Of the four major pro sports Hockey, Baseball, Football, Basketball in the United States and Canada only eight teams actually have a color as part of the mascot. Soccer was not included because it is lower than bowling and poker on the sports food chain in America. Simply looking at the four sports and the 122 pro sports teams there is one thing obvious, if you are a team of color you better have "red" in the name.

  Teams with the name "red" include the Redskins, Red Wings, Red Sox, and Reds. These teams comprise 50% of the list known as the "A list". The Browns, White Sox, and Blue Jays represent the other 50% of the list known as the "B list".

  The Red teams have a combined 27 Championships between them. The Red Wings have won 11 Stanley Cups, the Red Sox have won 6 World Series, the Reds have won 5 World Series, and the Redskins have won 5 Super Bowls. This is why they are the "A list".

  The other #### teams have only 12 combined Championships. That is why they are on the "B list". They are not new franchises either. These teams have been around a long time. In fact every team of color has been around a long time. The newest team on the list is the Toronto Blue Jays whose franchise began in 1977 which is relatively young in comparison to the other teams on the list.

Teams of color are old school. You will probably never see another team name including a color as part of the name. But if your city gets one, they better make the name have "Red" in it!

 The entire list of most championships by pro teams of color:

Red Wings 11

Red Sox 6

Reds 5

Redskins 5

Browns 4

White soxs 3

Blackhawks 3

Blue Jays 2


The Breakdown:

4 teams were from MLB

Zero teams were from the NBA

Chicago has 2 teams on the list

2 teams with Indian names on the list and 2 about colors of Sox.

2 teams of color left off the list the St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets have never won a Championship.

Of all teams "Blue" only a combined 2 Championships

  I know you thought you would never read that line.  All you ever hear is how bad o####M Matt Millen is.  Today I will show you that maybe he really isn't that bad after all.  Well for starters, he never had a number one overall pick bust like so many other GMs have in the past.  Cleveland had Tim Couch at number one overall and Couch isn't even in the league anymore.  They should have taken Donavon McNabb.  Remember though he was the guy Philly fans booed when he was selected number two just ahead of Cincinnati's bust, Akili Smith.  Also don't forget that same draft in 1999 the Saints traded away every pick to get Texas RB Ricky Williams.

Soooo back to defending Millen's moves.  He still has five of the last seven first round picks on the roster.  It made sense at the time and is still a running joke among Lions fans that drafting another WR in the first round is to give Joey more "weapons!"  Now as it stands Charles Rogers is trying to just get another shot, Joey is backing up Ron Mexico in Atlanta, and "BMW" Big Mike Williams may be cut or traded after June 1st.  Not to worry though.  The Lions will be near a 50% roster change.  They did finish with a whopping 18 players on IR last season.  That is almost two full first teams for offense and defense.  They have brought in a lot of lineman as well, which they needed.  Ross Verba was a bum and Damien Woody is so overweight he has step on two scales to weigh in these days, and he is down 30lbs......again.

This years draft, Millen has a lot of options.  He has used options well in the past as well.  In 2004 he traded down with Cleveland to draft Roy Williams and later in the first round selected RB Kevin Jones.

On the other hand it doesn't matter what moves Millen has or hasn't made, the Lions have been the bottom feeders of the NFL for six years now and Lions fans have had enough.  If he was doing such a great job he wouldn't have fans staging protests against him.  Maybe this is what Jets fans should have done a long time ago.  Just look at this clip from youtube.com and see just what the Jets have done in drafts past.  Jets fans you may get sick by watching this, but hey, this is a article trying to defend Matt Millen and it is pretty hard with out your help.

  There is so much happening right now in sports.  Free agency starts at 12:01 EST tonight March 2nd, well that would actually be tomorrow morning officially, but who cares you know what I mean.  We have the NHL trade deadline passed and a story yet to come that you will see actually get coverage in an NHL arena of more than a highlight on Sportscenter.  Spring training has also began and steroid winds are blowing yet again.

