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Saturday, February 28, 2015

Cricket World Cup 2015: Sri Lanka defeats England

By Christian Swezey March 1 at 1:12 AM

Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Thirimanne celebrates reaching his century against England. Sri Lanka needed only three batters to eclipse England’s fairly solid first-innings total of 309 runs.

England’s difficult time at the Cricket World Cup continued with a nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on Saturday night in a Group A match in Wellington, New Zealand.

England has won one of its first four matches and, while it may still progress to the quarterfinals, a win in the quarterfinals will require major changes. On Saturday, at least, England started fairly well. Joe Root scored 121 runs and England finished 309-6, a solid total against a better-than-average bowling attack.

But the England bowling was cut to ribbons by Sri Lanka, which needed only three batters to chase down the 309 runs. Sri Lanka scored 312-1.

Lahiru Thirimanne scored 139 runs not out and Kumar Sangakkara added 117 runs not out, off 113 balls. It’s a quite healthy strike rate of 136. (Strike rate is the number of runs a player would score in 100 deliveries. It’s a key metric in one-day cricket as players sometimes need to score quickly. Any strike rate above 75 is good.)

England has remaining games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Even with wins in both those matches, England would appear doomed to face the top team from Group B. That’s likely to be India.

For Sri Lanka, Sangakkara became the No. 3 all-time scorer in World Cup matches. He has 1,258 runs. Sri Lanka is virtually assured of a spot in the quarterfinals.

Dez Bryant Reportedly Will Receive Cowboys Franchise Tag

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed that the team plans on applying the franchise tag to All-Pro wideout Dez Bryant, thus keeping him on the roster through 2015, per ESPN.com's Todd Archer.

Archer provided the full details of the move:

The Cowboys have to notify the league of the move by 4 p.m. ET Monday, which will guarantee Bryant roughly $13 million in 2015. The Cowboys will not use the exclusive franchise tag on Bryant, but a team would have to give up two first-round picks if Dallas chooses not to match an offer sheet.

At the NFL scouting combine earlier this month in Indianapolis, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he hoped the tag would be a "placeholder" until the two sides can work out a long-term deal with Bryant. Jerry and Stephen Jones had their first face-to-face meetings with Bryant's new agents, Tom Condon of CAA and Kim Miale of Roc Nation, last Tuesday.

Bryant is coming off arguably the best season of his five-year career. He led the team with 88 receptions, 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns.

One of the biggest questions this offseason was whether he and the Cowboys could agree on a long-term contract. The team always had the option to franchise Bryant, but that tactic potentially alienates the player.

Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com wrote a few days ago that the two parties were never really close to terms during the regular season, with Dallas tabling an offer that had $20 million in guaranteed money. Taylor speculated that Bryant was likely seeking something in the range of $35 million to $40 million guaranteed.

Archer reported: "During the season, Bryant said he would be 'highly disappointed' if he was given the tag."

Speaking to reporters at the NFL combine, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said that Bryant shouldn't feel aggrieved by getting the franchise tag since he'll still be making a hefty sum in 2015, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

With Bryant locked up for 2015, Dallas can now focus on trying to re-sign DeMarco Murray or potentially finding his replacement. Fox Sports Southwest's Mark Lane reported that the Cowboys are expecting Murray to test free agency.

At the very least, the Cowboys will have one of their dynamic playmakers around in training camp this summer.

Marcus Peters: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation on CB's NFL Draft Stock

Doug McSchooler/Associated Press

Former Washington Huskies football star Marcus Peters is arguably the most talented cornerback prospect entering the 2015 NFL draft. As April 30's first round draws closer, information is surfacing with regard to where Peters may land in the pros.

Continue for updates.

Saturday, Feb. 28

Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported Feb. 21 that the Packers, among others, were set to hold interviews with Peters at the NFL Scouting Combine, with Packer Report's Bill Huber corroborating.

College Football 24/7 reported Peters' 40-yard dash times in Indianapolis:

The surface-level red flags are obvious in Peters' case because he was dismissed from the Washington Huskies football program in 2014 due to repeated clashes with coaches, according to The Seattle Times' Adam Jude.

Reuben Frank of CSN Philadelphia reported Peters' take on his off-field issues at the combine:

They want to know the character. Am I a hothead? Which is false. I made some immature decisions and I live from them and I learn from them and I grow as a man.

I live and I learn from it, you know? There are going to be things that aren't going to go right, but I went through one of the worst things that could happen to me in life. I got kicked off my team, I wasn't able to finish out my college career with my teammates and I own up to that and I man up to that and I just move forward.

Peters owned up to his mistakes and also told Sports Illustrated's Don Banks how he repaired his relationship with Washington coach Chris Petersen:

I had a real good conversation with coach Petersen. We sat down and we talked about everything that happened. I sincerely apologized to him again for what I put him and the team through throughout the year. But it was a good conversation and he's working me into the pro day.

Bleacher Report draft analyst Brent Sobleski weighed in on Peters' participation in Washington's showcase for NFL personnel men:

So perhaps the character questions about Peters aren't too troublesome anymore. Presuming those issues are in his past, Peters has a real chance to be the first player off the board at his position.

Peters' raw skills in man coverage are among the best in this year's class. He thrives with a physical style of play, isn't afraid to deliver a hit and competes well with receivers for the ball. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller believes Peters is a lot like former South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore entering the NFL.

Tremendous athleticism allows Peters to be a bit unrefined in technique yet still recover enough to break up most passes thrown his way. If he can work on the finer points of his game, there's no reason Peters can't be a Pro Bowl-caliber NFL star.

