose key power players, such as National Consensus Player of the Year in guard Trey Burke, projected lottery pick; Tyler Zeller, and a freak athlete in Victor Oladipo. The usual champions in Kentucky Wildcats will be stronger than ever, and the ACC will form a stronger conference to argument the Big Ten. As we advance through this article, I will project the seasons for the top 3 teams of NCAA landscape.

1. Kentucky Wildcats: Even before the letters of intent were signed, Kentucky had a caliber or potential to one of the most dangerous, and intimidation posing teams in the history of  college ball. Despite the fact that this roster will be incredibly young, John Calipari is a maestro of getting these super athletes to share the ball, and commit themselves to defense. Kentucky got a huge boost when solid sophomore in Alex Poythress announced his return for 2013. Lets discuss the incredible recruiting class of 2013. The Harrison brothers bring incredible size to the backcourt of the Wildcats. They are respectively listed at 6’4 230 lbs, and 6’5 220 lbs, bringing amazing athleticism that can transfer to the next level. Not only that but these guys are incredibly effective at penetrating to the paint and drawing fouls. Julius Randle is the headline of this recruiting class. Listed at 6’10 on ESPN’s Top 100 recruit list, he shot up the rankings, as he exemplified excellent atheleticism, and the ability to fight down low. Randle has the motor that constantly keeps running. Last of all, James Young, from the state of Michigan chose the Spartans over this NBA-class team. James Young has a tendency to linger away from the rim, but has the ability to drive, and pull up when necessary. If Kentucky can separate itself from injuries, teamwork issues, and upsets, they should be the clear favorite to win the tournament.

2.Michigan Wolverines- Call me a biased writer, but Michigan is just that good. Michigan had two unfortunate, yet bright stories, as Trey Burke, the Wooden Award Winner left for the NBA, and junior veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. declared for the draft. But let’s not forget the excellent, young team that is still in Ann Arbor. Nik Staukas, a freshmen was a clear top-10 perimeter shooter. Glenn Robinson is an  NBA-Bodied, forward that could finish dunks, and pull up occasionally at the three. Of course we cannot forget the great Mitch McGary. McGary was ranked no. 2 in his class, but due to his poor weight management, and knee injury, he dropped down the list. But near the end of last season, we saw why he was the prospect that he was. Mitch McGary had the ball handling of a decent forward, rebounding abilities of a center, vision of a point guard, and the motor of any superstar. Mitch McGary will live up to be the heart and soul of this team. Jon Beilein has several cut choices to make this offseason. Michigan have an excellent point guard coming in at Derrick Walton, who has the ball handling of Trey Burke yet a slightly less dangerous shot. Along with a lengthy swingman in Zak Irvin, both will have a great chance to contribute. Nonetheless, Beilein will have to decide whether or not to keep this perimeter, high-octane offense. Last Year, this team made up for lack of size in quickness. But with this freshman class, they can do the exact same, however, as we saw Jon Horford’s ability to rebound and defend the paint, Michigan can play a more traditional lineup. Despite the fact that this team cannot match the individual skills of Kentucky, Michigan has the groove and teamwork to be a 2014 tournament favorite.

3. Duke Blue Devils: Duke performed extremely well last year, with a incredibly shaky bench. Duke have an excellent class with the third Plumlee brother coming in along with the next Lebron, named Jabari Parker. Duke has a chance to prove its case as a powerhouse once again. Jabari Parker is 6’9, 250 lbs, with a 7’0 wingspan. Parker has the abilities to finish at the rim, elevate on jumpers, rip cross-court assists, and preform in the clutch like any superstar. In light of this superstar power, veteran ship, and experience all combined with the work ethics of Coach K, Duke has a very positive upside.

Keep in mind, the decision of number one overall player, Andrew Wiggins, will significantly influence this poll. He is considering UNC, Kentucky, and Michigan State. Other teams that have a significant upside include; Wichita State, Florida, VCU , UNC, Michigan State, UCLA, Arizona, Indiana, and many other great teams of the NCAA.

Copyrights:Feature Sports

2013 NCAA Tournament Prediction

This year’s 2013 NCAA tournament will be won by either the Louisville Cardinals or the Michigan Wolverines. The game will be on Monday, April 8^th. Tipoff will be at 9:23 pm on CBS.

