Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III: NFL Edition

(AP Photo/Rod Aydelotte and Paul Connors)
Now that everything's official, The Andrew Luck vs. RG3 NFL rivalry has begun.

For the rest of their careers, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will always be compared to each other, so why don't we start off the great quarterback debate now?

The top two picks in the 2012 NFL Draft have tough tasks ahead of them. Luck, who was drafted #1 by the Colts, will have to lead his franchise back to being one of the best teams in the league. RG3, who was drafted #2 by the Redskins, will have to make his franchise relevant for the first time in over a decade.

The two have a ton of traits in common, but also a whole lot of differences.

Both Luck and Griffin III are tremendous athletes who led two of the most dynamic offenses in college football last season. Luck led Stanford to an 11-2 record, and threw for over 3,500 yards and 37 touchdowns. Griffin III led Baylor to a 10-3 record, and threw for nearly 4,300 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Both quarterbacks can get it done with their arms, but also with their feet, a talent not every quarterback has.

Ironically, despite being the most talked about college football player since Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck never won a Heisman. Instead, it was the quietly talked about Robert Griffin III who won the prestigious college football award.

How could it be that the most "NFL ready" quarterback never dominated in college? Sure he led his team to an 11-2 record and threw for 3,500 yards, but why couldn't he lead them to a 13-0 record, with over 4,000 passing yards? Why is it that the sports world declared Andrew Luck, and not Robert Griffin III the next Peyton Manning?

There is no doubt that the 22-year old quarterback can throw the ball better than most, but why is it that we automatically can assume he will be a 10-time Pro-Bowler?

The expectations for Luck have been set extremely high. Ever since his sophomore year at Stanford, NFL analysts have declared him as the next superstar. While all the attention has been on Luck, other quarterbacks like Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III have had equal, if not more success.

On top of the already high expectations, comes the fact that Luck will have to replace the man that everyone is expecting him to be. Not only will Andrew Luck be compared to RG3, but he will be compared to his predecessor, Peyton Manning.

While Luck's pressure to succeed is ridiculously high, RG3 is flying under the radar when it comes to expectations.

Unlike Luck, the quarterbacks before Griffin III were nothing special in Washington. Unlike Luck, the team RG3 is playing for hasn't won a Super Bowl in over 15 years. If Griffin III has immediate success in Washington, he will be hailed as the Redskins' hero. If not, too bad, the Redskins are used to it.

Will Griffin's unique playing style transfer over well in the NFL, or is he better off playing in a standard  pocket style? Will Luck's traditional play help him in the NFL, or will it make him fit in with the rest? Andrew Luck has the DNA to be the better NFL player, but RG3 has the raw athletic ability to outshine his rival.

Both the Colts and Redskins cut ties with many players, and will have completely new offenses in 2012. Luck and RG3 will struggle early on with the tools they have to work with, and will have to adjust accordingly. In addition, Luck and RG3 will have to adjust to the ball-hawking cornerbacks in the NFL, since they won't have the pleasure of throwing against college-level cornerbacks anymore.

While their roles and expectations are completely different, their goals are identical: To be the best NFL quarterback they could be.

Both Luck and RG3 are very well spoken, and know the situations they are in. Both are very hard workers, and will put in the effort to become stars at the next level. The two will take very different paths in the NFL, but in the end, will both try to accomplish the same goal.

Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III to be continued...

Reigning MVP Derrick Rose Out For Postseason With Torn ACL

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Derrick Rose's heartbreaking injury will sideline him for the rest of the postseason. Rose, who had
already missed 27 regular season games, tore his ACL with a little more than a minute to play in Game 1.

The Chicago Bulls' worst nightmare became a reality Saturday, when Derrick Rose suffered a torn ACL and MCL with just a minute left to play in a 103-91 win against the Philadelphia 76'ers.

Rose came down awkwardly on his left leg after trying to hop past Lavoy Allen. Although there was no contact, Rose seemed to land funny on his leg, and instantly jumped to his right leg to take away pressure.  Rose then fell to the floor, and grabbed his left knee in pain. When he didn't jump back up moments later, everyone inside the United Center knew something was wrong.

MRI results would eventually confirm that the 2011 MVP would be out for the remainder of the playoffs.

ACL tears are athletes' worst nightmare. Knee injuries usually keep athletes out for the longest periods of time. Doctors say Rose will be sidelined for 6-8 months. That means that he will miss the postseason, the Olympic games in London, and possibly the start of next season.

This injury wasn't Rose's first of the season. The all-star guard actually missed 27 games this season with toe, ankle, back and groin injuries. His past injuries, combined with the shortened season likely had an impact on his season-ending injury.

Who is to blame for Rose's gruesome injury?

Is it coach Tom Thibodeau, who allowed the star to stay in the game despite leading by double-digits? Is it the NBA's fault for creating such a compressed season that has caused fatigue and injury issues for multiple players in the league? Is it just really bad luck? The answer is a terrible combination of the three.

Coach Thibodeau's reasoning was that he wanted Rose to get as many reps as he could in real game situations to make up for the 27 games he missed in the regular season. Although the team has backed Thib's decision to keep Rose in the game, it probably wasn't the greatest idea. 

Many athletes and NBA stars have reached out on Twitter to wish Rose and Knicks guard Iman Shumpert (who also tore his ACL Saturday) speedy recoveries.

Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) tweeted, "Prayers up for Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert! Hope u guys have a speedy recovery!" while Kevin Love (@kevinlove) added, "Let's keep the rest of the NBA playoffs healthy. D Rose and Shump, speedy recoveries".

The Bulls were 7/2 favorites to win it all this year, but are now just 15/2 favorites to win the 2012 NBA Finals.

Chicago was 18-9 this season without Rose in the lineup. 

For the rest of the Bulls, their postseason continues on Tuesday for Game 2. The Bulls still may be the favorites to beat the Sixers, but their road to the NBA Finals doesn't look too bright from there.

Top Ten Picks: Hits And Misses.

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Kuechly is a popular name on NFL team's draft lists. The linebacker out of
Boston College is the top linebacker prospect in the draft, and should fall in the top ten.

This post was written by Hall Of Fame Sports Blog featured columnist Jared Weiss.


Hits:
Luke Kuechly: Is a top ten guy really a sleeper? Probably not. However, this is a guy that is simply incredible at the linebacker position. He broke many tackle records at Boston College, where he was dominant. He also has the ability to be a captain, as he was a great team leader for BC. To go along with this, he is a very good athlete. Not the strongest guy, but he is strong enough. He also has great speed and quickness to go along with his NFL-ready build. Expect him to go number nine to the Carolina Panthers, another talented guy to join into their rotation of talented, yet injury prone LBs.

Matt Kalil: Matt Kalil is the most talented player is this draft. However, right now it looks as if he might fall outside of the top five, which is ridiculous. This OT made Matt Barkley one of the most dominant QBs in all of CFB last year. He dominated every team he faced, allowing 0 sacks all season. He has an NFL ready physique. Noted for his excellent footwork, he also showcased his strength at the combine, finishing as one of the top guys in the bench press. He is the type of guy that any QB would love to have protecting their blindside. He will go fifth overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a great pick for a team in need of almost every position. He will be able to work with veteran Donald Penn to become a Pro Bowler in years to come.

Misses:

Ryan Tannehill: Ryan Tannehill is a guy who has taken advantage of the belief that to get a great QB you need to pick one in the top ten. He is not someone who is ready to come in and lead a team. He was pretty good at Texas A&M, but there was not much dominance seen in his game. He was a WR in his earlier years, which could serve as an advantage in some ways (wildcat package?). However, he lacks the experience and the consistency to be able to lead an NFL team at this point. He has a lot of pro potential, but at this point he is not ready. He should go number 8 to Miami, with the potential to start right out of the gate. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem ready for the job.

Trent Richardson: Finding busts inside of the top ten is not the easiest thing in the world. This is a guy that I think has the potential to be a solid NFL RB for a decade. However, there are two big red flags with his game: his work ethic and his durability. Both were major problems when he was playing at Alabama. If he is going to be a guy that is getting 250+ carries a year, he needs to be able to keep his head in the game and he must stay healthy. If he doesn’t do this, his career could end pretty quickly. He also lacks the true explosive style of play to dominate in the NFL. He has solid strength and decent speed, but neither of those characteristics will be enough for him to dominate at the next level. Expect him to go number four to the Cleveland Browns, which has been the consensus pick.

