Brandon Marshall predicts Cutler will win MVP

Can Jay Cutler stay healthy enough to make a run at MVP honors? (USATSI)

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Back in December, while Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was recovering from an injury and backup Josh McCown was racking up NFC Player of the Week honors, there were questions about whether Cutler should keep his job when he was healthy enough to play.

Bears coach Marc Trestman quickly dismissed such talk and Cutler returned to the lineup in Week 15 against the Browns. He got off to a rough start -- his first drive ended with an interception in the end zone and he tossed a pick-six before the half -- but he looked sharp over the final 30 minutes, throwing three touchdowns and completing 71 percent of his passes.

At the time, Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall conceded that Cutler's shaky start raised some eyebrows.

"I'm gonna be honest with you, there is a little chatter," Marshall told Jay Mohr at the time. "There's a human element side of things in the sporting world. You have a QB like Josh McCown playing so hot, not only playing great ball for the Bears, but he's one of the hotter QB's in the NFL.

"[McCown] was up there with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, those few weeks he was leading us. So, naturally there is gonna be a little chatter, but at the end of the day we know that Jay Cutler is our QB. He's our franchise QB ... he's our leader."

The Bears agreed -- they gave Cutler a seven-year, $126.7 million deal in January -- and on Thursday Marshall went so far as to suggest that his quarterback will be the NFL's best player in 2014.

“League MVP,” Marshall said of Cutler during an appearance on NFL Network (via PFT). “He's the first one in the building, last one to leave, his leadership is through the roof. He's correcting the coaches. I mean, this is his offense. This is his organization. He's running it, and I love it.”

The good news is that quarterbacks have won the award in six of the last seven seasons. The bad news -- at least from Cutler's perspective -- is that Brady (twice) and Manning (three times) have dominated the voting, while Aaron Rodgers won it in 2011.

As for how Cutler stacks up against the league's best, he ranked 13th in value per play among all NFL quarterbacks last season, according to Football Outsiders. He ranked 27th the season before and 21st in 2011.

But hey, if you get points for owning a conversion van, Cutler's the clear favorite.

NFL Hot News

Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell misses practice with hamstring injury



Bell missed hs second straight practice Thursday with a hamstring injury, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Bell first sustained the injury during Sunday's workout. Last year, Bell missed the preseason and the first three regular season games after spraining his foot during training camp. Bell finished 15th in fantasy points among all running backs in 2013, despite playing in just 13 games.



Fantasy owners shouldn't be panicking about this news, as it's common for NFL teams to take a very conservative approach with their stars' health, especially early in training camp. Still, hamstring injuries have a way of sticking around, so if the injury keeps popping up as an issue for Bell throughout the preseason, it could hamper his effectiveness in the regular season. For now, Bell's draft stock (ADP 17th overall) should remain unaffected. Players vying for the number two RB job in Pittsburgh include Steelers RB Dri Archer and Steelers RB LeGarrette Blount.

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Blazers take care of Barton deal, settle roster

The Portland Trail Blazers don't have many questions about their roster heading into 2014-15. After rebuilding the depth of this team a year ago, making it to the second round of the playoffs last season, and essentially swapping out Mo Williams for Steve Blake as the backup point guard this summer, the Blazers were headed in the right direction and set for next season without much to do. The last bit of business to take care of was deciding whether or not to guarantee the contract of Will Barton.

Joe Freeman of The Oregonian tells us the team has officially let Barton's deal become fully guaranteed by not waiving him before Thursday's deadline. The Blazers now have 15 players under contract for the 2014-15 season, meaning there isn't any change they can do to the roster unless they decide to eat a guaranteed deal or make a trade.

The Trail Blazers' 15-man roster was officially settled Thursday morning, when Will Barton's 2014-15 contract became fully guaranteed.

General manager Neil Olshey had the option of waiving the backup shooting guard this summer to create an open roster spot. But by keeping him on the roster until Thursday, Olshey ensured that his burgeoning talent would remain in Portland for at least one more season.

Barton played in 41 games for the Blazers in 2013-14 after being the 40th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged just 4.0 points in 9.4 minutes while shooting 41.7 percent from the field. He played in seven playoff games for the Blazers, scoring 6.4 points in 11.6 minutes while making 50.0 percent of his shots and 54.5 percent of his 3-pointers.

The Blazers go into training camp and likely the regular season with Damian Lillard, Steve Blake, C.J. McCollum, Wesley Matthews, Will Barton, Allen Crabbe, Nicolas Batum, Dorell Wright, Victor Claver, LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Freeland, Thomas Robinson, Robin Lopez, Meyers Leonard, and Chris Kaman. The next question they have for their roster is trying to figure out a new contract with Aldridge, but he'll likely become a free agent before that happens. He's expressed interest in returning to the Blazers, but as a free agent to maximize his earning potential.

Topics: Allen Crabbe, Chris Kaman, Damian Lillard, Dorell Wright, Joel Freeland, LaMarcus Aldridge, Meyers Leonard, Mo Williams, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, Steve Blake, Thomas Robinson, Victor Claver, Wesley Matthews, Will Barton, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Report: Mason Plumlee likely to make Team USA roster over DeMarcus Cousins

Mason Plumlee is a promising NBA big man who averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in a limited role during his rookie season with the Brooklyn Nets.

It should go without saying that he is nowhere near the on-court talent that is DeMarcus Cousins.

But USA Basketball is a funny thing, in that qualities like being in the program from a young age and having a pristine attitude can sometimes be more important than pure skill, and the latest report about who might make the final 12-man roster that will compete in the World Championships later this summer would certainly be a reflection of those tenets, should it come to pass.

From Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com:

2 things from Team USA: post practice games between Durant/Harden/George are epic; Mason Plumlee likely to make team over DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins has a long history of inappropriate behavior on the basketball court, despite being one of the game’s top talents at his position.

Mike Krzyzewski often mentions other bigs first when discussing who is making an impact at camp in Las Vegas this week.

“The big guys have given good efforts: Drummond, Cousins, even Faried. Then Plumlee, we didn’t expect that (level of performance),” Krzyzewski said, via our own Kurt Helin who is in Vegas with Team USA this week. “He’s going to be in the scrimmage Friday, so we’ll take a look at that.”

Despite the many skills that Cousins possesses, the ones sought after by Team USA in a backup big man role will be energy, defense, and most importantly, filling the required role without becoming a distraction.

