Before any team starts a season, there are always a handful of questions to answer. How will the quarterback play be? Will your top players stay injury free? Does your team have enough depth to overcome injuries?
There’s a cliché adage that floats around the football world and it goes a little something like this; “the offensive line is the most important unit in football.”
Veteran offensive guard Vince Manuwai missed all of the 2008 season with an ACL tear in the season opener at Tennessee. It was a tough way to end his streak of 68 consecutive starts that the former University of Hawaii standout has accumulated. Find out if he thinks he'll be ready for the upcoming season.
The underlying theme for week one of the NFL season was almost certainly injuries, as last year’s MVP, Tom Brady, and several other key starters are now down for the season for their respective teams. The Jaguars were not excluded from that list, as guard Vince Manuwai suffered a torn ACL and guard Maurice Williams ruptured a biceps. Del Rio talks about the choices they have to make this week.
It’s the eve of the biggest roster trimming of the year. The players have had all their chances to impress Jack Del Rio and the rest of the Jaguars coaching staff, and it will likely be a sleepless night for a lot of young players and veterans alike. Here are JagNation’s selections for the Jaguars 53-man roster based on what we’ve seen in preseason and what we’ve heard from inside sources.
The Jaguars' offensive line, thought to be one of the club's stronger positions entering the 2008 season, took a serious hit last week when it was revealed that center Brad Meester would be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks following surgery to repair a torn right biceps.
Updated: Patriots linebacker Larry Izzo was named in court documents indicating he might be connected to the federal case against baseball's Barry Bonds.
Two seasons after Bonds chased home run #756, the Randy Johnson will chase home run #300 and strikeout # 5,000 in a Giants uniform. Either milestone could come against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who play the Giants 18 times in 2009.
Tomorrow — Tuesday, February, 26 — Rays Digest columnist Ted Fleming will continue Speaking Of Sports' weekly breakdown of the AL East division, focusing on the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. In addition, a large portion of the discussion will center around the latest rumors related to the Tampa Bay Rays' alleged interest in free-agent outfielder Barry Bonds.
The days left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training (38 days, three hours at press time, but whose counting, really?) are dwindling away, much to the common delight of those longing to put the snow shovel into early retirement. But as we inch closer and closer to the baseball promise land, several household name free agents are still readily available on the market.
The season is down to its final three weeks, and while the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks continue to battle nose to nose for the NL West Division Title, the San Francisco Giants are one of six teams in a reverse race to avoid recording the worst record in the National League.
Barry Bonds finally hit the record-breaking home runs that fans have been anticipating for years. Since Bonds blasted this landmark shot at home, the feat was not as awkward as his previous record-tying shot, which occurred in San Diego.
Arizona State has put quite a few players in the major leagues – nearly 90 since 1962 – with two of those being San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds and Cubs Double-A manager Pat Listach.
A little bit of everything this week -- memorable hitting, pitching, trades, debuts, birthdays, and heck, even a natural disaster to mix things up. Perhaps the 2007 version could use any or all this stuff to shake up their season!
With Barry Bonds approaching the biggest of baseball records, let’s look back at a couple of games that got him closer to Hank Aaron’s hallowed mark. Also, some pitching gems, one by a very Big Daddy who is also a birthday boy this week.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - You never forget your first love. For BJ Penn, that first love was the UFC lightweight title. From the time he stepped into the Octagon for the first time in 2001, it was the 155-pound belt that captivated him. Even now, as the belt sits firmly around his waist, he remembers what it meant to him.
Debbie Lee, UFC - Just when did Kendall Grove become so mature? One minute he's a tatted-up punk known for hard partying, reality show antics, and a brazen, if not cringe-inducing, victory dance; the next, he's a humble, sensitive guy who fights for his family's welfare and the honor of his native Hawaii.
Elias Cepeda, UFC - On March 7th, Shane Nelson was living the dream. The 25 year old protégé of lightweight champion BJ Penn had just improved his UFC record to 2-0 by stopping top veteran Aaron Riley via TKO in just 44 seconds and was on cloud nine.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - At the kickoff press conference in Las Vegas last Saturday to officially announce his January 31st rematch with UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn, the organization's welterweight king, Georges St-Pierre, called his two losses to Matt Hughes and Matt Serra the "great turning points" in his career.I beg to differ.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - November 15th, 2008. It's 77 days away from his challenge for Georges St-Pierre's welterweight title, but BJ Penn already has his game face on. As far as Hilo's finest is concerned, the fight has already begun.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - After back to back losses to Patrick Cote and Jorge Rivera, Kendall Grove's future in the UFC's 185-pound division may have been riding on the result of Saturday night's bout at The Palms against Evan Tanner. Subsequently, the Hawaii native put on perhaps his most disciplined performance as he decisioned the former UFC middleweight champion in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter Finale.
Click below for the official weigh-in results for Saturday night's Ultimate Fighter Finale, which will air live from The Palms in Las Vegas beginning at 9pm ET.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - With no pro fights, and just a handful of amateur MMA and Muay Thai titles to his name, Richmond, Virginia's Amir Sadollah probably seemed to be one of the easiest marks out of the 32 fighter field trying to squeeze themselves into 16 spots on The Ultimate Fighter's seventh season.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - As a former All-American wrestler for Arizona State and the owner of a 6-0 pro mixed martial arts record, all eyes were on CB Dollaway as he began his stint on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest earlier this year, and when he began walking through opponents on the show, the glare of expectations got even more intense.
Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - Like Forrest Griffin and Joe Stevenson before him, Tim Credeur had reached the breaking point. Years of blood, sweat, and tears with little reward or a light at the end of the tunnel had pushed him to this point in 2006 where he was going to walk away from the sport of mixed martial arts.
As the cut deadline looms, John Keim offers his take on five players that are on the bubble. Did they do enough? We should know in less than twenty four hours.
John Keim gives his opinions and analysis on the big topics for the Redskins today: Colt vs. Chase, Marcus Mason vs. the other Running Backs and Portis vs. Riggo.
See what Jim Zorn had to say today about Albert Haynesworth, London Fletcher, Carlos Rogers, Kareem Moore, Making Cuts, Game Planning for Thursday, Roger Goodell and more.
Who does Joe Bugel really like in the youngsters? Where are the Redskins with the #2 WR position? How is Heyer doing at Right Tackle? All this and more is right here.
The Arizona Cardinals is now armed with their 53-man roster. The team has released 21 players in order to reach the roster limit that was due by Saturday at 3 p.m.
With three preseason games in the books, the Arizona Cardinals prepare for their final regular season tune-up against the Denver Broncos. The Cardinals have struggled to a 0-3 record but will attempt to salvage a win in Denver. The even bigger storyline heading into Thursday’s matchup with the Broncos entails which players will remain in Arizona and who’ll be cut. Brad Wilbricht explains.
With training camp approaching quickly, Scout.com dishes out up-to-date information about each of the Cardinals positions. Will Brian St. Pierre pounce on the No. 2 quarterback role? Will Beanie Wells take over at running back? What will happen to the cursed tight end position?
The Cardinals defense stands as the area most in need of improvement for the coming season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt will have his hands full adjusting to a new defensive coordinator and the lingering sting from a Super Bowl defeat. Each position is loaded with potential, but it will be up to the new defensive coordinator, Bill Davis, to draw that hidden talent out. Tyson Qualls explains.
The Cardinals secondary once had more in common with today’s tight end unit than it would like to think. The secondary was plagued with injuries and poor performances, much like the tight ends of today. Headed into the 2009 season, and fresh off a Super Bowl run, Arizona’s secondary is shaping up to be the unit to beat. AZRedReport.com ranks the DB’s who could bring Arizona back to Super Sunday.
General Manager Rod Graves tried to put the team's upcoming offseason issues out of his mind in January as the club marched through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl. But he knew what was coming. The issues confronting the Cardinals in 2009 would be both real and "immediate," despite the success of 2008.
The first half of the NFC Championship Game was all Cardinals, ending 24-6. Larry Fitzgerald registered a trio of touchdowns, while the Eagles were kept to a pair of field goals. Kurt Warner was perfect through 30 minutes of play. He's two quarters away from his third Super Bowl appearance.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't ruling out the possibility of lineup changes, but he's probably just using that as a motivation tactic. He doesn't have many options other than the guys who are starting. Whisenhunt isn't afraid to make bold changes. He benched Edgerrin James for rookie Tim Hightower. And in a lesser move, he started cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a rookie, over Eric Green.
The refrain was familiar. In fact, the Cardinals comments following their 47-7 loss to the Patriots on Sunday were almost identical to the ones they made after losing to the Vikings, 35-14, the week before: We have to find some motivation. We have to look in the mirror. We need momentum heading into the playoffs.
Calvin Johnson, Detroit's No. 2 overall pick in last weekend's draft, learned first hand on Friday that with skill and investment comes great responsibility. The Lions opened up mini-camp to the new class of rookies, a rather brief period that is more excercise and homework than fun and games.
The Detroit Lions jumped around more in the second-round than they have ever have on draft day, securing three more players -- including Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton -- before the round was finished.
During interviews with NFL prospects and direct contact with NFL sources, I was able to compile this list of players who either visited with the team, worked out for them or interviewed with them. Will some of them get picked up by the Colts this weekend? We'll have to wait and see...
Scout.com's Ed Thompson has been talking to his NFL sources and to NFL prospects like Hawaii defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis to find out about team interests, workouts and visits. Alama-Francis had more visits this week while other players were also on the move. Get the details inside...
Scout.com's Ed Thompson has been talking to his NFL sources and to NFL prospects like Georgia Tech OG Mansfield Wrotto to find out about team interests, workouts and visits. Wrotto has his first visit this week while other players were also on the move. Get the details inside...
Hawaii's Akaika Alama-Francis talked to Scout.com's Ed Thompson about Oregon's Enoka Lucas, teammate Samson Satele, the possibility of switching to linebacker at the pro level, what you should know about him as a person, and more!
Ikaika Alama-Francis didn't play football in high school and waited until his sophomore year to try it out in college. Since then, he's been a two-year starter who is now projected as no worse than a second-round pick in the NFL Draft. Learn more about him in this Scout.com interview with Ed Thompson.
He didn’t see his first real football action until a pro coach lined him up at end in a 3-4 defense. That’s why the Steelers believe he has the right fundamentals, not to mention vast resources of untapped potential. Read below for the details.
Currently ranked No. 43 overall in this year's draft by Scout.com NFL Expert Tom Marino, Hawaii DE Ikaika Alama-Francis already has three visits set and an important dinner engagement with the Jets this week. And find out who wants to check him out as a tight end. Ed Thompson has the details inside....
