Which wide receivers impressed you most during offseason workouts?
Devin Hester really impressed me. So did Rashied Davis and Brandon Lloyd. We still have a long way to go, so don’t get me wrong. But I’ve been impressed with how they have responded to what we’re trying to do and to what we’ve done so far in practice. Now granted, nothing out there is live. The DBs can’t touch them. But just from a standpoint of learning and running the system and those things, those guys have impressed me with what they’ve done so far.

How much better is Devin right now compared to a year ago heading into training camp?
He’s 100 percent better, and that’s usually what happens after you’ve been in a system for a year. The strides that he’s made have been tremendous, and as long as he continues to keep that same work ethic and desire, he’s going to be fine.

In what areas has he improved most?
He’s improved in all areas: route-running, understanding what to do, being able to go out there and relax. Every aspect of the game he’s improved. He’s seeing things more. He’s so instinctive, so the majority of the time he’s going to be right just trusting his instincts.

What are Devin’s strengths and some of the things he needs to work on as a receiver?
Naturally his open-field ability and his ability to catch, he has tremendous ability there. He’s just got to continue to work on coming in and out of his breaks. Those are things that all receivers need to fine-tune—depth on routes and different things like that—and that comes with experience. It’s just repetition and habit and he’ll continue to get better at it.

What type of potential does Devin have as a receiver?
He definitely has the potential to be an elite receiver in the league. There’s no doubt about it. He’s got all the tools and he’s honing those tools. He’s polishing those tools. He can he as good as there is.

(chicagobears.com)

PHILADELPHIA -- Pitching in the big leagues has brought Cardinals reliever Chris Perez plenty of new challenges, and not just in terms of the quality of the competition.

Perez has pitched earlier in games than he's used to and pitched longer than he's used to. A pitcher who has closed out wins for most of his professional and college career has often pitched with his team trailing.

Most of all, he's had to adjust to longer appearances. After years of being conditioned to pitch a single inning, Perez has been asked to get four or more outs in four of his past eight appearances. And it hasn't always gone well -- Perez has definitely been more effective in his first inning, and on his first 15-20 pitches.

Not that he's worried.

"I think it's just a coincidence," he said. "Going into last year, they said I couldn't get lefties out, and then they hit under .150 against me. I do the same things. It's just more hits and stuff in the second inning."

On his first 15 pitches of a game, opponents are batting .196 and slugging .255 against Perez. After that, they're batting .313 and slugging .656.

"A couple of times, we've needed him to go beyond the one inning, he's gone deeper, and it's a different mind-set for him," said manager Tony La Russa. "I don't think you're ever going to make him somebody that's going to be a two-inning or 30- or 40-pitch reliever. It's just the expediency of the moment."

So the Cardinals will prefer to use Perez in shorter outings, but he may still be called on at times to go a little longer. Either way, he could be a key cog against a Pirates team with a couple of dangerous right-handed bats.

(mlb.com)

You can log off the computer now. Despite a huge push locally to launch an Internet wave of support for Pat Burrell, the Phils' left-fielder is not going to the All-Star Game.

Burrell came in Third in the balloting to fill the final roster spot.

Joining the National Leaguers at Yankee Stadium next week instead will be Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart.
Tampa Bay Rays rookie third baseman Evan Longoria took the American League spot.

Hart got 8 million votes and was followed by the Mets' David Wright, Burrell, San Francisco's Aaron Rowand and Houston's Carlos Lee.

Longoria received 9 million votes.

Earlier in the day it was announced that Rockies' outfielder Matt Holliday will replace injured Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano on the NL squad.

(delcotimes.com)

Ron Jaworski said he caught part of Bernie Kosar's playoff pep talk in the Gladiators' locker room on cable television recently. "I gotta write some notes for him," said the voluble "Jaws," the ESPN analyst and top football man with the Philadelphia Soul.

Kosar, the president of the relocated and formerly sad-sack Gladiators, has mastered most of the material quickly, pep talks aside. "The game's not going to be won by what's said in the locker room anyway," said Kosar of Saturday's National Conference Arena League Championship Game in Philadelphia.

It once would have been hard to coach for Kosar. He butted heads with the conservative play-calling of Marty Schottenheimer's staff during his glory days with the Browns. Bill Belichick fired him for drawing up a play in the dirt in his last game as a Brown in 1993.

The Browns' story was that Kosar had diminished skills, but his perceived insubordination was a big part of it, too. The play in the dirt, by the way, went for a touchdown.

After some difficult times personally and professionally, Kosar seems rejuvenated by the Gladiators' playoff run to the brink of a title game. Kosar has always had a big ego, which is almost a necessity at the quarterback position in the NFL, as well as one of the finest football brains ever to get knocked around by a blind-side blitz. "I'm not the quietest guy in competitive situations, even if it was in my best interests not to talk too much," he said.

For too long, Kosar was estranged from the Browns by the insecure football men who led the team after its rebirth. But anyone who has heard Kosar deconstruct the Browns' offense on television in exhibition games knows he still sees the field with a wide-angle lens. Exasperation memorably fought with disdain when he watched Maurice Carthon's offense.

But he has grown enough as Gladiators president that, although he sometimes wears a head-set to listen to play calls on the sideline, he lets Coach of the Year Mike Wilpolt and his staff run the game.