If Cousins is left off the team, it will be a sign that his maturity — at least in the eyes of Jerry Colangelo and Coach K — isn’t where it needs to be to represent USA Basketball in international competition.

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Giants’ Wilson (neck) needs miracle to return?

David Wilson played in just five games last season, rushing for 146 yards. (USATSI)

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On Wednesday, a day after David Wilson suffered a neck stinger and was expected to miss this weekend's Hall of Fame game, the Giants' third-year running back tweeted that he was OK.

"Left practice early yesterday but everything turned out to be fine once the (doctor) looked (at) me plus I passed all physical examination. I find out more on Monday," he said.

But multiple sources tell the New Star Ledger that months after Wilson underwent spinal fusion surgery, and coupled with his latest setback Tuesday, the former first-round pick "needs a miracle" to return to the playing field.

For now, all the Giants and Wilson can do is wait until Monday, when he will be examined by doctors for an official determination on his condition.

“We were praying that it would be not an issue," coach Tom Coughlin said earlier in the week, "that he would be able to come back and just go to work and he was cleared, as you know."

With Wilson's status still to be decided, the Giants' backfield includes Rashad Jennings, Peyton Hillis, Michael Cox and Andre Williams.

NFL Hot News

Dolphins WR Mike Wallace out through the weekend with hamstring injury



Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace will miss the team's intrasquad scrimmage this weekend with a hamstring injury. He hasn't practiced since Tuesday and won't practice until he gets evaluated next week. His status for the team's first preseason game, Aug. 8 versus the Falcons, is in doubt. However, the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero wrote Thursday, "This is not a serious injury."



Hamstring injuries must be contagious. Cecil Shorts, Le'Veon Bell, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson, Steven Jackson, Odell Beckham, Jonathan Stewart, Trent Richardson. It's been a popular week for the muscle.Since Wallace relies heavily on his deep-threat speed, such an injury is a little more concerning. We'll have an update no later than early next week when Wallace gets checked out. He still has a lot of bounce-back potential in an offense that sounds committed toward getting the most out of him.

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Report: Cavs trade for Love seems inevitable

Kevin Love is looking very likely to be a Cavalier. (USATSI)

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Before the NBA Draft, Kevin Love was the hot commodity on the trade market with five or six teams looking to acquire him. After the draft and LeBron James' big decision this summer, it looks like the Cleveland Cavaliers are the only team left in the mix to deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Teams are seemingly dropping out of the momentum of the trade negotiations being leaked and the Cavaliers are reportedly trumping all offers.

ESPN.com is reporting the trade is more of a "when" than an "if" when it comes to a deal getting completed. The Cavs' potential offer involving No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins is enticing the Wolves more than any other offers, and it's causing the rest of the league to feel pessimistic about being able to trade for the All-NBA power forward.

The Minnesota Timberwolves presently are engaged in serious Kevin Love trade talks with no teams other than the Cleveland Cavaliers, which only adds to the growing belief around the league that Love teaming up with LeBron James is inevitable, according to sources briefed on the situation.

After ESPN.com reported last week that the Cavaliers remain the front-runners to acquire Love in a trade co-headlined by No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins, sources this week have described the Cavs as the only team currently in contention for Love. Sources say the Chicago Bulls are increasingly pessimistic about their chances of trumping Cleveland's offer, while theGolden State Warriors remain unwilling to bend on their longstanding refusal to surrender Klay Thompson in a deal for Love.

The Golden State Warriors have seemingly been unwilling to include Klay Thompson in a deal for Love. This was the deal Wolves' president was reportedly most interested in for quite some time because it would have brought in Thompson, David Lee, and possibly Harrison Barnes. The Wolves believed the deal would have kept them competitive enough to challenge for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference playoffs. The Chicago Bulls reportedly had a trade package including Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic, and Taj Gibson, but it's not as enticing to the Wolves as getting Wiggins, by these accounts.

Wiggins would give the Wolves the exciting young star to galvanize a mostly apathetic fan base for a franchise that has spent the last decade in the lottery. While it wouldn't get the Wolves back into the playoffs right away, they could build around a young core involving Wiggins, Ricky Rubio, Gorgui Dieng, and Zach LaVine. Anthony Bennett has also been rumored to be included in the deal. With Wiggins signing his rookie contract earlier this month, a deal wouldn't be able to be completed before Aug. 23.

Topics: Anthony Bennett, David Lee, Gorgui Dieng, Harrison Barnes, Kevin Love, Klay Thompson, LeBron James, Ricky Rubio, Taj Gibson, NBA Rumors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Derrick Rose was aggressive in pursuit of free agent Pau Gasol. Recruiting Carmelo Anthony? Not so much.

There’s a weird tension building between Derrick Rose and the Bulls front office, and it’s obviously (at least partially) related to his injury history when compared to his contract.

With Rose being injured and unavailable for the majority of the last three seasons (playing just 49 games in total), the least he could be doing in the eyes of the franchise would be to help lure free agents to sign in Chicago in order to bolster the roster.

But Rose has been historically reluctant to engage in that activity, and that was apparently a sore spot in the Carmelo Anthony meetings this summer — especially when considering that Rose was much more aggressive in getting involved with trying to recruit free agent Pau Gasol.

From Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Multiple sources in the organization say tension was mounting because Rose allowed his own camp to take shots at the franchise. Gradually, there seemed to be less communication between the Bulls and their biggest star. And tensions hit a peak when Rose, who has a five-year, $94.8 million contract, seemed to blatantly resist helping build the roster in a new NBA where stars increasingly double as recruiters. …

Looking back, it’s clear Rose wasn’t all that interested in teaming with Anthony, who chose to return to the New York Knicks. Rose was much more aggressive in the Bulls’ pursuit of free agent Pau Gasol, not only asking for the veteran’s phone number, but giving a hard sell to the big man on joining the Bulls.

So why Gasol and not Anthony?

“That’s someone that I knew I could play with,’’ Rose said of Gasol. “You think about Pau, him now being in the East, what he’ll be able to achieve with the way we play, the way we dump the ball in the post a lot. It could be great.’’

There’s more in that piece about the particulars of Rose’s involvement (or lack thereof) with Anthony’s free agent visit to Chicago, and the tensions that may exist between Rose’s “camp” and the front office.

But once Rose returns to action, all of this will be in the rearview mirror. Neither Rose nor the Bulls are going to be in the best of spirits while he’s sidelined due to injury, and that’s the only time when this off-court stuff will creep into the headlines and onto the surface.

