In Hot Water

David Reed has resolved his possession of marijuana case, according to the National Football Post. Rather than having a trial yesterday Reed entered a plea other than guilty or not guilty and the case was closed last week. The Ravens have not disciplined him, and it is unlikely that the NFL will level any punishment.

I have been unable to find an update on Quinton Ganther's DUI case, which was to be continued on Sept. 1st, 2010. Legal trouble did not prevent him from signing with the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 8th; he finished out the season and remains on the active roster.

Paul the Plug

The impasse over the collective bargaining agreement has not put a halt to all negotiations in the NFL; Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has reported that the Miami Dolphins are having active discussions with Paul Soliai and his agent, David Canter. In his fourth season Soliai provided the impasse the Dolphins needed for their 3-4 defense, effectively plugging up the middle against the run. Miami wants to keep Paul the Plug in place, and may use the franchise tag to do so. Soliai would like a multiyear deal that exceeds the five-year, $20.5 million contract his fellow defensive lineman Randy Starks signed in 2008, while the team has tendered one year offers. One hindrance is the 30 percent rule, which would limit Soliai's pay to 30 percent more than the $467,000 he made last season. The two sides could skirt around that hitch with a large signing bonus, but how large of a bonus should a team give a large man who has only made a large contribution to the team in one of his four years in the league? Soliai's agent predicts that he will test the open market, but that will be contingent upon the league having a new collective bargaining agreement in place. Still, it is encouraging that this once doubted player has transformed himself into a stalwart.

Second Team All-Pro

Eric Weddle was voted to the 2010 All-Pro Second Team defensive unit. Weddle received one vote, which put him in an eight-way tie for the 5th best safety in the NFL (the vote is not broken down by free safety and strong safety).

Jordan Gross received 4 votes, placing him in a three-way tie for the 8th best tackle in the league.

Old Pro vs. All Star

LaMarcus Aldridge's career-high 42 points was the headline of last night's Blazers/ Bulls game. Props for the high score but really, what NBA player worth his bling can't drop a career-high on Carlos Boozer?

The truly compelling match-up was at the point, where the old pro Andre Miller schooled the young All-Star Derrick Rose. How can that be, when Rose out-scored Miller 36 to 27? Look at each player's complete line:

Minutes played: Miller (42), Rose (38) EDGE: Rose (per-minute production)
FG: Miller (7-11), Rose (14-27) EDGE: Miller (efficiency)
3PT: Miller (0-0), Rose (1-6) EDGE: Miller (shot selection)
FT: Miller (13-13), Rose (7-8) EDGE: Miller (drained two with 30 seconds left)
REB: Miller (6), Rose (1) EDGE: Miller
AST: Miller (11), Rose (6) EDGE: Miller
STL: Miller (4), Rose (0) EDGE: Miller
BLK: Miller (1), Rose (0) EDGE: Miller
TO: Miller (3), Rose (4) EDGE: Miller
PF: Miller (2), Rose (2) EDGE: even
+/-: Miller (+10), Rose (-11) EDGE: Miller
PTS: Miller (27), Rose (36) EDGE: Rose

No one would expect the older and slower Miller to be able guard the younger and quicker Rose, so it isn't surprising that Rose out-scored Miller (by taking 16 more shot attempts). What is surprising is the team's net points while that player is in the game, represented by the +/- symbols. The Blazers were +10 with Miller on the court, while the Bulls were -11 with Rose. That's a major factor when you're talking about point guards! Rose got the better of Miller earlier in the season in Chicago, but last night the Rose Garden belonged to Miller.

Empty-Handed

Two ProUtes came away empty-handed from Super Bowl XLV. Stevenson Sylvester almost recovered a fumble on Pittsburgh's first punt, but the Packers held onto it. Sly played on special teams but didn't make a tackle. Chris Kemoeatu missed this tackle on Nick Collins as he returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown, putting Green Bay up 14-0. Kemoeatu also missed his block on the play as Howard Green struck Ben Roethlisberger on his release, resulting in the interception. Kemoeatu made a couple of key blocks later in the game: one was a block in the back, which drew a 10 yard penalty, and the other was pulling to open the hole on Rashard Mendenhall's 8 yard TD run in the third quarter. Pittsburgh's O-line played pretty well without injured center Maurkice Pouncey, as the Steelers outgained the Packers in net yards (387 to 338) and rushing yards (126 to 50). They only gave up one sack and converted 53% of their third downs, but they could not sustain the drive in the final two minutes.