Saints Offseason Troubles Continue

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
If the allegations are true, GM Mickey Loomis might be in some serious trouble
with the league and the federal law. 

In what has already been a horrendous and forgettable offseason for the New Orleans Saints, more troubling news is headed their way.

In early March, ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news that the Saints have been running a bounty program - a malicious program where players are rewarded for injuring offensive players - for the past three seasons.

Now, the latest accusations are that the Saints implemented a system in their stadium that allowed them to listen in on opposing coaches' radio communications. Supposedly GM Mickey Loomis' press booth could wiretap the radios and headsets used by opponents inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The Saints have denied the claims reported by an ESPN source, calling them "absolutely ludicrous" and "1,000% false".

Loomis was already suspended by the league for the first eight games of the regular season for his role in the bounty scandal. He could face further disciplinary actions, and could even be found guilty of a federal crime.

Also suspended for their roles in the bounty scandal were defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended indefinitely by the league, and head coach Sean Payton, who was suspended for the entire upcoming season. Also, several players, including Jonathan Vilma, could face possible suspensions or fines from the league.

The Saints' miserable offseason started off on the wrong note instantly, when the Saints refused to offer  six-time Pro-Bowler, and starting quarterback Drew Bres a new contract. Instead they gave him a slap in the face, or what is known in the NFL as a franchise tag.

Brees says he wasn't that upset, and that he is ready to go in 2012, but we all know how offended he was by the Saints' stingy move.

The next bad sign for the Saints was Bountygate, which made headlines when filmaker Sean Pamphilon released tapes of Gregg Williams telling players to go after Michael Crabtree's ACL, and Frank Gore's head. Pamphilon was making a documentary on former Saints safety Steve Gleason who was recently diagnosed with ALS.

The program began in 2009, the same year the Saints won the Super Bowl, and was active up until the end of last season.

With the Saints already on thin ice, the recent wiretapping allegations really puts them in a bad situation. Although the Saints deny it, and the league says they were unaware of any such situation, investigations are underway.

Hopefully for the Saints, this wiretapping accusation is nonsense. It would be a shame to see a top team like the Saints go down with a terrible legacy, after working so hard to rebuild their franchise after Hurricane Katrina.

Heat, Lakers Claim Sunday's Star-Studded Double Header

(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
It wasn't easy, but the Heat escaped a packed Madison Square Garden with a win Sunday afternoon.

Two of the hottest teams in basketball, the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers, continued their dominance in wins over the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks respectively. Both matchups were potential playoff previews

The Knicks found themselves in a hole in the first quarter, with the Heat doubling them in points halfway through the quarter. While the Knicks were bricking free throws and turning over the ball, Miami was shooting over 50%, and had no turnovers. Tyson Chandler's foul trouble didn't help the situation either.

Despite everything Carmelo Anthony had going for him in the first quarter, Dwyane Wade had an answer for him. Wade had 12 points in only eight minutes in the first quarter, while Carmelo had finished the quarter with 14 points.

The Knicks came marching back in the second quarter though. A Steve Novak three, followed by another Anthony layup cut the lead to only two points with six minutes to play. Then, on the next possession following a Heat timeout, JR Smith sunk a three to give the Knicks their first lead of the day.

MSG played a major factor in the east coast matinee in the first half. Knicks fans made sure LeBron James heard it every time he touched the ball. When Woodson told Novak to enter the game, Knicks fans probably had their loudest cheer of the first half. The World's Most Famous Arena definitely gave the Heat issues early on, but they adjusted.

Nonetheless, a pair of LeBron James free throws gave Miami a 46-44 lead at the half. Anthony finished the first half with 20, while James and Wade had 14 each. Miami had the advantage on the glass, out-rebounding the Knicks by double-digits.

Two minutes into the third quarter, James went down with an apparent ankle injury. Replay showed he stepped awkwardly on a spectator's foot, causing him to fall back in pain. No worries for James though, as he returned to the game following a timeout by the Heat.

The third quarter was an exchange of back and forth buckets, with the Heat leading by three heading into the final quarter.

Despite an early late run by the Knicks to put themselves up four, the Heat eventually pulled ahead late in the fourth quarter. A 12-1 run would give them a seven point lead with four minutes to play. The Big Three combined for more than 75% of Miami's point production. James and Wade couldn't be stopped late in the fourth, while New York struggled to make anything.

Although the game finished in an eight point loss for the Knicks, it was much closer than the final score showed. Carmelo Anthony shined with 42 points, nine rebounds, and five assists on great shooting numbers. The rest of the team just wasn't on his level, as the rest of the Knicks shot 17-46.

As for the Heat, this game showed they can win tough games on the road, after struggling in the past few weeks. Wade started off the game strong for the Heat, while LeBron finished it off, for a change.

(AP Photo/Bret Hartman)
The Lakers improved to 4-1 without Kobe Bryant in the lineup, following an OT win against the Mavs.

With the first game fully living up to expectations, round two in Los Angeles had a lot to live up to. Would a surprisingly impressive Kobe-less Lakers team continue to strive against the Mavs, or would Dirk show them who's boss?

The Mavs jumped out to an early lead, led by Jason Kidd's strong shooting. The future Hall of Famer is only averaging five points per game this season, but he already had eight points in only five minutes. The quarter started off strange with Nowitzki, Gasol, and Bynum all scoreless on a combined 0-9 shooting.

Despite being severely outshot by Dallas, the Lakers were only down five after the first quarter.

Unlike the first game of the double header, the pace of this game was very slow at first. With Kobe out the past five games, Metta World Peace has stepped up in his spot, averaging 17 points per game, but he started off the game weak on 1-6 shooting. Instead, the Lakers were led early on by Ramon Sessions, who had 10 points in the first quarter.

With 2:26 left in the second quarter, Dirk Nowitzki hit his first shot of the game, ending a 0-6 slump. Pau was 1-4 at this point while Bynum was 3-10. But despite Dirk's woeful shooting, the Mavs as a team shot over 50% from the field while the Lakers shot under 40%. In spite of their poor shooting, the Lakers only trailed the Mavericks 54-48 at the half.

The Lakers would come back in the third though and take a brief lead, behind Metta World Peace's eight third quarter points. Bynum and Gasol also came back strong in the third quarter, and both were in double figures by mid third quarter.

Following two Andrew Bynum free throws and a three by Matt Barnes, the Lakers entered the fourth quarter up one.

The Mavs came back strong in the third quarter, and led the Lakers by as much as seven with about six minutes to play. The Lakers would respond to the Mavs' run with a run of their own, causing the Mavs to call timeout up by only one. Not one player on the Mavs was having an "on" day, but instead five different players were in double-figures.

The timeout by the Mavs seemed to do nothing, as the Lakers continued to pound the ball inside and continue to score. Not only did Metta World Peace and Andrew Bynum pick up their play in the second half, but Ramon Sessions continued to ball. In arguably his best game as a Laker, Sessions finished with 22 points and 5 assists.

The Mavs never gave up though, and tied the game up in the final minute, sending the game to overtime. This game definitely lived up to the expectations that Game 1 set. By mid fourth quarter, the tempo picked up, and shots were falling every possession.

Down 110-108 with 15 seconds left in OT, Dallas called timeout with one last chance to tie up the game, or go for the win.

Jason Terry slalomed through defenders and got a great chance to tie up the game with a layup, but his angle was altered by Matt Barnes, resulting in a missed shot at the bottom of the rim. After Pau Gasol iced up the game with two free throws, the Lakers took home the win, 112-108.


The Mavs shooting cooled down in the second half, and Dirk never got in rhythm. He ended the day on 9-28 shooting.


This game showed that the Lakers are tough enough to battle with elite teams, even without Kobe. It also showed that they can play comfortable at their tempo, and at their opponents' tempo. An all-around team effort, the Lakers had four players with 18+ points (Bynum, Sessions, Gasol, and World Peace).

Both games were exciting and gave us a good tease of what May and June basketball will look like. If it's anything close to what we watched today, we are all in for a treat.