The final dance will be an offensive explosion along with an emotional rollercoaster. Michigan has arguably the best offense in the nation while Louisville is not far behind. Louisville has found a reason to compete in this tournament after Kevin Ware came down with that horrific injury in the Elite Eight. Win or lose Rick Pitino will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, whether it be this year or years down the road. He definitely deserves it.

Now on the Michigan side we have the Player of the Year, Trey Burke; two offspring of basketball superstars, Glenn Robinson III and Tim Hardaway Jr.; arguably the most in-form player of the tournament, Mitch McGary; and a Canadian sharpshooter, Nik Stauskas. How could this team lose? Well their defence is lacking height and they are fairly young. However, their defence has been phenomenal allowing 61.8 points per game this tournament and the experience of their seniors and Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. has been enough to push through one of the bumpiest roads to the Championship this year.

My prediction is Michigan coming out with a close victory, 76-72. Michigan is in-form and has already been battle tested en route to this Final. Louisville is coming off a narrow victory over an underrated Wichita State and is missing a key player in Kevin Ware. Michigan is healthy, young, and lethal. A huge question a lot of Michigan fans are asking is will Trey Burke return next year? I believe that if Michigan wins a National Championship then he is definitely leaving. If not then it is really up for grabs.

Please comment below who you think will win the National Championship.

(c) featuresports

Rutgers Rant

Rutgers University is a pretty prestigious university in the sports world. Basketball however, is not their strong point. They are a mediocre team playing in a beefed up Big East Conference. They may get into the NIT tourney every once and a while but that’s about it.

Recently Rutgers’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Mike Rice, has been under attack for abusing his players at practice. Rice has reportedly thrown balls at players’ heads, chests, and feet. Along with physical abuse Rice has been reported as verbally abusing players by calling them homosexual slurs and using inappropriate language.

Mike Rice Jr., son of Trailblazer’s announcer, Mike Rice, coached at Robert Morris University and in 2009 lead them to their first NCAA tournament since 1992. Rice was hired by Rutgers in 2010 and coached there for three seasons until being suspended in December 2012 and later fired April 2, 2013.

Now that you guys are up to date I have to ask a few questions. How could these 6-6, 215 pound guys put up with this abusive behaviour? How is the NCAA going to fix this problem? Many of the players on Rutgers gained Basketball Scholarships to go to college there. While you could say the players could just quit the team to avoid the abuse that is only partially true because if they quit the team then they lose their scholarship and may have to drop out or transfer colleges. When you break it down these kids were being forced to take this abuse in order to go to college. The NCAA can’t really punish the basketball program because then they would be punishing the players who just suffered the abuse.

I hope the players can overcome the Mike Rice incident and can move on and keep their careers alive.

Here’s a link to some of the video of the abuse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T4YBKZ6WjA

(c) featuresports

NFL Transactions

Several NFL Transactions have already been made.  This article will give you an in depth look at all the teams free agent signings, free agent losings, and trades.  I also gave every team an Overall Signing Grade with C as not changing, F at getting a lot worse, and A being a lot better.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals:  The Cards are going to really struggle on offense next year for sure.  They cut potential starting Quarterback Kevin Kolb along with starting Running Back Beanie Wells.  They also cut Wide Receiver Early Doucet.  The only good offensive player they signed was Rashard Mendenhall, former Steelers Running Back, who has been plagued with injuries recently and barely played last year.  They did buff up their defense signing Cornerback Antoine Cason, Defensive End Matt Shaughnessy, Linebacker Jasper Brinkley, and Defensvive End Frostee Rucker.  However, it is concerning that they cut both their starting safeties, Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes, and have only been able to sign Yeremiah Bell at the Safety position.
Overall Signing Grade: D+

Seattle Seahawks: The major move for the Seahawks is the trade that sent their first round pick to the Vikings in return for Percy Harvin.  Harvin can add a completely new dimension to the Seahawks offense. They signed Defensive Ends Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett to help with their pass rush.  The only person I’m scared to see them let go of is Cornerback Marcus Trufant who has given them many years of great pass coverage. Overall Signing Grade: B+

