As each NFL season quickly approaches, the discussion regarding the year’s best rookies usually begins. The conversation generally starts in the top 10 and finishes in the top 25. Unlike most prognosticators, I’ll dare to dream a little bigger and look for those NFL first-timers that will have John Clayton and Sean Salisbury mesmerized on their show The Huddle.
   Due to several factors, the rookies that will have the biggest impact next season will not come from the top of the draft. JaMarcus Russell will not impact the Oakland Raiders success anymore than I will.  His holdout will continue to linger and the team will move on without him. By the time he finally puts pen to paper, he will have no chemistry with the team and little understanding of the playbook, leaving Daunte Culpepper or Josh McCown as the team’s field general.  Russell will only see the field in mop-up duty in the first half of the season.
   Moving on down the line, Calvin Johnson will be in an offense with a plethora of options, Joe Thomas will have no quarterback behind him to even make mention of his successes, and Gaines Adams will be just one piece to Monte Kiffin’s puzzle.  These players will take strides and contribute to their respective teams, but this year’s Maurice Jones-Drews and DeMeco Ryans do not reside in the top ten, but the latter part of the first round and deeper into the draft. Most of the high price and high profile first rounders will play on lousy teams (Gaines Adams the likely exception) and need to put forth heroic efforts to simply gain recognition. On the other hand, some players will have a chance to step in and start on bad teams and be able to contribute in a way Ryans did for the Texans last season.  All that being said, let’s take a look at some rookies that will step in and turn some heads starting next month:
   Jarvis Moss, DE, Denver Broncos (1st Round, #17) – Granted still fairly early in the draft, but the acquisition of Dre Bly makes this choice too hard to resist.  Jarvis Moss will be stepping into a situation where he has the best CB duo in the league behind him.  That fraction of a second longer the QB will need to hold onto the ball will be enough for him to make a huge impact for any player, much less a rookie.  His ferocity and speed was exemplified in the BCS Championship Game.  Moss may not be given a ton of responsibility early, but he could have an Elvis Dumerville-like impact on the Broncos next season.
   Eric Wright, CB, Cleveland Browns (2nd Round, #53) – Wright had the skills to be a top 15 pick but character concerns forced him to transfer from USC (where he started the Orange Bowl for the Trojans back in 2004) to UNLV. After playing one season for the Rebels, he declared and wowed scouts at the combine, falling because of the fear he was the second coming of Pacman Jones.  So far, Wright has impressed in Browns camp, even getting reps with the first unit. Gary Baxter’s injury history and the overall weakness at the position will most likely have Wright seeing considerable playing time and a number of passes being thrown his way.                                        
   Greg Olsen, TE, Chicago Bears (1st Round, #31) – Rex Grossman had a noticeable connection with TE Desmond Clark last year, and with Olsen stepping in as the number one TE, he will see a ton of passes thrown his way.  Cedric Benson, in my opinion, will struggle early as the feature back in Chicago, leading to more passing plays being called.  Olsen has great size to be a threat with the ball in his hands and a setback in the running game could lead to him being a prime target in the Bears 2007 offense.
   Jared Gaither, Baltimore Ravens (5th Round Supplemental Draft) – A consensus top 10 tackle every year in college football, Gaither ran into academic problems at Maryland and chose to declare for the Supplemental Draft.  The Sporting News ranked Gaither as the seventh best tackle in the country as a sophomore and he was an all-ACC pick.  Gaither has the talent to be one of the best tackles in the league, with the only questions about his game being his attitude. If there is one coach in the league that will bring the most out of Gaither, it’s Billick.
   Buster Davis, Arizona Cardinals (3rd Round, #69) – Unlike Wright and Gaither, Davis is a coach’s dream and has all the tools to quarterback a defense.  With a nonstop motor and true knowledge for the game, Davis has the chance to make an impact for a soft Cardinals defense.  The coaches are high on him at this point for his great work ethic and attitude.
   James Jones, Green Bay Packers (3rd Round, #78) – The receiver from San Jose State in essence slept walked through his first three seasons in his NCAA career but broke through in 2006.  After a great senior season, Jones was named the MVP of the New Mexico Bowl after grabbing six passes (two of them TDs) for 106 yards.  So far in Packers camp, Jones has impressed with his speed.  He has challenging Greg Jennings and could be the third option at WR for the Pack this season.