Rose is there to help the Bulls win games, pure and simple. All indications are that he’s ready to do that once next season begins, and as soon as that happens again, the dissection of what he did or did not do during the offseason will immediately cease to exist.

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Packers reward GM Thompson with extension

Ted Thompson has been the GM since 2005. (USATSI)

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Packers general manager Ted Thompson, who has helped Green Bay to five-straight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl XLV victory, has signed a new multi-year contract with the team, the Packers announced Wednesday.

“I'm pleased that we were able to enter into this contract extension with Ted,” Packers CEO Mark Murphy said in a statement. “His outstanding work has been the key factor in the success that we've enjoyed in recent years. I have tremendous respect for Ted, and am confident that we will continue to contend for championships under his leadership.”

The Packers and Thompson have been working on a new deal, and earlier this month, Murphy said a contract for Thompson is a "top priority." Thompson also received a contract extension in 2011.

As for why Thompson, who enters his 10th year as the team's GM, wanted to stick around for so long.

Thompson: It's easy to say I'm going to ride off into the sunset, but I have people that I'm responsible for here. People I've hired.

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) July 30, 2014

NFL Hot News

Giants RB David Wilson to be examined by neck surgeon, out for the week



Giants running back David Wilson underwent a battery of tests last night after suffering a neck burner during Tuesday's practice. He'll have more tests done on Aug. 4 and won't practice until then at the earliest. Next week's tests will be performed by Dr. Frank Cammisa, who also performed Wilson's spinal fusion surgery during the offseason.According to Conor Orr of the Newark Star-Ledger, Wilson is optimistic about his situation and even sent some encouraging text messages to a teammates after completing his tests last night.Dr. Robert Watkins, who has worked with Wilson in the past, told Orr that a burner is "a compression of the nerve going out to your arm ... most of the time, it's transitory and goes away."



And so we wait. Rashad Jennings would benefit most if anything kept Wilson out of game action for a big chunk of time. The Giants have a few other running backs to chip in -- rookie Andre Williams, Peyton Hillis, Michael Cox -- but none of them are as naturally talented as Wilson or possess his tremendous quickness. He would be the perfect complement to Jennings' powerful style. If Wilson's absence runs into the regular season, that will probably mean a few more touches for Jennings while Williams vultures some goal-line carries. Jennings should be viewed as a solid RB2 until Wilson returns.

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Manziel: Partying won’t hurt

Johnny Manziel says having a social life won't keep him from competing for the quarterback job. (USATSI)

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If Johnny Manziel loses the Browns quarterback job to Brian Hoyer, it's not going to be because Manziel has a wild social life and Hoyer doesn't.

In his first interview since reporting for training camp, Manziel said he doesn't think his offseason partying will affect his ability to compete for the Browns starting quarterback job.

"I don't think so," Manziel said, via Cleveland.com. "I think there are definitely things I can do moving forward to better act as a professional and at the same time I'm still learning how to do that, still getting used to this role, still getting used to being a pro football player. I'm not in college anymore and there's just things I need to do better and that's just part of being a professional. Hopefully with time and as time goes on, I'll get better at doing that."

The Browns have reportedly been 'alarmed' by the amount of partying that Johnny Football did over the offseason. Manziel doesn't think there's anything alarming, but he did admit to making a few 'rookie mistakes.'

"At the end of the day, I've made some rookie mistakes," Manziel said. "There's some things that I wish I could've gone back and done a little differently, but I'm continuing to move forward and trying to represent this organization in a positive manner and a positive light, so just very excited to be back in camp and it's football 24/7 and that's what I love doing."

Manziel made major headlines over the Fourth of July when he was photographed rolling a $20 bill in a bathroom. Johnny Football was asked specifically about that incident, but only offered a vague reply.

Is this latest picture of #Manziel rolling bills in the bathroom the most troubling we've seen so far? pic.twitter.com/uF0KwVYwA4

— TBD in the AM (@TBDintheAM) July 7, 2014

"I think I just spoke on that a little bit, that we're going to keep these things [private]," Manziel said. "I've talked about that with coach [Mike] Pettine, I've talked about it with [general manager] Ray Farmer and the people I need to talk about that with, and moving forward they're good with everything, and I've told them everything that I need to and everything's been good."

Manziel may say that everything's been good, but the bathroom incident was a big enough deal that Pettine took a break from his Hawaiian vacation to call his rookie quarterback.

Despite everything that happened over the summer though, Manziel has no plans of shutting down his social calendar.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with me going out and having a nightlife, having a social life. I mean I am 21 years old and I do like going out and it was the offseason," Manziel said. "It's free time for us and if I want to go out and hang out with my friends or go to nightclubs or do things like that then I think that's within my rights to be doing that and I think there's other guys throughout the league that are doing that and I'm not trying to compare myself to anybody else but I think that's within my rights to be doing that."

If Manziel's going to win the quarterback job, he's going have to do it playing from behind. Pettine has already announced that Hoyer will be the team's starter in Week 1 of the preseason.

On top of that, an anonymous Browns player went one step further on Friday, telling ESPN.com, "We're all expecting Hoyer to start" in Week 1 of the regular season.

NFL Hot News

UPDATE: Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts to miss 'several weeks' with hamstring strain



Update: The Jaguars have given a more specific timetable for Shorts. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks.------------------------------------------------------------------------Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts will be out for "several weeks" with a hamstring strain, head coach Gus Bradley announced Saturday. Shorts couldn't finish Friday's practice due to what was initially labeled as hamstring tightness, but it was obviously more than that.The timing is awful for Shorts. Besides missing valuable time in training camp, the team had recently expressed desire to give a long-term deal to Shorts, who is entering the final season of his rookie contract.



It's just the latest setback in a growing line of maladies for Shorts. He missed most of the Jaguars' offseason program due to a hamstring injury. He missed the last three games of 2013 after sports-hernia surgery and was generally dinged up throughout the season. He's also missed games due to a concussion and a seperate hamstring injury during his three short years in the league.If Shorts isn't healthy for the start of the season, that will put more responsibility on the shoulders of rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson. Both are lottery tickets in re-draft leagues.

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Rockets G Harden says Parsons will be missed

James Harden's going to miss Chandler Parsons, duh. (USATSI)

Offseason: Free Agency | Latest from Ken Berger | Rumors

A couple of days ago, Houston Rockets guard James Harden said some things that he maybe shouldn't have said: he's not worried about Houston losing Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik; he and Dwight Howard are the "cornerstones" of tne franchise; the other guys are "role players or pieces that complete our team." This came shortly after Howard said Parsons' departure "won't affect us at all."