  So we need to talk, well I need to write and you need to read.  I am going to start with a trade that actually happened in the NFL.  The big surprise to me is that there was actually three players involved in the trade as well.  The Detroit Lions sent Dre Bly and a 6th round draft pick to Denver for Tatum Bell, (T) George Foster, and a 5th round pick.  The winner to me is Denver but Detroit needed to make this deal as well so it works out for both sides very well.  The Broncos now have two very good pro bowl corners on their defense.  The Lions lose Bly but gain another solid RB to team up with injured Kevin Jones who currently is injured with a serious foot injury.  Bly is a very good cover corner but Detroit's defense is now designed to have run stopping CBs instead.  To me Denver gets the better end because they may have the best pair of corners in the game now and the Broncos always fit new RBs in their system and they seem to work every time. Detroit is now clearing out Matt Millen's guys he brought in, to bring in more of them.....uh oh  At least Matt got two players for Dre and will move up a round in the draft as well.  Good trade for both.

  Joey Porter was released by Pittsburgh today making him a free agent.  Joe Horn was released as well.  Most of the better free agents seem to be defensive players.  A team could actually bring in Nate Clements, Ken Hamlin, Joey Porter, Donnie Edwards and Adelius Thomas if they lay out the contracts correctly.  Not really but it does sound like the Washington (racist Indian name) NFL team for 2007!

Brady Quinn, what is the deal here?  He didn't throw at the combine?  He is a quarterback.  Now I read that he isn't going to interview for teams during Notre Dame's pro day.  He was over rated his entire career and now he is costing himself millions of dollars by falling even a few picks in the draft.  Or is he?  Maybe the less he says the better.  Kind of like how a woman knows if she wants to get it on with a guy unless he starts saying a bunch of stupid stuff by talking too much.  Maybe not but he may fall to picks 15-20 by doing this.  That is the difference in millions of dollars in guaranteed money.

  NHL trade deadline had a lower noted trade which involved league tough guy in Todd Bertuzzi to the Detroit Red Wings.  Bert goes to the Wings who are a team he was a former nemesis of.  He had a fued on ice with Chris Chelios.  Bertuzzi clotheslined Chris Chelios in a playoff game and instantly became the bull's-eye on every Detroit fan's dartboard?  Now the two are teamates.  Bert also may help revive a former rivalry.  Remember Bertuzzi is the guy who hit Colorado's Steve Moore from behind and has essentially ended his career.  The NHL may want to get the Wings-Avs rivalry revived because anytime they had these two play the ratings were actually on the ratings.  The Red Wings continue to be the team that gets ratings when they are on but unfortunatly for the NHL, they are the only team anyone ever wants to watch.  They are and have been a great team to watch and have never been afraid to bring in who they thought gave them the best chance to win the Stanley Cup.  Now they bring in a player in Todd Bertuzzi who has played all but seven games this year and had a 17 month suspension from the Moore hit.

Gary Sheffield has a new book coming out and it will cover a lot of things in his life he never talked about before including steroids.  Sheffield met with a Major League Baseball executive Thursday to discuss recent comments by the Detroit slugger on whether he would cooperate with former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's investigations into steroids.  Sheff was quoted in the an Associated Press report saying conflicting things at different times of the week "The (players') association told us this is just a witch hunt," Sheffield told USA Today. "They don't want us to talk to them. This is all about getting Barry Bonds."  Sheffield then told SI.com he would let the union decide whether he would talk with Mitchell's staff.  "I've always been more than willing," Sheffield told SI.com. "I'm not saying they're going to get much out of me, 'cause I don't know nothing."   I believe him when he says it too. He has always been a great player but never in the same place very long.  Sheffield has always been a contract guy.  By that I mean he always made sure he was "getting his."  If MLB was ever concerned about steroids in baseball and the intergrity of the game they would have never let it get this out of hand. 

In all fairness to Matt Millen, and i have been as fair as I can be all season, he now has a chance this year to NOT blow the draft.  To also be fair to Millen, five of the last seven first round draft picks he has made are still on the roster. 

That actually is saying something.  Ok so he blew the QB pick with Harrington, many teams have done that.  Look at he Browns and Bengals and the 1999 draft.  The top three picks were all QBs.  The Browns took Tim Couch number one overall, the Eagles took Donavon Mcnabb number two, and the Bengals took Akili Smith number three overall.  Two of these three not only aren't on their teams anymore, they aren't even in the NFL anymore.

