Eagles Address Linebacking Woes, Acquire DeMeco Ryans From Texans

Of the many problems that plagued the Philadelphia Eagles during their disappointing 8-8 2011 season, the weakness of the middle of their defense was one of the more prominent. They employed an aggressive Wide-9 front with their defensive line under first-year D Coordinator Juan Castillo and new D-Line coach Jim Washburn. The scheme is designed to attack the Quarterback from the outside but also leaves large holes between the tackles and ends. The Eagles went with young, inexperienced linebackers to start the season and they suffered the consequences of that decision immediately as they allowed a 47-yd TD run to Rams' RB Steven Jackson on their first defensive snap of the season.

The defense and linebacking corps improved as the season went on but adding a veteran leader to the middle of their D was of paramount importance this offseason. The Eagles were not major players in Free Agency early in this offseason, opting instead to lockup their own free agents including DeSean Jackson and Evan Mathis. However they made their first splash on Tuesday by pulling off a trade for 2-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Rookie of the Year DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans. Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman continued his savvy business acumen by surrendering only a 4th-round pick in April's Draft and as well as swapping 3rd-rounders.

Ryans became expendable in Houston after he suffered a ruptured achilles in 2010. Ryans returned in 2011 but saw his playing time diminished as he battled back from the injury and the Texans' switch to a 3-4 scheme under DC Wade Phillips as Ryans is a pure MLB best suited to a 4-3 scheme. The Texans also felt that had a suitable and much cheaper replacement for Ryans in Darryl Sharpton which made it difficult for them to justify his $6 Million salary. Ryans is only 28 years old and will be another year removed from his injury so seeing a return to his Pro Bowl form seems a likely outcome. Regardless of whether Ryans can be the Pro Bowl talent he was or not, he only cost the team one of their 2 first-round picks and even at 80% of his former self should still be an improvement over what they already have. Can't wait to see what he can do.

Peyton Manning Officially A Bronco

The Denver Broncos officially introduced Peyton Manning as their new starting QB yesterday after finalizing a 5-year deal worth $96 Million earlier this week. Prior to the signing, the question of the future of the QB position in Denver had been in serious doubt following Tim Tebow's miraculous run to the Divisional Round of the playoffs last year. It has been well documented that despite his winning percentage, many people both, within and without the Broncos organization, seriously doubted his ability to been a full-time QB in the NFL because of his inferior skill-set as a passer. With that in mind it was far from surprising to see their interest in acquiring Manning when he was released by Indianapolis. Manning felt particularly comfortable with Denver, especially with team President John Elway. With Peyton at the helm it appears evident that Denver will look to trade Tebow as soon as they can.

I was initially surprised to see Manning command such a high salary figure considering he will be 37 by the time the season begins and concerns about his health and atrophied arm-strength after he missed the entirety of the 2011 season following multiple neck surgeries. However it seems that Manning was able to demonstrate to teams that his arm is close to being back to the level that saw him throw for more than 50,000 yards and nearly 400 TDs while appearing in 11 Pro-Bowls while in a Colts uniform. During yesterday's press conference Elway said he was confident that Manning had a lot of good football left in him and he should know better than anyone as he lead the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles after he turned 37. Since Elway's retirement following his Super Bowl MVP performance over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII, the Broncos have seen 11 different Quarterbacks under center, none of which have come close to serving as a suitable replacement. They may have found that answer in Manning, even if only for a short time.

The fallout of this story will be the future of Tim Tebow as a number of possible suitors for his services have surfaced, most notably the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. Both Florida teams have uncertainty at QB following disappointing 2011 season's and acquiring Tebow would be an immediately, even if ultimately short-lived, boost for their respective fan bases in light of Tebow's historic career at the helm of the University of Florida. Most agree that it is highly unlikely that Tebow will ever be a full-time starting QB, however his terrific running ability will make him attractive to many teams in search of a change-of-pace.

What To Make Of Tiger Woods

It's been nearly 2 and a half years since the downfall of Tiger Woods began in November of 2009. There's no real point in rehashing that debacle other to point out that Tiger Woods hasn't won a PGA tour event since and has struggled mightily to regain the form which had vaulted him into the pantheon on the greatest golfers in history (oh and also resulted in this dope track from Maino). We have seen some flashes of the old Tiger from time to time but the question remains: Will he be able to win the 5 Major Championships he needs to surpass Jack Nicklaus? A feat everyone thought would be just a formality not so long ago.

I know a lot of people really dislike Tiger, whether it's because he was a cheating man-whore, has a penchant for arrogant and testy interviews when in a bad mood or simply because he curses and demonstratively shows his emotions on the golf course. Those are all legit and understandable reasons but I for one have really never had anything against the man. The biggest reason for that is because I love nothing more than seeing greatness happen in sports and like it or not, there is no one better at playing great golf than Tiger Woods, period. Tiger reminded the sports world of that on Sunday at the Honda Classic. Tiger barely made the cut after two rounds thanks to a birdie-birdie finish on Friday to get to 1-under and made little noise on Saturday finishing at 2-under. Tiger then came out roaring on Sunday shooting an impressive 8-under 62 (the best final round score of his career) that featured 4 birdies and a pair of eagles on the back nine and entered the clubhouse just 1 shot off the lead at 10-under. Tiger's rally came up just short as Rory McIlroy was able to hold for the win (and the world's #1 ranking) but showed that Eldrick can still bring the ruckus.

This weekend was yet another example of the inconsistent play we have seen from Tiger since his return to the PGA last year and he has yet to put 4 great rounds of golf together. A few weeks ago Tiger was among the leaders after three rounds at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am but failed to show that final round killer instinct that had won him 71 PGA Tour events in his career, shooting a disappointing 75 and finishing the tournament in 15th place.