Oooh! Bad blood! Drama! Let's have Parsons and the Dallas Mavericks play the Rockets on opening night!

I wonder if Harden will do add more fuel to the fire on social media.

Duh! RT @kingshap: @JHarden13 you gonna miss Parsons?

— James Harden (@JHarden13) July 25, 2014

Of course! RT @dhud8: Just wondering @JHarden13 did you consider your self as a roll player on OKC?

— James Harden (@JHarden13) July 25, 2014

...oh.

So, maybe Harden just chose his words incorrectly, but didn't mean any harm. Maybe Howard, too, was just doing his best to stay positive and confident his team. Just like Parsons himself said.

It's all pretty silly. Everyone knows Houston will miss him, and everyone knows the remaining Rockets have to move on and appear optimistic about their chances. This storyline will be revisited when the Mavs meet Houston, and then it will go away. Duh!

Topics: Chandler Parsons, Dwight Howard, James Harden, Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, 2014 NBA Free Agency, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Why are the Lakers hiring Byron Scott as head coach?

The Lakers waited almost three full months to make a firm decision on the franchise’s next head coach, after Mike D’Antoni resigned back on April 30. And while the apparent choice to bring in Byron Scott was somewhat expected all along, it remains an underwhelming one, at best.

The reason for keeping the position open for so long had to do with the front office wanting to see how the roster came together, while it chased free agents in LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony that the team never truly had a shot at landing.

Once the new players were in place — a list that includes serviceable players in Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer and Ed Davis, along with others like Nick Young, Jordan Hill and Ryan Kelly who returned from last season’s lottery team — the offer went out to Scott.

The question, however, remains why.

The Lakers interviewed Lionel Hollins, Alvin Gentry and George Karl, all of whom have recent track records of success coaching at the NBA level, and would have been legitimate long-term solutions. Scott, meanwhile, has a career won-loss record of 416-521, and has had just one truly successful season in his last 10 as a head coach, while flaming out somewhat miserably in his last position, an ill-fated three-year stint with the post-LeBron James version of the Cavaliers.

Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles outlined the reasons from the Lakers side of things, but even when looking at things through the team’s eyes, they don’t seem to make a whole lot of sense.

It wasn’t just about his ties to the Showtime era, but that surely helped. It wasn’t just that he was around the team all last season as an analyst for the Lakers’ television station, Time Warner Cable SportsNet, and had an intimate knowledge of what went down, but that helped too.

The Lakers franchise also wanted to establish a clear defensive identity after being atrocious on that end of the court last season, and Scott’s credentials include a strong defensive-minded reputation.

Wait, what’s that about defense, now?

From John Schuhmann of NBA.com:

The Cavs ranked in the bottom five in defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions) in each of Scott’s three seasons. That’s not just bad. It’s unprecedented.

Before Scott, the last coach to lead his team to the bottom five in defensive efficiency in three straight seasons was Mike Dunleavy, who did it with Milwaukee from 1993-94 to 1995-96, a streak that started when the league had only 27 teams. So Scott is the only coach to do it in a 30-team league. …

You could look at those Cleveland rosters (2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13) and note their youth and lack of talent. Indeed, Scott didn’t have much to work with. But bottom five for three straight years speaks for itself. Scott had a No. 1 defense in New Jersey and top 10 defenses twice with the Hornets, but he wasn’t able to coach the young Cavs up. Under Mike Brown last season, Cleveland jumped from 27th to 17th in defensive efficiency.

The evidence shows, at least defensively, that Mike Brown did a better job coaching than Scott — think about that for a second, Lakers fans, and then perhaps get a friend or two to restrain you from leaping off of the upper level of Staples Center.

So, fine, the Lakers aren’t all that tuned in to Scott’s ability to coach on the defensive end. The other reason he’s getting the job, however — and it’s a big one — is making sure that Kobe Bryant is sufficiently placated during his last couple of seasons in Los Angeles.

But really, the Scott hire comes down to one man: Kobe Bryant. L.A. invested close to $50 million in Bryant over the next two seasons when he’ll be 36 and a 19-year veteran and 37 and a 20-year veteran. …

Whichever coach the Lakers decided on would have to mesh well personalitywise with Bryant first and foremost and, beyond that, play a system that would help Bryant continue to be productive even as Father Time is taking his toll. …

The Lakers have always operated with championships on the mind, but with a title pretty much out of the picture in the short term, they simply want to get back to having their team and everything that surrounds it be an accurate reflection of all the winning the franchise has already accomplished.

Again, this is the Lakers thinking — realizing that winning anything of importance next season is completely out of the question, the team decided to make sure Bryant is happy instead of adequately planning for a not-too-distant future when he’s gone from the team forever.

Hiring retreads, especially those without a recent history of succeeding in their profession, is a practice more and more teams have gone away from, for reasons that should be obvious. The Celtics hired Brad Stevens, a young and successful coach at the college level, and gave him a relatively unheard of six-year deal to give him time to put a winning culture in place. The Suns hired a former player in Jeff Hornacek, who immediately overachieved in his first season and had a relatively undermanned Phoenix team within one game of the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. And the Cavaliers are perhaps the best example of a team willing to take a calculated risk with a new head coach, hiring David Blatt following his successful run coaching overseas, and doing so even with the looming possibility of LeBron James returning to Cleveland for what will be Blatt’s first NBA season.

Teams aren’t gambling wildly with these types of hires. Instead, they’re taking well-educated guesses about which up-and-coming coach might have the best chance of setting up a franchise for years of continued prosperity.

Now, maybe Scott will exceed expectations, and if he doesn’t, maybe he’ll be gone at the same time Bryant is, and a new coach will be brought in to guide the team into its next era. But all this hire does is reflect the Lakers glorious past, while doing nothing to set them up for success in the immediate future.

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Carroll: We expect Lynch to honor his contract

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If Marshawn Lynch is holding out in hopes of getting a raise, he might be holding out for a long time. During an interview on Friday, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll sounded like a man who has no plans of giving his star running back a bigger contract.

"It's a contract for a reason. We made a decision and it was signed, by us and by them," Carroll told USA TODAY Sports. "We expect them to honor their contract just as we will. We're going to honor it and we expect them to do the same."

Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin doesn't exactly agree with his coach's stance on contracts.

