March 2010

MLB2K Fantasy Player of the Week 5

Published on: 29th March, 2010

MLB2K Fantasy Player of the Week 5  | read this item

Draft Dish: Bradford can lock up No. 1 spot with strong workout

Published on: 29th March, 2010

Draft Dish: Bradford can lock up No. 1 spot with strong workout  | read this item

News, notes and analysis on pro days and individual workouts heading toward the April 22-24 draft:

• Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, having checked out medically after his late-season shoulder surgery, sits atop most team’s draft boards and very well could lock up the No. 1 overall draft pick Monday when he holds a workout for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers.

Monday in Norman, Okla., Bradford must prove he has the arm strength necessary to make all the NFL throws and show consistent footwork and mechanics. After evaluating all his game film, arm strength really is the only question mark.

• On Tuesday, Oklahoma State CB Perrish Cox and Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant will hold individual workouts in Texas; Cox in Waco and Bryant in Lufkin. For both, interviews before and after are as important as the workout itself.

There are not many questions about Cox’s athleticism, but he’s not a first-round prospect because of off-field issues. He still show the elite speed he displayed on film, and if so he’ll move up draft boards because elite prospects typically get more wiggle room when it comes to character issues.

Bryant has questions to answer for, too, but he missed most of the 2009 season after lying to NCAA investigators and must prove he has stayed in good shape. He still must answer questions about his explosiveness and top-end speed because scouts still have questions about his ability to consistently separate from NFL defenders.

• Missouri State TE Clay Harbor had a great workout last week. He ran the 40-yard dash in the high 4.5-second range to low 4.6-second range, depending on the scout holding the stopwatch, and was good in all other drills.

His lack of ideal bulk is a concern, but his display of athleticism and receiving skills at Missouri State, during the Texas vs. Nation practices, at the NFL Scouting Combine and now at his pro day solidified his draft stock. He is a lock to be a third-round pick and could sneak into the bottom of the second round.

He could well end up becoming a pro in the mold of the Colts’ Dallas Clark in a few seasons.

For information and analysis on these and many other players, see the latest Draft Dish in SN’s Pro Football War Room. For more than 640 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

Jets OLB Calvin Pace: ‘The window is small to play this game’

Published on: 28th March, 2010

Jets OLB Calvin Pace: 'The window is small to play this game'  | read this item

In the first year of playing in coach Rex Ryan’s aggressive defensive scheme, outside linebacker Calvin Pace thrived as a pass rusher, recording a team-leading eight sacks. It was also career high for Pace, a former Arizona Cardinal entering his third season in New York. Pace, who turns 30 in October, talked to Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer about his training regimen, how much fun it is to be a Jet and the team’s fans. 

The offseason is as important as the regular season for a veteran like Calvin Pace.

Sporting News: So we hear you’re intense about your offseason training. Just what does that include?
Calvin Pace: It’s crazy. It varies from year to year. A lot of it is rehab. You want to ease your way into it. My goal is to bulk up to help my explosion and power. Some of it involves Olympic-style lifting. As a pass rusher, you want to right combination of a strong upper body and agility.

SN: How critical is it to be well-conditioned going into the grind of an NFL season?
CP: When you’re playing at the highest level, as the years go by, it can get harder to get out of bed. It’s especially challenging on a Monday (after games). Now it’s just getting harder with the schedule with more Thursday games, the quicker turnaround after Sunday. You just have to keep preparing more with your strength and conditioning.

SN: What was the 2009 season like for you?
CP: It’s by far the most fun year I’ve ever had in the NFL. Coach just came in from Day 1 with a great demeanor. We all stayed upbeat, and there was a joking atmosphere. Our goal was the Super Bowl, and it almost came to fruition. How well the defense played spoke for itself. It was good to be aggressive blitzing, and Rex is great in coming up with new blitzes.