As the free spending has died down a bit in the NHL, there are still a few quality names left for teams who have been quiet thus far. The top tier free agents may be gone, but there is no doubt there are players left who will impact some teams' playoff runs next season. These are the 10 best will give some teams a reason to be optimistic in 2007-2008.

1. Brendan Shanahan - Despite his age, 38, Shanahan still has some tread left on his tires and he proved last season that he is still an elite scorer. He notches 29 goals and 67 total points, a stat line that could benefit a team like Buffalo or Ottawa greatly. Odds are he resigns with the blueshirts, but with all the spending Sather has done, the right price could entice him to move on. The results of Sean Avery's and Henrik Lundqvist's arbitration hearings could also impact Shanny's destination.

2.  Sheldon Souray - The best offensive defenseman in the game, Souray will improve some team's power play by leaps and bounds next season. His -28 plus/minus on defense may be the snag in his contract negotiations, but his 26 goals and 38 helpers say otherwise. Montreal's mediocre team didn't help Souray's cause, but nevertheless, some team will be getting a phenomenal offensive force in the coming days. The New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, and New York Islanders are all possible destinations for Souray.

3. Peter Forsberg - Maybe a Roger Clemens type situation, word has it Forsberg may not return until December, but he will definitely help some team's offense next season. Injury concerns will no doubt affect his price and teams' hesitancy to commit to him, but a team such as Detroit, Ottawa, Philadelphia, or Colorado could use his veteran leadership and puck handling come April.

4. Michael Peca -  No longer a huge offensive force, but a good two-way player who will bring leadership to whatever team brings him aboard. Toronto and Montreal are two likely destinations for the 33 year old center.

5. Alexei Yashin - No player has endured the pressure that Yashin has had to deal with while in New York and given the right situation, he could really thrive. He tabulated 50 points in 58 games, not too shabby, yet if you listened to the NY media, the assumption would be he was a bum. If picked up by a team like the Maple Leafs or Canadiens, Yashin could experience a resurgence out of the lime light and the monster contract.

6. Danny Markov - This tough 30 year old defenseman will most likely wind up with either the Islanders or Sabres. A second line defenseman, Markov is still relatively young and will help whichever team loses out on the Souray sweepstakes.

7. Teemu Selanne - Possibly headed for retirement, Selanne is still under 40 and has some miles left. 48 goals and 46 assists say he could end up a steal if the right offer is presented to him. Rumors have Philadelphia a possible target. A return to Anaheim is also not out of the question.

8. Brian Berard - The fast skating defenseman could help some teams power play unit with his shot from the point. He will step in on the second unit with some team once the signings of more of the second tier UFAs begin. The Islanders could be a possible landing spot if they miss out on Souray and Markov after the loss of Poti. Dallas and Atlanta are also possibilities.

9. Aaron Miller -  Another defenseman who will prove a consolation prize for the teams who lose out on Souray and Markov and who missed out on Rafalski and Schneider. The 36 year old defenseman is not a long term solution, but he possesses good size and will help out either Buffalo or San Jose.

10. David Aebischer - Not a player that will step in and start for a contending team but Aebischer could get a starting gig in Phoenix and make a significant impact next season for the Coyotes.

So there you have it, 10 players who are still available that should keep hockey fans fingers on the mouse ready to click refresh on TSN.ca.

Sean Williams was dismissed from the BC basketball team, but for the New Jersey Nets, his reward far outweighs his risk.

After watching the cumbersome Jason Collins lumber up and down the court, contributing virtually nothing offensively and giving Shaq a run for his money in terms of the worst free-throw shooter in the NBA, Rod Thorn needed to go big. The bright lights of New York City may prove too enticing for Sean Williams, but his play on the court could prove the deal breaker when it comes to the Nets' chances in next year's playoffs.

Nenad Krstic will return from injury, Jason Kidd will continue to be rested with the maturation of PG Marcus Williams, and Sean Williams may very well provide New Jersey with that inside presence the team has been searching for ever since the departure of Kenyon Martin. Coincidentally, Nets management sees Williams as a Kenyon Martin clone. If Williams can get his act together off the court, the Nets chemistry may thrive on the court. The Big 3 (Richard Jefferson, Jason Kidd, and Vince Carter) will always be there next season, but if anything can be learned from championship teams in the past decade, hardware is won on the inside. Not since Jordan's Bulls has a team won a championship without an established big man. The Lakers had Shaq, the Pistons had Wallace, and the Spurs have Duncan. Sean Williams' shot-blocking and rebounding ability will give the Nets that inside presence that has been missing since the last trip the team made to the finals.