Kentucky Overpowers Kansas To Win Eighth National Championship

 (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
On a night where Anthony Davis shot 1-10, Doron Lamb rose to the occasion
and sparked Kentucky's offense with a game-high 22 points.

John Calipari's philosophy of scouting one-and-dones has finally paid off, after the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 67-59 in the Men's National Championship. From the get-go it was all Big Blue Nation, as the Wildcats jumped to an early ten point lead minutes into the game.

Even on a night where Anthony Davis shot 10% from the field, Kentucky had no problem fending off one of the best teams in the country. Sophomore Doron Lamb led the team with 22 points on 58% shooting. Marquis Teague, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Terrence Jones followed with 14, 11, and nine points respectively.

What made this Kentucky team so special was their distribution on offense. One night it could be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with 25 points, another night it could be Terrence Jones with 22 points, or it could be Anthony Davis with 20 points. A perfect box score for John Calipari would be to have all eight players in double figures, and not just one guy with 30 points.

It's crazy to think how much Anthony Davis can impact a game on both ends of the court. He knows he is having a bad night offensively, so he boosts his defensive game even higher, and focuses more on getting his teammates the ball. Not only did he lead the team in blocks and rebounds last night, but he also led them in assists, with five!

As for Kansas, Kentucky's uptempo style was too much for them to handle. Right from the beginning, an Anthony Davis rebound would lead to a fastbreak bucket or an in transition basket for the Wildcats.

The Jayhawks played their best basketball this season when they were ahead, but unfortunately, they never got that opportunity last night. Kansas' defense usually propelled them to first half leads, but last night, they trailed from the opening possession. This put the Jayhawks in an uncomfortable position because they had to keep up with Kentucky's explosive offense.

Kansas made a run late in the game to cut the lead to six, but Kentucky just couldn't be stopped on offense. Kansas' offensive production wasn't helping either They shot 33% from the field, as Robinson and Taylor combined for a 14-34 effort. The clutch factor just was not in Kansas' favor.

This game did not mean more to anyone other than Coach Cal. After losing to Self and the Jayhawks just four years ago, he was able to get revenge, but this time with a new team. Although Coach Cal is one of the most prolific coaches in the game today, he had actually never won a championship before, even with stars like Marcus Camby, Derrick Rose, and John Wall on the court.

With speculation that Coach Cal might become the new coach of the New York Knicks, he downplayed the situation by saying he wasn't done with college basketball. According to Coach himself, he has a lot left to achieve. "Before I leave coaching, I would like to coach an undefeated team," Calipari told ESPN's Andy Katz. He followed that up by saying that he'd then like to go undefeated and win every game by 25 points.

High expectations, but if anyone could do it, it's Calipari.

As for Kansas and Kentucky, the two perennial universities will likely have different players suiting up next season. For Kentucky, Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Jones, Lamb, Teague, all might enter the draft, in addition to Darius Miller who is a senior. For Kansas, it's likely that Robinson and Taylor will depart for the NBA Draft.

The Kentucky win could encourage top recruits Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel to finally make their decisions. Muhammad is stuck between Kentucky, Duke, and UCLA while Noel is pondering between Kentucky, Syracuse, and Georgetown. The two could become the next best tagteam in college basketball.

In the end though, this Kentucky team could go down in the books as one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. Their unselfishness and willingness to make everyone else better really transformed them from a young, inexperienced team, to a team that ended up cutting down the nets in New Orleans.

It's A Done Deal: Peyton Manning To The Broncos

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Manning will be calling Denver his new home for the next five years, pending health. The future Hall of Famer
 turned down San Francisco, Tennessee, and Arizona to become the Broncos next starting quarterback.

In what seems to be one of the most unique two-week stretches in NFL history, future Hall of Famer and four-time MVP, Peyton Manning, has signed with the Denver Broncos. The move comes just a week after Manning was cut by the Indianapolis Colts.

 The Broncos and Manning wrapped up the deal yesterday, agreeing on a five-year, $96 million contract. The contract does have a few conditions, all based around the superstar's health. The star quarterback will be forced to take physical before the 2013 season in order to lock him in for 2013 and 2014.

Other teams that pursued Manning were the Titans, 49'ers, and Cardinals. Some think that Manning chose the Broncos over the other teams, not for talent, but because of his relationship with Broncos vice president of football operations, John Elway.

Maybe Manning chose the Broncos because of Denver's air. It has been proven that footballs travels farther in Denver because of the air in such high altitude. Critics have been complaining about Manning's arm strength, so a little gust of wind could help him complete long throws down the field. On the other hand, Manning will be playing outside in cold weather, after spending his whole career in domes.

Manning is used to playing alongside pro-bowl wide receivers like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, but his newest targets will be Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. Along with Manning in the backfield will be running back Willis McGahee. Not the most dangerous offense in the league, but Manning is known for giving wide receivers names, like Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. If anyone can turn Thomas and Decker into pro-bowlers, it's Peyton.

Now that the Broncos have found their starting quarterback for the next five years (pending health), what do they do with that other guy who went 7-4 as a starter last season?

Yes, I'm talking about Tim Tebow.

It looks like the two teams that could land Tebow are the New York Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jets actually completed a trade for Tebow earlier today, but it was nullified due to complications in the contract. Although the Jets and Jags seem to be the two biggest suitors for Tebow, the Patriots, Packers, and Dolphins could all make surprise offers.

As we know, the AFC West is a toss up every year (that's why they call it the Wild Wild West). The Chiefs have had a pretty good offseason and could compete at full strength next year. The Raiders were a win away from making their first playoff appearance in ten years, and let's not forget the San Diego Chargers, who seem to be the favorite every year out of the AFC West. The Broncos will head into the season as the frontrunners, but anything can happen out West.

Only time will tell though. Did Denver make the right move by bringing in Manning and kicking out Tebow, or will karma come back to haunt the Broncos?

NBA Trade Deadline Winners/Losers

(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Dwight seems to be happy with Orlando for now. The Magic are currently
third in the Eastern Conference with a 29-16 record. 

Although the Magic retained the deadline's grand prize, there were still a good number of trades involving stars from across the league.

Winner: Magic- Clearly the biggest winner of the week, maybe even the year, the Magic kept on to Dwight Howard for at least one more season. Let's all forget about the commotion he caused, and just think about how the Magic could upset the Bulls or Heat, and make another run into the NBA Finals. No player dominates their position better than Dwight. While their are many point guards, shooting guards, and forwards who compete for #1, no one can compete with Dwight for the league's best center (Bynum is getting their, but still isn't close). If the Magic make a deep run in the playoffs, Dwight will probably sign a new contract, and ask them to bring in some help, but even if the Magic lose early, they still can trade him at next year's deadline.

Winner: Bucks- The Bucks and Warriors pulled off the first trade of the week, when they sent Stephen Jackson and Andrew Bogut to Golden State in return for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown. This trade definitely makes the Bucks a better team. First, with Andrew Bogut out for extended time, Ellis provides instant offense for this team, and also gives them a dynamic backcourt of Ellis and Jennings. Additionally, the Bucks freed of cap space so they could sign Ersan Ilyasova, who has had a standout year this season. Upfront the Bucks already had Gooden and Ilyasova, so their was no need to hold onto the overpaid and injured Bogut.

Loser: Warriors- Why would the Warriors want another overpaid big man when they already have David Lee and Andris Biedrins? Look, I understand why Golden State made this move (to tank the season and retain their draft pick if it falls to #7 or worse, because if not Utah owns it), but I still think they could have gotten more for Monta than just Andrew Bogut. Right now it looks like the Warriors will need to lose a few more games before they can be projected as the #7 pick (NBA uses a lottery technique to set draft order). Before the season, it looked like the Warriors were making progress, but now it looks like they have to start all over again.

Loser: Sixers- Why would a team that already has four guys that can play shooting guard (ET, Iggy, Jodie Meeks and Lou Williams) trade FOR another shooting guard, while giving up a talented prospect who plays on the post, where the Sixers lack depth? It makes no sense to me. Pre-deadline, the chatter around the league was that the Sixers would move either Evan Turner or Andre Iguodala for a combination of picks, size, and skill. Philadelphia went the opposite direction, and instead acquired Sam Young for the rights of Ricky Sánchez. Not a great move, but we will see how this turns out.