He would be a plus for the Browns too, although he would probably have to show more of his developing restraint to ever get a shot. Toward this season's Browns, a team that is supposed to contend for a division championship, Kosar takes the diplomatic approach.

"Derek Anderson threw 29 touchdown passes in his first full year in the league," Kosar said. "You're going to get better if you have a guy like that in your corner. No matter how it comes out with Derek and Brady [Quinn], you need two quarterbacks nowadays."

The compact size of the Arena League field speeds up the decision-making process and accelerates quarterback growth. The quality of play also rose after NFL Europe folded, sending many of its 300 players in search of Arena League jobs.

There were good players in the USFL, some of whom fueled the Browns' rise to power in the 1980s. The Arena League developed former NFL Most Valuable Player Kurt Warner. Even the deplorable XFL provided players to the NFL.

The same should hold for team executives.

"I've been in this five years, and this is my first [conference] championship game. Cleveland did it in one year. Bernie must be doing pretty good," Jaworski said.

(plaindelaer.com)

As fans of the Cleveland Browns can attest, conference championship games have never brought much luck to Bernie Kosar. Despite how well Kosar would play, quarterback counterpart John Elway and the Denver Broncos always found a way to one-up Cleveland and punch a ticket to the Super Bowl.

But 20 and 21 years after "The Fumble" and "The Drive," respectively, Kosar is back in the conference championship game once again -- this time as president of the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.

Cleveland will face the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday, July 12, for a chance to play in the Arena Bowl.

Many football people believe conference title games can be just as difficult -- and sometimes more difficult -- to win than championship games. Kosar agreed with that assessment based on personal experience.

"Most people think that if you don't win it all, it's not a success," Kosar said Wednesday via conference call. "But basically you're playing the cream of the crop, the best-type teams [in conference championships]. It's not an accident that I believe us and Philadelphia are still playing. And when you're playing at the highest level, somebody has to lose."

Kosar aims to not come up on the short end in the conference championship again this weekend.

The matchup pits two championship-deprived cities. Philadelphia hasn't won a pro sports title since the 76ers were NBA champions in 1983. Cleveland hasn't won a pro championship since the Browns did it in 1964, before the merger.

Although Elway owns an arena team, he is not standing in Kosar's way this weekend. But former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski is.

Jaworski is president of the Soul and, like Kosar, also is trying to bring another title to the city in which he once played.

"We really have two cities that are starving for a championship," Jaworski said. "I can speak for Philly, and I know the Cleveland organization feels the same way. We're very proud to represent our cities."

(espn.com)

The Tampa Tribune reports Buccaneers CB Phillip Buchanon is expected to fend off first round draft pick CB Aqib Talib and veteran CB/FS Eugene Wilson to retain his starting job. Buchanon revitalized his career last season. He appeared in every game and had 14 starts (including the playoff game), recording 63 tackles and three interceptions on the NFL's top ranked secondary.

(ffmastermind.com)

Meanwhile, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma reached out to freshmen Arthur Brown and Sean Spence, offering his cellphone number and mentoring (Panthers linebacker Jon Beason did, too). Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork reached out to Marcus Forston. Aldarius Johnson said he cultivated a friendship with Andre Johnson and has spoken with Reggie Wayne and Santana Moss.

UM alumni take losing so hard that Beason was ''in tears'' during games last year. Vilma said last winter that what troubled him in recent years is ``guys not improving year to year. You can't say it's all the talent.''

But after working out with Canes players at 7 a.m. this summer and watching several (such as Allen Bailey) improve this spring, Vilma -- like others -- is encouraged: ``You see everyone wanting to improve.''

(miamiherald.com)

From the "what else is he supposed to say" department, Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen said he is happy with his team's quarterbacks and wouldn't be interested in acquiring retired quarterback Brett Favre.

Appearing on ESPN's "First Take" this morning, Olsen correctly suggested that "I don't think that would really ever come true." (As we've noted before, it's hard to imagine the Green Bay Packers either trading Favre to a division rival or releasing him if another NFC North team were interested.)

The Bears plan to go to training camp with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton competing for the starting job, and Olsen said: "I think we're happy with the two guys we've got. I think we've got a good quarterback competition with Kyle and Rex ... and I think the guys are real comfortable with one of those guys being the guy for us in the future."

Olsen admitted it is "exciting" to hear people talk about the possibility of a Hall of Fame quarterback coming to Chicago. But as far as Favre goes, Olsen said, "I don't think the team or the situation would be ready for that."

Olsen has no choice but to express support for his teammates, especially given the slim-to-none chance Favre has of landing with the team. But don't assume Olsen was just giving lip service to the issue.

Certainly, Favre could make the Bears better in 2008. But he would be the shortest of short-term solutions. Who is to say he wouldn't subject his next team (if there is one) to the same kind of offseason uncertainty he has burdened the Packers with for the past few years? A player like Olsen, who is entering his second year, is hoping the Bears find a long-term quarterback -- possibly Grossman or Orton -- that he can grow with.

Would Bears players bar Favre from the locker room? Hardly. But it's probably a generalization to say they would all be unconditionally in favor of his arrival, either.

(espn.com)

MIAMI (AP) - Throughout his NBA career, James Jones has always thought of the Miami Heat as his team.
And now, it finally is.