SN: What is it like playing alongside inside linebacker Bart Scott?
CP: He’s a really good guy and great player. He’s had a lot of success in the defense, but he doesn’t go around thinking above the rest of us. He does talk a lot–he can go an entire practice and not shut up. I have a blast playing next to him.

SN: On March 4, the Jets traded for San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie. What does Cromartie’s addition mean for the defense?
CP: We already have an elite corner in Darrelle Revis, and now teams just can’t pick on the other corner. Cromartie is a hungry player, and he falls in line with your schemes. Putting them together will help us better lock down both receivers and give those of us up front more time to get to the quarterback.

SN: What was it like in the playoffs with the offense coming on strong to help your side of the ball?
CP: It’s funny, because we would think, everyone on defense, that we don’t want to let the offense down. They picked up their play, and in some ways they carried us.

SN: How big of a challenge is it to come back in ’10 and remain a playoff team in the AFC East?
CP: It’s tough. It’s one of the best divisions. It’s very physical on defense, yet at the same time there are some very explosive players, such Ted Ginn, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Lee Evans. There’s very little dropoff from one team to the next. There is little room for mistakes. To get back to the playoffs, you can’t let up and you have to win on the road.

SN: How has it been playing for the Jets and their fans?
CP: When I signed with the Jets two years ago, I thought about that, and if that would help me do well. The people here are passionate, and you get really excited playing for the tem. That J-E-T-S chant gets you pumped up. It’s 24-hour football for these fans.

SN: What do you like to do when not playing football or training?
CP: Really, I like to do nothing, just be grazing or unwinding. It’s time that you’re supposed take off, slow everything down, so that you can regroup and help you come back stronger for the next season.

SN: How critical is that to help you recharge and refocus?
CP: It’s very important, the less you need to work to handle every season. The window is small to play this game, and I constantly think about what my legacy will be. You want to be a successful player and hopefully a Super Bowl champion. You need to rest your body enough.

This story appears in the March 29 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.

Lessons learned at spring training

Published on: 28th March, 2010

Lessons learned at spring training  | read this item

After a month-long trip through Cactus League and Grapefruit League camps, Sporting News’ Stan McNeal reviews some of the biggest trends, story lines and injuries to track heading into the regular season.

The return of small ball will benefit players like the Yankees’ Curtis Granderson.

1. As the steroids era fades, small ball has returned. Scouts, catchers and basestealers agree: "The real game of baseball is coming back," Nationals speedster Nyjer Morgan said. "It’s a beautiful thing."

Look for more teams to imitate the Angels and Rays with aggressive baserunning. Last year, the Red Sox, Rangers and, in the second half, Athletics picked up their paces. The Mariners, White Sox, Padres and Rockies figure to be among the clubs that join the run fun in 2010.

Beating the best, however, will take balance. The Yankees will run more with Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson in the lineup, but they still will feature power. The Phillies have the game’s best mix of power and speed with two players, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth, capable of 30-homer, 30-steal seasons.

2. Pujols is the best (here’s more proof): When Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols first was sidelined with a back issue this month, he said one reason for the injury was because he was feeling so good. That’s right. Because his surgically repaired elbow felt strong, Pujols spent even more time in the batting cages. He thought too much swinging so early in the year could have caused his back stiffness, or at least contributed to it.

Pujols pledged to take it easy for a day or so and not swing the bat. But bright and early the next morning, he was back in the cage. At least Pujols wasn’t swinging the bat. He was watching pitches, trying to get used to game speed. Three weeks later, however, his back still is bothering him.

3. Damon fits in: Not surprisingly, Johnny Damon has had no trouble fitting in with the Tigers. The guy’s a pro. If he feels any disappointment about the Yankees and his offseason, he hides it easily. A shorter spring training commute has helped. Damon said the daily drive from his home outside of Orlando is about 45 minutes to Tigers camp in Lakeland, compared to about 90 minutes each way from the Yankees’ base in Tampa.