This year the Lions have the number 2 pick and plenty of time to get teams ready to move up and trade.  Matt Millen needs to have personell start leaking who they "want" to draft at number two so other teams feel that if they want a certain player they have to trade up with the Lions.  The Browns could use a RB like Adrian Peterson and have been rumored to be interested in selecting him with their top pick.  Maybe that is the Browns working the angle I just mentioned the Lions need to take though.

Either way this year Matt has options at number two in the draft, however he already had this option once and decided to draft Charles Rogers (all Lions fans wanted him too) the local Michigan State and Saginaw, Michigan kid and we all know how that worked out.

Here is a new one to me.  The Seattle Supersonics may move out of Seattle at the end of the season the the WNBA Storm if the taxpayers do not assist with $300 million in taxpayers subsidies.  I was reading this in sleeplessineattles blog and couldn't help but get a little upset about another team holding their city hostage on a new arena/stadium.  Art Modell did this to the city of Cleveland with the Browns.  He used the stadium and its revenue as a means to get out.

It takes a lot of stones to actually have the nerve to demand a city grant $300 million to help a multi-Billion dollar company build its own facility.  The Sonics like almost every single team in any sport are NOT owned by the city but by an investor or investment group.  The Packers are the only team I even know of that is own by the citizens.

The part that really takes it over the top is that when you do go to watch your hometown team that you helped build a facility, they charge you 600% more for every item in the building and parking too!  Shouldn't everything be cheaper?  Seriously, how can they charge $8 or more for a beer and $3.50 for one hot dog.  Even McDonalds and other fast food chains have gotten into this scam.  Last season at a Tigers game I went into McDonalds to get a Big Mac meal and saw it was $9.50!  and you couldn't even get it special made.  I am not even sure if they made the food at this McDonalds.  It could have been driven there from a real McDonalds outside of the stadium.

It was the final drive in the AFC Championship game in Indianapolis.  The Patriots had the ball and were down three points.  Former Michigan Wolverine quarterback Tom Brady was poised to win another one against the Colts.  He has won three Super Bowls and was 12-1 in his playoff career.  Brady and the Patriots have been the one obstacle the Colts just couldn't get past.

Brady starts the drive at the Pats 21 and goes from the shotgun but throws incomplete.  The next play, boom, 19 yard pass to to TE Ben Watson, this gets it out to the Pats own 40.  Then Brady hit Evans for 15 yards to the Colts 45.  The Patriots only have 24 seconds on the clock but are driving down four points.

Brady out of the shotgun passed and was intercepted by former Michigan cb/s Marlin Jackson who picked off his old teammate and seals the victory for the Colts.  The AFC Championship was sealed on a play from a Michigan Man to a Michigan Man.  It just wasn't the Michigan man I thought it would be. 

 Although Brady was intercepted on that final drive, I can't think of another quarterback I would want leading a team than him.   When Brady was at Michigan, during practice, if he missed a pass or was off a little bit, Lloyd Carr would yell for Drew Henson to come in and take over.  A former Michigan WR was telling me this one time.

  Roy Williams is the worst offender of the all talk and no walk since Kellen Winslow jr.  Last week as you know guaranteed victory at Chicago.  Roy also has not done anything in his career to warrant such a guarantee either.  Just like Kellen he needs to just SHUT UP!  Kellen last week said cornerback Leigh Bodden is the best corner in all of football and he was gonna shut down Chad Johnson.

  Roy on Sunday did the biggest thing I hate to see as well.  With my Detroit Lions down 24-0 he thought it was still appropriate to signal first down with his signature first down move.   You can see it here.  Notice the score on there as well.

  If Winslow and Williams didn't so many stupid things so often they wouldn't even be getting interviewed because they rarely do anything on the field.  Maybe they think they are gonna get their team fired up.  That isn't the case though.  They get the other teams fired up and they embarrass their own fans. 

  How about this, show some class and let your playing do the talking.  Establish yourself as a player and not a jack ####.  At least when Terrell Owens says something he can back it up, and he has over ten years of film to prove it.  That is probably the first and last time you will ever read someone saying to be more like T.O. but hey at least he has proven he is a great player.  Kellen has proven to be a good player in all 4 games of his NFL career and Roy, well he made a sweet catch once last year!