Landing in the right situation is critical to any incoming rookie's success. Although falling in the draft from the aforementioned demerits would cost Peters some money, he might go to a stable winning team.

But based on the need for cornerbacks being as prominent as ever, it's hard to envision a talent like Peters falling too far. The latest news on Peters may be a classic case of pre-draft deception or misinformation.

Whatever the case may ultimately be, Peters is an elite cornerback prospect. That should reveal itself on draft day when he hears his name called earlier than most.

Borussia Dortmund players channel Batman and Robin to celebrate goal against Schalke

Borussia Dortmund dominated their Bundesliga rivals Schalke 04 on Saturday, winning the derby match, 3-0. But it wasn’t easy. In fact, the first of Dortmund’s three goals didn’t come until the 78th minute. All that build-up, however, led to one of the best soccer celebrations so far this year. After getting the ball past Schalke’s goalkeeper, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled out a Batman mask and handed his teammate Marco Reus a Robin mask. This made the Dortmund fans very happy, especially in light of their recent Champions League loss against Juventus earlier this week.

The celebration was eventually cut short when referee Felix Zwayer showed Aubameyang a yellow card for his antics, but that didn’t seem to stop the team’s momentum going forward.

Dortmund went on to score two more goals against their higher-ranked rivals with stellar plays by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Robin, er, Reus.

“If you didn’t know who Batman and Robin were before, you do now,” Aubameyang jokingly said (via the BBC) after the game was over.

Marissa Payne writes for The Early Lead, a fast-breaking sports blog, where she focuses on what she calls the “cultural anthropological” side of sports, aka “mostly the fun stuff.” She is also an avid WWE fan.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale breaks foot while unloading something from his truck

Weird injuries happen all the time to in real life but that’s because so many of us normals are clumsy. Professional athletes, though, with their superior physical prowess, probably shouldn’t be fracturing a foot while doing something mundane, like unloading their car. Unfortunately for Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale, however, that’s exactly what had him hobbling into spring training Saturday, according to an article on the team’s official Web site.

It was not made clear exactly the stuff was that Sale was unloading from his truck, but for White Sox fans it’s not the “what” that matters as much as the “when,” as in when will he be back in action?

According to the team, the 25-year-old left-hander is expected to be out for at least three weeks when his status for Opening Day will then be evaluated.

Russell Westbrook has a dent in his face after being kneed by teammate Andre Roberson

It was a tough night for Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook on Friday. Not only did his team lose, 115-112, to the Portland Trail Blazers, but the 26-year-old was left with a dent in his face after teammate Andre Roberson accidentally kneed him.

Westbrook wasn’t available to the media after the game, but Thunder coach Scott Brooks confirmed to ESPN that his injury was being further evaluated.

It’s unclear how serious the injury to Westbrook’s face is, but ESPN’s Royce Young has some theories, one of which would require surgery.

Also of concern would be any repercussions from a possible concussion. After Westbrook’s face found Roberson’s knee, No. 0 remained facedown on the floor for several seconds.

This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

Gunned down Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was leading critic of Sochi Olympics

“This is completely stupid,” he told HBO’s Bernard Goldberg in a 2013 episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”

“This is a festival of corruption and mismanagement,” he continued. “We have 20 million poor people in this country. We have a problem in police. We have a problem in our hospitals. Putin spent $50 billion for what? For what?”

Nemtsov concluded at the time Putin was simply putting on a “show for himself. He’s too expensive for Russian people.”

Back in Moscow on Saturday, Putin instructed several arms of the federal government “to form an investigative group and keep the course of the investigation into the crime under personal control,” according to a Kremlin press release. He also expressed his “deep condolences” to Nemtsov’s family and friends.

Young New York Giants Fan Can Barely Contain Excitement About Gift from Team

Every now and then, a team goes the extra mile to make a fan happy, and we're reminded what sports fandom is all about.

Case in point: Michael Monorock, a young New York Giants fan with special needs who received a mystery gift from the team.

As his family read him the card and unveiled the gifts of an official team hat, book, Super Bowl DVD, lanyard and shirt, Michael could barely contain his excitement. He immediately had to spread the news.

Shout-out to his dad for sending the video our way.

Emmanuel Acho Accepts High School Prom Invite After Fan's Social Media Challenge

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho told Hannah Delmonte if she could get 10,000 retweets, he would be her date for prom. As it turned out, the Twitter test wasn't nearly as difficult as expected, as the fan easily surpassed that total.

Daniel Williams of NFL.com notes the current tally, which continues to rise as the story goes viral, is over 17,000 to handily conquer the challenge. Here's the original message Delmonte sent out back in January featuring a snippet of her exchange with the NFL player:

This type of story has become rather common in the age of social media. It's presented an opportunity for fans and players to connect in a way that wasn't previously possible. The interactions aren't always positive, of course, so it's nice to see a story like this.

Credit to Acho for living up to his end of the bargain, as well. It would have been easy to back out when it became clear Delmonte was going to surpass the 10,000 mark. Ray Boyd of CBS Philadelphia passed along comments from the linebacker made on the Sports Beyond Measure podcast about it.

"All it took was for me to go to dinner, get up from dinner, three hours go by and she's at 9,983. At that point in time, I knew I would be going to prom," Acho said.