Loser: Pacers- Indiana has been playing great basketball this season, and many still think this team is one star away from seriously contending in the East. But as the deadline approached, the Pacers didn't look to bring in a veteran star. Instead they traded for Leandro Barbosa. Barbosa is a great player, but not what this team needs. The Pacers needed a scorer, not another lock down defender. Good news is they gave up practically nothing for him (a 2nd round pick), but bad news is that they are still going to be a four-eight seed in the playoffs for the next few years.

Winner: Lakers- Although it was sad to see Derek Fisher leave the Lakers, it was time. The Lakers made great upgrades at point guard and big man depth by adding Ramon Sessions and Jordan Hill. Sessions will add quick offense, and excitement off the bench (for now), while Hill will allow Pau and Bynum to get more rest. The Lakers didn't add Michael Beasley, but made two small moves that can pay off big in the future.

Wash: Nets- The Nets didn't get Howard, but at least they got some help for now. The Nets acquired Gerald Wallace, who is the league's most underrated and under-appreciated player in the league, for practically nothing. He is a defense and hustle player first, who can also score on the other end (that's why they call him Crash). Now the Nets will have a starting five of Williams-Brooks-Wallace-Humphries-Lopez...not that bad at all. We don't know if that supporting cast will be good enough to keep D-Will, but it will definitely win some games in the latter half of this season.

Winner: Rockets- Houston added a veteran big man in Marcus Camby for a few unproven young players and a draft pick. The Rockets haven't played great basketball since the break, but Camby can add some leadership and talent to this team. The Rockets are currently a seven seed in the West, so Camby will help them hold that spot in a very competitive conference.

Winner: Wizards- The Wizards acquired Nene and a draft pick for Javale McGee, which is a pretty big upgrade at center. McGee is fun to watch, but Nene is clearly the better player. John Wall will have a guy to go to in the post, who can also run the pick and roll offense. Washington has had a terrible season, but they are definitely moving in the right direction.

Loser: Nuggets- Why would the Nuggets want to break up their great chemistry to add a player who is worse, and more problematic than the player they originally had? They traded their longest tenured player (maybe even star player) for a guy who will put up 12 points and nine rebounds a night. If the Nuggets slip out of the playoffs, you know why.

Winner: Clippers- The Clippers didn't make any big moves, but they got the shooting guard they needed for nothing. Los Angeles has needed a big upgrade at shooting guard ever since Chauncey Billups went down with an injury. The Clippers didn't get Ray Allen, but they did a get a young scorer for free. A rare, great move by the Clippers' front office.

Losers: Celtics and Knicks- The Celtics and Knicks have had very disappointing seasons, yet neither made moves at the deadline. For the Celtics, there were plenty of moves that could have been done. They could have gotten rid of Rondo, who appears to not be gelling with his teammates, or they could have traded their veterans (Allen, Pierce, Garnett) for younger talent and picks. The Knicks' only move this week was to fire coach Mike D'Antoni. Not sure if the Knicks needed a player change, but the coaching move seems to be working fine (2-0 since Woodson became interim Head Coach).

2012 March Madness Bracket

Let me know what you guys think of my bracket. It's perfect as of now, then again, we are only six games in.

AFC East Draft Profile: New England Patriots

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Gronk and the Patriots won't need to change up the roster too much this offseason, but a few
upgrades at certain positions can definitely give the Patriots the final pieces to the puzzle.

The AFC champion New England Patriots were just minutes away from winning their fourth Super Bowl with Tom Brady under center, but a few unlucky breaks were what separated them from the Giants. Many fans believed the Patriots were the most talented team in the league last year, and expect them to upgrade at certain positions rather than change around the whole roster this offseason.

2011 Record: 13-3, 1st in AFC East

Strengths: Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Nose Tackle, Inside Linebacker, Cornerback, Free Safety

It's true, the Patriots don't have many flaws. Tom Brady will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and for all we know, he still has plenty of years left in the tank. Brady has great options to throw the ball to in Wes Welker, and the dynamic tight end duo composed of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. Scoring is not a problem for the Patriots, as they finish near the top of the scoring charts every season. Even the Patriots defense, which receives the most criticism, isn't that bad. Vince Wilfork is a nightmare for any offensive linemen, while Jerod Mayo and Rob Ninkovich also pressure opposing quarterbacks. In the secondary, the Patriots always have a breakout guy, whether it's Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty, or Kyle Arrington. Again, this team doesn't need much help, as they are the favorites to win Super Bowl XLVII.

Weaknesses: Running Back, Offensive Line, Defensive Ends, Linebacker Depth

For most teams, weaknesses are huge problems that opposing teams try to bring out against them, but for the Patriots, weaknesses are just a step down from perfection. BenJarvus Green-Ellis has never fumbled the ball in his career, but might not return to the Patriots next season. Either way, the Patriots could afford to add some depth at running back, especially a young, speedy player like Oregon's LaMichael James. Also, there's no better way to prolong Tom Brady's career than to keep him healthy. That starts with the offensive line. Nate Solder is the only linemen who will be under 30 years old throughout the season. Plus, it never hurts to have young linemen learn from some of the best. On the defensive end, the Patriots could upgrade at a few spots. While Wilfork does a great job, the Patriots need to apply more pressure from their ends. Additionally, adding depth at linebacker would be another good idea. Finally, the Patriots need to make their secondary better. For all the turnovers they create, they give up just as many big plays. The Patriots need to work on not giving up plays of 20+ yards next season.

Possible Options with 1st round pick (27th and 31st overall): Andre Branch, Peter Konz, Kevin Zeitler, LaMichael James

Branch- The outside linebacker makes perfect sense from what I was saying earlier about applying pressure from the outside. So much of opposing offensive line's focus is on the middle of the field, so that will open up holes for guys like Branch to make plays. 

Konz- Both Konz and Zeitler were dominant on the Wisconsin offensive line last year. As usual, these Wisconsin limenen are huge, but also quick with their hands and feet. Don't be surprised if the Patriots go with an offensive linemen, since their current line is old. Remember Patriots fans, drafting linemen just helps out Tom Brady's career even more.

LaMichael James- This pick is more of a creative pick than a realistic one, but would still make sense for the Patriots. Adding a star running back to the Patriots would also make Brady's life easier, but James adds more to a team than just running the ball. He could be used on special teams and also catch balls in the open James has flown under the radar surprisingly, but I still think he would make a great NFL player if he can stay healthy.

What the Patriots need in later picks (assuming they take Konz and Branch): More OL, OLB, RB, S, WR

Recap: I can't stress it enough that the Patriots are so close to returning to the Super Bowl next season. All this team needs is to upgrade a few positions, and they'll be golden come next season. As long as Tom Brady can stay out of Bernard Pollard's way, this team should have no problems.

AFC East Draft Profile: New York Jets

(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)
The Jets are invested in Mark Sanchez after signing him to a contract extension.  If the Jets want
to make the signing pay off, they need to bring in some help for Sanchez.

Long time no see! After a three week hiatus composed of February vacation and SAT prep, I'm back with another team draft profile. Following the Jets will come the Patriots, and that will wrap up my coverage for NFL Draft Insiders (nfldraftinsiders.net). Anyways, about those Jets. After another year of bold predictions, midseason drama, and a disappointing ending, the Jets season ended in turmoil. They seem to have almost all the pieces to the puzzle, but are missing the last part. Hopefully for the Jets, they can pull off some good offseason moves and finally win the title they have been yapping about for the past three years.


2011 Record: 8-8, 2nd in AFC East

Strengths: Tight End, Left Tackle, Center, Defensive Tackle, Outside Linebacker, Cornerbacks

The Jets have a great starting foundation to be an elite team in the NFL. When healthy, the offensive line is great, but that isn't always the case. The fact that Shonn Greene still gets carries is because of how good the offensive line is. Dustin Keller is also turning into a stud at tight end, and seems to be Sanchez's favorite target. On defense, Sione Pouha, who the Jets recently resigned to a three-year deal, adds pressure up front, while Pace and Maybin add pressure from the outside. And of course, the Jets have a great secondary led by Darrelle Revis. Overall, the Jets have a fantastic defense, and that is usually what keeps them in games. The big problem for the Jets is their production on offense, and that is what they need to address this offseason.