Comebacks can come in all shapes and forms and I am about to take you through some that have come to mind. Comebacks are what we love about sports, among other things, but what does it take to have a comeback? Well lets see.

With a player it takes a complete turn of events from recent history, such as injuries or appearing to be finished as an athlete. In a game, it takes all the players on a team to stay focused and battle through all adversities that may come there way until the end when they comeback. I will show you some examples of comebacks and would like you to comment on one of your best/favorite comebacks. It can be recent, past, or most memorable.

Baseball- comeback players/team of the year

1. Magglio Ordonez - Maggs has comeback from a knee injury that ended his days in Chicago the season before they won the World Series. Magglio only played 52 games in 2004 and 82 games last year for Detroit. Not only is Magglio Ordonez tearing it up this season, he returned to the All-Star game as well as leading his team to the best record in baseball to this point with a whopping 10 game lead on any team in baseball. This year Maggs is hitting .298 with 16 hr and 79 rbi.

2. Jim Thome - He is somewhat similar to Maggs in the fact he making his comeback from an injury in which he only played in 59 games last year in Philly. Although the Phillies didn’t just let their star walk, they were able to trade him and get Aaron Rowand. This year he has been crushing the ball. He currently is hitting .304 with 34 hr and 85 rbi. Last season was the first season since 1995 in which Thome did not hit at least thirty home runs, last season he only hit seven. This year he has comeback to form.

3. Nomar Garciaparra - Nomar was going to be considered but he yet again has been sidelined with injuries again in 2006. When he has been in this year he has been lights out hitting .327 with 12 hr and 57 rbi. But the problem with Nomar, he hasn’t played in more than 81 games for anyone since 2003 in Boston. Will Nomar ever comeback?

4. Detroit Tigers - this is an epic comeback! The tigers were 43-119 in 2003, this year they have the best record in baseball by a full 10 games at this point. This is also the best start to any season for Detroit in the entire history of the franchise. In 1984(way back when Uncle Rico could still throw a football over those mountains, and still reeling from his coach not putting him in and his team not winning the state championship) the Tigers had their highest win total of 104. Right now they are on pace to win around 110 games.

 

NFL players and teams -

Terrell Owens - can he comeback healthy enough in body and mind and put together an actual season this year. He has Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells but he can always find a way to blow that too. He may have been right every time he exploded on the sidelines or ran his mouth to the media and other players with the words he was saying. But hey, if you can dish it out you better be ready to eat some too. If those players and offensive coordinators were so bad at making mistakes, you don’t call them out in front of the world. Because that is being a bad teamate. Terrell, comeback to reality and show the world who is the best receiver in football, not the worst teammate.

Jon Kitna - Jon gets another chance to finish off his career on a good note. When he was in Cincinnati he was part of the building block for the foundation they don’t call the "Bunguls" anymore. He was to hold down the team until Heisman trophy winning first round pick Carson Palmer was ready. Now he gets to run a new offense in Detroit led by Mike Martz as the coordinator. He was the comeback player of the year in the NFL in 2004. And if you don’t think he can get the best out of Kitna you don’t know anything about Mike Martz.

Javon Walker - He gets his shot this year in Denver to be the man. After blowing out his knee in the season opener last year in Detroit, Javon was sidelined for the whole season. Now he is going to comeback and he is ready to go. We just don’t know where he is going to go with Jake Plummer at quarterback.

Brett Favre - If Brett is poised for this honor. If anyone can be a comeback player it is him. He is a legend for a reason. The legends and true champions always find a way to come back in the end so it wouldnt suprise me to see Brett have one last comeback.

Seattle and Philadelphia, will they both comeback to the NFC Championship game this year and contend for the Super Bowl. Philly was absent after the whole T.O. debacle and Seattle is poised to make another run for the title. Seattle may comeback, Philly, they need to learn how to run the ball before they comeback.

     Three quarterback making a comeback or sorts. Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, and Ben Roethlisberger are all coming back from serious injuries. NFL fans around the leaguwill be anxious to have their star players on the field. Everyone knows how much of a factor injuries are in the NFL.