The South Florida native signed a five-year contract on Wednesday with the Heat, one that'll pay him $4 million next season and could be worth more than $23 million over the life of the deal. He had other offers, including one from the Detroit Pistons that tempted him, but ultimately Jones wanted to come home.

"For me, it's like coming full circle," Jones said. "I'm from the city. I spend all my time here and when the Heat hurt, even when I'm on another team, I still feel that pain. ... So for me, the interest from my hometown team superseded and outweighed all the other positives and pluses of the different cities, especially Detroit, that were looking for my services."

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported terms of the agreement, including a clause that makes the final three years conditional - which ensures that Miami can still have maximum spending capability during the free agent summer of 2010, the year that Dwayne Wade can opt out of his Heat contract.

Jones, who played at the University of Miami and has been with Indiana, Phoenix and Portland in his NBA career, is a 3-point specialist, and that's an area where the Heat clearly need an upgrade.

Jones shot a career-best 44 percent from 3-point range last season. The Heat, as a team, shot 36 percent from beyond the arc a year ago.

"Everyone knows I can shoot," said Jones, who got his deal done on the first day of this year's free-agent signing period. "I love to shoot. That's what I do. I try not to step on any toes, not try to do too much, but just do what I do well, which is make shots."

It's unclear where exactly Jones will fit into the Heat rotation next season.

Miami drafted Michael Beasley, who'll likely play some minutes at both forward positions. The Heat have a contract offer pending with restricted free agent forward Dorell Wright, and still have small forward Shawn Marion and power forward Udonis Haslem - both of whom have been mentioned as possible trade candidates. Plus, the Heat will likely still seek some help at point guard (besides rookie Mario Chalmers) and center.

"We're trying to develop and build our bench," Heat president Pat Riley said earlier this week. "I think we have to build our depth right now, first. I think that's the first priority before you make a big move."

For his part, Jones doesn't care what role he plays, as long as he gets the chance to help the Heat erase the sting of last year's dreadful, injury-plagued 15-67 season.

"If that means coming off the bench, if that means starting, if that means taking 10 shots, if that means taking one shot, for me, it's about being efficient and winning games," Jones said. "Coming here, I don't have any expectations about what position or which role I'll play. All I'm looking for is the opportunity to compete." 

(kval.com)

NEW YORK — The New York Giants are a better football team with tight end Jeremy Shockey, wide receiver Plaxico Burress says.

Shockey was the subject of offseason trade talk after Kevin Boss’ performance in place of the injured former first-round draft pick during the Giants’ run to the Super Bowl championship. An attempt by the Giants to trade the 27-year-old Shockey to New Orleans during the NFL draft in April failed.

“People say we’re better off without him,” Burress, 30, said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio’s “On the Ball” program. “I say those people don’t know the game of football, how hard this guy goes out and competes every Sunday.”

Burress, who caught the winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the Super Bowl as the Giants upset the unbeaten New England Patriots 17-14, said, “I want him around. He’s one of the main reasons I came to New York.”

Shockey, who caught 57 passes last season, broke his left leg against Washington on Dec. 16 and missed the Giants’ title run. Boss replaced him and caught five passes for 90 yards during the playoffs, including a 45-yard pass on one of New York’s touchdown drives in the Super bowl.

“For a guy of his stature that likes to go out and compete on a week-in, week-out basis, it was sad for him not to be a part of that,” Burress said. “If you know him like I do, you know he wanted to be a part of it.”

At the Giants’ minicamp last month, Shockey was held out of practice sessions as he continued to rehabilitate his injury. Coach Tom Coughlin said he’s the No. 1 tight end on the team’s depth chart heading into training camp.

“I can’t speak for ownership and I can’t speak for anyone upstairs,” Burress said. “I can speak as a friend and teammate and I want him around.”

(rockymountainnews.com)

Prosecutors have filed a motion asking for DNA samples from two of the men accused of killing Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor.

The motion, which was filed Tuesday, asks Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy to order Timmy Lee Brown and Eric Rivera to provide DNA samples to be compared against DNA found on a drawer handle and a window in Taylor's home after he was killed.

Taylor, a former star at the University of Miami, was shot during a botched robbery attempt in his Palmetto Bay home on Nov. 26, 2007. He died the next day.

Brown, 17, and Rivera, 18, and three other men, all of the Fort Myers area, were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the crime. One, Venjah K. Hunte, 20, has already pleaded guilty.

The other two, Charles Wardlow, 19, and Jason Mitchell, 20, have already submitted DNA samples.

A hearing on the DNA motion was scheduled for July 15.

(miamiherald.com)

Magic Benton was honored with the Cutters Catch of the Week for a fourth quarter touchdown reception that helped the ‘Cats hold off the ThunderBirds, 41-35.

Benton (6-0, 200, Miami) is the Week 15 recipient of the Cutters Catch of the Week Award, a weekly honor that emerged in 2006 to highlight the player who makes the best catch in the af2.  Benton’s catch was a 30 yard touchdown reception that gave the Firecats the lead for good with 7:05 to play in the fourth quarter.  The veteran playmaker stretched out to catch Chris Wallace’s pass nearly in stride.

“Magic’s touchdown catch was big to solidify the game,” Bouis said.  “He was wide open and just had to make sure he came down with it to put us in the lead for good.”