He even posted a video of his arrival at Woodgrove High School to meet his prom date in person:

Quite a moment. Certainly one Delmonte will never forget. CSN Philly notes he's not only planning to show back up in Virginia for the prom, but the 24-year-old defender is also expecting to get on the piano and sing a song for his date.

Acho started his career with the Cleveland Browns before spending the last two years with the Eagles. But, as NBC Washington points out, May 9 is not circled on his calendar for any football reasons. It's prom night.

NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil’s stolen Sprint Cup car found

By Marissa Payne February 28 at 12:39 PM

NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil discovered his Sprint Cup car was stolen on Friday. (AP)

Good news, everyone: NASCAR driver Travis Kvapil’s Sprint Cup car, which was stolen from a hotel parking lot Friday morning, was found on Saturday, Team Xtreme Racing owner John Cohen confirmed to ESPN.

Cohen credits the Gwinnett County police, who recovered the car northwest of Atlanta, near Loganville, Ga., but also gave a shoutout to an area local named Philip Whitmer who “spotted (the car) and called 911,” according to Motorsport.com.

A woman claiming to know the man who spotted the No. 44 Chevrolet on the side of a road reposted a photograph on Twitter of the car that Whitmer uploaded to social media with the caption, “I found the stolen nascar.” Kvapil, who alerted the public of the stolen car via Twitter on Friday, immediately retweeted it.

Team Xtreme is relieved to have the car back.

“You can’t buy that back or time put into it,” Cohen told ESPN.

Cohen personally went to the scene early Saturday morning to witness the good news, where he posed for a snapshot the team later posted to Twitter.

Sadly, the car was not recovered in time for Kvapil and Team Xtreme to re-enter Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but it was found in time to salvage an entry in next weekend’s race in Las Vegas.

Police are still looking for the trailer, as well as other items that were in it, including a spare engine worth approximately $100,000, as well as various other racing equipment valued at around $17,500, ESPN reports.

Green Bay Packers: A Scout's Take on Stephone Anthony and Paul Dawson

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Paul Dawson of TCU

Now that the NFL Scouting Combine is over and we are within a couple of months of the 2015 NFL draft, teams like the Green Bay Packers are really zeroing in on solidifying their respective draft boards.

It's pretty obvious that the No. 1 priority for the Packers in this draft is to improve the talent and depth at inside linebacker. Especially now that the team has released both A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones.

At the combine, head coach Mike McCarthy compared the situation this year at inside linebacker to the position of safety last year as he addressed the media.

"I think the inside linebacker position probably can be compared to where we were last year at the safety position," McCarthy said. "Obviously we had a number of moving parts there, so we'll see what this process that we go through as far as player acquisition and how that affects it.

"I really like the steps that Sam Barrington made. I thought he made a huge jump. And that's what you look for. He's a second-year player that needed to take a big step and Sam did that."

In the 2014 NFL draft, the Packers selected safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the first round to fill the biggest void on the team's roster. Not only did Clinton-Dix play well as a rookie, but his presence allowed Morgan Burnett to have perhaps his best year ever at the other safety spot.

This coming after the worst season of Burnett's career in 2013.

In terms of the inside linebacker position, I had an opportunity to talk with NFL scout Chris Landry about a month ago to talk about three of the top inside linebackers prospects in the NFL draft.

Those prospects were Denzel Perryman of Miami, Eric Kendricks of UCLA and Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State.

About a week after our discussion, I put out my first mock draft for the Packers. I had the Packers taking Perryman in the first round. I'll be doing my second mock draft in the near future.

On Friday I had another opportunity to talk with Landry on 620 WDAE's Steve Duemig Show . Landry was at the combine and talked to a number of top-level NFL executives and coaches, which included Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy of the Packers.

It should also be noted that Landry was one of the scouts who first started the combine. Landry is a consultant to a number of NFL teams and just as an example, he was allowed to sit in on several meetings with various teams as they talked to the two top quarterback prospects, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.

I wanted to get Landry's take on a couple of other inside linebacker prospects, but before I could, Duemig and Landry put out a very heart-warming gesture by recognizing the passing of my father earlier this week.

I was very touched. My dad meant a lot to me, which is why I wrote a tribute article about him.

The other inside linebackers that I wanted Landry's take on are Stephone Anthony of Clemson and Paul Dawson of TCU.

Landry talked about Anthony first.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Stephone Anthony of Clemson

"I love Anthony," Landry said. "I think he's really an instinctive player and I like him a lot."

Anthony is overshadowed by a fellow linebacker for the Tigers, Vic Beasley. A number of draft experts, including Bucky Brooks, Charles Davis and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, all have Beasley going in the top 10 of the draft as a matter of fact.

Landry then turned his attention to Dawson.

"I love the kid from TCU," Landry said. But I've got to go to Dallas because he and the safety [Chris Hackett] had awful workouts.

"So, I've got to find out. Were they dead-legged? Did they not train? Did they train inappropriately or didn't rest enough? Or are there some other issues going on, because they play a lot faster than 4.8 or 4.9 at safety and linebacker.

"They play like 4.5 guys. So, we got to figure that out. Remember what I say. The combine is a 90 percent rule. 90 percent of the time, the workout matches the tape. It's the 10 percent that doesn't. That's when you have to do more work.

"Those two [Dawson and Hackett] fall into the 10 percent. So stay tuned."

Yes, more work has to be done. That is true for all NFL teams. The individual pro days will be coming up soon. That is where prospects will try and better their performance at the combine if they decide to do so.

As Landry said, "Stay tuned."