Weaknesses: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receivers, Middle Linebacker, Safeties

Even though Mark Sanchez recently signed a contract extension, he is still the same old Mark Sanchez who throws more passes to the ground than to his receivers. If the Jets want to be considered serious, they need to put points on the board! How do they expect to do that with a sub-par quarterback, two not so great running backs, and a wide-receiving core made up of the two most notorious wide receivers in the league. Here's what the Jets need to do. Keep Sanchez (have no choice) but get rid of Tomlinson and Greene. Go with a young running back who can add some excitement to the team, while taking pressure off of Sanchez to throw the ball. Also, the Jets need to bring in a big named wide receiver to help out Sanchez even more. On defense, the Jets need to replace Bart Scott at middle linebacker, but also need to address some help to the secondary. As proven last season, Revis can't do it all, and needs some help especially from the safeties. I know injuries are partly to blame, but it shouldn't be that hard to have three guys cover half of the field (Revis shuts down the other side). Again, Jets are really close to becoming serious contenders but their weaknesses really bring out the worst in them.

Possible Options with 1st round pick (16th overall): Trent Richardson, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright, Luke Kuechly

Richardson- I know the Jets are worried about his knee problems, but Richardson would be the best player available for the Jets. They seriously need to reform their running game, and who's a better choice than the only running back projected to go in the first round? Richardson is a better version than Mark Ingram- a physical running back who also has impressive speed. If I was GM Mike Tannenbaum, I'd be all over Ingram at workouts.

Floyd/Wright- Floyd and Wright are the two next best wide receiver prospects after Justin Blackmon. Personally, I think Floyd would be better, because much of Wrights success is attributed to RG3, who is a much better passer than Sanchez. Floyd is used to playing in a much more traditional setup, and could really help Sanchez. He combines size with speed and athleticism and could even turn out to be better than Justin Blackmon, who is starting to receive criticism for his size.

Kuechly- The Boston College linebacker has been all over team profiles, but that is because he has an incredible work ethic, as well as excellent team leadership, personality, and could play in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. Not sure if Kuechly will fall to the Jets, but if available, the Jets would have a Bart Scott replacement immediately. Other guys to consider if Kuechly is not available are Melvin Ingram, Courtey Upshaw, or Nick Perry.

What the Jets need in later picks (assuming they take Floyd): Running Back, Quarterback, Offensive Line depth, Middle Linebacker, Free Safety

Recap: The Jets had an off year, and will need to have an impressive offseason to get back to where they were two years ago. If the Jets can make the adjustments they need, they might find themselves in the AFC Championship Game again. Only time will tell if this team can make it big, or will have a painful collapse that will cause Sanchez, Rex, and maybe even Revis to leave.

AFC East Draft Profile: Miami Dolphins

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Cameron Wake will lead the Dolphins' defense again in 2012. 

The Dolphins started off the season as one of the favorites to land Andrew Luck, but halfway through the season, the 'Fins picked it up and won six of their last nine games. One bright spot in Miami's season was Reggie Bush, who finally rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season. Still, there are many things the Dolphins need to address this season, if they want to compete with the Jets and Patriots.

2011 Record: 6-10, 4th in AFC East

Strengths: Running Back, Wide Receiver, Offensive Line, Middle Linebacker, Right Outside Linebacker, Safety

The Dolphins have a ton of potential on their team. Reggie Bush had a career year, and backup Daniel Thomas is also a great running back. At wide receiver, Brandon Marshall didn't have an amazing year, but he's always a threat downfield. As for their offensive line, Mike Pouncey had a great rookie year at center, and the veterans around him also played well. On defense, the Dolphins have an incredible linebacker core led by Cameron Wake and Karlos Dansby. The secondary wasn't good this season, but Yeremiah Bell was one bright spot at safety.

Weaknesses: Quarterback, Wide Receiver depth, Defensive End, Nose Tackle, Cornerbacks

The Dolphins won't be making the playoffs with Matt Moore at quarterback. He had a solid season, but isn't the answer at quarterback. Also, the Dolphins need to add depth at wide receiver so defenses don't double up Brandon Marshall. On defense, the Dolphins have a great linebacker core, but their front line is weak. Drafting a nose tackle or defense end would be a smart move for the 'Fins. The Dolphins also got torched this season by wide receivers. The cornerbacks need to step up, considering the fact that they face the Patriots twice a year. The coaching change was the right move for the Dolphins, and I think Joe Philbin can turn this offense into a serious threat to all defenses.

Possible Options with 1st round pick (9th overall): Robert Griffin III, Riley Reiff, Quinton Coples

Griffin III- Obviously Griffin won't be available by the ninth pick, so the Dolphins would have to trade up for RGIII. It's a move worth considering though, due to Miami's quarterback situation, their offensive minded new head coach, and Griffin's explosiveness. Griffin would be a great fit with the Dolphins. The combination of him and Reggie Bush in the backfield would be a lethal duo to defenses. Give Griffin another target besides Marshall, and they'll have a very productive offense.

Reiff- The Dolphins don't really have a true weakness besides the quarterback position, so if they decide to trade for one, Reiff would be a logical pick for Miami. Upgrading and adding youth to an offensive line is always a smart move. I don't think Reiff is a need for the Dolphins, but he'd be a good fit.

Coples- With coach Philbin announcing that the Dolphins will switch to a 4-3, Coples would be a great pick for them. The Dolphins front line struggled this season, so adding an explosive linemen like Coples is a smart move. Coples had a great year at UNC, and seems to be one of the most NFL ready prospects in the draft.

What the Bills need in later picks (assuming they take Coples): Quarterback, Wide Receiver, Offensive Tackle, Cornerback, Defensive Tackle

Recap: The Dolphins have a lot of upside, and can become a serious threat in a few seasons if they pick the right guys. Even if they don't draft a quarterback in the first round, they'll be fine because they could always trade for one, or draft one later on and have him backup Matt Moore. Two positions the Dolphins need to address though are cornerback and defensive end.

AFC East Draft Profile: Buffalo Bills

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
After signing a big contract last season, Ryan Fitzpatrick needs to step up next year.

The Buffalo Bills had a roller coaster 2011-12 season. They started off the season 5-2 and even had a win against the New England Patriots. Some even thought that they could wind up in the playoffs. All that hope went down the drain though, when the Bills lost their next seven straight games.

2011 Record: 6-10, 3rd in AFC East

Strengths: Running Back, Wide Receiver, Safety, Nose Tackle, Inside Linebacker

Before he went down with a season ending injury, Fred Jackson was a beast for Buffalo. He was top a top five back in the league, and was their biggest threat on offense. Also, CJ Spiller did a great job in Jackson's absence, and could get more carries next season. Stevie Johnson and David Nelson both had good years for the Bills. Even though Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't throw the ball downfield, both wide receivers were great  on mid-range throws. They could still add more depth to wide receiver though. On defense, the Bills' two strong suits are their defensive ends and their safeties. Jairus Byrd, and George Wilson were great ballhawks for the Bills this season, combining for seven interceptions. Up front, Macel Dareus had a great first half to his rookie season, while Nick Barnett had a great first season with the Bills at linebacker.

Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Outside Linebacker, Defensive End

First, Ryan Fitzpatrick didn't go down as a weakness or strength because of his roller coaster year. When he plays smart (Harvard) football, he wins games, but when he can't complete 25+ yard throws the Bills are doomed. He signed a big contract this season, so it looks like he will be taking snaps for the next few years, but he still needs to improve. One thing that will help Fitzpatrick out is a better offensive line. If they can protect him well enough, he will buy more time and complete the long passes. This year the line allowed defenders to get to Fitzpatrick too easily. On defense, the Bills can improve at outside linebacker and defensive end. The Bills fell behind in a lot of games this year because they didn't put enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. This makes it easier for teams to throw the ball deep, and make the secondary look bad. Dareus is a powerful force up the middle, but the Bills need to improve on the outside.

Possible Options with 1st round pick (10th overall): Courtney Upshaw, Melvin Ingram, Riley Reiff, Whitney Mercilus

Upshaw- As reported in a past draft profile, Courtney Upshaw has extreme athleticism and potential to be a standout in the NFL. He can play defense end and outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and had a great year at Alabama. He's a great pass rusher which is exactly what the Bills need. Upshaw could be a reach with the tenth pick, but he's exactly what they need.