While his play has been up and down it is clear to me that Tiger has been getting better, despite the results. When he first came back to the tour he could barely land a drive on the fairway and was slicing shots all over the course. Tiger has mightily improved his accuracy off the tee and also with his approach shots (just check out the two eagles from Sunday). In the early goings of this season it has been the putter than has failed him. The fact that Tiger has been able to tighten his game up so much over the past year is really encouraging and after seeing how lethal he was on the greens on Sunday I think we may be getting to a point where it's only a matter of time before Tiger is back challenging for his old Number 1 ranking. I want to see this guy tear up the golf course like he used to because there really is nothing like it.

MLB Players Are Pissed About Ryan Braun

The decision by MLB arbitrators last week to repeal reigning-MVP Ryan Braun's 50-game suspension for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs last season. The reason for the ire, which is very well deserved, is that not once did Braun actually contend that he did test positive but rather contested a technicality in the testing process. Braun's appeal was successful because the positive sample was taken on a Friday afternoon and stored in the testing agent's office over the weekend before being sent to the lab on a Monday. Braun's case was predicated on the sample being rendered invalid by being left an office for two days. This proved to be enough and Braun's suspension was repealed by a 2-1 vote. Braun then decided to be a dick claim that he was a victim or something like that.

ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that a majority of big league players he has interviewed about Braun have shown serious animosity toward the slugger and the precedent he is leaving on baseball. I absolutely understand where they are coming from. It is clear that Ryan Braun used steroids last season and that fueled his MVP season and the Brewers' run to a NL Central division crown. Players are angry that Braun cheated and got caught and yet managed to get away with it. Interesting the agent who performed the test issued a lengthly statement claiming that he followed protocol exactly, that his office was sufficiently air conditional to maintain the sample while it was there and that none of his other 600 test samples have ever been questioned.

I can't believe there is anyone in the world who can legitimately side with Braun on this issue. I'm convinced that his suspension was repealed because the MLB felt it would have a much larger problem if they had to suspend a reigning MVP. The media would be clamoring for them to take away his trophy (a la Reggie Bush's Heisman) and they would be forced to set a new precedent. Instead they were let off the hook by a technicality and given the opportunity to sweep this issue under the rug. Braun should take a cue from his employers and never speak of this issue again if he doesn't have to. His legacy is already tarnished, perhaps even more so in this day and age were testing is enforced and seriously frowned upon by the public.

Steeler's WR Mike Wallace Will Be A Restricted Free Agent

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced today that they will not place the franchise tag on 3rd year WR Mike Wallace thus allowing him to become a restricted free agent. The Steelers are expected to put a first-round tender on Wallace meaning another team can try to the Pro-Bowler to an offer sheet. The Steelers will have the right to match any offer made by another team and if they do not they will be awarded a first round pick from the team that signs him.

Steelers' GM Kevin Colbert has reiterated that the team plans to do everything in their power to retain Wallace but are handicapped because of their lack of salary cap space. The team has already been forced to release 14-year veteran WR Hines Ward, their all-time leader in every major receiving category (far outstripping Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth), because they simply could not afford to pay him. Currently the team is only about $3 Million under the cap for next season and matching the highest qualifying offer would take up nearly all that space. Ideally the Steelers would like to franchise Wallace but the $9.5 Million cap figure that would come along with the tag is far too rich for their blood.

Wallace was drafted in the third round in 2009 out of Mississippi after posting a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine. He busted on to the scene in his second season in 2010 hauling in 60 balls for more than 1,200 yard and 10 TDs while leading the AFC in yards per reception. He posted similar numbers in 2011 while making the Pro Bowl and at 25 years old is certainly considered to be one of the top receiving talents in the NFL for the next 4 or 5 years. Right now I'd say there is a 90% chance he stays in Pittsburgh but that other 10% leaves a lot of room for something to happen, especially with all the teams that will be salivating at the possibility of acquiring his services.

DJ Steve Porter's "All He Does Is Lin"

MLB To Expand Playoff To 10 Teams As Early As This Season

Sources have reported that Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are close to announcing an expansion of the current playoff format from 8 to 10 teams. Thursday is the deadline (albeit a soft deadline) for implementing an expanded playoff field for the upcoming 2012 season. The new format would feature 2 wildcard spots in each league instead of just one. Those two wildcard teams would then play each other in the first round while the 3 division winners would have a first round bye of sorts. The players union had been initially opposed to expanding the playoffs until the 2013 season when the MLB will realign into 2 15 team leagues as opposed to the current format where there are 16 NL teams and 14 AL teams (the Houston Astros will leave the NL Central and move to the AL West).

I am personally all for this idea. Having only 8 playoff teams in a 30-team league with 162 games played a season just makes sense. It also better serves the division winners who will get the advantage of a bye. Since the wildcard spot was added in the mid-90s there really has been no real advantage to winning your division over just winning the wildcard. I also think this is a big improvement to the current 1-game playoff that results if two teams finish the regular season tied after 162 games. I'm trying to image who would not benefit from this current situation and am having trouble thinking of anyone. Hot teams sneaking into the playoffs and going on deep playoff run is something that is going to happen regardless and happen in any sport. Period.

Of course this doesn't make a lick of difference to any of us Mets fans who can't really have a positive outlook on our team's playoff chance until at least 2014 at the earliest, and even that's optimistic. Obviously this isn't a done deal yet but the signs are all pointing to 10 teams competing for the World Series this October.