NFL Mock Draft 2015: Recent Projections for Elite 1st-Round Prospects

With the NFL Scouting Combine in the rear-view mirror and free agency about to begin, it's getting closer to crunch time for the 2015 NFL draft.

The opening of the free-agency cycle will allow teams to start addressing some of their biggest needs, which will hopefully allow them to hone in on positions of interest for the upcoming draft. Pro days and individual workouts are right around the corner, and clubs will get valuable looks at some of the prospects they're most interested in.

However, not many free agents out there can significantly shake up the top of the first round with teams narrowing down on the top prospects. With some can't-miss prospects atop Round 1, let's take a look at the latest mock.

2015 NFL Mock Draft for Round 1
1	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jameis Winston, QB, FSU
2	Tennessee Titans	Leonard Williams, DT, USC
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
4	Oakland Raiders	Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
5	Washington Redskins	Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
6	New York Jets	Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
7	Chicago Bears	Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
8	Atlanta Falcons	Randy Gregory, DE/OLB, Nebraska
9	New York Giants	Landon Collins, S, Alabama
10	St. Louis Rams	Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
11	Minnesota Vikings	Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
12	Cleveland Browns	La'el Collins, OT, LSU
13	New Orleans Saints	Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
14	Miami Dolphins	Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Miss. State
15	San Francisco 49ers	Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
16	Houston Texans	Gerod Holliman, FS, Louisville
17	San Diego Chargers	Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
18	Kansas City Chiefs	DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
19	Cleveland Browns via Buffalo	Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
20	Philadelphia Eagles	Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
21	Cincinnati Bengals	Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE, Kentucky
22	Pittsburgh Steelers	Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (Ohio)
23	Detroit Lions	Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
24	Arizona Cardinals	Nate Orchard, DE, Utah
25	Carolina Panthers	T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
26	Baltimore Ravens	Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
27	Dallas Cowboys	P.J. Williams, CB, FSU
28	Denver Broncos	Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
29	Indianapolis Colts	Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
30	Green Bay Packers	Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU
31	Seattle Seahawks	Arik Armstead, DT/DE, Oregon
32	New England Patriots	Cameron Erving, C, FSU

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston, Florida State

Marcus Mariota won the team event at the Rose Bowl, but Jameis Winston looks poised to claim victory in the quarterback-driven race for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' No. 1 overall selection.

Winston's stock was slowly but surely rising entering the combine, and his throwing performance put on in Indianapolis helped him to begin distancing himself from the more mobile Mariota. The 6'4", 231-pound quarterback's skill set and size both make him better suited to play in the NFL right away.

The rumblings after the combine seemed to suggest Winston at No. 1 overall is a foregone conclusion, per NFL Network:

The Buccaneers have already contacted Florida State about Winston, per NFL.com, and it's not hard to see why. Not only does Winston have all of the physical tools necessary to succeed, but he maintains an uncanny ability to see coverages and go through his progressions that will be key at the next level.

Mariota undoubtedly has a future as a centerpiece of whatever team takes him early in Round 1, but it won't be for the Buccaneers if Winston has a say in the matter.

4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama

USA TODAY Sports

Can you imagine the Oakland Raiders not giving young quarterback Derek Carr a dangerous wideout entering his second season in the league?

Me neither. That's why, despite holding one of the top picks in the draft at No. 4 overall, the Raiders should jump at nabbing the top wide receiver in the class in Amari Cooper.

The Alabama receiver has seen West Virginia's Kevin White overtake him in the minds of many as the top receiver in the class, but let's pump the brakes. Cooper still is head-and-shoulders the best route-runner in the draft, has elite speed and has shown more of an ability to find openings.

ESPN Stats and Info also uncovered similarities between him and last year's No. 4 selection Sammy Watkins:

While White gained some momentum after the combine, Cooper's play still dazzled, per NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah:

Carr showed plenty of signs throughout his rookie season that he's capable of reaching the next level as an NFL quarterback, but he won't be able to do so without the right pieces surrounding him. There aren't many players in free agency Oakland could covet who would bring as much of an immediate presence and command as much attention from a defense as Cooper.

23. Detroit Lions: RB Todd Gurley, Georgia

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

A college career-ending ACL tear aside, Georgia's Todd Gurley didn't have any trouble before that establishing himself as one of the best running back prospects in recent history.

The former Bulldog averaged at least six yards per carry in each of his three collegiate seasons, and he figures to have a similar impact sooner rather than later upon entering the league. The only worry is his health, but Dr. James Andrews told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Gurley is ahead of schedule in his recovery.

There are few teams in the league who could use a player like Gurley as much as the Detroit Lions.

Matthew Stafford has helped to create a pass-happy attack in Detroit, and it's resulted in a nearly invisible rushing attack that ranked 28th in the league last season. The recent release of Reggie Bush should only compound the need for an impact rusher in the backfield such as Gurley.

Ian Kenyon of Bleacher Report thinks Gurley is good enough to go in the first round:

The shelf life for running backs isn't long, but the impact that the right rusher can bring to an offense has never been bigger—even in such an aerially dominant league. Gurley took some pounding in college, but he still has plenty of miles left to make a great NFL career for himself.

Anthony Mason, former New York Knick, dies at 48

By Cindy Boren February 28 at 10:24 AM

Anthony Mason in a December 1995 game. (Ron Frehm / AP File)

Anthony Mason, a fan favorite who epitomized the burly New York Knicks teams of the 1990s, died Saturday morning at the age of 48.