Ingram- Also reported in a past draft profile, Melvin Ingram is very similar to Upshaw. Both play end and linebacker, both can play in the 3-4 defense, and both played SEC football. Ingram and Upshaw also share similar strengths like speed and strength. The choice between the two is a coin toss, pending on combine results.

Reiff- Reiff hasn't been mentioned yet, but is a great offensive tackle out of Iowa. The Big Ten is known for having big and talented offensive linemen, and Reiff is proof of that. His stock is increasing rapidly and he is having great workouts this offseason. If the Bills are going to take a player on offense in the first round, Reiff is their guy.

Mercilus- The defensive end out of Illinois really started to impress scouts towards the end of the season. He's a quick pass rusher, but scouts are worried about his consistency. Realistically, Buffalo won't take a risk with him.

What the Bills need in later picks (assuming they take Upshaw): Defensive end, Offensive Tackle, Wide Receiver, Cornerback

Recap: The Bills started off the season strong in 2011, but couldn't hold it together. They play in the same division as the Patriots and Jets, so making the playoffs will be tough ever year, but if they make the adjustments they need, they will give them a run for their money.

Enough With The Jeremy Lin-Tim Tebow Comparison

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
I don't care how badly the media wants to make comparisons, Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin can't be compared.

No matter how much analyst try to hype up the Lin-Tebow comparisons, the two will never be comparable. For obvious reasons, and for not so obvious reasons, the Knicks point guard and the Broncos quarterback are far from alike.

Tebow had a Hall of Fame collegiate career, becoming the first ever sophomore to win the Heisman trophy. He also won two BCS National Championships with the Florida Gators. Lin on the other hand, played his college ball at Harvard, and didn't even lead them to a conference championship. Tebow was called the best college football player of the decade, while experts were unsure if Lin was even the best player on his team.

People already knew about Tim Tebow while he was only a quarterback in high school. Lin was just discovered by the world this past month. Tebow had the choice to play college football wherever he wanted, while Lin's only choice left was Harvard.

Leading up to their respective drafts, Tebow was projected as a late first-round, second-round pick. Experts thought he would be a specialized quarterback, who at first would only play in wildcat scenarios. Surely enough, the Broncos took him with the 25th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Unlike Tebow, Lin wasn't projected to get picked at all. After being passed up by all 30 teams in the NBA, Lin signed a contact after the draft with the Golden State Warriors.

Yes, the two do have a few things in common including their uniqueness, their media attention, and their ability to win, but they do it in totally different styles.

Tebow won almost all of his games this season in crunch time, after trailing for the majority of the game. He never won easily, never won pretty, but somehow managed a way to win. The way Tebow played the quarterback position was different from anyone else in league history. How could a quarterback complete three passes and win a football game?

Lin has rallied the Knicks back into the top eight in the conference, but in a different way than Tebow. Before their loss to the Hornets last night, only two of the seven wins were decided by five points or fewer. Also, instead of having his own playing technique, Lin has styled his play from legends like Steve Nash and even Magic Johnson. Tebow only showed up in the fourth quarter, while Lin has been strong in all four quarters.

From a statistical comparison, Lin's stats are much more impressive than Tebow's stats. Lin tied records that were previously held by LeBron James, while Tebow broke no records.

They are also unique for different reasons. Tebow gets a lot of attention for being a very religious person, while Lin gets attention for being the first Asian-American player in the league. Also, many sports fans were against Tim Tebow's success, while everyone is loving Jeremy Lin's success.

The two athletes might be media sensations, but they are completely different. Just because two players unexpectedly win games for falling teams doesn't mean they are comparable. We already know that 20 years from now, Tebow's name will still be remembered, but who knows five years from now if anyone remembers Jeremy Lin.

NFC East Draft Profile: New York Giants

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Justin Tuck led the Giants defense this season and didn't disappoint.
His sack in the final minute helped the Giants claim their second Super Bowl in five years.

The New York Giants might be a week removed from a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots, but the NFL clock ticks all year round. With the combine coming up, the Giants need to address a few issues to be even better in 2012.

2011 Record: 9-7, Overall: 13-7, Super Bowl Champs

Strenghts: Quarterback, Wide Receivers, Defensive Ends, Secondary (starters)

Let's face it, the Giants weren't the best team in the 2011-12 season. They got hot at the perfect time, as their strengths overshadowed their weaknesses. As I've written in almost any Giants-related post, they do two things extremely well: throwing the ball and rushing the passer. Eli Manning proved he was an elite quarterback this year, having the best statistical season of his career, and winning his second Super Bowl MVP. Along with Eli comes his great wide receiving core. Even though it's rumored that Mario Manningham won't return, The Giants will have a deadly duo of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. With Domenik Hixon returning from injury and a possible Steve Smith reunion, the Giants should have similar success throwing the ball next season. As for the defense, Jason Pierre-Paul emerged this season as one of the best, young pass rushers in the league. JPP, along with Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, make arguably the best pass rushing combo in the league. Although the Giants got criticized for having a weak secondary, let's look at a few reasons why they weren't great. They lost Terrell Thomas very early in the season with a torn ACL, and had other players injured throughout the course of the season. Since so many guys were out, they had no depth, leaving their cornerbacks and safeties to play almost every play of every drive. With guys at full strength next year, the Giants secondary shouldn't have a problem.

Weaknesses: Running Back, Tight End, Offensive Line, Linebackers

The Giants ranked dead last in run-efficiency this season. Maybe it's because of theirpass-happy offense with a great quarterback, maybe it's because both running backs were injured for parts of the season, but either way, the Giants need to return to smash-mouth football. Although I love Jacobs and Bradshaw, one of them needs to go this offseason. Both of them can run up the middle fairly well but they both struggle to get outside and pick up big yards. If the Giants can get a young, speedy running back in the draft, they'd drastically improve their running offense. The tight end position is also a problem for the Giants. Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard both tore their ACL's in the Super Bowl, so Bear Pascoe is currently the only tight end on the roster. Another problem with the Giants is the offensive line. Whether it was the unnecessary holding flags, or the lack of protection of Eli Manning, the Giants' offensive line was weak this season. Four out of the five starters on the line are over 30; It'd be great for them to draft a new lineman with the last pick in the first round. Another weakness of the Giants is their linebacking core. Although they got the job done this season, the Giants could upgrade at inside linebacker. With an incredible front line, and a solid secondary, the linebackers are the weak spot on defense. If the Giants can fix that this offseason though, they'll have one of the best defenses in the league.

Possible Options with 1st round pick (32nd overall): Dwayne Allen, Vontaze Burfict, Peter Konz, Dont'a Hightower

Allen- The junior out of Clemson is by far the best tight end in this year's draft. Mel Kiper Jr. has been raving about Allen for his great hands and blocking. Allen could have an immediate impact with the Giants this season, and could become a one of Eli's favorite targets right away. Allen is special because he can open up the run game with his great blocking outside, but can also catch balls on play-action calls. I could see GM Jerry Reese taking Allen because he is known for taking the best player available in the draft (Amukamara and Nicks in recent drafts), regardless of the need.

Burfict- Not sure if Burfict will slip to the very end of the first round, but if he does, the Giants have to consider taking him. The junior out of Arizona State is a prolific pass rusher, and great leader on defense. Burfict's size, speed, athleticism, and heart can make him an immediate starter at inside linebacker. I can see the Giants taking Burfict, and starting him alongside Michael Boley and Mathias Kiwanuka, but again, not sure if he will slip to the end of the first round.

Konz- Like all linemen from Wisconsin, Konz means business. He just finished up a great junior year at Wisconsin, protecting Russel Wilson, and also allowing Montee Ball to rush for the most touchdowns in college football history. At 6-5, 315 lbs, Konz has surprisingly quick feet and hands, and will be great at the next level. The Giants have drafted skill-set players the past years, but could mix it up with an offensive linemen this year. 