Cycling -

Floyd Landis’ comeback at the Tour De France this year was epic after the kind of crash he had. It was almost as if he were helped in some way. Not really, knowing what little I do about testosterone, it takes a long time for you to get any results from what ever it is you are using. Floyd, stay strong if you are innocent because this whole thing is fishy year after year and it has already gotten old accusing so many of doping and the testing system having so many bad tests.

Comeback lines of the day -

Yo mama is so fat, when I yelled into her belly button I heard an echo!

Yo mama so stupid that she sold her car for gas money!

How about some go aways!

  How about all the NFL players getting in trouble on the Bengals and Bears. Daven Holly of the Bears and Chris Henry of the Bengals got arrested on weapons charges, Henry didn’t stop there though. Henry managed to get picked up for drunk driving, posseision of marijuans, and giving alcohol to underage women. This between these two teams is so long and you have probably heard all about it. Not to mention Barrett Brooks (OL) for the Steelers tried to out run cops on a motorcycle and got caught, after trying to ditch his bike, and then get back on and run again. Sean Taylor of the Redskins who recently was sentenced on gun charges was fined by the NFL $71,000 and has community service until he is of retirement age.

Do you think you know more about sports than I do?  Lets see, go to http://www.faniq.com/index.php?id=24942  



The changes made to foxblogs have cramped my blogging style the way you post pictures and links.  If anyone will give me insight into this change it will be appreciated, thank you!

New York, Jacksonville, Detroit, Cincinnati, Green Bay, Kansas City, Washington, New England, and Denver


For some players in the NFL the next few months will determine if they make or break their career.  There are several veteran players who may be cut or benched this season early on.  The most important thing some players don't understand is how important the off season really is.  If you are a player on the apex of making a roster you better be at every off season meeting, mini-camp, and any injury treatments you need.  Some players just won't ever get it no matter how many chances they are given either.

  At least Lawrence Taylor had the thought to at least wait until his career was over to really get into his drug problem.  In his book he talked about the last six years of his career in which he said he could not wait to retire so he could smoke crack. 

A couple guys around the league will be cut, benched, or have their play reduced this season.  I will touch on a few around the league.


Jacksonville - Mike Williams OT The weight problems that prompted Buffalo to cut offensive lineman Mike Williams have followed him to Jacksonville, even threatening his chances to make the team.  Buffalo drafted him 5th overall in 2002 and cut him after last season.  If he doesn't make the team he will be picked up elsewhere.   Top five picks usually get a few more chances than most other players.


Green Bay - Ahman Green RB  He is only 29 years old but he was already slowing down before his quadriceps burst in Minnesota last season.  It remains to be seen when Green will return during training camp. And it's a greater mystery if he can fully recover from such a brutal injury.  Samkon Gado is a lock to make the team and this year it may be up to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport to get that final roster spot.  For fantasy owners, stay away from all of these guys because they still don't have a line to block for them.


Denver - Ashley Lelie WR  It has been rumored that he was part of a three way trade with New England for TE Daniel Graham and New Orleans RB Michael Bennett.  Lelie would go to New England, Graham would go to New Orleans, and Bennett to Denver.  With the addition of Javon Walker the Broncos have found Lelie to be expendable.  If they are really look to trade him, why not call Philadelphia?  I think they needs some WRs.  Besides why does Denver need more RBs?  Didn't they draft Maurice Clarrett?...........oh wait

Detroit - Mike Williams WR  He was dismissed from practice last week and may not be in the immediate plans for the Lions offense.  The Lions will have a three wide look that, at this point, is lined up as #1WR Roy Williams, #2 Corey Bradford, #3 Mike Furrey.  The Lions may be married to Mike Williams but he is not going to be a player you want to draft in a fantasy league as he may not even be activated some weeks.

Green Bay - Robert Ferguson WR  Ferguson had the chance of his life last season and proceeded to drop the ball. After Javon Walker went down in the season-opener, Ferguson had every opportunity to prove he was the No. 1 wide receiver he'd claimed to be for years.  But Ferguson was arguably the Packers' most disappointing player and might be out of chances in Green Bay.


Kansas City - Priest Holmes RB  his days may be numbered in Kansas city with the emergance of Larry Johnson.  Holmes has already said he still wants to play.  He may just have to do it elswhere.  He has said in years past that he may retire but has played on.  If the Chiefs do decide to trade or release him there will be plenty of teams looking to acquire his services.