Staying at home in spring training is a big deal to Damon, too. "I had an offer from one team in Arizona (White Sox), but they would have had to pay me a lot more money," Damon told me one day in the Tigers’ clubhouse, his son hanging out near him. Damon even invited teammates to his home when the Tigers visited the Braves at nearby Disney last week. He had no trouble accommodating them: His house is more than 22,000 square feet.

The Brewers’ Jeff Suppan could find himself out of a job if he doesn’t improve.

4. Suppan is struggling: One of a beat writer’s chores each day is to talk with the starting pitcher after he puts in his work. No matter the results, the pitcher is satisfied if he is able to put in his work. Early on, it is about fastball command. Then it is about working in breaking pitches. Then it is building arm strength. Rarely is all about getting out hitters.

Brewers starter Jeff Suppan is an exception. "Every time I’m out there, no matter what time of year it is, I am concentrating on getting out the hitter," he said.

When you are fighting for your job, you must have results. Suppan isn’t faring too well. His ERA this spring is 7.71, and that is down after allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings in his most recent start. He will be relegated to the No. 5 spot in the rotation—at best—a year after starting on opening day.

Three strikes

1. Don’t expect Lance Berkman to be 100 percent for a while. The Astros first baseman took his first batting practice swings just two weeks after March 13 surgery on his left knee, but the knee remains swollen.

2. I had a feeling Jason Heyward was different when, a few weeks ago, he said this offseason was the same as any other for him. "I used the same batting instructor and the same conditioning guy that I have since I was 14," he said. A conditioning guy at 14? Heyward, 20, has known what he has wanted for a long time. He didn’t get his childhood number, though. He said No. 24 has been his number, but the Braves issued him No. 22 after they told him he had made the club. Veteran Nate McLouth sports No. 24 in Atlanta.

3. Two Orioles to watch: lefthander Brian Matusz and outfielder Felix Pie. With Nolan Reimold dealing with a foot problem, Pie—a favorite of manager Dave Trembley—could see more playing time than most so-called fourth outfielders. Matusz, 23, has shown this month that he has the stuff to be a No. 1 starter.

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

Arizona Diamondbacks 2010 preview

Published on: 26th March, 2010

Arizona Diamondbacks 2010 preview  | read this item

The Diamondbacks’ trip to the 2007 NLCS was considered an indicator of a franchise on the rise, a franchise with young major league talent and a stocked minor league cupboard. But the past two seasons have been disappointments. Some of the young players haven’t developed as expected, and injuries have proved detrimental. Last May, it all cost manager Bob Melvin his job. Optimism remains, but the expectations aren’t as high as they were before the 2008 season.

Mark Reynolds had a big 2009, with 44 homers and 24 steals.

Three questions

1. Will the heart of the lineup be good enough to contend?
Last season, Mark Reynolds surpassed every expectation with his 44-homer, 24-steal season. His strikeouts — he has set new single-season MLB records each of the past two seasons — haven’t hurt his ability to produce at an All-Star level. Justin Upton began to tap into his potential with 26 homers and a team-leading .899 OPS; he was rewarded with a six-year, $51.25 million deal in the offseason. He will be mentioned in MVP conversations for many years to come. Joining Upton and Reynolds in the heart of the order is newcomer Adam LaRoche. The veteran is a perfect fit; he will provide the power the Diamondbacks have lacked at first base, and his one-year, $6 million deal is budget-friendly for a franchise that doesn’t have a huge margin for error.

2. Will the rotation be better?
It should be improved with the eventual return of Brandon Webb and the additions of Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy. However, there are questions about all three of those hurlers. Webb still is working his way back from shoulder surgery and will start the season on the disabled list. Therefore, expecting more than 25 starts might be unrealistic. Jackson was a 2009 All-Star and should benefit from the move from the AL to the NL, but he was awful in the second half of the season. Kennedy was hurt most of 2009.

Arizona lost two reliable pitchers from last season’s rotation. Doug Davis tied for the league lead with 34 starts, and Max Scherzer — shipped to Detroit in the deal that landed Jackson and Kennedy — was eighth in the NL in strikeouts per nine innings (8.8).