I hate the “but you signed the contract” argument. Players can't say that shit when organizations cut them…

— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) July 25, 2014

The contract Carroll was referring to is the four-year, $30-million deal that Lynch signed before the 2013 season. That contract has already paid Lynch $17 million and is slated to pay him a total of $13 million over the next two seasons.

"We've had a big plan for a long time working here, and Marshawn is a huge part of that plan, and we made a huge commitment to him a couple years ago," Carroll said. "He remains a big part of that plan -- if he'll show up."

If Lynch doesn't show up, the Seahawks aren't going to cancel their season -- the party's going to go on.

"It isn't about one guy. It hasn't been," Carroll said. "We have a lot of really good football players here, and the opportunities for the guys to take advantage of that spot is extraordinary and they're going for it. I think that's a really good illustration of how our language was last year with Percy, our language is now again, because that's what we believe."

Seahawks general manager John Schneider is on the same page as Carroll. Schneider said on Friday that the team has a financial plan in place and they're going to stick to it.

"There is a specific plan in place here and it's my responsibility to (owner Paul Allen) and the fans to try to provide a consistent championship-caliber football team, one that the fans feel we have a shot every year,” Schneider told ESPN 710-AM, via the Seattle Times.

Losing Lynch is something Schneider said the team is prepared for if it comes to that, "I think that the players and teammates think that they are comfortable with the next player," Schneider said. "And that's no disrespect to Marshawn -- everybody knows what he can do."

Based on the comments made by Schneider and Carroll, Lynch's holdout could turn into a stalemate. The best case scenario for the Seahawks is that Lynch isn't holding out for money, he's just holding out because he's almost 30 he doesn't want to waste his body in training camp. Although it's likely that he's looking for more money, Lynch still has yet to make any demands known.

Pete Carroll would like to see Marshawn Lynch honor his contract. (USATSI)

NFL Hot News

Ravens RB Ray Rice to receive two-game suspension



ProFootballTalk reports that Baltimore Ravens RB Ray Rice will be suspended two games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Rice was caught on tape striking his wife unconscious in an Atlantic City casino elevator on February 15. He originally faced a felony assault charge, but enrolled in a pretrial intervention program that will allow him to avoid jail time. Rice will miss the first two games of the season against the Bengals and the Steelers.



There's a lot of much-warranted discussion taking place right now about the message the NFL is sending by suspending players a year for substance abuse issues, while handing Rice a very-lenient two-game suspension for a violent offense. There's a strong whiff of wrongness about that. As far as fantasy goes, Ravens RB Bernard Pierce will fill in for the two games Rice will miss. If Pierce is able to take advantage of the opportunity, we could see a changing of the guard in Baltimore, especially if Rice continues the ineffective rushing he showed for most of last year. Rice is currently being drafted 27th among running backs, while Pierce is going 36th.

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Nuggets, ’13 pick Green reportedly have deal

Erick Green is reportedly joining the Nuggets after a year overseas. (USATSI)

Offseason: Free Agency | Latest from Ken Berger | Rumors

The Denver Nuggets have reached a contract agreement with point guard Erick Green, as first reported by Nikos Varlas of EuroHoops. The deal will be for three years, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

Green was acquired by the Nuggets at last year's draft, when he was taken No. 46 overall. He spent last season in Italy, playing for Siena. The score-first point guard earned his roster spot by averaging 16.6 points per game in summer league this month.

Barring any major trades or injuries, Green will be the clear third point guard in Denver behind Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson. The 23-year-old former Virginia Tech Hokie has a chance to be a solid backup down the road, and the Nuggets were wise to invest in his development for three seasons.

Topics: Nate Robinson, Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Report: Will Cherry drawing interest from Cavaliers, Raptors

One of my favorite little duels of Summer League was when Will Cherry and Casper Ware went mano-a-mano for a lengthy stretch of a Cavaliers vs. Sixers game in Las Vegas. These are two very quick, undersized point guards who want the ball in their hands and were trying hard to make an impression, trying to catch on as a third point guard in a league where carrying that guard is becoming more common.

Cherry was hard to miss even for a guy generously listed as 6’0” — on a team with Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett he was the aggressor with the ball, never fearing to attack or take a shot. He was a gunner. He averaged 12.8 points a game but shot a very nice 52 percent doing so. The former Montana star played a few games in the D-League for the Canton Charge last season but made an impression in Las Vegas.

Enough that he is getting looks from Cleveland and Toronto, reports Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports.

After strong summer league, free agent Will Cherry, ex-D-League Canton guard, is getting serious interest from Cavs & Raptors, a source said—

Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 25, 2014

My guess is Cherry ends up with a make-good contract heading into training camp.

For a team looking for a third point guard who can come in and be a spark, put up points, be a fan favorite, and work hard in practice a guy like Cherry (or Ware) can be a good fit. Not on every roster, but there are spots he could work in the league and Cleveland could be one of them.

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Fisher: Not a distraction

Jeff Fisher (left) says Michael Sam is 'absolutely not' a distraction. (USATSI)

More NFL: Photos | Videos & GIFs | Stories | Training Camps | Manziel watch

Tony Dungy's comments on Michael Sam -- Dungy said he wouldn't draft Sam because of the "distraction" -- aren't going away, even though Dungy's tried to walk them back twice. He's tried once through a statement Tuesday and then again Wednesday with a radio appearance.

Asked about Dungy's comments on ESPN radio's Mike & Mike Wednesday (via Pro Football Talk), Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Sam has "absolutely not" been a distraction.

“Absolutely not,” Fisher said. “Let's define distraction. There were a couple of extra cameras during early OTAs. There may have been an extra camera yesterday as rookies reported and went on the field the first time. Mike's a very passionate athlete. He's very focused on trying to make this football team.

"He worked really hard during the summer, and he's doing a good job."

Things can get a little awkward when one long-tenured coach is talking about another previously long-tenured coach, but Fisher believes something must've been "taken out of context" in Dungy's interview and said he's "not concerned" about Dungy's opinion.

“I'm gonna assume some that maybe things were taken out of context,” Fisher said. “But everybody's entitled to their own opinion. Coaches are going to have differences of opinion during the draft.

"I'm not concerned. Tony's entitled to his opinion as everybody is and so are we and right now we think we have a pretty good thing going."

NFL Hot News

Bengals place TE Jermaine Gresham on PUP list



The Bengals have placed tight end Jermaine Gresham on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The fifth-year vet is still recovering from hernia surgery. His absence is expected after he didn't participate in OTAs or minicamp, but he should return prior to Week 1.