Benton finished the night with 8 catches for 91 yards and the one touchdown.  He is the af2’s all-time leader in receptions (606), receiving yards (8,068) and receiving touchdowns (170).  Benton also ranks second all-time in points (1,050) and total touchdowns (172).

The Firecats return to Germain Arena on Saturday, July 19th to face the Tennessee Valley Vipers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., EDT.  Call (239) 390-CATS (2287) today to reserve your seats! Visit the team online at www.FloridaFirecats.com.

(firecats press release)

MILWAUKEE -- Add Brewers slugger Ryan Braun to the list of players who will swing for the fences at Yankee Stadium next week.

Braun agreed to a Major League Baseball request to participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby on Monday night. Braun leads the Brewers with 22 home runs. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, something you dream about," Braun said. "It's too good an opportunity to pass up."

He went 15 games without a homer from June 18-July 5, a power outage probably related to a sore right hand that sidelined Braun for two games in Arizona last week. He returned to the lineup on July 4 and has made every start since.

Braun consulted with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash and head athletic trainer Roger Caplinger before agreeing to participate.

"I feel like I'm healthy enough to do it," Braun said. "[League officials] asked me a couple of days ago and I was kind of debating, seeing how my hand felt. ... It's gotten better over the last couple of days, so I'm definitely in. If we were to have a setback or something, we'll pull out."

Braun ended his home run drought on Sunday against the Pirates and hit another to highlight CC Sabathia's winning Brewers debut on Tuesday night against the Rockies. Braun's first-inning, three-run shot gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead.

Others confirmed for the Derby include the Phillies' Chase Utley, the Marlins' Dan Uggla, the Astros' Lance Berkman, the Indians' Grady Sizemore and the Rangers' Josh Hamilton. Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels, the 2007 Home Run Derby winner, said on Sunday that he would defend his crown, but pulled out of contention on Tuesday.

That leaves two open slots remaining in the field of eight.

(mlb.com)

About five hours before first pitch, and about two hours before the rest of his teammates arrived for batting practice, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Aubrey Huff met hitting coach Terry Crowley on the field at Fenway Park, hoping that together they could find a solution.

It was last July 31, about three months after Huff had come to Baltimore with a record as an elite offensive player, owner of a smooth left-handed swing that would boost any lineup. He was just three years removed from hitting 37 homers and driving in 107 runs in 2003 with Tampa Bay, his best offensive season in the majors.

But after signing a three-year, $20 million free agent contract, his first few months with the Orioles yielded lots of frustration and very few hits. With Huff's batting average languishing around .240 and his power numbers down, Crowley reached out to the underachieving player. "When he asks, that means he wants you to," Huff said about meeting the coach for early work.

When Huff arrived as instructed, Crowley gave him but two pieces of instruction: 1. Stand taller in the batter's box. 2. Aim for the Green Monster.

"If we didn't have that session, who knows?" said Huff, looking back at the moment he rediscovered his swing. "Something clicked."

Huff credits the changes made during the 20-minute session that afternoon to what's shaping up to be an impressive comeback season. With 17 home runs and 54 RBI through Baltimore's first 87 games, Huff is on pace to hit 32 homers and drive in 100 runs, production that approaches his career-best numbers of 2003.

"He's just simplified things," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said. "He's seeing it, hitting it and using the whole field, not overthinking it. Obviously, his M.O. has been a slow first half and a very strong second half so, with that in mind, we have a lot to look forward to if he stays the course in the last 2 1/2 months of the season."

A notoriously slow starter throughout his career, Huff has bucked that trend with an impressive first half, another unlikely development after sports hernia surgery prevented him from even picking up a baseball bat until spring training. Nevertheless, Huff has been a catalyst in an Orioles offense that has defied expectations.

When Trembley moved Huff into the cleanup role earlier this season, the Orioles broke out of an early hitting slump. And in recent days, Trembley has placed Huff in the third spot to offer protection to Nick Markakis.

"It's made it really easy for me to put him in the three spot," Trembley said. "I think it's a nice tandem with he and Nicky hitting back to back."
Said Crowley: "He's everything we dreamed he was going to be when we brought him over here as a free agent."

Such a statement would have been unthinkable a year ago, when, by his admission, Huff was in a rut. At some point that he said he can't recall, his swing devolved into what he called a lunging motion, leaving him unable to make consistent contact.

He resorted to trying to pull the ball on nearly every at-bat and pitchers adjusted, feeding Huff a steady diet of breaking pitches and change-ups. Even though he rallied with a strong second half to finish with 15 homers and 78 RBI, his performance was so alarmingly subpar that some experts projected him to finish with worse numbers this season.

Just one year into his deal, many considered Huff a free agent flop.

"Hitters go through strange things in their career," Crowley said. "He had drifted away from being the force that he was. When I think back to '03, I remember a monster. He had just gotten away from that a little bit."

So that afternoon at Fenway, Crowley and Huff set about turning back time. By simply putting Huff in a taller stance, Crowley said it allowed for better leverage on the ball, which made it easier to hit breaking pitches. Just as important, the Green Monster in left field gave Huff an inviting target to reinforce the second key idea: going the other way.

Just a few pitches in, Crowley said that even Huff's bat speed appeared improved.

"He instantly started driving balls off the Monster, balls that I thought were going to go through the wall, hitting balls over the wall," Crowley said. "And every time we threw the ball in to him, he hit it into the seats in right field. I knew we had touched on a comfort zone."