Mason, a 13-year NBA veteran, had been hospitalized in Atlanta earlier this month with congestive heart failure and underwent multiple procedures. “First I want to thank all those who offered prayers and well-wishes for my Father, our family really appreciates it,” his son, Anthony Mason Jr., said Saturday (via ESPN). “Overnight, New York City and the world lost a legend, a friend, a brother … but more than anything our father, Anthony Mason. As you all would expect our father — Big Mase — put up an incredible fight, dealing with a severe heart issue. I’m wishing this was something else I was writing, but Pops we’ve got to let you know we love you and know you’ll always be with us.”

Mason played a big role coming off the bench for a hardscrabble Knicks team that, under coach Pat Riley, featured Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Johadvanced to the 1994 NBA Finals, losing to Houston. The following season, he was the NBA’s sixth man of the year. In 1995-96, his fifth and final season in New York, he became a starter and set the Knicks’ record for minutes played in a season with 3,457. Mason also played for the Nets, Nuggets, Hornets, Heat and Bucks over his career. Reunited with Riley in Miami in 2000-01, Mason played in his lone all-star game.

“Anthony was a multifaceted individual,” his longtime agent Don Cronson told ESPN.com’s Ian O’Connor (via ESPN). “There were many aspects to his personality, and some that people weren’t aware of. In the best sense of the term he was a momma’s boy. From the day I met him he was always thinking of his mom and taking care of her. As rough and tough as he was, Anthony was also a doting father, and I saw that many times.

“Anthony willed himself into the NBA, and very few players can do that. Any NBA team could’ve had him for a nickel, and he turned out to be the perfect Pat Riley player. I think Pat saw a lot of himself in Anthony, and really they were the same guy. That’s why they butted heads as often as they did. They were both blue-collar guys and fighters. Anthony told me, ‘Pat Riley was the one who gave me my chance. He’s the one who saw something in me when nobody else did.’”

His fight for his live over the last few weeks made headlines and prompted an outpouring of disbelief and support. News of his death Saturday resonated throughout the NBA.

After spending most of her career in traditional print sports journalism, Cindy began blogging and tweeting, first as NFL/Redskins editor, and, since August 2010, at The Early Lead. She also is the social media editor for Sports.

NFL Free Agency 2015: Contract and Destination Predictions for Top Players

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Sunday signifies the beginning of March. While many sports enthusiasts associate the third moth of the year with college basketball's March Madness—an absolutely enthralling tournament—it also begins the NFL's free-agency period.

Most years, there are a few top-tier free agents who are set to make bank when they strike new deals; however, that doesn't appear to be the case in 2015. This year's crop of veterans slated to hit the open market features some of the league's most dominant players—all they need is a team willing to bust open its checkbook and show them the money.

At this point of the offseason, speculation runs rampant, as everyone is looking to predict which players each NFL franchise is likely to gain—and lose—before the new season begins. Let's go ahead and take that one step further by predicting the destinations and contracts for the top three free agents.

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions

One of the league's most terrifying defenders, Ndamukong Suh is a force against the run—the Lions boasted the NFL's best run defense in 2014—and he's accumulated 36 sacks over his first five seasons. The defensive tackle is seeking a J.J. Watt-esque deal upwards of $100 million. While Detroit would love to keep him in the fold, that may be a little too high of a price tag.

After all, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew had this to say regarding the defensive tackle's demands, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:

There's always the option of the franchise tag, right? Well, maybe; however, applying the tag to Suh will cost Detroit $26.9 million next season since his previous cap number was $22.4 million and he would receive a 20 percent raise.

That said, only a team willing to spend some huge money in free agency will be locking down this defensive tackle, and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported two interested parties: the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Oakland Raiders.

Both of those teams have excessive cap space and will likely be in hot pursuit of Suh during the free-agency period. Which team will win out? Based on how each team looks right now, the Raiders have more holes to fill, leaving the Jaguars with the upper hand.

Prediction: Suh signs with the Jaguars on a five-year, $86 million deal

Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs

Speaking of highly disruptive defenders, Justin Houston is slated to hit the open market this offseason after leading the NFL with 22 sacks in 2014. The linebacker isn't a one-year wonder, as he's tallied double-digit sack totals in each of the past three seasons. Expect him to get paid.

Houston and Kansas City have attempted to put a long-term deal in place, but nothing has come to fruition with free agency looming. As expected, rumors regarding a potential franchise tag surfaced as well. Here's the problem with the franchise tag: The Chiefs would need to pay Houston roughly $13 million this season, and that would severely cut into their ability to fill several other holes in the roster.

Still, according to a tweet from Pro Football Talk, general manager John Dorsey seems optimistic Houston will remain with the team:

That does put the Chiefs in a quandary. They appear willing to tag Houston, but that move would hinder their financial flexibility. Before this scenario's final prediction, there's one thing to keep in mind. A franchise tag can serve another purpose: keeping a player in the fold while allowing the two sides extra time to work out a long-term deal.

Prediction: Chiefs tag Houston, work out a five-year, $77 million deal shortly after

Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Dez Bryant really came into his own during the 2014 regular season, hauling in 88 receptions for 1,320 yards and a career-high 16 touchdowns. That marks the third consecutive season in which the wide receiver has accumulated at least 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Still, the word from Pro Football Talk is Bryant will be receiving the franchise tag this season:

That's an interesting choice considering Bryant's consistent production. However, the Cowboys must take many facets of the talented pass-catcher into consideration. Bryant has a rather long list of run-ins with the police and a situation from 2011 is still unresolved. A short-term deal may be in the best interest of the Cowboys franchise.