Gresham caught 46 passes for 461 yards and four touchdowns last season as he and Tyler Eifert capped each other's value. Gresham's biggest fantasy impact comes as a blocker; he's blocking Eifert from being more productive and turning into a fantasy star. Gresham is not worth a pick.

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Reports: Mavs, Aminu agree to two-year deal

Al-Farouq Aminu reportedly joins Dallas. (USATSI)

Offseason: Free Agency | Latest from Ken Berger | Rumors

CSN Northwest reports that the Mavericks, after waiving Rashard Lewis have agreed to terms with Pelicans forward Al-Farouq Aminu.

Free agent forward Al-Farouq Aminu has reached an agreement with Dallas, league sources inform @CSNNW.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 24, 2014

Aminu's deal with Dallas is for two years, $2.1M, player option for second season, per source.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 24, 2014

It's terrific value for a player who's only 23 and averaged 7.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season for New Orleans. He's an athletic defender who can get out in transition and for a team that could be losing Shawn Marion in free agency, they need a rebounding defensive forward. Aminu worked his tail off in New Orleans to become a capable rotation player, adding an offensive game that at least makes him a non-negative-if-not-plus on that end of the floor.

It's another good value signing for a team that has had a reat offseason.

Topics: Al-Farouq Aminu, Rashard Lewis, Shawn Marion, 2014 NBA Free Agency, NBA Rumors, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Lakers deny rumor they are waiting around for Doc Rivers to be coach

Like nature itself, the Internet abhors a vacuum.

So if a team leaves a vacuum of information on a topic — let’s say, just for example, the Lakers taking three months to hire a coach and not really speaking about it with the media — then the Internet and its vast array of users will fill in the gaps in information with rumor and speculation. Sometimes wild speculation.

The latest around the Lakers, as promoted by ESPN’s Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose: The Lakers haven’t hired a coach yet because they are waiting for Doc Rivers to leave the Clippers because of Donald Sterling, then come down the hall and coach the Lakers.

There are just so many things wrong with that.

First, the Lakers deny it, as reported by Mark Medina at the Los Angeles Daily News.

Amid all the unanswered questions who the Lakers will hire as their next head coach and when, two team sources strongly disputed that any delay stems from waiting out to see if Clippers coach Doc Rivers will become available because of embattled owner Donald Sterling prolonging a costly litigation battle.

Of course the Lakers deny it, you say, and you’re right they would.

The problem with the rumor after that is just logic.

From sources I spoke with the core of the Clippers — both players and staff — do not want to leave the organization. They realize they are contenders, a team with a legit title shot and a locker room where they like each other, and they do not want to blow it all up. Did the current CEO of the Clippers Dick Parsons say in the Sterling trial Rivers could leave if Donald Sterling were given control of the team? Yes. He’s trying to promote a doom and gloom scenario for the judge, he did that. All that doom and gloom is exactly why the league will never let Sterling be in charge of the team again (if he wins in court they just vote him out as an owner, throwing him out of the club, and that happens starting mid-September if the courts are still dragging out rulings).

But the bigger issue with this rumor is the Lakers’ side: With the Clippers Rivers is team president and coach, the guy with final say on player/personnel moves. Do you think Jim Buss is going to give up his job, step aside for Rivers and put someone in over long-time trusted Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak? Really?

The smart money is Byron Scott, he of the three interviews. The guy who sources said was the front runner from the start. Just a couple more and he should have the job.

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Falcons, Roddy White agree on new 4-year deal

Roddy White has a new contract extension in place. (USATSI)

More NFL: Photos | Videos & GIFs | Stories | Training Camps | Johnny Manziel watch

Despite recording just 63 catches for 771 yards and three touchdowns last season -- his lowest total in all of those categories since 2006 -- and despite the fact he'll turn 33 in November, the Falcons announced Thursday that they've agreed to terms on a contract extension for receiver Roddy White.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, it will mean up to $30 million for White, including $18 million during the next two years.

Also, this ...

I'm told Roddy White's new contract includes 3 new years. It's a 4-year deal in total but he had 1yr left on previous deal

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 24, 2014

There's little doubt that from 2007-12, White was an elite receiver, catching at least 83 passes and recording at least 1,153 yards in every season en route to four-straight Pro Bowl appearances. But he missed three games with hamstring and ankle injuries last season, and with Julio Jones turning himself into an elite receiver, you have to wonder if White will continue to play at such a high level.

To be fair, White made 43 catches for 502 yards in the last five games of 2013.

Now, it makes sense that White will stay in Atlanta for the rest of his career.

"I want to be here, no doubt about it," White said in December, via ESPN.com. "I've spent my whole career here, and I love the organization. I love everyone in it."

White had been scheduled to make $5 million in base salary in 2014.

NFL Hot News

Jets RB Chris Johnson cleared for training camp, flew threw conditioning run



Jets running back Chris Johnson has received medical clearance following offseason knee surgery, and according to head coach Rex Ryan, he looked every part of 100 percent on Wednesday. Ryan said Johnson was "flying" through his mandatory conditioning run earlier in the day. The Jets will hold their first full-team practice Thursday.Johnson had his knee scoped in January to fix a torn meniscus he tore in Week 3 of last season. However, he still played every game and gained more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage. Johnson was sidelined for all of OTAs and minicamp. With the Jets, he'll enter into a timeshare with Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell, a condition that Johnson doesn't think will be necessary.



A healthy CJ?K will run for more than 3.9 yards per carry as he did in 2013, but the workload definitely won't be the same. Ivory is slated to be the early down pounder and goal-line back, perhaps splitting carries equally with Johnson. Powell will be sprinkled in as the third tailback. I think there's a chance we could see Johnson set a career-high in receptions -- he caught 57 balls in 2011 -- but his carry count is probably going to drop below 200. A rich man's Pierre Thomas? That may be Johnson this season. Not exactly the Chris Johnson we knew from 2009.

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Celtics reportedly ‘moving on’ from Love talks

Offseason: Free Agency | Latest from Ken Berger | Rumors

CSN New England reports that the Boston Celtics, facing an increasing market for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, are starting to move on from plans to try and trade for the All-Star.

There's no waiving of the white flag just yet, but the Boston Celtics appear to be ready to move on from their pursuit of Minnesota star Kevin Love, league sources tell CSNNE.com.