Several times this season, Trembley has attributed Huff's rebound to the ability to hit to the opposite field.

"From that moment on, it's been a total turnaround," said Huff, who has hit .304 with 26 homers and 82 RBI since that fateful clinic at Fenway. "This feels about the way I felt in '03."

(washingtonpost.com)

Guillermo Diaz (Charlotte Bobcats) and forward Noel Felix (Sacramento Kings) are competing in the 2008 NBA Summer League Presented by EA Sports.

During the 07 - 08 NBA Development League season, Diaz became the 99th Gatorade Call-Up when he signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, Anaheim's parent team, on January 8, 2008. He received a second consecutive 10-day contract on January 18, 2008.

(oursportscentral.com)

Leftfielder Pat Burrell is in the final year of a 6-year, $50 million contract, not a 5-year, $60 million contract as reported in yesterday's paper. Burrell said yesterday there have been no talks of a contract extension with the Phillies


(philly.com)

Jerome Bettis lofted his putter and pointed a few feet right of a hole some 20 feet away on the sloping practice green at Brierwood Country Club in Hamburg.

“I should be aiming way over there,” he told his friend.

Then, as the retired Pittsburgh Steelers running back struck the ball, Kevin Everett tilted his head and tried to will his buddy’s ball home.
“I see it, I see it, I see it,” Everett said, laughing.

Everett, the former Bills tight end who suffered a spinal cord injury last September that initially left him paralyzed, was unable to play in the inaugural Kevin Everett Golf Classic on Monday.

But those lessons from Bettis, former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and the other sports stars golfing in the fundraiser for spinal cord research were not lost on him.

“Later on down the line, hopefully one year I’ll be able to be out there,” Everett said.

Everett walked with a slight limp Monday and he continues to work at regaining full dexterity with his hands.

Yet life is getting better every day, Everett said with a smile that rarely left his face Monday.

He launched the Kevin Everett Foundation earlier this year, with the goal of raising $1 million over the next five years to benefit people with spinal cord injuries. He released a new book, “Standing Tall: The Kevin Everett Story.” And Everett recently married his longtime girlfriend, Wiande, with the couple expecting their first child in December.

“Big things will come out of him,” said Patricia Dugas, Everett’s mother. “He loved football and everything and he can’t play anymore. But it doesn’t mean it stops there.”

Everett’s inspiring story drew athletes from all sports, including Kelly, Bettis, former Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner “Rocket” Ismail, Sabres right wing Patrick Kaleta and Patrick Kane, the Buffalo native and 2008 NHL Rookie of the Year.

“In his situation, it would be easy to close himself off,” Bettis said. “For him to want to do something like this, I can only help.”

Kelly knew firsthand the importance of Everett’s cause. His son, Hunter, who died as a result of Krabbe disease in 2005, moved Kelly to form the Hunter’s Hope Foundation in 1997. And the Hall of Fame quarterback remembers appreciating the early support from his teammates and friends.

“I’ve got so many different things going on in my life, but this [event] is one thing I put right on my calendar,” Kelly said. “This community will come out for you, as we’ve seen today and I’ve seen for the last 20-some years.”

They did Monday, with nearly every athlete personally embracing Everett before the 12:30 p. m. shotgun start. Kelly gave Everett a hug before the two University of Miami graduates flashed the “U” sign with both hands for the cameras.

The golf tournament fell while most current Bills players were out of town, so none were able to attend Monday.

“Guys have some things planned,” Everett said. “You can’t get mad about that. But hopefully they move some things around next year.”

Everett, though, might not notice if he’s too busy playing.

The foundation’s Web site is kevineverettfoundation. org.

(buffalonews.com)

Wide out Johnson may slip under the radars of some fantasy leagues because of an injury-interrupted 2007 season, but smart owners will grab him early. He’s Houston’s top offensive threat, is in his prime and is due for a monster season.

The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Johnson missed seven games in 2007 with a knee injury but put up 851 yards and eight scores and had two TDs of longer than 70 yards, big bonuses in some fantasy formats. Those numbers project to 1,513 yards and 14 scores this year. Anything in the neighborhood would thrill fantasy owners who take him. He caught 103 passes for 1,147 yards in 2006.

Another sleeper might be tight end Daniels. Daniels (6-3, 237) is entering his third season and is a sure starter. He doubled his output from his 2006 rookie year (34 catches/352 yards) in 2007 (63/768). He should work his way into the top 10 tight ends in the league in 2008.

And the Texans have two competent quarterbacks in Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels. Resisting David Carr pun. Rosenfels subbed ably when Schaub was injured last year, but Schaub should enter the season as the starter. Schaub (2,241 yards, 9 TDs, 9 INTs in 2007) should have some fantasy value.

The Texans’ situation at running back only bolsters the fantasy value of the receivers. Ron Dayne was the team’s leading rusher with only 773 yards in ’07, and the team scored just 12 rushing TDs. But keep an eye on the progress of rookie burner Steve Slaton, who clocked a 4.36 in the 40-yard dash and ran for 3,923 yards and 50 touchdowns at West Virginia.

Were they not in the same AFC division as three teams that made the playoffs in 2007, the Houston Texans likely would be favored to reach the post-season for the first time in franchise history in 2008. The Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans all made the playoffs last season, and at least Indy and Jacksonville will be favored to advance again in 2008.