Hightower- Like Burfict, Hightower might not be available at 32, but if he is, the Giants seriously need to consider taking him. Hightower was part of the monstrous Crimson Tide defense this past year, and is capable of playing both inside and outside linebacker. I don't think that middle linebacker is the  biggest problem for the Giants, so they could end up with a linebacker with later picks. If they do decide to take a linebacker though, Hightower is definitely the guy they want. When he's healthy, he's a force to reckon with.

What the Giants need in later picks (assuming they take Allen): OT, RB, OG, LB, C, FS

Recap: Even though the Giants won the Super Bowl this year, they still can make a few improvements this offseason. They will already be down two tight end's and aren't sure if players like Mario Manningham or Osi Umenyiora will return. Although the Giants don't have an absolute weak link, they can afford to upgrade positions like linebacker, parts of the offensive line, and their secondary.

Entering A World of Linsanity

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
If you were asked who Jeremy Lin was a month ago, you'd have no clue.
After outscoring Kobe Bryant at The Garden tonight though, Lin has made a name for himself.

As I sit here in awe, after watching overnight sensation Jeremy Lin kill my Lakers, I wonder how in a matter of four games this kid has become a superstar. Two months ago he wasn't on a team, a month ago he was in the D-League, two weeks ago he was the Knicks 15th man, and now he is their go-to guy. To put it into perspective of his sudden rise to stardom, after tearing up defenses, Lin comes home to his brother's Lower East side apartment and sleeps on a pull-out couch.

When Lin entered the NBA in 2010, he was already defying odds. He became the first Ivy-Leaguer to play in the NBA in eight years. Not only is he the first Asian-American in league history, but he was also one of three players to ever make it in the NBA after playing college ball at Harvard.

The Jeremy Lin Experience started a mere six days ago, when Lin rejuvenated the Knicks off the bench, scoring 25 points to beat the Nets.  The next game, with Amar'e Stoudemire out mourning his brother, the Knicks went small and started Lin. They haven't lost since.

In his first start Lin didn't disappoint, putting up 28 points, eight assists, and shooting over 50% in another Knicks win. On Wednesday, Lin out-dueled former #1 pick John Wall, and recorded his first career double-double (23 points and 10 assists) in yet another Knicks victory.

And then came tonight. I was sure my Lakers would put an end to "Linsanity". The Lakers had won their last nine games against the Knicks, and with Amar'e and Melo still out, it looked like they'd extend their streak to ten games.

Think again.

While I thought Kobe would steal the game away, with a typical Kobe-MSG performance, it was Lin who again was the star. In the first five minutes of play, Lin already had nine points and two assists, accrediting himself with 13 of the Knicks first 13 points. While Kobe ended the half 1-6 with under ten points, Lin already had 18 as the Knicks led by eight.

Every time the Lakers would make a run to cut the Knicks lead, Lin would answer with a basket of his own. He finished the game with a Knick season-high 38 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. When the Lakers made one last push in the game's final minute, Lin took a charge to put the game out of reach.

When Lin was approached by ESPN's Lisa Salters after the game, she asked Lin about how he led his team to victory over the Lakers. His response?

"Again I'm just gonna thank my team".

He is so humble, almost too humble. But with so many conceded players in the game today, it's nice to see at least one humble player.

Jeremy Lin is exactly what the Knicks need. Their struggle at the point guard position was one of the key factors why the team was at one time eight games under .500. Even when Melo and Amar'e return, something tells me this kids gonna keep up his game. His points per game will definitely decrease, but his playmaking abilities will stay put.

With the win, the Knicks have won four straight games and are half a game behind eight place with a 12-15 record.

For now though, I guess we'll be hearing a lot of "Linsanity", "Linning", and "All he does is Lin" puns. Stories like this don't happen often, so embrace the Jeremy Lin Experience while you can.

History Always Repeats Itself, Giants Defeat Patriots to Win Super Bowl XLVI

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
After winning his second Super Bowl MVP in five years, Eli Manning is finally out of his big brother's shadow.
With Peyton out the entire 2011-12 season, Eli made sure that one Manning would shine in Indianapolis.

Dejà Blue. Just like in 2007, the Giants got out to an early lead, trailed by halftime, trailed in the final five minutes, completed a momentum-swinging pass, and scored a game-winning touchdown to beat the New England Patriots. While some names like Manning, Coughlin, Tuck, and Jacobs are all very familiar, names like Strahan, Tyree, and Burress were replaced by names like Pierre-Paul, Cruz, and Manningham.

Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban said it best on Twitter, "@mcuban Good teams make the playoffs, the hot team wins the championship".

Going into the 2011-12 season, the Giants were nowhere near the top of anyone's Super Bowl list. ESPN.com had them at No. 11 in the preseason, and they were as low as No. 16, just a month and a half ago. After that No. 16 placing though, the Giants just dominated competition.

At 7-7 with just two games left, the Giants handled the Jets and Cowboys and were headed to their first postseason game in two seasons. They then steamrolled the Falcons at home, upset top seed Green Bay on the road, and finished off the last NFC team remaining in the San Francisco 49ers. Even with the momentum, the Giants were still 3-point underdogs to the Patriots.

That didn't matter to the Giants though, they've faced adversity before, and were ready to prove everyone wrong.

Earlier this season, Eli Manning claimed he was an elite quarterback. Right away, the media started to look at him as if he was speaking a different language. Elite? Seriously? How could a quarterback who lives in the shadow of his successful older brother, has no MVP trophy, and only one Super Bowl ring be elite? Well after Eli's Super Bowl MVP (second of career) performance last night, he clearly proved he is an elite quarterback.

According to dictionary.reference.com, elite can be defined as: persons of the highest class. Eli is definitely in the highest class amongst NFL quarterbacks. Only one active quarterback has more Super Bowl rings than him (Brady), and only one other has just as many as him (Big Ben). Not even four-time MVP Peyton has that many.

Back to The Big Game though.

Who was the genius who said, "When it comes down to the end, the Giants defense is more likely to stop Tom Brady on a two-minute drive, than the Patriots shutting down Eli Manning on a two-minute drive"?

This guy.

The Giants won this game because they did exactly what they were supposed to do. Even though that sounds extremely cliché, it's true. Their pass rush on defense and pass attack on offense won them this game.

Right off the bat, the Giants' pass rush got to Tom Brady, forcing him to throw the ball to no one while in the endzone, resulting in a safety. The Giants were all over Brady all game long. He was sacked twice, hit eight times, and hurried too many times to count on two hands. If the Giants were going to win the game they needed to get to Brady, and they did.

The other thing the Giants excelled at is throwing the ball. Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning completed 75% of his passes for almost 300 yards, a touchdown, and finished the game with a passer rating of 103.8 (12 points higher than Brady if your scoring at home). They were 5-11 on third downs, and picked up 18 first downs through the air. That's right, 18 of Eli's 30 completions were for first downs.

After a dropped catch by Wes Welker, which would have given the Patriots great field position and would have killed a ton of clock, Eli and the Giants were pinned inside their own 15 yard line with a little under four minutes to go.

(Cue Madonna and Justin Timberlake singing Four Minutes)

With only four minutes left to save the season, Eli took advantage of a weak Patriots secondary on the first play of the drive, and found Mario Manningham down the field for 38 yards. A few completions later, the Giants found themselves on the Patriots' six yard-line with a minute to play.

After a questionably unintentional Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown, the Giants led 21-17.

Thanks to a couple of drop catches, a Justin Tuck sack, and no time-outs remaining, the Patriots found themselves at the 50 yard line with five seconds left. Tom Brady's desperation heave was unsuccessful, and the rest was history.

So what will we remember about this Super Bowl ten years from now? Will it be the bad decisions by the Patriots (Brady safety, 12-men on the field flag after Cruz fumble, Brady interception, not recovering three fumble opportunities, Belichick miss-challenge, and many drops by receivers) or will it be the Giants' perfect execution (shut down Patriots to 17 points which was tied for lowest this entire season, no turnovers, dominated possession, great third-down conversion, and amazing clutchness in the fourth)?

Clearly Gronk's injury had a huge impact on the Patriots offense. They scored under 20 points for just the second time all season long, and Brady threw for only 276 yards. Gronkowski wasn't a threat all game long. Even with linebackers covering him, he caught only two passes for 26 yards, allowed a Chase Blackburn interception, and missed a chance to score the game-winning touchdown.