Well, as you could probably guess, Bryant isn't too happy about the idea of receiving the franchise tag rather than a long-term deal, and according to ESPN's Ed Werder, he may begin a holdout:

This is a very interesting situation, as Bryant certainly has the talent to warrant a lucrative deal that would make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league. Although, the way things look right now, don't expect any kind of long-term contract to take place until after the 2015 season.

Prediction: Bryant plays 2015 season under franchise tag worth $12.7 million

Friday, February 27, 2015

NFL in LA: Study Claims Inglewood Stadium Site Would Pose Terrorism Threat

The Los Angeles stadium battle has taken an interesting turn.

According to Sam Farmer and Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times, the Anschutz Entertainment Group commissioned former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to conduct a study as to the viability of the Inglewood, California, stadium being pushed by a group including St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

Ridge questioned whether Kroenke's planned stadium might be vulnerable to terrorism:

In a 14-page report, Ridge suggests that because the Inglewood stadium proposed by St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke would lie within three to four miles of Los Angeles International Airport and beneath the flight path of airliners, terrorists might try to shoot down a plane or crash one into the stadium, scenarios Ridge described as "a terrorist event 'twofer.' "

Ridge said the Inglewood stadium, part of a planned retail, office and residential development at the now-defunct Hollywood Park, would have "a significant risk profile with the potential to produce consequences that will not only the impact the airport and region, but global interests."

AEG is attempting to get its own football stadium built close to Staples Center. ESPN.com's Arash Markazi noted that AEG has a strong interest in not seeing the Inglewood venue built:

Farmer and Fenno point out that those behind the Inglewood stadium have gone down the necessary avenues to ensure that safety wouldn't be an issue.

"In contrast to Ridge's warnings, city officials as well as aviation experts have said a stadium at the Hollywood Park site is not a safety concern," they wrote. "The Federal Aviation Administration, in environmental impact reports, has twice given its blessing to proposed stadiums in Inglewood."

Gene Maddaus of LA Weekly reported that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti declined to offer a comment about Ridge's study.

Earlier in the week, the Inglewood City Council approved plans for a $2 billion stadium with a unanimous vote, clearing a major hurdle toward getting professional football back in Los Angeles.

Brian Hartline No Superstar, but WR Has Plenty to Offer NFL Teams

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

There's been a lot of talk recently that the Miami Dolphins were preparing to sever ties with a highly priced wide receiver who disappointed in 2014. Sure enough, that came to pass on Friday.

It just wasn't the wide receiver who most folks thought it would be.

However, while it may be the end of the line in South Florida for Brian Hartline, the 28-year-old won't be out of work for long.

As ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, Hartline was part of the house cleaning that the Dolphins did at wideout Friday:

There's been a lot written over the past two weeks about the possibility that wide receiver Mike Wallace could be shown the door in a cost-cutting move. Still, it's hardly an earth-shattering development that Hartline was let go.

Hartline's 39 catches in 2014 was the third-lowest total of his six-year NFL career. His 474 yards was a personal nadir. Hartline found the end zone only twice in 2014, and he has only 12 career scores in six seasons.

Brian Hartline Career Stats
2009	31	506	16.3	3
2010	43	615	14.3	1
2011	35	549	15.7	1
2012	74	1083	14.6	1
2013	76	1016	13.4	4
2014	39	474	12.2	2

Per NFL.com

That's precious little production for a wide receiver who carried a $7.35 million cap number in 2015, especially given that Hartline ranked outside the top 100 wide receivers in the NFL last year, according to the rankings at Pro Football Focus.

Hartline's role in the offense had diminished considerably with the emergence of rookie Jarvis Landry last year, and over $7 million is way too big a cap hit for a role player. With only about $12 million in cap space, per Over the Cap, even after releasing Hartline, it was an easy call for the Dolphins to make.

With that said though, just because the Dolphins decided they have no use for Hartline (at least at that price), that doesn't mean other NFL teams won't.

For starters, while Hartline's numbers were down in 2014, the two years prior he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. In each of those seasons, Hartline also topped 70 receptions and 13 yards per catch.

They aren't the sorts of numbers that inspire one to make any weird grunting noises, but they're hardly chopped liver. In fact, over the past two seasons, Hartline has had the exact same yards-per-catch average (12.8 yards) as Wallace.

Surprising, given that Wallace is often touted as one the league's biggest deep threats while Hartline—isn't.

There's also the matter of Hartline's sky-high football IQ, a trait that impressed Omar Kelly of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

In all honesty, there are a lot of things Brian Hartline isn't. He isn't a game-changer. Hartline isn't going to "take the top off" a defense. Or command double-teams.

However, Hartline has shown the ability to be a productive player in the NFL. He's a smart receiver who runs good routes. He possesses good hands, with only 10 dropped passes over the last two seasons combined.

And for a player who is supposedly slow, his career average of 12.2 yards a catch isn't terrible.

Add in that at 28, Hartline remains in the prime of his career, and while his next contract probably won't match the five-year, $31 million deal he got from the Dolphins in 2013, there are going to be teams interested.

Especially when you consider that the three teams with the most cap space in the National Football League (the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns) all have a significant need at the wide receiver position.

So, while Friday wasn't the best day in Hartline's NFL career, it isn't the end of the world, either.

Because steady vets who can catch still very much have a place in the NFL.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor .

Josh McCown Signing Offers No Improvement on Browns' Brutal QB Situation

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Break out the white tape!