San Francisco 49ers:  The Niners do not have to do much to make themselves an elite team after almost winning the Super Bowl last season.  They got rid of Alex Smith, trading him to the Chiefs for some draft picks.  I think this solidifies Kaepernick as their long term starter.  He did not have many options to throw the ball to last year, so they traded for Anquan Boldin from the team they lost to in the Super Bowl, the Baltimore Ravens.  I think this competition might motivate Michael Crabtree to play better.  They lost two good defensive players in Safety Dashon Goldson and Defensive Tackle Isaac Sopoaga.  Their only big signing was Defensive End Glenn Dorsey from the Chiefs. Overall Signing Grade: C

St. Louis Rams:  The Rams have one big signing and then a bunch of losings. They signed fantastic Offensive Tackle Jake Long from the Miami Dolphins.  This will help Sam Bradford have time to throw, but to who?  They lost Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson, so the only Wide Receiver targets Bradford has left are Austin Pettis and Brian Quick.  They did sign Tight End Jared Cook who will be an improvement over Lance Kendricks.  They also lost all-star Running Back Steven Jackson and now have Isiah Pead as their number one Running Back.  Defensively, they lost three starters in Linebacker Rocky McIntosh and Safeties Quitin Mikell and Craig Dahl.  I do not think Jake Long was worth all of those players. Overall Signing Grade: D+

NFC North

Chicago Bears:  The most important move in Chicago was the release of Brian Urlacher.  As sad as it is, I think D.J Williams, who they signed to replace him, is just as talented when he is not in trouble with the law.  Other than the loss of Urlacher, the Bears did some pretty nice signings.  They signed all-star Offensive Tackle Jermon Bushrod and Tight End Martellus Bennett to improve their offense.  They also signed James Anderson who will make people forget about Nick Roach and Israel Idonije who they will lose.   Overall Signing Grade: B-

Detroit Lions:  I think this team can be amazing next year, but I do not see it happening.  They signed Reggie Bush who will actually let them run the ball, but I do not know if Jim Schwartz will implement him into the offense correctly.  I think Reggie is a outside the tackles runner and pass catcher, not a every down runner like he tried to be in New Orleans.  The problem is that they do not have any other Running Backs to run it on other downs, so unless management can find another Running Back this was a huge wasted opportunity for the Lions.  They did lose Defensive end Cliff Avril and Offensive Tackle Gosder Cherilus, but they were able to retain many key players like Cornerback Chris Houston, Safety Louis Delmas, and Linebacker Deandre Levy.   Overall Signing Grade: B

Minnesota Vikings:  Minnesota was able to improve a team that made it to Wild-Card Weekend last year.  They pretty much traded Greg Jennings for Percy Harvin, which in my opinion is a step up.  Jennings is very reliable on third down routes, which is probably all he’ll really need to run with Adrian Peterson in the background.  They also signed Matt Cassel who is a upgrade at backup Quarterback over Joe Webb.  Who knows, he might even beat out Christian Ponder by opening day.  They were able to keep a lot of key starters like Offensive Tackle Phil Loadhalt, Wide Receiver Jerome Simpson, Linebacker Erin Henderson, and Safety Jamarca Sanford.  They did cut Cornerback Antoine Winfield though. Overall Signing Grade: B+

Green Bay Packers:  So far it has been a terrible offseason for the Pack.  They lose starting Receiver Greg Jennings to a division rival, cut all-star Cornerback Charles Woodson, and can not seem to get Cornerback Sam Shields to re-sign.  All of this and their two best Running Backs hit the market this year. Overall Signing Grade:  D-

NFC East

Washington Redskins:  With RGIII looking to make speedy recovery, the rest of the team isn’t looking so good.  Tight End Fred Davis is talking with the Bills and they could not afford to keep either of their two best Cornerbacks, DeAngelo Hall and Cedric Griffin.  Offensive Tackle Jammal Brown is looking like he is also going to leave which will hurt an offensive line that was not very good to begin with.  If they do not start trying to re-sign people this team will not make the playoffs next year.   Overall Signing Grade: D