Give the Giants credit though. The Patriots wanted revenge more than anything, and they prevented that from happening. They shut down Tom Brady, took advantage of mistakes, played smart football, and dominated in clutch-time. There's a reason why they are the Super Bowl champs.

Super Bowl XLVI Predictions

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Both quarterbacks can reach milestones in Super Bowl XLVI.
Tom Brady can tie Joe Montana with four Super Bowl wins, while Eli can one-up his brother by winning his second.

Wow, where to begin? Let's just start off by saying that Peyton Manning's biggest rival will be playing against Peyton Manning's little brother in "The House That Peyton Manning Built", with Peyton Manning himself watching from a skybox. This game is the epitome of an amazing Super Bowl matchup.

Representing the AFC are the New England Patriots, the team of the decade. Like most seasons, Tom Brady is on top of his game, and can't be stopped. The Patriots finished first in the AFC East and earned a first round bye. After defeating the Broncos with ease and the Ravens in a nail-biter, they will finally have a chance at revenge, by playing the New York Giants. 

The Giants have had a roller-coaster season, unlike any Super Bowl team. If it weren't for an overthrown Tony Romo pass on third down, eight weeks ago, the Giants wouldn't have made the playoffs and Tom Coughlin would be unemployed. Ever since their loss to the Redskins, the Giants have won five straight "must win" games, and now find themselves in the biggest football game in the world.

So who do I think will win this game?

The New York Giants. 33-26

This pick is half from the heart, and half from the brain. It's impossible to root against your team any week of the season, but at least there are reasons to why they will win.  Both teams are so similar: great passing games, poor running games, poor secondary, great pass rush. It will simply come down to which team takes advantage of the other team's weaknesses, and can protect their quarterback better.

The Giants are probably the only team in the NFL that has had the Patriots number the the past few years. They just know their weaknesses, and exploit them. As I say in almost every New York Giants prediction, they do two things extremely well.  The two Giants strengths happen to be the two worst things for the Patriots. They get to the opposing quarterback better than anyone in the league, and they throw the ball better than most of the teams. Tom Brady is clearly an elite quarterback in the NFL, heck, he can go down as the greatest quarterback of all time, but having defensive ends chase you all night is not a simple task. A defense that can rush Tom Brady, and an offense that can turn the Patriots' defense into swiss cheese are two great skill-sets.

With Gronkowski playing injured, who knows how good he'll be. If the Giants can hold Gronk to five catches and just one touchdown, that's better than most teams. Brady won't have time to sit in the pocket all day, so he needs to get the ball out of his hand as quickly as possible.

As for the Giants offense, their running game might be trash, but their passing game can match the Patriots' passing game. If Eli can throw for 350 and two/three touchdowns, they will be in great shape to win this game. Even though that might seem like a lot, when you throw the ball 50 times a game, especially against a terrible defense it's not that hard, especially for an ELIte quarterback (had to throw that in somewhere).

The three headed attack of Nicks/Cruz/Manningham is just as lethal as the Welker/Hernandez/Gronk attack. Manning has been so accurate this season it's scary, and when you add Victor Cruz' route running skills, and Nicks' amazing hands, it's even scarier. The Patriots defense will really need to step up if they want to win this game. It's not going to be a defense oriented game, but the game will come down to who gets the final stop. Also, a huge key in this game will be 3rd down conversions. Last week the Giants had a great 3rd down conversion %, but held the Niners to only one 1st down. It's a game changer.

The Patriots have a lot to play for, and I respect that. Their owner, Rober Kraft, lost his wife, Myra, just before the season started. They have worn a MHK label on their jersey every game this year, and are dedicating this season to her. She was a kind, generous person, who had personal relationships with many players on the team. Clearly the Patriots won't lose this one without a fight.

 In the end though, I still think my Giants will come out on top. They too are playing with heart, hunger, and determination. When it comes down to the end, the Giants defense is more likely to stop Tom Brady on a two-minute drive, than the Patriots shutting down Eli Manning on a two-minute drive.

NFC East Draft Profile: Dallas Cowboys

(Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
Note to the Dallas Cowboys: Get this man some protection!
No wonder Romo ran out of gas last season, his offensive line allowed him to get sacked 36 times.

For the second straight season, the Cowboys collapsed in December and failed to make the playoffs. On paper this team looks talented, maybe it was the poor coaching, maybe it was the tough schedule, maybe they just didn't "want it" as much as the Giants. The Cowboys don't have too many weak spots, but every team can improve from the draft.

2011 Record: 8-8

Strengths: Quarterback, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight End, Nose Tackle, Right Outside Linebacker, Special Teams

Say whatever you want, but Tony Romo is an above average quarterback in the NFL. His stats back him up every season, and although he isn't the "clutchest" quarterback, I'd take him over most quarterbacks in the league. As a whole, the Cowboys offense doesn't need much work, besides the offensive line. The DeMarco Murray/Felix Jones running back combo is solid, and the Dez Bryant/Miles Austin/Laurent Robinson wide receiving core is one of the best in the league. Jason Witten doesn't seem like age is affecting him, after coming off another impressive season. As for the Cowboys' defense, Jay Ratliff provides a huge force upfront for the Cowboys 3-4 defense, while DeMarcus Ware is all over the field making plays.

Weaknesses: Offensive Line, Defensive Ends, Middle Linebacker, Secondary

This season, Romo was sacked 36 times, which was sixth most among quarterbacks in the league. If this offensive line protected Romo, maybe he wouldn't have gotten hurt, and maybe the Cowboys could have held it together for the last month of the season. Without an offensive line, it is very hard for an offense to be successful. Whether the team is running the ball, or throwing the ball, the offensive line is involved in every play, keeping defenders from getting to the ballcarrier. Now for the defense. Having two players as skilled as Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware, Dallas needs to make sure that when Ratliff and Ware are double teamed, someone else (a defensive end or linebacker) will fine the whole and sack the quarterback. The Cowboys did not take advantage this season of having two of the best pass rushers in the league. The Cowboys accumulated 42 sacks this season, but DeMarcus Ware accounted for nearly half of them. Dallas can't rely on one player to shutdown opposing offenses, especially when they play the Giants and Eagles twice. The Cowboys' secondary was atrocious last season. Wide receivers had no problem getting past the secondary, and when they didn't, it was probably because of a pass interference flag.

Possible Options with 1st round pick (14th overall): David DeCastro, Dre Kirkpatrick, Mark Barron, Luke Kuechly, Courtney Upshaw

David Decastro- The Stanford offensive guard is a perfect fit for Dallas because he's one of the top guard prospects in this year's draft, and could do excellent job protected Tony Romo.

Luke Kuechly-Kuechly is a top linebacker in this year's draft,  that would fit great alongside DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee, Kuechly could be their understudy, and become a star early on in his career. 

Mark Barron- The safety out of Alabama is the top safety in the entiredraft, and has the ability to anchor the Cowboys' secondary. Barron is a hard-hitting, ballhawking, safety, who also has a high Football-IQ.

Dre Kirkpatrick- His stock has declined a bit due to his recent arrest, however, on the field, Kirkpatrick is a beast. He is quick, strong, and along with Barron, was one of the key reasons why the Alabama secondary was impenetrable. Jerry Jones isn't someone who takes big risks with players, so Kirkpatrick may not be the guy for the Cowboys, but if the Cowboys are looking for skill, Kirkpatrick could potentially be a great fit.

Courtney Upshaw- Upshaw was another stud on Alabama's defense this year. While Barron anchored the secondary, Upshaw led the linebacking core and the front line. Upshaw has experience playing in 3-4 defense, and really shined in the National Championship Game. His stock rose even more after a great performance at the Senior Bowl. If all of the players above are available along with Upshaw, I think Upshaw would be the best option. He is a great teammate, has a great work ethic, and is an offensive lineman's worst nightmare.


What the Cowboys need in later picks: Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, Cornerback, Free Safety

Recap: The Cowboys are very close to becoming a serious postseason threat. Throughout the first 12 games of the season, the Cowboys are always one of the better teams in the league, but their late season collapses always ruin their earlier success. Although the Cowboys are very strong in certain areas, they also lack depth on defense, and need to restructure their offensive line. If the Cowboys can make these adjustments, look for them to give the Eagles and Giants trouble next season.