Green Bay - Rod Gardener WR The Packers are in a transition stage right now that may take longer than the fans will like.  Coming off a 4-12 year they have Brett Favre returning for one more year.  They add Gardener to the list of players who may be out sooner than later.  A washout in both Washington and Carolina, Gardner looked like a former first-round draft choice during his brief stay in Green Bay last winter. Gardner, picked up on waivers with two weeks left in the regular season.  But Gardner irritated the coaching staff when he missed a large portion of the current organized team activities.  He has good size but does not run well.  The Packers drafted two recievers in 2006 so Gardener and Ferguson will be fighting for spots.


Washington - David Patten WR Patten may be cut by the Redskins this month.  With the additions of Atwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd also having Santanna Moss, Patten's days are numbered.  However New England is in need of a WR so he may go back to play in Foxboro with another possible former player Ty Law.


New York Jets - Chad Pennington QB  Coming off his second rotator cuff surgery in as many years the Jets have competition for him.  Patrick Ramsey was traded for from Washington for a sixth round pick.  This QB controversy will only heat up if Pennington is healthy.  If he is healthy then rookie head coach Eric Mangini has his work cut out for him.  He has already announced, and rightfully so, that the job is wide open.  Pennington told the Star Ledger newspaper in May,  that he's "full go" and "throwing every route in the playbook." But he recently toned down his comments -- saying simply that he's making progress.  Seriously, why can't they just find a decent quarterback named Benny?


Cincinnati - Chris Henry WR Henry pleaded not guilty this morning to providing alcohol to three underage women at a hotel on Covington’s riverfront.  This marked the fourth time in six months Henry had been arrested.  He finally made it into the third recieving spot last season and it may have been his last of his career.  He faces up to a year in jail on these charges.  He still has the other cases pending against him that he will later this month be in court for.  He will spend more time in court than the Miami Heat will play on this summer.

Chicago -   Vasher joins the list of angery Bears. According to the Chicago Tribune: "Cornerback Nathan Vasher is the latest Bear to leave organized team activities over dissatisfaction with his contract, which has two years remaining and is scheduled to pay him $425,000 in 2006."  The list is growing and growing and may force a few other players to be cut or back loaded contracts.

Green Bay - Veterans still continue to skip practices.  "No, maybe and yes. That's apparently what Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has heard from Al Harris, Charles Woodson and Ryan Pickett or their representatives in recent conversations regarding the veterans' availability for the team's five remaining voluntary practices."  The team is still in need of Offensive line help and the group needs to be together to form some kind of continuity.  New head coach Mike McCarthy needs to nip this in the bud quickly.  Hey at least they have Favre there right?

Miaimi - On Tuesday, they had a visit and are working on a contract with Bennie Anderson, who was cut by Buffalo last week after starting 15 games last season.  Free agent defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson's agent said Tuesday his client likes Miami, and negotiations continue.  Wilkinson was recently cut from Detroit and could likely end up with former QB Joey Harrington.

New England - No "sign" of Law.  Ty Law has had talks with both Arizona and New England.  No doubt the former Patroit would like to return home after a one year stint with the rival Jets in which he had 10 interceptions for last year.  Arizona is also very interested in Law and still have $10 million under the salary cap.  New England has another issue with hold out wide reciever Deion Branch.  The Patriots could always try to put the squeeze on by trading for underachieving Denver receiver Ashley Lelie or disgruntled Saints wideout Donte' Stallworth, but with David Givens gone to the Titans, what they have right now as far as receivers. They aren't Deion Branch. And Branch knows it.  I'm Deion Branch bit%^!

Detroit - Mike Williams was sent home early from Lions mini camp last week because he missed a treatment for his sore hamstring and then was late to a meeting.  This also stems back to last season when he reportedly missed treatments and was late for meetings as a rookie.  The Lions however won't give up on him now.  Besides they can't.  All his bonus money would prorate this year and next year which would bump $12 million on to the cap.  They are financially committed right now and must find a way to untap the potential and cap off the foolishness.  Also with the signing of free agent offensive lineman Ross Verba the Lions hope to have shored up a dismal offensive line that had breakdowns all season long.  They are currently trying to work out a long term deal with left tackle Jeff Backus.  Backus was hesitant to sign the one year tender offer by the Lions but that had given him their word they will work out a long term deal before training camp.  Charles Rogers was pictured working out with the first team during mini-camp and this may not sound like much but that is the closest he has been to starting in a long time.  It has been rumored several times that he may not even make the team.