3. Will the lineup’s bounce-back candidates bounce back?
Conor Jackson missed most of the 2009 season because of valley fever, which often left him fatigued. He has looked good this spring. "Jackson can hit anywhere in the lineup, gets on base and can be a run producer," manager A.J. Hinch said.

Chris Young was awful for most of last season. He has a power-speed combination matched by few players in the majors, but has had an increasingly tough time making contact the past few years. Kelly Johnson started last season as the Braves’ leadoff hitter and starting second baseman but hit just .224 and was released. The bottom half of the lineup, where he will hit for the Diamondbacks, is a better fit for Johnson.

Porjected lineup
1. SS Stephen Drew: OPS past three seasons: .683, .836, .748.
2. LF Conor Jackson: Only 99 at-bats, .182 AVG in ’09.
3. RF Justin Upton: 42 RBIs in ’08; career-best 86 in ’09.
4. 1B Adam LaRoche: At least 20 HRs each of past 5 seasons.
5. 3B Mark Reynolds: Led team in HRs, runs, RBIs, SBs.
6. C Miguel Montero: .832 OPS ranked second among NL catchers.
7. CF Chris Young: .297 AVG in final 26 games of ’09; .187 in first 108 games.
8. 2B Kelly Johnson: AVG fell from .287 in ’08 to .224 in ’09.

PROJECTED ROTATION
1. RHP Dan Haren: 30 wins, 3.23 ERA in two seasons with D-backs.
2. RHP Brandon Webb: Will start on D.L. after making just 1 start in ’09.
3. RHP Edwin Jackson: 2.52 ERA in first half; 5.07 in second half for Tigers.
4. RHP Ian Kennedy: 6.03 ERA, 1.68 WHIP in 14 MLB games.
5. RHP Billy Buckner: 3.32 ERA at Class AAA in ’09; 6.40 ERA in majors.

Projected closer
RHP Chad Qualls: 3.15 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in two season with Arizona.

Grades

Offense: C. The potential is there for an A-caliber offense, if Jackson, Johnson, Young and Stephen Drew are better — which could very well could be the case. Until that happens, though, there will be plenty of pressure on Reynolds, Upton, LaRoche and Miguel Montero to produce comparably or better than they did in 2009.

Pitching: C. Much depends on the healthy and productive return of Webb. Haren is an elite starter. Chad Qualls settled nicely into the full-time closer role last season for the first time in his career, but producing save opportunities could be challenging because of the team’s middle relief.

Bench: B. Gerardo Parra played 120 games and played all three outfield positions even though he wasn’t recalled until mid-May. Ryan Roberts also was versatile, making at least 12 starts at second, third and left field. Backup catcher Chris Snyder provides some pop off the bench.

Manager: C. Hinch didn’t have any managerial experience when he was tabbed to replace Melvin last season, but as the director of player development in the organization, he knew plenty about the struggling youngsters on the roster. He is learning on the job, and the youngsters did respond better as the season progressed.

Sporting News prediction: There is potential for much improvement, but the other NL West teams also are better. Arizona won’t finish as far back as in ’09, but will finish fourth.

Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.

Draft-time marijuana concerns are much ado about nothing

Published on: 26th March, 2010

Draft-time marijuana concerns are much ado about nothing  | read this item

Every year at this time, we’re reminded that many college football players have smoked marijuana. Given that many college students smoke marijuana at some point or other during their four (or five … or eight) years of "higher" education, it’s not really a surprise.

Usually, the issue hits the NFL radar screen due to reports of positive marijuana samples generated by players tested at the Scouting Combine. Given that the players know they’ll be tested, a positive result constitutes evidence of a problem — or proof of extreme stupidity. But while those players require more scrutiny, the supposed rash of players who tested positive during college or who admitted to smoking marijuana in pre-draft interviews gets far more focus than it deserves.