Get that marker ready!

Because the Factory of Sadness is about to undergo yet another minor change to its official uniform.

No, I'm not talking about the Cleveland Browns new logo. I mean the monument to misery that is this jersey:

(And that's not even accurate -- add Connor Shaw to the list.)

That long list of lousy quarterbacks the Browns have trotted out since their reincarnation in 1999 just got a little longer. As reported by agent Mike McCarthy, free agent quarterback Josh McCown has agreed to terms with the Browns:

Per Mike Garafalo of Fox Sports, the 35-year-old signed a three-year deal with the team:

McCown, who threw for just over 2,200 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, had met with both the Browns and Buffalo Bills over the past week. The Bills were generally thought to have the inside track, but it's at the other end of Lake Erie where McCown will continue his NFL career.

(You dodged a bullet Buffalo.)

Simply put, if this is the Browns' idea of getting better for 2015, then it's going to be another very long season in Cleveland.

(Get ready for more of that, Northern Ohio.)

McCown was already eligible to negotiate with teams because he was cut by the Buccaneers. McCown was cut by the Buccaneers because he was awful in his lone season in Tampa. McCown parlayed a miracle run for the Bears in 2013 (13 touchdowns and only one interception in eight games) into a nice contract in Tampa.

However, it wasn't long before the Bucs figured out what the Browns are about to. 2013 was a fluke, borne of Marc Trestman's offense in Chicago. And outside that one eight-game run, Josh McCown just isn't very good.

Josh McCown Career Comparison
2013	66.5	228.6	13	1	109.0	.600
Others	57.6	135.4	48	58	59.7	.318

Per Pro-Football-Reference.com

Last year, McCown's passer rating was down by nearly 40 points from 2013. His yards per attempt dropped by a yard and a half. His turnovers were up from two in 2013 to 18 in 2014.

Grade the Josh McCown Signing for the Cleveland Browns

Total votes: 673

Oh, and McCown was 1-10 as Tampa's quarterback last year.

(Hard to believe Buffalo let him get away, huh?)

Now McCown will be dropped into a situation that may well be even worse than last year. You can argue that Cleveland has the better offensive line than Tampa (easily). But there's no arguing that where skill position talent is concerned -- well, the Browns don't really have any skill position talent, especially with Josh Gordon suspended and tight end Jordan Cameron set to bolt in free agency.

(Can't you just feel the odds of this being successful going up? I know I can.)

It isn't just the impact that McCown will make on the field (and given how Johnny Manziel played last year, McCown is going to see the field) that should leave Cleveland's long-suffering fan base shaking their heads on Friday.

(It's a movement they're familiar with, to the point of whiplash.)

As Albert Breer of NFL.com reported, the McCown signing all but sticks a fork in Brian Hoyer's time in Cleveland:

Granted, Hoyer isn't exactly Tom Brady himself, and Hoyer may well have told the Browns he's moving on in free agency, just as Cameron did.

Even so, in going from Hoyer, Manziel and Connor Shaw to McCown, Manziel and Shaw, the Browns have accomplished what some would consider impossible.

They took arguably the worst quarterback situation in the National Football League -- and made it worse.

Entering the offseason, with the sting of last year's second-half meltdown and 43rd (approximately) straight last place finish in the AFC North still fresh, fans pointed to the Browns' $50 million free agent war chest as a ray of hope.

"We'll be better next year," they said. They probably didn't believe it, but they said it.

However, if the Browns' first big purchase of free agency is any indication, fans would be better served if general manager Ray "I'll Text You Later" Farmer and team owner Jimmy "Scratch-and-Dent Jerry Jones" Haslam spent that $50 million on tanker trucks filled with bourbon.

Because watching McCown play, those fans are going to need it.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor .

Cardinals' Release of Darnell Dockett a Necessary Evil for 2015

RICK SCUTERI/Associated Press

Darnell Dockett is now a former employee of the Arizona Cardinals. His absence might be brief, but it will also be necessary.

A long-expected move that felt inevitable is now official, though it came with a semi-unspoken caveat. If Dockett can accept a lower fee for his services, he’ll be welcomed back with a warm embrace.

That’s some loosely translated between-the-lines reading from what general manager Steve Keim told NFL Network’s Albert Breer:

Like Reggie Bush earlier this week, Dockett's fate was determined by three familiar factors: age, money and other roster priorities.

And also like Bush, there’s reason to believe a healthy Dockett can still be a productive Dockett.

Dockett will be 34 years old when the 2015 season begins, and he’s still recovering from a torn ACL. He can be effective when fully mended, even with the collecting candles on his annual birthday cake. He’s especially efficient against the run and is only a season removed from recording 30 defensive stops, according to Pro Football Focus.

In 2013, Dockett also logged 13 quarterback hits, which ranked fourth among his 3-4 defensive end peers.

2013 3-4 defensive end QB hits leaders
J.J. Watt	36
Calais Campbell	17
Kyle Williams	17
Darnell Dockett	13
Cameron Jordan	12

Source: Pro Football Focus

As always, J.J. Watt is in his own stratosphere. But Dockett showed that when healthy he can still be a valuable piece of a defensive front, though maybe not the nine-sack pass-rusher he was earlier in his career (2007, his highest single-season sack total).

Talent and the ability to make that contribution wasn’t in question here for the Cardinals. No, instead the wise allocation of resources was at issue, and little about Dockett’s contract reflected smart cap management.