But the Texans could pass Tennessee this season, an achievement that would carry no small amount of symbolism. Houston’s original franchise, the Oilers, left for Tennessee, and the Titans helped pour criticism on the Texans in 2006 by drafting Houston area native Vince Young, the QB who led the University of Texas to the national championship.

Houston could’ve taken Young, and the Texans were widely booed when they passed him up for North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, who struggled his rookie season while Young was voted offensive rookie of the year in 2006.

But it was Young who sputtered in ’07, while Williams blossomed and recorded 14.5 sacks for a defense that should be even stronger in ’08.

And a stronger defense will mean more opportunities for Johnson, Daniels and Co.

(fantasyfootball.suite101.com)

The San Francisco 49ers claimed and were awarded rookie QB Kyle Wright off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers also waived first-year QB Drew Olson in order to make room for Wright on the roster.

Olson was signed to the 49ers practice squad in late November and then activated to the 53-man roster for the season-finale at Cleveland due to the injuries at the quarterback position. Olson served as the backup quarterback in the Browns game but did not see any action.

Wright (6-3, 220) was signed by Minnesota as a rookie free agent in April following the draft. He was waived by the Vikings on July 2, 2008. Wright finished his final season at Miami by passing for 1,747 yards with 12 touchdowns and rushing for 66 yards and three touchdowns.

Wright attended Danville Monte Visita High School, making him eligible to participate in the 49ers Local Pro Day that was held a week prior to the NFL Draft.

Following that workout, Wright said, "Being a lifelong fan of the 49ers growing up watching Joe Montana and Steve Young, it doesn’t get any better than to walk through the locker room and see their pictures on the wall."

Side Note: RB Frank Gore, a fellow Hurricane, specifically attended the Pro Day workout to support  "his guy Wright." 

(49ers.com)

The Phillies are urging fans to show their pride to a nine-year veteran, who has dealt with his fair share of cheers and jeers. Vote for Pat Burrell!

Burrell is having a great season. He has tallied 21 homers, second among National League outfielders, and he ranks among the league leaders in home runs.

Burrell is vying for the final player spot on the National League's 32-man roster, hoping to join teammates Chase Utley and Brad Lidge.

"Phillies fans came through four years ago and elected Bobby Abreu to the NL squad in the Final Vote by casting over two million votes," said Phillies president David Montgomery. "That's a lot of votes to cast in just a few short days, but Pat deserves the same support."

Fans can vote an unlimited amount of times on Phillies.com and WIP Sports Radio is hosting a marathon voting session on Tuesday afternoon at Harry the K's at Citizens Bank Park.

Don't forget to VOTE for Pat!

Orioles slugger hit .345 with three jacks for week of July 6

Kevin Millar has a term to describe the Orioles' season thus far. He calls it "Orioles Magic," which is named after the song and is meant to sum up a team that has been in pretty much every game this season, and also sports a winning record in July, despite not having a true superstar.

Millar says that all throughout the season, the entire team has stepped up to keep Baltimore afloat in the highly competitive American League East.

Last week, it was obviously Aubrey Huff's turn.

The Orioles' designated hitter knocked in a run in six out of seven games and, on Monday, he was named the Bank of America AL Player of the Week.

Huff, in his second year with the Orioles, hit .345 (10-for-29), with three home runs, nine RBIs and three doubles to go along with a .333 on-base percentage and a .759 slugging percentage last week. In a four-game series against the Royals -- which Baltimore split -- the 31-year-old went 7-for-17 with three home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored.

"I've had some hot streaks," Huff said after a two-homer game on Thursday against the Royals -- a game that ended in a 10-7 loss for his Orioles. "But, over the last month, it's probably the best I've felt in a while."

Over his last 11 games, Huff is hitting .372 (16-for-43) with five home runs and 15 RBIs. This was the second time that Huff has won the award and the first time since September 2005, when he sported a Rays uniform.

But 2008 didn't start off on the right foot for the nine-year veteran. In January, Huff underwent hernia surgery that sidelined him for the early part of Spring Training. And in the first few games of the season, Huff was booed at Camden Yards for some controversial comments that he made about the city of Baltimore on a radio show last winter.

It seems like Huff handled it well.

Fast-forward three months and Huff leads the team in power numbers with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs, while also sporting a .281 batting average. And, after a 3-4 week, his Orioles stand at 44-43 and 11 games back of the Rays for first place in the AL East.
For a while, Huff has said he's feeling as good as ever.

"It just seems like my timing feels good right now," Huff said two weeks ago. "I'm seeing the ball, even if it's an offspeed pitch, and I've been able to lay off the bad pitch.

"It's timing, man. It comes and goes. I'm just trying to ride it as long as I can. Tomorrow, it can go away just like that. That's how baseball is. You just never know. It can turn right around."

(mlb.com)

If anyone needed further proof that Aubrey Huff was back in the good graces of most Orioles fans, it surfaced during the seventh inning of Saturday night's game against the Texas Rangers. And it didn't require him to get a big hit or drive in a crucial run. The point was made when nothing happened.

Huff came to the plate with two runners on base and two outs, but his ground ball ended the threat. Returning to the dugout, he was showered with silence. No booing, no jeering, no obscene chants.