Dallas Cowboys:  This team will not change that much, they re-signed Linebacker Anthony Spencer, but lost Defensive End Marcus Spears.  Felix Jones will probably not resign, but that might actually be a good thing.  They cut Safety Gerald Sensabaugh who, in my opinion, did not do anything to deserve it.   Overall Signing Grade: C

New York Giants:  There will be a lot of changes in New York.  They have already cut Running Back Ahmad Bradshaw, this leaves David Wilson and Ryan Torain as potential starting Running Backs.  They also Cut Defensive Tackle Chris Canty, but upgraded by signing Cullen Jenkins.  Osi Umenyiora is talking with the Falcons, but I do not think he will be missed with all the other pass-rushers up front for the Giants.  They also lost Safety Kenny Phillips and Tight End Martellus Bennett.  The big question with the Giants is if Victor Cruz Will resign.  I do not see any reason why he would not though.
Overall Signing Grade: C

Philadelphia Eagles:  The Eagles set an example by cutting underachievers Nnamdi Asomugha and Cullen Jenkins.  Other then that, it does not look like they will lose anyone else.  They traded some low draft picks for Wide Receiver Arrelious Benn.  They were able to sign Linebacker Connor Barwin, which I think is a good pick up because he can do some serious pass rushing.  They were able to sign two quality Safeties Patrick Chung and Kenny Phillips which will help their pass coverage with the departure of Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.  They also signed Isaac Sopoaga to replace Cullen Jenkins.   Overall Signing Grade: B-

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons:  The Falcons released Michael Turner earlier this offseason which turned some heads.  They were able to turn this into a good thing though, because they signed Steven Jackson from the Rams.  I think Jackson is a great fit for the Falcons because he makes the other team have to crowd the box which will free up Matt Ryan’s passing game.  It would not surprise me if Jackson went for 1200 yards this season.  They were also able to re-sign legendary Tight End Tony Gonzalez and Safety William Moore.  It looks as if they will lose three defensive starters though, Cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson and Defensive End John Abraham.  It does look as if the will be able to sign Osi Umenyiora. Overall Signing Grade:B-

New Orleans Saints:  The saints will be pretty much the same as they were last year.  They lost Offensive Tackle Jermon Bushrod, and will probably lose Defensive Tackle Sedrick Ellis.  They have signed Cornerback Keenan Lewis to help with pass coverage.  They also got Tight End Benjamin Watson to be Jimmy Graham’s backup.   Overall Signing Grade: C

Carolina Panthers:  The Panthers made very few moves other than cutting Chris Gamble and Replacing him with Drayton Florence, which in my opinion is a downgrade.  They also lost Linebacker James Anderson.  Their only other notable signing was Safety D.J Moore. Overall Signing Grade: C-

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  The biggest move for the Buccaneers is the signing of Safety Dashon Goldson.  He will drastically help the Buc’s defense.  He will replace Ronde Barber who it will be sad to see leave the Buccaneers.  They did not attempt to re-sign Defensive end Michael Bennett which I think shows that they have faith in Da’Quan Bowers.  They re-signed Running Back LeGarrette Blount, who I think could have been more useful on another team. Overall Signing Grade: C+

AFC West

Oakland Raiders: I did not think the Raiders could get any worse, but they definitely did not get better.  They lost two best pass-rushers in Defensive Ends Matt Shaughnessy and Richard Seymour.  That’s not all, they cut their best run-stopper in Safety Michael Huff.  They also cut Receiver Darius Heyward-Bey.  You would think they would get a lot in return, but all they got were Linebackers Kevin Burnett and Nick Roach. Overall Signing Grade: D

San Diego Chargers: The Bolts had a disappointing season last year, and hope to turn it around this year.  I do not see that happening though.  They have not made an effort to re-sign either of their starting Cornerbacks, Antoine Cason and Quentin Jammer, and their best pass rusher, Linebacker Shaun Phillips.  The only impact player they have signed so far is Cornerback Derek Cox who is a step down from both Cason  or Jammer.  Unless Phillip Rivers plays better this year, there is no way the Chargers are getting better. Overall Signing Grade: D+