"The more teams step up and show interest in Love, the further Boston falls in the pack," a source said on Wednesday. "Danny's a smart guy. He knows when to keep pushing for something and when to move on."

That's why the Celtics are reportedly among the clubs to express some interest in being a third team to help facilitate a trade involving Love to what one source said has become his "preferred" destination, Cleveland.

via Sources: C's ready to move on from Love pursuit | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com.

The Cavaliers are said to be in the lead, with Andrew Wiggins as a centerpiece to the deal. Golden State is resisting offering Klay Thompson, who is better than any player Boston would offer (since they won't trade Rondo), and Chicago has a reported offer that includes Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, and Doug McDermott.

Still, what's more likely, that the Celtics have indeed dropped out of talks for what Danny Ainge hasn't exactly hidden is what he wants: another round of superstar acquisitions like he made in 2007? Or that this is a leverage move to remove themselves from rumors and let the market simmer to potentially allow them to re-enter later?

What? The Celtics using the media to craft a narrative?

This is my shocked face.

Kevin Love may not be going to Boston. (USATSI)

Topics: Kevin Love, Klay Thompson, Taj Gibson, NBA Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Isaiah Thomas: ‘I felt very disrespected’ by Kings

I’m not keen on typecasting players by position, but let’s say you insist on having a passing point guard. Would you rather have:

• Player A: 32.2 assist percentage, 14.3 turnover percentage


• Player B: 21.9 assist percentage, 14.3 turnover percentage

The Kings, reportedly set on getting a distributing point guard, signed Player B (Darren Collison) and discarded Player A (Isaiah Thomas).

Yeah, I don’t know either.

Thomas averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists per game last season, but that still wasn’t good enough for Sacramento, which let its starting point guard join the Suns after signing Collison.

I’m sure Thomas felt wanted in Phoenix, but that’s not the only reason he wound up with the Suns.

Bob Young AZCentral Sports:

Yet, the Kings seemed to look for someone to replace Thomas at every opportunity.

“They were,” he said matter-of-factly. “I felt very disrespected. Every year it was somebody new. I felt I did a good enough job to show them I was a starting point guard or a guy who could play a big role with their team. But they thought differently.

I believe Sacramento will regret treating Thomas this way, and he’ll obviously use this as motivation.

Not that he needs anymore.

At just 5-foot-9, Thomas was drafted with the final pick of the 2011 NBA draft. He had to claw just to make the NBA after being selected, let alone stick in the league.

He’s had many doubters along the way – including, apparently, the team that gave him his first NBA opportunity.

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Chris Johnson: I can beat Vick in a foot race

Could Michael Vick (right) beat Chris Johnson in a race? (USATSI)

More NFL offseason: League minicamp dates | Latest news, notes

Before the 2013 season began, then Eagles teammates LeSean McCoy and Michael Vick engaged in a little friendly banter about who would win a race.

McCoy challenged "old man" Vick and the speedy quarterback stone-cold smoked Shady. Now Vick's got a new potential challenger on the Jets: Chris Johnson.

Johnson appeared on the Dave Dameshek Football Program (via NJ.com) and was asked who would win a

"Of course me," Johnson said.

Dameshek pointed out Vick would probably disagree and pick himself to win.

"He wouldn't say that," Johnson said. "Nah, he wouldn't say that."

BOLD. Of course, Johnson has stats -- or at least a stat, from the combine -- to back up his claim.

"My 40 hasn't been broken yet, so that's the evidence right there," Johnson said.

Gonna go out on a limb and say Vick won't bet against himself, even at the age of 34. And while I'd probably pick Johnson to win, I wouldn't want to be betting against Vick either.

Regardless, the Jets need to make this happen.

NFL Hot News

Saints TE Jimmy Graham designated a tight end by NFL arbitrator, Graham can appeal



New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham is a tight end after all. After a long and seemingly drawn-out process, arbitrator Stephen Burbank has heard arguments from both sides. At odds was the Saints' ability to franchise-tag Graham and essentially lock him into a TE salary. Receivers make more than tight ends so by appealing this decision, Graham stood to potentially make a lot more money if he could earn a top salary as a wide receiver. Graham can appeal this outcome, which would then take the decision to a three-man panel. At that point, the panel's verdict would be final.



You know it's summertime by what constitutes an NFL news story. Considering how much money is on the line for Graham, it only makes sense for him to appeal. Graham, whether he likes it or not, is a tight end. Sure, most of his responsibilities involve catching the football, but this would have been a slippery slope for the NFL. There are corners who play safety and vice versa. Some receivers make rosters simply because they are great on special teams or they are great blockers. To start splicing who does what and why and for how much they should be compensated would open the doors for every player in the NFL looking for a pay increase. The bottom line for fantasy owners is that as long as Graham was officially listed on the depth chart as a TE, he was going to remain a TE regardless of this decision.

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Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand hails David Luiz after World Cup wonder strike

Luiz joined Chelsea in January 2011, and won the Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup during his time in England. He has signed for PSG this summer, for a fee that could reportedly rise to £50 million, a world record for a defender.

The transfer means he will play alongside Thiago Silva in central defence at international and club level.

Bertrand’s own future at club level is currently unclear. The 24-year-old helped Chelsea to win the Champions League in 2012, making his European debut against Bayern Munich in the final.

He has struggled to secure a first-team place since then and spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.

Despite the departure of Ashley Cole, he appears surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, and has been linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.

FINISHED READING AND WANT MORE? HERE’S A STAT FOR YOU

David Luiz has won 75% of his aerial duels at the World Cup so far.

Source : http://www.squawka.com/news/ch...

Today News: Lopsided affairs lead soccer league's 2nd week

Dominating performances ruled the night as the second week of play in the Connersville Parks and Recreation Adult Soccer league kicked off Thursday night.Barely Legal squared off with Club Perla in the first of two games, followed by a nightcap between the Miracles and Richmond.In both cases, the final scores were lopsided, as Barely Legal scored twice early, on the way to a 7-2 victory, and Richmond overcame an early deficit, to pull away for an even easier 19-1 win.Barely Legal (2-0) got on the board quickly, as Logan Neukam scored 14 seconds into the game, then added another goal with 50 seconds showing on the clock.