"Time heals everything," first baseman Kevin Millar said.

So do 17 home runs and 54 RBIs, which Huff brings into tomorrow night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays that begins the final road trip before the All-Star break.

A notoriously slow starter, Huff has erased some of that reputation, along with the controversy that he stirred up in the fall during an appearance on a Tampa, Fla.-based shock jock's satellite radio show. Two more hits on Sunday, including his 26th double, raised his average to .281. He also had a sacrifice fly. Who saw this coming?

Before the season, Huff was a career .236 hitter in March and April, with when he hit 13 of his 156 home runs, and .255 in May. He didn't pick up a bat or ball until spring training after undergoing sports hernia surgery over the winter. And he showed up at Fort Lauderdale Stadium still grieving the loss of close friend Joe Kennedy, the former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher who died unexpectedly in November -- leading Huff to change his uniform number to 17 as a tribute.

He was set up to fail, except he didn't. Though bypassed for selection to the All-Star team, he ranks among the American League leaders in doubles, homers, RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases.

"I think I've found an offseason routine that works for me, finally," he said. "I've tried everything from hitting extra, working out harder, doing all kinds of stuff. And it turns out what I needed was less. Less is more for me."

When spring training began, hitting coach Terry Crowley consulted daily with the training staff to gauge what activities Huff could handle. Crowley worked with Huff on the side, having him hit 20 balls off a tee for three straight days, then 25 soft tosses. He would take ground balls one morning, then go back to the tee.

Finally, he was cleared to take live batting practice and appear in exhibition games, long after his teammates had grown tired of the routine.

"Make no mistake, he's talented," Crowley said. "And any time you have a talent like that, as long as you don't injure him or have a setback, good things are going to happen."

Huff, signed to a three-year contract in January. 2007, went on his usual tear after the break last season, batting .346 with nine homers, 28 RBIs and a .592 slugging percentage beginning Aug. 1. And nothing that occurred once he returned home has bumped him off that course.

"I really feel like at the midway point of last year, Aubrey Huff found his swing again and maintained it," Crowley said. "Once he was healthy, he just picked it up -- the same approach, the same stance, the same everything, -- and it carried right through."

It also moved him past the regrettable comments he made about the city of Baltimore on Bubba the Love Sponge's show, which Huff insisted were uttered in jest as part of an act. His lewd remarks about his favorite pre-game activities only further incited fans and team officials, who levied a hefty fine.

"That seems like a decade ago now. It really doesn't enter my mind anymore," he said. "I still hear some Bubba Army fans in the stands, but that's about it." Huff made a pre-emptive phone call to his mother, Fonda, after learning that he caused an uproar in Baltimore.

"He said, 'You may as well know this because you're going to hear about it,' " she said. "It got all blown out of proportion. He knew better. When he went to the University of Miami, that's the first thing they taught him. Things will get turned around if you're not careful. He just forgot. He let his guard down. He really likes Baltimore."

Manager Dave Trembley said he wasn't concerned about Huff because "success takes care of a lot of the negative things, especially in this city, where it's so work-oriented."

"People are very blue-collar," he said, "and they're willing to give people a second chance."

Crowley said: "He's a funny guy," Crowley said. "He likes to laugh at himself as much as he likes to laugh at other things. I know he didn't mean to hurt anyone." Said Millar: "There's nothing vicious in his body. It's just a bad body."

"When people were talking about how we needed to get a bigger bat, Aubrey Huff can be that bat," Millar added. "He hit 30 home runs in the big leagues (34 in 2003). You have that guy here for $7 million a year. I'm glad to see him doing what he's capable of doing."

And it all started by doing less.

"In '03 and '04, when I was having the best years of my career, I remember thinking, 'What was I doing?' I didn't really hit a lot in the cage, I didn't really look at a lot of video. I went out there and took batting practice and played the game, made it simple as possible," Huff said.

"Then I found myself constantly going in the cage, working early, looking at video. Now I've tried to go back to making it as simple as possible. Just see it and hit it."

And if he makes a key out, which hasn't occurred nearly as often this season, he's more likely now to be forgiven. He's hearing less, as well.

"There's some boos in the other dugout," Crowley said. "That's the only booing."

(baltimoresun.com)

The Montreal Alouettes, of the CFL, have released RB Jarrett Payton.

Payton had a short stint in the NFL with the Titans, but couldn't live up to his father's (Walter) ability. He could try another shot at the NFL, but his playing career is likely over.

(fantasyfootball.com)

The Lions have not said they are in the market to add a running back, but they might be interested in adding one more veteran at the position before or during training camp. Most recently, free-agent RB Najeh Davenport, late of the Steelers, reportedly has said he favors the Lions and Cardinals as possible landing spots. The Lions’ potential interest is not for a lack of bodies there — the team is, in theory, stocked with Tatum Bell, rookie Kevin Smith, Brian Calhoun, Aveion Cason and Artose Pinner. The problem is that none of those players, other than Bell, has proven himself as a starting running back for a full season, and Bell was mostly an afterthought during a disastrous first season in Detroit. Smith holds promise but never has taken an NFL snap and might have to overcome some maturity issues to become a dependable full-time back. Davenport may not have the résumé of a starting back, but he has shown flashes of ability and would add size to a smaller group of backs. He also has kick-return experience, something the Lions need to shore up.