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs look to start over by cutting Matt Cassel and trading for Alex Smith.  Even with Smith, I’m surprised Dwayne Bowe re-signed.  Offensive Tackle Branden Albert also returned which will help Smith in the pocket.  Also to help Smith, they signed Tight End Anthony Fasano.  On defense they had to get rid of Glenn Dorsey, but Signed Cornerback Dunta Robinson who will be a good check for Brandon Flowers.  I do not think they should try to retain Peyton Hillis, he is far below Jamaal Charles on the depth chart. Overall Signing Grade: A-

Denver Broncos:  They gad a big signing and a big losing so far this offseason.  Their big win was signing all-star receiver Wes Welker from the New England Patriots.  Wes will be a good fit into this offense because of how often Peyton Manning throws it to the slot.  Their loss was Defensive End Elvis Dumervil who is one of my personal favorite players.  Them lost him in a contract snafu in which they could not get his updated contract to the league office in time.  They also lost Linebacker D.J Williams, who barely played last year due to legal troubles.  However, the Broncos signed Defensive Tackle Terrance Knighton and Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.  Overall I think the addition of Welker will help them more than the loss of Dumervil will hurt. Overall Signing Grade: B

AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals:  It seems like Cincy’s whole defense became free agents this offseason, but they did a great job getting players to re-sign.  Notable examples are Defensive Ends Michael Johnson and Robert Geathers and Linebacker Rey Maualuga.  they have not added or lost anyone that important, but a good job keeping a team that is on the rise together. Overall Signing Grade: B-

Cleveland Browns:  The Brown’s most important move was the signing of Linebacker Paul Kruger, who rushes the passer at an elite level.  They severed ties with Tight End Benjamin Watson, but signed Kellen Davis to replace him.  They did cut Defensive End Frostee Rucker, who I think is very underrated.  Overall, I do not think this team has done enough yet to make them relevant next season. Overall Signing Grade:  C

Baltimore Ravens:  The Ravens made a lot of moves after winning the Superbowl.  I will start with their three major signings, all Defensive Linemen, Elvis Dumervil, Chris Canty, and Marcus Spears.  I think they buffed up a Defensive Line that did not necessarily need it with Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs already on the roster.  They lost some very quality players though.  The best was awesome Safety Ed Reed who had been with the Ravens for a long time.  They also lost four other quality defensive starters, Safety Bernard Pollard, Linebackers Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe, and Cornerback Cary Williams.  When you add this to the fact that they traded Anquan Boldin for almost absolutely nothing, it is looking like a bad offseason for the Ravens. Overall Signing Grade: D+

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers are losing players left and right.  They lost Wide Receiver Mike Wallace to the Dolphins.  They two other offensive starters, Running Back Rashard Mendenhall and Guard Willie Colon.  Defensively they have lost Cornerback Keenan Lewis, and will probably lose Defensive Tackle Casey Hampton and Linebacker James Harrison.  Neither have expressed interest in re-signing.   The Steelers, who had a disappointing season last season, look to not be much better this season. Overall Signing Grade: D-

AFC East

New York Jets:  The Jets are losing team spirit, which is impacting players decisions not to re-sign.  Three key players have already signed with other teams, including Safety LaRon Landry, Running Back Shonn Greene, and Tight End Dustin Keller.  The Jets need to sign a good player to turn this team around, but so far the only key player they have signed is Guard Willie Colon. Overall Signing Grade: D

Miami Dolphins:  there are a lot of moves going on in Miami.  They lost great Offensive Tackle Jake Long, but with a mobile Quarterback like Ryan Tannehill I’m not sure how much this will hurt them.  They signed Wide Receiver Mike Wallace and Tight End Dustin Keller to help out alongside Brian Hartline as Tannehill’s receiving threats.  They did lose Running Back Reggie Bush, which shows how much faith they have in Daniel Thomas to run the ball.  On defense they cut, arguably their best two defensive players,  Linebackers Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett.  Neither had played up to standard over the past few years.  They signed Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler to try to replace them at Linebacker.  A lot of moves for the Dolphins, but I’m not sure they got any better. Overall Signing Grade: C