Teams generally don’t care if players smoke pot. Teams care if smoking pot affects player performance, or if it keeps them from playing due to a suspension. "There’s a difference between a guy who smokes pot from time to time," said an agent who requested anonymity, "and Charles Rogers or Onterrio Smith."

Rogers, the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, and Smith, a first-round talent who slid to Round 4 due in part to multiple marijuana issues, couldn’t put down the weed, even when their livelihoods depended on it. But for every player who smokes his way out of the league, there are hundreds who can stop cold turkey as soon as they enter the league’s substance-abuse program and become subject to up to 10 unannounced tests per month. Indeed, most men prefer playing pro football to smoking pot, and most can quit when they absolutely must.

Still, scouts and coaches claim to be worried about the issue. One unnamed head coach recently told Don Banks of SI.com that "[i]t’s something that’s concerning to all coaches and general managers in this league."

Apparently, these aging muckety-mucks all have forgotten the things they did when they were 20. As the agent who requested anonymity told me, he recalls in their younger days a current "high-level NFL decision-maker" passing him a joint.

Really, how many of the people who occupy positions of influence and responsibility in the NFL can say they haven’t smoked pot at least once in their lives? It’s a normal – albeit illegal – activity, and concerns should arise only when the player has become addicted to it or has become entangled with law enforcement because of it.

In the grand scheme of things, few players are suspended for using marijuana. Even fewer see their careers end. Thus, the reward outweighs the risk. Last year, many news outlets reported via anonymous sources that Vikings receiver Percy Harvin tested positive for marijuana at the Scouting Combine, and he only went on to have a dramatic impact on the Minnesota offense and special teams.

So why is it suddenly a big deal? It could be that some teams hope to scare other teams into passing on players with red flags due to green leaves, which could cause highly-talented players to slide into the clutches of teams that are quietly fueling the anti-pot crusade. Or it could be that many of these scouts and coaches are too old to remember what it’s like to be a kid in college, and the things that they and their friends did 20, 30, or 40 years ago.

Those who realize that marijuana use now is no more of an epidemic now than it ever has been will be in the best position to do the homework necessary to differentiate those who control their pot smoking from those whose pot smoking controls them. And the teams who take the time to draw those lines instead of simply striking from the board anyone who has a history of doing something that a large percentage of the total college population has done will reap the benefits on draft day.

Heck, maybe even a few of the G.M.’s and coaches will celebrate by firing up a doobie.

Mike Florio writes and edits ProFootballTalk.com and is a regular contributor to Sporting News. Check out PFT for up-to-the minute NFL news.

The NFL draft’s best-known quarterbacks still must pass upcoming tests

Published on: 26th March, 2010

The NFL draft's best-known quarterbacks still must pass upcoming tests  | read this item

In what’s deemed as a shaky 2010 quarterback class, the top prospects each have something to prove in pre-draft examinations the last four weeks: 

FSU’s Robinson wowing NFL teams; LSU’s LaFell’s disappointing

Published on: 26th March, 2010

FSU's Robinson wowing NFL teams; LSU's LaFell's disappointing  | read this item

Players have been moving up and down NFL teams’ draft boards for months. The reasons can be related to their all-star game performances, their workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine or the drills at their school’s pro day—or a character or personality nugget a scout might have discovered.

Dan Williams could be good alternative if a team can’t grab one of the top two defensive tackles.

After talking to three college scouting directors for NFL teams, we have identified three players who have risen and three who have fallen since the end of the 2009 season:

Moving up

1. Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State 

Draft grade then: Top of third round or bottom of second.

Draft grade now: In the top 15-25 picks overall.

The skinny: After a good week at the Senior Bowl, Robinson followed up with an impressive Combine and pro day. He is a well-rounded cornerback who has an explosive burst and good coverage skills. Scouts say he has the ability to play press or zone coverage.

The view: "He plays as fast as he needs to play," an AFC college scouting director said, "and I think that’s a good quality to have."

2. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

Draft grade then: Middle of second round.

Draft grade now: Late first round.