(pfw.com)

Exploring possible alternatives to Ricky Davis, the Heat spoke with the agents of James Jones.

Undrafted former UM center Anthony King auditioned for the Heat the past few days.


(miamiherald.com)

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun on Sunday was named a starter for the National League in the All-Star Game, which will be held July 15 at Yankee Stadium in New York City.

Braun made a surprising surge in fan balloting, finishing first among NL outfielders and second among all NL players with 3,835,840 votes, behind only Chase Utley of the Phillies (3,889,602). Just two days before the voting closed on Wednesday, he wasn't even in line for a starting spot.

Braun came into Sunday's game against the Pirates hitting .279 with 20 homers and 58 RBIs. He hit a homer in the first inning just before the team was announced.

Sheets is 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA -- third in the NL -- in 17 starts this season.

The announcement of Braun as a starter -- which was made on mlb.com and in a televised show on TBS -- comes as somewhat of a surprise, because Braun was in fourth place in the most recent balloting numbers that were released.

Also, the New York Post errantly reported on its Web site Saturday that Braun had fallen short of a starting spot. The report was later retracted, as noted early Sunday by The Capital Times in a blog post. Notably, the Post had every selection right except for Braun.

Braun was 32,925 short of Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome for the third and final starting outfield spot heading into the final two days of balloting.

He made up that deficit and then some even though the Brewers were on the road on Tuesday and Wednesday, when the polls closed.
That push was the product of an orchestrated effort by the Brewers that included a computer kiosk at Summerfest and a viral e-mail effort circulated by fans. According to an article on mlb.com on Wednesday, Braun had received 41 percent more online votes than Fukudome over the final 48 hours.

The loser in this game of musical chairs was future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who had been No. 2 in fan voting. He was surpassed by Fukudome, who is in his first year in the majors after coming over from Japan, and Braun.

However, the other elected NL outfielder is Alfonso Soriano, who has been sidelined by a broken left hand and is not expected to play. He took batting practice on Saturday but said he was still experiencing pain. 

Braun will be the first Brewers outfielder to start an All-Star Game since 1999, when Jeromy Burnitz replaced an injured Tony Gwynn at Fenway Park.

He is one of seven first-time starters in the Midsummer Classic.

(madison.com)

PHILADELPHIA — At some point around the second inning of today's game at Citizens Bank Park, a TBS national broadcast will let everyone in on this year's National League All-Star team.

Long before that, Chase Utley will get confirmation that he is yet again the starting second baseman for the National League and Brad Lidge certainly will get word he's on the pitching staff.

More than likely, Cole Hamels will be told that even though he won't be available to pitch after his final start on Sunday that he, too, will be invited to Yankee Stadium as a member of the NL team.

If all is fair, and everything isn't always fair, Pat Burrell will also get word that in his eighth major-league season, he, too, will get to play in the All-Star Game.

"I've always said it would be a great thing to be a part of that," Burrell said this week after the Phillies beat Atlanta for the second time in as many nights and he upped his season total of home runs to 21. "I've just got to wait and see, and hope for the best. It would be a big honor to be able to go."

Burrell is far from a lock. He won't get the fan vote and he'll need to overcome the politics and machinations of Colorado's Clint Hurdle -- the manager understandably has other things to think about just beyond numbers. But even then, it appears as if this may finally be the year Burrell doesn't get four off days in the middle of the season.

This isn't to say Burrell has lived up to the hype of being a No. 1 pick overall. In many ways, he's still paying the price for an awful 2003 in which he hit .209. He's not the .300 hitter the Phillies projected him to be when he was at the University of Miami and he's not the most graceful of runners. But so what?

Burrell has been consistent, and that's consistently good. Not awesome, not spectacular or outstanding, but very consistent.

It should mean something that for eight consecutive seasons, the Phillies could write down -- in permanent ink -- at least 20 home runs. His average over that time is actually 28.5 home runs, with 21 in that dreaded 2003 campaign.

It should mean something that he's knocked in at least 84 runs in seven of those seasons. It should mean something that he has the respect of his teammates -- all of whom say no one works harder -- and management. It should mean something that he's gone through plenty of abuse in left field and still indicated he wants to stay.

But all of that doesn't mean squat with the way the All-Star team is selected.

That said, Burrell has value this year.

Burrell's 21 home runs are tied for first with Cincinnati's Adam Dunn for left fielders. Dunn is hitting an anemic .227 with 90 strikeouts, while Burrell is hitting .278 with just 69 strikeouts.

Burrell is second among left fielders with a .411 OBP behind Colorado's Matt Holliday -- who most likely makes the team after a strong 2007 along with a hot June -- at .425.

Burrell's .587 slugging percentage and .999 OPS are off the charts and lead all National League left fielders.

So what stands in his way?

Well, he is competing against all outfielders and there is also the rub that every team must be represented.

But even with that, Burrell certainly deserves his spot next week at Yankee Stadium. When he gets word today, the only possible answer is yes, he's on the team.

(courierpostonline.com)

The Cardinals also put outfielder Brian Barton on the DL with a bone bruise in his right wrist. Barton injured the wrist while diving for a ball on the Cardinals' past road trip.

"We're in a position where we can get a few games up on the Cubs," Barton said. "If I'm not healthy, I'm not as good of an asset to the team as if I'm healthy."

(mlb.com)