New England Patriots:  The Patriots lost Wes Welker and replaced him with Danny Amendola at Wide Receiver.  I think Welker is way better than Amendola, which is contrary to what many Patriot scouts are saying.  The other Receiver, Brandon Lloyd, has not decided if he is going to re-sign, which I think is huge in the Patriot’s offensive effectiveness next year.  On defense the Patriots signed Safety Adrian Wilson, who is an upgrade over Patrick Chung.  I do have to compliment them on being able to re-sign Cornerback Aqib Talib and Offensive Tackle Sebastian Vollmer.
Overall Signing Grade: C

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts:  The Colts have made a bunch of minor signings to steadily improve their team.  They have signed Safety LaRon Landry to help in pass-coverage.  They also signed Offensive Tackle Gosder Cherilus to help protect Andrew Luck, who was sacked a few too many times last season.  Other notable signings include backup Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, Defensive Tackle Aubrayo Franklin, and Linebacker Erik Walden.  Their only big loss is aging Defensive End Dwight Freeney. Overall Signing Grade: B

Tennessee Titans:  The Titans have made a lot of good moves so far this offseason.  They have signed Running Back Shonn Greene to help take some pressure of Chris Johnson.  They also signed Guard Andy Levitre to help block for these Running Backs.  On defense they have signed two quality Safeties, Bernard Pollard and George Wilson.  Their primary loss is Tight End Jared Cook, but they replaced him with Delanie Walker.  This team should be much improved from last year.    Overall Signing Grade: B+

Houston Texans: The Texans only have three major moves, both on the defensive side of the ball.  The first is the edition of all-star Safety Ed Reed.  Ed will really help this already strong Texans defense.  Anther move is the loss of pass rusher Connor Barwin.  Barwin will be missed along with Safety Glover Quinn who was stopped trying to re-sign when the Texans signed Ed Reed.  Reed should be able to help this team significantly.
Overall Signing Grade: B-

Jacksonville Jaguars:  Jacksonville has not made very many big moves yet.  Many of this team’s free agents have not mad their decisions yet.  I think that they should let go of some of their players and try to bring in new players to try to start over.  I think one player they need to hold on to though is Linebacker Daryl Smith, he is a very good run-stopping Linebacker. Overall Signing Grade: C

Notable Still Available Free Agents

Ryan Clady, Broncos Offensive Tackle:  Ryan was franchised by Denver, so I can not imagine him going anywhere else.

Karlos Dansby, Dolphins Linebacker:  Karlos was cut by Miami and I imagine many teams are after him.

Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Defensive End:  Dwight has talked with the Broncos, but that might just have been to try and lure Elvis Dumervil to come back.

Victor Cruz, Giants Wide Receiver:  I assume Victor will come back to the Giants, other teams have expressed interest, but I think he likes it in New York.

Brian Urlacher, Bears Linebacker:  I expect Brian to be signed by an aging championship team to give them an extra jolt to help them win this year.

Charles Woodson, Packers Cornerback:  I think Charles will be signed by a team with a bad pass defense, like the Patriots.

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Big Ten Review

This year the Big Ten was the dominant force of the nation. Indiana was the best team in the Big Ten although Ohio State won the tournament. (I don’t mean to brag but did I call that or did I call that?) In the NCAA Tournament Indiana is a one seed, Ohio State is a two seed, Michigan State is a three seed, Michigan is a four seed, and Wisconsin is a five seed. There is no doubt that the Big Ten has great potential for this year’s tournament.

However well any team has done in the regular season, it doesn’t matter! This is what matters, the NCAA Tournament.

The fact that the Big East is better represented than the Big Ten is very surprising. I definitely think a Big Ten team will come up with the NCAA Title this year.

In my regular season review I will essentially create a regular season power ranking for the top 5 teams in the Big Ten.

BIG TEN  POWER RANKING:

5. Illinois

Illinois gets the fifth spot over Wisconsin only because they did better with a worse roster. No offense to Illinois but they don’t have a really stand out lineup. Wisconsin have names like: Brust, Evans, Bruesewitz, and Jackson while Illinois only have Brandon Paul. Along with the roster Illinois have had some very impressive wins against: Butler, Gonzaga, Indiana, Ohio State, and Minnesota. I predict Illinois to make it to the round of 32 losing to Miami (FL).