Pittsburgh - With the motorcycle accident of Ben Roethlisburger the Steelers have to look at another option for this season at least early on.  It has been rumored that Tommy Maddox may come back.  They do still have Charle Batch but we all know what he can do.  They may have to look into a slim market of free agents that are free agents for a reason.  Unless they think they can win with QBs like Tony Banks or Ty Detmer.  They do still have Kerry Collins and Jeff Blake they can talk to at least.

NFL


Tennessee Titans- Former San Francisco 49er first round pick Ahmed Plummer has played only nine games in the past two years after a succession of injuries. Twelve-year veteran Ty Law picked off 10 passes for the New York Jets in 2005, but also comes with a high price tag and, even more troubling, a warning label. They have had both in this month to see what interest each player has in Tennessee and a decision will come soon.

Detroit Lions- Warren Sapp a Lion?  The Lions released Dan Wilkinson yesterday in a move that suprised some.  He has talked about retirement all off-season.  He also has pending law suits in Maryland from a restaurant deal he had going from his Redskins days that didn't work out.  Ironically his lack of working out is what got him cut from Detroit. New head coach Rod Marinelli wants players who want to play and put in the extra effort needed to turn the franchise around.  Since Wilkinson was paid pretty well, that money can be used to pursue other free agents, if any players become available who might interest the Lions. There has been speculation in Oakland that the Raiders might part company with Warren Sapp, who had a strong relationship with Marinelli with the Buccaneers.

Pittsburgh Steelers- Joey Porter missed the first week of the Steelers' voluntary workouts, and now the question is whether he will participate in any of them.  Porter, a Pro Bowl linebacker, attended the team's mandatory three-day minicamp May 13-15 but was the only veteran absent from all four of their follow-up voluntary sessions last week at their UPMC training facility on the South Side.  He has two years left on a contract he signed in February 2004. He is scheduled to earn a salary of $3.85 million this year, and earn $5 million in 2007, which includes a $1 million roster bonus.


MLB


New York- take your pick which New York team picks up Dontrell Willis.  Both have had scouts following him the last two weeks.  He has had a slightly down season on a team that sold everyone else off before the season even started.  He was kept because he is still very young and has not had his first big pay day yet.

Kansas City- The Royals are now 19 games back of Detroit in the AL Central.  It is only May 23rd.  Yes their season is done and they will be unloading some players.  They made several off-season free agent signings and nothing has worked for them this year.  The biggest reason is they didn't sign pitching.  They have several veteran players they can trade off that may bring them plenty of young prospects for a team that has traded off every prospect that has every come to fruition for them.

Washington Nationals- Alfonso Soriano may also be headed out of town very soon.  He has been rumored to be traded since the time he was traded to Washington.  He may be headed toi the Mets, White Sox, Philadelphia, or St. Louis.

Los Angeles- If Morales struggles, the Angels will turn to the trade market, with Arizona first baseman Tony Clark considered a possible target. Clark is an attractive short-term option because he is signed only through this season and, because he's stuck behind young first baseman Conor Jackson, wouldn't cost as much as some of the front-line players the Angels are pursuing, such as Alfonso Soriano and Shea Hillenbrand.  The Angels are 11 games below .500 and in last place, a perfect fit for Tony Clark.  Ask any Detroit Tigers fan.

 

  Tuesday, The Governator said that he had a meeting with several NFL owners Tuesday and told them he was there to make sure "we're getting not only one NFL team to the Los Angeles area, Southern California, but to actually get two teams. That's why I came. Why limit it?"  I do have to say that I wasn't and do not support him as a governor, but it is hard to not root for a guy that would try to get me two NFL teams.  Besides it is a traveshamockery that there in no NFL football in L.A.