Investing a 2015 base salary of $6.5 million along with a whopping cap hit of $9.8 million in a defensive end who ripped apart his knee six months ago is the sort of decision that leads to a sweet beer vendor gig for a general manager. That was especially true for Keim, who’s dealing with only $5.4 million in salary-cap room, according to Spotrac .

Recently discussion had increased between Keim and Dockett’s camp. That’s what the Cardinals’ front office boss told Darren Urban of Cardinals.com earlier this week:

The insurmountable hurdle was surely a straight pay cut that Keim was seeking. Dockett has evidently decided to let the open market determine exactly what he’s worth, instead of taking too much money out of his pocket during the final years of his career.

That could eventually lead us back to where this all started. The Cardinals still have the far more affordable Frostee Rucker to slide in again and provide veteran stability, just as he did in 2014 when Dockett went down. Beyond him there’s also promising young defensive end Kareem Martin, and there's Alex Okafor to bring pressure from the outside.

There was depth to compensate for Dockett’s loss in 2014, and there will be again in 2015 if needed, though decisions along the defensive line also need to be made regarding scheduled free agents Dan Williams and Tommy Kelly.

Right now the $6.8 million of cap space freed by cutting Dockett gives Keim maneuverability in free agency and a chance to retain other assets worthy of a heavier investment, namely cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

It may not be a wave goodbye to Dockett, and instead Keim could only be saying so long for now if the open market keeps his price within reasonable reach. That market will likely agree with the Cardinals.

A healthy Dockett has Comeback Player of the Year potential. Just ask him…

But the risk associated with an aging and injured free-agency purchase won’t lead to significant money being thrown at Dockett just for the chance to own that reward.

In the off chance he does get paid (or rather, overpaid) and Dockett has played his final snap for the only team he’s ever known, this is another smart move by Keim. And if he comes crawling back? Well, this is still another smart move by Keim.

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Darnell Dockett Cut by Cardinals: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals announced the release of defensive tackle Darnell Dockett Friday. He spent more than a decade with the organization since being drafted in the third round of the 2004 draft.

Darren Urban of the team's official site confirmed the move and noted the Cardinals would save nearly $7 million in cap space:

FOX Sports' Mike Jurecki reported more on what Dockett would have made in 2015:

AZ Central's Kent Somers added his take on Dockett's tenure as well:

Urban also passed along a statement from general manager Steve Keim, who said there's still hope of a reunion. Both sides are keeping everything on the table.

"We have been very clear about our feelings for Darnell and our desire to have him back," Keim said. "After speaking with him and his representatives, we decided that this move today makes the most sense for both the team and the player and allows each to keep all of its options open."

Dockett missed the entire 2014 campaign due to a knee injury suffered during training camp.

The veteran lineman had missed just two games during his first 10 years in the league. He racked up over 450 total tackles, 40.5 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries and four interceptions in 158 contests while showing that impressive durability.

A message he posted on social media last week suggested he understood the move was a possibility:

Normally, a knee injury would be a huge red flag for a 33-year-old player, but considering Dockett missed so little time before last year and the fact Arizona is showing interest in bringing him back suggests there's less overall risk.

When healthy, he can generate a major push up-front against the run and provide some pass-rushing help. It's hard to know exactly what to expect from him in 2015, but he clearly has high hopes and shouldn't have much trouble finding a home, whether it's back with the Cardinals or elsewhere.

Could Chicago Bears Ever Get Fair Trade Value for Running Back Matt Forte?

Could Lions Use Round 1 Draft Pick on Running Back to Replace Reggie Bush?

The Detroit Lions have parted ways with running back Reggie Bush, as ESPN reported.

Who could replace Reggie Bush in Detroit? What type of running back are the Lions targeting?

Watch above as Stephen Nelson and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press discuss the Lions' options.

NFL Veteran Combine 2015: Latest Updates on Notable Attendees, Schedule, More

The NFL is set to hold a veteran combine on March 22 similar to the one featuring incoming rookies that's gained massive popularity over the past decade.

Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk reports the showcase is going to take place at the Arizona Cardinals' training facility. Players have to apply for a spot in the event and then around 100 will get selected to participate in front of talent evaluators.

They will be taken through a drill process in line with the one seen during the NFL Scouting Combine, which recently wrapped up in Indianapolis. It's a chance for players a little later in their career to potentially earn another opportunity for Training Camp.

Continue for updates.

Friday, Feb. 27

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports Michael Sam, the league's first openly gay player, has been accepted into the event:

Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of last year's draft. He didn't make it past the team's final cuts after the preseason, however. He was later signed to the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad but was waived after about six weeks.

The Missouri product tallied 11 tackles and three sacks across four preseason appearances for the Rams. His problem is the lack of a natural position at the NFL. He lacks the size of a lineman or the speed of a linebacker, and must overcame that to earn a roster spot.

Sam also accepted an invitation to participate on the next season of Dancing with the Stars. He confirmed it wouldn't impact his ability to continue chasing his NFL dream, though:

It will be an interesting balancing act for the defender with the show slated to premiere on March 16.

Another notable name registered for the combine is Vince Young. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network noted the news:

Young hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2011 with the Philadelphia Eagles. A third overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2006, he's failed to earn a roster spot with the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers or Cleveland Browns in recent years.

He previously suggested his playing days were likely over. But now he's apparently decided to give it one more go. Given the amount of teams searching for quarterback help, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get it despite a career quarterback rating below 75.

A strong showing at the veteran combine would help his chances. The same will hold true for the other players selected to participate next month.