4. Michigan

I would have put Michigan up higher but they lost 3 of their final six games. Michigan lack major components on defense however are a lethal weapon on offense. Michigan currently has a modern Fab Five now being called the Freshmen Five, referring to their five impressive freshmen in: LeVert, McGary, Robinson III, Stauskas, and Albrecht. I believe that if  Hardaway Jr. and Burke return next year Michigan will be extremely good. I have Michigan going the the Sweet 16 losing to Kansas.

3. Michigan State

Michigan State have been somewhat disappointing this year finishing third in the Big Ten. However Michigan State are still successful and were able to make a late season surge and climb in the rankings and secure a three seed in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State lacked skill in the Guards department however making up for it in the impressive mobility of Forwards Nix and Payne. I have Michigan State upsetting Duke in the Sweet 16 but then losing to Louisville in the Elite 8.

2. Ohio State

Ohio State stunned the Big Ten community by Winning the Big Ten Tournament and clinching a two seed in the NCAA Tournament. Aaron Craft in my mind has earned Big Ten Player of the Year Award with an impressive 66 steals this season. Ohio State have proven themselves worthy this year with impressive wins consisting of: Michigan, Indiana, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. I have Ohio State losing to Louisville in the Final Four. However I know many people have them winning the entire tournament.

1. Indiana

Indiana obviously ranks best in the Big Ten even though they fell to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana are such an offensive threat that they really don’t even have to play defensive. Although though they don’t need defense they still have a pretty good one with the dynamic and always dangerous Victor Oladipo. Indiana also have two players in Player of the Year contention with Zeller and Oladipo putting up amazing numbers. I have Indiana defeating louisville in the National Championship.

If you have any input to my selections feel free to post in the comments below. Or even share your bracket selections with us.

Feature Sports on Youtube

Attention all Feature Sports viewers and followers! Feature Sports has officially launched it’s Youtube channel, FeatureSports. On it we will post our own highlights. These Highlights will help viewers visualize and experience the best of each sport. Our main author responsible for these awesome highlights is bigcardsfan1.

A link for the Youtube channel will be provided in the space below as well as under Useful Links shown to the right. Please follow the blog and subscribe to our Youtube Channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/FeatureSports

Benitez-be-gone Petition

Dear Chelsea Fans,

As a Chelsea fan I must ask my fellow fans to help me put a stop to this blasphemy. Benitez must go! He destroyed Liverpool and is slowly diminishing Chelsea. I do not blame Benitez for all the misery. I blame Chelsea’s Owner, Roman Abrahmovich for most of it. However, Abrahmovich supplies Chelsea with all of their money. The only way to change Chelsea’s dark fate is to start a petition to oust Benitez. Feature Sports has taken this into their hands and would like to make this post the petition. If you feel that Benitez should be removed you should write your reason why in the comments below. If this blog gets over 100 comments Feature Sports will contact Abrahmovich and fight for Benitez’s removal.

Thank You,

Feature Sports

2013 NFL Draft

With the overwhelming success of the 2012 draft class which produced 5 starting Quarterbacks, two of the best five Half Backs in the league, and countless other impact players.  So the Chiefs, who have the first overall pick in the 2013 draft, should not be worried, or should they.  The projected pick for the Chiefs is Star Lotulelei, a Defensive Tackle.  I do not care how good he is, a Defensive Tackle can not take a bad team into the playoffs like Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson did last year.   The Chiefs could branch out and pick a Quarterback, but there are only two Quarterbacks that look like they could play in the NFL at all.  These Quarterbacks are Geno Smith and Matt Barkley.  Smith is more of a scrambling Quarterback whose game might not transfer into the NFL.  Barkley on the other hand, was a huge prospect and was being compared to Steve Young and Tom Brady, until his dismal 2012 season which knocked him out of the top 32 prospects.  The top 32 draft prospects consist of seventeen linemen and eight Linebackers and Defensive Backs.  The highest ranked skill position player is Geno Smith at 23.  The highest ranked Running Back is Eddie Lacy at 30, the highest Wide Receiver is Cordarrelle Patterson at 25.  It looks as if the bad teams will stay bad until the 2014 draft.

Next Article: Beating the Heat.

(Go Broncos)

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