  Yes Arnold why not?  why limit it?  You are so business and pro sport savy anyway.  Actually I am guessing you don't know a very much about that fancy math that is put together when you are wanting to accomplish something that has never been done in pro sports.  Just expand the NFL by two or move two teams to L.A.  That makes a lot of sense considering how well the city handled two NFL teams in the past. (terrible)

    It is however rediculous that L.A. does not have a NFL team.    Two teams is not and should not happen ever again there.  But they do however deserve one team. Lets look at a couple options they may actually have eventually as ways to get a new NFL team(s) there.

1. Expansion - may be the best option, at least to get two teams in southern California.  They could put a team in Aneheim and one in Los Angeles.  That is the best chance to get two teams.  This is actually one of the proposals they are going to put together.

2. Move an existing franchise - (a) How about the Saints?  They still have the Superdome under renovation and is a possible reopening by next season.  This franchise has a lot of new talent and upside and just drafted Reggie Bush.  I think he would sell a lot of jerseys back in southern California.  (b) There are two teams that I would not have any personal issues with them moving.  One is the Baltimore Ravens, they lost a team to Indianapolis and stole the Browns from Cleveland, then won a Superbowl them and just digs the knife a little deeper.  The other team would be the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Florida does not need three NFL teams.  So by order of inception, they gotta go.

3. Move Oakland or St. Louis back.  Oakland is the better choice because that is best place for them anyway.  Renovate the L.A. Colesium into a brand new looking place and use the same field and outer layer to keep the original theme.  St. Louis (won a superbowl shotly after leaving as well) needs to stay put as they lost the Cardinals they took from Chicago to Arizona.

originally written 3/26/06

Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals held a press conference  Wednesday at Paul Brown Stadium in Cleveland. He addressed the media for the first time since his Jan 10. reconstructive knee surgery. The news conference was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed by a snow storm. An upbeat Palmer told the media that he's "where he should be, 10 weeks into rehab." It seems it is still far too early to project a return date for Palmer. The Bengals have a may minicamps and he knows that is too early, but the season return date is to be determined.

One of the biggest concerns this off-season for the Bengals is, who will back up Carson Palmer or be the starter until he returns? The Bengals made an inquiry Monday to David Dunn, the agent for Joey Harrington, the former no. 3 overall pick in the 2002 draft, who's career is done in Detroit. There is interest on both sides but there is not a visit scheduled at this time.

Brian Griese and his agent Ralph Cindrich visited last Saturday but agreed to a five-year deal in Chicago on Tuesday. Griese was looking for a more competitive situation than having Carson Palmer in front of him. "The one thing he told me after visiting with those guys is that he didn't want to string along Marvin (Lewis) and all the coaches there," said Ralph Cindrich, Griese's agent. "He's looking for more than a year, and it was never going to be more than a year in Cincinnati because of Palmer."

The team has also visited with former Rams quarterback Jamie Martin. Martin may be out of options in St. Louis now that the team has signed Gus Frerotte.

The Bengals made contact with the agent of Aaron Brooks but the Bengals situation didn't fit his client because Brooks views himself as a starting quarterback.

The weapons that the Bengals have put together on offense may be stifled a little bit early on in the season if they start the season with a new quarterback. The Bengals may have some growing pains with a new quarterback starting for them. Jon Kitna who recently left Cincinnati for Detroit was a key leader and veteran that this team will miss. In a statement issued through the team Palmer said, "I guess you could you say I have mixed emotions. I'm extremely happy for Jon and his family for the great opportunity he has there. But I also consider him irreplaceable as a player, as a teammate, and a leader in our locker room."

This will have an impact on the fantasy value of all the offensive players for the Bengals. The season after the injury is often a down year for any player. You first have to get your confidence back and feel good moving around at full speed.

Timing is very critical on offense. Chad Johnson may not click well with a new quarterback like back up Doug Johnson or Craig Krenzel. The running game will no doubt be effected by the lack of a passing game. The Bengals may have to rely not on their offense but their defense to start the season. Unfortunately for Cincinnati their defense ranked no. 28 in the National Football League in 2005. The good news is that they still have a solid starting running back in Rudi Johnson. He ran for 1458 yards last season seventh best among all running backs. In 2006 Rudi Johnson may be the more solid of the big three fantasy players the Bengals have. We still have five and a half months to see this play out though.