Should the 17th pick of the draft amount to little more than a footnote in Nets history, New Jersey at least knows it has Josh Boone, Nenad Krstic, and the aforementioned Jason Collins to rely on. While most non-lottery picks are hit-or-miss, the Nets feel they stole lottery talent for the second straight year based on character issues. The selection of Marcus Williams, the UConn PG, in the previous year's entry draft proved to be a savvy pick for Thorn and Co. as he provided valuable minutes off the bench and even more valuable, rest for Kidd. Thorn is hoping his second straight gamble works out as well as his first. 

After watching the Atlantic Division improve by leaps and bounds, his own team being pillaged in the process, New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello must now surrender to UFA defenseman Sheldon Souray's demands.

It is believed Souray is seeking in excess of $6 million per season, which is well within the realm of what a player of his caliber should expect.  After seeing aging and declining players at his respective position receive lucrative contracts, the soon-to-be 31 year old free agent who notched 26 goals at the point last season should get what he earned: a hefty contract.  After Brian Rafalski, 33, signed for $30 million over a five year span and Mathieu Schneider, 38, ink eda 2 year deal worth $11.25 million, Souray should see a raise from his $2.43 million contract last season with the Montreal Canadiens.

It was believed Lamoriello had re-acquired Souray, the former Devils' defenseman who was dealt to the Montreal Canadiens for Vladimir Malakhov in March of 2000. Rumors swirling throughout the NHL had Souray ready to sign a 5 year contract to an undisclosed amount, but the deal hit a snag and now the San Jose Sharks and New York Islanders have emerged as serious players for the sharp-shooting defenseman's services.

This stalemate that Devils GM Lou Lamoriello finds himself in is entirely of his own doing. With just over $30 million in salary committed to next season's roster, Lamoriello has close to $20 million to fine-tune his group of warriors in any way he sees fit. With Scott Gomez bolting across the river to the rival Rangers and Brian Rafalski leaving to play for his hometown Red Wings, the Devils find themselves in a much deeper hole than the one they finished last season in, a five game exit in the second round at the hands of the Ottawa Senators. With $13 million and change leaving town, the ball is now in Lamoriello's court to restock this once feared eastern power.

With the Rangers adding Gomez and Buffalo's Chris Drury, the Flyers Daniel Briere, Joffrey Lupul, and Jason Smith, and The Islanders Mike Comrie and former Devil Bill Guerin, New Jersey is now forced to simply break even in an attempt to compete in the now fierce Atlantic Division. While Dainus Zubris, Karel Rachunek, and Kevin Weekes have all been shrewd signings, there will be no way to replace the offense the team lost earlier this week if Souray puts on a sweater with any colors other than red and black. The Devils will move into a new home next season in Newark, NJ, but will anyone come to see them in the Prudential Center if every other night provides a ####-hum 2-1 decision? The Devils saw Continental Airlines Arena fill up just once all of last season (including the playoffs) despite boasting a second seed in the eastern conference and another Atlantic Division championship. The Devils next season starts now, and so far Lamoriello's "fiscal responsibility" could hamper it before it even begins. The respected Devils' GM does not want to repeat history by overpaying for aging stars like he did when the lockout ended (Malakhov, McGillis, and Mogilny), but at this point, one star is better than no star. Brian Rafalski was deemed too expensive at $6 million per season, but Souray is a considerable upgrade over the smooth-skating Rafalski. He would also be a considerable upgrade over any offensive or defensive option the Devils could fathom after Souray poured in 26 goals and dished out 38 helpers last season with the Habs.

The New York Yankees could end up paying Roger Clemens millions for eight or nine wins this season in the AL east, but for the Devils, the difference between 10-15 wins may only be a few hundred thousand dollars away. Should Souray escape the Devils for a second time, the answer to New Jersey's offseason quandary next year will not lie behind the bench or in the roster, but quite possibly in the GM's seat.