Monday, August 12, 2013

Say it ain't so, RoJo!

Robert Johnson was waived by the Tennessee Titans when he didn't pass a physical on Sunday. RoJo played in 12 games last season, the most of his three year career since Tennessee drafted him in the fifth round, but suffered a Lisfranc injury late in the season. He had been on the physically unable to perform list during training camp, but the Titans couldn't wait for him to recover. He was waived to make room for safety Corey Lynch, a five year veteran who last played for San Diego.

Like Johnson, Sione Pouha hasn't completely recovered from the back injury that hampered him last season which led to his release from the Jets.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Clean Up

C.J. Cron will start at first base and bat clean up in today's Futures Game. Cron plays for the Arkansas Travelers, the AA affiliate of the Angels. This season he's hitting .288 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs. The Futures Game pits the prospects from the U.S. against those from the World, with the U.S. taking a huge 17-5 win last year. The game will be played this afternoon at Citi Field in New York, and will be televised by ESPN2. Cron will be joined in the U.S. dugout by his father, a coach for AA Erie.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tough Cover

When asked who was his toughest assignment in pass coverage, retiring defensive back Ronde Barber said it was none other than Steve Smith.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Denied

Andrew Bogut and the Golden State Warriors denied Andre Miller and the Denver Nuggets from advancing past the first round of the NBA playoffs yet again. Bogut came up big in game 6 Thursday night with 14 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks. That's the best playoff performance of his career and a season high as he works his way back from ankle problems.

Stephen Curry also battled ankle problems in the series, and David Lee made a surprise return after hurting his hip. Rookie Draymond Green, who was beaten by Miller in game one, posted a career high 16 points and 10 rebounds in the clinching game. Miller hasn't been a factor in the series since his game winner in the first game; he shot just 3-12 in the last game. Bogut shot 7-10 from the floor and added 3 assists and 1 steal to his impressive numbers.

Golden State moves on to play San Antonio tonight, while Denver must move on after another disappointing early exit.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Chip Off The New Block

Joe (#99) and Dave (#44) Kruger
Joe Kruger was a 7th round selection of the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. Utah hasn't played Oregon yet in the new PAC-12, but new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly must have seen enough of Kruger to give him a shot. Kruger was selected #212 overall, almost exactly where WalterFootball predicted. Joe left Utah before exhausting his eligibility so he would have an opportunity to join his brothers Paul and Dave at the next level.

Dave is joining Paul in Cleveland's camp after signing as an undrafted free agent. Other players receiving tryouts include: Reggie Dunn (Pittsburgh), Ryan Lacy (New Orleans), David Rolf (San Diego), Tevita Stevens and DeVonte Christopher (Washington), Sam Brenner (Miami), Sean Sellwood (Atlanta), Moe Lee (Baltimore), and Reggie Topps (Arizona).

Friday, April 26, 2013

Ziggy Stardust

Star Lotulelei was selected at #14 by the Carolina Panthers! He joins Steve Smith and Jordan Gross as ProUtes on the Panthers roster. Star was deserving of a top ten pick, but this is a great fit for a tremendous player. Michael Schottey of Bleacher Report deemed it the best pick of the first round to that point.

He wasn't the first defensive tackle drafted (Missouri's Sheldon Richardson went one pick earlier to the Jets) in this line-heavy first round, nor was he the first defensive lineman from a Utah school to be picked; that distinction went to the school down south's Ziggy Ansah. Ziggy didn't even start the full season in college, but his athleticism and his potential propelled him into the first round. And, because pass rushers are considered more valuable than run stoppers, Ziggy was taken before Star (#5 by the Detroit Lions).

I must admit I wanted to see Star's production to go ahead of Ziggy's potential, but I wouldn't want them to trade places. I'm pumped to see Star go to Carolina, my second favorite NFL team. I wanted him to go #10 to Tennessee, but I can understand why they picked an offensive lineman instead.

According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, new Panthers general manager David Gettleman wasted no time in turning in the draft card with Star's name on it. Gettleman got his man!

Monday, April 22, 2013

What Will He Do Next?

On Saturday Andre Miller hit the first game-winning shot of his long career! The cagey veteran point guard poured in 18 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, capped off by a deft maneuver to get by Draymond Green for a layup with 1.3 seconds left to beat Golden State, 97-95, in the first game of the playoffs. Miller hasn't missed many games in his 13 seasons in the NBA, but this was the first time he personally put in the game-winner. Maybe this will be the year when he finally advances to the second round!

The flipside of his success is that it comes at the expense of Andrew Bogut. He's been slowed by a bone bruise in his surgically-repaired ankle, but he put up a big effort in the absence of David Lee (out with a hip flexor). Bogut had 9 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists, and a steal for the Warriors. Game two is Tuesday night.