The skinny: Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy are considered the two elite defensive tackles in this draft. Everyone behind them is fighting for the next spot. Williams, a slow but steady riser in mock drafts but a player NFL teams have been fond of all along, could claim it.

What makes him most appealing is he could play nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme or the 3-technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. He is a big guy who can clog the inside and is tough to move. Williams isn’t the most polished pass rusher but can get under a center, collapse the pocket and pressure the quarterback.

The view: "He reassured everybody that what they saw on film is factually true," an NFC scouting director said.

3. Daryl Washington, OLB, TCU

Draft grade then: Top of the third round, bottom of the second.

Draft grade now: Top of the second round.

The skinny: This year’s outside linebackers class is considered a weak group, but Washington stands out—mainly because of his athleticism. He has excellent size (at 230 pounds, he’s actually 15 pounds bigger than some scouts thought) and good speed. Even if he only plays on special teams as a rookie, he should be ready to start at linebacker in Year 2.

The view: "He runs to the ball and makes plays all over the place," the NFC scouting director said. "That’s what you’re supposed to do."

Falling down

1. Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU

Draft grade then: First round.

Draft grade now: Second or third round.

The skinny: LaFell was a highly rated prospect after his junior season, and scouts expected him to perform even better in 2009. Instead, he couldn’t maintain the momentum—his production fell off, and he was inconsistent catching the ball—and he leveled off.

LaFell missed an opportunity to change perceptions about him when an injury prevented him from playing in the Senior Bowl. He also didn’t measure up well against the other wide receivers at the Combine, where he neither ran well nor performed well in drills.

The view: "When you turn on LSU film, you don’t see a player who dominates the competition he’s playing against," the AFC scouting director said. "You want to see that out of a big-time receiver."

2. Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida

Draft grade then: Top-10 pick.

Draft grade now: Top of the second round.

The skinny: Scouts didn’t expect Spikes to run a blazing 40 at Florida’s pro day—and they weren’t disappointed. Speed is not Spikes’ forte. Brian Urlacher, he is not. This is what Spikes is: A big, tough, diagnostic playmaker—and he’ll probably start as a rookie. There’s not a lot of quality at linebacker in this draft class, so Spikes isn’t expected to drop too far.

The view: "The teams that like him are going to like him for what he is—an in-the-box, downhill, strong player who diagnoses quickly," a second AFC scouting director said. "He’s not a fast guy over 40 yards, but he can play quick in the box."

3. Greg Hardy, DE, Ole Miss

Draft grade then: Middle of first round.

Draft grade now: Bottom of second round or top of the third.

The skinny: Hardy has talent, all right. He just doesn’t show it often enough. As a junior and senior, he didn’t even start for Ole Miss; instead, he rotated in. Hardy is big and has pass-rush ability, but he doesn’t show it down-in and down-out. He also can be aloof at times, which won’t endear himself to NFL coaches.

The view: "Hardy has all the physical skills in the world," the NFC scouting director said. "But he’s got to do some soul searching and find out if football is important to him."

This story appears in March 26′s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.

Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

Shanahan says new overtime rule should apply to regular season games, too

Published on: 25th March, 2010

Shanahan says new overtime rule should apply to regular season games, too  | read this item

Mike Shanahan is starting a new phase in his career, taking the helm of the Washington Redskins after a year away from coaching. The two-time Super Bowl winner with the Denver Broncos joined ESPN Chicago to talk about the upcoming football season.

To listen to Mike Shanahan on ESPN Chicago, go to Sports Radio Interviews.

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan says the NFL does a good job of making small changes every year.

What does Shanahan think of the new playoffs overtime rule?

Shanahan: Well, number one, over the years being in these meetings, if the commissioner and the owners really believe a rule is in the best interest of the league, they’re going to get it passed.  A lot of times they’ll table it until May, if they don’t feel something is going to go through that they really want.

This is a situation that I felt they were very up front about, knew the commissioner wanted it, there was a number of owners that wanted it, and they just put it through a little bit earlier than they normally do.