“I was a little nervous heading into the game, because there was a lot of talk about our opponent prior to the game,” Barely Legal goalie Cameron Tipton said.The two early scores, however, helped the former Connersville High School goalkeeper settle in.“It made me feel good, knowing that I had that cushion,” he said. “Even so, I still faced the game as if it were 0-0.”In total, Tipton wound up with eight saves in the game, denying Club Perla from Richmond access to the goal through the first 13 minutes of the game.Trailing 3-0, courtesy of Neukam completing the hat trick at the 10:25 mark, Ramirez Cosmey got Perla on the board, slipping one past Tipton to close the gap to 3-1.By the end of the half, however, Barely Legal had extended its lead by two, both goals coming off the foot of team captain Sadler Kleve. It could have been worse for Perla in the opening half, but it found fortune on a penalty kick at the 8:20 mark, a punt that Neukam missed. Following the miss which hit the left post, teammate Kleve was there for the rebound, but he also hit the left post, and Barely Legal came up empty.Kleeve would join Neukam in the hat trick column nine minutes into the second half, his third marker making the score 6-1.Any chance of a Club Perla comeback disappeared one minute later, as Cory Rufin turned a rebound into Legal’s seventh score of the game.Cosmey added his second goal seven minutes later to complete the games’ scoring.Afterward, Tipton talked about playing with his former high school teammates.“It’s been great, I never thought I would get the chance to play with these guys again,” he said. “This has been a great opportunity.”Richmond 19, Miracles 1For the first 12 minutes, the game between Richmond and the Miracles appeared as if it would be a classic struggle.Mike Smith put the Miracles on the board first with a kick at the 4:40 mark, giving the locals a 1-0 advantage. Richmond needed only 19 seconds, however, to even things, as Homero Cruz found the net.Cruz added a second goal at the 11:40 mark, then his third with 13:20 showing on the first-half clock.It was all Richmond from there.Three goals by Jesus Guzaman, and one each from Amado Garcia and Arnulfu Lara gave the Wayne County unit an 8-1 advantage.In the second half, Richmond didn’t let up, as Juan Santos and Lara added goals in the first eight minutes, and the rout was on.Nine goals in the final 12 minutes put the game into the win column for Richmond, improving that teams’ record to 1-1 on the season. The loss dropped the Miracles to 1-1.Games continue on Sunday night, starting at 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Source : http://www.newsexaminer.com/ar...

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Hollins agrees to deal to be Nets’ next coach

Lionel Hollins will replace Jason Kidd as the coach of the Nets. (USATSI)

More Offseason Analysis: Coaching changes, news | Free Agency | Draft

Just a week ago, it seemed crazy to think the Brooklyn Nets were in the hunt for a new coach. While he had his ups and downs, Jason Kidd seemed like a solid leader on the sidelines after finding a way to rally a struggling Nets team halfway through last season and eventually getting them to the second round of the playoffs. Then news broke that Kidd went after more power in the organization before finding a new place to coach in the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Nets didn't wait long to find a new coach either. A year ago, they seemed likely to hire Lionel Hollins before Kidd emerged as their guy. The Nets' Twitter account tweeted out that an agreement in principle with Hollins to be the new head coach has been reached.

The Brooklyn Nets have reached an agreement in principle with Lionel Hollins to become the team's new head coach.

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 2, 2014

Hollins was fired from his gig with the Memphis Grizzlies after the franchise's most successful season in their history. A 56-26 record was the best the organization had ever accomplished and they lost in the Western Conference finals, which was the deepest playoff run they'd ever had. But he butted heads with new management in the Grizzlies' organization and didn't see eye to eye on new philosophies. He was replaced by assistant Dave Joerger and took the 2013-14 season off from coaching.

He has a career record of 214-201 in the regular season and 18-17 in the playoffs.

Topics: Brooklyn Nets, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Report: LeBron James has left Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh in the dark about his future with Heat

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Cameron alters Twitter bio after Graham ruling

Can you spot the difference? (Twitter/@JordanCameron)

Browns tight end Jordan Cameron is no longer Browns tight end Jordan Cameron -- at least not on Twitter. Cameron changed his bio on Wednesday, just hours after an independent arbitrator ruled that Jimmy Graham is a tight end.

One of the reasons the arbitrator ruled against Graham is because Graham listed himself as a tight end on social media.

From the ruling:

Mr. Graham refers to himself as a tight end in social media that he controls (Twitter and Facebook), and his agents do so as well.

If Cameron ever ends up in arbitration he won't be losing his case because of his Twitter profile. As you can see at the top of the page, Cameron changed his bio from "Pro Bowl TE for the Browns" to "Pro Bowl pass catcher for the Browns."

Thought no one would notice that minor change in the bio. Thanks @darrenrovell for calling me out.

— Jordan Cameron (@jordancameron) July 2, 2014

If Graham had changed his profile, he might have made slightly more money in 2014. A tight end hit with the franchise tag will make $7.035 million this season, while a receiver will earn $12.312 million. That's a $5.277 million Graham won't see unless he reaches a long-term deal with the Saints.

NFL Hot News

Lions TE Eric Ebron having a difficult time learning multiple roles



Before Lions tight end Eric Ebron wins Rookie of the Year and plays in the Pro Bowl, he needs to learn what to do when he's asked to line up in the slot, on the line inside, and in the backfield. Ebron spotted up at all of those positions during spring practice and admitted that he was a little overwhelmed."I've been everywhere and that is what's killing me," the rookie tight end told the Ross Tucker Football Podcast. "I'm used to either learning the Y or learning the A, which we had at North Carolina. But now it's the Y, the F, the Z."Coach just tells me, 'I understand, you're going to get through it ... we are doing it for a purpose. It's really hard, but I'm not going to say I'm not enjoying it or not having fun doing it because I know the more I learn the faster I'm able to play, the faster I'm able to produce."Ebron estimated that he spent 50 percent of his time in the slot, 40 percent as an in-line tight end, and 10 percent in the backfield during OTAs and minicamp.He also said he has no problem with being asked to block frequently -- "I'll tear somebody's head off ...." -- but the Lions know that blocking isn't one of his natural strengths.



All of this is standard fare for rookie tight end at the NFL level. Ebron can be an outstanding offensive force, but there are so many other things he needs to do as a pro to get consistent playing time. One thing in his favor is that the Lions already have a veteran tight end who is very good as a blocker, Brandon Pettigrew. His presence might free up Ebron to focus mostly on running routes, getting down the field and beasting.Ebron is going to have his big games this season; I just think he'll be very hit-and-miss. Don't forget that Joseph Fauria is here, too. Ebron has major value in keeper and dynasty leagues.

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