Is he in favor of the new rule?

Shanahan: Yeah, I don’t mind it.  I don’t think there is a perfect way to solve this problem that we have.  I was looking forward to doing something.  I didn’t know, exactly, what was the best situation.  I think this is a good start for the league.

Would Shanahan like the new overtime rule added for the regular season, too?

Shanahan: I would like it for the regular season as well as the playoffs.  Some people just want it just for the playoffs because they don’t want the additional snaps added to the game, because of injury.  The way I look at it, if you use it through the playoffs, you might as well use it during the regular season, but either way I think it’s a good first step.

Are coaches more apt to kick off in overtime under the new rule, or will coaches still always want the football?

Shanahan: I think it could go either way.  A lot depends on the wind, what type of defense you have, what type of offense.  Obviously, if you score, you score a touchdown, the game is over with.  So I think, ultimately, with a good offense, you believe you can score and end the game right then and there.

Also depends on your field goal kicker and how good he is.  So I think there are some variables in there that could go either way.

Are there any other changes he would like to see the owners vote on and pass?

Shanahan: I’ve been doing this, been in these meetings for a number of years and what I think they try and do is upgrade the game every year.  The competition committee, number of people on that, they hear different recommendations from different organizations, and every year they’ll bring up about ten different new things, if it’s rule interpretation, if it’s changing of rules.  I think that’s the reason our game keeps on getting better as we do change little things every year.

How did Shanahan spend the year off from football?

Shanahan: One thing, I think, if you want to stay in this game, or you want to be good in any profession, you better be constantly learning.  But it was something that I’ve never had the opportunity to do in a long time, 25 years.  I actually had a chance to go to a couple of pro camps and see how they did things.  Two organizations that have been very successful over the years and that was a good experience for me to see how different people do things at Pittsburgh and New England.

Then I went back to my stomping grounds when I coached ’80-’83 for the Florida Gators.  I went out there to watch their practice.  Obviously, with them winning a couple national championships, I wanted to see how Urban [Meyer] was running his practices and hadn’t had a chance to see a college practice for a number of years, so that was quite interesting.

Does he think Tim Tebow’s skill set will play in the NFL?

Shanahan: I just think Tim Tebow is a winner.  He is going to make it.  In fact, worked him out on Saturday.  You’re talking about a great kid.  He’s going to find a way to get it done.

I just think he just brings so many tangibles to the table that he’s going to find a way to do it and I think that he can do it in a number of different ways.  He can run that Wildcat.  I think regardless what offense you’re running, he will spend the time that is necessary to work at it and eventually get it done.

What does Shanahan think about the Bears acquiring Jay Cutler?

Shanahan: First off, I’m a Jay Cutler fan.  I can just talk about what Jay Cutler did for Mike Shanahan, not exactly his experience in Chicago.

But Pro Bowl player, had a good supporting cast around him, a worker, very smart, handles himself like you want. I thought he was just getting better and better.

Obviously, there are going to be some road blocks for every quarterback in the league and he’s going through a tough situation right now, but my opinion is he’ll work through it and Chicago will be very proud to have him as their quarterback.

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Phil Hughes will be Yankees’ fifth starter

Published on: 25th March, 2010

Phil Hughes will be Yankees' fifth starter  | read this item

Joe Girardi has named Phil Hughes the Yankees’ fifth start, the New York Post reports.

Hughes has been competing for the rotation slot with Joba Chamberlain, Sergio Mitre and Alfredo Aceves.

"We evaluated it the whole spring and we were very excited with the improvement in his changeup," Girardi said.

The decision means Chamberlain will move back into the bullpen, where he likely will the eighth inning set-up man, the Post reports.

"I think Joba could do either one (start or relieve), but right now we feel Phil is a little bit ahead as a starter," Girardi said.

Hughes was 8-3 with a 3.03 ERA, mostl in relief, while Chamberlian was 9-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 2009. Chamberlain started 31 games.

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